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Chapter 52
Chapter 52
Chapter 52: A Poisonous Plan with Triple Benefits!
Shangguan Wan’er’s arrival broke the slightly awkward atmosphere. The Empress quickly regained her composure, her deep, dark eyes radiating authority.
“A letter from Qianlong?”
Since the two countries had fallen out completely and were at war, correspondence had been nonexistent. This was the first time Qianlong had sent her a letter.
Shangguan Wan’er quickly presented the letter she was holding. Wu Zhao opened it, a cold smile forming at the corners of her mouth.
“He certainly has wishful thinking.”
She then calmly said, “Summon all the officials… I have matters to discuss.”
Shangguan Wan’er replied respectfully and then withdrew.
After Shangguan Wan’er left, the Empress handed the letter to Yang Yi, her slender, fair fingers holding it delicately as a faint smile played on her lips.
“Take a look. Qianlong is asking us to return his Chief Minister of Military Affairs, Niohuru Nianqi.”
“Niohuru Nianqi was taken to Luoyang yesterday.”
Yang Yi took the letter, glanced over it, and couldn’t help but smile.
“Niohuru Nianqi is a noble descendant of the Qing Dynasty and one of Qianlong’s most trusted generals… Of course, he wouldn’t want his top general held captive by the Great Zhou.”
Wu Zhao pondered for a moment.
“Qianlong is probably willing to pay a price to get Niohuru Nianqi back.”
“What terms do you think we should propose?”
Yang Yi blinked, his gaze meeting the Empress’s cold and noble expression.
“Your Majesty intends to exchange him?”
Wu Zhao was stunned, slightly confused. Not exchange him?
…
One joss stick later.
Inside the Qianyuan Hall, the ministers had gathered. Xu Jingzong and other senior officials of the Secretariat stood at the front, divided into two sides.
The Empress looked at the crowd and calmly said, “The enemy General Niohuru Nianqi, captured by Heichi Changzhi, has been brought to Luoyang.
“Qianlong wants us to return Niohuru Nianqi. What do you think?”
The hall buzzed with murmurs. They hadn’t expected Qianlong to request Niohuru Nianqi’s return.
Xu Jingzong stroked his beard thoughtfully.
“Your Majesty, perhaps we can use this person to demand more from Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty, to make him bleed a little.”
The other officials nodded in agreement.
“Indeed, Niohuru Nianqi is a renowned general of the Qing Dynasty. Qianlong will certainly pay a price for him.”
“That’s right, keeping Niohuru Nianqi here is just a waste of food. We might as well trade him for some money.”
“Niohuru Nianqi’s family has great influence in the Qing Dynasty. We should be able to negotiate favourable terms.”
The crowd buzzed with discussions. Wu Zhao remained noncommittal, her thoughts aligning with theirs initially. But after hearing Yang Yi’s idea, she reconsidered. Her gaze swept over the crowd before resting on him.
“Minister Yang, what do you think?”
The room’s attention gradually shifted to Yang Yi. Their feelings toward him were complicated. They acknowledged his talents, but his ruthless schemes were difficult for these traditional scholars to handle.
Li Yifu looked at Yang Yi with a complex expression. Over the past six months, Yang Yi had repeatedly outmanoeuvred him, causing even the Empress to grow cold toward him.
Unfazed by their gazes, Yang Yi smiled and asked, “May I ask, what is the best condition we can obtain by returning Niohuru Nianqi to Qianlong?”
The crowd was stunned, falling into deep thought.
Xu Jingzong stroked his beard and mused, “Two hundred thousand taels of silver? Three thousand bolts of silk? And one thousand horses?”
Yang Yi replied seriously, “Lord Xu, do you think these riches are more important or is an enemy general more valuable?”
Xu Jingzong narrowed his eyes.
“In terms of value, the person is, of course, more important. However, Niohuru Nianqi is of little use to us as long as he is in our hands.”
The other officials nodded, agreeing with this sentiment.
Xu Jingzong continued, “Besides, the conflict between the two countries has far-reaching consequences. If we give Qianlong some face at this time and return Niohuru Nianqi to the Qing Dynasty under certain conditions, perhaps this war will gradually die down.”
“After all, war is not beneficial to either country.”
Upon hearing this, the officials nodded in agreement. Xu Jingzong, a senior court official, clearly had a long-term perspective.
Yang Yi glanced at the crowd and then suddenly asked, “Do you all believe that the Great Zhou and the Qing Dynasty can return to peace?”
The hall suddenly fell silent as the officials exchanged uncertain glances.
One official couldn’t help but speak up.
“Minister Yang, do you intend to continue fighting the Qing Dynasty? Now that our Great Zhou has achieved victory, perhaps we should first consolidate the territories we’ve gained.”
This official was Zhang Jianzhi, the Minister of War. Currently, Yang Yi held the position of Deputy War Minister, making Zhang Jianzhi his direct superior.
Yang Yi folded his hands in a salute.
“Minister Zhang, while we may wish to consolidate the territories we’ve conquered, the enemy may not share that sentiment.”
“Qianlong, after his provocations against our Great Zhou, has now suffered a heavy defeat and lost face entirely. How could he be willing to cease hostilities?”
“I suspect Qianlong is currently mobilizing his troops, preparing to wage war against our Great Zhou once more.”
“If we return Niohuru Nianqi, won’t that reinvigorate their forces?”
“A skilled general is far more valuable in times of war than any material wealth.”
As Yang Yi’s words settled, Zhang Jianzhi fell into deep thought.
An elderly man in a purple robe beside him pondered aloud, “So, Minister Yang, what is your suggestion?”
Yang Yi turned to the elder, recognizing him as Wei Yuanzhong, a Veteran Minister who had served the founding emperor of the Great Zhou. Along with Xu Jingzong and others, Wei was a pillar of the empire.
Though Li Yifu held considerable power, his recent rise lacked the seniority and legacy of these veterans.
Yang Yi smiled.
“Lord Wei, I believe that since we are already at war, and the enemy shows no intention of surrendering, we might as well humiliate them to the very end!”
Wei Yuanzhong was momentarily stunned, his aged but sharp eyes filled with astonishment.
“Minister Yang… are you suggesting we kill Niohuru Nianqi?”
The room fell into a heavy silence. The officials collectively gasped, their eyes wide with shock as they processed Yang Yi’s ruthless proposal.
No wonder he’s known as the most ruthless strategist in Great Zhou, they thought. Even now, he’s plotting to unnerve the enemy further.
Rejecting Qianlong’s proposal and executing his most trusted general? That would send Qianlong into a fit of rage! A true psychological strike.
Xu Jingzong stroked his beard, a wry smile appearing on his wrinkled face.
“The young certainly do have boldness…”
The other ministers nodded, though their apprehension was clear. The Qing Dynasty was still a formidable power. The Manchu cavalry had once ruled vast swathes of land. While the Great Zhou were not afraid, they didn’t wish to provoke unnecessary conflict.
Many of the officials believed in negotiating where possible and maintaining stability as the priority.
They had not anticipated Yang Yi’s desire to provoke Qianlong so brazenly. While Yang Yi speculated that Qianlong might attack again, it was still conjecture. Actively antagonizing him was an entirely different matter.