Chapter 627: Anyone Who Acts Without Orders Dies!

Yuan Gang lowered his head. He understood Niu Youdao too well and knew exactly why Niu Youdao wanted to kidnap those two women. Master Dao had used similar methods before: dirty underworld tactics despised by respectable people. It was not something Yuan Gang was willing to do.

“Master Dao, the two of them are innocent.”

Whenever moments like this came, he would remember another identity Master Dao had once possessed: an underworld kingpin.

“Innocent?” Niu Youdao stepped in front of him. “Innocent how? Relatively speaking, perhaps. But the positions they occupy cannot be changed. How many people have died because of a single word from those two, or because one of them happened to be displeased? Are they innocent? If they were ordinary women from decent families, I certainly wouldn’t touch them.”

“Monkey, I have two choices before me: kidnap them, or sell out one of our own. You choose for me.”

Yuan Gang said, “Does Yun Ji count as one of our own? Does Yun Huan really treat you as one of his own?”

With a single sentence, Niu Youdao made clear why the risk was worth taking. “Someone who may become a Nascent Soul Realm expert!”

Yuan Gang fell silent.

He understood that Master Dao was thinking farther ahead than he was, but he still found this kind of thing difficult to accept.

Seeing him remain silent, Niu Youdao pressed him. “You know what point the situation has reached. Whether you do this or not, I won’t force you. I can have Hongniang plan it instead, but in this kind of work she doesn’t have your nerve, and she doesn’t have your experience.”

Let Guan Fangyi plan something like this? Forget Niu Youdao; even Yuan Gang himself would not feel at ease.

At last he said sullenly, “If it has to be done, moving against Gongsun Bu would still be safer than moving against Baili Jie.”

Niu Youdao rejected the idea without the slightest hesitation. “Either we don’t do it at all, or if we do, we cannot take the risk for nothing. We have to maximize the gain. Controlling Baili Jie would be far more useful!”

Yuan Gang understood.

Once they moved against those two women, Baili Jie would be next.

“Give me a workable, meticulous plan.” Niu Youdao raised a hand and patted him on the shoulder. Then he turned with his sword, opened the door, and left.

...

In the days that followed, Niu Youdao spent his time watching messages from every quarter, gathering intelligence, and following every change in the situation.

The various states plainly could not stand aside from the crisis in Yan. Nearly all of them had been drawn into it.

With Jin, Wei, and Qi supporting Yan, Han and Song found it much harder to shake the state.

Han and Song sent large numbers of cultivators to support Cangzhou’s rebel army. The Western Three States likewise dispatched many cultivators to oppose them, freeing Yan’s three major sects to devote themselves fully to assisting the Yan armies confronting the heavy forces massed along the Han and Song borders. That made Han and Song reluctant to cross the line lightly.

The deadlock still lay inside Yan.

If Yan collapsed completely from within, the armies it had concentrated along the borders would crumble without a battle.

Both sides therefore extended the battlefield beyond the borders of the states themselves in their efforts to defeat one another.

Cultivators from Han and Song began attacking by sea the convoys carrying aid from the Western Three States to Yan, hoping to destroy the supplies feeding the Yan court’s armies. Cultivators from the Western Three States fought desperately to protect them.

Han and Song were likewise sending enormous quantities of supplies to Cangzhou’s rebels. But the borders had been sealed by the vast forces assembled by the Yan court, forcing Han and Song to transport their supplies by sea as well.

Courtesy demanded reciprocity. Cultivators from the Western Three States therefore sent people to attack the maritime convoys of Han and Song in return.

The two sides fought one sea battle after another, killing without end. No one knew how many cultivators stained the blue waters with blood.

Zhao, meanwhile, sat comfortably in place and grew rich.

All supplies sent toward Yan had to pass through Zhao’s waters if they went by sea, or across Zhao’s territory if they went by land. If the other states wanted Zhao not to interfere, how could they possibly avoid paying for the privilege?

Zhao opened its mouth like a lion and initially demanded half of everything that crossed its territory.

Under pressure from the Western Three States, Zhao eventually relented and settled for thirty percent.

Of the grain, weapons, and warhorses being transported to Yan, Zhao did absolutely nothing and simply collected thirty percent for itself. There was probably no faster road to wealth beneath Heaven.

Within Misty Pavilion, those who held seats split into three camps. One remained neutral and silent, while the other two argued bitterly without cease. Misty Pavilion itself turned one eye blind and one eye open and issued no conclusion on the matter.

...

Before Black Peony’s grave, Niu Youdao stood leaning on his sword, eyes closed in silence.

Gongsun Bu arrived and offered him a report. “Master Dao, this is the compiled situation from the battlefield.”

Niu Youdao showed no intention of taking it. Without opening his eyes, he asked slowly, “The imperial court’s first reinforcements have already arrived. Has the battle situation changed?”

Gongsun Bu sighed. “The first reinforcements to arrive were defeated in a single battle. They weren’t a match for the rebels!”

Niu Youdao opened his eyes and turned his head. “How many men do the rebels have? How could the reinforcements be defeated in one battle?”

“Master Dao, the situation has changed.” Gongsun Bu shook his head with a bitter smile. “According to the reports, once the war began, refugees appeared everywhere. Countless people, desperate for a mouthful of food, banded together as brigands and began plundering.”

“Yuanzhou is much closer to Song than we are to the Western Three States. Cangzhou’s rebels put everything they had into opening the maritime route through Yuanzhou, and enormous quantities of supplies from Han and Song have already arrived.”

“With that much grain in hand, Wu Gongling called for the roving bandits to join him. In order to fill their stomachs, great numbers of them went over to his side. In a short period, Wu Gongling has gained another million men.”

“As long as there are starving refugees, he will never lack recruits. And he is using battle itself to train them along the way.”

Niu Youdao asked, “What about the imperial court? Can’t they imitate him and stop the refugees from going over to the rebels?”

Gongsun Bu shook his head helplessly. “The imperial court is nearly exhausting the strength of the entire state just to face Han and Song. It is still waiting for aid from the Western Three States, and everywhere it is desperately requisitioning grain. Where could it find enough food to relieve all those refugees?”

“If it truly handed over the army’s own rations, I’m afraid the army would collapse without a battle.”

“Ah.” Niu Youdao sighed softly.

Once war began, who knew how many common people would see their families broken and their homes destroyed?

In his previous life, he had never lived through an age like this. Only now, personally surrounded by war, did he understand it in his bones.

Behind vermilion gates, meat and wine rot; along the roads lie the bones of those who froze and starved.

Those were not merely words.

After a moment of silence, Gongsun Bu asked, “Master Dao, I heard a mysterious guest has arrived in the guest courtyard?”

Niu Youdao smiled faintly. “What mysterious guest? It’s only Yun Ji, Mountain Lord of Duyun Mountain.”

Gongsun Bu was surprised. “What is she doing here?”

Niu Youdao waved a hand toward the world around them. “Look at the chaos in Great Yan. Do you think my Nanzhou can hide peacefully in one corner and escape untouched?”

“I had no choice but to prepare for the worst. I made a trip to Duyun Mountain to borrow troops. Duyun Mountain’s demon cultivators are already on their way here.”

Gongsun Bu smiled. “Master Dao’s face really does carry weight. You actually convinced Duyun Mountain to take the risk of getting involved in something like this.”

“What weight does my face carry?” Niu Youdao sighed. “I spent plenty of money. If you ask people to work for you, can you avoid paying?”

“Of course, it isn’t entirely about the money. Yun Huan, the man in charge of Duyun Mountain, is my sworn brother. I suppose he gave this brother of his a little face.”

“Besides, I’m not asking them to plunge directly into fighting and killing. I only want them to contribute some strength to Nanzhou’s defenses.”

“And it isn’t only Duyun Mountain. I’ve already sent word to my sworn elder sister, Ghost Mother of Xianyin Mountain. I hope she’ll lead the ghost cultivators of Xianyin Mountain here to help as well.”

“...”

Gongsun Bu was speechless. The corner of his mouth twitched slightly.

Another sworn brother had appeared.

Exactly how many sworn brothers did this man have?

...

Inside the Hall of Martial Valor at the Nanzhou Provincial Inspector Residence.

Bang!

After receiving the intelligence report, Shang Chaozong slapped it hard onto the table.

He paced back and forth in fury. “An army of one hundred thousand faced a rabble and lost in one battle! How in Heaven was that battle fought?”

Lan Ruoting sighed. “They may be a rabble formed from roving bandits, but the force they met head-on still numbered five hundred thousand. Wu Gongling is also an old general seasoned by years of warfare.”

Meng Shanming said slowly, “Wu Gongling commanding them well is one reason. Another is that Kang Maojin, Provincial Inspector of Pangzhou, was merely going through the motions and deliberately preserving his own strength.”

“Before the other reinforcements arrived, expecting him to fight Wu Gongling to the death...” Meng Shanming gave a quiet chuckle.

Shang Chaozong turned toward the enormous map of Yan hanging on the wall. He spread both arms, grief and anger on his face. “Everyone wants to preserve his own strength. If this continues, my Shang clan’s Great Yan will be destroyed!”

“Wu Gongling, pray you never fall into this Prince’s hands. If you do, I will cut you into a thousand pieces!”

He spun around abruptly. “I want to volunteer for the campaign and lead Nanzhou’s forces out to suppress the rebellion. What do the two of you think?”

Meng Shanming lowered his eyes and said nothing.

Lan Ruoting looked troubled. “Your Highness, Master Dao won’t agree, and neither will Dachan Mountain agree to let you do this.”

“On this matter, Dachan Mountain stands firmly with Master Dao. If Master Dao doesn’t give the word, Nanzhou’s army cannot leave Nanzhou.”

“Master Dao has already said it is not yet time for us to act. Hold position, accumulate grain, and conserve our strength.”

“His instructions were perfectly clear. Even the words of the three major sects are only to be obeyed halfway. As for the grain, weapons, and warhorses of the Western Three States passing through Nanzhou, we are to find ways to skim some off and keep them here as reserves against the unexpected.”

“Heavens!” Shang Chaozong spread his hands, trembling with fury and grief. “If we behave like this, how are we any different from those who care nothing for Great Yan’s survival and only think of preserving their own strength?”

“No. We’re even worse! They’re merely preserving their strength. We’re preserving our strength while actually withholding supplies from the imperial court in the middle of a national crisis!”

Meng Shanming gave a soft, distant sigh. “Your Highness, Master Dao’s thinking may not be wrong. If those people are all preserving their own strength, then handing over every last supply for them to waste is itself a waste.”

“Your Highness, Master Dao is not a man who shoots arrows without a target. If he has said this, he must have his reasons.”

Shang Chaozong angrily pointed toward the doors. “He spends every day at Maolu Villa roaming the hills and waters. What reasons can he have? In the end, isn’t it still about preserving strength? The survival of Great Yan is not what he cares about...”

A sharp light flashed in Meng Shanming’s eyes. He suddenly barked, “Your Highness, mind your words!”

Lan Ruoting hurried anxiously to the doors and carefully looked outside.

He was afraid Shang Chaozong’s raised voice might have been overheard.

If those words reached Niu Youdao’s ears, Lan Ruoting did not dare imagine the consequences.

That Master Dao usually appeared mild enough, but there was nothing harmless about the man underneath.

If there was one person in all of Nanzhou who could replace Shang Chaozong without causing any real upheaval, it was Niu Youdao alone.

Whether among Shang Chaozong’s own people in Nanzhou or among its cultivation powers, Niu Youdao’s personal prestige was enough to settle them all.

Shang Chaozong seemed to come back to himself as well. He slowly lowered his head and said sullenly, “Send word to Maolu Villa. I want to meet Master Dao in person!”

As he ordered, the message was immediately sent.

The reply from Maolu Villa contained only a single line:

No meeting. All of Nanzhou is to hold position, accumulate grain, and conserve strength. Anyone who acts without orders dies!

Looking at those few short words, with no room whatsoever for discussion, Shang Chaozong collapsed heavily into his chair.

All the fight went out of him.

[End of Chapter 627]