Chapter 733

Marte's remarks, though frustrating to some old-fashioned nobles, received enthusiastic support from a large number of pro-peace officials in court.

After all, for most officials and their behind-the-scenes families, avoiding war and preserving their current status and wealth was the most important thing.

In truth, even Marte himself, as emperor, longed to stand tall and proud—but the tide had turned, and this was an opportunity his master had painstakingly secured.

Just as he had said before, even if he wished to kneel and submit, the TianCe Emperor might still refuse.

For a moment, the court resounded with cries of “Your Majesty’s wisdom!” and “For the sake of the realm and the state!”—their chorus drowning out all else.

It was certain that within no time, a heartfelt letter of submission would be officially delivered to Li Chen’s imperial desk.

Even as upheavals swept across the northern and western continents, another power was quietly rising on the vast lands of the northwest.

Tuoba Zhen, the former traitorous general of the Da Luo Dynasty and former Khan of Xueying Wangting, leveraged his Saint Realm strength and hard-won military experience from his years of maneuvering against the TianCe army to unleash a bloody storm across the northwest kingdoms.

The small kingdoms and tribes, facing this warlord forged in mountains of corpses and rivers of blood, were like children confronting grown men—utterly outmatched.

Tuoba Zhen waged war to sustain war; wherever his iron hooves marched, he successively swallowed several small kingdoms and dozens of nomadic tribes, seizing vast populations, wealth, and land.

His power swelled like a snowball rolling downhill, though it was still far from matching the might of TianCe or Yongzhou.

Yet his meteoric rise and his own sensitive identity had already drawn sharp vigilance and attention from all surrounding major powers.

The great game of the world had already seen moves placed in the east, west, and north—hidden currents surged, waiting only for the player to make the next move.

And that player was none other than Li Chen.

After a long absence, the morning court convened in the Golden Throne Hall, its atmosphere solemn and dignified.

Li Chen sat high upon the dragon throne, his expression calm, as if the piled-up state affairs held no urgency for him.

Yet the civil and military ministers below were all restless, each harboring private calculations.

Indeed, as soon as deliberations began, the Minister of Rites stepped forward, jade tablet in hand, his voice trembling with excitement:

“Your Majesty! I have just received an official state letter! The new emperor of Da Luo, Ma Weite, formally declares his kingdom’s submission to our TianCe Empire! He vows eternal fealty, annual tribute, and yearly homage—solely begging Your Majesty to order the TianCe army to halt its advance and grant Da Luo a chance to breathe!”

At these words, the court erupted like a boiling pot, instantly splitting into two sharply divided factions.

The civil officials, led by Chancellor Zhao Wenyuan, wore expressions of delight and quickly stepped forward to echo the sentiment.

“Your Majesty, this is a great good!” cried an elderly minister with white hair and beard, “War is a weapon of violence; the sage uses it only when forced. Now that Da Luo has bowed in submission, our TianCe army can incorporate it as a vassal without shedding a single drop of blood—demonstrating Your Majesty’s heavenly majesty while sparing our soldiers further bloodshed and sacrifice. This is truly the supreme strategy!”

“Indeed, Your Majesty,” added another civil official, “once they submit, we can negotiate detailed treaties to control their military size, tariffs, mineral extraction—key lifelines—and gradually assimilate them. What difference remains between their kingdom and a provincial territory? Why waste countless grain and funds on a bloody, uncertain war of annihilation?”

Yet the military officers, led by Grand General Guo Po, mostly frowned, their faces etched with resentment.