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As the ministers felt complicated emotions and marvelled at Yang Yi’s audacity, the Empress’s rosy lips curled slightly, amused by the perplexity that had spread among her officials.

Shangguan Wan’er blinked her beautiful eyes, sharing in the confusion, unable to comprehend Yang Yi’s meaning.

Yang Yi blinked and said, “Lord Wei, Lord Xu, did you misunderstand?”

“When did I say that we should kill Niohuru Nianqi?”

“Hmm?” Wei Yuanzhong was stunned, clearly puzzled.

The old man, who had been a child prodigy since his youth and had risen to high ranks through the Imperial Examinations, was truly baffled by Yang Yi’s words. The others, including Xu Jingzong, were equally taken aback.

“What do you mean, Minister Yang? You said we should insult Qianlong to the end, but now you’re saying we shouldn’t kill Niohuru Nianqi?”

Wei Yuanzhong asked, his confusion mirrored by the other ministers.

Yang Yi smiled faintly, showing his white teeth.

“Why should we kill Niohuru Nianqi? Not only should we not kill him, but we should also agree to Qianlong’s request and return Niohuru Nianqi in exchange for a hefty ransom.”

The officials were left stunned.

Zhang Jianzhi, looking particularly perplexed, said, “Minister Yang, didn’t you just argue that returning him would be a mistake? Why the sudden change?”

Li Yifu, who had previously planned to mock Yang Yi, chose to remain silent, wary of another public embarrassment. He watched closely, waiting to see where Yang Yi was headed with his strange idea.

Xu Jingzong stroked his beard, his weathered face showing a wry smile.

“Minister Yang, stop keeping us in suspense. What are you really planning?”

Yang Yi, seeing the attention on him, responded seriously,

“Lord Xu, I am not keeping you in suspense. I have already said what I intended. We won’t kill Niohuru Nianqi because returning him can bring us certain benefits. However, if we return him without a plan, we would simply be handing back a great general to our enemy.”

He paused, letting his words sink in before continuing,

“Thus, I propose a strategy that will allow us to return Niohuru Nianqi to Qianlong, extort a significant sum of money from the Qing Dynasty, and thoroughly humiliate Qianlong. Moreover, once we send Niohuru Nianqi back, Qianlong himself will likely never use him again—or might even kill him.”

Stunned silence filled the room. The ministers exchanged glances, their shock evident. Wei Yuanzhong frowned deeply.

“Minister Yang, that sounds like pure fantasy. How could such a scheme be achieved?”

“Where in the world could you both ransom a valuable general and provoke the enemy into executing him? Qianlong is no fool; why would he give us a sum of money only to turn around and kill his trusted general?”

At first, he had admired Yang Yi, thinking that the emergence of new talent in the Empire was a blessing for the Great Zhou. But now, it seemed this young man had grown too arrogant after achieving some success and did not know his limits.

Although Qianlong was arrogant and conceited, he was no fool. Even an ordinary person wouldn’t give you a sum of money to get someone back only to turn around and kill them. That was treating people like complete idiots.

“Yes, yes, Lord Wei is right,” one official remarked.

“Minister Yang is clever, but his words this time do seem a bit far-fetched.”

“I agree. Even ordinary people wouldn’t make such a losing deal. Why would Qianlong?”

“It doesn’t make sense. How could Minister Yang make such a mistake?”

The crowd began to discuss, and the hall grew somewhat noisy.

Wu Zhao glanced at the commotion and then at Yang Yi, who remained calm despite being the focus of skeptical glances. She couldn’t help but feel a bit impressed.

Someone who bore thunder in their heart yet maintained a calm exterior could be entrusted with great responsibility. This young talent, only twenty years old, already possessed the imposing manner of a great general.

Clearing her throat easily, the room fell silent immediately. The Empress’s voice was calm, without the slightest ripple.

“Since Minister Yang has a plan, why not share it with us?”

The eyes of the crowd turned toward Yang Yi, their expressions varying—some skeptical, some supportive, and some gleeful. Yang Yi’s lips curled into a smile.

His handsome face remained calm and composed, as if he could face the collapse of Mount Tai without flinching. He clasped his hands in a gesture of respect.

“Before I reveal my strategy, may I ask if any of you are aware of the recent nationwide sensation, the ‘Great Zhou Bao’?”

His words left the crowd momentarily stunned. The ‘Great Zhou Bao’? Of course, they knew about it. In fact, many of them were among its main subscribers.

Wei Yuanzhong frowned in thought.

“The ‘Great Zhou Bao’? I’ve heard of it. It’s supposed to record all recent events on a few sheets of paper, distributed nationwide, with a new issue every seven days. The information on it is called ‘news’.”

Yang Yi clapped his hands and laughed.

“Lord Wei, you are absolutely right. It is indeed this newspaper.”

He continued, “The current issue of the ‘Great Zhou Bao’ sells nearly two hundred thousand copies in Luoyang alone, and in other places, it can reach seven hundred thousand to eight hundred thousand copies… By now, the total sales of all published editions must have reached at least tens of millions.”

Upon hearing this, the crowd was visibly shocked. Incredible! A simple newspaper could sell such astonishing numbers.

Xu Jingzong, Zhang Jianzhi, Wei Yuanzhong, and others wore pensive expressions as they contemplated the implications. What did Yang Yi’s mention of the ‘Great Zhou Bao’ have to do with Qianlong?

Wei Yuanzhong spoke up, his voice deep.

“The ‘Great Zhou Bao’ is indeed a good business, but it seems to have nothing to do with our discussion.”

Everyone nodded in agreement. Yang Yi’s face bore a mysterious smile.

“Lord Wei, you are mistaken… If the ‘Great Zhou Bao’ can sell so many copies, doesn’t that mean there are millions of potential customers?”

Wei Yuanzhong instinctively nodded.

Yang Yi continued, “If that’s the case, what if I use the ‘Great Zhou Bao’ to announce to the entire world that Niohuru Nianqi is in my hands? Do you think people would believe it?”

Wei Yuanzhong frowned.

“The news that the Great Zhou has defeated the Qing and captured the enemy’s most important general has already spread far and wide. If the ‘Great Zhou Bao’ publishes this news, why wouldn’t they believe it?”

Everyone nodded in agreement. Yang Yi sneered.

“Then what if I publish in the ‘Great Zhou Bao’ that Niohuru Nianqi was severely tortured during his imprisonment in Luoyang and revealed some secrets about Qianlong to save his life… For example, Qianlong is a lecherous emperor who likes to seduce other men’s wives and daughters, has a taste for young men, is bloodthirsty and cruel, and even covets the wives of his ministers and brothers. Do you think people would believe that?”

The hall suddenly fell into an eerie silence. Everyone stared at Yang Yi in shock, gasping as their hair stood on end.