Therefore, his expression remained unchanged as he replied: “The General is loyal to the sovereign and loves the nation, regarding all people under heaven as her own children. Her care for the people of Shu is no less than that of the King of Cheng. Otherwise, she would not have ordered the Jingzhou Governor to shelter Ba-Shu refugees and provide them with money and grain, nor would she feel such compassion for the people remaining in Shu that she allows the King of Cheng to establish a vassal state.”

“Prime Minister Fan, the Xiongnu forces far exceeded those of Cheng, yet the General never cowered. This was because the Xiongnu brutalized the Han people, making survival impossible for the common folk, which is why she sent troops to subjugate and pacify the Xiongnu.” Zhao Xin said solemnly: “Given the General’s character, what doubts can the King of Cheng and the Prime Minister still harbor?”

Reading between the lines—think what you will. Zhao Xin had said his piece. Anyway, my General has good character and strong capabilities. Will you follow her or not?

Fan Changsheng said: “Since the General trusts our Majesty, why deploy troops in Hanzhong? Ba-Shu is one family. The people within Shu territory are all fellow villagers and old friends. Please inform the General to allow our Majesty full authority to govern Shu territory.”

Very well—we trust Zhao Hanzhang. Then let the General also trust them.

They were willing to yield a step and become a vassal state, but Zhao Hanzhang must hand Ba-Shu over to the King of Cheng to manage completely, recall the Jin officials currently fighting them, and withdraw her armies as well…

Zhao Xin’s lips curved slightly, then he refused them. Of course, it wasn’t a complete refusal but a partial one. He indicated that the Jin officials currently in Shu territory might not obey Zhao Hanzhang’s orders, so he would first communicate and negotiate.

This matter was of great importance, and he also needed to report to Zhao Hanzhang. When concluding, Zhao Xin made his own demand: he wanted to see the Princess of Hongnong.

Fan Changsheng couldn’t help but look up at Li Xiong.

Li Xiong nodded slightly in agreement.

Fan Changsheng scanned the crowd and selected an official to escort Fan Changsheng to meet the Princess of Hongnong.

The officials gradually withdrew, leaving only Li Xiong and Fan Changsheng in the hall.

Li Xiong hastily descended from the dragon throne and asked anxiously: “Prime Minister, will Zhao Hanzhang truly send troops into Shu territory?”

Fan Changsheng sighed: “She has already occupied Hanzhong, securing the strategic route. If she wants to attack, she can do so at any time.”

Li Xiong also sighed: “We were too slow. When we first received news that the Jin envoy was coming, we should have sent troops to seize Hanzhong first.”

Now with their lifeline in Zhao Hanzhang’s hands, the feeling was most unpleasant.

However, Fan Changsheng reminded him coldly: “Your Majesty, even if you had sent troops, you might not have been able to take Hanzhong.”

In truth, Li Xiong’s military strength was not formidable—at least nowhere near comparable to the Zhao family army that could resist the Xiongnu.

He had been constantly at war. Only last year and this year, taking advantage of the great war in the Central Plains and the wavering hearts of Jin officials, coupled with the people’s long suffering under Jin rule, had he seized several territories.

Honestly, Li Xiong himself had fought bitter battles. He didn’t want to fight either. If not for the fact that after submitting to Jin, his clan and the common people would truly be exploited to death, wouldn’t he have been happy as the youngest son of the Marquis of Changle?

His father and eldest brother had doted on him greatly because he was the youngest.

Thinking of his fallen father and elder brother, Li Xiong couldn’t help but shed tears again, saying to Fan Changsheng: “If Zhao Hanzhang were to replace Jin herself, I would be willing to submit. But with the current ambiguous situation, if the Sima family takes power in the future and returns to their former corrupt ways, how could I face my father and brothers?”

Fan Changsheng lowered his eyes and said softly: “Your Majesty need not worry. Having reached this point, even if she were willing to step back, those behind her would not permit it, especially the Zhao clan.”

“No powerful official’s downfall has ever allowed his family to maintain security. I observe that Zhao Xin has ambition gleaming in his eyes, clearly unwilling to retreat,” he said. “Since this is so, why doesn’t Your Majesty step back and observe the situation?”

“If circumstances develop as we hope, our original persistence can be realized. If not, we can watch tigers fight from the mountain and perhaps Your Majesty can even take advantage to emerge from Shu and settle the chaos.”

This scenario was too ambitious, too grandiose.

Li Xiong was startled and shook his head repeatedly: “Governing Shu territory already exhausts all my energy. How could I have the ability to covet the world beyond Shu?”

Fan Changsheng was quite confident: “Without trying, how does Your Majesty know it’s impossible? Seven years ago, did Your Majesty know you would have today?”

Li Xiong opened his mouth but couldn’t speak.

Li Xiong’s ascension to the throne as emperor had also been at Fan Changsheng’s urging.

This Prime Minister who revered Daoism now had a distant gaze, as if looking at Li Xiong yet also not looking at him. He was already of advanced age with white hair and beard, yet his facial skin remained ruddy with few wrinkles, and his eyes were clear. Meeting his gaze naturally inspired confidence.

Li Xiong felt this way at this moment.

Though he doubted his own abilities, meeting Fan Changsheng’s gaze, he gained several measures of confidence.

Perhaps he was right—he could try following this path.

“The Prime Minister means to agree to become a vassal state? But what if Zhao Hanzhang refuses to yield Hanzhong?”

“Of course Zhao Hanzhang won’t yield,” Fan Changsheng said. “Hanzhong is the gateway to Shu territory. Yielding Hanzhong would mean Liang Province falls into our hands? Meat already in the mouth, and such delicious fatty meat at that—how could she spit it out?”

“Then…”

“I believe Your Majesty can govern Fuling Commandery, Ba Commandery, and Jiangyang Commandery, bringing all lands south of Guanghan under Cheng’s rule.”

These places were mountainous with long waterways, difficult roads, and towering peaks blocking access. External armies would find it very difficult to reach them. For Zhao Hanzhang to take over these places, she would either need to defeat the State of Cheng or force through dangerous passes at enormous cost.

The cost of governance would be too high, the price too great. Fan Changsheng believed Zhao Hanzhang should be able to yield a step.

Li Xiong understood now. This was strategic maneuvering. They would propose conditions, Zhao Hanzhang would certainly counter-offer. The space was already laid out here—it just depended on how much advantage they could seize.

“Then the Princess of Hongnong…”

“Give them to her,” Fan Changsheng said meaningfully. “The Princess of Hongnong is of no use to us remaining here, but in Zhao Hanzhang’s hands, it’s a different matter. Your Majesty also worries about governance returning to the Sima family’s hands, doesn’t he? From now on, we need only watch.”

The Princess of Hongnong had entered Sichuan to borrow troops from Luo Shang to rescue the court, which was then riddled with problems.

The result was that she not only failed to borrow troops but was detained in Shu territory herself.

However, Li Xiong had not mistreated her, only having people keep watch over them to prevent them from wandering freely.

Initially, he had wanted to parade the Princess of Hongnong before the battle lines to force Jin officials to surrender, but Luo Shang and others completely disregarded the Princess of Hongnong’s life or death.

To speak truly, never mind a princess—even if the emperor were paraded before the battle lines, they would find it difficult to compromise.

They continued fighting not truly for the Great Jin—that was merely a useful excuse.

It was simply because if they lost, they would face utter ruin. Even if they did nothing and fled, in such chaotic times, they would struggle to survive.

So they could only grasp tightly to the power in their hands and strive to live as best they could.