The Sheng State shares a border with Dazhou and possesses significantly greater overall strength. However, the fear between the two nations does not stem solely from military might, but from a profound and intimate connection: they share the same mother river. More crucially, the Sheng State occupies the upper reaches, while Dazhou lies downstream. Any civilization is built upon its water source; if the river were to be cut off upstream, grain production would inevitably plummet. With the people’s survival dependent on food, a starving populace would surely lead to national unrest. In other words, Dazhou’s lifeline is held firmly in the hands of the Sheng State.
Consequently, every spring before sowing, Dazhou invites envoys from the Sheng State to negotiate the distribution of water. Every successive ruler of Dazhou has maintained friendly relations with the Sheng State. The late Emperor even married off his beloved daughter to the Sheng State in exchange for peace. Because of this, even if the Sheng State’s current envoy is a eunuch, his status is far beyond what Zhao Zhang could ever hope to compare with.
It is precisely because of this that Mei Gongxue cannot hide the bitterness in her heart. She had believed that three years ago, when her brothers did not stop her from marrying Zhao Zhang, it was primarily out of concern for Zhao Zhang’s influence and a fear of bringing trouble upon the Marquis Manor. She felt wronged, yet she did not flee the marriage for the sake of …
Chapter 106