World's First Traitor System (448)

Chapter 448 - An Impossible System

Liu Chan, Cao Huan, and Sun Hao all suspected they had misheard!

"This... this... this..."

"King Jin, this is too inconceivable!"

"Your request is truly... truly..."

The three men's expressions changed repeatedly, yet none could utter words to refute Fan Li. Today, they had come invited, full of sincerity, even humbling themselves to greet Fan Li with the etiquette due from nephews. The reason for such deference was certainly not just because Fan Li held high status and great power in Chu.

The most crucial reason was survival.

Great Ming was too vast, its territory expansive, with hundreds of millions of subjects. Great Ming was too strong, possessing Emperor Jiajing, Yao Guang, and a host of capable ministers and officials, whether of the “clear stream” or “muddy stream” factions, whose wisdom and cultivation far surpassed ordinary people! Aside from being economically inferior to Great Chu, Great Ming was indeed unmatched in the mortal realm!

The three states of Wei, Han, and Wu all faced the danger of annihilation! To preserve their ancestral temples and dynasties, and ensure successors for their realms, Cao, Liu, and Sun had actively sought closer ties with Fan Li for many years.

However, the request Fan Li proposed this time far exceeded the common understanding of people in this world.

"King Jin, regarding the grand plan to resist Ming, is there truly no other way?" Liu Chan asked with a wry smile.

"Indeed!" Cao Huan added. "With your wisdom, King Jin, you can surely devise another good solution. Please do not spare the effort, for the sake of the people of the four nations, think of another mutually beneficial plan!"

Sun Hao pleaded even more earnestly, "Your Highness King Jin, why not restore the Five-Kingdom Alliance strategy from the Great Ci period? My Wu state is willing to honor Great Chu as the leader, how about that?"

The reaction of the three envoys was within Fan Li's expectations. Imperial power had always been supreme. The only things capable of overriding imperial power were ethereal existences, such as deities, the Heavenly Dao, and deceased ancestors. Like the [Alliance Council] Fan Li proposed, and himself as the Supreme Speaker, this was a tangible entity superior to imperial power; which dynasty could possibly agree?

"Apologies." Fan Li shook his head, his tone firm. "If the [Council] system is not accepted, this King believes resisting Ming will inevitably fail. The three of you need not decide immediately. Since you rarely revisit old places, why not linger in Peng City for a few days and inform this King of the result later?"

Revisit old places? Since Yao Guang's defeat, it felt as if a sharp sword hung over the heads of the three kingdoms, causing them constant fear day and night. Fan Li spoke politely, merely giving Wei, Han, and Wu time to consider. Breaking tradition indeed required time and courage.

With the wisdom of the three Emperors, they surely understood Fan Li was not taking the opportunity to encroach upon their interests; any decision he made as Supreme Speaker would certainly be for the purpose of resisting Ming. However, a Supreme Speaker appearing above the Emperor? The Emperor's authority shaken – based on this point alone, rejecting it multiple times was entirely reasonable.

As Fan Li had predicted, Liu Chan and the other two indeed took their leave temporarily, saying they would give him an answer in a few days.

Once the three had left, Xiang Ning could sit still no longer.

"Aaaah!"

"Fan Li!"

"What is this [Alliance Council]? And what does the [Supreme Speaker] do?"

"Such an important matter, and you didn't even discuss it with me beforehand?" She grabbed Fan Li's collar, shaking him repeatedly and shouting.

"Your... cough cough cough... Your Majesty, are you trying to strangle me?" Seeing his face red and neck thick, veins bulging, Xiang Ning finally released her grip.

Actually, it wasn't Fan Li's fault for not informing her beforehand. One word: busy. Two words: too busy.

"Hmph!" Xiang Ning fumed, yet didn't know who to be angry with.

"Why are you the Supreme Speaker?" Xiang Ning asked again.

Fan Li smiled wryly. "Besides me, if any of you four Emperors sat in that position, the others wouldn't feel at ease."

It was true! Allies were inherently relationships of mutual trust and mutual suspicion. Especially emperors, they were practically the most suspicious group of people in the world. If the emperor of any one nation served as Supreme Speaker, Fan Li's proposal would absolutely never pass.

How could the Emperor of Great Chu reign over the lands of Wei, Han, and Wu? Even under the guise of Supreme Speaker, it was unacceptable. But with Fan Li, he was ultimately a subject, making the issue slightly less pointed and sensitive. Of course, only slightly better.

"Wouldn't an alliance like before work?" Xiang Ning asked again. This time, she asked with genuine humility.

"Of course not." Fan Li carefully explained to her. "An alliance relies on prestige and might. Might is strength. Prestige is momentum. Combining the strength of the four nations can counter Great Ming."

"But if we continue Yao Guang's alliance strategy – Yao Guang has already submitted to Great Ming, so her methods are seen by the world as those of a loser. If the four nations continue down Yao Guang's old path, the people of the four nations will only believe defeat is certain."

"Only by taking a completely new path can the people of the four nations see hope. Otherwise, before defeat on the battlefield, the hearts of the people will be defeated first. Once the people's hearts are lost, the tide of battle will be irreversible."

Xiang Ning finally understood. She admitted Fan Li was right.

"You are more suited to be Emperor than I am," Xiang Ning suddenly whispered. "Do you want to be? I can abdicate to you." These words came from the heart, yet they were also impulsive. Deeply feeling her own powerlessness, Xiang Ning felt that even if she was better than Xiang Chong, her strength was limited, insufficient to survive in chaotic times.

"Uh... abdication isn't necessary." Fan Li scratched his head awkwardly. He thought, I'm already an emperor, I just don't dare tell you.

"Your Majesty should return to the palace," Fan Li said. "I will escort you." As he spoke, his gaze darted towards the jade screen. Like a thief, even though he hadn't done anything wrong.

"Mm," Xiang Ning nodded in agreement.

…

Great Chu, Imperial Palace.

"Long live my Emperor."

"Long live His Highness King Jin."

Just inside the palace gates, a large crowd of palace maids and eunuchs knelt down. Another refined and elegant figure stood quietly nearby, welcoming the two. It was Han Yue.

Seeing Han Yue from afar, Fan Li finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"I'm back!" Xiang Ning skipped forward, covering the distance in a few bounds, bouncing up to Han Yue. She met the other's gaze, and her face flushed first. "Alright, I'll just tell you. I spent the night at Fan Li's place." Xiang Ning misunderstood, thinking it was an inquisitive gaze.

"Were you happy?" Han Yue asked softly.

"Mm!"

Between close friends, indeed nothing was left unsaid. Helplessly, Fan Li listened nearby, feeling extremely awkward, not to mention the occasionally unfathomable glances Han Yue threw his way.

"Sorry for leaving you alone in the palace," Xiang Ning added guiltily.

But Han Yue shook her head. "I was also happy."

Hearing this, Fan Li felt even more awkward. Fine, fine, fine. You're both happy, you're both happy at my expense. Might as well strive for sharing a bed soon, see if I can finally be happy too!

Several days later.

Fan Li received Liu Chan's reply: a polite refusal.

"This envoy conveys the decree of His Majesty the Han Emperor."

"The states of Chu and Han shall forever be brothers, sharing fortune and misfortune, standing together through thick and thin... Further congratulations to King Jin, wishing you health from afar."

Cao Huan and Sun Hao's replies were the same as Liu Chan's. To be precise, the three Emperors Cao, Liu, and Sun ultimately could not accept Fan Li's council system, which placed itself above imperial authority.