Chapter 564: Great Minds Think Alike

Inside the Provincial Inspector's Residence of Dingzhou, Provincial Inspector Xue Xiao sat with a dark expression.

Five bloodstained heads lay on the floor before him, the blood already dried.

One belonged to Song Shu, whom he had sent under escort to the capital. The other four belonged to the four experts assigned to escort him. Five men had set out for the capital. No one knew where their bodies had gone, but their heads had returned.

Earlier, a coachman had driven a cart to the gate of the Provincial Inspector's Residence carrying a chest. He said someone had asked him to deliver a gift.

They opened the chest.

This was the gift inside.

“Who did it?” one of Xue Xiao's retainer cultivators asked grimly.

Xue Xiao gave a cold snort. “Who else? Our neighbors are demonstrating their strength. The court slapped that man's face, so he slapped back. Arrogant! I'd like to see how much longer they can keep acting this arrogantly!”

He had already received the court's secret decree and was preparing to gather troops and stockpile supplies.

He was one of the men who knew calamity was about to descend upon Nanzhou.

...

Great Snowy Mountains, Rainbow Inn.

Several guests entered while murmuring among themselves.

The innkeeper, Chu Anlou, stood at the entrance with his hands clasped behind his back, gazing out over the valley. He looked back and followed the guests with his eyes as they went inside. He had vaguely heard them mention the words “Ghost Doctor.”

It was not the first time he had heard such murmuring while standing here. Some of the guests who had gone in earlier seemed to have mentioned Ghost Doctor as well.

Once the latest group disappeared inside, he waved a worker over. “Why do I keep hearing people mention Ghost Doctor? Did something happen?”

The worker stared blankly. “I don't know.”

At that moment, another worker who had gone to patrol the valley came skimming back through the air. He landed outside the inn, hurried up the steps, and reported, “Innkeeper, Myriad Caves Heavenly Mansion has publicly released news looking for Ghost Doctor.”

Chu Anlou was curious. “What do they want Ghost Doctor for? Wasn't that boy of theirs already cured and taken away by him?”

“They say the Grand Princess in Jinzhou has been poisoned by some strange poison. They're searching for Ghost Doctor to treat her. Anyone who can provide information that helps them find Ghost Doctor will receive a heavy reward.”

“A strange poison?” Chu Anlou murmured thoughtfully.

...

Yanjing, residence of the Grand Minister of Works.

Ga Miaoshui, newly returned from Nanzhou with a cloak over his shoulders, strode directly inside.

No special announcement was necessary. Someone led him straight into the inner residence to see Tong Mo.

Standing in the courtyard, Tong Mo waved away the guests around him. Several officials withdrew respectfully, leaving the two men a private space.

Neither bothered with ceremony.

Tong Mo said, “Song Jiuming's son, Song Shu, was killed on his way here. His head was thrown at Xue Xiao's doorstep.”

Ga Miaoshui nodded. “I heard on the road.”

“Did you settle matters with Dachan Mountain?”

“They neither agreed nor refused. They evaded the question.”

“Another reed swaying with the wind. Still watching.” Tong Mo sneered. “But refusing to say no isn't a bad thing. Once the tide turns against Nanzhou and our great army presses down on them, they'll rebel.”

He stroked his beard and continued, “Eunuch Ga, I just received word that Hai Ruyue in Jinzhou has been poisoned. Looks like Hai Wuji has made his move.”

“I already know. I was about to discuss precisely this with the Grand Minister.” Ga Miaoshui said, “Hai Wuji has acted. We should delay no longer and strike with the momentum. There's no longer any need to conceal our preparations. Before the troops move, provisions must go first. The matter of mobilizing men and organizing the army should now receive His Majesty's formal decree.”

Tong Mo swept one hand outward. Someone immediately presented a memorial into his palm. “I was just about to enter the palace and request an audience with His Majesty. If Eunuch Ga has nothing else to attend to, come with me.”

Ga Miaoshui turned sideways and gestured for him to proceed.

The two departed together.

...

Inside Jin's vast imperial palace, whose dark colors lent it a somewhat oppressive air, Taishu Xiong stood before a map with both hands at his hips, his gaze moving over it with a strange intensity.

At the doorway, a eunuch extended a hand in invitation.

Shao Pingbo nodded slightly in acknowledgment, stepped across the threshold, approached Taishu Xiong, and bowed. “Your Majesty.”

His manner was respectful and obedient.

He had little choice.

The forces once in his own hands were now completely gone. With little room to act independently, for the time being he could only rely on the man before him.

Taishu Xiong kept his eyes on the map. “How is your health?”

“Much better.”

“How have your attempts to contact your father in Beizhou gone?”

“There has still been no reply.”

“Your body needs quiet recuperation. You shouldn't become too agitated. Don't rush. Father and son are father and son. Take it slowly.” Taishu Xiong pointed toward Jinzhou in Zhao territory. “Hai Ruyue has been poisoned. Have you heard?”

“I just saw the report submitted by Blackwater Terrace.”

“Hai Wuji should be preparing to move against Jinzhou. The troop movements of Qi and Wei have given him an excellent opportunity.” Taishu Xiong laughed heartily. “It seems Qi and Wei truly are quite wary of you. You came to Jin, and the two states immediately grew frightened.”

“They are not wary of this subject. They are wary of Your Majesty.” Shao Pingbo bent slightly at the waist.

Straightening, he took two steps forward and pointed toward Nanzhou on the Yan side of the map. “Shang Jianxiong should also be preparing to move against Nanzhou.”

An almost imperceptible flicker of excitement passed through his eyes as he spoke.

Taishu Xiong looked somewhat puzzled. “What makes you say that?”

Shao Pingbo traced positions across the map with one finger. “Jinzhou and Nanzhou are as lips and teeth, each relying upon the other. If Hai Wuji attacks Jinzhou, Nanzhou is certain to send troops to help. Once the two provinces join hands, the war will be greatly prolonged. If Zhao is worn down in the process, Han may very well exploit the weakness and invade. Hai Wuji is unlikely to take such an enormous risk.”

“This subject spent many years in Yan and is no stranger to its internal affairs. Ever since Shang Jianxiong inherited the throne, rumors have circulated inside Yan that the throne was originally meant to pass to Prince Ning, Shang Jianbo. Some even say Shang Jianbo may have been murdered by Shang Jianxiong himself. Shang Jianbo also possessed great prestige in Yan's military. The matter has always stuck in Shang Jianxiong's throat like a fishbone.”

“Then Shang Chaozong gathered Prince Ning's former retainers and swept Zhou Shouxian aside in Nanzhou, seizing the province in a single crushing campaign. The combat strength he displayed shocked all beneath Heaven. His rapid rise can only leave Shang Jianxiong unable to eat or sleep in peace.”

“Shang Chaozong's designs on Yan are far too obvious, and he himself belongs to the imperial clan. Those rumors lend him an air of legitimacy. The banner of Shang Jianbo is easily used to win people's hearts. His rise already poses a serious threat to Shang Jianxiong's throne. For Shang Jianxiong, this has become intolerable.”

“Once the present disturbances settle somewhat, he is certain to move against Nanzhou. If Hai Wuji dares act now, Shang Jianxiong is probably about to strike Nanzhou as well. It is even quite possible that Shang Jianxiong was the one who approached Zhao first.”

Taishu Xiong nodded. “Reasonable. If the two states act together, it seems Jinzhou and Nanzhou will be hard-pressed to escape disaster.”

“Not necessarily.” Shao Pingbo shook his head. “When discussing Jinzhou and Nanzhou, there is one man who cannot be ignored: Niu Youdao, the man who forced this subject to flee in defeat. He is absolutely not someone who will sit and wait for death.”

“If this subject can see that Shang Jianxiong is preparing to move against Nanzhou, Niu Youdao cannot possibly miss it. In my judgment, once Nanzhou's greater situation was settled, he would have gone to Jinzhou to discuss borrowing troops and securing aid before trouble arrived. Hai Ruyue giving birth provides exactly the sort of occasion he could use for a visit. If my judgment is correct, he would certainly seize the opportunity to go.”

“The people of Myriad Caves Heavenly Mansion are conservative. They don't possess the strength to take dangerous gambles. If Hai Ruyue were poisoned, they would never dare publicize it. They would hide it instead. Yet now the news has been spread everywhere, catching Hai Wuji off guard. That is not Myriad Caves Heavenly Mansion's style.”

“Niu Youdao walks a line between orthodox and unorthodox. A sharp gambit like this is much more his style. Judging from all the signs, Niu Youdao himself is very likely in Jinzhou right now.”

Taishu Xiong was inwardly astonished.

After learning that Shao Pingbo's condition could not withstand agitation, he had specifically ordered Blackwater Terrace not to pass along intelligence concerning Niu Youdao's presence in Jinzhou. Nor had he told Shao Pingbo that he had ordered men to look for an opportunity to kill Niu Youdao.

If they succeeded, he would naturally tell Shao Pingbo and let him enjoy the news. If they failed, speaking too early would only make Taishu Xiong himself lose face.

He had never expected Shao Pingbo to infer Niu Youdao's presence in Jinzhou on his own.

Once again, the man astonished him.

What Taishu Xiong did not know was that Shao Pingbo had already begun to suspect that intelligence about Niu Youdao's presence in Jinzhou was being deliberately withheld from him.

Only Shao Pingbo's interpretation differed from Taishu Xiong's.

Shao Pingbo believed Taishu Xiong simply did not want him fixating on a private vendetta.

“You say he won't sit and wait for death. Then in your judgment, how will Niu Youdao resolve this affair?” Taishu Xiong asked.

Seeing Taishu Xiong glide past the question of whether Niu Youdao was in Jinzhou, Shao Pingbo became even more certain of his inference.

He pointed across the states on the map. “There are only a few possibilities. He can persuade Wei, Qi, Han, or Song to apply pressure. The envoys of all those states happen to be in Jinzhou, which gives him an opportunity.”

“Another possibility would be persuading Yan's three great sects to intervene forcefully. But I consider that unlikely. So long as Nanzhou remains in Yan's hands, it makes little difference to the three great sects who controls it. Shang Jianxiong appears determined this time. If the momentum lies with him and his success is inevitable, the three great sects will not fall out with him over it. They will simply turn a blind eye.”

“As for Wei and Qi, Jin has beaten caution into both of them. Their primary defensive focus has always been Jin, and with the additional troops they have moved this time, at most the two states will shout a few warnings. They will not actually redeploy forces. That will not frighten Zhao, so they can be ruled out.”

“Han is already confronting Yan. If Shang Jianxiong still intends to move against Nanzhou under those circumstances, he has clearly prepared himself mentally to withstand pressure from Han.”

“That leaves Song. It is the most likely choice and the one capable of exerting the greatest pressure. Niu Youdao should try to drag Song into the water.”

Taishu Xiong gave an interested sound. “In that case, now that we know where he is likely to act, this sovereign should find a way to prevent him from succeeding. It would be fitting to let Nanzhou be destroyed and avenge you, Pingbo!”

“No!” Shao Pingbo stopped him at once, then turned and bowed. “This subject appreciates Your Majesty's generosity, but one move here can set the whole body in motion.”

“Your Majesty's great strategy has only just begun. Before Jin has taken Wei and Qi and finished preparing for the eastern campaign, we cannot give the four eastern states any opportunity to grow strong.”

“We must let none of them swallow another. Keep them scattered like loose sand, consuming one another. That will leave the most favorable situation for Your Majesty to sweep them away in the future.”

Taishu Xiong looked at him, nodding again and again with visible satisfaction. “Great minds think alike!”

Little did he know that Shao Pingbo genuinely wanted to seize this chance to intervene and destroy Nanzhou. Had he still been in Beizhou, he would certainly have done so.

In Shao Pingbo's personal judgment, Niu Youdao himself was far more dangerous than Nanzhou.

But Jin's resources were not his to squander on settling a private grudge.

More importantly, Niu Youdao was a man who repeatedly produced unexpected moves. Even if Jin intervened, there was no guarantee it could stop him. Heaven only knew how Niu Youdao would strike.

If Shao Pingbo consumed Jin's resources and achieved nothing, it would do no favors to a newcomer like himself. It would give others easy grounds to attack him. The extraordinary favor the Jin Emperor had shown him immediately upon his arrival had already left many people uncomfortable.

If he truly wanted to eliminate the future danger once and for all, it would be better to have Jin dispatch top experts and spare no cost in directly killing Niu Youdao.

But Shao Pingbo could hardly open his mouth and ask the state to settle his private vengeance.

He had only just arrived and had not yet established himself. Too many things remained inconvenient for him to do.

Moreover, he suspected Taishu Xiong might be testing him.

He therefore had no choice but to act as though Jin's greater situation was all that mattered.

[End of Chapter 564]