The female anchor turned into the dean of an ancient academy

Chapter 312 Mutual Support

Xia Chenghao was silent for a moment before he slowly spoke, "What Dean Cen said is true. A large-scale war is indeed about to break out between the Xixiang and the Beidi."

He sighed, a trace of helplessness on his face: "However, Xixiang is now weak and short of supplies. I'm afraid it will be difficult to win this battle."

Cen Jiexiao smiled slightly and said, "Your Highness, don't worry. Great Zhou and Xixiang have been friends for generations. If Xixiang is in trouble, Great Zhou will definitely help them."

A hint of surprise flashed in Xia Chenghao's eyes, and he asked tentatively, "Is Dean Cen serious?"

Cen Jiexiao nodded and said, "Of course I take it seriously. But..." She paused deliberately and looked at Xia Chenghao meaningfully.

Xia Chenghao quickly asked, "Just what?"

Cen Jiexiao said, "However, the Emperor of the Great Zhou is now facing internal and external troubles. I'm afraid he is unable to help Xi Xiang."

Xia Chenghao frowned slightly and asked, "What does Dean Cen mean..."

Cen Jiexiao smiled and said, "What I mean is that if Xixiang wants to get help from the Great Zhou, I'm afraid it will still require some price. If Your Majesty completely controls the power of the Great Zhou, then aiding Xixiang in the war against the Northern Di will naturally not be a problem."

Xia Chenghao pondered for a moment and asked, "I wonder what Dean Cen wants. How can we, Xixiang, support the Emperor of the Great Zhou?"

Cen Jiexiao didn't answer directly, but instead asked, "Your Highness, do you think that the Great Zhou would be willing to help Xixiang unconditionally?"

She paused, then added, "The Great Zhou also needs some protection, something that can reassure His Majesty the Great Zhou."

Xia Chenghao understood what Cen Jiexiao meant. He pondered for a moment and said, "If civil unrest breaks out in the Great Zhou, as long as His Majesty the Emperor of the Great Zhou can withstand the initial offensive, our Xixiang Cavalry will definitely come to his aid."

Cen Jiexiao said, "Very well, Your Highness, we need Xi Xiang's promise, a promise that he will not betray the Great Zhou."

She paused, then added, "We need Xixiang to become an ally of His Majesty the Emperor of the Great Zhou, a loyal ally."

Xia Chenghao understood what Cen Jiexiao's conditions meant. This was not only Xi Xiang's promise, but also Xi Xiang's future.

Seeing Xia Chenghao remained silent, Cen Jiexiao continued, "Your Highness, this is the best offer the Great Zhou can provide. As long as His Majesty the Emperor secures his throne, the Great Zhou will do its utmost to help the Xixiang win the war against the Northern Di."

Xia Chenghao raised his head, looked at Cen Jiexiao, and asked, "Dean Cen, do you think the Great Zhou will be willing to help Xixiang win the war against the Northern Di?"

Cen Jiexiao didn't immediately answer Xia Chenghao's question. Instead, she reached for the wine jug on the table, her slender fingers gripping the handle as she steadily filled Xia Chenghao's glass. The amber wine slowly flowed into the glass, creating a fine foam. After filling Xia Chenghao's glass, she poured herself another.

Cen Jiexiao picked up the wine glass, shook it gently, and her eyes fell on the rippling wine in the glass, as if staring into a bottomless lake, with a thousand thoughts in her mind.

She pondered for a moment, as if weighing her words, before she spoke slowly, her tone grave: "Your Highness, although the Great Zhou and the Western Xiang have had friction, disputes, and even wars, we do not want to see the Northern Di grow stronger and reap the benefits."

She paused and turned her gaze to Xia Chenghao, with a glimmer of wisdom in her eyes.

"Your Highness should understand the principle of the lips and teeth being cold. If the Northern Di defeat the Western Xiang, their next target will undoubtedly be the Great Zhou. By then, the Great Zhou will also face a catastrophic disaster."

Xia Chenghao also picked up the wine glass and gently touched it with Cen Jiexiao, making a crisp sound.

He raised his head and drank it all in one gulp, swallowing every drop of the wine in the cup. Putting down the wine glass, he looked at Cen Jiexiao, his eyes showing a little more appreciation, a little more respect, and even a little bit of admiration that was barely noticeable.

Xia Chenghao pondered and said, "President Cen is absolutely right. The Northern Di have evil ambitions and will sooner or later pose a threat to our two countries. Only through sincere cooperation can our two countries resist this foreign enemy."

Cen Jiexiao smiled slightly and said, "Your Highness, the Crown Prince, is very understanding and righteous. This is admirable. I wonder what specific ideas you have for future cooperation?"

Xia Chenghao thought for a moment and said, "I think our two countries can sign a non-aggression treaty and support each other militarily and economically. In addition, we can strengthen intelligence sharing and jointly deal with the threat from the Northern Di."

Cen Jiexiao nodded approvingly, "Your Highness's proposal is excellent. I believe that as long as our two countries work together, we will be able to defeat the Northern Di and defend our homeland."

The two also had an in-depth discussion on some detailed issues, such as specific military deployment, the scale of economic assistance, and the mechanism of intelligence sharing.

During this process, Xia Chenghao demonstrated his outstanding military talent and vision, while Cen Jiexiao, with her profound knowledge and keen insight, provided him with many valuable suggestions. This woman was indeed extraordinary, thoughtful and far-sighted, and exuded a unique charm in her every move. No wonder he had always been obsessed with Cen Jiexiao.

The two of them sat down for a long conversation in the pavilion, covering topics ranging from national affairs to personal ideals, from their respective perspectives to their outlooks for the future. The topic gradually deepened, and they gradually reached a preliminary consensus. As night fell, lanterns were lit in the pavilion, their warm yellow light illuminating their faces and a subtle atmosphere.

Xia Chenghao's gaze fell gently on Cen Jiexiao's face, with a barely perceptible tenderness. He whispered, "Jiexiao, I'm very happy to see that you're not as cold to me as before." His voice was low and magnetic, as if carrying a hint of suggestion, a hint of expectation.

Cen Jiexiao felt the warmth in Xia Chenghao's gaze. She tilted her head slightly, feeling a little uneasy, but a faint smile played on her lips. She replied casually, "Because His Majesty believes that this time, he and His Royal Highness will be on the same page."

Xia Chenghao's eyes flickered with disappointment when he heard Cen Jiexiao's answer, but he quickly concealed it. He was silent for a moment, gathering his words before slowly saying, "Is it really because of... the reason you mentioned?" His tone held a hint of doubt, a hint of tentativeness, and a subtle hint of disappointment.

Cen Jiexiao did not directly answer Xia Chenghao's question. She just smiled faintly and said, "Your Highness, everything I do is for the Great Zhou and Xixiang." Her tone was calm and firm, making it difficult to guess her true thoughts.

Xia Chenghao looked at Cen Jiexiao, a mixture of emotions welling up in his heart. He knew Cen Jiexiao's words weren't entirely sincere, but he didn't want to delve into it. Perhaps, some things didn't need to be made explicit. He took a deep breath, suppressing the complex emotions within him, and a gentle smile returned to his face.

"I know."