Stepping on the Demoness to become the strongest-Chapter 1019 - 56: Yan Yu Wants to Control the Court Politics

Chapter 1019 -56: Yan Yu Wants to Control the Court Politics

The Southern Border Witch Kings’ attitude towards Lu Country over generations alternates between enmity and submission. The first generation was hostile, the second submissive, the third hostile again, and the fourth submissive once more.

In summary, they flip-flop between defiance and obedience.

With the benefit of hindsight, the Lu Country Privy Council was naturally cautious about the Witch King’s submission. Was their allegiance genuine? It was more likely due to the five Golden Core True Men forcing them into submission.

However, on his first day in Pingjing, the new Witch King, Hu Minghua, proposed a significant treaty:

Southern Border would cede land.

In simple terms, all the major Sorcerer Lords of the Southern Border wrote a joint letter, delivered by the new Witch King, hoping that their dominions could join Lu Country as autonomous regions.

Expanding territories has always been the highest goal of Lu Country’s rulers, representing a platinum-level achievement that would bring everlasting glory. Thus, many Cabinet ministers were greatly tempted.

But after careful analysis, they found it impractical.

The modern social structure of the Southern Border had completely collapsed. The initial cost of rebuilding order and institutions would far surpass the expected later benefits. Considering the Southern Border’s history of repeated betrayal, it’s likely they would rebel just as the framework is established.

Names and realities must match. Empty titles are meaningless.

Seeing Lu Country’s lack of interest, Hu Minghua then proposed a tribute system: Lu Country would acknowledge the various Southern Border forces as tributary states and provide protection when necessary. In return, the Sorcerer Lords would periodically tributes resources for cultivation to Lu Country, signifying their submission.

This plan was relatively acceptable, though the specific details needed to be ironed out.

For example, what constitutes “necessary protection”? Would it be determined by you or by us? Lu Country’s stance was, of course, it should be judged carefully and accurately by Lu Country considering the actual situation. After all, Lu Country’s five Golden Core True Men are experts in cross-border warfare, with extensive research in this area.

Also, what and how much cultivation resources would be tributed? Would you give it directly, or should we list them? Lu Country’s position was, naturally, Lu Country should provide the list, and the Southern Border should supply according to need. After all, Lu Country’s five Golden Core True Men play a crucial role in maintaining international peace and stability, and the Southern Border, as a beneficiary of peace, naturally has a responsibility to meet their resource needs.

Hu Minghua expressed that Lu Country’s five Golden Core True Men, as the big brothers of East Asia, were reasonable. However, he hoped to talk with Yan Yu, the most powerful among the five.

When Yan Yu arrived in Pingjing and learned of Hu Minghua’s request from the Privy Council envoys, he began to ponder internally.

Why me?

To test if there’s still any residual Sun True Obscurity Sword Intent in me?

That earth-shattering sword I unleashed in the Southern Border killed the Head-falling Drought Demon instantly, leaving a polluted corpse region spanning the entire Changshan Mountain Range, which terrified many Sorcerer Lords. It’s natural they want to probe.

However, during my last tribulation, I didn’t use any Sword Intent, leading the international community to speculate that the Sun True Obscurity Sword Intent was gone. Of course, I had no intention of exploiting this.

Even without the Sword Intent, am I not still the world’s most renowned Golden Core-level expert?

Who dares to kill me? Who can kill me?

Yan Yu entered the conference room and met the new Witch King, Hu Minghua.

Hu Minghua, a middle-aged man, slightly plump, with dark skin that indicated a South Asian lineage, although his ancestral home was verified in Lingyou Province by Lu Country.

“What do you want to discuss?” Yan Yu asked directly, unwilling to pretend with this Witch King.

Family members needed help crossing tribulations, someone needed suppression, guidance was required, and there were aspirations to achieve higher Golden Core ranks. I’m busy, you know?

Hu Minghua immediately smiled warmly and said:

“I’m here on behalf of the Southern Border, hoping to reach an agreement with Lu Country’s Golden Core Cultivators. First, mutual non-aggression and friendly cooperation. Second, we’ll tribute cultivation resources in exchange for recognition and protection from you.”

“Yes, I know,” Yan Yu replied impatiently. “So why not go through the Cabinet…”

He paused, realizing suddenly.

What did he just say? Not “Lu Country,” but “Lu Country’s Golden Core Cultivators”! That means Hu Minghua didn’t believe that the decision-makers in the Lu Country Cabinet had the final say. He thought Yan Yu, the strongest Golden Core Cultivator, was the real authority!

This thought process was fairly reasonable. With the Southern Border’s collapsed social structure and weakened state, they saw the powerful as rulers. Naturally, they assumed that in Lu Country, the mortal-formed Cabinet was just a “front puppet,” while Golden Core True Men were the real “shadow emperors.”

Completely mistaken.

This misunderstanding showed how the Sorcerer Lords of the Southern Border lacked basic international perspective. How could these practitioners and fighters on thrones possibly govern a country well?

Yan Yu didn’t bother to explain, stressing:

“My stance and attitude align completely with the Cabinet. If you want to talk to me, you’re wasting my time. Go to the Cabinet.”

“Understood, understood,” Hu Minghua said with a humble smile. “The Cabinet fully represents your views, I know. Once the agreement is drafted, I’ll send you a copy. The Southern Border’s affairs will still need your attention. I’m not wasting your time; we in the Southern Border just trust no one but you.”

Yan Yu: ………

!

Like an alien general trying to bypass the court and express loyalty directly to the emperor.

Yan Yu, unwilling to engage further, rose and left in a huff.

“This new Witch King is out of his mind,” he called Chen Tianming, reporting. “Trying to sow discord between me and the Cabinet!”

“Perhaps not discord,” Chen Tianming said thoughtfully. “If, on Southern Border’s side, you and the Cabinet disagree. Whose orders should be obeyed? Or, if you acted independently and attacked the Southern Border, the first thing the Cabinet would do is issue a formal order for your actions. From this perspective, confirming your stance is reasonable.”

“You’re joking,” Yan Yu deflected, “I always strictly follow Lu Country’s commands, act within orders, and never deviate. How could there be a conflict with the Cabinet?”

“Indeed,” Chen Tianming laughed, “And as the Privy Council collects opinions democratically before making decisions, they would always consider your advice in depth, avoiding conflicting ideas.”

Considering my advice thoroughly means aligning with me, right?

Yan Yu had no response. He had no interest in power, never interfered unbidden, and would never make amateurish interventions. Even when giving advice, it was from a consultative stance, without threats like “if you don’t listen to me, I’ll do this or that.”

If the Cabinet highly valued his opinions, that was their choice. Why did it seem like he was attempting to control the government? Sigh, the world had too many nefarious characters always projecting their own vile traits onto others!

“Forget it, let them think what they want,” Yan Yu finally said. “Everything I do is for the country and the people, with a clear conscience!”

“Naturally,” Chen Tianming continued laughing, “I never said otherwise. But, oftentimes, no matter your true intentions, once in that position, people will speculate about your thoughts regardless of your words.”

“A real hassle,” Yan Yu sighed.

“You must get used to it,” Chen Tianming advised.

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