Sludge suction system

Inside the tent specially set up by Fengyu Kingdom for the army of Lincang Kingdom, candlelight flickered. General Zhenyuan Li Xiao sat upright at his desk, his brows furrowed, a writing brush in his hand, yet he hesitated to put pen to paper. The Xuan paper before him was as white as snow, seemingly waiting quietly for the answer to the turmoil in his heart.

Recalling his negotiations with Li Yong, Li Xiao was filled with apprehension. He knew all too well that retaking Lin Yuan City and Wang Hai City, which had been occupied by the Azure Kingdom, would be no easy task. It would not only mean deploying a large number of troops and risking the lives of countless soldiers, but also necessitate a long march and solving numerous problems such as food supplies and unfamiliar terrain.

After a long silence, Li Xiao sighed, finally picking up his brush, dipping it in ink, and writing the first stroke on the Xuan paper: "Your Majesty, I am currently facing a thorny situation in the Phoenix Feather Kingdom." He described in detail his conversation with Li Yong, truthfully reporting that the Phoenix Feather Kingdom was willing to cede the cities of Lin Yuan and Wang Hai, but these cities were occupied by the Azure Kingdom. "Prime Minister Li Yong of the Phoenix Feather Kingdom has stated that he is willing to fully assist our army, providing city defense maps and guides. However, recapture of the two cities will require a huge price, and the outcome is uncertain. If we do not agree, it may damage the harmony between the two countries and betray Your Majesty's original intention to rescue the Phoenix Feather Kingdom; if we agree, there are many risks involved, and I am truly torn."

Every word Li Xiao wrote was imbued with his caution and loyalty. He knew that every decision the emperor made concerned the rise and fall of the nation. At the end of the letter, he wrote: "This matter is of great importance, and I dare not act on my own initiative. I earnestly request Your Majesty's guidance, and I will obey Your Majesty's decree without hesitation, even unto death."

After writing, Li Xiao blew on the ink to dry it, carefully placed the letter into an envelope, sealed it with sealing wax, and affixed his seal. Then, he summoned a trusted guard and solemnly instructed him: "You must personally deliver this letter to His Majesty, day and night, without fail. If there is any mistake, you will be beheaded."

The guard obeyed and left. Li Xiao gazed at the night outside the tent, his heart filled with mixed emotions. He silently prayed that the emperor would make the right decision and lead the Lincang Kingdom onto a bright path in this complex diplomatic and military struggle.

In the royal palace of Lincang Kingdom, warm sunlight streamed through the carved window lattices, casting shimmering golden light on the gold-brick floor of the imperial study. Emperor Wei Huazhang of Lincang Kingdom, dressed in a bright yellow dragon robe, sat upright on a wide dragon throne, reviewing a mountain of memorials.

Just then, a high-pitched yet respectful eunuch's voice came from outside the door: "Your Majesty, an urgent secret letter from the Phoenix Feather Kingdom has arrived, delivered by General Li Xiao's trusted confidant!"

Wei Huazhang's vermilion brush paused abruptly, his previously calm face instantly turning serious. He raised his eyes, his gaze sharp as torches: "Bring it here quickly!"

The eunuch hurried along, carrying the letter sealed with wax high in both hands, and carefully presented it to the emperor. Wei Huazhang took the letter, his fingers lightly tracing Li Xiao's seal on the envelope, a complex expression flashing in his eyes. He took a deep breath, slowly opened the envelope, unfolded the letter, and quickly scanned the words.

As Wei Huazhang read on, his brows furrowed more and more deeply. His gaze shifted between seriousness and a flickering light, as if he were weighing the pros and cons. After finishing the letter, he remained silent for a long time, then slowly leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes, and fell into deep thought.

After a long while, Wei Huazhang opened his eyes, a resolute glint in them. He slammed his hand on the imperial desk, causing the ink and brushes on it to tremble: "Someone come here!"

A guard quickly appeared at the study door and knelt on one knee: "What are your orders, Your Majesty?"

"Summon Minister of War Bao Wenxia and Prime Minister Wang Chong to the palace immediately. I have important matters to discuss with you!" Wei Huazhang's voice was deep and powerful, carrying an unquestionable authority.

The guards obeyed and left. Wei Huazhang turned his gaze back to the letter, muttering to himself, "The Phoenix Feather Kingdom's scheme is indeed ingenious, but I am no ordinary person..." His eyes gleamed with wisdom and strategy. Clearly, a decision concerning the fate of both nations was about to unfold in this imperial study.

In a secluded mansion in the capital of Lincang, Chu Li strolled leisurely in the courtyard, seemingly relaxed, but in reality, his heart was full of worries. A gentle breeze blew by, stirring the hem of his clothes, but it could not dispel the sorrow between his brows.

At this moment, a thin, quick-witted servant walked quickly over and stopped a few steps away from Chu Li. He bowed respectfully and said in a very low voice, "Your Highness, I have something important to report."

Chu Li nodded slightly, gesturing for the servant to come closer. The servant leaned close to Chu Li's ear and whispered, "Your Highness, according to our spies, there's been a new development between Fengyu Kingdom and Lincang Kingdom. Lincang Kingdom's General Zhenyuan, Li Xiao, has demanded cities from Fengyu Kingdom, and Fengyu Kingdom's Prime Minister, Li Yong, has responded by offering to give away Linyuan City and Wanghai City, which have been occupied by Bilan Kingdom. Now, General Li Xiao has written to His Majesty for instructions."

Upon hearing this, Chu Li's expression instantly turned serious, a flicker of panic crossing his eyes, but he quickly regained his composure. He pursed his lips, pondered for a moment, and then asked in a low voice, "Who else knows about this?"

The servant quickly replied, "It's still spreading secretly, and very few people know about it. Your Highness, rest assured, we have been careful and will never reveal the source of the information."

Chu Li nodded slightly, took out a silver ingot from his sleeve, and handed it to the servant: "Well done. This matter is of great importance. Be sure to continue to pay close attention and report back immediately if there is any new information."

The servant accepted the silver with both hands, a hint of gratitude flashing in his eyes. After bowing again, he quickly withdrew, his figure soon disappearing into the courtyard corridor.

Chu Li gazed in the direction the servant had left, his mind filled with countless thoughts. He knew that the ownership of these two cities was not only a matter of interest for both nations, but also inextricably linked to his own fate. If Lincang Kingdom agreed to reclaim the cities, a fierce conflict with Bilan Kingdom was inevitable, and Fengyu Kingdom would also use this opportunity to reorganize its strategy. Every step in this process was fraught with uncertainty and danger.

"It seems the situation is becoming increasingly complicated..." Chu Li murmured to himself, a resolute glint in his eyes. "I must do something to prevent Fengyu Kingdom from falling into utter ruin." With that, he turned and strode into the house, a plan concerning the fate of his nation quietly unfolding in his mind.

Inside the Imperial Study, the atmosphere was heavy. Wei Huazhang sat high on the dragon throne, his gaze shifting back and forth between Bao Wenxia, ​​the Minister of War, and Wang Chong, the Prime Minister. The urgent secret letter from Li Xiao in his hand weighed heavily on everyone's hearts like a boulder.

Bao Wenxia broke the silence first, stepping forward and bowing, saying, "Your Majesty, in my opinion, we should grant the proposal of the Phoenix Feather Kingdom. Lin Yuan City and Wang Hai City are both vital fortresses of the Phoenix Feather Kingdom. Geographically, Lin Yuan City is backed by steep mountains, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack, an excellent military fortress. If our army can recapture it, we can build a solid defensive line in this area, greatly enhancing our border defense capabilities. Once foreign enemies invade, we can rely on this city, defend it from its strategic position, and deter the enemy from advancing."

He paused briefly, and seeing the emperor's focused expression, continued, "Furthermore, regarding Wanghai City, it is situated right next to the sea, possessing a natural harbor and unparalleled advantages for maritime trade. In recent years, the port has been abandoned due to war, but with just a little repair, its geographical location will soon allow it to become an important trade hub. At that time, domestic and foreign merchant ships will come and go in an endless stream, goods will be gathered and distributed here, and customs revenue will be immeasurable. Moreover, the prosperity of trade will also drive the development of surrounding areas, attract population gathering, promote the prosperity of commerce, handicrafts, and other industries, and create more wealth for the country."

Prime Minister Wang Chong frowned slightly and raised an objection: "What Minister Bao said makes sense, but how easy is it to recover the two cities? The Azure Kingdom will definitely defend them with all its might, and our army will have to pay a huge price. The casualties of soldiers and the loss of food and supplies are incalculable."

Bao Wenxia, ​​confident in his abilities, retorted, "The Prime Minister is absolutely right, but war is inherently risky. Now that Fengyu Kingdom is willing to provide full assistance, offering intelligence and guides, our chances of victory have greatly increased. Even if we have to pay a price, the benefits we will reap once we successfully reclaim the territory will far exceed our expectations. In the long run, its contribution to the country's development cannot be ignored."

Wei Huazhang leaned back in his chair, pondered for a long time, and then said with a sharp gaze, "This matter is of great importance, and I will consider it further. However, what Minister Bao said is indeed worth considering." With that, he waved his hand, signaling the two men to leave.

Bao Wenxia and Wang Chong retreated outside the hall. Bao Wenxia looked into the distance with a firm gaze, firmly believing that his proposal would bring unprecedented opportunities to the Lincang Kingdom.