Chapter 1323 - 30: So You Still Remember You’re the Great Emperor

"I’ve already sent people to investigate the specifics in detail." Wang Shouzhe first answered Jiang Zhencang, then soothed Emperor Longchang, "Your Majesty, please don’t be impatient. This is not what you imagine it to be. As far as I know, this matter is not at the behest of Emperor Yuanyou and Emperor Yanqing, but was instigated by the True Demon Hall."

"True Demon Hall?"

Emperor Longchang and Jiang Zhencang were both stunned.

Neither of them had ever imagined that the True Demon Hall would be involved in this.

Though they had been wrestling with Western Jin and Southern Qin for thousands of years, they really had very little contact with the True Demon Hall. There was no helping it—the level was different.

Even if the True Demon Hall made a move, it was always aimed at the Immortal Dynasty. Though they had accidentally been dragged in a few times, they avoided it whenever they could, and almost never had direct contact.

Wang Shouzhe roughly analyzed and explained the intelligence he’d obtained, and finally summarized: "Considering that a Divine Power Realm expert recently infiltrated Longzuo County, suspected to be a guest from the Demon Dynasty, I suspect the True Demon Hall is planning some small operation within our Daqian Realm. Western Jin and Southern Qin are most likely just providing them cover; they may not truly intend to fight."

"However, even so, we must not underestimate them."

Wang Shouzhe’s expression grew increasingly serious: "Once a National War is triggered, it cannot be easily stopped. Even if Emperor Yuanyou and Emperor Yanqing do not wish to fight, the situation on the battlefield often won’t allow them to retreat."

Jiang Zhencang and Emperor Longchang had both weathered great storms and naturally understood this truth.

What surprised them instead was that Wang Shouzhe could remain so calm at such a time, and every word he spoke struck at the heart of the matter, making them look at him in a new light.

National War.

That is war between nations. Once it breaks out, no one in the entire Daqian can remain uninvolved, nor is there any room for retreat.

Because once you lose, what you lose is far more than just your own life.

Only those who have truly experienced it can understand how heavy the weight of those two short words "National War" really is.

"I’ll immediately have Emperor’s Son An start gathering provisions and reallocating the Profound Armor Army to reinforce the borders, making preparations for National War." Emperor Longchang was hot-tempered; he spoke at once, "As long as Yanqing and Yuanyou dare to come, I’ll beat them until they don’t even recognize their own parents!"

"What are you rushing for? I’m not finished yet."

Wang Shouzhe glared at Emperor Longchang.

In that instant, his aura actually pressed down on Emperor Longchang, making the Great Emperor involuntarily shiver.

He stared blankly for quite a while before weakly asking, "What else do you want to say?"

Wang Shouzhe withdrew his gaze and continued, "Once a National War begins, it cannot end in a short span of time. I’ve carefully studied the situation in several National Wars since Daqian was founded, and found that National Wars tend to last at least a hundred years, and at most three to five hundred years. As for why they eventually end, in most cases the reason is the same."

Jiang Zhencang shot Wang Shouzhe a glance, his eyes somewhat strange.

What’s with this kid? His cultivation is obviously only at the Purple Mansion Realm, yet he dares to glare at Longchang—and can even make Longchang obediently yield?

Emperor Longchang, however, didn’t notice anything amiss. He frowned and said, "What reason? Isn’t it because one side gained the upper hand on the battlefield that they stop fighting?"

"No, it’s because they can’t afford to fight anymore." Wang Shouzhe’s gaze was sharp. "In all previous National Wars, there were almost none that truly produced a clear victor. By the end, the population was depleted, national strength was heavily exhausted, and the people of both countries were filled with resentment. Both sides found it hard to continue. That is the real reason for the ceasefires."

Emperor Longchang opened his mouth, but was left speechless.

Wang Shouzhe’s expression was extremely grave: "War is a means, not an end. From my perspective, such wars do nothing but squander national strength and are utterly meaningless."

When he heard this, Emperor Longchang instantly grew displeased and snarled, "By your reasoning, should I do nothing—just let Western Jin and Southern Qin invade our lands, plunder and slaughter our citizens?"

"Of course not." Wang Shouzhe gave him a surprised look, as if he’d said something strange.

Jiang Zhencang, however, faintly started to catch on: "Shouzhe, what are you thinking?"

"Fight—we absolutely must fight. But we cannot fight the way we did before." Wang Shouzhe’s tone was steady and forceful as he began to lay out his plan. "I’ve carefully thought it through earlier, and already have a general idea..."

As he spoke, he roughly explained the conceptual outline he had just worked out.

At first Jiang Zhencang and Emperor Longchang listened in some confusion, but as they gradually understood, their eyes lit up; they nodded repeatedly, as if a door to a new world had just been opened to them.

Thinking about it, the scene before them was so similar to that meeting years ago between Emperor’s Son An and Wang Shouzhe.

Even many years later, when Emperor Longchang and Jiang Zhencang recalled this scene, they still couldn’t help but feel deep emotion.

Who could have imagined that such a seemingly casual meeting would end up rewriting the destiny of all Daqian?

After talking for a good long while, Wang Shouzhe finally finished making his general idea clear to the two of them and took the time to sip some tea. "That’s about it. This is only a rough framework. As for the specific operational details, we’ll have to slowly refine them later."

By now, Jiang Zhencang’s gaze toward Wang Shouzhe had already grown somewhat strange: "If things really can go as you say, then during the National War, our national strength won’t decline—in fact, it might even grow stronger and stronger. That’s too unbelievable. Just how is your brain put together?"