Chapter 958 – This Old Lady is Just Being Lowly, So What? (7)
Wu Libai calmly said, “Since my master ascended the throne, he has worked tirelessly day and night. After many years of effort, he has finally brought prosperity to the Northern Border’s common people. After that, my master made the painful decision to marry his beloved daughter, Princess An Yina, to the Second Prince of the late emperor, hoping for peaceful coexistence between our two nations. All of these actions are merely to quell past grievances and allow the people of both sides to recuperate.”
Jiang Pengji raised an eyebrow, looking at Wu Libai with a smirk that said he was full of hot air.
His twisting of facts and selective quoting was nothing short of spectacular.
In Wu Libai’s mouth, the ambitious Northern Border King transformed from a wise ruler into a peace ambassador.
Did Wu Libai not have even a hint of an idea about who his own king truly was?
The skill of reversing black and white was truly impressive—did he have no shame at all?
Jiang Pengji remained silent, and Wu Libai continued, “I have heard that the Second Prince is adept in military affairs and has offended the borders of Chongzhou, causing my master great worry and sleepless nights. If war breaks out, it wouldn’t only be the Northern Border’s people who suffer; the common people of Chongzhou would also be uprooted and left homeless. My master, considering this matter, deeply sympathizes with the suffering of both sides and has specially sent envoys to clarify misunderstandings and return to friendship.”
Wu Libai spoke righteously, igniting the audience’s fury in the live stream, as they felt like exploding on the spot.
【Hmph, Just You】: Let’s not even talk about anything else, but Wu Libai’s level of shamelessness rivals that of our streamer.
【Cute Fat BaoBao】: Nonsense! My streamer’s shamelessness is called cleverness and wisdom; Wu Libai’s shamefulness is something else entirely.
【Yellow Sand Settled Ancient People】: This is classic nonsense—does this old man not feel guilty? What has the populace of Shangyu Three Cities endured these years? Isn’t he aware? Didn’t the streamer say that Shangyu, lying on the border of the two nations, used to thrive on trade? Ever since this bunch of Northern Border lowlifes pillaged it, what has it turned into?
Jiang Pengji had regarded the Shangyu Three Cities as a military stronghold and jumping-off point to attack the Northern Border, not just for military strategy, but also because of how severely damaged those cities were. If they were to be rebuilt, who knows how much effort, manpower, and financial resources would be needed?
These three cities had essentially become a haven for Northern Border horse bandits and crime.
Once-prosperous trade cities had now turned into this—wasn’t it all the Northern Border’s fault?
【Gu Mengmeng】: Exactly! – Wu Libai is just disgusting; to use a vivid metaphor—it’s like a butcher who slaughtered the common people of Hua country during wartime clutching a World Peace Award trophy! Anyone could say that, but Wu Libai of the Northern Border has no right!
【Delicate Lazy】: Who told Wu Libai to be a messenger from the Northern Border? Of course, he has to paint himself in a good light. Is he supposed to confess the Northern Border King is a bloodthirsty butcher? It’s just like a little devil claiming to be an RB devil—it’s impossible.
Jiang Pengji lazily lifted her eyelids and scoffed, “Return to friendship?”
“Precisely! Since we hope for the sake of the common people of both sides that you would refrain from hostilities,” Wu Libai attempted to appeal to emotions.
Wu Libai practiced Central Plains Han culture, fond of “courtesy before conflict.”
If he could get Jiang Pengji to agree to peace talks through emotional appeals, that would be best.
If the other party refused to listen and persistently refused, he had other methods to deal with it.
Jiang Pengji burst into laughter, “And what if this lord doesn’t want to? No matter how flowery Wu Libai’s words are, the Shangyu Three Cities have been under Northern Border control for nearly twenty years, and countless Han people have died and suffered—this is the ‘peace’ that the Northern Border King envisions? I’m afraid that would be hard to swallow.”
Wu Libai’s expression remained unchanged, but his gaze grew slightly sharper.
He said, “Though I am in the Northern Border, I know that Liu Xi has once gathered with twenty-two other lords at the Huangshui Alliance. Since then, the Dongqing lords have been selfish, only looking out for their own interests. Do you not know how lonely it is at the top? You are now in a position of power, and you have no idea how many eyes are secretly watching you. This is a situation surrounded by wolves and tigers. If you act recklessly and start a war, whether you win or lose, your state will surely suffer. When the clam and the heron are at odds, the fisherman will ultimately benefit.”
“If courtesy fails, then it can only be war.”
Wu Libai articulated the key interests, attempting to persuade Jiang Pengji.
What he said wasn’t pure nonsense.
Jiang Pengji was the most powerful lord in Dongqing. If she went to war with the Northern Border, regardless of victory or defeat, her state would be critically weakened.
When that time comes, who knows how many forces would exploit her.
If the enemies took advantage of her conflict with the Northern Border and directly launched a sneak attack, intending to gain everything, what then?
【Old Driver Alliance】: Wu Libai makes a valid point, but has he forgotten something?
Jiang Pengji chuckled, “Wu Libai, have you ever heard a certain saying from the Han?”
“What saying?”
“Those who are not of my race must have different hearts!”
Wu Libai’s face turned ashen instantly.
Jiang Pengji scoffed, “If my lord goes to war with the Northern Border, whether it be victory or defeat, I will surely be remembered in history. Among the lords of the world, if any still have a bit of backbone and do not wish to be despised for eternity, who would dare to take advantage? And how would these primitive, uncivilized barbarians ever understand this?”
Mocking Wu Libai to his face as an uncivilized barbarian was undoubtedly a slap in the face.
That which could be tolerated was intolerable!
“Liu Xi—”
Wu Libai slammed the table, his face turning an alarming shade of green.
He realized Jiang Pengji was determined for war, merely toying with him now.
Wu Libai had long been famous; how had he ever suffered such humiliation?
Hearing the commotion, the guards rushed in, one team shielding Jiang Pengji and separating her from Wu Libai, while another surrounded Wu Libai.
Jiang Pengji said, “I can hear just fine; no need for all this noise. Oh, and I forgot to mention, here in my place, we don’t have the habit of sparing envoys during battles. Wu Libai, you’d better tread carefully, lest you truly provoke my wrath and make it so you can’t return!”
With that, Jiang Pengji left with a cold laugh.
Wu Libai’s mood swung dramatically, making him look much older.
Jiang Pengji certainly didn’t kill him; instead, she packed him and his entourage, tossing them right out.
“A battle in the spring is probably unavoidable.”
“What’s this? Is there something in this world that the mighty Feng Langzi fears?”
Feng Zhen smiled, “With all the right circumstances, there’s naturally no fear! On the contrary, if we miss this opportunity, we might become a sinner for all time.”
With the Central Plains fragmented, the threat from foreign tribes against the Han was growing ever greater.
If they failed to thoroughly subjugate them while they had the chance, waiting for their return would lead to a hellish nightmare.
Qi Guanrang gently shook his feather fan and said with a grin, “Precisely what I mean.”
Wu Libai was sent back by Jiang Pengji, enraging the Northern Border Royal Court.
The Northern Border King was so furious he nearly had a stroke, “Liu Xi, that little brat is so ungrateful; let her see what’s what!”
Sun Wen calculated the quantity of Cold Food Powder the king had been consuming recently and his frequency of anger, feeling he still had room to push harder.
If the Northern Border was destroyed, he could take good care of his own grandson.
