The common people felt that the Yan Kingdom was the kind of nation that, as long as given the slightest opportunity, once they recovered, they would become the most formidable and terrifying enemy. If Yan were not destroyed now, fighting them in the future would surely cost much more in manpower and resources. It would be better to take advantage of Yan Kingdom’s current wrongdoing and destroy the nation in one stroke, while also occupying the moral high ground and acting with righteous justification.

A minority of the people did not understand why the two kingdoms could not coexist. Western Liang had already been destroyed… the two kingdoms were allies who could maintain good relations and cease hostilities, allowing both the people and soldiers to rest and recuperate. Would this not be the best of both worlds? Why must they exhaust their military resources and fight to the death, insisting on unifying all under heaven?

Not only the common people, but even the scholars were divided into two factions – one favoring war, the other advocating peaceful coexistence.

Although Bai Qingyan was still in her double confinement period, she had heard that the Imperial Academy had already held several discussion sessions, allowing students with different opinions to debate each other.

Upon hearing this, Bai Qingyan felt quite comforted. Whether in court or among the people, what she wanted was precisely this kind of flourishing prosperity where everyone could speak freely, express their views, and let a hundred schools of thought contend.

By having the people participate in discussions of national affairs, this would make them love their country more. From the ruler above to the common people below, they could work together with one heart to build their nation better.

When Bai Qingyan was reading through the books left by Empress Ji, she particularly loved Empress Ji’s phrase “return governance to the people.” By having the people voluntarily participate in national affairs, pooling wisdom would surely make a country better.

Moreover, when the people were willing to participate in national affairs, this would certainly prove that the country’s system at least allowed the people to have adequate food and clothing. Otherwise, if the people were concerned only with matters of basic sustenance, who would have the leisure to worry about national affairs?

At this time, Bai Qingyan understood that the groundwork she had laid for the merger of the two kingdoms was nearly complete. Presumably, after Xiao Rongyan reached the Yan capital, Murong Li would also announce the merger of the two kingdoms to the Yan court officials. Since things had reached this point… Bai Qingyan decided not to keep it from Grand Marshal Lu, Minister Shen, and Minister Dong any longer.

That noon, when the Empress Dowager summoned Grand Marshal Lu, Minister Shen, and Minister Dong, the three men were not particularly surprised when they arrived at Magnolia Pavilion in the Bai residence. Before Bai Qingyan had ascended the throne, when she summoned them for discussions, it was always at Magnolia Pavilion in the Bai residence.

It was only after Zhen Ming bowed and led the three men inside, when they passed the screen and did not see the Empress Dowager but instead saw their Great Zhou Emperor Bai Qingyan, that they showed surprise.

Bai Qingyan was kneeling beside a low table, reading a letter from Murong Li and memorials sent by Qin Lang from Hancheng. The three men looked at each other in astonishment, and only when they saw Bai Qingyan look toward them did they hurriedly prostrate themselves in greeting.

“Grand Marshal Lu, Minister Shen, and Minister Dong need not stand on ceremony.” Bai Qingyan set aside Murong Li’s letter and Qin Lang’s memorials, casually picked up the small teapot from the red clay brazier beside her, and poured tea for the three men. “Please sit…”

Bai Qingyan’s uncle, Dong Qingping, rose first, followed by Grand Marshal Lu and Minister Shen. The three men lifted the hems of their official robes and knelt across from Bai Qingyan’s low table.

“Your Majesty has returned – why not return to the palace, but remain at the Bai residence instead?” Grand Marshal Lu had just settled when he inquired with concern, “Is Your Majesty’s health still well?”

Previously there had been rumors that the Empress Dowager had brought the Little Princess and Little Prince back to the Bai residence to cover for Imperial Physician Huang going to treat Bai Qingyan, whose condition was supposedly poor. Although he knew such rumors were baseless, Grand Marshal Lu could not help but worry.

Bai Qingyan smiled and said, “Grand Marshal, please be at ease. My health is fine. I asked the three ministers here today to discuss… a matter concerning the merger of Yan Kingdom and Great Zhou.”

After Bai Qingyan spoke these words lightly, the three ministers were momentarily unable to react.

Not about attacking the Yan Kingdom, but about the merger of the Yan Kingdom and the Great Zhou?

The three ministers looked at each other, and Shen Jingzhong could not contain himself, asking Bai Qingyan again in disbelief: “Your Majesty, you spoke of… the merger of the two kingdoms? Not destroying Yan?”

“Correct… it is the merger of the two kingdoms, achieving peace without war, not destroying Yan.” Bai Qingyan nodded with a smile. “This matter was discussed with Yan Kingdom’s Emperor Murong Li and Yan Kingdom’s Ninth Prince early after my enthronement.”

Speaking thus, Bai Qingyan pushed Murong Li’s letter toward the three ministers for them to read.

The three ministers huddled together, carefully reading Murong Li’s letter.

Bai Qingyan rested her elbow on the armrest and, seeing the three ministers still reading, spoke slowly: “This time… it happened that Yan Kingdom’s Empress Dowager stabbed us in the back, betraying our Great Zhou to Western Liang, resulting in A’Yu being captured alive. Taking advantage of this opportunity… our Great Zhou deployed troops at Yan Kingdom’s borders, and our Great Zhou soldiers, the Bai Family Army, and Zhao Family Army in Western Liang held the Yan forces in Western Liang in check – all of this was our Great Zhou paving the way in preparation for the merger of the two kingdoms!”

After speaking, Bai Qingyan smiled at the three ministers: “I did not tell the three ministers about this matter earlier because the great affair was not yet settled. I worried that some unforeseen change might cause you all to rejoice in vain, so I also made preparations for both possibilities!”

At the end of the letter, Dong Qingping saw that Yan Emperor Murong Li mentioned he had already sent an envoy to Great Zhou, planning to inform the Yan court officials that he had sent an envoy to Zhou if he could not persuade them, and requesting that Bai Qingyan find a way to ensure the safe passage of Yan Kingdom’s envoy Wang Hanbing. He looked up at Bai Qingyan, waiting for her to continue.

“This time… Yan Kingdom’s Ninth Prince brought the trusted followers of old General Cui Shanzhong back to the Yan capital, implicating the Yan Empress Dowager. The Yan Emperor can then naturally claim that to protect the Yan Empress Dowager and to protect Yan Kingdom, he decided on this strategy of merging the two kingdoms based on competing national policies, to secure a thread of hope and breathing room for Yan Kingdom in the current situation!” Bai Qingyan’s brows carried a very faint smile. “Naturally, the reason the Yan Emperor and Yan Ninth Prince previously dared to agree with me on this method of competing through national policies was, firstly, because the Yan Emperor and Yan Ninth Prince had great confidence in their Yan Kingdom’s national policies, and secondly… it was also to reduce bloodshed and sacrifice among the soldiers.”

She looked up at the three ministers who had finished reading the letter and asked: “I wonder, do the three ministers have confidence in our Great Zhou’s new policies?”

Grand Marshal Lu was the first to bow to Bai Qingyan, saying with certainty: “When Your Majesty wanted to implement the new policies, this old minister once studied the national policies that the Yan Kingdom currently implements domestically. Yan Kingdom’s national policies were the new policies implemented when Yan Kingdom’s Empress Ji was alive. Although this old minister initially thought… Empress Ji’s new policies were more prudent, and Your Majesty’s new policies took too large a step, but looking at it now… this old minister believes Your Majesty’s new policies are superior!”

Grand Marshal Lu spoke these words from his heart. Especially measures like allowing women to study and participate in the imperial examinations had indeed attracted much genuine talent that could be put to use by Great Zhou.