After just a moment of contemplation, Qin Huaiyuan replied: “In response to Your Majesty, this minister believes the northern Tatar matter should be considered primary. The Tatars are fierce warriors, and Khan Wute’s capabilities should not be underestimated. The northern territories of Great Zhou are our base. Once the capital is lost, we would become rootless drifting weeds, so the capital absolutely cannot be abandoned.

“However, the court’s treasury is currently strained. Though our Great Zhou soldiers are brave and fierce, they cannot fight battles on empty stomachs. Therefore, the South Yan matter can only be temporarily delayed. We should first stabilize the south and concentrate all our energy on dealing with the Tatars – this is the best strategy.”

“Minister Qin speaks truly.” Li Qitian nodded repeatedly.

The other ministers also nodded in agreement.

Since they lacked the capability to handle both fronts, if they could only choose one side, the most appropriate choice was indeed as Qin Huaiyuan had said.

“But how can we stabilize South Yan?” someone stepped forward to ask.

For a moment, no one could sort out a clear direction. They whispered among themselves in discussion, but none could explain a solution.

Qin Huaiyuan thought for a moment, then bowed: “In response to Your Majesty, this minister feels that Prince Yan colluding with the Tatars is understandable. After all, if we were in Prince Yan’s position, we would likely also ally with the Tatars – the enemy of my enemy is my friend.

However, this minister doesn’t understand why South Yan’s Yuchi Xuji, having already ascended to the throne as emperor, would so readily yield that position to let Prince Yan become emperor. After all, that position was hard-won. For Yuchi Xuji to give it up so easily and demote himself – this minister pondered long before forming a hypothesis.”

“What hypothesis? Minister Qin, speak freely!” Li Qitian leaned forward to ask.

Qin Huaiyuan said: “Your Majesty, Yuchi Xuji wants that position, but he fears people pointing fingers behind his back. What he wants is nothing more than legitimacy.”

At these words, Prince Li’s face turned ashen. These words struck directly at his heart, causing many nearby ministers to look at him with unclear meaning. Prince Li wished he could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.

Li Qitian sat high upon the imperial steps, naturally taking in Prince Li’s expression. He secretly laughed at Qin Huaiyuan’s merciless reasoning, inwardly pleased while saying: “Indeed, as you say, this is most likely. We call them South Yan, but they call themselves Great Yan – this shows Yuchi Xuji’s intentions clearly enough.”

“Your Majesty is wise.” Qin Huaiyuan bowed, then continued: “This minister doesn’t understand Yuchi Xuji personally, but anyone who can sit in that position is no fool. During this period when our Great Zhou has had no time to deal with them, Yuchi Xuji’s heart must be very clear on this point, so they inevitably live in fear.”

“This minister analyzes that the Tatars and Prince Yan must already be cooperating. The Tatars very likely made certain promises to Prince Yan. For instance, the Tatars promised Yuchi Yan they would help restrain our Great Zhou, preventing Great Zhou from having the energy to attack South Yan.

“Between Prince Yan and Yuchi Xuji, they may have agreed that Yuchi Xuji would first help Prince Yan regain the throne and recover Great Yan’s lost territories. When Great Yan regains control of the realm, Prince Yan could directly cede South Yan’s current territories to Yuchi Xuji, allowing him to legitimately rule a small nation.”

Hearing this, everyone couldn’t help but nod.

“Minister Qin’s words are quite reasonable.”

“Yes, Minister Qin speaks truly.”

“But given the current situation, what should we do?”

“Minister Qin’s thinking is thorough – he must already have a perfect strategy.”

Qin Huaiyuan nodded: “This minister does indeed have a method. I don’t know if it’s feasible.”

“Minister, speak freely.” Li Qitian smiled.

Qin Huaiyuan looked back at Pang Xiao, who stood first among the military nobles, sighed lightly and said: “This minister believes we should first send someone south to deliver a state document to South Yan’s Yuchi Xuji. Previously, we never recognized South Yan as an independent nation, only treating them as Yan Dynasty remnants to be eliminated when we had leisure. This caused their panic.

“This time, we send a state document recognizing South Yan as an independent nation, establish diplomatic relations with them, and sign a non-aggression treaty. This way they transform from Yan Dynasty remnants into an independent nation. The legitimacy Yuchi Xuji wants would be so easily obtained – no need to wait until helping Prince Yan regain the throne and reclaim Great Yan before receiving a territory allocation.

“Yuchi Xuji yielded his position to Prince Yan for his own future legitimacy and reputation. But with our state document, Prince Yan’s existence instead becomes a stumbling block on Yuchi Xuji’s path to success. How they contend with each other then becomes their own affair.”

The hall fell completely silent at this moment. Everyone looking at Qin Huaiyuan’s back felt a chill. They were clearly aware they were currently in the same camp. If not, even working together they probably wouldn’t be Qin Huaiyuan’s match.

This move was simply too devious!

Li Qitian felt the same even more keenly.

Only now did he truly recognize what kind of person Qin Huaiyuan actually was.

Qin Huaiyuan continued: “Proceeding to this step, though Yuchi Xuji becomes a legitimate emperor, he is ultimately a Yan Dynasty descendant who still cares about public opinion. Even if Prince Yan becomes Yuchi Xuji’s stumbling block, he won’t immediately eliminate him completely. As analyzed earlier, what Yuchi Xuji wants is legitimacy and proper status.

“Therefore, Yuchi Xuji absolutely won’t do anything to Prince Yan. At most he’ll gain some verbal advantages, but even when meeting Prince Yan, he can’t openly commit violence and leave ammunition for criticism.”

Li Qitian nodded: “This reasoning is sound. Prince Yan was once the sovereign of Yan Dynasty. Now the common people in the south’s former Yan territories all consider themselves Yan subjects. If Yuchi Xuji does anything to the emperor in those Yan people’s hearts, it would likely trigger civil unrest – absolutely not Yuchi Xuji’s intention.”

“So this is when we should make our appointments.”

Qin Huaiyuan smiled, appearing extremely relaxed: “We first recognize the nation of South Yan. At this point, Prince Yan becomes like an outsider within South Yan. Then we can add more fuel to Prince Yan’s fire. We enfeoff him as ‘Prince Zhennan’ and assign those three border prefectures that previously declared independence all to Prince Yan’s fief.

“This way, Yuchi Xuji and Prince Yan become people of two different nations. Prince Yan no longer has the capital or standing to negotiate terms with Yuchi Xuji, and Yuchi Xuji can breathe easier, no longer needing to consider Prince Yan’s feelings when acting.”

Qin Huaiyuan’s superior strategy and mature thinking sparked great resonance among everyone this time. Many people expressed their various opinions. Most piercing was someone secretly cursing Qin Huaiyuan behind his back for lacking backbone – after defecting, he showed not the slightest nostalgia for his original country, actually offering such a seamless strategy to deal with Great Yan.

Author’s Note: A sick foolish author has left the hospital in critical condition. Tomorrow I plan to start resuming updates to salvage this foolish author’s rapidly disappearing reputation. That’s all, kisses to everyone!