Chapter 602: Even If We Can't Win, We Still Have to Fight

At noon, Gao Jiancheng left the palace and returned home for lunch.

The moment he stepped down from his carriage and entered the residence, he had no thought of eating. He went straight to his study. His steward, Fan Zhuan, did not call him to the meal and simply followed him inside.

Gao Jiancheng looked calm on the surface, but inwardly he was burning with anxiety. His mouth was dry. He had lost count of how much tea he had poured down his throat that morning, yet he was still thirsty.

Only after he had moistened his throat did the worried Fan Zhuan ask, "Master, how are things?"

Gao Jiancheng set down his teacup. "The Sect Leaders of Feihua Pavilion and Zhenling Academy have both been hung from the city walls of Qingshan Commandery. The situation in Nanzhou does not look good. From what I've heard, Shang Chaozong appears to be concentrating troops and moving them toward Dingzhou."

"What?" Fan Zhuan was badly startled. "Can he really mean to attack Dingzhou? Does Shang Chaozong have that much nerve?"

"What does nerve have to do with it? He swallowed Nanzhou all the same." Gao Jiancheng's expression remained grave. "By ordinary reasoning, he should not dare. But Tong Mo has already ordered a fresh accounting of the troops, funds, and grain in all prefectures and provinces still controlled by the imperial court, and he has instructed the offices below to cut expenditures. You can see that he is already preparing for the worst."

Fan Zhuan looked doubtful. "Just because Maolu Villa was attacked, Niu Youdao is going to raise troops and create a rebellion? Will the three major sects simply stand by and watch?"

"Such an overwhelmingly strong attack was actually defeated by one little Maolu Villa. Even Zong Yuan was killed. That plainly means they were prepared in advance." Gao Jiancheng tapped the tabletop softly. "If Niu Youdao knew beforehand, why did he not warn the three major sects? He would rather take the risk himself. Then think about the Song envoy being killed and the State of Song's army pressing the border..."

He paused, his voice lowering. "Old Fan, one scarcely dares think too deeply about this. The more one thinks, the more frightening it becomes. This has been planned for a long time. I fear Dingzhou will not escape this calamity."

Fan Zhuan fell into thought, then quickly showed his worry. "Then what about the Eldest Young Master? Once Nanzhou tears off all pretense, how could they possibly let him off easily?"

Gao Jiancheng let out a low sigh. "Whether that wretched son lives or dies is not the important part. But the Gao family has sons and grandsons filling this household, more than a hundred lives from top to bottom. I fear he may drag every one of them down with him. As matters stand, however, there is still one slender thread of hope."

Seeing the strange look in Gao Jiancheng's eyes, as if he had already reached some decision, Fan Zhuan hurriedly said, "Master, whatever you intend to do, it is better done sooner rather than later."

Gao Jiancheng's voice sank. "If Shang Chaozong does not send troops, then so be it. But once he does, the imperial court will never admit that Shaoming was sent by the court. That is our one thread of hope."

Fan Zhuan was puzzled. "Where is the hope in that? Did Master not say yourself that Niu Youdao has the Eldest Young Master in his hands and is unlikely to let the matter rest?"

"Which is why we must stop Niu Youdao from making an issue of Shaoming!" Gao Jiancheng pressed a finger against the tabletop with quiet force. "If the court refuses to admit that it sent Shaoming to attack Maolu Villa, and Niu Youdao likewise acts as though Shaoming does not exist, what happens then?"

Understanding dawned on Fan Zhuan. "I see. The court would not lift a rock only to drop it on its own foot. It would suppress any attempt by officials at court to investigate where the Eldest Young Master went. Then Master would not be implicated, and the Gao family's crisis would pass. But..." His face tightened with difficulty. "Why would Niu Youdao allow us to arrange things to suit ourselves?"

Gao Jiancheng snorted. "Does he not want money? Then give him money! Compared with the lives, future, and survival of more than a hundred members of the Gao household, what does that amount of money matter? As long as we preserve what we have now, the money will naturally come back later."

Fan Zhuan became even more confused. "Master, did you not say Niu Youdao would make the affair known to everyone even if he took the money? Besides, he demanded one hundred million gold coins! Where is the Gao household supposed to find that kind of money? If we make a great show of raising it, there will be no way to keep it hidden."

"Who said I was giving him one hundred million?" Gao Jiancheng replied. "Where would I get one hundred million to give him? Work it out. Can we raise ten million gold coins?"

"Ten million gold coins can be scraped together," Fan Zhuan said uncertainly. "But reducing one hundred million to ten million is an enormous difference. Will Niu Youdao agree?"

Gao Jiancheng lowered his voice and asked, "How much is the realm of Yan worth?"

Fan Zhuan stared at him, dumbfounded. His expression shifted between shock and uncertainty. He opened his mouth, then stopped.

Gao Jiancheng rose, walked to his side, and spoke quietly. "Shang Chaozong's ambition is plain for all to see. This long-prepared move only proves it further. I hold high rank at court. I have spent years building influence throughout the State of Yan, and my former subordinates and protégés are everywhere. If I were willing to help them, then measured against their ambitions, what is one hundred million worth? Tell me, how would they choose?"

Fan Zhuan understood his intention. Naturally, he also understood what it meant. He sucked in a sharp breath.

Gao Jiancheng knew exactly what was going through his mind and waved a hand. "At this point, the Gao family has no road of retreat. You and I both know what sort of people fill the court: jackals, wolves, tigers, and leopards. If I fall, everyone will shove at the broken wall and beat on the battered drum. They will trample me into the ground. By then, even every stray cat and dog will dare treat you however it pleases. How can I stand by and watch everyone in the Gao household go from what they are today to something lower than pigs and dogs in the blink of an eye? And it will not be only the Gao family. Every former subordinate and protégé attached to me will be finished as well!"

Fan Zhuan said in a trembling voice, "Master, this is..." There were some words he could not bring himself to say aloud, but he had no choice except to warn him. "If this is exposed, there will be no coming back from it!"

"If I do nothing, utter ruin is already right in front of us," Gao Jiancheng said. "I know Shang Jianxiong too well. He may have the ambition to strengthen the state, but he is not a man willing to shoulder responsibility, and he cannot tolerate upright ministers who speak plainly. That is why the court is full of people who neglect affairs of state and bend themselves to flatter him. The old saying that a crooked upper beam makes for crooked lower beams is a fundamental truth. All the chaos in Yan today comes from malefactors running rampant at court."

He raised a hand and patted Fan Zhuan on the shoulder. "He will never shoulder responsibility for my Gao family. I can already see what will happen. My son is plainly risking his life in service to him, yet my Gao family will end with the household destroyed, its people dead, and everyone piling on us, all so those jackals and beasts can profit. How could I accept that? Since he was the first to cast aside benevolence and justice, he cannot blame me for being disloyal!"

Fan Zhuan's eyes reddened as he nodded. "I understand. This old slave understands all of it. But the imperial court is still the stronger side at present!"

It was a warning about the consequences of taking that path.

"So I cannot entrust this to anyone else. You must personally go and see Niu Youdao. Not a breath of it can leak out." Gao Jiancheng's tone was firm. "The ten million I am sending with you is not ransom. It is simply proof of my sincerity, enough to steady him. Once you explain my intentions clearly, he will keep Shaoming as a hostage. That in itself will preserve Shaoming's life. All I need is for Niu Youdao to give me an account I can use and let the imperial court know that Shaoming is already dead. This is no difficult matter for him, but it concerns the life, death, honor, and disgrace of every member of the Gao family!"

Fan Zhuan understood. He understood everything now. After things had been said this plainly, how could he fail to understand? Tears shone in his eyes as he nodded.

Gao Jiancheng gripped his arm. "Old Fan, there is no time to lose. You must reach Qingshan Commandery and see Niu Youdao as quickly as possible. You must get there before Niu Youdao makes an issue of Shaoming and secure his cooperation. The fortune, disaster, honor, and disgrace of the entire Gao family rest on this journey of yours!"

"This old slave understands," Fan Zhuan said. "But the road is long. I am afraid there will not be enough time..."

Gao Jiancheng raised a hand to stop him. "You need not worry about that. Prince Long oversees the affairs of the Shang imperial clan. He has a large flying bird there, assigned by the imperial court and capable of carrying passengers. The imperial clan falls within the scope of my supervisory authority. Over the years, I have suppressed more scandals caused by Shang clan descendants than I can count. Prince Long will not deny this old man so small a favor."

Fan Zhuan still looked troubled. "This old slave is old. I cannot endure being flown back and forth through the sky, nor can I control such a mount myself. This matter must remain secret. Having cultivators escort me would be inappropriate."

"Have cultivators escort you. Afterward, arrange for someone..." Gao Jiancheng raised one finger and drew it across his throat, making the unmistakable throat-cutting gesture used to silence a witness.

...

Outside the Dingzhou Provincial Inspector's Residence, horses repeatedly came galloping up and stopped hard. One general after another, summoned by urgent orders, arrived in quick succession.

Once almost everyone was present, Xue Xiao hastily issued military orders, dispatching troops and assigning commands.

After the generals had accepted their orders and departed, two groups of cultivators arrived almost simultaneously and encountered one another at the gates of the residence.

They belonged to the two sects stationed in Dingzhou: Tianhua Cave Residence and Xianyun Sect.

In territory controlled directly by the imperial court, it was almost impossible for a single sect to be allowed to dominate. First, such a sect would be difficult to control, so checks and balances were necessary. Second, powerful officials at court all wanted to win a share for the sects they had drawn to their side. Thus two sects coexisting in one jurisdiction was practically the minimum. In some provinces and prefectures, several sects existed side by side.

Those sects, in turn, were waiting for the day when they might gradually grow strong enough to become like Tianyu Sect or Dachan Mountain and hold a region of their own.

"Brother Wan, you came too."

The two Sect Leaders met at the entrance. Gai Huan, Sect Leader of Tianhua Cave Residence, greeted the other man first.

"How could I not come?" Wan Qingyan, Sect Leader of Xianyun Sect, replied in a heavy voice. He gestured for Gai Huan to enter with him.

The two led their people inside together and went straight to the Government Affairs Hall, where they found Xue Xiao wearing a black expression.

No one was in the mood for pleasantries. The moment they met, Wan Qingyan asked bluntly, "Provincial Inspector Xue, I hear the Nanzhou army is attacking Dingzhou because your men killed Shang Chaozong's people, robbed his money, and even stole his women. Is that true?"

Xue Xiao's cheek twitched. He handed them an intelligence report and said grimly, "Do Brother Wan and Brother Gai actually believe such nonsense? This is the report sent up by the commander of the border garrison. The robbery had only just happened when Nanzhou's troops charged straight in. Their coordination was far too perfect. Shang Chaozong plainly planned this in advance and deliberately provoked the incident!"

After reading the report, Wan Qingyan said with a taut face, "There is no point talking about that now. The real question is whether your men stole Shang Chaozong's women. Were your people the ones who provoked them first?"

He shook the paper in his hand with a rustle. "They caught your men together with the stolen goods and have ironclad proof in hand. Even your own men confessed. You cannot deny it. Can you explain it away? They did not force your men to do anything. Their people were simply passing through. It was your soldiers who disguised themselves as bandits and went out to rob them of their own accord. You failed to control your subordinates. On what grounds can you claim the other side dug a trap for you?"

Xue Xiao's face turned livid. "I have already reported this to the imperial court. The court knows perfectly well whether Nanzhou deliberately provoked this. There is no point arguing about it now. The two of you arrived at just the right time. I was about to ask both sects to join me in resisting the enemy!"

"How are we supposed to fight?" Gai Huan demanded. "A large portion of Dingzhou's troops has already been transferred to defend against the State of Han and the State of Song. Many elite disciples of our two sects went with those armies. Dingzhou is hollow. Can our two sects stop Dachan Mountain? Or can the troops under Lord Xue stop Shang Chaozong's tiger-and-wolf army? There is simply no way to fight this battle!"

Xue Xiao had been swallowing his frustration until now. At last he exploded. "Then what do the two of you suggest? Sit here and watch without resisting? Afterward, will the imperial court spare me, or will it spare your two sects? At this point, whether we want to fight or not, we have to fight. Even if we can't win, we still have to fight!"

Crash!

Wan Qingyan kicked a chair beside him and sent it flying, venting the fury pent up inside him.

Gai Huan's jaw tightened. "Have the imperial court contact the three major sects immediately. Ask them to intervene and stop this!"

Xue Xiao spread both hands. "Do I really need to explain the current deployment of the State of Yan's forces to you? The moment word from here reaches the capital, the court will certainly go to the three major sects. The Intelligence Directorate may already have reported it before I did. For now, all we can do is hold out. No matter how great the price, we must hold until people from the three major sects step in and settle the matter. If we simply let Shang Chaozong's army drive deep into Dingzhou without resistance, none of us can bear that responsibility!"

[End of Chapter 602]