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

"I shall remain in the court."

Chu Yuan did not waver for a single moment. He chose to stay, seating himself firmly upon the imperial throne with absolute resolve.

He intended to listen to the words of these supposedly loyal officials and scrutinize their every move. If he were to leave now, offering them nothing but his retreating back, would he not be failing to meet their expectations?

He was prepared to play his part in this elaborate theatrical performance.

"Ding! The Host has selected Option One. One hundred Destiny Points have been credited."

"The Prime Minister stands as a foundational pillar of our realm. Alongside the Great General, he accompanied the former emperors through countless battles across the lands. Their legendary achievements are forever carved into our history. Currently, following the departure of the late emperor, our Great Wu is navigating a season of great unrest.

As sovereign and subjects, our shared goal must be the restoration of peace. As today is my inaugural meeting with you all as the new monarch of Great Wu, I invite you to speak your minds freely."

Seated atop the throne, Chu Yuan’s gaze was profound and piercing.

A faint, cold smile played on his lips. This scenario was all too familiar, mirroring his memories of how the Great Wu Dynasty was systematically dismantled through deceit and manipulation.

However, he would never permit anyone to auction off his empire.

"Your Majesty!"

A man of middle age stepped out from the ranks, bowing low as he spoke: "The survival of our Great Wu rests upon the shoulders of the Divine Martial Army. The sudden loss of three hundred thousand elite troops is being whispered about as a heavenly curse. The costs of managing the aftermath have already drained a massive portion of the national treasury's wealth.

The ministry is facing a severe deficit, particularly as various regions have been ravaged by natural disasters and still await aid. Furthermore, we are forced to reserve vast resources to defend against potential strikes from the neighboring four nations."

Chu Yuan gave a shallow nod.

Even though the three hundred thousand elites of the Divine Martial Army were peerless, Great Wu still maintained millions of other soldiers. Their upkeep consumed half of the annual budget, placing a staggering weight on the state.

"It does not end there. The unexpected passing of the late emperor, combined with the mysterious slaughter of the elite forces at Soul Yang Mountain, has birthed countless rumors. The common folk claim Great Wu has drawn the ire of the gods, and these tragedies are divine retribution.

Wild rumors and nursery rhymes are being spread by children everywhere, foretelling dark omens. The political climate is volatile, and the populace is gripped by fear."

The official speaking was the Assistant Minister of Rites.

"And what exactly do the people believe? If you lack the courage to say it, I shall. They believe Great Wu is reaching its twilight, that our dynasty is crumbling, and that total destruction is at our doorstep."

Chu Yuan’s voice was like ice: "Nursery rhymes? Rumors? These are merely the tools of those with treacherous hearts, seeking to incite chaos so they may plot their betrayals in the dark. I suspect some of the ministers gathered here understand this far better than I."

"Those who spread such lies should be tried for treason. I am prepared to lead my battalions to investigate these matters," Shangguan Qingyun remarked with an air of indifference.

You, investigate?

Did they truly think he was blind to the fact that these rumors were being orchestrated by the General and the Prime Minister themselves? Sending him would be as futile as throwing a meat bun at a dog—a total loss.

"That will not be necessary. Once Great Wu finds its footing, these rumors will vanish on their own." Chu Yuan dismissed the idea with a wave of his hand. "Prime Minister, I assume you have something to report."

"Indeed, I do."

Li Yun stepped forward and stated: "Internal chaos can be settled given time, but our borders face threats that are not so easily managed. The Great Yan Dynasty has amassed a million-man army at the edge of our Nan County, poised to strike at a moment's notice. Should Nan County fall, their forces will reach the gates of the Imperial City in mere months."

Memories from the past three years flooded Chu Yuan’s mind. He recalled how the General and Prime Minister had conspired with Great Yan, stripping Great Wu of its defenses. In that timeline, he had been trapped within the Imperial City for years, stubbornly refusing to surrender.

Without such internal treachery, no nation could have easily breached Great Wu's borders.

"The Great Yan Dynasty is on the move, but Great Law, Great Sheng, and Great Administration are also mobilizing their strength. It is my view that once the southern border is compromised, these three nations will descend upon us like a pack of starved wolves. In our current state, Great Wu simply lacks the power to repel them."

Shangguan Qingyun added his voice to the pressure.

The region consisted of five nations: Great Wu, Great Yan, Great Law, Great Sheng, and Great Administration.

Historically, Great Wu was the hegemon, though Great Yan had recently taken the lead. Even in its weakened state, Great Wu remained more formidable than any single rival.

These nations were moving now only because they believed Chu Yuan’s youth and the unstable Foundation of the empire provided a perfect chance to devour the Great Wu.

"What brilliant strategies do the General and Prime Minister propose?" Chu Yuan asked slowly, his eyes growing increasingly frigid.

"There is but one path forward."

Li Yun cleared his throat, sharing a knowing look with Shangguan Qingyun. "An embassy 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 require three hundred million in military reparations.

This is their ultimatum. Should Your Highness refuse to yield the territory, the next message will be a formal declaration of war."

"Furthermore, they have pledged that if you agree to these terms, Daqian will ensure no hostile troops enter our southern territories for one full year."

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

[Option One: Accept the Daqian Dynasty’s terms, agree to cede the counties and prefectures, pay the three hundred million in reparations. Reward: One hundred Destiny Points and the Achievement: 'Ceder of Territory and Payer of Indemnities'. Note: Equipping this achievement reduces future reparation costs by ten percent.]

[Option Two: Refuse all demands. No land will be ceded, no money will be paid. Firmly reject the loss of the three counties and fifteen prefectures. Reward: One hundred Destiny Points and the Achievement: 'Firmness and Resilience'. Note: Equipping 'Firmness and Resilience' grants the 'Art of Firmness', significantly boosting defensive power.]

Once again, two paths were laid out before Chu Yuan.

"Is this your grand plan? To buy peace by carving up our land and emptying our treasury? Where is your shame?"

"I will never surrender a single inch of our land nor pay a single coin in tribute. I will not sign disgraceful treaties just to beg for a year of peace at the mercy of others. Since the birth of Great Wu, we have never established a precedent of ceding territory, and I will not be the one to start it now."

Chu Yuan rose abruptly. His form began to radiate a crackling thunderous glow, and the sheer weight of his imperial authority became almost suffocating to those present.

Surrendering land was out of the question. He would die before signing such a humiliating pact.

"Host has made a choice. Option Two completed. No territory ceded, no reparations paid. Achievement 'Firmness and Resilience' unlocked."

The system's notification chimed in his mind.

Chu Yuan instantly triggered the Art of Firmness. Using his own Mana, he generated an invisible, spherical shield around himself. Even if a cultivator of the Soul Forging Third Tier were to strike him now, his defense would remain unyielding. It was as impenetrable as divine iron.

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

They had not expected such a fierce rejection. They had assumed that if Chu Yuan showed even a hint of doubt, they could pressure him into signing the treaty step by step.

Li Yun recovered quickly and argued, "Your Majesty, if the Daqian Dynasty marches on our south, we will be fighting four nations at once, not just one. Sacrificing three provinces and fifteen prefectures for time is the only logical choice!"

"Then we shall go to war," Chu Yuan replied flatly.

"Without the Divine Martial Army, I fear Great Wu cannot stand against Daqian. You are inviting nothing but death and misery for our people," Shangguan Qingyun said, his brow furrowed.

"General, are you trembling? Have you lost your nerve? Or is it that you have already sold your soul to the Daqian Dynasty, hoping to trade Great Wu's blood for your own profit?"

Chu Yuan’s imperial Qi erupted with terrifying force. His imperial sword hummed with a sharp ring. His gaze, heavy with the weight of a sovereign, locked onto the general. "Answer me, Shangguan Qingyun!"

"I...!"

Confronted by such overwhelming majesty, even the veteran Shangguan Qingyun felt his spirit shake. His expression darkened, and he let out a cold snort. "This old servant would not dare. If Your Majesty commands war, then I shall go to war!"

"Very well," Chu Yuan said.

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

Li Yun was clearly persistent. Such a snake deserved nothing less than execution.

[Option One: Grant the envoys an immediate audience. Reward: One hundred Destiny Points.]

[Option Two: Make the envoys wait for three days to assert imperial dominance. Reward: One hundred Destiny Points.]

[Option Three: Expel them from the Great Wu Imperial City immediately. Reward: One hundred Destiny Points.]