It’s Exciting to Snatch the Supporting Male Lead and Run Away [Quick Wear] - 79

 

IETSTSMLARA | Empress Dowager at Fifteen | 79

Kang Boyu was beautiful, but he had a strong character. Growing up on the border, he had also learned excellent martial arts. 

In the original timeline, when Emperor Yuanhe's oppression reached its peak, he was even prepared to force him off the throne. 

However, due to concerns about his parents and family being implicated, he eventually took off her armor, put on splendid clothes, and entered the imperial palace, becoming a member of Emperor Yuanhe's harem.

Perhaps Kang Boyu lacked the extreme loyalty to the emperor and patriotism that characterized this era, but Lin Su admired him very much. He believed that for a ruler to have loyal ministers, the ruler must be wise. 

If the ruler was unjust and selfish, forgetting their duty to set an example for the people, then being overthrown would be their own fault for being foolish and incompetent.

Emperor Yuanhe granted rewards to the Kang family. Those who were wise naturally understood the emperor's intentions, but those who did not know better thought that the Kang family had received great favor from the emperor and would soon rise to prominence.

Whenever there were congratulatory visits, the Kang residence would become even gloomier.

Emperor Yuanhe was also anxious in the palace. He had never been so amazed by anyone before. Kang Boyu was not someone nurtured by the capital’s environment. If he let him leave and marry another woman to live happily, what was the point of him being the emperor if he couldn't even have the one he loved?

Therefore, even though he knew he would offend some ministers, he was willing to pay any price to get the person he loved most.

"Does Boyu like the gifts I sent?" Emperor Yuanhe asked.

The chief eunuch smiled and said, "I heard that when the Kang family and the master came out to greet the gifts, they had smiles on their faces and were very pleased."

"That's good, but Boyu is unwilling to break off the engagement with Lu Miao. Does he really want to marry her?" Emperor Yuanhe was displeased at this point. He had made a move against the Northern Zhuo Palace to give the Kang family an excuse, but he didn’t expect that Boyu would be so unwilling.

"This..." The chief eunuch did not know what to say. Forcing someone to break off an engagement was inherently wrong, and moreover, the princess was only pretending to be sick. 

Once she married into the family, the lie would be exposed, and the emperor still wouldn’t get what he wanted.

However, he was the emperor. Unless he changed his mind, his ministers could not forcibly alter his actions.

"Now, we can only force Prince Beizhuo to break off the engagement," Emperor Yuanhe said thoughtfully.

The Kang family might not mind having a bride who was gravely ill, but the Beizhuo family directly refused the marriage and came to the Kang residence to apologize.

Prince Beizhuo, born in the capital and indifferent to worldly affairs, had little actual power, but his status and position were significant. 

As soon as he entered the Kang residence, he knelt before the Kang couple, saying, "Please, Lord Kang, please let our Beizhuo family go. It's not that we don't want to marry into the Kang family, but we must fulfill our obligations. Lu Miao might be pretending to be sick now, but if we force this marriage, she might truly end up in the Kang family’s ancestral grave."

He was tearful and obviously deeply concerned for his daughter.

Lord Kang and his wife hurriedly helped him up, saying, "Your Highness, you must not do this. We don’t intend to make things difficult..."

But they also could not bear to harm their son. Who could have imagined the emperor would act so ruthlessly?

Kang Boyu rushed in but stopped at the door. His usually straight back seemed slightly bowed. "Father, Mother, let's call off the engagement. Our Kang family has received the emperor's great favor; we can not drag others into this."

The engagement was arranged by his parents, with a prominent lady from the capital. Kang Boyu had seen the young lady from a distance, finding her gentle and quiet. He had believed that their marriage would be harmonious, but now, if their engagement threatened her life, he couldn’t go through with it.

Inside, the three stopped talking. Kang Boyu made his decision, and his parents wouldn’t go against his wishes. The engagement was called off, and Prince Beizhuo left hurriedly, visibly relieved.

When the house was quiet again, Lady Kang sighed softly, "Boyu, once the engagement is called off, there will be no more barriers."

The emperor wanted to bring someone into the palace, and with no engagement in place, there would be no more excuses.

"I know." Kang Boyu felt a mix of irony and desolation in his heart. Under the bright sun, the emperor was forcing someone to break off an engagement. How was this different from a rogue robbing a maiden in broad daylight?

The foolishness of the emperor wanted to crush his aspirations; how detestable!

The Kang residence was shrouded in gloom. Even the servants spoke softly as they passed, careful not to make any noise.

In this state, if word got out, people would only think Kang Boyu was deeply emotional and wouldn't suspect anything else.

When the annulment was confirmed, Emperor Yuanhe stood up from his desk and exclaimed, "Really?!"

"It's true. The Beizhuo family has returned the betrothal gifts, and the two families publicly annulled the engagement," the chief eunuch said with a smile. "Congratulations, Your Majesty."

"Congratulations? Let’s wait until he's in the palace. With his personality, it'll take some effort to bring him here. He loves bows and crossbows. Have the gifts been sent?"

"Of course. We sent the fine bow you recently acquired, so General Kang would know your intentions," the chief eunuch replied, smiling.

"Good," Emperor Yuanhe said with a smile.

If Kang Boyu had received such a fine bow on the frontier, he would have mounted his horse to test it immediately. But in this seemingly prosperous capital, he only found it ironic.

"A fine bow should be used on the battlefield, but now it sits in a room, carefully guarded to avoid damage. It's truly absurd," Kang Boyu said, looking at the bow with a desire to break it. However, he could only clench his fingers tightly and set it aside.

The emperor's relentless pressure was indeed audacious. After the palace servants left, Master Kang cursed, "Such foolishness, how can..."

"Dear," Madam Kang called out softly.

Master Kang sighed. In just a few days, his former vigor had faded, and his temples had turned gray.

A servant hurriedly came in, breaking the silence in the room. "Master, someone is here to see you."

"I don’t want to see anyone at this time!" Master Kang declared.

The servant replied, "But the person said they could be of great help to our family."

The three people in the room looked at each other. Normally, someone claiming to offer help would be turned away immediately, but now, they were desperate to grasp any lifeline.

"Who is it?" Master Kang asked.

"It's the owner of Treasure Pavilion, who arrived in the capital just a month ago," the servant replied.

"A mere merchant?" Master Kang frowned slightly. It wasn't that he looked down on merchants, but they often pursued profit and resorted to deceitful means. It seemed unlikely that a merchant could truly help the Kang family.

"The one who created the Lu Ban lock?" Kang Baiyu interjected, recognizing the name.

"What is a Lu Ban lock?" Lord Kang asked.

Kang Boyu explained, "The Lu Ban lock is an ingenious toy initially presented to the Empress Dowager. It's made of interlocking wooden pieces without any nails or glue, yet it's incredibly sturdy. The principles behind it could also be applied to house construction, benefiting the people. I thought that if we had such technology, the houses on the border would be safe from the threat of collapsing in strong winds."

Kang Boyu had heard of this person’s reputation, even though he had only recently arrived in the capital. It was said that he was as wealthy as a nation. Having traveled through five kingdoms, he had many ingenious ideas that benefited the people. 

Even as a merchant, he was worthy of respect.

"Really?" Master Kang took a deep breath. "If that's true, he's worth meeting."

At this point, they could only try anything, no matter how unlikely it seemed.

Lin Su did not wait long outside before a servant opened the door to invite him in. "Our master will see you now. Please, come in."

Lin Su adjusted his clothes and walked in naturally. As a military general, Master Kang had spent little time in the capital, so his home was not overly luxurious but rather simple and grand, befitting a general's residence.

Entering the main hall, Master Kang and Madam Kang were already seated, waiting. Given their noble status and being elders, they did not need to rise to greet their guest. 

However, upon seeing Lin Su, they both stood up.

"Greetings, Master Kang and Madam Kang," Lin Su said, cupping his hands in salute.

Master Kang, surprised that a merchant did not appear as cunning as he had expected, was nonetheless preoccupied with his son's predicament and had no time for other thoughts. He got straight to the point. "You don't need to be so formal. Just tell us what you have in mind."

Kang Boyu, standing to the side, also saluted. His gaze fell on Lin Su's posture, and his eyes showed a thoughtful glint. "I've heard much about Master Lin's reputation. Meeting you today, you indeed seem like an upright gentleman."

This person was entirely different from what he had imagined. His inner strength was incredibly solid, and his stance was steady.

Lin Su noticed Kang Boyu's scrutiny and grew more satisfied. He remained calm and unflustered in a crisis, meticulous and independent, and not blinded by loyalty. 

These were essential qualities for a general.

Soldiers are easy to come by, but a good general is hard to find.

"Greetings, Master Kang and Young Master Kang. Given your urgency, I won't beat around the bush," Lin Su said, placing a porcelain bottle on the table. "I am giving you a way to escape."

Master Kang looked at the bottle and asked, "What do you mean?"

Kang Boyu picked up the bottle and said, "You want me to fake my death?"

"The emperor's affection for you means he won't rest until he has you. Neither the Empress Dowager nor the engagement could stop him, which proves his determination," Lin Su explained with a smile. "As long as you, Young Master Kang, are around, the emperor won't let go. A man of your caliber should not be reduced to competing for favor in the harem. Wouldn't it be better for you to abandon your status and identity, to go into hiding and seek another opportunity to achieve great things?"

Kang Boyu was intelligent, which allowed him to rejoin the battlefield in the latter part of the original timeline, winning numerous battles for the Southern Kingdom. 

Unfortunately, being far away at the border, he was unaware that Li Yuan was used as a bargaining chip in negotiations. 

In times of chaos and rebellion, an arrogant tyrant lost his support, allowing Kang Boyu to ultimately kill the man who nearly ruined his life, his original adversary.

Lin Su saw Kang Boyu as a potential formidable ally. If he didn’t take this opportunity to recruit him, it would be much harder to do so after Kang Boyu faced real hardships.

"This bottle contains a potion that induces a state of false death? How long does its effect last, and where can I go after concealing my identity?" Kang Boyu asked. "Your generosity surely comes with its own motives."

"Young Master Kang, you truly have the makings of a great leader," Lin Su said with a smile. 

"Indeed, I do wish to recruit you. This potion induces a state of false death about a quarter of an hour after ingestion. You will stop breathing, and your body will become rigid, making it impossible for anyone to detect that you are not truly dead. The effects last up to seven days, after which you must take the antidote to wake up."

Lin Su produced another porcelain bottle. "Here is the antidote. If Lord Kang wishes, you can test the potion. I assure you, I would never risk Young Master Kang's life."

The plan to feign death, though it meant giving up his status, could ensure that Kang Boyu would avoid the suffering of being confined to the palace. 

Madam Kang sighed. "Boyu, the decision is yours."

Master Kang, too, felt helpless, but his gesture of turning away with a flick of his sleeve made his stance clear.

"I would rather fight and die on the battlefield for the Southern Kingdom than live in the palace as a mere plaything," Kang Boyu said, clutching the porcelain bottle and kneeling. Please forgive me, parents, for being unfilial and not being able to fulfill my filial duty as a son."

Master Kang and Madam Kang helped him up, evidently agreeing with his decision.

"My son, this is our only option to avoid implicating our family and retain your dignity," Master Kang said.

"Indeed."

Their family bond and understanding were evident, and Lin Su stood quietly, allowing them to process their emotions. Such loving and sensible parents were the reason they could raise a son like Kang Boyu.

With an escape plan in place, the oppressive atmosphere in the hall began to lift. Master Kang scrutinized Lin Su, who stood calmly. "You don't seem like a merchant."

If Lin Su were a mere merchant, even if not cowed by rank, he would still be intimidated by Master Kang's aura of bloodshed. 

As a frontier general, Master Kang had killed enough people to stack their heads into a mountain. 

Yet this man not only showed no fear but spoke confidently and aimed to recruit his son, as if everything was within his calculations. Master Kang, though a warrior, was not blind.

The seemingly harmless young man before him was clearly someone to be reckoned with.

Lin Su chuckled softly. "Thank you for your kind words, Master Kang. For now, I am indeed just a merchant."

"For now..." Kang Boyu murmured. "Never mind, as long as you do not harm the people of the Southern Kingdom, I see no issue in serving you."

"I am truly fond of intelligent people like you, Young Master Kang," Lin Su said, bowing. "I leave the antidote for you to test. I look forward to hearing news of your burial." With that, he turned and left.

"Aren't you afraid we might kill you to keep this secret?" Kang Boyu called after him.

"A gentleman acts according to his principles. Young Master Kang wouldn't kill someone who has helped him," Lin Su replied. His pace was unhurried as he departed.

That night, news spread from the Kang residence that Kang Boyu’s old illness had relapsed . Several groups of imperial physicians were dispatched, but by midnight, it was declared that medicine was of no use and he had passed away.

Emperor Yuanhe, in a fit of rage, smashed his cup and stormed through the palace. "What happened? How could his old illness relapse? Are you all incompetent, treating my people this way?"

"Please calm down, Your Majesty. In the chaos of battle, Young Master Kang sustained a serious injury to his heart. Such an injury can indeed be unpredictable," the palace attendants and physicians knelt, heads bowed, enduring his wrath.

After the physicians withdrew, Emperor Yuanhe sat on his throne for a long time, unable to comprehend how such a brilliant young man could be gone overnight.

"Your Majesty, while it is heartbreaking, you must take care of yourself," the chief eunuch said cautiously.

"Do you think he might be faking his death to deceive me? How could it be so coincidental that just as I wanted him in the palace, he dies?" the Emperor suddenly asked.

The more Emperor Yuanhe thought about it, the more plausible it seemed. He stood up abruptly. "I must go and see for myself."

"Your Majesty, the Kang household has already set up a mourning hall, and several imperial physicians have confirmed there is no possibility of him faking death!" the chief eunuch protested. "It would be improper for you to attend the funeral of a mere subject."

"Even if he is truly gone, I must see him off. Say no more, I am going," Emperor Yuanhe insisted.

An imperial procession leaving the palace was a grand affair. Li Yuan heard the commotion outside as he ate the breakfast his aunt had brought. "Are they certain he is dead?"

Emperor Yuanhe had dispatched multiple physicians throughout the night for a single minister. Such news naturally spread like wildfire, and Li Yuan had received word quickly.

His aunt smiled. "He is definitely dead. The mourning hall is filled with visitors, and the body lies there, unable to be impersonated."

"His engagement was called off, and just when he was about to be brought into the palace, he died. The Emperor's visit to the Kang household may appear to be a farewell, but he clearly doesn't believe it," Li Yuan remarked as he picked at his side dishes.

"The Empress Dowager doesn't believe it either?" his aunt asked.

"Whether it's real or feigned death, it's better than entering the palace. If it is indeed a ruse, the man has considerable courage," Li Yuan said, resting his chin in his hand and smiling. "No need to probe further. It's best to pretend we know nothing."

Master Kang was a seasoned soldier, skilled in both warfare and strategy. If he had managed to deceive multiple imperial physicians with this false death scheme, he must have received help from an expert.

Whether Kang Boyu was truly dead or merely pretending, he had successfully escaped his predicament. There was no need for Li Yuan to seek unnecessary information and disrupt the current situation.

His curiosity was driven by a sense of admiration.

Unfortunately, he didn't have the opportunity back then to escape from his current predicament; he could only be trapped here for life, like a living dead person.

"Yes, I understand," Aunt patted his back and said.

"I'm fine, if there was something wrong, it would have happened long ago," Li Yuan smiled, continuing to eat her breakfast.

It would be great for this world to have one less person to have the same kind of fate as him.

Emperor Yuanhe departed with doubts, but what he saw was Kang Baiyu's stiff corpse, the complexion of a dead person eerie pale, lips devoid of color, even though the body had been attended to, it was far from resembling a living person.

Emperor Yuanhe furrowed his brow slightly upon first glance, and upon feeling for a pulse, his disappointment deepened.

"Your Majesty, out of respect for Boyu, please honor his body," Madam Kang knelt by the coffin, she was numb from crying. "An elderly parent sends off a young child; this is the end of the Kang Family's line. Your Majesty, what more is there to hold onto?"

She was genuinely heartbroken. Her Boyu had a promising future, but now he was forced into such a plight — unable to marry his betrothed, unable to return home, and unable to reclaim his identity, destined to wander aimlessly for the rest of his life.

To avoid revealing their scheme, they would bury the deceased body in the ancestral tomb. But if her son were to die in the future, where would he be buried?

Her eyes betrayed her sorrow, a state too genuine to be feigned.

The palace attendants rebuked, "Madam  Kang, your sorrow doesn't justify your defiance."

"Alas," Emperor Yuanhe intervened, "Madam Kang is grieving. Let it be. Spread my decree: Kang Baiyu shall be honored for his contributions to the country, and he shall receive the funeral rites of a duke."

Now that the person was dead, there was no need to pursue it further. Even if he wanted to forcibly bury him in the imperial tomb, it would only provoke continuous criticism. The matter had finally come to an end.

After the three days of mourning, the burial procession was grand and imposing. No one could believe that the young man with such heroic bearing had passed away. 

Following this, Duke Kang's mansion closed its doors to guests, and Duke Kang himself submitted his retirement papers, abandoning even his official duties.

With his son gone, what use were power and prestige? Emperor Yuanhe sighed when he received the papers, but he approved them with a stroke of his brush.

Three days later, deep in the night, a group of people entered Duke Kang's ancestral tomb and unearthed the body, leaving no trace of their work. Even the guardians of the cemetery were unaware of any clues.

When Kang Boyu opened his eyes, it felt like another world. A cheerful voice sounded beside him, “You're awake! I was afraid we had dug up an empty grave. It's quite spooky at night.”

“Who are you?” Kang Boyu looked at the clear-faced young man in front of him.

“My name is Lu Ning, the young master's attendant. I'm the one who dug you out of the grave,” Lu Ning chuckled. “I heard you used to be a general. Was war tough for you?”

“He just woke up, and you're bombarding him with questions. It must be exhausting for him to answer,” Lin Su approached from the door, having arrived upon hearing the servant's report, catching a string of questions at the entrance.

Lu Ning hastily saluted upon seeing him, “Young Master, it was not easy for me to wait until he woke up. I got a bit excited.'"

"No worries. Go and have the kitchen bring the meal prepared for Young Master Kang," Lin Su smiled. "He just woke up and needs something light."

Lu Ning hurried off, while Kang Boyu observed the calm and composed man beside him. Just as his father had said, this man didn't look anything like a businessman. If he claimed to be royalty or nobility, people would likely believe him.

"Are you feeling alright?" Lin Su asked as he sat down.

Kang Boyu nodded. "I just feel a bit weak from not moving for so long, but nothing serious. I've never asked, though. Who exactly are you?"

“Someone from the Qi Dynasty," Lin Su replied frankly, a hint of a smile playing on his lips, yet his demeanor was commanding.

"From the former imperial family? Do you aim to restore the dynasty?" Kang Boyu rubbed his slightly aching head. Restoring the dynasty would inevitably endanger the Southern Kingdom.

"The former dynasty is gone. What's the point of restoring it?" Lin Su chuckled. "Establishing a new country and court is much simpler than restoring an old one."

"I won't help you harm the Southern Kingdom. Though the Emperor may be incompetent in some ways, the people are innocent," Kang Boyu stated firmly.

"But did you not consider those soldiers from other countries as people, as innocent, when you killed them on the battlefield? The people of the world do not distinguish between who rules them; they care about who brings them peace, who unifies them, who ensures they have enough to eat and sleep peacefully. 

If you're willing to serve me, I naturally would be willing to employ you again. War and battle are unavoidable, but I can promise to minimize harm to the people of other nations. If you're unwilling, you may leave after the meal, and consider it my good deed for the day," Lin Su explained calmly.

Lin Su rose without hesitation. Although he lacked skilled military commanders and valued Kang Boyu's talents, he disliked coercing people. If Kang Boyu declined, he could always train others. It might prolong the war effort slightly, but it wouldn't be too troublesome.

"I've said it before too. As long as it doesn't harm the people of the Southern Kingdom, I'll follow your orders," Kang Boyu said behind him. "You want to establish a new country, I believe you're capable of it. Besides, I don't want to live in hiding forever."

He could leave the Southern Kingdom for a year or two, but he didn't want to be unable to see his aging parents forever. A man might yield temporarily, but he couldn't live in cowardice forever. If he wanted to protect those he cared about, he needed to become strong.

He was alone and without support, achieving great things would be extremely difficult. It might be easier to follow a righteous leader and save himself countless efforts.

"I knew Duke Kang is a wise man," Lin Su turned around and smiled. "From today onwards, Kang Boyu is dead. You cannot use that name until the day you can ensure the Southern Emperor won't coerce you anymore."

Names and surnames were precious gifts from parents to Kang Boyu, but now they were being stripped away. "Young Master's surname is Lin. Can I follow your surname?"

"If you accompany me in achieving great deeds, there will be noble titles for you when success comes. You can use it then," Lin Su chuckled.

It wasn't unheard of for servants to take on their master's surname, but it was reserved for those greatly favored by the master.

Kang Boyu was intelligent, but if he couldn't control him, there might be repercussions. Yet Lin Su was confident where others weren't.

"Please bestow a name upon me, Young Master," Kang Boyu got off the bed and knelt before Lin Su.

Lin Su pondered for a moment. "Since it's temporary, it shouldn't be too complicated. Though you're not a fish in a pond anymore, having lost your status, you're just an ordinary person starting anew. Let's call you Lin Fan."

"Yes, thank you for bestowing the name, Master," Kang Boyu bowed his head.

The sound of footsteps and knocking sounded outside the door. Lin Su called out 'come in' and turned to Lin Fan, saying, “Focus on recovering your health for now. We'll discuss details later.”

Lin Fan wasn't entirely loyal at the moment, but Lin Su believed he would gradually give his full loyalty.

The conflicts among the five nations had been mostly minor issues, with few serious injuries. 

Though Lian was strong, unifying the other countries was still far off. The kings of each country thought that world domination was a matter of centuries away, by which time they would be long gone, unconcerned with future generations.

However, in the third month of that year, during what was meant to be the Mid-Autumn Festival, an unexpected force rose from the weakest state of Chen. Troops assembled from unknown origins and swiftly invaded the capital. 

They conquered it within a month, entered the city in three days, and within another day, the entire Chen royal family fell under the control of this overwhelming force.

Chen was directly replaced, becoming the Qi Kingdom.

The new emperor was named Lin Su, with the title Emperor Qi. Rumor had it that he was an old figure from the Qi Dynasty over a hundred years ago. It was rumored that he was a former member of the Qi Dynasty more than a hundred years ago. He had kept silent before, but his resounding impact shocked the world.

The downfall of the Qi Dynasty had indeed been due to its corrupt ruling class. Now, a century later, even if there were remnants of the old Qi Dynasty, they were just ordinary people. But if such a person ascended to power, it would be seen as reclaiming rightful rule, and labeling all other monarchs as traitors.

News spread to all nations, settling the dust but putting all Emperors on alert.

Despite Chen's weakness, the swift conquest of another nation within months was unprecedented.

"Lin Su, the merchant who arrived in Lian several months ago? How is that possible?"

"It seems to be true."

"He amassed wealth from all corners of the world, likely waiting for this day. Minister, what do you think should be done about his businesses?"

"That would directly confront the Qi Kingdom. We must proceed slowly and cautiously," 

Even though Lian was the most powerful nation, they were deeply wary, as were the countries ranked below them.

In times of war, news traveled swiftly, and all nations had heard about Lin Su establishing businesses across various lands. The kingdom of Xiao, in particular, was extremely vigilant. They couldn't afford to offend him rashly and had to tread carefully while gathering intelligence on Qi Kingdom's activities.

In the Southern Kingdom, Emperor Yuanhe was utterly shocked, finding it almost impossible to believe that a merchant who just a few months ago couldn't secure a seat at the Mid-Autumn banquet now ruled a new nation.

"He stayed in the capital city for a month, and no one suspected anything?" Emperor Yuanhe now couldn't care less about the intrigues of the imperial court. If this news of a destroyed nation was true, his reign as emperor might well be over.

"Well, he did visit several households, bearing gifts and even offering items for the palace, which Your Majesty approved," the palace attendant replied, equally astonished. They had once looked down upon this merchant who was now beyond their reach.

When Li Yuan heard the news, the half-carved wood in his hand fell to the ground with a crisp sound. He had handled it with unusual care, but now he was beside himself. "Is it really him?!"

His aunt also took a deep breath, finding it hard to believe. "I just heard the news myself. It's spread throughout all the nations; there's no mistake."

"I once thought his prospects were limitless, but I never imagined they were this limitless," Li Yuan took a deep breath, picked up the fallen wood, wiped it with a cloth, and said, "Do you think he might attack our nation?"

"He's just swallowed up a nation; it won't be easy for him to digest. All nations are on alert now; it won't be as it was just a few months ago," his aunt reassured him.

"But it's still very dangerous," Li Yuan unconsciously dug his fingers into his palm. "Auntie, fetch me a map. I want to see the current situation of all the nations."

Here's the translation of the passage:

"Empress Dowager..." his aunt looked at him, "Even if you know now, there's nothing you can do to help."

Although he is the empress dowager, he was actually isolated and without support, even if he knew, his own safety couldn't be guaranteed.

"Fetch it then. If anyone asks, say it's the schematic map I requested," Li Yuan said.

She nodded, efficient in her tasks.

The map spread out on the table, Li Yuan traced the river routes with his fingers, from the capital of the fallen Chen Kingdom to the neighboring Xiao and Southern Kingdoms.

Chen was small in territory, its people living by the sea. Although they had access to waterways, being downstream from the Southern Kingdom made it difficult to travel upstream. It shared the most borders with Xiao Kingdom, and these borders were open and mostly flat, with few mountain barriers. Essentially, it was straightforward to conquer, if one chose the easy path.

If the Xiao Kingdom could be conquered, then the borders of the Southern Kingdom wouldn't pose much of a problem.

If the Southern Kingdom could be conquered, then he might also find a way out when the time came. However, once the Southern Kingdom fell, the Li Kingdom would face the same issue directly.

To occupy a country within months meant that their strength was far greater than anyone imagined. Even their businesses across various countries could serve as powerful channels of information.

Li Yuan's breath and fingers trembled slightly. "If he really has such power, perhaps our chance has come."

If that person truly had the power, he couldn't stop the fall of the Southern Kingdom, but he could do everything in his power to protect the Li Kingdom.

Seeing him tremble, his aunt gently reassured him, "Empress Dowager, that person may not necessarily come. If the Southern Kingdom falls, the Li Kingdom will be in danger as well."

"Right now, it's all speculation. No one can predict what that person will do next," Li Yuan sighed, "I... never expected there would be someone so bold."

Despite having such power, he had endured the humiliation of not being allowed to sit down during the banquet, yet he had come prepared for face-to-face conversations, even generously conversing with an empress dowager with no real authority.

The newly established Qi Imperial Palace was brightly lit. Lin Su ascended as emperor without any grand ceremony, he was wearing full armor as he sat directly on the throne and received the imperial seal. 

Though he was not dressed in imperial robes, his demeanor as he casually touched the dragon-headed seal showed no excitement or thrill. His calmness and sense of entitlement made it clear to everyone that the ambitions of this new emperor extended far beyond merely conquering a small nation like Chen.

With his change in status, former acquaintances like Lu Yang were not only pleased but also showed even greater reverence than before. Even Lu Ning restrained himself more in Lin Su's presence.

The magnitude of conquering a nation and the efforts required for such an achievement were things Lu Ning dared not even imagine. He had once thought his father's talk was empty, but now he knew there were means to turn such talk into reality.

"Your Majesty, the Chen royal family has been completely settled, and the people have yet to fully react. Anyone who tried to resist has been pacified by your amnesty," Lu Ning reported, dressed in the attire of a junior general.

It had only been a few months since the battlefield, where life and death had brushed past him several times. He now understood why his young master had changed so much back then; it had been necessary. Now, turning the passive into the active, he knew he couldn't let his guard down until everything was completely settled.

"I leave the follow-up of this matter to you. Treat them leniently, but anyone attempting to escape should be dealt with according to military law," Lin Su instructed.

Different roles demanded different actions. Now that he was in command, military matters had to be strictly governed by such rules, regardless of personal relations.

"Yes, Your Majesty," Lu Ning replied forcefully, bowing respectfully before departing.

When there was no one around, he walked to the edge of the sand table, observing the undulating terrain and troop deployments. 

Opening a shop was not merely for profit, but also to control livelihoods and obtain sources of information. The national economy rested in the hands of the elite, preventing complete collapse in times of turmoil. 

Though he managed the Treasure Pavilion, his focus was primarily on grains and oils. If those supplies were abruptly cut off by the state, recovery would be difficult. As for his information channels, street-level news spread the fastest.

There were four countries to consider. Logically, he should conquer Xiao Country first, followed by Nan Country, Li Country, and finally, the strongest, Lian Country. 

Lian was closest to Chen and had the strongest military, making it seem invincible. However, it was actually the least guarded and easiest to conquer when underestimated.

Having visited each country, he understood their customs and weaknesses, devising plans accordingly.

During the war council...

"The next target should be Xiao Country. It's the weakest and can't resist Your Majesty's cavalry," a general suggested.

"The South Country borders the Chen Country by water. If they do something upstream, it will be very bad for the downstream of the Chen Country.. Your Majesty, please plan ahead," another warned.

Amid their debates, Lin Su remained silent.

"I believe Your Majesty has everything under control..." Lin Fan, hand on his sword, observed Lin Su.

From childhood, he immersed himself in military strategy, learning from renowned masters and honing his skills in actual battles. Even his father predicted he would become a great general. 

Yet, compared to Lin Su, he felt inferior. Lin Su achieved victories with minimal losses, catching enemies off guard before they could retaliate.

At first, he hadn't fully trusted him when he started following him. Now, however, he was completely convinced.

When Lin Su spoke, all the generals looked at him. They dared to speak freely because they knew that even if there was disagreement in military matters, His Majesty wouldn't get angry. He always gathered diverse opinions and provided the best and quickest solutions, convincing everyone like the legendary needle that could stabilize the sea.

"If you could think of this, do you think the Xiao Country and the others won’t also think of this as well? Have any of you seen lions hunting on the grasslands?" Lin Su asked. "Lions often target the old, weak, and sick because they are easier prey. Once they successfully hunt and fill their stomachs, it means the other prey are safe. The Xiao kingdom is weak and will resist fiercely, making it difficult to attack. But the powerful Lian Kingdom is relaxed and has recently brazenly seized several of my shops. Who do you think is easier to handle?"

The generals pondered, and one said, "Your Majesty means to strike unexpectedly, starting directly with the strongest, Lian Kingdom. Once Lian is subdued, Chen Country's territory connected with Lian's can effectively surround the remaining three countries. This strategy is clever."

"But if we do that, the remaining three countries may unite against us out of fear, and we won't gain any advantage," Lin Fan pointed out the issue.

"The Southern Country is downstream from Lian, and it conveniently separates the Li and Xiao kingdoms," Lin Su pointed on the map. "After taking Lian, you will be able to regain your identity."

If they could secure Lian's territory, they wouldn't fear the Southern Kingdom in the least.

After Lian would be the Southern Kingdom. In the past, Lin Fan would never want to see the Southern Kingdrom’s territory lost. But having witnessed Lin Su's treatment of Chen's royal family and his kindness towards the people, he knew that if this man became emperor, he would govern benevolently.

Most Emperors feared generals rising too high in power, predicting their downfall if they achieved power. After the success, the cunning rabbit will die, the running dog will be cooked, the birds will be gone and the good bows will be hidden.

But Lin Fan didn't fear Lin Su. Only an incapable emperor would fear capable subordinates. A true emperor worthy of the throne wouldn't fear talented individuals in the slightest.

Because in the past, there were those who harbored rebellious thoughts. But before they could realize it, Lin Su had already taken care of them.

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