The World Online
chapter-1292-30041322

When Ouyang Shuo walked into the hall, he found an old man standing in front of a Wang Xizhi drawing solemnly.

When he heard the footsteps, the old man turned around.

"Old Chen!"

Ouyang Shuo took large strides forward and grasped the old man's hands.

The man who came was the former Federation President.

After the Federation disbanded, this old man had totally disappeared from the eyes of the people.

Although the cooperation between the two did not work out and they had stopped communicating, Ouyang Shuo continued to respect this intelligent old man.

As for this meeting, the old man was apparently really emotional and did not know how to address Ouyang Shuo.

Ouyang Shuo led him to a seat and let the maidservant serve him tea. This was the second meeting between the two, and their respective identities and positions had undergone a huge change.

Facing the humble Ouyang Shuo, Old Chen could not bring himself to call him, "Little friend."

More was less since he came over with a mission.

Old Chen was here to persuade Ouyang Shuo.

Facing the combined attacks of Silver Hand, Azure Badge was facing the greatest crisis since its establishment. Their powers were too separated, so they could not go head on against Silver Hand.

Before this, the two camps had worked together to restrict Great Xia. They knew that only by turning their spears to the outside could they be safe themselves.

Unfortunately, the growth of Great Xia had exceeded all their expectations.

Those who had suppressed Old Chen's faction had failed terribly, and their authority in Azure Badge was falling by the day.

Old Chen's faction was showing signs of rising up once more.

Unfortunately, Old Chen was already exhausted and was unwilling to interfere in Azure Badge's duties.

His visit to Great Xia was because he could not bear to see Azure Badge truly fall. He only wanted to come to the imperial capital to try to persuade Ouyang Shuo.

Right as he looked at Ouyang Shuo, Old Chen's confidence fell by a lot.

Compared to a few years ago, the man in front of him had become calmer and more composed. One could see the sharpness from before, but the gaze that he would occasionally reveal was enough to send a chill down one's spine.

Any action seemed to flow like water but hold the power to move mountains and part rivers.

The youthful era had left Ouyang Shuo and would never return.

He who had just passed 30 was at the strongest part of his life and was filled with energy. In his path up, all dangers and problems were turned into dust.

The current Ouyang Shuo was filled with authority but was also really calm; he could be menacing, but he had the reason and power to do so. He looked really gentle, but in truth, he was a really invasive captain of the ship.

The generals and civil servants all feared and respected him, worshipping him as their leader.

Mulan Yue, Gu Xiuwen, Sun Nongyan, Cui Shousi, Zhou Haichen, Lin Yi, Shihu, Niu Da, and the other relatively new officials all looked up to Ouyang Shuo as their teacher.

Facing such a legendary man, even Old Chen felt some pressure.

There were many words that he could not let out from his mouth.

Ouyang Shuo was really frank and said, "Old Chen definitely has a reason for coming over; you can be frank with me."

Old Chen nodded and said, "The world war is breaking out while Great Xia is not doing anything. You are not truly preparing to sit on the fence, right?"

This was a probe.

"Sitting on the fence and watching the tigers fight is the dream of many. There's nothing bad about that." Ouyang Shuo was not going to fall for it.

Old Chen continued, "But when one tiger is destroyed, the other will become stronger. Isn't Great Xia afraid of being hurt by the tiger?"

"Great Xia has an iron wall; we cannot be hurt."

Ouyang Shuo did not budge, and the atmosphere tensed up; the warmth from before dissipated.

When Old Chen saw that, he sighed and said, "Ouyang Shuo is not the Ouyang Shuo from before." This emperor placed all his determination onto Great Xia's interests and would not make any personal favors.

Only interests could tempt Ouyang Shuo.

"Can Great Xia enter the Europe battlefield?" Old Chen did not beat around the bush anymore.

"Europe and us is separated by the Persian empire; we have no reason to join in."

"You have!"

Old Chen's eyes looked sharp as he said, "Do not forget that Great Xia's Morocco Province was taken by Silver Hand. Now, it's a province of the Spain Dynasty. Currently, it is the best time for you to reclaim your lost land."

Ouyang Shuo smiled.

When Old Chen saw that, he shook his head helplessly.

Both of them were intelligent. Naturally, they understood that the current Morocco Province was nothing to Great Xia. Even if they took it back, it would be hard to defend it.

Even without mentioning Europe, just in Africa, Morocco Province would have to face the threat of the Egypt Dynasty.

Since Old Chen had personally come over, Ouyang Shuo had to give him face and could not be too rough and slowly revealed, "I'll take revenge for Morocco, but what I want is not just a province."

Old Chen shook and asked, "Are you prepared to attack the Spain Dynasty?" If that was the case, it would help to save the Ottoman Dynasty.

Ouyang Shuo shook his head and said, "I want the entire North Africa."

"...."

Old Chen was speechless.

North Africa was the Egypt Dynasty's, which was a member of Azure Badge. Was Great Xia trying to pillage them in the midst of a fire?

"Your request is too much. Azure Badge cannot accept it."

Old Chen rejected it.

Ouyang Shuo was really confident and said, "Unless you give up on North Africa, you cannot keep the Ottoman Dynasty. This deal is actually quite worth it."

"How so?"

"Once Great Xia accepts North Africa, Arab Empire will naturally stop. The Caesar Dynasty hates Great Xia, and with his personality, can he focus on Europe while being separated from Great Xia by just an ocean?"

Old Chen's brows moved; this meant that Great Xia would take up two enemies.

Ouyang Shuo continued, "Giving up North Africa, the Egypt army can attack the Spain Dynasty and remove another opponent. The Ottoman Dynasty has the ability to fight one against three."

"That's not enough!" Old Chen did not agree.

It was true that without the Spain Dynasty and the Caesar Dynasty, the Ottoman Dynasty's situation would change greatly. However, just one Romanov Dynasty would be able to suppress to Ottoman Dynasty to the point where it could not breathe.

"Persian Empire, Great Xia can also suppress them. Persia and I still have a score to settle." Ouyang Shuo added another stake.

Old Chen was tempted, but it was not enough.

When Ouyang Shuo saw that, he gave out a teasing smile and said, "Old Chen, I'm only talking terms with you because I respect you. In truth, Great Xia has a million troops in East Africa, and there are some things we can go get for ourselves."

"...."

Old Chen's thoughts instantly sank to the bottom of the valley.

That's right, strictly speaking, Great Xia and Azure Badge were not allies but enemies. If Great Xia sent troops to Egypt right now, wouldn't it be catastrophic for Azure Badge?

Only then did Old Chen realize that when facing Great Xia, he did not have any chips in his hands.