Inside the magnificent court of Daxia, the atmosphere was as tense as a drawn bowstring. Empress Ling Shuang sat high upon the dragon throne, looking down at her assembled ministers with a grave expression. The urgent memorial sent by Deputy General Guan Xi via fast courier now lay upon the imperial desk, becoming the focal point of everyone's debate.
Left Prime Minister Lin Zhengfeng stepped out of the ranks first, cupping his hands in salute. "Your Majesty, the Barbarian King is suing for peace. This is an excellent opportunity for Daxia to recuperate and rebuild. Years of continuous warfare have caused immense suffering among the people and severely depleted the imperial treasury. If we can seize this opportunity to secure peace, it will truly be a blessing for all subjects. I believe we should accept the Barbarian King's peace offer, demand a heavy tribute, and order them to cede territory and pay reparations to display the mighty prestige of Daxia."
Before his voice had even faded, Right Prime Minister Chen Hongye furrowed his brows and retorted, "Prime Minister Lin is quite mistaken! The barbarians are wolves in sheep's clothing, notorious for breaking their promises. Having invaded repeatedly in the past, they undoubtedly harbor an ulterior motive in seeking peace now. To believe their words lightly is to court disaster. In my view, we should take advantage of their severely weakened state, dispatch our forces in one decisive strike, annihilate the barbarians, and er…
Chapter 106