Chapter 685

First Volume, Chapter 685: Let the Willing Bite the Hook

As the ruler of the nation, the Liang Emperor believed he understood every expenditure during the National War.

Although the Ministry of Revenue has not yet compiled accurate losses or submitted a report.

But deep within, the Liang Emperor had at least some idea.

The worst-case scenario the Liang Emperor had anticipated was fifty million taels of silver.

But after hearing Qin Feng's analysis, the Liang Emperor immediately realized his expectation was not bad enough.

Or rather…

Too idealistic, too naive.

State affairs have always been such that one hair pulled moves the whole body.

Bo Bing Du Wu ultimately leads to domestic turmoil.

The visible accounts are easy to calculate; the hidden losses, however, are immense.

At this moment, the fish bit again, but the Liang Emperor had no heart to fish—he let the bait be eaten, never once pulling the rod.

He simply stared at the wildly bobbing float, silently listening to Qin Feng's analysis.

After all…

Those officials only report good news and hide the bad.

Throughout the entire Imperial Court, few dare to explain the true stakes to the Liang Emperor.

"The state is a whole; if the state trembles, no one can remain untouched."

"Your Majesty, I won't hide it—even I, recently, have had several of my businesses start losing money."

"When grain prices rise, the people must keep every coin they have to buy grain first."

"Since that money is spent on expensive grain, naturally, there is no spare cash left to spend elsewhere."

"All industries will be affected; businesses cannot survive, and the impact on commercial conditions across the land is immense."

"To pacify the people and merchants, taxation and Fu Yi must be lowered."

"Once lowered, the National Treasury grows empty."

"With the National Treasury empty, state institutions are impaired, leading to political instability."

At this point, even Qin Feng could not help but sigh deeply.

Seeing the float move, he quickly pulled the rod—just as expected, he caught nothing.

With no choice, he cast the hook back into the water.

He spoke in a somber tone: "This great war, our Shedynasty's losses are enormous."

"The Di suffer even worse."

"To make the Di repay our losses, for them, would be adding frost to snow."

"At that time, the entire Di hierarchy will rise in fury."

"As civilian morale boils over, the Hawkish Faction will emerge; when nationalism surges, won't they see Shedynasty as a mortal enemy with blood-deep grudges?"

"I guarantee it."

"As soon as the Di recover, they will immediately mobilize forces to retaliate against us."

The Liang Emperor gripped the fishing rod, silent for a long while.

His heart was filled with both worry and relief.

Even though he and Qin Feng have been secretly and openly competing all this time, Qin Feng still poured out his heart for the sake of Shedynasty's stability.

What he just said was undoubtedly heartfelt.

Even the Minister of Revenue would never speak these words to the Liang Emperor.

Especially that line—"political instability"—it struck right at the Liang Emperor's own fears.

The aftermath of great-power warfare is simply too numerous.

If not forced, how could the Liang Emperor ever have gone to war with the Di?

After a moment of thought, the Liang Emperor slowly turned to face Qin Feng.

"All matters of State Peace Talks have been entrusted entirely to your Qin Family."

"I ask you—how much compensation do you intend to demand from the Di?"

This matter had already been mulled over countless times in Qin Feng's mind.

So without hesitation, he blurted it out.

"White Silver… one hundred and fifty million taels!"

"Cede one province!"

"Sign a three-year tribute agreement!"

"Hand over the Di Prince to come to our Liang Capital as a hostage!"

At these words, even the Liang Emperor was startled.

This was not merely a lion's demand—it was outright intent to crush the Di to death!

The Liang Emperor did not hesitate a moment: "The Di will never agree!"

"Though the Di have vast territory, their materials and supplies are scarce; their population is large, but few engage in agricultural production."

"Their annual Item: Tax Revenue amounts to only seventy million taels of silver."

"Demanding two years' worth of their tax revenue at once is tantamount to completely emptying and overextending their National Treasury."

"Moreover, how arrogant are the Di—how could they ever pay tribute to Shedynasty?"

"As for ceding a province and handing over the Di Prince as a hostage—these are acts of national humiliation."

"Given the Di's fierce folkways, even if their nation falls and their homes are destroyed, they will never accept such humiliating terms."

The Liang Emperor knew Qin Feng was thinking of Shedynasty's interests.

He hoped that through this State Peace Talks, Shedynasty could recover all it had lost in one go.

And by this opportunity, reduce Taxation and Fu Yi to soothe the hearts of all people under Heaven.

This move, naturally, would bring nothing but benefits to the stability of the Liang Emperor's regime.

If feasible, the Liang Emperor would wholeheartedly agree.

But the problem now lies in this:

The Northern Di are not a small nation!

Though their National Strength is inferior to Shedynasty's, their pure military capability surpasses Shedynasty's.

This recent Battle already revealed the truth.

Even when defending Cities, seven out of ten Battles were Siege Warfare, yet Shedynasty still fought with extreme difficulty and brutality.

This method of oppressing small nations, applied to the Northern Di, would not only fail but force them to fight to the death.

Since Qin Feng made this decision, he had already made Preparation.

"Your Majesty, I repeatedly ordered the army to advance toward the Northern Di."

"Everyone assumed I was merely intimidating the Northern Di Envoy Group."

"What do you think, Your Majesty—was this mobilization real or fake?"

At these words, the Liang Emperor's gaze sharpened.

Even the Liang Emperor believed Qin Feng's mobilization against the Northern Di was mostly bluff.

If the Northern Di Envoy Group refused to submit, then mobilizing troops to Attack on a Fortified City would be necessary.

But now that the Northern Di Envoy Group is willing to sit at the Negotiation Table, further mobilization would be meaningless.

Yet now, the Liang Emperor vaguely realized Qin Feng was not putting on a show.

On the contrary!

He had long planned a counterattack against the Northern Di!

"Qin Feng, what are you truly planning!"

The Liang Emperor dared not hesitate another moment and demanded urgently.

Qin Feng had already formulated his strategy and spoke without pause.

"To force the Northern Di Envoy Group to submit at the Negotiation Table is nearly impossible!"

"As Your Majesty said, the terms I proposed, the Northern Di will never accept."

"But as the Victorious Nation, if we do not make the Northern Di feel pain, they will only look down on Shedynasty even more in the future."

"All the surrounding states are watching!"

"There is only one way to make the Northern Di submit!"

"That is, to crush them militarily, utterly shattering their proud military self-respect!"

Hearing Qin Feng's words,

the Liang Emperor fell into deep thought.

Undeniably, Qin Feng's words cut like knives, striking every vital point.

Only by following Qin Feng's instructions could Shedynasty fully escape its internal and external crises.

The Liang Emperor finally made his decision: "When do you plan to act!"