Tang Dynasty: To win Yang Guifei, they asked Emperor Xuanzong to die.

In the palace of Prince Shou,

General Feng entered the study with a slightly solemn expression, cupped his hands and said, "Your Highness, news has come from the south that the situation seems to have eased, but it may also be a delaying tactic by the other side."

Li Mao nodded slightly, appearing remarkably calm. "No matter what the enemy does, we must not be careless. We must still set up the defenses we need to, and we cannot miss any battles we need to fight."

Qiu Tianqi followed closely behind, his expression slightly relaxed: "Your Highness, could we use Xu Qi's talent to consolidate the position of the Prince Shou's Mansion?"

“If he is talented, he will be a great help to us,” Li Mao said thoughtfully.

A few days later, Li Mao arranged for a private meeting with Xu Qi at his residence.

Inside the study, the lamplight flickered, creating a particularly tense atmosphere.

"Lord Xu, what are your thoughts on the recent situation?" Li Mao asked directly.

Xu Qi pondered for a moment, then smiled slightly. "Your Highness, this is a time of great change, where opportunities and crises coexist. We should not rush things in the south. Let's take this opportunity to consolidate our forces, strengthen our defenses, and wait for the right time."

Li Mao asked tentatively, "What makes you speak of integration?"

Xu Qi calmly explained, "Your Highness, we should integrate the power of local magnates, make good use of the collaboration between officials and merchants, and ensure financial and material support. The key is to suppress the strong and support the weak, so as to maintain local balance and prevent them from being easily instigated by external forces."

Li Mao seemed to understand something, "This way we can stabilize the area and reduce disturbances."

Xu Qi nodded, his tone still calm, "Yes, and at the same time strengthen ties with loyal allies to ensure that we have stable support no matter how the situation changes."

“That makes a lot of sense.” Li Mao gave Xu Qi an approving smile.

General Feng interjected, "If we can report this strategy to the court, perhaps the Emperor will understand."

“That’s right,” Xu Qi continued, “We’ll try to make the court understand that we share a common interest in local stability in order to gain their trust.”

A determined glint flashed in Li Mao's eyes. "I will consider your suggestion; this will create a new balance."

After a private discussion, Li Mao had a new plan in mind.

He realized that the current situation was no longer one where force alone could be effective; a combination of policy and strategy was the only way to resolve it.

"Your Highness, Lord Xu certainly has insightful ideas," Afu praised, seeing that the two were having a pleasant conversation.

“Yes, such talent is rare. He can help us cope with this storm,” Li Mao said frankly.

Before parting, Xu Qi solemnly said to Li Mao, "Your Highness, no matter how the situation changes, I am willing to offer my assistance. As long as we work together, any difficulty can be overcome!"

Li Mao replied gratefully, "With someone like you supporting us, our chances of winning will be greatly increased. Let's get through this together."

After seeing Xu Qi off, Li Mao stood in front of the mansion gate, looking at the gradually darkening sky, and suddenly felt much more relaxed.

He knew that sometimes victory is not just a momentary event, but a long-term one.

As night fell, Chang'an returned to tranquility once again.

Li Mao sat quietly in deep thought, repeatedly considering the plan in front of him.

Afu entered the room and, seeing Li Mao's slightly tired expression, cautiously said, "Your Highness, the night is getting dark. Would you like to rest for a while?"

Li Mao shook his head and said softly, "We are at a critical juncture and cannot afford to relax. Besides, Xu Qi's analysis has shown me a new direction."

Afu nodded, his eyes full of understanding and respect. "Information from various places is gradually showing that the situation is becoming clearer, but we still need to deal with it cautiously."

At this moment, General Feng entered the room, his face showing some excitement. "Your Highness, Xu Qi's suggestions are being implemented step by step. The local reaction is gradually stabilizing, and merchants are also willing to cooperate with us and provide supplies."

Upon hearing this, Li Mao's face showed a rare hint of relief. "That's good. It seems to have eased temporarily, but we still need to be on a stable footing and must not let our guard down."

“That’s right, now is the time to consolidate our foundation, both for our own sake and to ensure the stability of our territory,” General Feng agreed.

Li Mao turned around, took a map from the bookshelf, spread it on the table, and pointed to several places, saying, "These places still have hidden worries, and these are the places that Xu Qi mentioned can be 'integrated'."

Afu leaned closer to examine the map, understanding the long-term significance of stability in these areas for the Prince Shou's residence. "Does Your Highness intend to intensify the rectification efforts in these places?"

“That’s exactly right,” Li Mao explained. “We need to implement practical strategies to ensure that these places no longer become a threat.”

Just then, Xu Qi's voice came from outside the door, "Your Highness, I have taken the liberty of visiting you."

"Please invite Mr. Xu in quickly." Li Mao put down the map and invited Xu Qi to sit down.

Xu Qi entered the room and gave Li Mao a slight bow. "Your Highness, I have come uninvited today because the situation has changed and I feel it is necessary to have a face-to-face meeting."

Li Mao gestured for him to sit down, his expression serious. "In that case, Mr. Xu, what are your thoughts?"

Xu Qi said calmly, "Although the situation has stabilized recently, the undercurrent of previous instigation has not been eliminated, especially in the north. If we want to completely resolve it, we need to expand our strategies."

"How exactly will it be carried out?" Li Mao leaned forward and asked.

Xu Qi smiled slightly, took out a stack of documents and said, "The north needs to join forces with the loyal tribes to expand our sphere of influence. At the same time, through policy measures, we should let those local forces that originally harbored dissent see the benefits of cooperation and mutual benefit."

General Feng leaned closer to examine the document. “Indeed, what Mr. Xu said is feasible. Stability can be maintained through these alliances.”

Afu echoed, "This method can solidify alliances and create more stable support."

Upon hearing this, Li Mao's eyes lit up. "It seems to be a feasible plan. Mr. Xu, you are indeed a good teacher and helpful friend. Entrusting me with such an important task, I should do so without hesitation."

Xu Qi humbly replied, "This is my duty; Your Highness is the main force behind all of this."

Just as everyone was discussing the matter enthusiastically, a sound came from outside. A soldier outside the door reported, "Your Highness, a secret envoy from the palace has arrived. It may be something important."

Li Mao frowned, sensing that this matter was of utmost importance. "Ask him to wait a moment and have someone else escort him into the reception room."

Xu Qi looked thoughtful. "Perhaps this is the court's reaction to the situation; we must not ignore it."

Li Mao agreed wholeheartedly, saying, "We should make a decision after understanding their intentions, and observe their attitude."

……

After the envoy took his seat, Li Mao greeted him with courtesy and gestured for him to explain his purpose.

After bowing, the envoy went straight to the point: "Your Highness Prince Shou, His Majesty is particularly concerned about your recent situation and has specially ordered me to come and inquire about the details of the current developments."

Li Mao remained calm and responded appropriately, "Please inform His Majesty that everything at the Prince Shou's residence is in good order and we are actively working to reorganize and stabilize the area. If there are any changes, we will certainly report them in detail."

The envoy nodded in understanding. "His Majesty also hopes that Your Highness will maintain close contact with the court to jointly safeguard national stability. Please report any necessary information at any time."

Xu Qi interjected, "This is necessary for the overall situation, and we should do our utmost."

After the secret envoy left, Li Mao's brows furrowed in thought. "It seems that the court is also closely watching our actions. This is both a reminder and an opportunity, and we must deal with it properly."

"Your Highness, how can we demonstrate our proactive attitude without appearing overly prepared?" Afu suggested.

"Maintain sufficient communication channels, and prioritize the overall national interest in everything," Li Mao replied resolutely.