Chapter 11: Steering the Course of Public Opinion

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Internal strife and external threats—this was precisely the predicament that Qin now faced. In Fang Xu’s view, although he had read little history and found it of little use at present, he was fortunate to have played countless strategy games, most of them focused on offense and defense. If he applied that experience here, it was as if he were still building his homeland while his opponent harassed him, preventing him from mustering forces, all in anticipation of delivering a fatal blow.

A fatal blow? Suddenly, Fang Xu realized something significant.

“I wonder if Her Majesty has any good ideas at this moment?” Chancellor Zhang asked with a smile, his gaze settling on Fang Xu. Fang Xu frowned slightly.

“May I ask, Chancellor Zhang, do the barbarians always invade in small groups?” Fang Xu suddenly inquired. The question caught Chancellor Zhang off guard.

He sank into brief contemplation; truth be told, he wasn’t entirely certain whether the barbarians attacked in large or small numbers each time.

“General Meng Tian reporting! The barbarians always invade in small groups, never exceeding fifty men!” The leading general, Meng Tian, stepped forward, clasped his fists, and addressed both Qin Suwen and Fang Xu.

According to Fang Xu’s memory, General Meng Tian typically guarded the borders against barbarian incursions but had returned this time to the capital since the new Qin state had just been established. Fang Xu held a favorable opinion of this general; after all, Meng Tian was among the few who openly supported Qin Suwen’s claim to the throne.

Given Meng Tian’s allegiance to his wife, Fang Xu was inclined to treat him kindly.

“If General Meng Tian says so, then it must be true.” Although Chancellor Zhang clearly disliked Meng Tian, he chose to acknowledge the veracity of his statement.

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As the leader of the civil officials, Chancellor Zhang naturally sought to consolidate power for his own faction, while Meng Tian, as the chief general, aimed to protect military interests. Thus, the civil and military officials viewed each other with mutual disdain; there was little cordiality between Chancellor Zhang and Meng Tian.

“In that case, why do the barbarians always invade in small groups? General Meng Tian, have you ever pursued them?” Fang Xu asked, turning to Meng Tian with a polite smile.

“Never. The barbarians dwell beyond the frontier, and our troops are unfamiliar with those lands. I feared an ambush, so we would drive them off with arrows rather than pursue,” Meng Tian replied, fists clasped.

Fang Xu nodded slightly. As he had suspected, it was little wonder the barbarians remained a persistent problem.

“Why does my consort ask such questions?” Qin Suwen inquired with curiosity. Though still slightly annoyed at Fang Xu for ignoring her earlier, the seriousness on his face made her set aside her petty grievances and question his intentions earnestly.

“Ah? Oh, it’s nothing important,” Fang Xu replied, jolted from his reverie by Qin Suwen’s question. Qin Suwen rolled her eyes at him, unable to help herself. To Fang Xu, however, even her scorn held a certain charm—he reminded himself firmly not to lose composure, for Qin Suwen was truly enchanting.

He cleared his throat. “Ahem! Just now, I heard Chancellor Zhang and General Meng Tian discussing the trouble caused by barbarian incursions. But based on the general’s words, I suspect that a large-scale invasion may be imminent,” Fang Xu said, though the words felt awkward on his tongue.

After all, it was odd for a grown man to refer to himself as ‘this concubine’—but Fang Xu forced himself to prioritize the greater good.

“Nonsense! How could the barbarians possibly threaten the great Qin? Your Majesty, please refrain from such alarmist talk!” Chancellor Zhang bristled at Fang Xu’s suggestion, dismissing it as mere fearmongering.

Fang Xu, however, had no interest in arguing with Chancellor Zhang and simply looked, smiling, at the thoughtful Meng Tian.

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“Why do you say this, my consort?” Qin Suwen was still curious. Though she considered Fang Xu’s words to be mere flirtation in the past, she trusted that he knew how to speak appropriately for the occasion. For him to make such a statement now, he must have his reasons—some basis behind his inference.

“General Meng Tian, when these barbarian raiders attack, do they always target the key defensive areas along the frontier?” Fang Xu ignored Qin Suwen again, almost provoking her into scolding him.

“Reporting to Her Majesty, that is indeed the case. But what connection does that have to a large-scale invasion? I truly do not understand,” Meng Tian replied, somewhat embarrassed.

Clearly, Meng Tian did not grasp Fang Xu’s meaning, and Fang Xu could not help but smile wryly.

“If I were the barbarian commander,” Fang Xu began, “I would make it my priority to know both friend and foe—only then can one prevail in every battle. If the key positions along the frontier have been mapped out, the logical next step is to concentrate the main force at the weakest point and break through. Tell me, General Meng Tian: if the barbarians breached the defenses, could you hold them back?”

“That… That would be impossible!” Though Meng Tian was loath to admit it, that was the truth. If the outer defenses were broken, there would be no way to hold the line, especially since the barbarians were fierce and warlike—no match for the Central Plains soldiers.

“If I am not mistaken, these barbarian squads of fifty never carry heavy equipment, do they?” Fang Xu asked again. Meng Tian was taken aback, looking at Fang Xu in disbelief.

Had he not known Fang Xu had never been to the frontier, Meng Tian might have suspected he had just returned from there.

Seeing Meng Tian’s expression, Fang Xu’s lips curled into a slight smile. At some point, the direction of the entire Golden Phoenix Hall’s debate had fallen into the palm of his hand.