Yan Daiqing was skeptical, but the distance to the autumn floods was less than a hundred days.
In fact, Yan Daiqing had long since started taking measures to prevent the autumn floods. The disciples of the Mo School and Farmer School were implementing them quickly, but the daily consumption of silver was so large that even Yan Daiqing felt somewhat queasy upon seeing it.
At the same time, changes were happening all over the world.
In the court of Ying Country.
Breaking Army observed the Turkic Seven Kings chatting leisurely with the Princess of Ying Country. This Princess of Ying Country was a full eleven years younger than the Turkic Seven Kings, born beautiful, with gracious manners and a decent mastery of martial arts and literary talents, while the Seven Kings himself had an air of heroism.
Breaking Army employed several strategies to make the Turkic Seven Kings showcase his martial arts and heroism. The Ying Country Princess, who initially didn’t like the Seven Kings, gradually accepted him, and their feelings gradually improved. The princess initially hinted to Jiang Wanxiang that she was willing to go with the Seven Kings.
But Jiang Wanxiang just played dumb.
Or pretended to cry, saying he was too old and couldn’t bear to part with his daughter, and so on.
It made Breaking Army grit his teeth.
These old foxes, shameless, playing the emotional card.
The change in Jiang Wanxiang’s attitude began more than a month ago, after the war between Ying Country and the Turkic.
The famous general of Ying Country, the Immovable Ming King Venerable General Yuwen Tianxian, led Ying Country’s troop of mechanical beasts from the Mo School, and at the border between the Northern Domain of Ying Country and the Turkic, decisively defeated the Turkic Eleven Kings, severely crushing their prestige.
On the surface, it appeared to be just a border conflict between the two countries.
In reality, it was a conflict between the grassland forces led by the Turkic Great Khan and the emergent Seven Kings willing to ally with the Central Plains, between the conservative faction and the younger generation. The Turkic Great Khan was the world’s second most famous general, having only been defeated in a direct confrontation by the military god of the Central Plains.
He was highly esteemed on the grasslands, hailed as a godlike hero, the only one in a thousand years comparable to the great heroes of the original epics. He longed to maintain the thousand-year unchanged grassland order.
However, the Seven Kings, having been to Jiangnan and the Central Plains, became increasingly dissatisfied with the Great Khan’s conservatism.
He too longed for the craftsmen, technology, scripts, and culture of the Central Plains.
The conflict between father and son had escalated beyond mere youthful rebellion, and after Yuwen Tianxian defeated the Turkic Eleven Khan Kings, proving his commanding capabilities, Jiang Wanxiang became especially cordial towards the Seven Kings.
Before Jiang Wanxiang left for the Central State, he even allowed the Seven Kings to attend the family banquet.
The Seven Kings returned in high spirits, praising the princess’s beauty and gentleness and the charm and freedom of the daughters of the Central Plains, to which Breaking Army poured wine over the Seven Kings’ head, berating: "Have you been intoxicated in a land of tenderness?!"
The Seven Kings felt a chill in his heart.
Breaking Army said: "Look closely, it was only after General Yuwen Tianxian defeated the Turkic Heavy Cavalry that he agreed to it. When you return to the grasslands, you will balance your father, and at that time, beyond the border between the Northern Domain of Turkic and Ying Country."
"The Taiping Army and Yue Family Army were being forced to a dead end by the Third Divine General."
"Jiang Wanxiang was stabilizing the rear."
"This old fellow is planning a major move!"
The Seven Kings calmed down: "We must leave quickly."
Breaking Army said: "If you don’t leave, changes will occur in the world. There are plenty in the Central Plains who don’t want you returning alive, like the young general who grew up with the Third Princess, and the cunning Prime Minister of Ying Country."
"And your father and brothers."
The Seven Kings intended to visit Jiang Wanxiang the next day, but Jiang Wanxiang had already left for the Central State that day, so the Seven Kings was trapped here, with no response to the letter he sent to Jiang Wanxiang half a month ago, leaving him increasingly worried.
Breaking Army had already discerned Jiang Wanxiang’s intentions.
Jiang Wanxiang needed the most stable rear.
What is the most stable rear?
One that’s embroiled in strife.
That Azure Dragon absolutely doesn’t believe in so-called alliances or in-laws; he personally walked through chaotic times, believing only in the desires and interests within people’s hearts, and in the clash of sword and fire.
This aging Great Emperor plans to send the worrying Seven Kings back to the Turkic when the world changes drastically. If Breaking Army’s guess is correct, the one to escort him will be Yuwen Tianxian.
This would be just like the envoy of the ancient Red Empire, going specifically to stir up trouble.
There’s almost a 100% chance of a fight breaking out!
Only when the Turkic start fighting among themselves would this Emperor let go of the world.
"The old fox, truly ruthless."
Breaking Army whispered, "Does he intend to use his daughter as a sacrifice for the world?"
"...After all, she wasn’t born of him and that woman."
The young strategist said, "Emperor, oh emperor."
"Truly noble in spirit, yet fickle and indifferent. In the annals of history, he too will be considered a ruler who valued emotions and loyalty, a qualified king."
His voice paused, chin slightly raised, a slight smirk forming at his lips!
"But that’s you; my Lord is not like that!"
Breaking Army’s lips curled slightly, composed yet with a sense of pride, though such things cannot be spoken to others, so he just regretfully looked down and reflected to himself.
The regretful thing is, that you all missed out on such a great opportunity to hear me recount my Lord’s thirty-seven strengths and qualities, as well as the newly written treatise ’On Why My Lord is the Strongest White Tiger Sect.’
Truly, too regrettable!
I really want to engrave this book in millions of copies, with three per person across the Eighteen States of Jiangnan.