USWHC -Chapter 524 The Rivers and Mountains of Daliang (Part 4)

In the imperial study, the Emperor sat alone above, looking down at Ji Yi kneeling before him. He couldn’t help but smile with satisfaction. Yet even so, he deliberately spoke in a cold tone: “I will ask you again—regarding Qi, do you truly advocate war?”

Ji Yi paused briefly in thought, then answered immediately, “If Qi is not eliminated, the realm cannot be at peace!”

Hearing this, the Emperor’s brows furrowed sharply. But in the next moment, Ji Yi, without even raising his head, added immediately, “Yet stabilizing the realm is not achieved through a single battle alone!”

The Emperor’s heart stirred at these words. “Oh? And what is your proposal, minister?”

“Just as the Second Prince said today: those who attack order with chaos perish; when a nation falls into disorder, it collapses!” Ji Yi declared, his voice resonant and firm.

“What do you mean? Qi is far from chaotic!” Although Ji Yi spoke as if Qi were utterly weak today, the old Emperor knew better—it was all deliberate exaggeration. Anyone believing it blindly would be foolish.

Yet Ji Yi spoke with unusual certainty: “Qi will fall into chaos soon!”

“Ah? Is that so?” The old Emperor was astonished at the certainty in Ji Yi’s voice, almost wide-eyed.

“I would not speak a single false word!” Ji Yi said steadily and confidently. “It is common knowledge that the Qi Emperor’s health is failing. Qi has yet to appoint a crown prince. Once the Qi Emperor passes, disorder will inevitably follow!”

Indeed, he didn’t say the Qi Emperor had already died; he used “passes” intentionally to slightly lower the emperor’s stature. To the Emperor guarding Daliang, he was already giving Qi’s ruler considerable face by not saying outright that he had kicked the bucket.

Of course, the old Emperor wasn’t thinking about such nuances. His concern was whether Qi would actually fall into chaos. “Even so, Qi might not necessarily descend into disorder?”

“As long as we Daliang provoke a little, or use spies in secret, Qi will have no choice but to descend into chaos!” Ji Yi said with complete confidence. “The visitor today was Qi’s Second Prince. The Qi Emperor has three sons: the eldest is ambitious, the second is cunning and ruthless, and the third is no pushover either. Once the Qi Emperor is gone, which of the three would not desire the throne?”

“Even if not all three descend into chaos, as long as two clash, the state will inevitably fall into disorder. If the two sides are evenly matched, the chaos could last a long time!” Ji Yi said slyly.

“How do you know if the two will be evenly matched?” The old Emperor asked with some exasperation. If one strong hand acted decisively, wouldn’t it end quickly?

Ji Yi let out a mischievous laugh. “As long as we have the will, they can always be evenly matched!”

“Ah? You have a method?” Seeing Ji Yi’s confident expression, the old Emperor’s eyes lit up with delight.

“Whoever is weak will be assisted; whoever is strong will be challenged—problem solved! Your Majesty, that requires careful planning, but if you leave it to me, I will guarantee success!” Ji Yi said lightly. “Once they are in disorder, we can strike Qi at any moment. I have this confidence, so that wherever the sun shines, it will belong to Daliang!”

The Emperor’s heart thundered at Ji Yi’s confidence. His heartbeat was no longer that of an old man—it was like that of a newborn. He was so excited, as if he could truly see the imperial map of Daliang expanding endlessly.

What a talent! The old Emperor’s eyes shone, and he felt ten years younger. With this talent, his empire, his Daliang, his future—all would be secure, glorious, and limitless!

The sun shining everywhere, all belonging to Daliang? Ha! Alas, it was all just a dream. For the ancients had no world map; otherwise, they would know the world is vast, impossible to survey completely. And to claim it all as one’s own? That was just Ji Yi painting a grand picture—a tempting cake to lure the Emperor’s precious daughter.

At this moment, Ji Yi truly exuded an aura of dignity, steadiness, and majesty—the standard of a pillar of the nation. His strategy, his bearing, made him a minister the Emperor could trust and rely upon. No—he was precisely the talent the Emperor urgently needed now!

The old Emperor and Ji Yi exchanged a smile, and the excitement in their eyes overflowed, plain for all to see.