Wu Congzhou frowned slightly. "Your Highness the crown prince is indeed a master of strategy, but Ning Chen commands a great army now... Crushing him on your own won't be easy, Your Highness."

Kang Luo looked at him without expression. "What, you think this crown prince isn't a match for Ning Chen?"

Wu Congzhou said hastily, "I meant nothing of the kind... Only that it would be easier to crush Ning Chen if we joined forces."

Kang Luo stared at him coldly.

Wu Congzhou began to feel the hair rise on the back of his neck.

Suddenly Kang Luo burst out laughing. "You're right. It would be easier to crush Ning Chen if we joined forces.

But there's one way we're not alike. This crown prince has a way out. You don't!

So it's as I said. If you want an alliance... you'll have to offer terms that tempt me."

Wu Congzhou hesitated, then said, "Before I came, His Majesty instructed me that if Your Highness agrees to join forces, then once Ning Chen is crushed, Your Highness may have six of the Great Xuan's eighteen prefectures."

Kang Luo gave a cold laugh. "An alliance ought to be fair. Why does this crown prince get only six prefectures?"

Wu Congzhou said, "That is the will of my Great Xuan's emperor. I'm only the messenger."

Kang Luo's look was contemptuous. "If you can't make the decision, what did you come here for?"

Wu Congzhou: "..."

Then Kang Luo said, "Six prefectures for my Nanyue once Ning Chen is crushed... that isn't out of the question. But this crown prince has one condition."

Wu Congzhou breathed a silent sigh of relief.

The De Emperor's instructions had been to offer six prefectures first, and if they truly couldn't come to terms, to give up half, which was to say nine.

Now that Kang Luo had agreed to six, it would be a great achievement once Wu Congzhou got back... After all, he'd have saved three prefectures for the Great Xuan.

Wu Congzhou said, "Please, Your Highness, name it."

Kang Luo stared at him.…