Chapter 611 - 611 608 The Way of Righteousness _1

Chapter 611: Chapter 608: The Way of Righteousness _1 Chapter 611: Chapter 608: The Way of Righteousness _1 Xiao Rongyan was still contemplating his words. The Crown Prince noticed Xiao Rongyan seemed reluctant to speak, fearing Bai Qingyan might think Xiao Rongyan looked down on women and believed they shouldn’t meddle in business matters, thus harboring resentment towards him. He hastily said, “It’s nothing significant. It’s just that now Yan and Beirong are joining forces to attack Nanrong for the revenge of Princess Mingcheng of Yan. Rongyan had heard about this matter, so he bought grain at high prices from various countries, preparing to sell it to Yan and Beirong at a high price…”

Bai Qingyan simply smiled and said nothing, looking at Xiao Rongyan, “Then it seems Mr. Xiao must have made quite a fortune! Allow me to congratulate Mr. Xiao.”

The Crown Prince waved his hand, “Rongyan hasn’t received the money yet. The grain is still on the way. Rongyan’s idea is to pass through the Jin Kingdom and wants me to make it convenient for him! But I just told Rongyan, the Jin Kingdom has already sent envoys to Yan and Beirong, instructing them to stop attacking Nanrong immediately.”

As he spoke, the Crown Prince looked at Xiao Rongyan with a faint smile, “Rongyan is worried now, fearing Yan, Nanrong, and Beirong might cease the attack… He doesn’t know who to sell the high-priced grain to anymore, so he wants to plead for some time and asks the Jin Kingdom envoy to delay for a few days so he can transport the grain and get the money first. I think… it’s not a big deal.”

Xiao Rongyan’s excuse was indeed plausible. To temporarily delay the envoy… it wasn’t like the Crown Prince was repealing orders on a whim and had promised the Crown Prince heavy profits. If she hadn’t come, the Crown Prince might have agreed, right?

But Bai Qingyan and Xiao Rongyan both knew that as long as Xiao Rongyan could seize this moment from the Crown Prince, Yan would undoubtedly muster all its national power to destroy Nanrong, involving the Jin Kingdom in the process.

“Did Your Highness agree?” Bai Qingyan’s face darkened as she looked at the Crown Prince.

Seeing Bai Qingyan’s stern expression, unlike her previous full smile, the Crown Prince was quite puzzled and said, “Not yet. I originally planned to delay for a month to let Rongyan deliver the grain, which isn’t impossible. Princess of Zhen, do you think there’s something inappropriate?”

“It doesn’t have to be a month. Half a month is enough…” Xiao Rongyan quickly said.

“Half a month is enough for Yan and Beirong to take down Nanrong, putting our Jin Kingdom in an east-west pincer attack by Yan!” Bai Qingyan said solemnly.

“Princess of Zhen overestimates Yan and Beirong. Yan is bankrupt and impoverished. Rongyan hasn’t been there; they’re crazily poor! When the Rong’s internal strife occurred, the elite warriors of Rong were all in Nanrong. Not to mention, Nanrong now has a demon-faced general, invincible… even Yan’s strong general Xie Xun is no match!”

Xiao Rongyan’s voice was gentle and calm, very persuasive.

Seeing the Crown Prince nodding his head, Bai Qingyan got up and solemnly bowed to the Crown Prince, “Your Highness, Yan must not be underestimated. Years ago, Yan was indeed bankrupt and impoverished, but in these years, Yan has quietly strengthened itself. It is no longer the Yan we know. If Yan were as poor as Mr. Xiao said, incapable of self-preservation, how could they conquer Nanyan? How dare they send troops to assist Beirong?”

Xiao Rongyan’s grip on the armrest of his chair tightened slightly, “How does the Princess of Zhen know that Yan is not at the end of its strength? If Yan were truly strong, why would it send its legitimate son as a hostage to the Jin Kingdom?”

“Now is the time of declining rites and music, people’s morals are no longer what they used to be. It’s no longer the world that values rites and trusts as it did in ancient times. Yan claims to send their legitimate son… then it is the legitimate son?” Bai Qingyan raised her eyebrows, “The Prince currently in Dadu City… whether he is Emperor Yan’s legitimate son is entirely up to Yan’s words. Who can testify that the legitimate son in Dadu City is really Murong Li?”

The Crown Prince fell into deep thought upon hearing Bai Qingyan’s words.

“Of course, this may be my petty mind judging the intentions of a gentleman. But, Your Highness… this vast Jin Kingdom will surely be handed to you by His Majesty in the future! If Your Highness allows Mr. Xiao for the sake of friendship today, and Yan and Beirong take over Nanrong in half a month, will Your Highness send troops to conquer them again? At that time… the resources and expenses, even if Mr. Xiao profits a hundred or a thousand times, won’t be enough to cover?” Bai Qingyan bowed deeply to the ground, “Your Highness must think twice. Do not agree to this on overly sentimental grounds only to make our Jin Kingdom pay hundreds of times the effort in the future. In everything… national affairs should come first!”

The Crown Prince nodded, clearly persuaded by Bai Qingyan.

“Your Highness, the Princess of Zhen’s words are fear-mongering… overestimating Yan too much while underestimating Nanrong. When Nanrong attacked Dengzhou… was Dengzhou City not fought fiercely enough? Even the legitimate eldest son of Governor Dong of Dengzhou, Brother Changlan, lost his life in that battle. How can Yan and Beirong take down Nanrong in just half a month?” Xiao Rongyan still maintained his gentle and calm demeanor, his words steady but sharp.

“So, what Mr. Xiao means… is to use your friendship with our Crown Prince to gamble on the future of our Jin Kingdom? If Mr. Xiao were a Jin Kingdom person today, your words might be worth listening to. But Mr. Xiao is from the Wei Kingdom. Your words… make me suspect Mr. Xiao is using our Crown Prince’s sense of loyalty and righteousness to harm Jin Kingdom and benefit your own country.”

Bai Qingyan’s words were sharp. The Crown Prince quickly intervened to mediate, “Alright, alright, let’s discuss the matter itself and not attack motives! The Princess of Zhen is wholeheartedly for the nation, I’ve never doubted this. Mr. Xiao is a businessman unfamiliar with national policies, so his request is not to harm Jin Kingdom but to benefit his business.”

The Crown Prince was hoping for Bai Qingyan and Xiao Rongyan to become a pair, so he couldn’t let them be at odds.

Xiao Rongyan tightened his palm, only smiled and said, “Princess of Zhen is straightforward, and Rongyan understands. But Rongyan still needs to defend himself. I am a Wei person. The Wei Kingdom’s territory does not border Jin Kingdom. There has never been a war for a hundred years! And Yan and Xiliang, which border Jin Kingdom, also border my Wei Kingdom. If I truly had the heart to benefit my own country, it would be to hope Jin Kingdom and Yan or Xiliang engage in war. A weaker neighboring country means a stronger Wei Kingdom. This is proper reasoning.”

Bai Qingyan chuckled softly but did not respond to Bai Qingyan’s words, only looked at the Crown Prince, “Your Highness just said Mr. Xiao is a businessman unfamiliar with national policies. Mr. Xiao’s words… do not seem to reflect unfamiliarity with national policies!”

The Crown Prince felt very troubled, as he had tried to smooth things over, but why couldn’t these two take a step back and give way?

“Rongyan is just discussing the matter as it stands!” Xiao Rongyan still maintained his gentle and elegant demeanor.

Bai Qingyan seriously nodded, “Then I will discuss the matter as it stands with Mr. Xiao. Mr. Xiao, do you not know Yan has completely controlled Beirong’s natural pastures? And the Jin Kingdom borders Rongdi in the east and Yan in the west. Now, Yan uses the excuse of revenge to seize Nanrong, effectively locking Jin Kingdom from the east and west? When the Rong’s skilled horses are controlled by Yan… Yan will grow strong. They will start to encroach on Jin Kingdom from the east and west. Without warhorses… how will Jin Kingdom be a match for Yan?”