Chapter 2766: Like the Sea, Like a Mirror

Why Hold the Great River Governing Meeting?

Li Zheyong, who governed the Long River, is dead. Why did he die? Ask Ji Fengzhou!

Wei Qingpeng sat there, his face stern but with a touch of doubt and innocence. His attitude, however, was clear.

Gong Xiyan sat with her arms crossed, adopting a posture of indifference.

Tu Hu smiled at Ying Jianghong, a brilliant smile that showed genuine happiness from the heart. Besides your closest friends and family, who else could be this happy for you?

Ruan Yun seemed not to hear what Wei Qingpeng said, just looking down at the star disk.

Qu Jinling of Chu Country supported her chin with her hand, openly lost in thought.

Xu Wang, who represented Qin Country, had a more serious expression.

Looking at this scene of various individuals, it was truly impossible to distinguish friend from foe.

Jing Country personally opened a path for Li Country, leading them into the current situation, which was definitely a feasible move. There are underlying contradictions between Li Country and Jing Country.

Historically, Jing Country viewed the five northwestern countries as a meal on a plate, taking bites every now and then, but all of them were swallowed whole by Li Country. What was once a contested northwestern region instantly became iron-clad territory. Looking ahead, Jing Country's northern border is the desert, its eastern border is grassland, and to the south lies the Central Domain, leaving no room for expansion except to the west. Li Country is located in the northwest of the current world and also seeks to develop outwards, unwilling to be confined within the passes.

Both sides have geographical contradictions that are inevitable and fundamentally irreconcilable. Therefore, Jing Country felt assured in letting Li Country come, precisely to prevent the various countries from uniting. If dogs bite dogs, they will naturally have no time to bite people together.

The only problem is that Hong Junyan is not an easy person to deal with. He may not follow anyone's will. He has been dormant until today not to attach himself to anyone's coattails, but to contend for supremacy in this era and compete for the title of the Six Directions Emperor. Just as he said to Hong Xingjian, the Pope of the Lin Dong Sect: "To achieve great things, one cannot do without the right time, geographical advantage, and human talent. In the past, the time was not right, the northwest lacked geographical advantage, and the world was in turmoil. Now the heavenly time has changed, and we will use elite soldiers and strong generals!"

On the first day Jing Country allowed Li Country a seat, before Li Country's delegates had even warmed their seats below the stage, they wanted to challenge Jing Country. If this were any other hegemonic country, it would be difficult to say such a thing, as either side might be seen by Jing Country as a challenge to the central hegemony and incur a strong counterattack. Li Country, however, had fewer scruples. After all, they were "newcomers," and it was normal not to understand things.

If Jing Country wanted to counter Li Country's move, they had to see if they had other cards to play.

Ying Jianghong looked deeply at Wei Qingpeng: "Well asked! Everyone here today should be here for governing the river. As for why you, Wei Qingpeng, are here, I simply don't understand. Perhaps General Wei can enlighten me?"

Everyone says that distant diplomacy and near attack are basic worldly views and national strategies. Since Li Country is getting along so well with Jing Country, are they not planning to expand eastward?

"Li Country naturally has a responsibility to contribute to the world, and I am of course also here to govern the river," Wei Qingpeng said in a loud voice. "But everything must be traced back to its source. Governing the river cannot just be governing the river, otherwise, it's just treating the symptom and not the cause. It will be fixed today and chaotic again tomorrow. I am a rough man and not good at speaking, so the Southern Heavenly Master must bear with me! But the logic is this logic, and everyone has a brain, so it's not like I can't see it clearly!"

Ying Jianghong immediately understood upon hearing this that the Li Country people had made up their minds and could not be persuaded by a few words. Jing Country allowing Li Country a seat was a very temporary measure, and an alliance between Jing Country and Li Country could not be formed in a short time. Overcoming the real and intense contradictions between the two countries, appeasing domestic opinions, and promoting cooperation between the two countries was impossible for even monarchs like Hong Junyan and Tang Xianqi to achieve with a wave of their hand. Any forcibly suppressed opposing opinions are the root of future turmoil. To make two sides that have been fighting to the death stop and shake hands, there must be a large enough danger and a large enough interest.

What do they want to do? Jing Country must think! No one is idle in this world!

Ying Jianghong felt more and more of a headache for the Emperor. Coming out to host a great meeting today already felt quite exhausting; it was perhaps much more complex than marching and fighting battles. And the Emperor had to face a situation ten thousand times more complicated than today, sitting at the center of the present world, facing endless challenges from all sides. Both domestic and foreign affairs were a mess, difficult to sort out.

No wonder the Immortal Emperor had a short life; not long after abdicating, he forcibly attempted to ascend to the Dao and died in an accident. To speak with great disrespect, with the talent of the former monarch, the Immortal Emperor, maintaining the situation had already exhausted his heart and strength, consuming everything. Later, forcibly attempting to ascend to the Dao was not due to insufficient patience or endurance, but because his mental strength was truly exhausted and he could not continue, so he had to take a gamble.

The Emperor of the Central Empire is the first authority in all the heavens and myriad worlds, and also the first challenge. It is normal not to achieve anything in this position. Many consecutive emperors of Jing Country have received only a mediocre evaluation. The foundation left by the ancestors was too vast, and by the time it was passed down to later generations, dissent had already sprouted everywhere. Every action on the dragon throne was watched by countless people in the entire present world. maneuvering was already difficult, and outward expansion was more likely to incur joint action from various sides, and if one was not careful, they would be weeping in the ancestral temple like Emperor Jing Qin.

"Not everything should be traced back to its source, but General Wei is not wrong either. Governing the river requires treating the root!" Ying Jianghong smiled slightly on the stage, fully displaying the composure of the first empire. "The root of the Long River lies with the water race! There is no need for taboos. The Long River has long been managed by the water race. In ancient and middle ancient times, their authority was clearly divided. Now, when humans govern the water, they cannot help but discuss the water race and mention the Dragon Palace!"

How to deal with the water race is also a key point of this great meeting today. In the eyes of discerning people, changing the word "handle" to "slaughter" is actually not bad. The water race now has completely no power to resist. The Green River Water Monarch being arbitrarily manipulated by Zhuang Jun was just a small microcosm. The Long River Dragon Monarch Ao Shuyi, under the guise of rebellion, was smashed to death by the Nine Dragons Holding Sun Eternal Town Mountains and Rivers Seal. This was the collapse of a great building, the water race's bones were completely drawn out! After that, they were just a group of blood and flesh that could not be supported.

Of course, perhaps even earlier, the water race's spine had already broken. Perhaps it was the day the Heavenly King Shenchi was killed by Jing Taizu Tang Yu, perhaps it was even earlier. But Ao Shuyi was still there, the water race still had the name of an alliance, and some people still remembered the ancient alliance, remembering the so-called "Oath of the Dragon Monarch and the Human Emperor," and hope always existed. Song Qingyue, the Young Monarch of the Green River Water Mansion, also considered whether the Long River Dragon Palace could provide any help in a desperate situation.

But by today, the Human Emperor and the Long River Dragon Monarch who swore the oath in the middle ancient times have all vanished in the long river of time. Ao Shuyi is dead, and on successive Yellow River Meetings, the golden figure who always had a seat is gone... The final name and position have also been taken away. How the water race will go from here is naturally not up to the water race's will, although in the past, they were not highly regarded either.

Wei Qingpeng looked at Ying Jianghong on the stage, scratching his bald head, feeling very irritable. The people of the Central Domain speak too circuitously! Asking about the east and answering about the west, pointing north while talking south. Old man, you ask why this meeting is held, and you say it's for governing the river. You want me, the old man, to follow what I say, Ji Fengzhou, and then you follow me to say the water race. When he was the first generation Dong Zai Bishop, everyone still fought with real knives and real guns. Now it's not so straightforward!

His eyes burst with fierce light, and he wanted to stand up and strike a heavy drum, giving the Southern Heavenly Master a shock of distant fierce barbarism. On the other side, Ying Jianghong had already leisurely said: "As everyone knows, Yong Country has been quite effective in governing the Lan River, and can be a model for the world! Since the founding of the country, the Lan River has almost never flooded. The Lan River Water Mansion has also been diligent in its affairs, giving full support to the Yong Court."

When Ying Jianghong mentioned Yong Country, Wei Qingpeng lifted his butt and then sat down. He looked at Ying Jianghong, his expression softening as much as possible. And Ying Jianghong continued: "So today, I invite the State Minister of Yong Country, Qi Maoxian, to come and speak to everyone about the experience of governing the Lan River Water Mansion. I hope everyone can be patient, and see the large from the small, and see the world's water veins from the Lan River!"

Yong Country fundamentally had no qualification to participate in today's great meeting, but it was no problem for them to speak on stage about their experience in governing the Lan River. The most important thing was the significance of the Yong Country State Minister appearing on View River Platform! This was a show of support from Jing Country. Jing Country had given Li Country a seat, but they had also prepared means to restrain Li Country. If Li Country was honest today, Qi Maoxian would have no opportunity to speak. If Li Country was not honest, Jing Country would want to tell the world how they supported Yong Country.

Li Country had only two paths for outward expansion: eastward or southward. Eastward meant against Jing, and southward meant against Yong. Since Li Country did not plan to expand eastward and wanted to join hands with Jing Country, they should not expand southward either, and should just be trapped in that corner of the northwest for a lifetime! Jing Country would add weight to Yong's land and provide support to Yong Country!

"We are certainly patient!" Wei Qingpeng, who had first stood up to question Ying Jianghong, was now the first to speak again in response: "Although we have had some disagreements with Yong Country in the past, and still occasionally have disputes, the world is one family, and humanity is in the same boat. The most important thing at present is certainly the Shen Xiang War. Everything else can be put aside. The most important thing in war is a stable rear, and the stability of the present world is inseparable from the governance of the Long River. Qi Maoxian is recommended by the Southern Heavenly Master, so there must be a reason for it. Please speak your strategy, and we will certainly listen carefully!"

Gong Xiyan looked at this big bald head, and instead of getting angry, she just shook her head and smiled. Ying Jianghong also understood. Why could Jing Country join hands with Li Country? The root cause is the change in the situation in the present world. This period before the Shen Xiang War is different from any period in history. The tacit iron rule that overlord countries do not attack each other has been broken. With Li Country's strength, Jing Country's continued westward advance would be no different from fighting an overlord war. The strategy of distant diplomacy and near attack also has to change with the times. For Jing Country, the current interest lies only in seeking in "distant" places, so uniting with near neighbors is the correct approach.

While the various sides were still paying attention to the chess game in the present world, the contemporary Jing Emperor had already jumped beyond the present world. Under a harsh geographical environment and step by step pressure before the Shen Xiang War, Tang Xianqi had already decided to settle all historical disputes, unite with all the neighbors in the present world, and fully prepare for Shen Xiang! No wonder during this period, the Northern Domain was incomparably harmonious. The relationship between Jing and Mu is getting closer and closer, and that yellow-faced Buddha even personally went to the grassland to set up a statue. So that's how it is!

The contemporary Jing Heavenly Son Tang Xianqi is indeed resolute, his sword pointing at Shen Xiang. He wants to obtain everything for Jing Country's future on the battlefield of all the heavens and myriad worlds. Jing Country completely gave up expanding in the present world before Shen Xiang opened. They are the first overlord country to fully enter a state of war preparation and fully prepare for Shen Xiang! Their determination to achieve merit in war is more thorough than any other country.

Wei Qingpeng had already stated his position, and Ying Jianghong was not in a hurry to state his, just saying: "Since General Wei has said so, Maoxian, please come to the stage." With a wave of his hand, Qi Maoxian's slender figure appeared below the stage.

The State Minister of Yong Country, Qi Maoxian, had a three-strand short beard and wore a dark long robe, looking more like a frugal gentleman teaching than a prime minister with great power in his hands. He kept his eyes straight, just slowly walking up to the world stage. He walked very steadily in these few steps, and these few steps were of major significance to Yong Country! It might sound ridiculous, but Yong Country has been united from top to bottom, working hard for many years. They worked very hard to escape the blood-sucking by Emperor Yong Li, to curb Zhuang Gaoxian's ambition, to introduce the Mo family while maintaining autonomy in front of the Mo family, and to worry about Jing Country's military might, and then in the not-so-distant home door, a huge Li Country arose. Under such circumstances, they tempered new policies, greatly benefited the people, and stubbornly grew. But the opportunity to ascend to the world stage still depended on the balance of great powers.

Qi Maoxian of course did not feel this was something shameful; he just saw another opportunity appear before him, and the people of Yong Country must firmly grasp it. Generally knowledgeable people could see that the pattern of the present world was becoming more and more urgent, the living space of small and medium countries was becoming narrower and narrower, and opportunities would only become fewer and fewer later. He slowly walked up to the high platform, saw the Fu Yun Qin hanging there, and for a moment, felt that a noose was also around his neck. In the past many times, he had indeed found it difficult to breathe.

But, they had all walked to today. They had all arrived at this point. He turned around and faced these famous people of the contemporary era: Xu Wang, Tu Hu, Wei Qingpeng, Jiang Wang, Li Yi.

"Yong Country! Qi Maoxian!" His voice unconsciously rose: "Today I will share with everyone some shallow views, which may offend your ears, and I hope you will all forgive me!"

At this moment, he spoke endlessly, starting from the founding of Yong Country, then talking about Emperor Yong Ming, then talking about the origin of the Lan River Water Mansion, explaining how the Lan River water race returned to the fold, and from time to time, he would turn to how good Yong Country's new policies were and the achievements they had made, and each time he was reminded by Ying Jianghong, he would turn back. Every word and every sentence was about governing the water, and his heart and mind were all focused on governing Yong Country. He was like a street vendor, still having a large family to support, just using his last loud voice to shout. Look at me! Look at me, look at our Yong Country!

"Good, good, good," Tu Weijian in the audience patted his thigh and sighed in a low voice: "Truly good, truly good!" He was extremely envious. Not personally envious of Qi Maoxian. But as a person from Song Country, he envied Yong Country for having this opportunity. Name is also strength, for people it is so, for countries it is also so! This is a world meeting attended by various powerful nations. The Yong Country State Minister spoke so many words on the stage, compared to Song Country, which struggled to squeeze into the meeting, how much higher was their standing?

Putting aside everything else, Yong Country's appearance today has made their country known to the entire world. Li Country or Jing Country, might they still silently destroy Yong in the future? There are talented people in the world who want to go elsewhere, and they will always remember that there is a place like Yong Country, which can be an option!

Finally, Qi Maoxian said on the stage: "Yong Country has rich experience in handling water race affairs, and is also sincere, virtuous, respectful of the people, and resolute in ambition. Now various sides gather here to discuss matters of governing the river. If the world needs Yong Country to contribute, whether as an assistant or a subordinate, Yong Country will not shirk its responsibility!" With Yong Country's strength, it is impossible for them to be the main force in governing the river. But they are willing to be an assistant, an assistant to any side, only seeking to squeeze into the new order of the Long River's banks.

In the last row, Zhong Xuan, the old practitioner who was just making a temporary effort, had long since opened his eyes. He quietly listened to all of Qi Maoxian's lecture, especially the parts that Ying Jianghong kept telling Qi Maoxian to skip. In Qi Maoxian's words, he felt a kind of simple emotion. True history flows within it. The friendship between the founding ancestor of Yong Country and the Lan River Water Monarch continued for many years. Zhuang Chengqian's founding of the country that year and his sworn brotherhood with Song Hengjiang were also said to be "imitating the Yong ancestor." What was different was that the Yong Court's attitude towards the Lan River Water Mansion was always relatively respectful, even during the time of Emperor Yong Li when he was consolidating his authority.

Zhong Xuan subconsciously turned his head and saw Jiang Wang, who was sitting beside him, had also stopped cultivating at some point. He opened his eyes and looked at the stage, his eyes like the sea and also like a mirror. "Qi Maoxian. I have a question," Wei Qingpeng said in a muffled voice: "We've listened and listened, and your new policies are so good. Are the Lan River water race among them?" Qi Maoxian opened his mouth, and for a moment, seemed frozen.

He also had a close relationship with the Lan River Water Mansion.