Chapter 633: Proceed Gradually

Seeing Niu Youdao's brows drawn tight, Gao Jiancheng hurriedly added, "Master Dao, the regional lords already obey imperial edicts in name while defying them in practice. Even if the court issues such an edict, it would have no meaning. Why would the regional lords obey its commands?"

Niu Youdao said, "So long as the court issues the edict, Nanzhou has a way to make the regional lords obey."

"Oh?" Gao Jiancheng looked somewhat surprised. "Master Dao sounds very certain. May I ask the reason?"

Niu Youdao had come precisely to hear his opinion and ask him to think of a solution, so he did not conceal anything. He told Gao Jiancheng of Meng Shanming's strategy: rather than suppress the rebels, suppress the regional lords.

Gao Jiancheng slowly savored the idea. As he weighed its implications, a look of astonished admiration gradually entered his eyes. Stroking his beard, he exclaimed, "Meng Shanming truly deserves to be Meng Shanming. Of course. The five reinforcing armies are led by Xu Jingyue, Provincial Inspector of Gongzhou; An Xianzhao, Provincial Inspector of Tuzhou; Su Qitong, Provincial Inspector of Haozhou; Xin Mao, Provincial Inspector of Fuzhou; and Zhang Hu, Provincial Inspector of Changzhou. Every one of them is an old subordinate of Meng Shanming, men he personally brought up under his command. He knows exactly what each of the five is capable of. It would be difficult for anyone else to destroy them, but Meng Shanming must be confident he can do it. What a pity..." He shook his head and sighed, his face full of regret.

Niu Youdao asked, "Why is it a pity?"

Gao Jiancheng sighed. "If Meng Shanming could serve the imperial court, how could Great Yan ever have fallen into its present state? Its internal troubles would have been swept away long ago. But..." He shook his head again. "If the court truly used him, I fear that would create trouble instead."

"Because he was one of Prince Ning's trusted old subordinates?"

Gao Jiancheng waved a hand lightly. "Master Dao, do you know why Prince Ning lost despite holding authority over Yan's armies, why he was no match for His Majesty? There was no other reason. He was simply too good at war."

"Leaving aside the five Provincial Inspectors we just mentioned, look at Chen Jiu, Provincial Inspector of Bozhou, and Wu Kang'an, Provincial Inspector of Qizhou, both now commanding heavy forces along the borders. Which of them does not have an Elder from one of the three major sects standing behind him?"

"Shao Dengyun, Provincial Inspector of Beizhou, is an exception. He escaped that control after betraying Yan. Then he had only just submitted again when all this happened, so anyone wanting to insert a hand there has had no opportunity for the time being."

"Even Nanzhou is merely being watched for now because of its tangled grievances with His Majesty. Sooner or later, someone will still try to insert a hand there as well."

Niu Youdao fell into thought. He remembered Long Xiu, Palace Master of Xiaoyao Palace, who kept trying to make him marry Yi Shu.

Gao Jiancheng continued, "Those Elders of the three major sects also want a voice within their own sects. Being able to influence the situation in one region of Yan is itself a voice, and that voice is also an interest."

"When Prince Ning pacified the regional lords throughout Yan, he was indeed capable of fighting. The regional lords were subdued, but whom did he offend in doing so?"

Niu Youdao said calmly, "Quite a few senior figures inside the three major sects."

"Exactly." Gao Jiancheng nodded. "Prince Ning's patriotic fervor was certainly admirable, but after that, could he still have taken the imperial throne? Why was support for him so high back then, yet the man who ultimately ascended was the present Emperor?"

"Even if Meng Shanming submitted to the imperial court now, the court would not dare use him. A capable man is right there, yet cannot be used. Tell me, is that not a pity?"

"When this old man was young, I too had a heart full of zeal to serve the state. Only after suffering setback after setback was I forced to face reality."

Niu Youdao fell silent. Today, someone had truly taught him a lesson. He nodded. "Lord Gao indeed sees farther than most. I understand what you mean now. But with certain matters, there is nowhere left to retreat. One more step back is an abyss of ten thousand calamities. What matters is what men make of the situation. When a mountain blocks the road, cut a path through it; when water blocks the way, build a bridge!"

Seeing that he still refused to give up, Gao Jiancheng lifted his teacup and sipped slowly while thinking just as slowly. Only after quite some time did he set the cup down.

"Gao has a few thoughts. I do not know whether Master Dao is willing to hear them."

Niu Youdao said, "Everything Lord Gao has said has been words of gold and jade. Having the chance to hear more is my good fortune. Please speak freely."

This was no empty flattery.

A man who had reached Gao Jiancheng's position, whether in experience or depth of calculation, would not speak lightly. Ordinarily, he would never say this much to anyone.

The more one spoke, the more easily one slipped.

Today Gao Jiancheng was making an exception. He was also deliberately showing Niu Youdao his sincerity. Concealing too much might instead cause Niu Youdao to think unnecessarily.

Gao Jiancheng said, "Even if the rebellion can be crushed, you must still wait. Now is not yet the time for Nanzhou to send troops."

"First, as we have already said, someone is presently trying to consume the strength of the cultivation world. They will not lightly allow Nanzhou to break the situation."

"Second, because of the first point, neither Han and Song nor Zhao will move rashly. Master Dao therefore need not worry that Han and Song will directly invade Yan at this moment."

"Third, this leaves Nanzhou ample time to make its preparations before war."

"Fourth, not all the regional lords have entered the field yet. Until each of them has tasted defeat in turn, it will not be Nanzhou's turn to appear."

"Only when the situation has driven both the three major sects and the imperial court into panic will Master Dao have the standing to negotiate conditions."

Niu Youdao listened while nodding faintly.

Before this, the only reason he had kept his forces in place was Gao Jiancheng's third point. He had not seen the other matters nearly as clearly. Now that Gao Jiancheng had laid out the sequence and logic so plainly, Niu Youdao gradually felt a foundation forming beneath his feet.

He asked, "Lord Gao means that once things reach that point, the court will be willing to grant Commandery Prince Yongping the authority of the Grand Marshal?"

Gao Jiancheng waved his hand again. "Master Dao, you are thinking too much. Better to give it to an outside brigand than to a house slave! No matter when, the present Emperor will never hand that authority to Commandery Prince Yongping."

"What Gao wants to ask is this: does Master Dao want to pacify the internal rebellion, or do you want to seize power while taking advantage of the situation?"

Niu Youdao said, "If both can be achieved, naturally that would be best. If they cannot, then first pacify the internal rebellion and steady our footing."

Gao Jiancheng nodded. "Good. Then be a little more patient and proceed gradually."

Niu Youdao said, "I am listening."

Gao Jiancheng said, "The authority of the Grand Marshal will never be given to Commandery Prince Yongping. The three major sects cannot force that, and neither can you or I."

"If the only goal is to suppress the rebellion, then if we cannot obtain the Grand Marshal's authority, we can do without it. Once the situation reaches a certain point, obtaining temporary authority as commander for the suppression of the rebellion should not be a problem."

"Besides, even if you somehow obtained the Grand Marshal's authority right now, the harm would outweigh the benefit. Neither Nanzhou's present strength nor Master Dao's own strength exceeds that of the imperial court. Even if you obtained that authority, it would be difficult to hold. You would only invite needless trouble."

"You might as well look farther ahead. So long as the rebellion is successfully pacified, what follows will be the hearts of the people turning toward you. The influence that brings is beyond price."

"He who wins the people's hearts wins the realm. Once Master Dao and Nanzhou possess enough strength, that will be the stair by which you climb another level."

Niu Youdao sat in silent thought for a time. Then he suddenly said with ringing force, "Good! We will do as the Grand Minister of the Masses says!"

Gao Jiancheng smiled at last, and secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

It was good that the man could listen.

Otherwise, if Niu Youdao truly forced him to obtain the authority of the Grand Marshal, he would be driven to death. The thing was simply impossible. How could Gao Jiancheng possibly accomplish it?

With the major matter settled, the atmosphere immediately relaxed.

Niu Youdao then asked Gao Jiancheng for advice on several other affairs of state.

Fan Zhuan, who had been listening from the side, also began to smile. He went in and out busily, bringing wine and dishes.

Gao Jiancheng had been accompanying his guest on an empty stomach and had not yet eaten dinner. Host and guest therefore ate slowly inside the study as they spoke.

Their conversation continued until midnight.

For Niu Youdao, an opportunity like this was rare. The perspective from Gao Jiancheng's height was something he could not ordinarily obtain. Niu Youdao truly benefited greatly and gained a much deeper understanding of the situation among the various states.

Had it not been for Gao Jiancheng's age, and for the fact that the old man had already handled official business all day and spent so much thought tonight that fatigue was showing on his face, and had Niu Youdao himself not been unable to stay too long, he truly would not have wanted to leave.

He almost wished he could sit with Gao Jiancheng and talk for several days and nights.

When Niu Youdao rose to bid farewell, Gao Jiancheng naturally tried to keep him.

"It is already deep into the night, and leaving the city will be inconvenient. Why not rest here for now and depart after dawn?"

Niu Youdao smiled. "I did not come alone. I still have people outside waiting to receive me."

"In that case, Gao will not insist." Gao Jiancheng nodded, then asked, "How does Master Dao intend to leave the city?"

The city gates were tightly closed, and cultivators were stationed there to defend them. Gao Jiancheng too feared something might happen to Niu Youdao.

If Niu Youdao fell into the imperial court's hands, Gao Jiancheng himself would have to live in constant anxiety.

Niu Youdao said, "There is always a way to get out."

Gao Jiancheng said, "If Master Dao does not mind, let me arrange it."

Niu Youdao agreed, and Gao Jiancheng immediately had Fan Zhuan make the arrangements.

What happened afterward proved that for a man in Gao Jiancheng's position, arranging for one person to leave the city was no difficult matter, especially when that person was himself a cultivator.

By the time Niu Youdao reached the city wall, he had already changed into a soldier's uniform.

He followed a patrol up onto the wall as though making the rounds.

When they reached a darker section of the battlements, the patrol captain waved the other soldiers onward first, leaving Niu Youdao behind. Then he gave Niu Youdao a meaningful look and made a slight gesture toward the darkness below the wall.

Niu Youdao understood.

After checking his surroundings and waiting until no one was looking, he vaulted over the wall and drifted down outside.

Under cover of night, he floated away.

While moving, he tore off the soldier's clothes he had used as a disguise.

When he returned to the original forested hills, he reunited smoothly with Guan Fangyi.

Guan Fangyi finally breathed easier.

She had waited so long with no way to contact him that worry had been eating at her. Now that he was back, she could not help complaining, "You said you'd go and come straight back. Why did you make me wait so long?"

Niu Youdao glanced at the chest she had bound flat and suppressed a smile. "Something delayed me. There was no helping it. Let's go."

Guan Fangyi did not dare linger either. The two mounted the Scarlet Hunting Eagle and rose into the sky once more.

High in the air, they flew toward the bright moon beneath an endless field of stars.

Niu Youdao reached into his sleeve and took out a gold hairpin.

"Hongniang."

"What?" Guan Fangyi, who had been flying the mount while muttering complaints without pause, turned around.

Her gaze froze for a moment.

She had seen the hairpin flashing beneath the moonlight.

Niu Youdao lifted a hand and gently inserted it into the bun of her masculine disguise. The little gold buyao pendant hanging from the end swayed with the motion.

Guan Fangyi stared at him.

Niu Youdao looked her over. "My eye isn't bad. Once you're dressed as a woman again, it'll definitely look even better."

Guan Fangyi reached up and yanked it out. Suspicion filled her face. "Where did this come from?"

"Obviously, I bought it for you."

Her suspicion did not fade. She turned the hairpin over in her hand. "The sun rose in the west today? You know how to buy something like this for me? You don't have that sort of nerve in you. Something's wrong."

Niu Youdao was taken aback. "What's wrong?"

Guan Fangyi was already moving.

She grabbed him and began searching his clothes.

Niu Youdao yelped, "What are you doing? Keep your hands to yourself!"

"You're a pauper. You never carry money. Where did you get the money to buy this? Are you hiding private funds, or did you make a fortune in the capital? You owe this old lady money. Hand it over!"

"I say, woman, are you finished? I show you a little kindness and you treat it like a donkey's liver and lungs. Is scraping together enough money to buy this supposed to be difficult for me?"

She searched him from top to bottom and did not find so much as a copper coin.

Only then did Guan Fangyi give up. Still half suspicious, she asked, "You really bought it for me?"

Niu Youdao raised one hand. "I swear to Heaven, I borrowed the money to buy it for you. If even one word of that is false, may five bolts of heavenly thunder strike me. Satisfied now?"

"Giggle!" Guan Fangyi immediately broke into delighted laughter, her whole body shaking with it. "I'll believe you this once."

Then she twisted around and suddenly sent the Scarlet Hunting Eagle diving toward the ground.

Niu Youdao asked in alarm, "Where are you going?"

"To find somewhere to change clothes. What man wears something like this? I'll put on women's clothes and let you see whether it really looks good."

"Are you sick? We haven't even left the capital's territory yet, and you still have the mind for this? Can't you change once we're back and wear it then?"

"No! On a journey this long, I'd be waiting until the Year of the Monkey and Month of the Horse!"

[End of Chapter 633]