Chapter 77: The First Imperial EdictChapter 1574, Your Highness, this humble servant will take his leave first.

Li Chen could acquiesce to tens of thousands of conscripted laborers replacing regular troops at Yueya Pass, sent to their deaths. This shows how cruel he is to others.

And in order to lure Yelu Shenxuan into the trap and kill him, he was even willing to stay at Yueya Pass himself. This showed how cruel he was to himself.

"Your Highness, you must not!"

Wu Ban Shan shouted in alarm, "Your Highness is worth more than ten thousand gold coins. No matter what happens, your safety is the most important thing. If anything were to happen to you, how could I possibly account for it to the court"

"Why do you need to explain"

Li Chen said solemnly, "Yelü Shenxuan knows that I am at Yueya Pass, he will definitely try his best to capture me alive. Such an unparalleled feat of merit, how could he possibly give it up"

If I were to leave now, then Moonlit Pass would remain just Moonlit Pass. But if I stay, then Moonlit Pass will be half of the Great Qin Empire.

"After breaking through the Yueya Pass and capturing the palace, his prestige as Yelü Shenxuan will be unmatched. Not only will he ascend to the throne smoothly, but those powerful nobles within his Liao domain will willingly submit."

Even without these political benefits, as long as I can be captured alive, it would be a significant achievement for him. This is the same way I also want to capture him.

Li Chen said calmly, "With the fall of Yueya Pass, the question of whether to press on and enter the pass will soon be before him. This palace cannot say for sure how he will choose. In ordinary times, he might risk everything and enter the pass to expand his gains. But now that winter is approaching, the domestic situation in Liao could change at any time. He may not dare to risk entering the pass."

But the stage is already set. If he doesn't enter, all our efforts will be in vain. I must give him a reason to enter, no matter what.

"Speaking of which," Li Chen nodded at himself and said, "This palace itself is the best reason for him."

Wǔ Bān Shān certainly understood this principle, but he still insisted, "Your Highness, let's fight a decisive battle together. With hundreds of thousands of soldiers engaged in a slaughter, and civilians being civilians after all, they can't hold out for long. In the ensuing chaos, if something unexpected happens..."

"That's fate too."

Li Chen smiled and said, "From the initial conception of this plan, it has been a gamble fraught with risk. I set the stage using the Yueya Pass and tens of thousands of conscripted laborers as my wager, while he staked sixty thousand troops and his own political life. This gamble's outcome completely dictates the future development of Qin and Liao for at least the next decade. Without taking risks, how could anything be accomplished" of beautiful women in the palace.The prince's numerous offspring are a sign of his talent and virtue, benefiting the nation and society. This is a truly auspicious event.By now, Su Pingbei could only...