Fearing being killed for his overwhelming merits, the empress decided to marry him.

"Zhang Gui, He Yong!"

"The slave is here!"

"All of you, get out and wait outside."

Zhang Gui and He Yong exchanged a glance, about to say something, but when they looked up and saw Li Hong's ashen face, they could only respond with a murmur, bowing and backing away from the military shed.

Once the two left, Li Hong removed his heavy armor and sat down opposite Shen Lang.

Shen Lang watched the whole thing with indifference and did not stop it.

Shen Lang's pupils constricted when Li Hong took off his helmet.

It turns out that Li Hong's hairstyle was not the disgusting money rat tail style, but rather no different from the hairstyle of men in the Chu Kingdom, except that he had a braid at the back of his head.

Seeing the surprise in Shen Lang's eyes, Li Hong smiled slightly, took off the jade beads wrapped around his wrist, and threw them on the table.

"Aren't you surprised that women throughout Wu Zhao Kingdom, and even in the north, want to keep my Di people's hairstyles and wear my Di people's clothing?"

But I alone don't need to do that. I can even wear whatever hair ornaments I want, and walk openly inside and outside the palace in the attire of the previous dynasty. Do you know why?

Shen Lang didn't answer. He grabbed his canteen, took a sip of water to moisten his throat, and waited silently for Li Hong to continue.

Li Hong said, "That's because the Di people's hairstyles and clothing are really ugly. Their thin braids look like rat tails. Every time I see them, I feel disgusted."

"In fact, it's not just me. Since the Holy Ancestor ascended the throne, he has also grown his hair long and worn the clothes of the previous dynasty. I have naturally inherited the vision of my ancestors because these things left by the previous dynasty really make me feel dignified and grand, much better than the traditional clothing of our Di people."

Shen Lang shifted to a more comfortable position, crossed his legs, and waited for him to continue.

"However, throughout the entire Wu Zhao Kingdom, only I can dress and dress so freely; no one else can, not even my own son."

Because I am the ruler of a nation, the one who reigns over the world naturally possesses all the good things. This is the benefit that power brings. Do you understand?

Shen Lang smiled slightly, put down the military teapot, and leaned closer to the table, saying, "What are you trying to say by telling me all this?"

"I am telling you that the dignity of a monarch must not be compromised. Even if Wu Zhao Kingdom loses, I can cede territory and pay reparations."

"I can agree to all the conditions you set out in the agreement, but the one thing I cannot do is submit a letter of self-reproach."

"what……"

Shen Lang shook his head with a smile, resting his head on the back of the chair, his smile utterly sarcastic.

Li Hong: "Shen Lang, I admit that from the first moment I saw you, I knew you were no ordinary person. I have also learned quite a bit about you."

The current power and prestige of Chu owes much to your efforts; you are truly a great contributor to the state of Chu.

Shen Lang remained completely calm in the face of these compliments, his expression unchanged.

Li Hong thought Shen Lang was moved by his words and continued, "But it's a pity, you are not the ruler of a country, you are just a subject of the royal family in the end."

From now on, history will only record the Empress's great achievements. As for you, to have even a few words written about you is already the pinnacle of human accomplishment.

"So, you're trying to sow discord, aren't you?" Shen Lang suddenly interrupted Li Hong. "Do you think you can make me and His Majesty kill each other with such low-level tactics?"

"Li Hong, if that's really what you think, then I'm very disappointed in you. Instead of wasting so much time on this nonsense, you should think about how to resolve the current predicament of Wu Zhao Kingdom!"

Li Hong: "My conditions are simple. I cannot write a letter of apology, but I can fulfill the terms of your agreement. As for the dispute between me and the Empress, you can pretend it never happened."

"You must immediately lead your troops back to Haizhou, along with all the troops stationed in Southern Zhili. Then I can sign the treaty immediately."

Shen Lang shrugged: "I'm sorry, but if that's the case, I absolutely will not accept it. I am a man of principle."

Even if we were to wage war against your country, we would have exercised considerable restraint, striving to avoid harming innocent people. I originally believed I came here with sincerity to engage in dialogue with you.

Any troublesome agreement can be resolved through negotiation, but unfortunately, the officials of the Jiwu Zhao Kingdom along the way not only refused to deliver my official letter, but...

"You, as the ruler of a nation, are preoccupied with my wife? Ha! Do you think any normal man would just stand by and watch this happen?"

"So, is it worth it for you to do this for a woman?" Li Hong said coldly. "As the saying goes, a great man should have ambitions for the world. The Empress is your wife, so you should consider things from her perspective."

"Then let me tell you, my current attitude represents my wife's position. You have wronged my wife, and as her husband, I have no choice but to personally seek justice for her."

"You have mobilized a large army to invade my Wu Zhao territory. I have merely written a letter to her to formally establish our marriage, and from now on we will each govern our own territory. What's wrong with that?"

"Then how about I become Empress Dowager Wu Zhao's husband, and you call me Father Emperor?"

"you……"

Li Hong hadn't expected Shen Lang to be so difficult to deal with, showing no sign of backing down, and was immediately speechless.

Shen Lang continued, "It seems you also think this is inappropriate. If that's the case, why did you do such a bizarre thing?"

Furthermore, I must tell you something: My Chu state's campaign against your Wu Zhao state, aside from the support of the entire cabinet, has a more important purpose: to destroy you. What does that have to do with you?

"Uh……"

These words sent a chill down Li Hong's spine.

"War is never just; it can easily destroy a city that has developed for hundreds of years, and easily turn a land where generations have multiplied into a field of bones."

Even worse, it could destroy a civilization that has existed for thousands of years, just like your ancestors, who, with the support of nomadic lords, used violence to destroy a previous civilization. Is that just?

Li Hong was furious: "You brat, how dare you slander my ancestors, the Martial Zhao! It is the Ming Zhao Kingdom that is corrupt and incompetent, persecuting loyal officials and causing widespread suffering among the people. Furthermore, it has repeatedly imposed exorbitant taxes on various ethnic groups outside the Great Wall."

"Our ancestor, as the leader of the Di tribe, did not want his tribe to perish, so he rose up against the tyranny of the Mingzhao Kingdom. Was that wrong?"

Shen Lang smiled dismissively: "In the late period of the previous dynasty, the rule was corrupt, and local officials were incompetent. Local gentry colluded with government officials and wealthy merchants to seize large amounts of land."

This has led to the displacement of people in the north and ongoing unrest, a fact I do not deny.

It's understandable that your ancestors rose up against the Ming Dynasty for the sake of the tribe's future; if it were me, I would have done the same.

Li Hong: "If that's the case, what wrong have I, Wu Zhao, done by replacing Ming Zhao?"

"Then do you know whether your Di people seized the throne from the previous dynasty cleanly?"

"When dynasties change, people always die! The victors are kings and the losers are villains; it's the way of history. Shen Lang, don't be so arrogant."

Shen Lang replied sternly, "But you are destroying people's clothes and forcing them to keep their hair in queues and wear barbarian clothes. If they do not comply, you will use your butcher's knife to clear the way!"

Destroying a civilization that has existed for thousands of years using extremely barbaric and brutal methods—doesn't that seem amazing, incredibly satisfying?

Li Hong's expression changed instantly, and his fists clenched involuntarily.