mtlumby2d Chapter 286: Country Name "Lichen"
Chapter 286: Country Name "Lichen"
Time flies, and before we know it, it is New Year again. At the end of last year, the sixteen-year-old new emperor Luo Lingchen of Nanyue Kingdom ascended the throne and the country was named Lichen.
This news was like a huge rock thrown into a lake, which instantly caused an uproar among all countries. As if pushed by an invisible hand, it quickly crossed national borders, crossed mountains and rivers, and spread to the palaces of neighboring countries, becoming the focus of everyone's attention.
Back in Beichen, veteran General Xiao Zhenting was hosting a banquet at his residence. After three rounds of wine and five courses, everyone was enjoying the conversation when an urgent, secret letter was quietly delivered to the general.
He took a quick glance at the letter, his face suddenly solemn. The guests at the table noticed something was wrong and cast inquiring glances at him.
The general was silent for a moment, then passed the letter around for everyone to read. He then stood up and said solemnly, "The new emperor of Nanyue has ascended the throne and changed the country's name to 'Lichen.' According to spies, he has imprisoned the previous empress and seized the throne. His methods are ruthless and resolute. The situation in the world may be changing.
As subjects of the Beichen Kingdom, we prioritize the nation and the people, and are always ready to share Your Majesty's concerns."
The guests all nodded in agreement, and the originally lively atmosphere of the banquet suddenly became solemn. Everyone then discussed in low voices how to deal with the situation.
His Majesty Xuan Ye urgently summoned important ministers to the imperial study to discuss countermeasures. In the imperial study, the candlelight flickered, and the light and shadows were reflected on the solemn faces of the ministers.
Minister of War Lin Zheng was the first to step forward, bowing with both hands and saying, "Your Majesty, the situation in Nanyue State has changed suddenly, and the new emperor's actions have shown his overly ambitious nature.
I believe that we should immediately increase the number of troops stationed on the border to prevent a sudden attack.
We must also send more spies deep into Nanyue to gather key intelligence on its military deployments, food reserves, and other key areas, so we can prepare for any future events."
Li Mingxuan, the Minister of Rites, shook his head slightly and said, "Your Majesty, I think it's not appropriate to show hostility too early.
Now that the new emperor of Nanyue Kingdom has ascended the throne and has conveyed his intention to engage in friendly trade, our Beichen Kingdom might as well agree to it first and send a smart and capable envoy to offer congratulations and find out the truth.
At the same time, secretly strengthening the military and training the troops is the best strategy. If we simply increase the number of troops on the border, it may arouse suspicion from other countries and put Beichen in a disadvantageous position.
His Majesty listened to his ministers' suggestions, pondering for a long time. His gaze fell on the map on the table, and he spoke slowly, "Everything you say makes sense. I intend to send envoys to Lichen first, under the guise of congratulating the new emperor on his accession to the throne, and to investigate the situation thoroughly. As for the troops stationed at the border, they can be gradually increased, but operations must be carried out in secrecy, not to alarm other countries."
After the decree was issued, all the officials in the court took orders and left, each busy with preparations.
The selection of the envoy was particularly cautious. After much consideration, an official with rich experience in diplomatic affairs, eloquent and thoughtful was chosen.
This person has made friends with talented people from all over the world and has knowledge of the customs and culture of various countries as well as the secrets of the palace. He is the perfect choice.
While the envoys were preparing for their trip, Beichen Kingdom's intelligence agencies were also operating at full speed.
The spies continuously sent all kinds of news from Nanyue Kingdom back to the country through various secret channels.
There are rumors in the market that after the new emperor Luo Lingchen ascended the throne of Nanyue Kingdom, although he used both kindness and power, there was still an undercurrent among the people, and they were quite dissatisfied with his seizure of the throne;
There were also secret reports from the palace stating that the new emperor frequently summoned military generals, seemingly planning a military deployment.
In the Beichen Kingdom's military camp, soldiers were also intensifying their training. On the training grounds, shouts of killing shook the heavens, and swords flashed and gleamed.
The generals personally supervised the battles, imposed stricter training requirements on the soldiers, and conducted more frequent tactical drills, striving to ensure that the Beichen army could maintain strong combat effectiveness in this ever-changing situation and be ready to respond to threats from Nanyue or other directions at any time.
Among the people, although the situation appears calm on the surface, well-informed businessmen have also begun to quietly adjust their business layout.
In the border towns bordering Nanyue State, trade exchanges became more cautious. Some large merchants reduced the export of goods to Nanyue State and instead stockpiled supplies in preparation for emergencies.
At the same time, the domestic blacksmith shops and weapon workshops also became prosperous. The clinking sound of weapons was heard day and night, making material preparations for the possible turbulent situation.
The entire Beichen Kingdom, under the impact of the news of the new emperor's ascension to the throne of the Nanyue Kingdom, was like a precision machine, with all parts running at high speed, ready for the unknown variables.
For the Shen family, this matter was like a gentle breeze blowing across the hills, without causing much waves.
The current emperor Xuan Ye was fully expecting Shen Li to wake up, so he did not harshly criticize Shen Li for the various impacts that Shen Li's coma had caused to Fuxilou, as well as the loss of its interests.
After all, the old immortal Xuanfeng Sanren, who was known for his extraordinary powers, was not around at the moment. Without those novel and unique goods to sell, it was inevitable that the business of Fuxilou would plummet. However, Xuan Ye just let it go and did not pursue the matter too much.
In the magnificent palace of Dongsheng Kingdom with its carved beams and painted rafters, the elderly Emperor Su Qi was lazily leaning on the dragon throne, listening to the reports from his ministers below, and casually playing with a warm jade pendant in his hand.
Upon hearing the news that the new emperor of Nanyue Kingdom had ascended the throne, his eyes, which had been slightly narrowed, suddenly widened, an indescribable light flashed in his eyes, and the jade pendant in his hand also stopped rotating in an instant.
He sat up slightly, glanced at the ministers below, and after a moment's silence, he asked, "My dear ministers, what are your opinions on this matter?"
In an instant, there was a lot of discussion in the court, and the ministers expressed their own opinions. Some advocated sending envoys to congratulate and test the truth, while others thought that border defenses should be strengthened to prevent the new emperor of Nanyue Kingdom from coveting it.
In Xiqi, the young Crown Prince Nangong Qi was reviewing his troops in the parade ground.
He has an upright figure, dressed in a black suit with a jeweled belt around his waist, which makes him look even more heroic.
After the attendant hurriedly came to report the news of the Nanyue Kingdom, he frowned slightly, and when he heard the country's name was "Lichen", he subconsciously tightened the whip in his hand.
He then turned and looked into the distance, his eyes deep and determined, secretly wondering what impact this change in the situation would have on his country.
After a while, he called his trusted adviser, whispered a few instructions to him, and then threw himself into military training again, as if he wanted to use strict military discipline to deal with the unknown variables that were about to come.
At the same time, spies from various countries rushed to the former Nanyue, now the Lichen Kingdom, like sharks smelling blood.
They disguised themselves and hid in the streets, teahouses and taverns, hoping to obtain more information about the new emperor of Lichen Kingdom from the words of the people and the behavior of officials.
There were also spies lurking near the palace of Lichen Kingdom, observing the new emperor's every move day and night, and recording them in detail, which were then sent back to their country through various secret channels.
As for the country of Lichen, the afterglow of the new emperor's coronation ceremony seemed to have not yet dissipated.
The new emperor Luo Lingchen wore a dragon robe and a crown on his head, sitting on the dragon throne, which symbolized supreme power, and accepted the worship of all officials.
His eyes were deep and majestic, revealing the aura of a king dominating the world. However, he also knew that when he first ascended the throne, the country's strength was still unstable and many affairs needed to be sorted out and resolved urgently.
Although Luo Lingchen was thinking about Shen Li, he also knew that this was not the best opportunity, so he instructed the spy to send back the news of Beichen Fuxi County Lord's Mansion in time.
Therefore, he secretly strengthened the domestic military defense, reorganized the army, and improved the combat effectiveness of the soldiers;
On the other hand, we actively carry out diplomatic activities and send eloquent envoys to various countries to convey the desire for friendly trade and peaceful coexistence, hoping to achieve a balance and stability in this delicate international relationship and gain precious time and space for the development of the Nanyue Kingdom.