Seven Seas Beacon Fire

“Your Highness Prince Jin, I am not here to speak for those people in the previous provisional government, but our current situation is not conducive to continuing this war.” A vice minister from the Ministry of Works stepped forward at this moment.

To be fair, given that a group of surrenderers had just been arrested by the Prince of Jin, and no one knew whether this political storm would escalate, this official was indeed one who dared to speak out.

"Thanks to Emperor Yongning and many important figures in the court, our country has experienced sluggish factory production and disrupted transportation for more than a year! During the war, our steel production last year actually decreased compared to the year before! This world war has proven that modern total war is all about steel and industry. The Allied Powers' steel production is five times that of us. Your Highness, you need resources to fight a war!"

"So you mean that His Highness Prince Jin was wrong to expel the traitorous provisional government?" Before Prince Jin could speak, an official immediately stepped forward to question him.

"I don't think so. I just think we should be biding our time now! It's certainly not advisable to surrender national interests without any bottom line, like the provisional government did. But we should still negotiate. Temporarily abandoning some territories is like cutting off flesh to feed dogs, letting the Victorian Empire and the United States of Colombia fight over them. Preserving the nation's essence, accumulating strength, and temporarily avoiding the enemy's sharp edge to achieve future prosperity is the right path. Even Goujian could endure hardship and bide his time. Why can't we wait and plan slowly in the future? We can trust the wisdom of future generations to deal with what's to come."

Li Che understood when he heard this. This person was not a capitulationist, but a defeatist. However, officials of the Ming Dynasty always liked to debate in the court, and there would always be people with different opinions. Sure enough, an official with an opposing opinion stood up immediately, and this was not even an official from the Northwest faction.

"I know what you people mean. Overseas territories and the Three Proclamations and Six Condolences don't count as the mainland. Do you expect to give up a portion of them to make the Victorian Empire and Colombia fight tooth and nail? Those white people aren't stupid! Before the Kingdom of Letania completely collapsed, did you ever see them undermining each other? Giving away a little flesh won't satisfy their appetite. Those white people only know how to be greedy! I don't believe in the wisdom of future generations. If the father doesn't work hard to pass the imperial examinations, how can he expect his children and grandchildren to become top scholars?"

"Easy for you to say! When the war broke out in Europe, did any of the countries ever imagine that it would last for so many years and end up like this? Deciding to start a war is easy, but deciding to stop it requires a lot of consideration!" Another official stood up to refute this. Li Che could only say that this was indeed the "late Ming Dynasty," and these words sounded very familiar.

"That's precisely why we must use war to achieve peace. Do you really expect the West to calmly cease hostilities with us?! In my opinion, this is the only way to truly preserve the nation's vitality!"

"It's not easy to negotiate peace through war!" Another mainland official in a blue robe said, "The last stronghold of the Old Port Pacification Commission, the Singapore Fortress, has been besieged for more than a year. Furthermore, the royalists in Yingzhou took the opportunity to join forces with the West, raising the banner of the restoration of imperial rule to drive out the Tokugawa Shogunate. Our troops stationed in Yingzhou were almost completely wiped out due to being attacked from both sides!"

"So what?! Before His Highness Prince Jin launched the Jingnan Rebellion, he had just dealt a heavy blow to the United States Army's landing invasion force in Silla, and inflicted a crushing defeat on the United States Army in Pyongyang! We are not facing an invincible enemy!"

“That’s right! Even with such logistical support, His Highness Prince Jin was able to win the battle. Now that we’ve purged those corrupt officials in the court, we can naturally unblock the transportation network and restore production lines! Even if our enemies have a more powerful industry, they’ve come from across the ocean! We are the ones who are in a better position to wait for them to tire themselves out!”

Several officials from the Northwest Gang refused to budge, and the argument grew louder and louder, with some even getting red in the face and their necks bulging from shouting.

At this point, some centrist officials stepped forward, adopting a peacemaker attitude: "Everyone's point is valid. His Highness Prince Jin is a skilled warrior, and our soldiers are fighting with all their might. Of course, we are not afraid to go head-to-head with the Federation's army and marines. We have already proven this on the Silla battlefield, but that's not the issue now."

However, the official's tone shifted after just a couple of sentences, revealing his true attitude. What followed the "but" was their real point: "Our navy is simply no match for the Victorian Empire and the United States of Colombia. After the Java Sea naval battle, our navy lost control of the South China Sea. The Colombian and Victorian allied forces launched amphibious operations in Yanping, Luzon, and even Silla, mobilizing over a million marines! Without control of the sea, even if our domestic troops wanted to, are we supposed to have them swim there to fight?"

"Exactly!" A Privy Council official also looked distressed. "His Highness King Jin of Silla did defeat the United States army, but the Colombian and Victorian allied forces, which control the sea, can move freely along any stretch of coastline of the Silla Peninsula. Even if we defeat them, they can retreat to the protection range of our naval guns. Whether we fight or retreat, they are invincible! The key issue now is not whether our army can fight, but whether our navy can fight!"

The focus of the debate gradually shifted to the navy. For a moment, whether they supported continuing the war or opposed it, everyone turned their attention to Sa Dingming, the former commander of the Ming Dynasty Royal Navy, who was present at the scene.

Ultimately, the focus returned to the navy. For a moment, Sa Dingming seemed to be at a crossroads. The arguments in the Wuying Hall gradually subsided. In the somewhat strange silence, Sa Dingming seemed to sigh helplessly, and then faced all the gazes of those present, meeting the sharpest pair of eyes.

"Your Highness Prince Jin, Your Excellencies, after the losses suffered in the Battle of the Java Sea, on paper we still have 25 capital ships and 5 armored cruisers. In terms of the number of capital ships, not counting the ships under construction on the slipway, both we and the Federation currently have 25 capital ships."

Just as Sa Dingming started talking, a bearded lieutenant beside Prince Jin complained, "What else is there to say? 25 against 25, are we afraid of the Federation? Commander Sa has said so, which means we can fight!"

His rash remarks only earned him a cold glance from the Prince of Jin. After that, the bearded man shrank back, shut his mouth, and remained silent.

Chapter 5: Bearing the nation's shame, becoming the ruler of the world (2)

"Foolish! Are we only facing the Federal Navy? Although the British Navy forces that participated in the Battle of the Java Sea have withdrawn to Europe, the British still have a detachment deployed in Asia! Moreover, the Letanians have now surrendered, and their High Seas Fleet has been disarmed! The British Navy could transfer its main force to the East at any time! It's even possible that the Gallic Navy and the captured High Seas Fleet will also be involved! At that time..."

A Privy Council official immediately began explaining the navy to the admiral who knew nothing about it, but Sa Dingming raised his hand to interrupt the Privy Council official: "Don't think about that. Even without considering the Britons and other Allied navies, even if we only face the Commonwealth right now, our navy simply doesn't have the ability to confront the Commonwealth head-on."

“I know that land and sea are different, and I don’t know much about the navy. But after listening to what the general just said, I’m still a little curious. Why is it that we and the enemy both have 25 capital ships, yet our navy is unable to fight against the Federation? If I remember correctly, throughout the entire World War, the Federation Navy basically didn’t gain any advantage over us… except for that last battle! And even in the Battle of the Java Sea, we were defeated by the British, right?”

Li Zongdi's words actually represented the common sentiment and doubt of many people present who were not particularly familiar with the navy regarding what Sa Dingming had just said—that it was just the Federal Navy.

Yes, the "mere" Federal Navy, in this era and these days, doesn't have a very good reputation.

“Exactly, isn’t the Federation Navy just a bunch of nouveau riche?” A Northwest official standing next to Li Che said with a lingering stereotype: “Didn’t we sink several large Federation ships in the Sulu Sea battle before the Java Sea battle?”

"Exactly! I've heard that the Federation can't even fire a cannon accurately!"

"Just a bunch of spoiled brats!"

"Surely the navy wouldn't be afraid to fight just because it doesn't have a numerical advantage?"

Li Che could only sigh that these men from the Northwest were really daring to give unsolicited advice on national affairs. In response to these remarks, Sa Dingming gently shook his head: "The navy's order of battle has 25 capital ships on paper, but that does not mean that we can deploy 25 capital ships for combat."

The navy's 25 capital ships were divided into two parts. All of our surviving battlecruisers are now trapped in Surabaya Port. The vast majority of these battlecruisers were seriously damaged in the Battle of the Java Sea. Surabaya Port does not have the capacity or materials to repair these battlecruisers.

The remaining battleship fleet is currently concentrated in Cam Ranh Bay. After the Battle of the Java Sea, the battleship fleet was in better condition than the battlecruiser fleet. Although many warships were damaged, at least half of them were still able to carry out combat missions.

However, as you all know, after the news of the naval defeat reached the country, the political situation became turbulent... There are some things I don't want to say anymore, and some situations I won't mention, but you should all know a thing or two. In short, since then, our navy has been able to obtain less and less supplies and resources, and the repair ships and repair materials requested from the country to be sent to Cam Ranh Bay have never arrived.

Warfare is all about logistics, and the navy relies on logistical support more than any other branch of the military. By now… the fleet in Cam Ranh Bay can no longer be considered capable of carrying out large-scale combat missions.

"Why not withdraw the fleet back to the mainland for rest and reorganization?"

"With the battle fleet deployed as a force in Cam Ranh Bay, the enemy dares not launch a strong attack on Surabaya Port. If we withdraw the battle fleet, then the battlecruiser fleet in Surabaya Port will be in grave danger."

"What does your navy need right now?" Li Zongdi asked calmly.

"Fuel oil, anthracite, shells and spare gun barrels, supplies for further ship repairs, professional technicians... Cam Ranh Bay has dry docks and gantry cranes; as long as the supplies can be transported there, the battle fleet can gradually restore its combat capability."

"If the navy obtains these supplies, can it restore the fleet's combat capability in Jinlan Bay within one or two months? Can it fight against the Federation's fleet in the South China Sea?" Li Zongdi's further question made Sa Dingming somewhat embarrassed, and he lowered his head slightly to avoid his gaze.

"Your Highness Prince Jin... There is only one large shipyard in Jinlan Bay. In one or two months, I can only guarantee that the super-dreadnoughts in Jinlan Bay will be able to regain their combat capability as much as possible. However, if we want to use this to counter the Federation Navy's fleet in the South China Sea, I'm afraid it's still..."

"This won't work! That won't work! What's the point of your navy having these resources then? Whether you get them or not, you can't beat the Federation now. The Federation Navy isn't the British Navy..."

"Moreover, Letania has already shown us what the consequences of continuing the war will be. If the war continues and we win, that's fine, but if we lose or even draw, how will the already under-supplied people in our country view us? How will the other ethnic groups within the empire's borders view us?"

"At that time, what we will lose will not be vassal states, but whether China can ever be unified again!" The official who advocated peace spoke with blood and tears in his eyes, his words resounding with conviction.

"The best course of action now is to learn from King Goujian of Yue, who endured hardship and humiliation, sought peace first, then prepared for war. Once we are ready, we will take back what we have lost little by little. This is a wise and prudent strategy for governing the country, and it is also the safest plan!"

At this point, the official confidently added, "As long as China manages its internal affairs well, the surrounding barbarians will naturally submit. The war has turned out this way precisely because the emperor is immoral and corrupt officials are rampant in the court. It is precisely the time to focus our attention on internal affairs!"

"What's the difference between you and those traitors who promoted Westernization?" one of the officials from the Northwest Gang said sarcastically.

"The difference is that they negotiated peace for their own power and position, while we negotiated peace so that we can fight back in the future!"

"High-sounding words! At the end of the day, you're just afraid of dying!"

This remark instantly angered the official, who immediately retorted, "Do you think I can fill in the Pacific Ocean just because I'm not afraid to die? Do you think I can win a war just because I'm not afraid to die?"

"War relies on mobilization, organization, soldiers' military training, the full support of the people, and cutting-edge equipment, but we lack all of these things at this moment..." The official turned to everyone and said firmly, "War relies on science, not on willpower and spirit, and it's not something that can be won just by refusing to admit defeat!"

"When all the powerful figures are eyeing me covetously, I should pull my fists back..."

"Are you just going to back down and wait to lose your vassal states and the Pacification Commission? There's a kneeling statue of Qin Hui in the Yue Fei Temple. Do you perhaps want to kneel down there too?"

"That sounds nice!" The official, having been repeatedly attacked personally, lost his temper. "Go ahead and fight! I only have one question for you Northwest Gang members: if you lose, who will take responsibility?!"

"I, the King, will take responsibility!" At this moment, the Prince of Jin stood with his hands behind his back, seemingly having made a comprehensive plan. He made up his mind, cleared his throat, and then raised his voice in the center of the hall: "Gentlemen, since the reign of Emperor Yongning of the Ming Dynasty seventeen years ago, the prestige of the nation has been lost and the national character has been corrupted."

Foreign enemies ravaged the land pioneered by our ancestors. Major Lim Chor Min of Singapore, in order to protect the people and prevent the enemy from accidentally harming them, led the remaining troops out of the city to fight back at the last moment, and the entire army was killed in battle..."

When the Prince of Jin uttered the words "the entire army died in battle," he clenched his teeth and spat them out through the gaps between his teeth.

"Even with the country in ruins, I would not hesitate to give my life." Prince Jin cupped his hands to the people who had come to discuss matters today, "If we lose, I, Li Zongdi, will bear the infamy for all eternity!"

"Your Highness, Prince Jin," the Right Censor-in-Chief stepped forward and bowed in return, saying, "The Tao Te Ching says, 'He who bears the nation's disgrace is the master of the state; he who bears the nation's misfortune is the king of the world.' Now Your Highness has already borne the nation's disgrace and misfortune—"

“Then…” The Right Censor-in-Chief lifted the long robe of his official ceremonial attire, knelt on the ground, and then bowed his stiff upper body toward the Prince of Jin. The Grand Censor actually performed the long-abolished “prostration” to the Prince of Jin, and finally slammed his head into the ground with a loud thud.

All I heard him say was—

"Long live the Prince of Jin! Long live the Prince of Jin! Long live the Prince of Jin!"

"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"

Chapter Six: Those Who Receive the Mandate of Heaven Must Bear the Responsibility (1)

Li Che looked at his grandfather with slight shock. In just a few minutes, most of the ministers in the hall had knelt down to pay homage to the emperor with the three kneelings and three prostrations, shouting "Long live the emperor!"

This sudden turn of events left the Northwest Gang officials, who were caught off guard, unsure whether to stand or kneel down. As for himself, he and his father stared at each other, both conveying the same question in their eyes: "This wasn't your doing, was it?"

"Get up! No kneeling!"

Grandpa's slightly displeased rebuke brought those in the hall, who were caught off guard, back to their senses. Prince Jin, faced with the opportunity to sit on the dragon throne and shout, "You've ruined me!", showed no interest whatsoever. Instead, he seemed to have nowhere to vent his anger.

"I will absolutely not accept your support today!"

"Your Highness! In this vast country, besides you, who else has the prestige, ability, and means to save the nation from its dire straits? We beg Your Highness to accept the throne!"

Faced with the Right Censor-in-Chief kneeling on the ground, unwilling to rise and determined to place him on the throne, Li Zongdi took a deep breath and spoke to the Right Censor-in-Chief in a loud and forceful voice:

Vice Censor (another title for the Right Censor-in-Chief), when I was young, whenever there was a natural disaster in the Northwest, there would be starving people. Where there were starving people, there would inevitably be grain merchants hoarding grain, raising prices, and making a fortune off the national crisis. They were ridiculed by the people of the time as unscrupulous merchants.

"Now that the nation is in peril and the country is in turmoil, you want me to act recklessly here, allowing my Li family to profit from this national crisis—profiteering from a national disaster is called being a treacherous merchant, so what would I be if I were to ascend the throne now?!"

By this time, Li Che could see that they thought these ministers had come to force him to abdicate, but they hadn't expected that these ministers were actually there to persuade him to abdicate—no, in a way, this was also a form of forcing him to abdicate.

Just like on a platform called Zhihu in another world, Li Che once saw someone ask whether Liu Bei had prepared 500 axemen when he entrusted his son to Zhuge Liang in Baidi City, so that if he sensed that Zhuge Liang had ulterior motives, he would smash a cup as a signal to kill Zhuge Liang.

One answer left a deep impression on him, which went something like this: After the Battle of Yiling, the Shu Han regime was almost finished. Of the three major shareholders who initially founded the regime, only one was still breathing, and he was about to die at this time.

The entire company is on the verge of bankruptcy and liquidation. Faced with such internal and external troubles, no normal person would want to take over such a mess. Are you worried that someone will try to usurp your position?

Given the state of Shu Han at that time, even selling out the country wouldn't fetch a good price!

When Liu Bei entrusted his son to Zhuge Liang at Baidi City, what he said to Zhuge Liang was not only a genuine expression of his feelings, but also a kind of "coup" in another sense.

There are not only forceful coercion tactics in this world, but also gentle ones, like today.

The country is now in a mess, much like it was after the Battle of Yiling in the Shu Han dynasty. However, unlike the Shu Han dynasty, this mess is not beyond saving. But at this critical juncture, no one is willing to take responsibility, because choosing either war or peace could very well lead to their own disgrace.

What Liu Bei finally grasped in his hand wasn't Zhuge Liang's hand, but the last straw that saved the Han Dynasty.

Today, the ministers kneeling in the main hall are not worshipping the Prince of Jin; they are also trying to grasp at any straw.

The problem is that the Prince of Jin is clearly unhappy with the current situation.

Li Che knew his grandfather quite well. His grandfather's current displeasure stemmed partly from his dissatisfaction with the attitude of the officials in front of him. These officials were indeed not the same as the high-ranking officials of the insect-like provisional government who had previously planned to sell off the former Ming's Three Xuan and Six Wei states and overseas fiefdoms for a good price in order to quickly end the war and not delay "our business with the West." However, these people were indeed potential supporters of the provisional government in the past.

Because in fact, after the Ming Dynasty was removed from power, if you remained silent in court in the face of the temporary government that remained as the Ming Dynasty's government, that was a form of agreement—just like when Gian was bullying Nobita, if you didn't stop Gian, then you were actually helping Gian bully Nobita.

Now that these people are supporting him, Li Zongdi is probably willing to believe in these officials, led by Cai, the Right Vice Censor-in-Chief. Their starting point is indeed to do what is best for the country, but they can't find a way themselves, so they place their hopes on one person or political force after another that they believe can save the country.

To put it nicely, this is called being devoted to the country; to put it bluntly, even to some extent... even prostitutes in brothels are more devoted than these people.

Grandpa's other dissatisfaction stemmed from his personality—he was the kind of person who would respond better to gentle persuasion than force. Even if your intentions were good and he knew it was for his own good, he would still resist if you tried to force him to do something.

Today, in the main hall, the sudden urging of the officials who wanted to support him to enthrone him was a form of coercion for Li Zongdi. This was the thing that Prince Jin, Li Zongdi, disliked the most. When Princess Jin was still alive, she had said that Li Zongdi was "a stubborn donkey that needs to be stroked with the right hair," and now his temper had flared up again.

I'm here to save the country! What are you trying to do?

In this situation, the heir apparent, who was most familiar with the Prince of Jin's personality and temperament, quickly stepped forward to smooth things over: "Gentlemen, now is not the time to discuss such matters. Huo Qubing once said, 'How can we think of a home when the Xiongnu have not been destroyed?' I think we should focus our main efforts on the enemy we are facing right now. With the army entering the city, there are many complicated matters to attend to. After Father finishes dealing with his current affairs, he will meet with the ministers of each department separately. If you have any questions or thoughts, you can discuss them in detail later. Let's all disperse for today."

Li Che couldn't help but secretly give his father a thumbs up. Although these ministers came to persuade him to stay, it was still necessary to find an opportunity to subtly sow discord among them. From the perspective of Machiavellianism in officialdom, it was the same thing as subordinates being afraid of you being cold and giving you a yellow robe, but the essence was completely different.

Figures like Zhao Kuangyin and Chen Youliang may appear to be passive, but in reality, they were proactive. Their actions were the result of their subordinates fully understanding their superiors' intentions, and everything was under their control.

However, if you are elected by your subordinates in a completely passive way, you will not have a say in many things. For example, during the An Lushan Rebellion in the Tang Dynasty, An Lushan died in 757 and Shi Siming died in 761, but the turmoil in the three towns of Hedong did not end. The officials and people of the three towns preferred to continue to support An Qingxu and Shi Chaoyi, and the turmoil lasted until 763. By the time of An Qingxu and Shi Chaoyi, whether to continue fighting was no longer up to them.

Although these officials' intentions are good, no political issue should be taken lightly. Moreover, even if we don't consider the need to be wary of others, we should still consider the efficiency of the domestic government's operation in the face of the upcoming war against the West. These officials should not be allowed to form a clique.

To describe most of the officials in the court today, there's a classic saying: "I believe in your loyalty to the country, but I don't believe in your intelligence or your abilities!"

These are a bunch of low-budget versions of Shi Kefa. I don't need to say much about who Shi Kefa is, right? His unparalleled loyalty and righteousness are indeed touching, but apart from that, his personal abilities are, in many ways, underwhelming.

Judging from the experience of Emperor Longwu after the Jia Shen Incident, sometimes a country is not necessarily destroyed by treacherous officials, but it can also be ruined by a group of loyal ministers who are working hard in the wrong direction.

Chapter Seven: Those Who Receive the Mandate of Heaven Must Bear the Responsibility (2)

"Speak up, everyone. There are no outsiders here, so let's talk like family. What are your thoughts?" Prince Jin sat behind his desk, gently rubbing his temples, his eyes half-closed like a tiger in a daze, and asked his eldest son and grandson in a casual tone.

This question immediately caused Li Renchi to show a troubled expression. What could he think? What could he possibly think? Today, his father was being pressured by the court officials in the main hall to ascend the throne in a manner that was half pleading and half forcing. Although it hadn't reached the point of him being forced to wear the yellow robe, everyone could see that this was purely a formality because the initiators were mainly a group of civil officials.

Prince Jin did not give a direct response on the spot, but if Li Zongdi really had the idea of ​​becoming emperor, then today's performance could be considered as one of the three refusal and three concessions in the traditional Chinese political art of refusal.

Li Zongdi is now practically sitting on the emperor's throne.

Li Renchi was Li Zongdi's eldest son. He was the eldest son of the legitimate wife and the heir of the Prince of Jin's mansion. If everything had gone normally, he would have been the next Prince of Jin after Li Zongdi's death. Similarly, if Li Zongdi had actually become emperor, he would have been the person with the highest probability of succeeding to the throne in the world.

This is the throne of the Emperor of the Eastern Chinese Heavenly Dynasty, the supreme position of the Son of Heaven.

If you receive orders from Heaven, you will live a long and prosperous life!

Throughout human history, there have been many emperors on this planet, but only two crowns hold the highest value: the crown of the Western Roman Empire and the crown of the Eastern Chinese emperor.

The Roman Empire has long since disappeared into the annals of history, and history even refers to the ultimately defeated and fallen Rome as Byzantium. But the Rome of the East continues to this day, and that crown is now truly only a step away from their Prince Jin's Mansion.

"To say that one is completely unmoved would be a lie. Perhaps only a true saint could remain unmoved before the emperor's throne. But Father... are you really prepared to take on this hot potato? The ministers support you not because they truly admire you, but because they can't find anyone else right now. I think you are aware of this, Father."

Li Zongdi nodded: "Yes, the great empire has become like this in the last two years. After Emperor Yongning died, the court officials wanted to select an emperor from the imperial clan, but no one was willing to be the emperor. Those members of the imperial clan probably felt that the current situation was like the Northern Song Dynasty before the Jingkang Incident and the Northern Ming Dynasty before the Jia Shen Incident."

These members of the imperial family neither wanted to endure the humiliation of Emperors Huizong and Qinzong, nor hang themselves on Coal Hill like Emperor Chongzhen. As a result, no one was willing to inherit the throne, allowing a provisional government led by officials of the Self-Strengthening Movement to gain power.

I know what you mean. You think I don't need to take on so much responsibility. Instead of being a fearful emperor, you think I should just go for it and establish a republic, becoming a great leader like the United States of Colombia. Even if I don't do well, I can just walk away after my term ends. What does it matter to us what happens after I'm gone? Is that what you mean?

Facing Li Zongdi's gaze, Li Renchi said earnestly, "Father, when you decided to raise an army to quell the rebellion and save the country, I did not stop you. After all, the rise and fall of the nation is the responsibility of every citizen. But there are more than just a few ordinary people like us in the world. Just like the argument in the hall just now, the key now is the navy. If the navy problem is not solved, we will inevitably continue to suffer defeats and national humiliation. Father, your lifelong reputation may also be ruined because of this. It is not easy to be an emperor in this day and age."

My son has no lofty ambitions. Aside from following in my father's footsteps, serving him, and handling domestic affairs, I only hope for our family's well-being. If my father asks for my opinion, I do not want him to take that risk.

Li Renxu bowed slightly forward. This young master always maintained proper etiquette in front of his father, and sometimes even seemed a little distant.