Ren Shijie glanced toward the painted screen, then continued: “Yan’s errors are undeniable, but Great Zhou’s Emperor has a compassionate heart for the people, and naturally, our Yan Emperor also has compassion for his subjects. Therefore… before departing, both His Majesty and the Regent spoke to me, saying that as long as we can stop the blades of war and cease the flames of battle, Yan… is willing to submit to Great Zhou as a vassal and pay tribute! We only ask that the common people no longer suffer the torment of war!”

Speaking thus, Ren Shijie stepped forward and drew another state document from within his robes, raising it high above his head: “This is a state document I redrafted on my way to meet Great Zhou’s Emperor. It has been sealed with both the imperial seal and the Regent’s seal. I beseech Your Majesty to review it.”

Bai Jinzhi looked toward Bai Qingyan.

Seeing Ren Shijie present the letter and state document, Yan’s Minister of Revenue quickly tucked away the document in his own hands and stepped back, unable to suppress the desolate feeling rising in his heart.

Yan… had finally come to this step after all.

Bai Qingyan tapped her fingers against the table intermittently. She could guess that… if Murong Li could retreat to the point of being willing to submit to Great Zhou as a vassal and pay tribute, then Great Zhou could certainly push for even more.

It seemed Murong Li had made a very difficult decision.

After a long while, she finally spoke: “Master Ren and I have known each other for many years. I had always thought Master Ren was a man of few words, never imagining… that Master Ren could be so eloquent and persuasive.”

Seeing that Bai Qingyan showed no intention of examining Yan’s state document, Wei Zhong remained standing behind her without moving…

“I… am clumsy with words, how could I deserve the description of eloquent and persuasive? I am merely speaking according to facts.” Ren Shijie lowered his head even further, his posture becoming increasingly respectful.

“I will not read the state document!” Bai Qingyan’s voice was gentle, showing no intention of making things difficult for Ren Shijie, though one could hear the regret in her tone. “Yan’s Emperor once proposed wagering the nation with the Great Zhou, and I agreed! But looking at Yan’s current state, he cannot even control his own country—how can he speak of wagering a nation with me?”

Ren Shijie stared at the carpet beneath his feet. Before coming here… he had already guessed that perhaps this would be the result, which was why he had gone to speak privately with Murong Li.

“Originally, the wager with Yan was not set as the loser paying tribute and submitting as a vassal! Rather, it was complete annexation by one nation. The original covenant was signed by Yan’s Minister of Revenue—I believe the Minister still remembers!”

Hearing Bai Qingyan call him by name, Yan’s Minister of Revenue quickly bowed deeply in salute.

“Now, seeing that the Yan Emperor cannot even control his own country, this wager… I fear he cannot win against Great Zhou either!” Bai Qingyan looked toward Ren Shijie through the landscape painted screen. “Tell the Yan Emperor to admit defeat, submit to Great Zhou, and surrender to Great Zhou!”

Yan’s Minister of Revenue’s eyes widened suddenly as he straightened and spoke: “The time for the wager has not yet arrived…”

“Minister!” Bai Qingyu interrupted the Minister of Revenue’s words, smiling faintly as she stood up. “If Yan pays tribute and submits as a vassal to become Great Zhou’s tributary state… on what grounds does the Minister believe that we, the great and vast Great Zhou, would be willing to wager our nation with a mere tributary?”

Yan’s Minister of Revenue’s face went pale. It wasn’t that he hadn’t considered this; he had simply held onto a thread of hope.

“When the wager covenant was originally signed, our Great Zhou had heavy troops pressing at the borders, with blades already at Yan’s throat. You came seeking an opportunity, and we gave it! This time… without Xiliang tying our hands, we Great Zhou have trapped Yan’s forces within our borders, attacking Yan territory with several times more troops than last time, all of them true elite forces! All of Great Zhou is united in waiting to destroy Yan.” Bai Qingyu walked to Yan’s Minister of Revenue’s side with her hands clasped behind her back, pacing half a circle around him before stopping, looking down at the Minister, who was bowing to her. “What room does Yan have to bargain with Great Zhou? Or perhaps… aside from using our Great Zhou Emperor’s compassionate heart for the people as leverage, does Yan have any other bargaining chips?”

Yan’s Minister of Revenue was drenched in sweat. Yan was already in the wrong, and now he felt even more ashamed under the words of this Prince of Loyalty.

He had originally thought that Great Zhou’s most formidable figure was Liu Rushi, never expecting… that this Prince of Loyalty’s eloquence was no less impressive than Liu Rushi’s.

“I give Yan two choices.” Bai Qingyan spoke slowly. “First… submit to the Great Zhou. I will accept Yan’s court officials and properly settle Yan’s Emperor. Naturally… since the Great Zhou has no feudal princes, Yan cannot be an exception either. This matter must be handled by your Yan Emperor himself to convince the feudal princes! The second path… is for Great Zhou’s mighty army to destroy Yan!”

Yan truly had no choice.

“I give you thirteen days to send word back to Yan’s capital. During this period, the army I lead will temporarily cease hostilities, and I will also send people to notify the other three armies to pause their advance toward Yan’s capital. After thirteen days without a reply… no matter who Yan sends or what they say, it will be useless.”

When Yan’s Minister of Revenue, Ren Shijie, and the Honglu Si Minister, who had not dared to speak throughout the meeting, emerged from the royal tent, their faces were full of worry.

If it were only submitting to the Great Zhou, Ren Shijie, who had received His Majesty’s authorization before departing, could make that decision.

But Great Zhou’s Emperor also demanded that Yan handle the matter of abolishing feudal princes themselves—this was difficult.

“Send someone back to deliver a message to His Majesty and the Regent!” Ren Shijie let out a long sigh.

Inside the royal tent, Bai Qingyan also spoke to Bai Jinzhi: “Little Four, you make the trip. You must catch up with your Second Sister and Fifth Brother before they reach Prince Ji’an’s territory. Tell them not to advance toward Yan’s capital for thirteen days starting from today. During these thirteen days, Yan’s Prince Ji’an may make a move. Tell them to be on guard, and once this Prince Ji’an takes desperate measures, tell your Second Sister and Third Brother to show no mercy.”

Currently, of Great Zhou’s four armies, Bai Qingyu and Bai Jinxiu’s forces were closest to Yan’s capital.

“What about Third Brother and Little Five’s side? Should we send someone to notify them?” Bai Qingyu asked.

Bai Qingyan shook her head: “No need. Let A’Qi and the others proceed normally. If this Prince Ji’an knows that Yan’s submission to the Great Zhou requires abolishing feudal princes, he will certainly take desperate measures.”

Xiao Rongyan was in Yan’s capital, and seeing her demands, he would surely understand her meaning.

If Yan surrendered at this time, the matter of abolishing feudal princes would be dragged out, possibly leaving future troubles.

Bai Qingyan was not one who liked leaving future troubles, so it would be best if Yan’s feudal prince matter could be resolved cleanly at this time.

“Elder Sister, rest assured, I understand!” Bai Jinzhi nodded and bowed deeply to Bai Qingyan. “I’ll depart immediately!”

She stood up and patted Bai Jinzhi’s head, instructing: “Take more troops with you, and be careful on the road!”

Watching Bai Jinzhi leave the royal tent, Bai Qingyu stepped forward and asked her elder sister in a low voice: “Elder Sister, about Lu Yuanpeng… are you not telling Little Four?”

Bai Qingyan’s palm tightened as she shook her head: “Better not to tell her yet. When the war ends, she’ll know. For now, let’s not let her be distracted!”

After speaking, she turned to look at Bai Qingyu and said to her brother: “Send envoys to Tianfeng Nation, deliver a declaration of war, and tell Tianfeng Nation… that we Great Zhou, already know about the collusion between Tianfeng Nation and Yan’s feudal princes. Yan has already submitted a state document to surrender to the Great Zhou.”