Chapter 548: Storms of a Troubled Age, People of a Troubled Age

This was the consequence of Dachan Mountain's negotiations with Han having “broken down.”

At the same time, forces Yan's three great sects had long prepared outside the provincial capitals of Nanzhou and Beizhou suddenly entered both cities and directly took over the protection of Shang Chaozong and Shao Dengyun.

The Tianyu Sect cultivators guarding Shang Chaozong and the others were caught completely unprepared. They did not know what was happening and did not dare confront people sent directly by the three great sects. With Shang Chaozong cooperating as well, they could only watch as control over him and his people was handed away before their eyes.

The transfer of Beizhou could not be completed in an instant. If chaos erupted in Nanzhou, whether Dachan Mountain would continue cooperating became uncertain.

The three great sects did not want trouble at a time like this. Shang Chaozong was essential to Nanzhou's stability and could not be allowed to come to harm.

That was why they had to take over his protection immediately, guarding against Tianyu Sect doing something reckless out of resentment.

While a man remained under another party's control, it was not impossible for some perfectly “reasonable” accident to occur, one that left outsiders with nothing to say.

They took over Shao Dengyun's protection just as quickly in order to stabilize Beizhou. For the moment, Beizhou's peace still depended on Shao Dengyun. They also feared Dachan Mountain might change its mind, so while Dachan Mountain offered no resistance, the three great sects moved quickly to seize the initiative.

They did not want to inherit a Beizhou already torn apart by chaos.

When they did not move, they remained still. Once they moved, several places moved together.

Across Nanzhou, group after group of cultivators galloped through the night on fast horses.

Liuxian Sect, Fuyun Sect, and Lingxiu Mountain had received the list provided by Shang Chaozong and Niu Youdao's instructions. On the surface, they left some people behind to guard their sects as usual. In secret, however, the three factions had nearly emptied themselves out and were rushing to various places to protect Shang Chaozong's trusted subordinates and key officials.

They too feared Tianyu Sect, burdened by fresh hatred atop old grudges, might deliberately leave Shang Chaozong a ruined mess behind. Before Tianyu Sect could react, the three factions had to coordinate from inside and outside with Shang Chaozong's people and separate those important officials from the retainer cultivators Tianyu Sect had assigned to them.

The goal was not to wage war on Tianyu Sect.

But if Tianyu Sect's disciples insisted on using force, the three factions would grit their teeth and fight them this time.

Niu Youdao had already told them explicitly: Tianyu Sect was about to be kicked out of Nanzhou.

The moment control over Beizhou was secured, Dachan Mountain and Shao Dengyun jointly issued a declaration:

Beizhou was territory of the State of Yan!

In public and in name alike, they had severed Beizhou's ties with Han.

At court in the Yan capital, Shang Jianxiong announced the joyous news to the assembled ministers in a resonant voice.

The court erupted.

The ministers were astonished and delighted. For some of them, another piece of fat meat had appeared to divide.

When the news spread, celebration filled the entire Yan capital. Scholars dusted off their caps in jubilation. Countless men drank themselves insensible or wept openly.

The people's spirits soared.

Han, by contrast, erupted in furious denunciations and began massing a great army, assuming the posture of preparing to attack.

Yan naturally adopted emergency measures in response. Shao Dengyun too mobilized troops and deployed generals to meet the threat.

Yan's three great sects had already sent urgent messages to sects throughout the state, mobilizing large numbers of cultivators toward Beizhou as a deterrent and preparing for a bloody fight with Han.

Let Han dare make a reckless move and see what happened.

Tianyu Sect had been far too passive. They had received no warning beforehand and had made no preparations capable of giving the three great sects pause. The other side had struck first and seized the initiative. However unwilling Tianyu Sect might be, it had no choice but to accept reality and begin relocating in batches according to the three great sects' instructions.

Of course, to placate Tianyu Sect, the three great sects made a concession.

The additional tribute Tianyu Sect had agreed to pay when it took Nanzhou was waived.

From the three great sects' perspective, they would now gain Nanzhou's revenue anyway. They lost nothing and gained both profit and reputation.

...

Under the rising sun, Feng Entai descended the mountain with part of the withdrawing force. At the foot of the slope, he turned and looked back toward the buildings that had only recently been renovated.

He murmured, “Little brother, fine methods. You got what you wanted.”

Whatever the official explanation about exchanging one province for another, every senior member of Tianyu Sect understood clearly that this time they had lost miserably to Niu Youdao.

They had been kicked out of Nanzhou by him.

Dachan Mountain's people were likewise relocating south toward Nanzhou in batches.

Neither side could possibly pull out all at once and leave an entire province hollow overnight.

Nanzhou still suffered some disorder.

A number of wealthy households were looted by “bandits” and lost large amounts of property.

Those who knew, knew who had done it.

The departing side naturally wanted to carry away some household wealth.

So long as they did not go too far, certain people could only close one eye and leave the other open.

The weeping of those unfortunate wealthy families could not be seen by the people celebrating in the Yan capital.

Even if it could, it was something they could ignore.

The Yan court also hurriedly dispatched large numbers of officials to take up posts throughout Beizhou.

Shao Dengyun refused to relinquish military authority, but he handed over control of local civil administration.

That too had been negotiated in advance.

From that moment, who knew how many people's joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness were set in motion.

The reality Beizhou would face afterward also had to be acknowledged.

The officials sent from the Yan capital were nowhere close to Shao Pingbo in their ability to govern Beizhou.

Few truly intended to do serious work. Many had gone there with the aim of scraping wealth from the people's fat and marrow.

When Shao Pingbo governed Beizhou, he had been ruthless. In troubled times he imposed severe laws, yet maintained a careful balance. Signs of corruption that he had nearly stamped out now surged back once more.

Before long, the prosperity Shao Pingbo had built with his own hands was swallowed clean by these people.

...

When news of the upheaval first reached the State of Jin—

Puh!

Shao Pingbo, seated behind a desk, sprayed a mouthful of blood across its surface.

Both hands braced against the desk. He tried to rise but could not.

His chest heaved violently.

His face was deathly pale, and his whole body trembled.

He had poured too much of his heart and blood into Beizhou.

It had won independence through his own hands.

Now it had returned to Yan.

The years of effort, the very youth he had spent there, had all gone to waste.

He had considered the possibility that Beizhou might not survive.

He had never imagined it would be lost this way.

At last, he understood Niu Youdao's whole game.

Shao Pingbo had thought that although he himself had left, Tianyu Sect still remained in Nanzhou and could continue making Niu Youdao's life difficult.

He had never imagined things would turn out like this.

Before he had even recovered his footing, it was over.

He and Tianyu Sect had joined hands against Niu Youdao.

Niu Youdao had driven him north with one hand and kicked Tianyu Sect south with one foot.

In the blink of an eye, their alliance had been broken apart.

The moment Niu Youdao secured his footing in Nanzhou and stepped out, a single move had left Shao Pingbo without the power to fight back.

With the posture of a complete victory, Niu Youdao trampled years of Shao Pingbo's painstaking work at will.

It was like a slap across the face, humiliating him savagely.

The higher one stands, the harder one falls.

Taishu Xiong had only just raised him high before everyone's eyes when, suddenly, the label of a crushing defeat was slapped onto him for all those watching to see clearly.

“Niu thief, just you wait!”

Blood hung from Shao Pingbo's lips. His eyes seemed almost to spit fire.

“Eldest Young Master!” Shao Sansheng cried out, then turned and shouted, “Someone! Quickly!”

Several cultivators flashed inside.

Seeing Shao Pingbo's condition, they were shocked. Without knowing what had happened, they hurried forward to treat him.

...

At Tianwei Residence, Xuan Wei finished reading the report behind her desk and shook her head with a sigh.

“Looks like Niu Youdao really can keep Shao Pingbo in check.”

Tang Yi, listening nearby, turned toward her in astonishment.

Xuan Wei was already smiling at her and handed over the report.

“Beizhou has returned to Yan?” Tang Yi stared after reading it, then tentatively asked, “Niu Youdao did this?”

Xuan Wei smiled. “From the information in my hands, every sign points to him. If it wasn't him, who else could it be? Beizhou's return to Yan pleased Yan's three great sects, forced Shao Pingbo to flee, and kicked Tianyu Sect out of Nanzhou after it had been entangled there for so long. Tianyu Sect worked itself to the bone in Nanzhou only to make the wedding clothes for someone else. That former husband of yours truly is formidable.”

Ximen Qingkong came over and took the report from Tang Yi's hands to read it.

Tang Yi still looked somewhat dazed.

Could this really be the work of that indolent young man beneath the peach blossoms?

Had he already reached the point where he could overturn clouds and rain with his hands?

Xuan Wei had originally wanted Tang Yi to contact Niu Youdao again and help draw their relationship closer, in preparation for future need.

But the words reached her lips and stopped.

Tang Yi had repudiated Niu Youdao of her own accord.

Would it be appropriate for her to take the initiative to contact him again?

Xuan Wei could not help feeling puzzled.

A suspicion even arose that Niu Youdao might have anticipated this very possibility beforehand.

A favor was a favor, and one matter was one matter.

Perhaps he had wanted to make sure they did not become entangled.

...

More than a dozen riders galloped along an official road.

Not long after a Goldenwing descended, the group reined to a halt.

Travel-worn Cheng Yuandu stared blankly at the letter his sect had sent and turned to look at the rising sun on the horizon.

After learning Niu Youdao was in the Qi capital, the group had changed course and was once again hurrying toward it.

They were already inside the State of Zhao.

Who could have imagined their sect would suddenly send news of such an upheaval?

The transformation in Beizhou shocked all beneath Heaven.

...

“Han seems to be gathering a great army.”

Under the eaves, Guan Fangyi spoke while looking toward Niu Youdao standing shoulder to shoulder with her.

Niu Youdao did not seem concerned. “The whole of Beizhou is already in Yan's hands. Taking it back by force won't be easy. Han has to put on a show or it won't be able to save face. At most there'll be some small clashes. An all-out war against Yan with the full strength of the state is unlikely. Things haven't reached that point yet. It's mostly posturing.”

Guan Fangyi blinked. “In other words, you got your way. You act as though it means nothing, but you're secretly delighted, aren't you?”

Niu Youdao lifted the sword he had been leaning on, then planted it against the stone paving again.

“What's there to be delighted about? Perhaps I've committed a sin.”

“Shao Pingbo truly is a rare talent. I've watched Beizhou's changes closely all these years. The people recovered from war, gradually came to have enough food and clothing, and lived and worked in peace. When it comes to governing Beizhou, I'm not even fit to carry his shoes.”

“If I hadn't known he would sooner or later drag Beizhou into war, I would never have moved against Beizhou.”

“Storms of a troubled age, people of a troubled age. I only hope these troubled times can end as soon as possible.”

Guan Fangyi understood only vaguely.

The gap lay in their underlying ideas.

In her conception of the world, this was simply how things were supposed to be.

Before long, a succession of distinguished visitors began arriving.

The envoys of Song, Zhao, and Wei stationed in the Qi capital came one after another to call on Niu Youdao, each warm, courteous, and friendly.

Niu Youdao dealt with them in turn.

Whenever one invited him to visit their state, he accepted cheerfully, saying he would certainly go when he had the chance.

Outside the courtyard gate, a carriage appeared to have chosen precisely the gap between visitors.

Bu Xun lifted the curtain and smiled at Niu Youdao, who had come to receive him.

“Get in!”

Niu Youdao tested the waters. “Where are we going?”

“The palace. His Majesty summons you.”

...

At Fufang Garden, Dugu Jing walked quickly into the quiet bamboo grove and came to Yucang's side as the older man strolled.

He reported, “According to the news from Nanzhou and Beizhou, Tianyu Sect truly is withdrawing from Nanzhou, and Dachan Mountain is also withdrawing from Beizhou. The two sides are exchanging territories. Tianyu Sect really is leaving Nanzhou.”

“That fellow...” Yucang stopped, stroking his beard.

He considered matters for a while, then seemed to reach a decision.

“Release the news that the Young Master has formally taken a teacher!”

[End of Chapter 548]