Let Me Explain, Fairy
Chapter 556 - 354 Mistake

Chapter 556: Chapter 354 Mistake

Li Qingyan raised an eyebrow, her luscious red lips parted slightly:

"A wager?"

Xu Yuan spoke slowly:

"Although I’m reluctant to admit it, Li Zhaoyuan’s cunning and tactics are exceptional, if I were your emperor father, to say I wouldn’t be tempted would be a lie.

"However, you also know his background is less than ideal. Hmm... Compared to the mother of you three siblings, his mother was merely a palace maid. For a prince born of her to ascend to the throne is as likely as my fourth sister someday taking charge of the Prime Minister’s Mansion.

"Your eldest brother has been regent for over a decade, diligently and fairly administering the government every day. At The Imperial Court, with the exception of the Prime Minister’s faction, it is the Crown Prince’s faction that is most powerful.

"The path through The Imperial Court has been completely blocked, leaving Li Zhaoyuan with no choice but to find another way."

Li Qingyan leaned gently against the back of her chair, crossing her long legs gracefully draped in a white robe:

"So, he could only resort to military power."

"Right."

Xu Yuan nodded, gazing into Li Qingyan’s eyes which seemed to hold the stars, implying something:

"Any government without the support of the military is hollow."

Li Qingyan was not disturbed, merely stroked her smooth, fair chin:

"By saying this, you make my elder brother seem foolish."

"No, no, no, your elder brother is not foolish; on the contrary, he’s very smart."

Xu Yuan shook his head, his tone laced with a hint of amusement:

"With him in a completely different position, naturally, he cannot vie for the throne using the same methods. The Crown Prince has been in power for so long; with the business support from your third brother’s imperial enterprise...

"Hmm, if today he reached for military power, I reckon Dayan would have to change Crown Princes tomorrow.

"Your elder brother doesn’t need to at all. As long as no major upheaval occurs, with over ten years of personal government experience, he would naturally succeed to the throne once our emperor father passes."

At this point, Xu Yuan’s eyes suddenly flashed with sharpness:

"But it’s different for Li Zhaoyuan; if he wants to climb higher, he has to risk his life. Your father’s move may well be a test to see if Li Zhaoyuan is willing to stake his neck on it.

"If within the time limit of this expedition to the Northern Frontier, if Li Zhaoyuan manages to completely reorganize the one hundred thousand troops borrowed from the Sect Alliance and brings these loyal soldiers back to court, then he will have entered the final round of competition for succession."

Li Qingyan pondered for a moment before speaking softly:

"Changtian, your speculation seems slightly off.

"Reorganizing an army is no easy task. The Imperial Court’s and the Sects’ grassroots systems are different, and so are the Cultivation Techniques for military formations. Besides, those soldiers are loyal to the Sects."

"I know it’s difficult."

Xu Yuan kept a steady face, simply saying in a low voice: "Difficult as it may be, Qingyan, just answer me this one question, is it feasible?"

"......"

Their gazes met for a moment,

Li Qingyan exhaled softly and then uttered one word:

"Yes."

After a pause, as she continued to ponder with her eyes cast down and spoke softly:

"...But it’s truly difficult.

"Changtian, the military is actually a place that uses collective military spirit to suppress individual personalities. An army with combat effectiveness has its own military spirit, be it camaraderie, loyalty, belief, or interests bound together.

"And once military spirit takes form, it’s very difficult to change. If Li Zhaoyuan wants to convert this army from the Sects for his own use, he will have to completely change the entire army’s military spirit."

"There are only two rapid methods I can think of to achieve this. First, replace all the low-level officers and leaders with his own people; second, have an army of similar size or even larger, disband and integrate them.

"But neither of these options is available to Li Zhaoyuan."

After speaking,

Li Qingyan looked up seriously at the man in front of her, only to be greeted by his cheery gaze.

Meeting her gaze, Xu Yuan casually said:

"This problem is indeed difficult to solve, but we’re not the ones to solve it, so why fret?

"Qingyan,

"If Li Zhaoyuan wants to reach the sky, naturally he must first descend into hell and then climb out step by step."

Li Qingyan slightly pondered, then asked:

"And if Li Zhaoyuan really does climb out of hell?"

Xu Yuan grinned, flashing a radiant smile, his voice light:

"Kick him back in."

"....."

Hearing this, Li Qingyan rolled her eyes at him:

"Nice morals.

"Then what about the second intention of the emperor father?"

Xu Yuan spread his hands, chuckling softly:

"To use Li Zhaoyuan as a sacrificial piece."

Li Qingyan caught on quickly, her eyes narrowed slightly as she spoke in a low voice:

"Are you suggesting that not only does my father want to annihilate the Sects of the Three Prefectures on the Northern Frontier, but he also wants to consume those two towns of elite troops from the Sect Alliance?"

Xu Yuan reclined lazily against the chair back, propping up his chin, as if in deep thought:

"One hundred thousand troops is a huge number, but in context to the current situation in the Northern Frontier, it’s not that many.

"With the two towns of the Feathered Forest Army you have here in Guangyang Prefecture, the few towns of the Black Scale Army under Zong Qingsheng and Yuan Hao, and the addition of your Uncle Mu’s Northern Border Army, these one hundred thousand elite troops from the Sects really aren’t that numerous.

"In the midst of those blizzards and natural disasters, suffering a crushing defeat at the hands of the ’Barbarian Tribe infiltrators’ is not entirely impossible."

"Clap... clap... clap..."

Li Qingyan chuckled and gently applauded, her voice low:

"Your analysis does have some merit, Changtian. What about the third and fourth intentions?"

"......"

Upon hearing this, Xu Yuan fell silent, merely quietly looking into her exquisite phoenix-like eyes.

The silent exchange,

Li Qingyan’s beautiful eyes half-closed:

"Changtian, are you trying to say... that my imperial father’s third and fourth intentions are to target your Prime Minister’s Mansion? But I believe my father should not be so shortsighted."