Fan Zhe narrowed his eyes, unsure what Niu You Dao was planning.
Yuan Fang's eyes widened completely; he couldn't even begin to imagine what Lord Dao was thinking.
Zhu Shun frowned, gazing at Niu You Dao.
Hai Ru Yue, as if having heard the most preposterous joke, retorted sarcastically:
— You will help me remain the ruler of Qingzhou? To hear you speak, one would think you wield more influence with the Wandong Heavenly Palace than I do. Nevertheless, I am curious to hear what grand scheme you've concocted!
— No, no, no, no! — Niu You Dao waved his hand. "Princess, you misunderstand. I have no connections whatsoever with the Wandong Heavenly Palace. The people of Wandong Heavenly Palace do not know me."
Hai Ru Yue sneered:
— You don't even know where the capital gates of the Zhao Kingdom are, nor are you acquainted with the Wandong Heavenly Palace. So how do you propose to resolve the situation in Qingzhou?
Niu You Dao slowly sipped his tea and said:
— The situation in Qingzhou hardly depends solely on the Zhao Kingdom's capital and the Wandong Heavenly Palace. My prince can also help!
— He? — Hai Ru Yue was surprised. "You want him to abandon Feng Lin Bo and join me?"
Niu You Dao finished his tea and, looking at Zhu Shun, said:
— I need a map of the entire world!
Zhu Shun looked at Hai Ru Yue, awaiting her reaction. Seeing that she was not opposed, he immediately departed.
Zhu Shun clearly understood that Niu You Dao was not joking about this matter. Though the princess spoke with sarcasm, she tolerated him. This meant she also took Niu You Dao's words seriously. It was simply that the princess held a high position; she could not allow herself to be manipulated by just anyone.
And he himself wished to know what Niu You Dao had devised to alleviate the princess's anxieties.
Not long after, Zhu Shun himself brought a map.
Niu You Dao stood up and, waving a hand at Fan Zhe and Yuan Fang, said:
— Unroll it!
The two men approached Zhu Shun, laid the map on the floor, and unrolled it halfway. The territories of the Yan Kingdom and Zhao Kingdom appeared. Niu You Dao then signaled them to stop.
Niu You Dao looked at the map for a moment, then turned and extended a hand, inviting Hai Ru Yue.
— Princess, please come closer!
Hai Ru Yue sighed and, with a majestic bearing, approached to look at the map. Although she knew this map intimately, an ordinary noblewoman would understand little of territorial maps. Yet, she had no choice. Her position compelled her to comprehend such masculine concepts.
Niu You Dao pointed towards the Zhao Kingdom, in the southeastern direction, at the province *Qingzhou*. Then he pointed to the Yan Kingdom, Qingshan County. And pointing at the county, he said:
— The prince will be there! — He then turned his head again and looked at Hai Ru Yue:
— Princess, what do you make of this?
"What of it?" Hai Ru Yue wanted to retort, but she held back. "Qingzhou is vast, and Qingshan County is small."
Niu You Dao understood her implication. However, he knew that Qingshan was indeed very small. If compared to his previous life, Qingshan was like a county, while Qingzhou was like a province.
However, he pointed to Qingshan County again:
— If my prince seizes this territory, what then will you think of the situation? Is there not a bordering territory between Qingshan County and Qingzhou?
Zhu Shun replied, "There is a common border. So what?" He did not want the princess to answer such a foolish question.
Niu You Dao: "Very simple. When the prince captures Qingshan County, he and the princess will be able to lean on each other. You will assist each other mutually!"
Hai Ru Yue laughed. Then, smiling, she said:
— A tiny Qingshan serving as a buttress for Qingzhou?
Niu You Dao pointed to Kuangai County:
— What if we add Kuangai County? There are many people in Kuangai. They possess an army of a hundred thousand. In Qingshan, once the prince captures that place, he will also acquire people. One mustn't forget that Feng Lin Bo and the prince are supported by the Heavenly Jade Sect. The two sides will assist each other. How does that sound?
Hai Ru Yue said dismissively:
— And what good is that to me? A small buttress, nothing more!
Niu You Dao: "Princess, you mustn't forget who my prince's father was! Though a centipede perishes, its influence lingers on. Prince Ning's inherent qualities persist in his son! If the prince were to re-establish the elite ten-thousand-strong Wuli and Yinyang Guards? Would the princess still deem that insufficient support?"
— Has it not been said that Prince Ning's ten-thousand-strong army broke through a hundred-thousand-strong encirclement by the Han Kingdom? I myself have witnessed how the Wuli and Yinyang Guards fight. The Yan Kingdom's imperial court sent several thousand soldiers against the prince. Among them were over a thousand cavalrymen. Yet, a mere five hundred Wuli and Yinyang Guards completely routed the enemy cavalry. Furthermore, if you combine Kuangai County and Qingshan County, should the Zhao Kingdom launch an attack, it will not be so easy! If the Yan Kingdom threatens Qingzhou, it will launch its offensive through the Yan Kingdom's Southern Domain. However, with the princess's support, the Yan Kingdom would not dare to attack my prince. Our combined forces could push deeper. Both kingdoms would fear 'throwing a stone at a rat, lest they break the porcelain'!"
Niu You Dao turned and, pointing at the region around Qingzhou, said:
— To the west lies Pingzhou, to the north, Guangzhou, both under the control of the Zhao Kingdom's emperor. This creates a danger for Qingzhou. That is why the Wandong Heavenly Palace desires no unrest in Qingzhou. They fear those two provinces might attack them. And to the south of Qingzhou is precisely the Southern Domain of the Yan Kingdom. There is no retreat here.
— But should the princess secure the prince's support, it will be an entirely different matter. Internally, the Zhao Kingdom's emperor, externally, the Yan Kingdom — neither would dare to advance recklessly. Is not Qingzhou's tranquility something the Wandong Heavenly Palace desires? Is this not what it seeks?
— At the same time, the Wandong Heavenly Palace would not dare to replace the ruler of Qingzhou, because my prince would not agree to it. Should they replace the ruler, unrest would arise. Then the imperial court could seize the moment and take Qingzhou! Would the Wandong Heavenly Palace dare to act thus? Is this not the solution to the princess's anxieties?
Hai Ru Yue and Zhu Shun exchanged glances.
After some silence, Hai Ru Yue smiled coldly:
— This is truly strange. Initially, you asked for help for your prince. Yet now, listening to you, it seems I am the one who must seek Shang Chao Zong's aid?
Niu You Dao pointed at the map again and honestly said:
— Originally, this was a mutually beneficial affair! Of course, to begin with, the prince requested your support.
With a single, passing remark, he altered everything. He also changed the subject:
— On the other hand, not only the princess benefits from this, but also the Wandong Heavenly Palace itself. One merely needs to present the plan to the Wandong Heavenly Palace, and they will have no grounds to refuse. Likewise, the Heavenly Jade Sect will have no reason to object to the absorption of Qingshan.
Hai Ru Yue looked at the map. Her eyes sparkled. However, glancing askance at Cang Wu County, she said:
— Shang Chao Zong possesses but a small piece of land. He cannot even gather a few thousand soldiers. Most of his troops are borrowed. What talk is there of ten thousand Wuli and Yinyang Guards? You are simply painting a vague future for me!
Niu You Dao respectfully said:
— Princess, all you say is correct. My prince currently only needs an opportunity. Once he captures Qingshan, his territory will expand, and human resources will become available. Provided there is sufficient provisions and supplies, it is entirely feasible that the Wuli and Yinyang Guards will be re-established! Even five thousand cavalrymen should not be underestimated. This could be a formidable force, one that will strike fear into the enemy! Once success is achieved, it will no longer matter whether it is the princess or the prince; it will be difficult to sweep either aside!
Hai Ru Yue turned and slowly returned to her seat. As she sat down, she slowly said:
— Listening to you, I get the impression that you only seek support. And the Red Yang Fruit is not important?
Niu You Dao waved his hand and approached her:
— Your son's illness is, of course, important. Support is one thing, treatment is another. So that you have no doubts, I will find a way to obtain the Red Yang Fruit! Do not worry about that. However, I will have one condition.
— A condition? — Hai Ru Yue frowned. "Speak."
Niu You Dao: "Princess, you cannot delay. You must send people to assist the prince in seizing Qingshan as quickly as possible!"
That was why he had personally come here, to swiftly request troops. After all, the prince had been organizing Cang Wu County for a long time now. He could not afford to delay further. And with the rumor of the 100,000 Crows army, the Heavenly Jade Sect would not dally either.
Hai Ru Yue calmly stated:
— Why the rush? First, acquire the Red Yang Fruit, then I will dispatch troops!
Niu You Dao: "The Yan Kingdom's imperial court is exerting pressure on the prince. You most likely know this. Therefore, the Heavenly Jade Sect is already considering abandoning the prince. The prince cannot hold out much longer! Secondly, I will tell you something the princess will not like. Obtaining the Red Yang Fruit is not a swift endeavor. Just traveling there and back will take considerable time. And if anything should happen to Xiao Tian Cheng, I fear the princess will no longer have time for matters concerning the prince. Nor is it certain that you would even have the authority to send aid to the prince. Does the princess truly wish to return to the capital?"
— I will tell the princess a secret: the prince is under severe pressure. He will not endure much longer, and if the princess does not help him, he will be forced to depart overseas. Then the princess will lose her chance to cooperate with the prince!
— Flee overseas? Would Shang Jian Bo's son truly do such a thing! — Hai Ru Yue swore in a cold tone. However, she added:
— I need to consider this matter!
— Very well! — Niu You Dao clasped his hands:
— The moment the princess makes her decision, I will immediately depart to acquire the Red Yang Fruit!