Chapter 574

"And thank you for always being by my side, always supporting me."

"There’s no need to thank me, it’s what I should do, being able to accompany you is my honor," the woman in the white dress said gently.

"Alright, let’s go meet their Emperor together," Adam smiled.

For some unknown reason, Adam had never suspected this woman who had suddenly appeared by his side, he merely felt that she understood him incredibly well.

The group soon arrived at the capital.

"Lord Zeon, please allow me to lead the way," the leading general respectfully stepped aside, gesturing for Adam to go first.

Adam nodded slightly, his heart completely calm.

The moment he stepped into the imperial palace, a solemn and oppressive atmosphere rushed against his face, the carved beams and painted rafters were resplendent and magnificent, yet beneath this luxury, there seemed to hide countless unresolved disputes and sorrows.

Adam’s gaze swept his surroundings, pondering how to converse with this Emperor to most effectively convey his intentions.

The Emperor sat on the dragon throne, a middle-aged man wearing a dragon robe and imperial crown, his majesty carrying a trace of exhaustion, he stared intently at Adam, surprise and curiosity passing through his eyes, for such a young boy to stop a war single-handedly was undoubtedly something he had never seen.

"You are Zeon?" The Emperor’s voice was deep and powerful, revealing unquestionable majesty.

Adam bowed, neither haughty nor humble, "I am, I have come hoping Your Majesty can see the whole picture clearly, prioritize the welfare of the dynasty and its people, and stop this senseless war."

The Emperor frowned slightly, surprised by Adam’s bluntness, "Zeon, do you know that war is no child’s play? Once launched, it is difficult to pull back easily."

"Furthermore, the grievances between our dynasty and the neighboring dynasty are deeply rooted, how can they be resolved by your strength alone?"

Adam took a deep breath, his gaze firm, "Your Majesty is right, war is not child’s play, but the consequences it brings are even more immeasurable, innocent civilians will be displaced, their homes destroyed, and they may lose their lives, is this truly what Your Majesty desires?"

The Emperor was silent, as if weighing the pros and cons, how could he not know? The cost of war is heavy, but the situation forced him to choose, the dynasty was plagued by natural disasters and man-made calamities, the treasury could not make ends meet, if they did not open a gap through war, they wouldn’t hold on much longer.

Adam continued, "Your Majesty, I am willing to travel to the neighboring dynasty and use my strength and sincerity to persuade their leaders to sit down and negotiate, to see if both sides can cooperate."

"At the same time, I will do everything in my power to help resolve the current crisis, allowing the people of both nations to live peaceful lives."

A sharp glint flashed through the Emperor’s eyes, he hadn’t expected this young man not only possessed extraordinary strength but also harbored a heart that cared for the common people.

"Zeon, if this is truly possible, you will be the savior of our dynasty, and you shall be bestowed with supreme glory."

Adam smiled faintly, cupping his hands, "I do not seek fame or fortune, I only wish for peace and for people to live and work in peace, if Your Majesty adopts my suggestion, I will go all out."

"However, before heading to the neighboring dynasty, I would like to first understand your dynasty’s situation."

"Alright, men, prepare the study," the Emperor commanded.

Attendants hurried over, leading Adam and the Emperor into a quaintly decorated study, rows of towering bookshelves were filled with ancient texts and scrolls, the air carried a faint scent of ink and pine resin, peaceful and solemn.

The Emperor walked to a large desk and sat down, gesturing for Adam to take a seat, the attendants retreated outside the door, guarding this rare tranquility.

"Zeon, what is your understanding of our dynasty’s situation?" The Emperor’s voice echoed in the study, carrying seriousness and anticipation.

Adam thought for a moment, "Your Majesty, from what I have heard, your dynasty has suffered frequent natural disasters in recent years, coupled with continuous warfare, this has led to an empty treasury and destitute livelihoods."

"But I also know your dynasty has a long history, profound cultural heritage, and hardworking, brave people, as long as the right direction is found, you will overcome these difficulties and reproduce past glory."

The Emperor nodded, approval flashing through his eyes, "What you say makes sense, but implementation is no easy task."

"The dispute with the neighboring dynasty is not merely territorial, it is a battle for resources, they have vast lands and abundant resources, if we do not acquire more through war, sustaining our nation will be difficult."

Adam smiled faintly, wisdom flickering in his eyes, "Your Majesty, war might bring temporary benefits, but long-term, it will deplete national strength and damage the people’s morale."

"I believe we can approach solving this from several aspects."

"First, strengthen domestic governance, through tax reduction, disaster relief, and water conservancy construction, raise living standards and enhance the people’s sense of belonging, even facing external enemies, the nation can unite to overcome difficulties."

"Second, develop the economy, encourage agriculture, handicrafts, and commerce, utilize natural resources and cultural advantages to attract investment and promote trade, once the economy prospers, the treasury fills, and national strength increases."

"Third, strengthen diplomacy, as I said, I am willing to travel to the neighboring dynasty and show them the benefits of peace, you can also establish friendly relations with other countries to jointly defend against external enemies and maintain regional stability."

Adam spoke with calm assurance, but the Emperor’s complexion grew increasingly awful.

"Zeon, I understand everything you are saying, but putting it into actual practice is fraught with difficulties," the Emperor’s voice unconsciously carried agitation, he stood up, walked to the window, and gazed out at the sky confined by the high palace walls, as if searching for a sliver of an opening for relief.

A/N:

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