Chapter 314: Wait

Bu Xun understood what Hao Yuntu meant. The emperor wanted to support Shang Chaozong, but open support might provoke Shang Jianxiong into striking back. So Hao Yuntu wanted to take a turn through Niu Youdao instead.

"Do you think this Niu Youdao's words carry weight with Shang Chaozong?" Hao Yuntu suddenly asked.

Bu Xun quickly followed his line of thought. After considering it briefly, he answered, "According to reports from our agents in Qingshan Commandery, Niu Youdao now lives there in near seclusion and rarely meets Shang Chaozong."

"One point can be confirmed: judging from every sign, Niu Youdao has almost never interfered in the military or civil administration of the two commanderies."

"On the surface, he seems to exert very little influence over Shang Chaozong."

"But outsiders cannot approach his secluded residence, so the true circumstances there are difficult to investigate."

"Several details are worth considering, however."

"Shang Chaozong and his younger sister Shang Shuqing are known to share a close sibling bond, and Shang Shuqing is widely acknowledged to possess a certain influence over her brother."

"Yet Shang Shuqing has also moved to Niu Youdao's secluded residence."

"Another point comes from the Office of Investigation's analysis."

"Tianyu Sect's greatest current source of revenue is the liquor brewed at Niu Youdao's secluded residence."

"What is peculiar is that, judging from every sign, there appear to be no Tianyu Sect disciples at the brewing site."

"How could Tianyu Sect possibly leave its greatest source of wealth outside its own control?"

"The Office of Investigation therefore suspects that the brewing operation is controlled by the three sects, by Niu Youdao, or jointly by both sides."

"Then there is Jinzhou's alliance with Shang Chaozong."

"That alliance came after Niu Youdao appeared in Jinzhou and killed the envoy of the State of Yan."

"Niu Youdao killed an envoy, yet still managed to escape territory controlled by Jinzhou."

"If Jinzhou had not deliberately allowed him to leave, how could he possibly have escaped?"

"That makes Niu Youdao's role in the alliance between Jinzhou and Shang Chaozong worth considering."

"And finally, there is the matter directly before us."

"Tianyu Sect came to the State of Qi a year ago to arrange warhorses for Shang Chaozong. The Office of Investigation learned of it long ago."

"Under the Office's interference, Tianyu Sect failed repeatedly."

"Afterward, Liuxian Sect, Lingxiu Mountain, and Fuyun Sect—sects now attached to Shang Chaozong—sent additional manpower here to assist Tianyu Sect."

"And now Shang Chaozong has sent Niu Youdao as well."

"By rights, after causing so many incidents, Niu Youdao is not someone who should appear openly again."

"His clash with Zhuo Chao on the road is evidence enough."

"Yet he still came."

"That alone shows Shang Chaozong's regard for him and confidence in his ability."

"Taken together, these signs suggest Niu Youdao should indeed possess a certain degree of influence over Shang Chaozong."

Bu Xun was the Chief Steward of the Inner Palace, a man who spent his life deep inside the imperial palace, yet he could recount affairs ten thousand li away as though they were household matters. That was not because he possessed some supernatural ability.

It was because the Office of Investigation, which oversaw the State of Qi's intelligence work, was under his control. As Chief Steward of the Inner Palace, Bu Xun also commanded the Office of Investigation. Recently, the emperor had begun paying attention to Niu Youdao.

Naturally Bu Xun had immediately reviewed all available information about the man so that he would be ready if the emperor asked. His advance preparation had plainly been correct. It was now proving useful. Hao Yuntu nodded slightly.

"Since he has influence over Shang Chaozong, then communicate with him."

"Shang Chaozong is ambitious. Two commanderies will never satisfy him. Sooner or later he will expand."

"I do not want the State of Yan to fall into internal chaos yet."

"Find someone relatively neutral—someone who can also speak to Shang Jianxiong—and have that person make contact with Niu Youdao."

"See whether relations between Shang Jianxiong and Shang Chaozong can be eased."

Bu Xun asked, "What about the State of Yan's envoy stationed in the State of Qi?"

Hao Yuntu said, "Do you think the State of Yan's envoy will simply let us manipulate him into acting exactly as we wish?"

Bu Xun bowed slightly. "Does Your Majesty already have someone in mind?"

Hao Yuntu asked in return, "What do you think of Hong'er's wife, Shang Xue?"

He was referring to Shang Xue, wife of his second son Hao Hong. Shang Xue was not only Hao Yuntu's daughter-in-law. She was also Shang Jianxiong's daughter.

Several years earlier, when the State of Yan and the State of Han had been at war, Shang Jianxiong had been forced by circumstances to marry one of his daughters to Hao Yuntu's son in a political marriage, obtaining the State of Qi's support in exchange. By now, Shang Xue had borne Hao Yuntu one grandson and one granddaughter. Bu Xun immediately understood the emperor's intention.

Shang Jianxiong had married his daughter into the State of Qi precisely in the hope that she could exert some effort on the State of Yan's behalf.

At present Shang Xue still needed the support of her natal family to secure her own position in the State of Qi, and Shang Jianxiong still had use for her. Looked at from the opposite direction, Shang Xue therefore possessed at least some influence over Shang Jianxiong. And Hao Yuntu was still in the prime of life. The State of Qi had not yet named an heir apparent. If Hao Yuntu himself gave the word, how could Shang Xue fail to make an effort?

Even if she cared for no one else, she would have to act for the future of herself and her own children.

Shang Jianxiong probably hoped as well that his daughter might one day become the wife of the State of Qi's heir apparent.

That would give him an even greater avenue for influencing the State of Qi to the State of Yan's benefit. Bu Xun smiled slightly.

"Your Majesty is wise. This old servant will first sound out Niu Youdao's attitude. If it seems suitable, I will then discuss the matter with the Second Prince."

Hao Yuntu gave a faint acknowledgment. His gaze moved toward northern Yan and settled on Beizhou.

"Have you uncovered the background of the people arranging that batch of warhorses for Beizhou?"

Bu Xun said, "Security inside Among the White Clouds is extremely tight. We have been unable to penetrate deeply enough to investigate."

"However, judging from the various signs, the Office of Investigation suspects Xiaoyue Pavilion is involved."

Hao Yuntu slowly turned his head.

"Xiaoyue Pavilion?"

"Yes."

"Members of Xiaoyue Pavilion have entered the inner areas of Among the White Clouds. That alone is all we have. There is no further hard evidence."

"But judging from Xiaoyue Pavilion's usual methods, Among the White Clouds fits its style."

"The Office of Investigation judges that Among the White Clouds is very likely one of Xiaoyue Pavilion's secret strongholds."

"Xiaoyue Pavilion operates in great secrecy and is highly alert to danger."

"The Office of Investigation has not dared alert the snake by striking the grass, so we have never found an opportunity to investigate more deeply."

"For now, this is all we know."

Xiaoyue Pavilion might operate in secrecy, but the State of Qi's intelligence network was hardly ornamental. And this was the State of Qi's own territory.

For Xiaoyue Pavilion to operate within the State of Qi without a single person ever being exposed to the strongest intelligence network in the state was impossible.

Once people already under the Office of Investigation's observation came into contact with Among the White Clouds, the connection naturally drew attention. The same principle applied to the warhorses. Warhorses were strategic resources of the State of Qi and were naturally kept under Hao Yuntu's close control. Nearly every larger horse ranch contained informants from the Office of Investigation. Large-scale warhorse transactions could not possibly escape their eyes.

As for whose horses should be intercepted and whose should be allowed through, that decision rested with Hao Yuntu. With this alone, he kept the major cultivation powers inside the State of Qi balanced against one another. Among the White Clouds believed its covert warhorse operation to be secret.

It did not know that the Office of Investigation had discovered it long ago and had been watching from the shadows ever since.

Even Su Zhao's departure from the State of Qi to contact the Shao family in Beizhou had already fallen under the Office of Investigation's observation. The monitoring power of an entire state was far beyond what an ordinary cultivation sect could match. On this point, Niu Youdao had already learned his lesson firsthand.

"Heh, heh!" Hao Yuntu gave a cold laugh.

"My Fifth Brother has done a fine job pretending to be mad and foolish all these years."

"To think he has secretly entangled himself with people from Xiaoyue Pavilion."

"Fifth Brother, Fifth Brother... you had better know your place."

"Otherwise, don't blame your elder brother."

The "Fifth Brother" he spoke of was Hao Yunsheng, Prince of the Western Court.

Bu Xun lowered his head slightly. When matters touched the imperial clan this directly, there were things he could not conveniently say.

He merely reminded the emperor, "Judging from their recent movements, they have been unusually active. The warhorses will probably leave the State of Qi very soon."

"Should we intercept them?"

Hao Yuntu lifted his eyes to the map and said coldly, "Warhorses? I have plenty."

"I don't care about this batch."

"Pretend we know nothing. Let them pass!"

"The Shao family in Beizhou is ambitious. They will not willingly submit to either the State of Yan or the State of Han."

"They are stronger than Shang Chaozong and can serve as an even greater check on others."

Hao Yuntu would have been delighted if several more forces like the Shao family appeared inside the States of Yan, Han, Song, and Zhao...

At Among the White Clouds, Qin Mian waved toward a man who had just returned from Heavenly Mirror Lake and finished reporting the details.

"You may withdraw."

"Yes!" The man cupped his hands toward Su Zhao, who sat quietly inside the pavilion, then quickly left.

Qin Mian turned back.

"This Niu Youdao really does possess some ability."

"I never expected Kunlin Shu to be unable to withstand even a single exchange against him."

"I wonder whether Tianhuo Sect will make trouble for him."

"Ah." Su Zhao sighed softly.

"Tianhuo Sect is a sect with status and reputation. For the time being, they probably cannot openly trouble him over this."

"Looks like Niu Youdao escaped another calamity."

"This fellow repeatedly escapes danger. It cannot be coincidence."

"He really is difficult to deal with."

Qin Mian said, "The matter in Beizhou is more important. Nothing can be allowed to go wrong."

"Proprietress, in my view, we should stop making moves against Niu Youdao for the time being."

"He truly isn't easy to handle, and provoking him could easily create complications."

Su Zhao silently nodded. Before Niu Youdao came, she had felt she could crush him whenever she wished. Now she discovered she had no way to deal with him at all. The realization left her somewhat dispirited... On the street, Niu Youdao and Linghu Qiu stood at the entrance to the alley and looked around. The assorted people who had been loitering there continuously were finally gone. The two exchanged a glance, entered the alley, and knocked at the residence gate. Hongxiu opened it.

Seeing them, she immediately let both men inside, then followed and began asking what had happened. Linghu Qiu signaled that they would discuss it later. Niu Youdao did not return to his original courtyard. Instead, he went to the courtyard Feng Entai had previously occupied. Linghu Qiu followed him in and froze when he saw the piles of earth heaped around the walls. He had never come here after Feng Entai finished digging.

Even though they had been staying in the same residence, Linghu Qiu had somehow remained completely unaware that Feng Entai had carried out such a large excavation.

Hongfu moved closer and whispered, "The tunnel entrance is inside the well."

After Niu Youdao and Linghu Qiu left, she and Hongxiu had inspected the residence and discovered the unusual state of this courtyard. Naturally they had checked it. Linghu Qiu strode quickly to the well and looked down. Sure enough, he found the tunnel entrance.

He hurried back and asked Niu Youdao, who was standing beneath the eaves, "Feng Entai really dug a tunnel here so you could run?"

"So it seems." Niu Youdao brushed the question aside.

Then he ordered Hongxiu and Hongfu to monitor the surroundings closely. If anything unusual happened, they were to sound an alarm immediately. Seeing that Niu Youdao did not want to explain, Linghu Qiu stopped asking. The two sat beneath the eaves and drank tea.

"Little Brother, now that we're back here, what do you plan to do next?"

"Wait."

"Wait?"

"If something happens, we run. If nothing happens, we'll decide then."

After a few more idle exchanges, Linghu Qiu abruptly changed the subject.

"Little Brother, judging from your fight with Kunlin Shu, the cultivation art you practice doesn't seem like one of Shangqing Sect's arts."

Niu Youdao asked in return, "Then whose art do you think it resembles?"

"How would I know?"

"Didn't you say Dong Guo Haoran never transmitted any cultivation method to you?"

"Did he teach it to you before he died?"

Niu Youdao said, "He was already dying. Where would he have found the time to transmit a cultivation art to me?"

Linghu Qiu asked, "Then where did this cultivation art of yours come from?"

Niu Youdao said, "Naturally, someone else gave it to me."

[End of Chapter 314]