Chapter 1311: Chapter 1311: Monarch and Minister Spar
Song Zhiyuan noticed Emperor Chuâs breath cold and gloomy, completely losing his earlier good mood, so he coughed once.
"Actually, you shouldnât feel like you were played by Cabinet Minister Ning. Try to look at the positive side; as long as Xia Houzhe and Cabinet Minister Ning are executed, theyâll lose their pack leader. Once the leader is gone, it takes time to choose a new one, doesnât it?"
"They need that time, and we do too. Just because theyâre developing doesnât mean we stop. Once the naval transport is opened and the navy is well-trained, we might go explore Western Countries. Who knows, we might bring back some interesting skills. Forget about gold and silver or treasure mountains. Iâve heard they have cannons and guns; when the time comes, we can study them and blast the enemy away if they dare to come."
Emperor Chu halted his steps, truly amused, turned his head and glared at him: "You, what should I say about you? Earlier, you spoke as if our troops were already at the gates, and now youâre telling me to look on the bright side? Youâre both the god and the ghost, talking so well that the dead seems alive. Were you a storyteller or an actor in your previous life?"
Song Zhiyuan chuckled, hiding his face with his sleeve: "Iâm just trying to compensate a little after ruining your mood and pouring cold water on it."
"Oh, stop with that."
"But Iâm serious, without the pack leader, even if they want to do big things, theyâll have to choose a new leader. Everyone has their own motives; they are just subordinates, each wants to be the top, each not convinced by the other. This internal conflict could very likely snuff them out even without our intervention."
Emperor Chu chuckled: "Yet you said that if the weeds arenât removed by the roots, theyâll grow back when spring wind blows. And youâre advising me not to play a frog-boiling game."
Song Zhiyuan chuckled: "Thatâs considering from your perspective. How can you tolerate others sleeping soundly beneath your throne? If this threat can be nipped in the bud, naturally itâs a good thing. But if not, then we can only leave it to our successors. Forcing too much isnât beautiful."
"Youâre contradicting yourself."
Song Zhiyuan bowed and apologized: "Itâs also because sugarcane canât be sweet at both ends; things canât be perfect. I say this to provide some comfort."
Emperor Chu chuckled twice, showing him the look of âIsnât your face hurting?â
"Frankly speaking, when you pass away, who cares if the world goes to hell? We wonât be here to see it, so why worry about something that distant? Weâve already done what we can; why burden the younger generation? Do we really want to raise another Xia Houzhe, watching him squander everythingâthatâll be infuriating, wonât it?"
"You talk a good game, but arenât you exhausting yourself for the Song Familyâs hundred years?" Emperor Chu eyed him disdainfully.
Song Zhiyuan said: "Thatâs why Iâm diligently cultivating the young ones. The foundation we lay depends on future generations; I donât believe Iâll catch a glimpse of the worldâs splendor after Iâm gone. You look at Xia Countryâs Emperor Xia Ying, indulged in pleasures until death, a true advocate of carpe diem. Did he ever truly care about Xia Countryâs future?"
Emperor Chu, pensively remarked: "And thatâs why he lost the kingdom. Now, even the common people curse him as a damned fallen ruler."
Song Zhiyuan: "..."
Let it be; if you argue, youâre correct!
I dare not refute.
Old Eunuch Zhou shrugged his shoulders repeatedly, quickly lowering his head. Oh my, heâs about to die laughing from these two masters. Together they have a hundred years, yet theyâre squabbling like little childrenâtruly childish.