So at this moment, he calmly said, "The Great General is loyal to the throne and loves the country, she treats the people like her children, and her care for the people of Shu is no less than King Cheng’s. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have instructed the Jingzhou Governor to shelter the displaced people of Ba Shu, provide them with money and food, and allow King Cheng to establish his own vassal state."

"Prime Minister Fan, the strength of the Xiongnu far surpasses that of Cheng Country, but the Great General is never timid. It’s because the Xiongnu harmed the Han people, making life unsustainable for them, that she deployed troops to eradicate the Xiongnu," Zhao Xin said in a deep voice. "With such noble character, what more doubts do King Cheng and the Prime Minister have?"

Listen to the undertone, whatever they think, Zhao Xin just said it like this. In any case, my Great General is virtuous and capable, so just say whether or not you’ll follow her?

Fan Changsheng replied, "Since the Great General trusts our Majesty, why deploy troops in Han Zhong? Ba Shu is one family, the people of Shu are all our compatriots. I ask you to inform the Great General and allow our Majesty full authority to govern Shu." 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

Well, we believe in Zhao Hanzhang, but we also ask the Great General to believe in them.

They are willing to take a step back and become a vassal state, but Zhao Hanzhang must hand over Ba Shu entirely to King Cheng for management, call back the Jin ministers currently fighting against them, and withdraw the troops...

Zhao Xin slightly curled the corners of his mouth, then refused them. Of course, not a complete refusal, but a partial one. He stated that the Jin ministers in Shu might not necessarily obey Zhao Hanzhang’s orders, so he would first communicate and negotiate.

This matter is significant, and he also needs to report to Zhao Hanzhang. At the end, Zhao Xin stated his condition: he wants to meet Princess Hongnong.

Fan Changsheng couldn’t help but look up at Li Xiong.

Li Xiong nodded slightly, agreeing.

Fan Changsheng then scanned the crowd and chose an official to take him to meet Princess Hongnong.

The court officials gradually withdrew from the hall, leaving only Li Xiong and Fan Changsheng.

Li Xiong hastily stepped down from the throne and anxiously asked, "Prime Minister, will Zhao Hanzhang really deploy troops to Shu?"

Fan Changsheng sighed, "She has already occupied Han Zhong, taking control of the strategic points. She can attack at any time."

Li Xiong also sighed, "We’re too slow. When we first received the message that the Jin envoy was coming to visit, we should have deployed troops to seize Han Zhong first."

Now that our lifeline is in Zhao Hanzhang’s hands, it’s truly uncomfortable.

Fan Changsheng coldly reminded him, "Your Majesty, even if you deploy troops, you might not be able to capture Han Zhong."

Actually, Li Xiong’s forces are not strong, at least they can’t compare to the Zhao Family Army, which can resist the Xiongnu.

He’s always been at war, and only last year and this year, taking advantage of the turmoil in the Central Plains and the Jin ministers’ wavering minds, along with the people’s long-standing suffering under Jin, he seized several territories.

Honestly, Li Xiong himself is also tired of fighting; he doesn’t want to go to war, especially since if his people and the populace surrendered to Jin State, they’d be mercilessly exploited. Wouldn’t he be happy to remain the youngest son of the Marquis of Changle?

Considering his father and elder brother who died in battle, Li Xiong couldn’t help but shed tears, and said to Fan Changsheng, "If Zhao Hanzhang does replace Jin, I am willing to submit, but in this current ambiguous state, if the Sima family regains power, it will be like the previous chaotic state. How could I ever face my father and brother?"

Fan Changsheng lowered his eyes and softly said, "Your Majesty need not worry. Having come this far, even if she wants to retreat, those behind her will not allow her to, especially the Zhao Family."

"No powerful minister’s family has endured after their fall, and seeing Zhao Xin’s ambitious expression, it’s clear he won’t back down," he said. "Since that is the case, why doesn’t Your Majesty take a step back and calmly observe the changes?"

"If the situation develops as we imagine, our original persistence can be realized. If not, watching from the sidelines might let Your Majesty take advantage of the chaos in Shu to clean up when the time comes."

This arrangement is too ambitious, too grand.

Li Xiong was startled, repeatedly shaking his head, "Governing Shu alone has already exhausted my energies, how could I have the ability to covet the world outside of Shu?"

Fan Changsheng, however, was confident, "If you don’t try, Your Majesty, how would you know it’s impossible? Did Your Majesty know he would be here today seven years ago?"

Li Xiong opened his mouth but couldn’t say anything.

Li Xiong’s ascension as emperor was also due to Fan Changsheng’s persuasion.

This Taoist-advocating Prime Minister, Fan, at this moment had a distant look, seeming to see through Li Xiong, yet not at all. Though in his old age, with all white hair, his complexion was still healthy, with few wrinkles, his gaze clear, anyone meeting his eyes could not help but be convinced.

Li Xiong was precisely in such a state right now.

Despite his doubts about his own abilities, facing Fan Changsheng’s gaze, he felt a bit more confident.

Perhaps he was right; he could give it a try.

"Is Prime Minister suggesting agreeing to become a vassal state? But what if Zhao Hanzhang refuses to give up Han Zhong?"

"Of course, Zhao Hanzhang won’t agree," said Fan Changsheng. "Han Zhong is the gateway to Shu. If Han Zhong is handed over, wouldn’t Liang State fall into our hands? Meat that’s already in one’s mouth, especially delicious fatty meat, how could she spit it out?"

"Then..."

"I believe Your Majesty can rule Fuling County, Ba County, and Jiangyang County, bringing everything under Guanghan under Cheng Country," Fan Changsheng explained.

These places are mountainous with long rivers, roads difficult to traverse, and rugged mountains blocking access, making it challenging for outside forces to reach. For Zhao Hanzhang to take control, she’d either have to conquer Shu or cross perilous passes, bearing a great cost to do so.

The cost of governance is too high, the price too great, so Fan Changsheng believes Zhao Hanzhang may be persuaded to step back.

Li Xiong understood now, it’s a game of negotiation; they put forth conditions, and Zhao Hanzhang will surely counteroffer, leaving space here. It’s now up to them to see how much benefit they can vie for.

"And Princess Hongnong..."

"Give them," Fan Changsheng said with deep meaning. "Princess Hongnong is of no use in our hands, but it would be different in Zhao Hanzhang’s. Your Majesty is worried about the court returning to the Sima family’s control, right? We only need to watch what happens next."

Princess Hongnong came to Sichuan to borrow troops from Luo Shang to save the then-crippled court.

In the end, not only did she fail to secure troops, but she was also detained in Shu.

However, Li Xiong did not make things difficult for her, only having people guard them to prevent them from roaming freely.

Initially, he had wanted to bring Princess Hongnong forward to force the Jin ministers to surrender, but Luo Shang and the others did not care for her well-being at all.

Honestly, it’s not just the Princess, even if the Emperor were brought forward, it would be difficult for them to compromise.

They have fought not truly for Great Jin; it’s merely a convenient excuse.

It’s simply because if they lose, they’d face endless calamity. Even escaping and doing nothing, surviving in such a chaotic world, would be difficult.

Thus, they must hold firmly onto their forces, surviving as well as they can.