Chapter 1475: 1470: Balancing Public Duty and Private Interest

Chapter 1475: Chapter 1470: Balancing Public Duty and Private Interest

Xiao Rongyan continued to prompt Murong Li: “Think carefully…”

Murong Li lowered his eyes in contemplation for a moment, then suddenly looked up at Xiao Rongyan: “Uncle Nine, do you mean… we shouldn’t send troops to assist Dongyi, but rather, we should go to assist Zhou?”

“A promising young man,” Xiao Rongyan nodded. “Continue!”

Encouraged by his Uncle Nine’s affirmation, Murong Li felt confident and continued, “If we assist Zhou in defeating Dongyi, when Zhou plans to annex Dongyi, naturally, we can also expect some benefits for our Yan Kingdom. If a puppet emperor is to be installed, we can seize the opportunity to sign an alliance treaty, ensuring that this puppet emperor cannot make war with our Yan Kingdom while Zhou and Yan Kingdom hold their pact!”

Xiao Rongyan looked at Murong Li with relief, tapping the table heavily with his fingers: “Exactly!”

“We don’t need to send too many troops; after all, Dongyi is just a small country, and we don’t have the same grand ambitions as Zhou to destroy Dongyi. Our Yan Kingdom is merely there to put on a show, dispatching some soldiers to support our ally Zhou! The logistics can naturally be minimized, with supplies drawn from the national treasury to buy grain; there’s no need for a nationwide levy.”

Knowing Xiao Rongyan was right, Murong Li asked anxiously, “Then who will go this time? Should we immediately mobilize troops and prepare supplies?”

“No rush. We from the Yan Kingdom are only there to cheer, not as the main force! The hard work should be left for Zhou!” Xiao Rongyan’s voice was slow. “When Zhou and Dongyi Kingdom start fighting, Zhou will attack from the south… By the time Dongyi Kingdom moves their forces down south to resist Zhou, we will then march from the west of Dongyi, allowing our Yan Kingdom to win this battle easily and with fewer sacrifices.”

Murong Li nodded in agreement.

Xiao Rongyan continued: “Have the Minister of Revenue coordinate the grain supply, to be sent to Yuyin City at the regular times. Departing from our Yan Kingdom’s Yuyin City to Dongyi Kingdom will be faster than Zhou. I will depart tomorrow morning… going to Yuyin City, mobilizing five thousand naval soldiers from the Yuyin Camp to accompany me on the expedition!”

Even though Yan Kingdom is merely there to cheer, Zhou’s Emperor personally went to Dongyi Kingdom, so it should be the Regent Prince of Yan Kingdom, so that when the situation is settled, we can support the puppet emperor to the throne… or secure benefits from Dongyi Kingdom for Yan Kingdom. This is from the public perspective.

Personally, October 29th is Bai Qingyan’s birthday, and Xiao Rongyan had once said… he wants to celebrate every birthday with Bai Qingyan!

This time, balancing both personal and public matters, Xiao Rongyan is determined to make the journey.

Moreover, although Murong Li is young, he already shows the bearing of an emperor. Some things are still lacking, but he has done exceptionally well, and this defeat… is simply because his opponent is Bai Qingyan.

“Then, Ah Li will assist Uncle Nine on this journey, wishing all the best!” Murong Li smiled at Xiao Rongyan, “Uncle Nine’s success is our Yan Kingdom’s success!”

Xiao Rongyan nodded, his gaze shifting toward the direction of the Empress Dowager of Yan’s bedchamber…

Earlier, when sister-in-law heard that Zhou was going to fight Dongyi Kingdom, she was very happy. Now, if she knew he was leading troops to Dongyi to join the battle, she might think wrongly.

After all, Ah Li no longer discusses state affairs with his sister-in-law; she doesn’t understand the current situation in Dongyi. His going to Dongyi would be misinterpreted by his sister-in-law as being for personal reasons.

“As for your mother… there’s no need to tell her too much, but necessary explanations should still be made, to prevent her from over-worrying and doing something inappropriate.” Xiao Rongyan kept his long eyelashes down, hiding the emotions in his eyes.

Murong Li knew that Uncle Nine’s heart had long been deeply hurt by his mother. He pressed his lips, assuring Xiao Rongyan, “Uncle Nine, don’t worry, I will explain everything to my mother, and make sure that she won’t cause any trouble for Yan Kingdom or you.”

Xiao Rongyan didn’t say anything, just slowly blew on the hot tea and took small sips.

Standing outside the octagonal Shangyu Pavilion, Yue Shi’s eyebrows and eyes were full of joy at hearing that the master was going to Dongyi Kingdom. This trip would allow the master to meet Miss Bai!

Yue Shi had never seen a more pitiful young couple than his master and Miss Bai from the Bai family. They were legally married, even with children, yet how many times could they meet each year?

That night, when Xiao Rongyan returned to the Regent Prince’s residence, Yue Shi happily began packing.

Seeing his master sitting on the soft couch, taking out the unfinished twins-lotus jade hairpin, he smiled and said, “Master, you’ve become a jade carving master now!”

Xiao Rongyan’s face carried a faint smile: “In the future, after settling in Baiwo City, opening a jade shop wouldn’t be bad!”

“Better not, Master! If you open a jade shop and become the craftsman yourself, it would be too tedious. Just count how many premium jade stones you’ve ruined doing that twins-lotus jade hairpin? How much would it have to sell for in the shop to break even? If it were sold so expensively… only the rich could afford it, and those who could truly afford it would have already sought out those renowned master craftsmen, wouldn’t it be a waste of jade!”

Murong Yan looked up at Yue Shi: “How come I didn’t realize before… that you talk more and more now, Yue Shi?”

Yue Shi chuckled, wrapping up the small bundle: “It is because the master is lenient!”

The news of the Regent Prince’s departure for Dongyi to assist Zhou in defeating Dongyi was only told to the officials by the Emperor in the court after the Regent Prince had already left.

During the court assembly, the Emperor didn’t elaborate, only giving a brief explanation. Some Yan Kingdom court officials felt that since Zhou had issued national debt bonds, naturally there was no fear about war affecting the state matters, but Yan Kingdom had no need to get involved, as involving would only strain Yan Kingdom’s finances.

The Emperor said, “With Zhou’s current strength, defeating Dongyi is not difficult, but if Zhou installs a puppet emperor after destroying Dongyi, and this puppet emperor keeps troubling our Yan Kingdom, don’t you think it would cause issues for our state deals? The Regent Prince’s deployment to Dongyi is not to aid Zhou but to seize interests for our Yan Kingdom! This matter… is decided by both me and the Regent Prince! It is settled… not a discussion, but an announcement to you all so that you will fully support and prepare for it!”

What happened in the Yan Kingdom’s royal court was delivered to Bai Jintong two hours after the court adjourned.

Currently, Xiao Rongyan had people tightly monitoring Bai Jintong, leaving him with almost no leeway, making it extremely difficult for information to get in or out.