Having children earns benefit, start competing for dominance in the world by marrying a wife - Chapter 278

Chapter 278: Chapter 204 I, the prince, have a very important message to tell you_2
 

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If it were just two counties, it wouldn’t be too much of a problem, but now many counties in the Great Wu Dynasty are restless, especially those Seigniors.

Before long, civil war in Great Wu would break out. To be precise, it had already erupted the moment the peasant uprising began.

Lu Chen felt some joy upon seeing civil war erupt in Great Wu, but he quickly realized that once Great Wu descended into civil war, Great Xia would lose all external pressure.

Without external pressure, I’m afraid his own father, the Sum Emperor, would prepare to make a move against the Aristocratic Families. With Great Wu in chaos, Great Xia would be next.

“Apart from the Great Wu Dynasty, I have another piece of intelligence here. However, it’s not as significant as the outbreak of civil war in Great Wu, and it has not been confirmed yet; it’s just some rumors.”

As she finished speaking, Wang Qingci took out another piece of intelligence from her sleeves and placed it on Lu Chen’s desk.

Lu Chen opened the second piece of intelligence Wang Qingci had given him, glanced over it, and his serious expression was swept away, he then said with a smile, “It seems that the window of opportunity for North Country’s development has arrived. Fortune really does favor me!”

The second piece of intelligence from Wang Qingci recorded some rumors heard by the Rain-listening Pavilion’s trade caravan within the borders of the Great Qian Dynasty, that an epidemic had broken out to the south of Great Qian Dynasty, and to prevent the spread of the disease, they had redeployed their armies to the south for quarantine.

However, this matter was still under wraps, and while people have heard whispers, there is no way to confirm if the news is true.

At that moment, Wang Qingci continued, “Although we have not confirmed the veracity of this intelligence, the fact that the Great Qian Dynasty has moved its soldiers away from the Great Xia border suggests that something significant has indeed happened in the south.”

Originally, all the major dynasties had troops stationed on the borders of Great Xia, but after war broke out, the Da Yue Dynasty remained stationary, and the Great Qian Dynasty actually redeployed its soldiers back home, leaving only Great Wu to launch an attack on the Great Xia Dynasty.

And now that Great Wu no longer has the luxury of dealing with Great Xia, only Da Yue remains, but considering the current situation in Da Yue, they’re unlikely to expand externally anytime soon.

The Empress of Da Yue had only recently ascended to the throne, and like North Country, they also face the threat of the Barbarian Tribe in the north. If Da Yue tries to expand south now, it’s uncertain whether they’d be able to hold onto their capital when the Barbarian Tribe descends from the north.

Now that all three major dynasties bordering Great Xia are preoccupied with their own affairs, all of Great Xia’s external pressures have vanished.

Once the external pressures are gone, the internal conflicts that were being suppressed are bound to erupt.

For North Country, widespread chaos is a great opportunity. Being on the periphery, the turmoil of other kingdoms won’t have much impact, the only likely effect being a possible influx of refugees.

But refugees fleeing to North Country is exactly what Lu Chen wants to see. As North Country’s population is relatively small, the refugees would be a population boost. Of course, managing them might present significant challenges.

So, in the end, the biggest problem North Country currently faces is a shortage of Civil Officials.

Once the Chu Family arrives, Lu Chen plans to employ some of its members as officials. A fragmented Chu Family poses little threat, and he isn’t worried about them forming a new significant force in North Country.

After arriving in North Country, the Chu Family will have no support and will have to stand with the North Prince Mansion. Utilizing people from the Chu Family shouldn’t pose too much of an issue.

The key point is that North Country’s military power and economic lifelines are controlled by the North Prince Mansion, which is why Lu Chen has such confidence.

If he were just a Prince with nothing to his name, employing people from the Chu Family as officials could lead to them overshadowing him, much like the predicament Great Xia is currently facing.

This is what’s happening in the current court, where Aristocratic Family officials are employed and the Sum Emperor’s orders can’t even make it out of the Capital city.

In that moment, Lu Chen, looking at the two pieces of intelligence on the table and pondering for a while, then said to Wang Qingci, “Continue to send people to gather information on Great Qian Dynasty’s situation. I want to get accurate news to see if Great Qian really is in trouble.”

Wang Qingci replied, “Yes, Prince.”

At this point, Wang Qingci gave Lu Chen a serious look. For some reason, she suddenly felt as though Lu Chen had become even more handsome today, and also seemed taller and more robust.

Was it her imagination?

Wang Qingci couldn’t help thinking—could it be because she hadn’t returned for so long that she felt there had been a change in Lu Chen’s physique?

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As Wang Qingci was thinking this, Lu Chen looked up at her. He noticed that her eyes were fixated on him. Originally, he had intended to have the maids outside inform the Brocade Guard and call for the officials of Yan County to discuss state affairs in the Hall of Political Affairs.

However, seeing the affection in Wang Qingci’s eyes as she looked at him gave Lu Chen some ideas.

Lu Chen said with a smile, “Mr. Wang, why are you staring at me like that? Is there something on my face?”

Caught in her daydream by Lu Chen’s words, Wang Qingci snapped back to reality and quickly said, “Not at all, this one was just thinking about something.”

Lu Chen said with a smile, “Oh? Thinking about something? What could be so engrossing? Tell me about it.”

Wang Qingci spoke softly, “This one was wondering why the Prince seems to have grown taller again.”

Lu Chen said lightly, “I am at the age of growing, isn’t it quite normal to get taller?”

Wang Qingci said, “The Prince is right. If the Prince has no other matters, then this one will take her leave.”

Wang Qingci, afraid that Lu Chen might have other ideas about her, planned to make a quick escape.

Lu Chen said, “Mr. Wang, don’t be in such a hurry to leave. I have important news to tell you, and this news is even more important to you personally.”

Hearing Lu Chen’s words made Wang Qingci pause.

News that was extremely important to her?

What could that be?

The tone of Lu Chen’s voice didn’t seem to suggest he was discussing serious matters. What could be so important?

When Lu Chen had official business with her, he wouldn’t address her as Mr. Wang.

Although she guessed it probably wasn’t anything serious, her curiosity got the best of her and Wang Qingci asked, “May I ask what news the Prince has to tell?”

Lu Chen said with a slight smile, “Come closer to me. Not many people know of this matter yet. I’ll tell you quietly.”

Seeing Lu Chen’s harmless smile, Wang Qingci’s legs trembled involuntarily.

Did he truly have important news to tell her?

Or could it be he wanted to…

Wang Qingci then sashayed over to Lu Chen and, with a look of aggrievement, said, “Prince, if you want to be naughty, just say so directly. Why make excuses about having important news to tell this one?”

After Wang Qingci arrived by Lu Chen’s side, prepared to be pressed down on a table by him, Lu Chen did not make any moves but instead whispered in her ear, “Not many people know about this yet, Mr. Wang. Do not let the secret slip, or you will receive a very severe punishment from me.”

Seeing that Lu Chen hadn’t made any advances, Wang Qingci’s curiosity grew. Could it be that Lu Chen actually had some news to tell her?

She had thought that Lu Chen would, as before, call her Mr. Wang with his lips and then, the next moment, have her pressed against a table and deal with her.

Wang Qingci promptly said, “Please speak, Prince. This one will keep your secret and not let a third person know.”

Lu Chen then said, “I have already broken through to be a Grandmaster. My body has become even more robust than before. Before it was a big deal to stay up all night, but now it’s not a problem for me to stay awake for several days and nights.”

At this point, Lu Chen paused, then leaned closer to Wang Qingci’s ear and whispered, “Do you consider this news important to you, Mr. Wang?”

Upon hearing Lu Chen’s last sentence, Wang Qingci turned pale, and her delicate body began to tremble uncontrollably.