When Liang Ye entered, Wang Dian was examining the map hung high in the tent and the sand table in front.
“Yu Polu won’t make any major moves for now,” he walked behind Wang Dian and said, “Being able to push them back from Anhan County to Ningming County was pure luck. Shen Yao’s illness came at such a convenient time. Loufan is also watching and waiting. Once Eastern Chen has a new emperor, the benefits Shen Yao promised them might not materialize, and fighting would be more trouble than it’s worth for them.”
Additionally, with Southern Zhao’s hundred thousand troops from Zhongzhou eyeing Eastern Chen’s twenty-seventh County, a delicate balance was briefly maintained between the four nations.
Loufan and Eastern Chen had made a determined decision to attack Northern Liang. Although Northern Liang had many internal and external problems, they had risen to power through military might during the Holy Martial Emperor’s time. Their soldiers were brave and skilled in battle. With their stable rear and sufficient military supplies, they could hold out against the enemies for a year or more without issue.
If Liang Ye hadn’t delegated power to Wang Dian causing the capital to rebel, if weapons and food supplies had been insufficient, and if Shen Yao hadn’t fallen ill at such a coincidental time, the war situation wouldn’t be as peaceful as it was now.
At least not on the surface.
Timing, geography, and human factors were always changing in an instant.
“This is a once-in-a-thousand-years opportunity,” Wang Dian was still angry, but the battlefield was no place for temper tantrums. His tone was just slightly rigid, “Loufan and Eastern Chen have never gotten along and have ancestral feuds. Now with Shen Yao’s illness, their alliance will definitely show cracks.”
“Zhen has already sent people to sow discord,” Liang Ye walked to the table, took a brush and pointed at the desert region on the sand table. “Although we don’t know what benefits Shen Yao originally promised Loufan, it must be either land or wealth. Loufan has many deserts and their grasslands are unevenly distributed, causing friction between tribes. After all these years with Northern troops stationed at the border, Loufan hasn’t been able to occupy any Northern Liang territory. Even if they truly conquered Northern Liang, Eastern Chen and Southern Zhao wouldn’t let Loufan people gain many benefits.”
Liang Ye snorted, “These few north counties of Great Liang are better not taken than taken. They can’t grow grain and suffer disasters every year.”
“So it’s most likely about wealth,” Wang Dian stood before the sand table with his arms crossed. “Loufan wants to trade with Eastern Chen.”
Eastern Chen’s commerce was highly developed with high grain production, but due to their geographical location, they lacked suitable pastures and relied mostly on imported warhorses. Loufan had high-quality cattle, sheep, and horses but suffered from insufficient grain… Their needs matched, so Loufan endured even when Yu Polu nearly attacked their royal court.
Moreover, if they were bold enough, what if Loufan managed to get the capital?
But now with Shen Yao’s illness, the situation had become unpredictable.
“Sowing discord isn’t enough,” Wang Dian said with downcast eyes. “We must seize the time now to send people for diplomatic persuasion.”
Liang Ye mimicked his earlier action, twirling the brush in his hand, “But the question is, who do we persuade?”
Loufan, or Eastern Chen?
Wang Dian frowned, also finding it difficult, “I’ve discussed this matter with the cabinet members before. Both sides are possible, but both carry risks.”
Persuading Loufan had a higher probability of success. Northern Liang could also agree to trade with them, offering more favorable terms than Eastern Chen, and it might not be a bad thing in the long run. However, the problem was that Loufan only deployed 150,000 troops. Even if they withdrew, Eastern Chen’s 300,000 troops would still be there – it would only reduce the pressure. As for persuading Eastern Chen, first, it was uncertain whether Shen Yao would live or die. If he recovered, it could backfire and provoke Eastern Chen’s anger, putting Great Liang in more danger. If Shen Yao died, there would be more room for manipulation during the royal succession struggle in Eastern Chen. If they could convince the next Eastern Chen emperor, Yu Polu’s 300,000 troops would have to withdraw whether they wanted to or not. Once Eastern Chen withdrew, Loufan’s hundred thousand plus troops naturally wouldn’t persist in fighting Northern Liang alone…
High risks came with high rewards – this principle applied everywhere.
“As someone from Yuxi, I lean towards approaching Eastern Chen,” Wang Dian said, “If we win this gamble, we can solve our urgent crisis. Even if we lose, we’ll just break the current balance. If we persuade Loufan, losing those hundred thousand troops would reduce pressure, but we’d still have to continue fighting.”
“But the probability of losing the gamble is also high. Betting on speculation is always risky,” he continued. “It would be better to add fuel to Eastern Chen’s royal family’s fire. Shen Yao must die.”
Liang Ye stared at the huge map and pondered for a while, “Crown Grandson Shen An has always been pro-war.”
“Although he has the title, he may not smoothly ascend to the throne,” Wang Dian chuckled. “It’s not uncommon for emperors to change their final edict before death.”
Liang Ye lifted his eyes to look at him, “Then let’s send people to Eastern Chen.”
“Won’t you consider it more carefully?” Wang Dian stared at him, “If we lose, we lose everything.”
Liang Ye stuck the brush into the sand table, right into the small hill, and smiled calmly, “Let’s take the gamble.”
“Who will go?” Wang Dian looked at him.
Liang Ye understood and frowned, “No.”
“Can you find someone more suitable than me?” Wang Dian looked at him with a stiff smile.
“No matter what you say, Zhen won’t approve,” Liang Ye said in a deep voice. “Eastern Chen’s situation is unclear. We’ll discuss this matter later.”
“Fine,” Wang Dian agreed promptly, pulled out the brush and threw it back into the brush holder, dusted off his sleeves and started to leave, “Then I’ll return to my tent first.”
“Wang Dian,” Liang Ye grabbed his sleeve and frowned. “What happened earlier was Zhen’s mistake. Zhen didn’t intend to test you, it was just that the poison wasn’t cleared and Zhen was confused.”
Though awkwardly expressed, it could barely count as an apology.
Although Wang Dian had told him before that when he did something wrong, he didn’t need to apologize, just stand still and take a punch. Although he had already taken the punch, he still knew to talk properly – that was quite an improvement.
So Wang Dian stopped and leaned against the table, “The wound was too deep, Li Bu didn’t dare to clean it, and I was afraid of pain so I didn’t let him. Before getting angry, couldn’t you have just asked properly? Don’t you know how to use your mouth?”
Probably never having been scolded like this before, Liang Ye stared at him with deep eyes.
“I know you’re suspicious by nature, testing others has become almost instinctive like drinking water and eating,” Wang Dian sighed, “During these three months in the capital, I didn’t dare to drink water carelessly, had to stay alert with utmost vigilance every day, not knowing how many layers of facades were under everyone’s smiling faces, not knowing when they might take your life. Even good people could be driven mad in there, so I understand you. But Liang Ye, understanding doesn’t mean I have to accept everything.”
Liang Ye wrinkled his nose and went to grab his hand. Wang Dian didn’t dodge, letting him take hold.
“You schemed so hard to get me back, and now I can’t leave anymore. Whether I live or die, I’m tied to you. I accept this loss,” Wang Dian raised his hand and patted Liang Ye’s chest, “But if what’s between us is just about who wins, who loses, who has the upper hand, if it’s just for fun and games, why would I work so hard to clean up your messes? Liang Ziyu, I care about you deeply, you should at least show some care for me too.”
Liang Ye suddenly tightened his grip on his hand, as if making a difficult decision, “…I won’t.”
It was hard for people to control their instinctive reactions, and the same was true for Liang Ye.
“If you don’t know how, then learn,” Wang Dian reached out to touch his swollen cheek, “I’m not just angry about you testing me, I’m more angry that even at this point, you’re still using such clumsy methods to test me. Liang Ye, how little confidence do you have in yourself?”
Wanting to trust but not daring to, clumsily letting Wang Dian know he was testing him, yet not daring to test thoroughly – someone who had always been decisive and ruthless had now become hesitant.
Liang Ye turned his head, gently rubbing his slightly swollen cheek against Wang Dian’s palm, then realizing what he was doing, straightened his neck and said with furrowed brows. “Zhen just wanted to frighten you a little.”
“Frighten my foot,” Wang Dian made a motion to hit him, but Liang Ye stood there with a tense face, not dodging.
In the end, Wang Dian couldn’t bring himself to do it. Looking at his swollen face, he felt he had hit him a bit too hard earlier. After all, he was an emperor – how would he face others later?
He roughly ruffled Liang Ye’s half-dried hair and sighed, about to look for something to apply to the swelling, “Let’s find a cloth to ice—”
Before he could finish speaking, Liang Ye pulled him into an embrace. He hugged very carefully, awkwardly controlling his strength, stroking his back repeatedly.
Wang Dian was stunned for a moment, patting Liang Ye’s lower back with his uninjured hand, “What’s wrong?”
“…Apologizing,” Liang Ye struggled to dig out a certain memory of Wang Dian from his hazy recollections, imitating his manner, though his stiff tone sounded somewhat awkward, “I’m sorry, I was wrong.”
