abnabooks Chapter 2204: Ways to Stop the War
Chapter 2204: Ways to Stop the War
Chapter 2204: Ways to Stop the War
“On the surface, the reason why Bega launched a major attack on your country is twofold: first, because your country adopted your strategy and crushed Ya right under its nose, Bega felt it had lost face and was furious; second, because your country also suffered losses in the war against Ya, Bega felt it had an opportunity to take advantage of the situation.” He Lingchuan concluded, “From both reasons, it is not enough for Bega to fight to the death with Mu.”
You Huan nodded.
As for the fleet that was completely wiped out in the southern waters of the Mu Kingdom, neither of them mentioned it.
Who doesn't know that was just the prelude to war? He Lingchuan was even 60% certain that Mu Guo wasn't behind it.
"Then let me ask you, when your country first launched its attack on Ya Kingdom a dozen months ago under the direction of General Guo, did you have the determination to destroy it?"
You Huan frowned slightly.
The answer was, of course, no. He knew what the Nine Nether Emperor was going to say.
"Back then, General Guo decided to attack Ya because he wanted to save face and he saw an opportunity. How is this different from what happened to Bekaa now? Now that you're in charge, tell me why, as the war between Mu and Ya progressed, Mu's goal became 'to crush Ya at all costs'?"
The reasons why the Mu Kingdom attacked the Ya Kingdom were not complicated. First, the Ya Kingdom had previously bullied Bailie in order to coordinate with Bega's battlefield offensive. This was tantamount to slapping Mu Kingdom, Bailie's protector, in the face. Mu Kingdom had kept quiet at the time, but it would definitely seek revenge afterwards. This had nothing to do with Bailie, but with Mu Kingdom's face. A great power's reputation cannot be tarnished.
Secondly, Cang Yan's single surprise attack penetrated deep into the heart of Ya Kingdom and seized Ya Kingdom's sacred land, Baiqiuyuan. This rendered Mu Kingdom's previous forbearance tantamount to cowardice, and Chief Minister Guo also saw a real opportunity, which is why Mu Kingdom launched a large-scale military campaign.
Isn't it strikingly similar to the reason why Bega invaded the country of Mou?
When You Huan thought of this, a chill ran down his spine.
He said in a deep voice, "The defeat of Ya is based on our country's strategic security considerations."
The attack on Ya by the state of Mou resulted in over 200,000 deaths and injuries, not to mention the resources consumed during the year and a half of the war. On paper, it was simply not worthwhile.
But Mu Guo still had to do it because he had other strategic considerations, and the losses couldn't be calculated in isolation.
He Lingchuan smiled: "What if Beijia thinks so too?"
"This……"
"Not at all," You Huan thought, but he didn't know how to refute it for a moment. Who could guarantee anything about the battlefield?
“You ruthlessly crushed the Ya Kingdom because you discovered its weakness during the war, and you realized you could do it,” He Lingchuan said, enunciating each word clearly. “If, as the war progresses, Bega discovers your exhaustion and weakness, and believes that by gritting its teeth and paying a sufficient price, it can destroy your country—given Bega’s temperament, do you think it wouldn’t also be determined to do so?”
Stop talking about strategic considerations. Ya State has been jumping around behind Mu State for more than a decade. Mu State didn't need to consider anything back then.
That's because the more Mu Guo fought, the more confident he became, realizing that he could actually defeat Ya Guo, so he actually did it.
True strategists seize new opportunities as the war progresses.
That is, to consider things according to the time and circumstances.
It's too early to say it's impossible now.
"Not to mention, the Battle of Muya did indeed wound and bleed your country, from which it has yet to recover. Now is the best opportunity for Bega to send troops in nearly forty years."
Therefore, the scale of Bega's attack on the Mu Kingdom was the largest in forty years.
Take advantage of its illness; it would be best to kill it.
With Bega's power, if it were determined to fight to the death—no, to fight to the death against Mu Guo—...
This idea is truly chilling.
You Huan smiled wryly: "Your Majesty, what if I were to put you in charge of this war?"
The Nine Nether Emperor spoke frankly beforehand to lay the groundwork for what followed, but we can't say that his warning was unreasonable, because war is truly the most unpredictable event in the world.
Putting everything else aside, even a year and a half ago, Mu Guo never imagined that he would later go berserk and directly crush Ya Guo.
You Huan was the person in charge, and he knew best how this change happened.
"So what you should be considering is not to make Bega back down as soon as possible." Not to think about how to end this war as quickly as possible, "but to make it deeply realize that continuing to fight is too unprofitable."
The Soul-Capturing Mirror, nestled in He Lingchuan's arms, sighed and replied, "Isn't that just stating the obvious? Who would stop fighting when it's no longer worthwhile?"
You Huan's eyes flickered slightly: "Is it too unprofitable?"
He was always quick to draw inferences from one instance to another; just hearing those few words gave him a sudden realization.
“The first word is ‘delay’.” He Lingchuan held up a finger. “You need to give Beijia some time to calm down before the problem comes to light.”
You Huan then asked, "What kind of question?"
"Which country doesn't have internal problems? The Mu Kingdom has existed for over 150 years. In terms of the court, people's livelihood, clan territory, and army, which aspect can you say is completely clean and pure?" He Lingchuan laughed. "You should know best now."
You Huan smiled, then sighed, "Yes!"
He entered officialdom at a young age and was already accustomed to what he saw and heard; things that would shock ordinary people were nothing new to him. However, the many inside stories and personnel he encountered after becoming the Grand Secretary still deeply shocked him.
"If the State of Mou is like this, then what about Bega, which has existed for four times longer—do you think its internal problems are four times that of the State of Mou?"
You Huan relaxed at this moment and leaned against the railing, saying, "Far more than that, I think it's at least ten times more."
His mind raced as he pondered the purpose of the Nine Nether Emperor's private conversation with him.
Such an important person, especially in such a setting, would not speak without a purpose.
“The Demon Emperor and the Heavenly Palace are mutually restraining each other, the Demon Kingdom and Lingxu City are mutually restraining each other, and the Demon Race and the human subjects are mutually restraining each other. The problems arising from these three fundamental contradictions are numerous and complex.” He Lingchuan said, facing the evening breeze on the river, “If Bega attacks the Mu Kingdom with seven-tenths of its strength, I'm afraid only two-tenths will reach the battlefield in the end, and the rest will be consumed by their own internal strife.”
“Of course, with Bega’s power, even using only two-tenths of its strength is considerable. But don’t forget, it initially came to gain an advantage. Once it suffers too much loss, it will have to recalculate its accounts.” He Lingchuan had a clear understanding of the internal conflicts within Bega. “In the end, war is all about economics. Even if the gods want to continue, the Demon Emperor must proceed from reality.”
The Demon Emperor is the true head of Bega, and it is responsible for the final outcome, not the Gods.
You Huan immediately said, "That's true. This time, when Bega raised an army, the main force came from the seven major demon kingdoms, while Lingxu City itself sent very few troops, less than 17,000."
(End of this chapter)