Previous suggestion?
As Yao Jian's words fell, Emperor Zhou and several ministers all looked at Yao Jian.
Had Yao Jian given His Majesty a suggestion before?
Meeting everyone's gaze, Yao Jian first sighed softly, then continued, "This Chancellor received a secret report two days ago, knowing in advance that Yong Country had intentions of a marriage alliance! Currently, the only marriageable princesses in our dynasty, besides Princess Qinghe, are The Eldest Princess..."
The Eldest Princess!
Listening to Yao Jian's words, everyone suddenly understood.
If Yao Jian hadn't said anything, they would have almost forgotten about The Eldest Princess!
The Eldest Princess's consort was executed several years ago, and she has been a widow ever since.
If one had to choose between these two princesses for a marriage alliance, The Eldest Princess might indeed be more suitable.
"Your Majesty, this subject does not agree to a marriage alliance!"
Ye Xiaogong slowly stood up, his face somewhat grim, "The Eldest Princess has already suffered enough; to use her for a marriage alliance again is too cruel to her! Throughout history, which princess sent for a marriage alliance had a good outcome?"
"Exactly!"
Ye Xian nodded in agreement, a look of displeasure on his face.
"This humble subject also disagrees!"
Pei Ji also stood up, glaring indignantly at everyone, "Are all the men of Great Zhou dead, that we need to rely on a woman for a marriage alliance to achieve peace?"
"Who wants a marriage alliance?"
Yao Jian snapped at Pei Ji, "As the Minister of War, don't you know if now is the time for war? This Chancellor also wants to flatten Yong Country right now and incorporate all of Yong Country's fertile land into Great Zhou's territory, but does the imperial court have the foundation for that?"
Facing Yao Jian's interrogation, Pei Ji paused slightly and immediately fell silent.
Although he wished he could point at Yao Jian's nose and call him a coward, what Yao Jian said was the truth.
His earlier talks of war when facing Hulü Xian were just bluster.
The decline of Great Zhou's national power was an undeniable fact.
Although Great Zhou had been licking its wounds these past few years, it was still not ready to cope with a full-scale war.
If they really fought with Yong Country, there were too many factors to consider.
Besides weapons and provisions, they also had to consider the imperial court's stance, the timing of the war, and so on!
Saying 'fight' is easy!
But truly wanting to fight is another matter.
Even if they really had to fight, it wasn't something that could be decided by a few words here; they would have to consider all aspects of the situation before making a decision.
"Yes! These are desperate measures!"
"Our Great Zhou has not yet recovered; going to war with Yong Country now, the chances of victory are slim!"
"In the end, war is about money and provisions! With the meager silver and grain in the national treasury, if war truly breaks out, who knows how long it can last..."
"Even if there is a marriage alliance, this method might not work! Even if His Majesty agrees to a marriage alliance with The Eldest Princess, Yong Country might not agree!"
"Setting aside everything else, Chancellor Yao's method is indeed a last resort..."
Seeing Pei Ji silenced, many ministers began to agree.
Some rationally analyzed and stated facts, while others simply didn't want to fight.
Even several princes seemed to express approval.
Listening to these words, even Ye Xiaogong immediately became furious, "What if we have no money or provisions? Should we swallow our anger when people bully us? Does Your Majesty still remember what the late emperor said when he returned from Jin Province years ago?"
Emperor Zhou slightly raised his eyes, "My imperial father said too many things back then; which sentence is Prince referring to?"
Ye Xiaogong took a deep breath and said in a deep voice, "The late emperor said, 'Our Great Zhou has been defeated, but we have never been afraid! He will diligently govern, prepare a large army, and in the future, fight a decisive battle with the Oirat people!'"
Listening to Ye Xiaogong's words, Emperor Zhou fell silent.
The late emperor indeed said that!
That was after the great defeat in Jin Province.
Unfortunately, although those two arrows didn't directly take the late emperor's life, they left severe injuries on his body.
Although the late emperor always worked diligently, hoping to one day avenge himself against the Oirat people, he ultimately did not live to see that day.
"Your Highness, we also don't want to swallow our anger!"
Yao Jian looked at Ye Xiaogong and sighed, "The meager money and provisions in the national treasury truly cannot sustain a protracted war, and we also have to consider the Oirat people and Xiliang! The imperial court is already struggling to maintain the status quo..."
As Yao Jian's words fell, the peace-faction ministers once again agreed.
Ye Xiaogong raised his eyes and scanned the peace-seeking officials, saying with a dark face, "If there's no money or provisions, then find a way to raise money and provisions, instead of talking nonsense here! I'm stating this now: if the imperial court wants to use troops against Yong Country, I can donate all my family's assets for military supplies!"
Ye Xiaogong's words were resounding.
However, as Ye Xiaogong said this, everyone immediately fell silent.
Ye Xiaogong was willing to donate all his family's assets for military supplies, but they were not!
Seeing that the situation was getting a bit off, Yao Jian quickly advised again, "If Your Majesty is in a difficult position, perhaps you could ask The Eldest Princess's opinion! The Eldest Princess is reasonable and understanding, and this humble subject believes that The Eldest Princess will understand Your Majesty's difficulties and share your worries."
Listening to Yao Jian's words, the ministers once again followed suit.
But Ye Xiaogong and Pei Ji's brows furrowed even more tightly.
Yao Jian's words were truly malicious!
The Eldest Princess is reasonable and understanding; she will understand His Majesty's difficulties and agree to a marriage alliance.
If she doesn't agree, then she's not reasonable and doesn't know how to share His Majesty's worries?
He was clearly trying to put The Eldest Princess on the spot!
Shen Jing had listened for a long time and finally couldn't help but stand up and bow to Emperor Zhou: "Your Majesty, regarding the matter of the marriage alliance, this humble subject also has a strategy that might be more suitable than Chancellor Yao's!"
Listening to Shen Jing's words, everyone couldn't help but look at him in surprise.
Shen Jing's words were a bit bold!
More suitable than Chancellor Yao's strategy?
Unless it means no marriage alliance is needed!
"Oh?"
A strange glint suddenly appeared in Emperor Zhou's eyes, "What strategy?"
"As this humble subject knows, Chancellor Yao seems to have an unmarried daughter, doesn't he?"
Shen Jing said with a smile, "Your Majesty can confer the title of princess upon Chancellor Yao's daughter. This way, neither The Eldest Princess nor Princess Qinghe needs to be sent for a marriage alliance, and it also shows Your Majesty's favor towards Chancellor Yao!"
"Absurd!"
As soon as Shen Jing's words fell, Yao Jian became anxious: "Throughout history, where has there been such an absurd thing as an emperor bestowing the title of princess upon a minister's daughter?"
As he spoke, Yao Jian glared at Shen Jing with eyes spitting fire.
He had calculated everything, but he didn't expect this little beast to come out and ruin things!
Shen Jing grinned, "If Chancellor Yao finds this absurd, you can first ask His Majesty to adopt your daughter as his goddaughter, and then confer her as a princess. Wouldn't that be reasonable?"
"If that doesn't work, let Prince Wuping adopt your daughter as his goddaughter, and then have His Majesty confer her, that would also work! Didn't the previous dynasty have a precedent of conferring the daughters of imperial princes as princesses?"
"If Chancellor Yao is worried that Gao Yin won't fancy your daughter, His Majesty can choose a daughter from each of the peace-seeking ministers' families and confer them!"
"If His Majesty confers twenty or thirty princesses in one go, it will be enough to make Gao Yin dizzy with choices..."