Chapter 253: Chapter 239: Words Without Constant Integrity, Actions Without Constant Fidelity
Shang Ruyi dared not speak lightly, and could only quietly serve by the side, while Chu Yang focused solely on the map, without uttering a word about Yu Wenye. He reached out and pointed at the Eastern Capital on the map, then extended his arm to point northeast towards Liaodong City, murmuring to himself—
"Previously, several times, the failure was due to insufficient supplies, because they were directly transported from Xingluo Granary, the journey was long, and the consumption was significant along the way, resulting in less than thirty percent of the supplies reaching the frontline."
"..."
"This time, thorough preparation must be made."
"..."
"Supplies are to be transported via two routes, simultaneously from Hebei and Henan..."
Shang Ruyi listened silently for a while, then squatted down slowly, tracing the direction of his finger, looking at the densely packed routes and place names on the map.
Chu Yang again looked up at her and said, "However, this time is different from the last."
He genuinely treated Shang Ruyi like a court official, confiding and discussing matters with her.
Shang Ruyi calmly faced him, and even asked, "What is different?"
Chu Yang’s finger drew a line diagonally from Luoyang, saying, "This time, the supplies from Henan will not be transported overland to Liaoxi, but shipped directly from Lai State to Liaodong."
"..."
"With this, the consumption is reduced, and both routes can better ensure supply to the frontline soldiers."
Shang Ruyi’s heart stirred slightly.
This indeed is a plan, a good plan.
She couldn’t help but look up at Chu Yang, only to see him looking at her too, with a proud smile on his handsome, unmatched face, like a child who has done something unexpectedly clever and can’t wait to show it to everyone.
He said, "How is it?"
Shang Ruyi’s throat choked a little, and she softly said, "It’s a good plan, Your Majesty is wise."
Hearing her words, Chu Yang became even more excited, he stood up abruptly and walked back and forth on the land between Luoyang and Liaodong several times, murmuring, "Once the supplies are resolved, my Daye Dynasty has a million-armored force, there’s no worry about not taking Liaodong City, not taking down that deceitful villain Mou Zifeng?"
"..."
"Then, once Liaodong is settled, the world will be at peace, and then—"
At this point, his gaze shifted west.
The place where Shang Ruyi had just come from.
Even squatting motionless on the ground, Shang Ruyi’s heart beat fiercely several times at this moment. Although she did not understand whether it was due to the potential impact of her recent words, or because of the man in front of her whose heart burns hot, determined to give everything for the world, and also demanding the world to offer everything for him, yet she understood, the path Chu Yang desires to tread is bound with thorns, destined to be bathed in blood, and perhaps—
Her heart suddenly felt pierced.
Looking up again at the man in front of her, even knowing his identity, she still could not associate this Immortal-like handsome man with Princess Xinyue’s father and the supreme Emperor of the Daye Dynasty; neither time nor Heaven favored him too much, even spoiled him.
Yet, the cost of spoiling is often weighty.
Shang Ruyi seemed to see a person, in diligent sowing, though unaware of whether this person planted thorns or flowers, she saw that this person planted with a smile.
She also saw, ahead of this person, lay an endless abyss!
Who can grasp him from falling?
As she remained silent, Chu Yang gradually withdrew from excitement, sensing a peculiar quietness, he lowered his head to look at Shang Ruyi, still squatting at a distance, silent and apparently pondering something, then walked slowly back to her side, squatted down, and quietly looked at her seemingly calm yet extremely complex expression, asking, "What are you thinking?"
"..."
Shang Ruyi raised her head to look at him.
Their gazes met, as if at that instant, something inside Shang Ruyi was torn, causing a dull pain in her chest.
She took a deep breath and finally said, "Your Majesty, why must Liaodong City be conquered?"
Upon hearing this, Chu Yang’s eyebrows furrowed.
Shang Ruyi knew he must have heard this question countless times, even to the point of feeling offended when hearing it, but she still softly said, "Ruyi knows Mou Zifeng is deceitful, with a wolf-like ambition, he builds the Great Wall in Liaoxi, clandestinely collaborates with Ashina Shali of the Turkic, which is detrimental to our court."
Chu Yang replied, "Knowing this, why still ask?"
Shang Ruyi said, "In previous campaigns, Your Majesty failed each time, even if victorious this time, the resources invested in this campaign have already exceeded the benefits of conquering a single Liaodong City. Your Majesty must account for this, because the entire world is accounting for this."
"..."
"Moreover, that implies victory. What if we fail again this time?"
"..."
"Your Majesty, why not resolve the issue of Liaodong, and Mou Zifeng differently?"
Chu Yang was silent for a while, then sneered, "Gouli Country lacks consistent faith and integrity, driven merely by profit, with nothing it will not betray, a contemptible nation."
"..."
"If distant, I might let it go, but being adjacent to the Daye Dynasty, it is different."
"..."
"Having such a presence in the northeast, it is like a cancerous tumor, not only disturbing the border but also persistently stealing and pilfering our Central Plains’ resources and culture. Worse still, if they grow strong, they will surely threaten the Central Plains Dynasty."
"..."
"Therefore, I must destroy them!"
Shang Ruyi’s heart suddenly trembled.
The Central Plains Dynasty—
What he mentioned wasn’t even the Da Ye Dynasty.
In other words, even if it wasn’t the Da Ye Dynasty, but another dynasty ruling the Central Plains, the people of Gouli Country would still pose a threat to this place in the future?
Could this be true?
Shang Ruyi’s expression was somewhat doubtful, silent for a moment, while Chu Yang slowly leaned closer to her, almost pressing against her face: "Are you doubting me?"
Shang Ruyi came to her senses, finding him right in front of her, hurriedly lowering her head to avoid that focused gaze: "Ruyi dare not!"
Chu Yang smiled slightly: "It doesn’t matter if you doubt."
"..."
"Because I am the Emperor, and I see what you cannot see, and I must do what you cannot imagine. It is a great enterprise that will impact generations to come, a hegemonic ambition!"
"..."
"I build the Canal to facilitate the exchange of goods between the north and south, I construct the Great Wall to resist the ambition of the Turkic, I establish the Eastern Capital to no longer have to listen to the stale arguments of those old fellows in Longxi, I capture Liaodong City to once and for all resolve the northeastern border troubles, allowing the Central Plains Dynasty and the people of the Central Plains for hundreds and thousands of years to enjoy everlasting peace!"
"..."
"Isn’t all of this correct?"
"..."
Shang Ruyi silently looked at him for a long time. In fact, he said similar words the last time they met at the Tinghe Building, and at this moment, he repeated them again—it can be imagined that during this period, he must have received countless advices and pressure from the courtiers, which made him once again pour out his heart to her.
But Shang Ruyi was not impatient.
On the contrary, it seemed to be the first time that she not only seriously listened to him but also earnestly stepped out of her identity and knowledge since her last great illness to listen to him.
She couldn’t hear anything wrong with what he said, but she knew he was still wrong.
If he were not wrong, he wouldn’t have—
Thinking of this, Shang Ruyi’s heart sank again, and a sudden cold wind blew outside, making her shiver, though the entire palace was warmed by the steaming warm spring underground.
In an instant, she came to her senses.
After a silence, she softly said: "What Your Majesty said is most reasonable."
"..."
"Ruyi also acknowledges that the considerations of Your Majesty for the greater good are beyond the reach of any officials in the realm. That is precisely why—this time, Ruyi’s husband fought so hard to reclaim the Xingluo Granary to assist Your Majesty’s great enterprise."
Chu Yang nodded.
But the next moment, he came back to his senses, his gaze suddenly turning cold: "What are you trying to say?"
After weighing her words, Shang Ruyi still softly said: "Your Majesty, Ruyi’s husband worked tirelessly to reclaim the Xingluo Granary this time. It is hard to find someone in the army like him, who is so willing to lead by example, sacrificing himself fearlessly."
"..."
"His loyalty to the court and Your Majesty is as clear as day and night. Please, Your Majesty, beware of unfounded rumors."
There was a faint smile on the corner of Chu Yang’s lips, but a sharp edge flashed in his narrow phoenix eyes as he said: "Do you think I am a foolish ruler, who listens to slander and would kill loyal officials, betraying them like hunted hares and tired dogs?"
Hearing this, Shang Ruyi turned pale with fright and hurriedly knelt: "Ruyi dares not!"
"Dare not...?"
Chu Yang slowly straightened up, looking down at her thin shoulders and back, and coldly said: "What is it that you dare not do?"
"..."
"Just after parting with me at the Tinghe Building, you dared to leave the city overnight, rushing alone to the Luokou Ferry, and dared to hold hostage the supervisor I personally appointed!"
Shang Ruyi’s thin shoulders began to tremble slightly.
Of course, she knew that after returning to the city, the things she had done would be known to him, but having every word pronounced by Chu Yang like a judgment, still made her heart pound with fear.
And seeing her shrinking appearance, more open anger appeared on Chu Yang’s face as he said: "Do you care so much for Yu Wenye?"
At the moment this question was asked, the entire Warm Dock fell silent.
Even Shang Ruyi felt as if the warm spring flowing beneath the ground had been frozen by some intense chill at this moment; she could no longer hear the sound of the flowing spring, and a chill rose from the soles of her feet, clenching her heart.
At this moment, she found herself unable to speak.
Although the answer was obvious, perhaps not even another could be imagined, she knew that at this moment, she absolutely could not speak that answer.
And Chu Yang’s furious voice already rang in her ears.
"Speak!"