Tell the truth

What surprised Gao Yuan even more was that he would actually meet Lakhon, the King of the Lan Xang Kingdom, in County.

He had blended into the tribute party, using the excuse of coming to Guchang County to pay homage to the suzerain state.

Gao Yuan led him into his study and began brewing Kung Fu tea. After a dazzling series of maneuvers, a cup of fragrant tea was placed before Lakhon.

"It's been several years since we last parted, hasn't it?"

Lakhon rose slightly and took the tea Gao Yuan handed him.

"Yes. From our first meeting, I knew the Commandery Duke was no ordinary man. I didn't expect you to be a regional hegemon now, with even the Toungoo kingdom proving as fragile as clay chickens or pottery dogs before the Commandery Duke."

No one dislikes hearing praise, and Gao Yuan was no exception; he quite enjoyed Lakhon's flattery.

"So, how has being the King been these past few years? It must have been quite pleasant."

Lakhon took a sip of tea and gave a helpless, bitter smile.

"To be honest, I've been sitting on pins and needles these past few years. The Commandery Duke might not believe it, but I even feel that life was more comfortable back when I was just an official in Lan Xang."

"This time you've traveled a thousand miles incognito to see me in County. Is there something the matter?"

Lakhon sat up straight and looked Gao Yuan in the eye.

"I truly have a doubt I wish to ask the Commandery Duke in person, which is why I took the risk to come."

"You want to ask why we suddenly increased the amount of tribute and why our attitude is so firm, don't you?"

Since Lakhon had come, he was naturally prepared. He had rehearsed the scene of meeting Gao Yuan countless times in his mind and considered various scenarios. He nodded.

"Indeed. I have always been very respectful and submissive to the Commandery Duke, and I believe the Commandery Duke should be very well-informed about my country's situation, so I cannot understand it."

Gao Yuan looked at Lakhon's eyes and expression, the corners of his mouth curling up slightly.

"Shouldn't you have guessed it already?"

The expression on Lakhon's face immediately became very complex—relief, terror, sadness, and despair.

"Commandery Duke, my country's land is not fertile. Why..."

"Since you understand Han culture, you should know that in Han culture, the Great Unification is an obsession that will never be abandoned. Even if the meat rots in the pot, not a single bite will be given to outsiders."

Lakhon slumped back in his seat, looking as if life had lost all meaning. It took a long time before he spoke.

"Besides this, is there really no other way?"

"Of course there is."

These words were like a lifeline to Lakhon. He immediately sat up straight, leaning forward slightly, his eyes fixed on Gao Yuan.

"Please, Commandery Duke, enlighten me!"

"Abolish your national title and merge into our Great Qian's Zhongnan Circuit and Annan Circuit. You and your ministers will be employed based on your talents, and all your people can enjoy our citizen status."

A long silence followed. After a long time, Lakhon stood up and bowed to Gao Yuan.

"I understand. Please give me some time to consider, Commandery Duke."

Gao Yuan nodded.

"Today is the twentieth day of the ninth month in the second year of new era name. I will give you two months to consider and resolve any internal differences of opinion."

As Lakhon reached the door, Gao Yuan suddenly thought of something and called him back.

"If you are worried, you can send your family to Vientiane. Regardless of what you choose, I will settle them properly."

Lakhon paused, bowed to Gao Yuan again, and left without saying a word.

After Lakhon left, a figure emerged from behind the screen. Gao Yuan reached out and pulled Zhao Xiyao into his arms, seating her on his lap.

"Husband, how do you think he will choose?"

"I don't know. His choice doesn't actually depend on what he thinks, but on whether he can resolve the differing opinions within his country."

"It's all because you are so harsh on those Powerful Families; otherwise, they wouldn't be so resistant."

"Zhao Xiyaos informal address, it's not that I'm harsh. It's that I don't want the Powerful Families to grow too powerful. Think about it, if the Powerful Families use natural and man-made disasters to annex land and control the population step by step, and influence the imperial court by controlling the scholars, what will happen?"

"Are we not going to solve such problems and just dump them all on our children?"

Zhao Xiyao naturally heard the other meaning in Gao Yuan's words, but she wasn't surprised or opposed. She leaned gently into her lover's arms.

"Father also tried to find ways to suppress the Powerful Families back then, but the effect seemed negligible. How do you think we can truly solve the problem of Powerful Families?"

Gao Yuan shook his head honestly.

"I don't know. I can only try. Maybe it will work, maybe it won't. If I fail, at least I've ruled out a wrong option for our children, haven't I?"

On such issues, it wasn't necessarily that Gao Yuan was better than people like the Emperor just because he had one or two thousand more years of knowledge.

This wasn't some power fantasy world where the protagonist could make Powerful Families vanish just by sitting in a rocking chair and ordering people to invent paper or printing.

Do you think people like Emperor Taizong of Tang, Li Shimin were stupid?

Eradicating Powerful Families would inevitably cause severe social upheaval. Perhaps only someone like Huang Chao, who was himself a rule-breaker, would be most suitable.

Besides, in the original timeline, didn't a large number of proto-Powerful Families appear again after a few years of social stability?

"Husband, are you planning to take this Lakhon under your wing?"

"Is it that obvious?"

"Isn't it?"

"Alright, I do want to take him under my wing. This man is a good diplomatic talent."

According to the system's evaluation, Lakhon was an A-rank talent with diplomatic attributes. Although he had no more potential, he was definitely worth the effort to recruit.

The couple shared a moment of tenderness before parting. Zhao Xiyao went to the main hall to continue handling government affairs, while Gao Yuan took up his pen to write a letter informing Wu Xu of the situation.

He didn't know how Lakhon would proceed, but he had to keep the pressure on the Lan Xang Kingdom. He hoped to resolve this matter quickly rather than letting it drag on into a long-running soap opera.

Upon returning to Thanh Hoa, Lakhon did not hide anything and recounted Gao Yuan's words exactly as they were.

"My dear ministers, there are only two paths before us now. The first is to accept Commandery Duke Gao's suggestion and merge into Great Qian, where you can retain a limited amount of wealth and status. The second is to gather our forces and fight a battle with the Great Qian army."

Lakhon did not state his own inclination but threw the question to these vested interests, letting them choose.

His words were like a stone causing a thousand ripples; the court immediately split into two factions.

"I don't agree to merging into Great Qian! I've looked into it—after those Lan Xang and Khmer nobles merged into Great Qian, they not only lost their official positions but also failed to keep their land and people!"

"Exactly! Without land, people, and official positions, how will we live in the future?"

"But I heard those people were granted businesses by Commandery Duke Gao, and they are all living very comfortably."

"Precisely. If we don't merge into Great Qian, we'll have to fight them. Do you think our Lan Xang Kingdom can withstand Commandery Duke Gao's army?"

"Thanh Hoa City has high walls and deep moats. It wouldn't be a problem to hold it for six months or a year."

Someone from the ranks of the military officers, who had been silent, stepped forward.

"I've heard the Qian Army has large-scale siege engines. Most of those Toungoo cities only held out for a day or two. If you have the confidence to defend, then you lead the troops. I, for one, don't have that ability."

The military generals had no confidence in leading troops to defend, and the civil officials had even less. Everyone then realized that although there were said to be two paths, in reality, there was only one way to survive. For a moment, it became quiet.