The Valued Lady is Truly Dominant

Chapter 973: Chapter 973: All Lunatics

Why not just roll up your sleeves and go head-to-head?

Shang Pu caught a glimpse of Xia Houzhe’s angry and rigid expression. He lowered his gaze, thinking quickly, and a flash of insight passed through his mind, which he quickly seized.

Why not?

Xia Houzhe had gained momentum over the years, serving as Prince Min, continually holding onto Xuzhou. With control over Quanzhou, wealth, and more than fifty thousand troops, so what?

When the Great Chu Ancestor, the founding Emperor, raised an army of twelve hundred thousand to seize the throne, he admired martial prowess and aimed to expand the territory. During his decade-long reign, he fostered growth and relentlessly recruited to build the army, gradually increasing it to six hundred thousand.

Maintaining an army requires money, and governing the empire requires money too. In the previous Emperor’s years, the empire was actually poorest. After ruling for about a decade before his demise, the current Emperor ascended the throne. Over the past twenty years, he has diligently cared for the people and managed the empire, supporting new policies despite conservative pushback, multiplying the National Treasury several times over, achieving a flourishing era. The military, although not quite a million-strong army, was nearing it.

The most crucial point is that these years were devoid of major wars, allowing the empire to recuperate and strengthen its military and nation, so overall, the Great Chu dynasty was incredibly stable. Even the commoners praised the current era as better than when the Xia family ruled, acknowledging Emperor Chu as a wise ruler, and public opinion is a substantial stabilizing force.

What does the Xia family have? Xia Houzhe, a descendant of the Xia family’s Crown Prince Yong, though grown, can hardly compare to Great Chu.

Can Xia Houzhe leap forward, relying not on the old supporters of Crown Prince Yong? Those supporters also value caution and thoroughness, rather than recklessly uprising with mere remnants, otherwise, Great Chu’s military could easily crush them.

So is there a possibility that even if Xia Houzhe wishes to, those behind him would subdue him, only seeking the perfect strategy?

Or is it a puppet?

If that’s the case, it would be quite interesting, an internal conflict.

This analysis made Shang Pu squint his eyes, increasingly feeling his analysis was correct.

Xia Houzhe came back to his senses, glancing askew at him: ”What are you secretly rejoicing about?”

Shang Pu didn’t avoid or evade, smiling: ”You’re not entirely at liberty either, are you?”

With a light remark, a trace of violence flared in Xia Houzhe’s eyes. He suddenly reached out, gripping Shang Pu’s throat viciously: ”Don’t think I must keep you around.”

His hand began to exert force, and Shang Pu’s face quickly turned blue and purple. Yet, he showed no panic, only looking at Xia Houzhe with some mockery and provocation in his eyes.

Even you can lose control.

Their eyes locked, and Xia Houzhe snorted, releasing his grip, causing Shang Pu to cough.

”Actually, you and I are the same kind of people. Don’t try to challenge me; the consequences are unbearable for you.” They’re both madmen.

Shang Pu coughed as if he were about to cough up a lung, grinning: ”The consequence is nothing but death, right? Am I supposed to be afraid? If you all succeed, would you let me live?”

”You’ve been too pessimistic. Why not think in a better direction? Don’t you find this cat-and-mouse game amusing? Watching the empire thrown into chaos, fathers and sons betray each other, brothers at each other’s throats, isn’t it intriguing?” Xia Houzhe chuckled, enticing: ”After all, if you can’t have it, why not destroy it?”

Shang Pu stared at him.

Xia Houzhe turned to leave, but behind him, Shang Pu’s voice came: ”Do you think all these years he has been Emperor in vain? No matter how clever you are, Xia Houzhe, you’re still lacking that extra age and experience. Do you think you’re well hidden? Who knows if the other side has also mastered and secretly arranged things? Over in Quanzhou, that son of the Cui family has already found signs, haha.”

Xia Houzhe paused slightly, said nothing, and walked out.

Shang Pu’s face turned grim.