Chapter 554: Conceding Profits

Huang Lie, Sect Leader of Dachan Mountain, arrived.

On the way, he had detoured to inspect the site Tianyu Sect had vacated.

Tianyu Sect had not played any tricks or deliberately damaged the place.

And since it had been a blessed spiritual mountain that Tianyu Sect considered worth occupying within Nanzhou, naturally the place was no poor site.

Dachan Mountain was preparing to establish itself there as well.

Before Huang Lie's party even arrived, Niu Youdao, Shang Chaozong, and the others were already waiting near the northern city gate to receive them.

The entire northern gate had been placed under guard, and ordinary citizens were temporarily barred from passing through.

Dachan Mountain's group was large.

Messages had been sent from each place they passed along the road, so Shang Chaozong's side also knew their exact progress.

More than a hundred riders came thundering down the official road and stopped outside the gate.

Niu Youdao and the others were waiting there to receive them.

The customary exchange of courtesies naturally could not be avoided.

Niu Youdao introduced Huang Lie and Shang Chaozong's people to one another.

Huang Lie was in excellent spirits.

Dachan Mountain had finally escaped the land caught between pressure from two states. Nanzhou was certainly preferable to Beizhou, and after traveling through the province, he had found it well governed.

When they entered the city, Huang Lie rode in the center, with Niu Youdao and Shang Chaozong accompanying him to left and right.

The three advanced abreast, talking and laughing along the way.

Seeing Niu Youdao again, Huang Lie now regarded him with considerably greater respect.

Nothing else needed to be mentioned.

His relationship with Mr. Yucang alone was enough to make Huang Lie look at him differently.

Behind them came Dachan Mountain's senior figures, accompanied by Lan Ruoting and the others.

Once they reached the Provincial Inspector's Residence, a lavish banquet was naturally prepared.

After the clamor of wine, food, song, and dance, Huang Lie happened to leave the banquet alongside Niu Youdao.

He remarked, “I hear that after this trip, Younger Brother somehow has four flying mounts again?”

Knowing perfectly well what the man had in mind, Niu Youdao chuckled and held up five fingers, turning his hand over once.

“If Sect Leader Huang is still interested, my word remains good!”

Guan Fangyi, walking nearby, looked thoroughly displeased.

The things had already been promised to her, yet this fellow made decisions on his own and sold them cheaply to others.

How could she possibly be happy?

Five million could buy one.

It was practically a windfall worth several million more than the price.

Once Dachan Mountain's Elders heard, they had all urged Huang Lie repeatedly to go through with the purchase.

Huang Lie understood their thoughts perfectly well.

They simply wanted to benefit from the mount later.

Since he, the Sect Leader, had already said he would not keep it for his exclusive use, the people normally allowed to use it would naturally be those Elders.

Even so, Huang Lie still put on a show of reluctance and sighed.

“Dachan Mountain has many people and many expenses. This relocation has also cost us a considerable sum. We can only just barely squeeze out five million.”

Niu Youdao immediately invited him.

“Then let's go take a look. Whichever one Sect Leader Huang prefers is the one you may buy.”

Huang Lie turned and asked the Elders following him, “Then shall we go have a look?”

“Good!”

The Elders all agreed.

The group went to Niu Youdao's courtyard and saw four enormous flying mounts with bright, alert eyes.

Everyone gathered around to inspect them.

Flying mounts had finite lifespans.

If they were going to buy one, naturally they wanted the youngest, so it would remain useful for longer.

Of course, lifespan could not be treated as an exact measure.

A stated lifespan was only an approximation.

Like all animals, much depended on natural constitution and quality of care.

Some lived several years longer.

Others died younger despite being the same age.

In the end, the Elders unanimously chose the Black Jade Eagle that looked the most magnificent and vigorous.

After taking turns controlling it for several circuits through the sky, all of them were satisfied.

Huang Lie then had someone bring out gold notes worth five million and handed them to Niu Youdao.

The notes ended up in Guan Fangyi's hands.

And just like that, the Black Jade Eagle became Dachan Mountain's property and was led away by its people.

Afterward, the conversation turned to serious business.

There were matters unsuitable for discussion in Shang Chaozong's presence during the banquet—matters unrelated to him and which required no decision from him.

Fei Changliu, Zheng Jiuxiao, and Xia Hua were all present.

Niu Youdao raised the question of how Nanzhou's interests would be divided.

He too had a substantial number of people under him and needed territory where they could establish themselves.

Naturally, in an affair like this, no one wanted to concede what they did not have to concede.

Huang Lie had already prepared himself for bargaining.

“How much territory do you want?”

Niu Youdao answered, “One Qingshan Commandery will be enough for me to establish myself.”

“I have several sects under me, after all. And with Dachan Mountain's present strength, trying to control all of Nanzhou by itself may leave gaps.”

“If something happens, these sects can still help keep watch over matters.”

“Sect Leader Huang surely will not refuse me even one commandery?”

“Master Dao!” Fei Changliu and the other two immediately grew anxious.

Their three sects had put in so much effort, only to be squeezed together inside the territory of a single commandery?

Niu Youdao raised a hand toward them, signaling them to stay calm.

He had his own arrangements.

Only one commandery?

Huang Lie was somewhat surprised.

Then he looked at the reactions of Fei Changliu and the others before slowly saying, “If it is only Qingshan Commandery, then I have nothing to say. I can make the decision right now.”

“But can Younger Brother decide this on behalf of your people?”

“I will give the three sects an explanation myself.”

Huang Lie answered decisively, “Good. Then it is settled!”

Niu Youdao raised his hand.

Smack!

The two men struck palms to seal the agreement.

Afterward, Niu Youdao had the people from the three sects withdraw.

He invited Huang Lie to take a walk with him alone.

The two left the courtyard and strolled toward the flower garden.

Along the way, Niu Youdao asked, “How much longer before all Dachan Mountain's people have withdrawn from Beizhou?”

“About another month, I expect. The three great sects require a stable handover, so we have to cooperate.”

Huang Lie then asked, “By the way, I hear Younger Brother intends to continue living in Qingshan Commandery rather than move into the provincial capital?”

“I keep my word.” Niu Youdao replied.

“Since Nanzhou has been handed over to Dachan Mountain, I will not remain in the provincial capital and interfere with matters casually.”

“I will keep a certain distance from this side.”

“Dachan Mountain will see my sincerity in the future.”

Huang Lie was pleased to hear that and nodded.

“Younger Brother is an intelligent man. Peace between us benefits everyone.”

Niu Youdao said, “However, things are different now. Dachan Mountain would do well to send a true expert to hold the Provincial Inspector's Residence.”

“You're worried about the Yan court?”

“Sect Leader Huang sees clearly.”

“In the past, Shang Chaozong was not worth plunging Yan into chaos over. The price to Shang Jianxiong would have been too great.”

“But the Shang Chaozong of today already poses a threat to Shang Jianxiong's imperial throne.”

“I'm afraid Shang Jianxiong may now be willing to pay almost any price.”

“Previously, the court was restrained by all kinds of complications and had reservations about reaching into Nanzhou.”

“Once the transfer of Beizhou is complete and all these matters settle, I fear the court may become unscrupulous in how it deals with Nanzhou.”

“What worries me most is that the court may try to sow discord between you and me.”

“I wonder whether Sect Leader Huang can remain unaffected.”

That was also one reason Niu Youdao had voluntarily conceded so much profit.

He wanted to reassure Dachan Mountain.

Huang Lie had considered the issue himself.

Remaining in Beizhou had been troublesome.

Coming here meant facing trouble as well.

Relatively speaking, however, Nanzhou was still better.

Beizhou had already been damaged into such a state that Dachan Mountain had little choice but to let it go.

Huang Lie did not directly say whether he could be swayed.

“Am I truly that easy to alienate?”

Niu Youdao understood too well that a sect could not allow emotion to govern its decisions.

He could not place hope in whether personal relations were good or bad.

If the benefits offered were sufficient to move Dachan Mountain, then there was no such thing as being impossible to alienate.

“I merely wish to remind Sect Leader Huang that within the State of Yan, many sects covet the rich meat that is Nanzhou.”

“Quite a few of them also have good relations with powerful officials at court.”

“When it comes to ties with the imperial court, how does Dachan Mountain—having once betrayed Yan—compare with them?”

“Could someone persuade the court to replace Dachan Mountain with another sect?”

“Yan is already sick beyond cure.”

“No one knows when it may collapse with a roar.”

“When great disorder comes, any promises Shang Jianxiong makes Dachan Mountain will be nothing more than flowers in a mirror and the moon in water—empty illusions...”

Huang Lie interrupted him.

“You're thinking too much.”

“What Dachan Mountain needs at present is stability and time to grow stronger.”

“If any promise could truly sway us, we would already have been swayed in Beizhou and would never have reached Nanzhou.”

“So long as Nanzhou remains internally stable, Dachan Mountain will not create disorder here on its own.”

Niu Youdao nodded.

“That is good.”

“So long as Nanzhou remains internally stable and everyone acts with one heart, the Yan of today lacks the strength to invade Nanzhou in force.”

By now the two had entered the garden.

Huang Lie sighed as they walked.

“It may lack the strength for a major invasion, but I'm afraid it will use every underhanded means available to stir up trouble here.”

Niu Youdao replied, “Dachan Mountain need only guard Nanzhou well and keep my rear stable.”

“Leave those petty schemes to me.”

“There is no need for Dachan Mountain to spend effort on them.”

“At most, when necessary, I may borrow a few hands from Dachan Mountain.”

Huang Lie glanced sideways at him and did not continue with words that might spoil the mood.

“We'll take things one step at a time and discuss it when the moment comes.”

“By the way, Long Xiu asked me to pass a message to you.”

Niu Youdao gave a questioning sound. “I'm listening.”

“Nothing much. Long Xiu said that when you have time, you should make a trip to Xiaoyao Palace.”

“He wants me to go to Xiaoyao Palace? Did he say why?”

“I am only passing on the message. I do not know what Long Xiu intends either.”

The two continued circling through the garden, talking quietly for several rounds.

They discussed everything that needed to be handled face-to-face.

That had been one of Niu Youdao's reasons for coming here to meet Huang Lie.

Eventually, the two separated and returned to their own quarters.

Niu Youdao had barely reached his courtyard when Fei Changliu, Xia Hua, and Zheng Jiuxiao came over.

Only one commandery divided among their three sects—how could they not be anxious?

Niu Youdao understood exactly what they were thinking.

He raised a hand, signaling them to remain calm.

Only after everyone entered the pavilion and sat down did he say, “The stability of Nanzhou is the greater situation.”

“Do not fix your eyes on small immediate gains. Look farther ahead.”

Xia Hua smiled bitterly.

“Master Dao, we understand the need to look farther ahead.”

“But looking only at the future won't solve everything. We still need to consider the present.”

“If we return with only this result, we won't know how to explain it to all the disciples waiting eagerly in our sects.”

Niu Youdao said, “Tianyu Sect is gone.”

“From the profits of the liquor trade, hand me three million a year.”

“The rest is yours to divide among yourselves.”

“As for the liquor produced, it can be allocated among your three sects for you to sell.”

One sentence left all three with nothing more to say.

If Niu Youdao was willing to concede such a large stream of profit for them to divide, what else could they complain about?

For Niu Youdao, this counted as one of the gains from driving Tianyu Sect out of Nanzhou.

Guan Fangyi, listening from nearby, felt her heart ache at the money being given away...

At dusk, Shang Chaozong once again hosted a banquet for Dachan Mountain's party.

After the evening banquet ended, Niu Youdao had not been back in his quarters for long when Meng Shanming was pushed over in his wheelchair.

Niu Youdao personally came out to receive him.

Once they were inside the sitting room, Meng Shanming waved Luo Da'an away.

After tea had been served and the courtesies settled, Niu Youdao took the initiative.

“Marshal Meng, is there something you wished to discuss?”

Meng Shanming chuckled.

“Nothing in particular. I heard Master Dao plans to return to Qingshan Commandery tomorrow morning. You won't stay a few more days?”

Niu Youdao shook his head slightly.

“You all have plenty to handle as well. If I remain here, I'll only delay the work in your hands.”

Meng Shanming did not press him.

“It is like this. The Commandery Princess spoke with His Highness today.”

“Her meaning is that she wishes to return to Qingshan Commandery together with Master Dao.”

“The Commandery Princess wants to go as well?” Niu Youdao frowned slightly and glanced toward the doorway.

“Qingshan Commandery cannot compare with the prosperity of the provincial capital, and I live deep in the mountains.”

“I'm not trying to refuse her.”

“But for ordinary people, life in the mountains is rather dull.”

“I worry the Commandery Princess would become unbearably lonely.”

“Besides, she is no longer very young, is she?”

“She should consider finding a suitable household to marry into.”

“If she lives in the mountains, I'm afraid I might delay her future.”

[End of Chapter 554]