Chapter 62 You Let Go of This PalaceChapter 1307: What Will He Do
As soon as Zhou Ping'an uttered those words, the expression on Zhou Changshou's face froze instantly.
It was as if time had stopped for him, even his breath slowed to an almost imperceptible pace.
Zhou Changshou's brain was racing, following the line of thought Zhou Ping'an had given him.
"From the beginning, the imperial court had no intention of dealing with King Ning because they simply couldn't. Not to mention the renowned Yan Yun Sixteen Cavalry, nor the years of painstaking effort King Ning had put in. To move against King Ning, one would have to use force to subdue him, but would King Ning ever submit"
"Therefore, the imperial court's move against King Ning was a preparation for an internal war, and it had to be a decisive victory. A single battle to determine the fate of the empire, with absolutely no room for any unforeseen circumstances."
But does the court have this ability now No, so the court doesn't intend to move King Ning for now.
"The true intention behind sending me here is to force the King of Ning to obey the Imperial Court and the East Palace's orders, and to support Yueya Pass in dealing with the Liao army."
But King Ning wouldn't have it.
"The Liao army is difficult to deal with, and others don't know this as well as Prince Ning. He fights for the court, risking his own strength. This kind of situation is a sure loss for Prince Ning, who has ambitions to dominate the Central Plains. Therefore, the crown prince must find a way to force Prince Ning into action."
"He's no good with words, and he's no good with martial arts, so we have to use strategy. We need a combination of both literary and military tactics to pressure him."
"If the Prince of Ning wants to ascend the imperial throne in the future, he must have a good reputation and at least avoid leaving too many blemishes. Because for a vassal king to take the Golden Throne is essentially rebellion, the Prince of Ning must find ways to strengthen his image and gain the support of the people. Otherwise, he would be an emperor who is unjustly seated and not recognized by the world. How can he still be called an emperor"
"This is Ning Wang's concern. As long as there is a concern, then he has a weakness. Since there is a weakness, it is an opportunity we can use."
"Concealing and manufacturing private weapons is a grave crime, punishable by death. The Prince knows this full well."
He was also afraid, afraid of public opinion and the world's scrutiny. He was even more afraid that the imperial court would be forced into a corner and would have no choice but to take drastic measures against him. Even if the imperial court was weak, it was still the court of the Qin Dynasty. The resources at its disposal were something that the King of Ning could not match. If the imperial court truly went all out to capture him, even if the King of Ning managed to win, he would be severely weakened and would essentially lose his chance to compete for control of the Central Plains.
"Such a high cost would almost make King Ning's lifelong efforts come to naught. So he fears, so he sends so many people to capture us. This shows that he is furious and wants to vent his anger and seek revenge. He wants to threaten the court with our lives."
But he, you, everyone is wrong about one thing. Since the court's real purpose is to have him deal with the Liao army, then this time, it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
As long as the court provided a pretext for cover, this matter could be easily swept under the rug. In exchange, King Ning had to genuinely deal with the Liao army; otherwise, he would face utter destruction.
"Speaking of which, Zhou Ping'an gave Zhou Changshou a brilliant smile and said, 'Second brother, with your understanding of King Ning, what choice do you think he will make'"
Zhou Changshou looked at Zhou Ping'an for a long time, without saying a word.
Silence is an attitude and a response.
Zhou Ping'an smiled triumphantly and said, "Since childhood, your strength, second brother, has always been in management and administration, while my strength is precisely those crooked and unconventional ideas. This time, I still won by a hair."Chapter 592 Obstruction