Gao Lifu paused for a moment, then a sinister smile spread across his face.

"Your Highness thinks of everything, and your methods are beyond anyone's. This officer admires you from flat on the ground."

Kang Luo looked like a man with everything in hand. "Once the Great Xuan and Yuan Long have worn each other down, we step in with a few small favors, and Yuan Long and the rest will be overcome with gratitude.

If we gave them money and grain now, it would only be adding flowers to the brocade. Wait until Yuan Long can't hold out anymore, and the same small favors become sending coal in the snow.

Then we join forces with Yuan Long and fight our way into the Great Xuan together... And once the Great Xuan is under our feet, Yuan Long is just meat on the block."

Gao Lifu bowed. "This officer could whip his horse all day and never catch up with Your Highness's brilliance."

Kang Luo waved a hand. "Spare me the flattery. This crown prince has another reason for doing it this way. It's also a test.

Fierce generals like Yuan Long are brainless brutes, but they did follow Ning Chen, after all. There may well be a quick-witted one among them who's putting on a show on purpose to swindle money and grain out of us.

So let the Great Xuan's court know about this as soon as possible. Watch how they react, and we'll know whether Yuan Long and the others really have turned their hearts away from the court."

Gao Lifu nodded. "This officer will arrange it at once!"

Kang Luo waved him off.

Gao Lifu saluted and withdrew.

Kang Luo went over to the map. If Yuan Long and the others really had broken with the Great Xuan's court, he too had to fight his way into the capital quickly and seize the throne.

He had to settle Nanyue before Yuan Long and the Great Xuan's court finished wearing each other down.

At last he heaved a deep sigh and said to himself, "Ning Chen, oh,…