Invincible Divine Destiny Selection System Chapter 4: Chapter 4 Land Compensation_1

"Continue to remain in the court."

Without a shred of hesitation, Chu Yuan elected to stay, firmly seated upon the imperial throne.

He naturally intended to listen to what these supposedly loyal ministers had to say, observing their conduct with absolute scrutiny. To leave now, granting them nothing but the sight of his retreating back, would surely be a disappointment to them.

He would play his part in this farce to the end.

"Ding! Host has chosen option one and acquired one hundred Destiny Points."

"The Prime Minister is a founding pillar of our realm. Alongside the Great General, he followed the previous sovereigns through countless campaigns across the lands. Through their meritorious deeds, their names have been carved into the annals of history. Currently, following the demise of the late Emperor, our Great Wu is enduring a season of great instability.

As sovereign and subjects, we must strive to restore order. This day marks my inaugural meeting with you all as the new ruler of Great Wu, and I wish to hear your counsel."

As Chu Yuan sat atop his throne, a profound light flickered within his eyes.

A faint, sudden smile touched his lips. This scene was hauntingly familiar, mirroring his memories perfectly: the systematic betrayal of the Great Wu Dynasty through deception and manipulation.

However, how could he possibly permit others to auction off his empire?

"Your Majesty!"

A middle-aged official stepped forward, bowing low as he spoke: "The fate of our Great Wu rests upon the strength of our Divine Martial Army. The sudden annihilation of three hundred thousand elite troops has been interpreted as a divine curse. The subsequent fallout alone has drained a massive amount of gold and silver from our national treasury.

The treasury is now nearly depleted, particularly since several regions of our kingdom have been ravaged by natural disasters and still await relief. Furthermore, we have been forced to allocate immense resources to deter potential invasions from the four neighboring nations."

Chu Yuan gave a slight nod.

While the three hundred thousand elites of the Divine Martial Army could crush any foe, Great Wu maintained millions of other soldiers. Their upkeep consumed half of the annual national budget, creating a staggering financial burden.

"Beyond that, the abrupt passing of the former Emperor, coupled with the mysterious slaughter of the three hundred thousand elites at Soul Yang Mountain, has birthed all manner of rumors. The populace claims that Great Wu has angered the gods, and these calamities are merely divine retribution.

Seditious rumors and nursery rhymes are spreading rapidly through the mouths of children, foretelling dark omens. Not only is the political climate volatile, but the common people are also gripped by panic."

The official speaking was the Assistant Minister of Rites.

"And what is it the people truly believe? Since you lack the courage to speak it, I shall. They believe Great Wu is nearing its end, that the fall of our dynasty is certain, and that we stand on the precipice of total annihilation."

Chu Yuan spoke with icy precision: "Nursery rhymes? Rumors? These are nothing more than the machinations of those with treacherous hearts, seeking to incite public chaos to mask their own rebellious acts. I suspect some of the ministers present understand this far better than I."

"Those who propagate such rumors should be charged with treason. I am prepared to lead my battalions to investigate," Shangguan Qingyun remarked nonchalantly.

You intend to investigate?

Do you truly take me for a fool, unaware that these rumors were orchestrated by you and the Prime Minister from the shadows? Sending you out would be like tossing a meat bun to a dog—a total loss.

"That will not be necessary. Once the internal state of Great Wu is stabilized, these rumors will vanish of their own accord." Chu Yuan dismissed the idea with a wave of his hand. "Prime Minister, surely you have something you wish to tell me."

"Indeed, I do."

Li Yun stepped forward and stated: "Internal strife may be settled in time, but external threats are far more difficult to resolve. The Great Yan Dynasty has already massed an army of millions at the border of our Nan County, poised to strike and seize territory at a moment's notice. Should Nan County fall, their millions of troops will reach the Imperial City in a matter of months."

Three years of memories flooded Chu Yuan’s mind, recalling how the Great General and the Prime Minister had conspired with Great Yan, leaving the once-mighty Great Wu defenseless. In that past, Chu Yuan had been trapped within the Imperial City for years, refusing to yield.

Without such internal betrayal, no nation could easily breach the borders of Great Wu.

"The Great Yan Dynasty has begun its mobilization, but the Great Law, Great Sheng, and Great Administration are also preparing their forces. In my estimation, once the southern border is compromised, these three nations will descend like a pack of ravenous wolves. Given our current state, Great Wu simply lacks the strength to resist."

Shangguan Qingyun added his voice to the pressure.

Great Wu, Great Yan, Great Law, Great Sheng, and Great Administration comprised the five nations.

Originally, Great Wu held the hegemony, though Great Yan had recently taken the lead. Even so, a weakened Great Wu remained more formidable than any single rival nation.

Their current aggression stemmed from the belief that Chu Yuan’s youth and unstable foundation provided a golden opportunity to devour this massive empire.

"What brilliant strategies do the General and the Prime Minister propose?" Chu Yuan inquired slowly, the coldness in his gaze deepening.

"There is only one viable path."

Li Yun cleared his throat and, after a meaningful look at Shangguan Qingyun, said, "An envoy from the Daqian Dynasty arrived in the capital days ago. They have formally requested negotiations, demanding that Great Wu cede the three counties of Qingyang, Heyang, and Quanyang, along with fifteen prefectures including Shuohua and Anping. They also demand three hundred million in silver as military reparations.

This is their ultimatum; should Your Highness refuse to cede the land, the next missive will be a formal declaration of war."

"Furthermore, they have pledged that if Your Highness agrees to these terms, Daqian guarantees they will not advance into our southern territories for one year."

As Li Yun finished, Shangguan Qingyun immediately chimed in, "If we can secure a year to recover, ceding three counties and fifteen prefectures is a small price. We can always retake them in the future."

[Option one: Accept the Daqian Dynasty’s letter, agree to the territorial concessions and the three hundred million silver payment, gain one hundred Destiny Points, and unlock the Achievement: 'Ceding Territory and Paying Indemnities'. Note: By equipping this achievement, every future instance of ceding land or paying reparations will reduce the cost by ten percent.]

[Option two: Refuse all territorial concessions and payments, flatly rejecting the loss of the three counties and fifteen prefectures, gain one hundred Destiny Points, and unlock the Achievement: 'Firmness and Resilience'. Note: By equipping 'Firmness and Resilience', you obtain the 'Art of Firmness', which directly boosts defensive power.]

Once again, two paths materialized before Chu Yuan.

"Is this your grand strategy? Selling our land and paying off our enemies? Where is your dignity?"

"I shall never surrender our territory nor pay reparations. I will sign no shameful treaties in exchange for a fleeting year of peace granted by the mercy of others. Since the founding of Great Wu, we have never established a precedent of ceding land for peace, and we never shall."

Chu Yuan rose abruptly, his form radiating a crackling glow of thunder. His aura as the supreme sovereign made his majesty almost too intense to witness.

There would be no surrender of land. He would never sign such a document, not even upon his death.

"Host has made a choice, completing option two. No territory ceded, no compensation paid. Achievement 'Firmness and Resilience' acquired."

The system prompt echoed in his mind.

Chu Yuan triggered the Art of Firmness, manifesting an invisible, spherical barrier of Mana. Even a cultivator of the Soul Forging Third Tier could strike him and fail to pierce this defense. It was truly as unyielding as iron.

Chu Yuan’s freezing tone left Shangguan Qingyun and Li Yun momentarily stunned.

They hadn't anticipated such a fierce rebuff from Chu Yuan. They had expected at least a moment of hesitation, which they would have exploited to pressure him into signing the treaty.

Li Yun quickly countered, "Your Majesty, if the Daqian Dynasty marches on our south, we will face four nations simultaneously. Ceding those regions for a temporary truce is the only pragmatic choice."

"Then we shall go to war," Chu Yuan declared.

"Without the Divine Martial Army, I fear Great Wu is no match for Daqian. It will only lead to the slaughter of our people," Shangguan Qingyun said with a frown.

"General, have you lost your nerve? Or have you already pledged your loyalty to the Daqian Dynasty, seeking to sell Great Wu for your own profit!"

Chu Yuan’s imperial pressure surged violently, and his imperial sword let out a sharp ring. His gaze pierced Shangguan Qingyun like a sovereign judging a subject. "Answer me, Shangguan Qingyun!"

"This...!"

Confronted by this overwhelming force, even Shangguan Qingyun felt his spirit waver. His expression darkened, and he let out a cold snort, "This old minister would not dare. If Your Majesty commands war, then this minister shall fight!"

"Very well," Chu Yuan replied.

"Furthermore, the delegation from the Daqian Dynasty is currently waiting outside the Divine Martial Hall for an audience."

Li Yun was clearly persistent. Such a traitorous minister deserved nothing less than death.

[Option one: Grant the envoys an immediate audience, earn one hundred Destiny Points.]

[Option two: Make the envoys wait three days before meeting them to demonstrate imperial authority, earn one hundred Destiny Points.]

[Option three: Expel them from the Great Wu Imperial City immediately, earn one hundred Destiny Points.]