YWTGU -Chapter 41 This Is Simply Winning Without Fighting!

After the court session ended, Li An returned to the Top Scholar’s Mansion in high spirits.

He was humming a little tune all the way home.

Though it was an ancient melody, the pride and satisfaction in him couldn’t be hidden.

“Young Master, you were truly impressive in court today,” Hongmei said, entering with a cup of tea.

“Of course,” Li An replied. He took the cup and drank with relish.

“This time, I really went all out. I sent them the defense maps of the capital!”

“The Northern Yan army has already mobilized; the national fortune of Great Qi is bound to drop!”

He glanced at the system panel.

【First Cycle Countdown: 11 hours 22 minutes】

【Current National Fortune: 139,479】

Less than half a day remained.

The national fortune had already dropped by 8,000 points.

If this kept up, he would make a fortune in gold!

“Young Master, are you really that confident?”

Hongmei sat down, looking at Li An’s smug expression.

“Of course,” Li An said, crossing his legs.

“I’ve marked the lifelines of the capital.”

“If the Emperor of Northern Yan still doesn’t act, then he’s a fool.”

“Now that their army has gathered, once they attack, Great Qi is doomed!”

Hongmei felt a mix of emotions.

Could Young Master really succeed this time…?

Meanwhile, in the northern border of Great Qi, The border commander stood atop the city wall, gazing at the Northern Yan military camp in the distance, his face grave.

“General, Northern Yan has reinforced their troops again!”

The deputy general hurried over.

“This is already the third batch today!”

“Looks like… they really are going to attack!”

The commander took a deep breath.

“Send a pigeon post immediately to report this to the court!”

“Yes, sir!”

The deputy general turned and left.

The commander stared at the distant Northern Yan camp, unease growing in his heart.

Northern Yan this time… seems very determined.

Back in the capital, at the Top Scholar’s Mansion, The system panel in front of Li An suddenly flickered.

Ding!

【Detection: Northern Yan continues troop reinforcement at the border!】

【Great Qi border commander reports to the court again!】

【News spreading throughout the capital…】

Li An’s eyes lit up.

Good! Keep reinforcing!

He stood up excitedly, pacing back and forth in the room.

“Northern Yan is getting serious!”

“This will surely terrify the people of Great Qi even more!”

“National fortune will drop!”

Hongmei watched Li An’s excited expression and felt tense as well.

“Young Master, should we—”

“Wait.”

Li An sat back down.

“Wait and see Great Qi’s national fortune plummet.”

He stared intently at the system panel.

【Current National Fortune: 139,479】

Drop!

Hurry and drop!

Half an hour later, in the Imperial Study:

“Your Majesty! Urgent news from the border!”

Eunuch Liu rushed in with a military report.

“Northern Yan has reinforced their troops again! Looks like a major attack is imminent!”

Emperor Zhao Ling’er was reviewing memorials, and her face changed at the news.

“Reinforcements again?”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

Eunuch Liu knelt.

“The border commander reports that Northern Yan has sent another fifty thousand troops. The total forces gathered at the border now exceed 250,000!”

Zhao Ling’er sprang to her feet.

Two hundred fifty thousand troops?

This… this is a full-scale national assault on Great Qi?

“Issue orders!”

She took a deep breath.

“Allocate 100,000 taels for military funds and strengthen border defenses!”
“Grand Marshal Sun Qian leads 30,000 troops to reinforce the border immediately!”
“Prince Liu to assist in gathering provisions!”
“Prime Minister Wang Fu to remain in the capital to stabilize the people!”

“Yes!”

Eunuch Liu quickly withdrew.

Zhao Ling’er returned to the dragon throne, holding the military report, her mind in turmoil.

Northern Yan… why suddenly such large-scale troop movements?

Could it really be because Li An borrowed the defense maps?

No, impossible.

Li An is loyal to Great Qi.

He would never betray me.

It must be a coincidence.

Back at the Top Scholar’s Mansion:

Ding!

【Detection: Great Qi court responding urgently!】

【Officials unite to resist foreign invaders!】

【Grand Marshal Sun Qian leading troops!】

【Prince Liu donating part of family wealth as military funds!】

【Prime Minister Wang Fu stabilizing the capital!】

Li An stared at the system prompts, feeling uneasy.

This… why are they uniting?

But it doesn’t matter.

As long as Northern Yan attacks, Great Qi will surely fall!

He continued staring at the system panel.

Ding!

【Detection: Great Qi court united against foreign invaders!】

【National cohesion increased!】

【The people see the court’s determination; panic subsides!】

【Money earned from the exhibition is put to use!】

【Great Qi National Fortune +5,000】

【Current National Fortune: 144,479】

“What?!”

Li An almost spat out his tea.

“Increased?!”

“By 5,000 points?!”

He stared at the system panel, unable to believe his eyes.

It had just dropped 8,000 points.

Now it jumps 5,000?

What the hell is going on?

Hongmei was stunned too.

“Young Master… what’s happening?”

“Shut up!”

Li An waved her off.

“Let me calm down.”

He took a deep breath, forcing himself to relax.

It’s fine.

As long as Northern Yan really attacks, Great Qi will fall.

The national fortune will drop then.

He continued watching the system panel, waiting for Northern Yan’s offensive.

Early the next morning, in the capital, at a teahouse:

“Have you heard? Northern Yan mobilized troops, but they didn’t attack!”

“Really?”

“Absolutely! My cousin is serving at the border. He said the Northern Yan army just gathered at the border, no intention to attack!”

“Then… what’s going on?”

“Who knows…”

“I think Northern Yan doesn’t dare to fight!”

“Right! They must have been intimidated by our national might!”

“Think about it, the exhibition recently—how much money did Great Qi make?”

“Northern Yan surely sees how strong we are and dares not attack!”

“Hahaha! True!”

“Your Majesty is wise! Lord Li is wise!”

The citizens’ panic gradually dissipated, replaced by an inexplicable sense of pride.

Back at the Top Scholar’s Mansion,

Li An was drinking tea when the system panel flickered.

Ding!

【Detection: Northern Yan army bluffs, then does not act!】

【Panic among Great Qi citizens disappears!】

【The people believe Northern Yan dares not attack, intimidated by Great Qi’s national might!】

【Rumors spread: “Great Qi National Might Far-Reaching”!】

【Confidence of the people surges!】

【Great Qi National Fortune +8,000】

【Current National Fortune: 152,479】

“Pfft—”

Li An spat out his tea.

“What?!”

“Increased again?!”

“By 8,000 points?!”

He stared at the system panel, dumbfounded.

This… how is this possible?

Northern Yan was supposed to attack!

Why just bluff?

And the people of Great Qi should be panicking, right?

Why instead is their confidence skyrocketing?

“Young Master…”

Hongmei was also completely baffled.

“What… what is happening?”

“How would I know?!”

Li An slammed the table, completely losing it.

“I sent them the defense maps of the capital!”

“Why isn’t the Emperor of Northern Yan attacking?!”

“Is he an idiot?!”

Hongmei could only shrug helplessly.

She didn’t know what Northern Yan’s emperor was thinking.

Clearly, he had the defense maps, so why not attack?

Could it be…

Could the Emperor of Northern Yan have another plan?

Back at the Top Scholar’s Mansion,

Li An slumped in his chair, staring at the system panel, completely dumbfounded.

【First Cycle Settlement Countdown: 03:17】

【Current National Luck: 152,479】

Less than three hours remained.

Instead of falling, the national luck had risen.

All his efforts over the past month were wasted.

“Master, are you alright?”

Hongmei asked, worriedly looking at Li An.

“I’m fine.”

Li An waved his hand.

“I’m just… a little tired.”

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

What had he done this past month?

Cursed the emperor, became the top scholar.

Sold government positions, became a master of making money.

Organized an exposition, became the richest man.

Built wine pools and meat forests, became an auspicious omen.

Sold state secrets, and…

Became what?

He didn’t know.

But he knew one thing—he had failed again.

……

Imperial Study.

“Your Majesty, a secret report.”

Eunuch Liu entered, handing over a confidential document.

Zhao Ling’er took the report, unfolded it, and her expression changed.

“What? The Northern Yan side received information about the capital’s defenses?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Eunuch Liu knelt.

“Our spies reported that the Northern Yan seems to have obtained intelligence about the capital’s defenses.”

“The source of the intelligence might be internal.”

Zhao Ling’er suddenly stood up.

A traitor in the capital?

She suddenly remembered something.

Li An had borrowed the defense maps a few days ago…

Could it be…

No, impossible.

Li An was loyal to Great Qi.

He could never betray me.

But…

If it wasn’t Li An, then who could it be?

Zhao Ling’er sat back on the dragon throne, lost in thought.

Li An borrowed the defense maps…

Northern Yan received the intelligence…

Northern Yan’s army mobilized…

But Northern Yan didn’t attack…

Suddenly, her eyes lit up.

That’s it!

If Li An really were a traitor, why didn’t Northern Yan attack immediately?

If the intelligence he sent were genuine, they would have struck at once.

But they didn’t.

What does this mean?

It means…

The information Li An sent was fake!

Or rather…

Li An deliberately “leaked” information to Northern Yan, making them think there was an opportunity.

But in reality, it was a trap!

Northern Yan saw through the trap, so they didn’t dare attack!

The more Zhao Ling’er thought, the more it made sense.

Yes!

It had to be this!

Li An was using a counterintelligence strategy!

He deliberately “leaked” information to Northern Yan, causing their army to mobilize.

But in reality, it was a trap.

Northern Yan saw through it, so they dared not attack.

And Northern Yan’s bluff, in turn, made Great Qi’s people more united and confident!

This… this was simply winning without fighting!

Zhao Ling’er stood up, excited.

“Li An…”

“You truly are my right-hand minister!”

“For the sake of Great Qi, you willingly bore the suspicion of ‘colluding with the enemy’!”

“I understand your effort!”

She turned to Eunuch Liu:

“Issue the decree! Reward Li An handsomely!”

“Grant him a thousand taels of gold and a hundred bolts of silk!”

“And also, bestow upon Li An the title of…”

She thought for a moment.

“Appoint Li An as Great Qi’s special envoy, responsible for diplomatic affairs!”

Eunuch Liu was taken aback.

“Your Majesty, this…”

“Do as I say!”

Zhao Ling’er waved her hand.

“Li An has done great service for Great Qi. I must reward him!”

“Yes!”

Eunuch Liu quickly withdrew.

Zhao Ling’er sat back on the dragon throne, gazing out the window with a faint smile.

Li An… Li An.

You truly are my lucky star.

……

Top Scholar’s Mansion.

Li An was drinking tea when suddenly a messenger outside shouted.

“Master Li! The Emperor has issued a decree!”

Li An was stunned.

A decree from His Majesty?

At this moment?

He hurried outside.

Outside, Eunuch Liu arrived with a group of eunuchs, holding the imperial decree.

“Master Li, receive the decree.”

Li An knelt.

“I, Li An, receive the decree.”

Eunuch Liu opened the decree and read aloud:

“By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Li An, loyal and devoted, has relieved the nation’s burdens. He is hereby granted a thousand taels of gold, a hundred bolts of silk, and appointed as Great Qi’s special envoy responsible for diplomatic affairs. So it is ordered!”

Hearing this, Li An was dumbfounded.

A huge reward?

An official appointment?

What… what is going on?

Hadn’t he sent out the defense maps?

Why was he being rewarded?

“Master Li, receive the decree.”

Eunuch Liu said with a smile.

“His Majesty said you did great service for Great Qi. This is what you deserve.”

Li An mechanically accepted the decree.

“I… I thank Your Majesty.”

Eunuch Liu left with the eunuchs.

Li An stood there, holding the decree, completely stunned.

What… what on earth had happened?

He had sent out the defense maps.

Northern Yan mobilized their army.

But Northern Yan didn’t attack.

The people of Great Qi grew immensely confident.

National luck skyrocketed.

And now he was being heavily rewarded.

What… what kind of situation was this?

Hongmei came over, looking at the decree in Li An’s hands, equally bewildered.

“Master, this…”

“Don’t speak.”

Li An waved her off.

“Let me be.”

He returned to his room and slumped into a chair.

Staring at the system panel.

【First Cycle Settlement Countdown: 00:00】

Ding!

【First Cycle Settlement Begins!】

Li An took a deep breath.

It’s here.

Finally here.

【===First Cycle Settlement===】

【Cycle Duration: 1 Month】

【Cycle Role: Northern Yan Spy (Should Reduce Great Qi’s National Luck)】

【Cycle Starting National Luck: 88,000】

【Cycle Ending National Luck: 152,479】

【Net Change: +64,479】

【Judgment: Severely Against Role!】

Li An stared at the system panel, his heart sinking.

One month of effort.

Resulting in a national luck surge of 100,000 points.

【Reward Calculating…】

【National Luck Change: +64,479 points】

【Against Role, Reward Coefficient: 0.01】

【Base Reward: 64,479 × 0.01 = 644.79 taels of gold】

【Against Role Penalty: -50%】

【Final Reward: 322.395 taels of gold】

【System Treasury Balance: 322.395 taels of gold】

Li An looked at the numbers on the system panel, completely stunned.

Three hundred taels of gold?

All that effort over a month, and he only got three hundred taels?

If he had followed his role and reduced 80,000 points of national luck, that would’ve been eight million taels of gold!

And now only three hundred?

The… the gap is just insane.

【Warning: Host Severely Against Role!】

【Compensation Task Generating…】

【Second Cycle Role Drawing…】

Li An stared at the system panel, his heart tightening.

Compensation task?

Second cycle role drawing?

What the hell was this?

Right! A month ago, the system explained that in each cycle, his role could change, and it was randomly drawn!

【Second Cycle Role Drawing…】

【Current Possible Roles: Northern Yan Spy, Great Qi Official】

【Drawing…】

A roulette appeared on the system panel.

Two options on the wheel.

One was “Northern Yan Spy.”

One was “Great Qi Official.”

The wheel began to spin.

Li An stared at the wheel.

If it’s still Northern Yan Spy, he’ll continue sabotaging the nation… now that he had experience, he didn’t believe the national luck would fail.

If it’s Great Qi Official… then he’d need to find ways to boost national luck. That’s easy! He could even make the national luck rise crazily while trying to sabotage it, so with his modern thinking, he could easily make it surge again!

No matter the outcome, Li An felt that his next cycle was definitely secure!

The wheel spun slower and slower.

Slower and slower.

Finally…

It stopped at…