Chapter 637: The Amount Doesn't Seem Right, Does It?

Luo Zhao frowned. Even if Niu Youdao could be persuaded to rebel against Yan, now was still not the time. They should let those cultivators consume one another for a while longer. If Nanzhou's army entered the field now and broke the deadlock, Yan's interior would spiral completely out of control. Han and Song would then have no choice but to launch a full-scale attack on Yan. If they refused to fight, they would have no way to answer to the cultivation powers of their two states.

There were some things, however, that Luo Zhao could not say to Wen You. He could only frown and say slowly, "From what I can see, that Niu Youdao doesn't seem like a man greedy for wealth. Would he truly do something like this for money?"

Wen You said, "Naturally, it isn't entirely about money. First, given the present situation inside Yan, anyone in his position would feel despair. Second, the two sects have already promised that if he raises troops, he can render great merit and receive three provinces of territory. He has no other choice now."

Luo Zhao's gaze returned to the map. "That man is no timid mouse. Yan does not entirely lack the strength to suppress the rebellion either. Things haven't reached that point yet. Would he truly make such a choice already?"

Wen You asked, "Is the Grand Commander-in-Chief worried about him?"

Luo Zhao stared at the map as though talking to himself. "As far as I know, he basically never interferes in Nanzhou's military or civil administration. Clearly, he doesn't understand that sort of thing. So I am not worried about him. Once armies take the field, with hundreds of thousands of men charging and colliding, sweeping all before them, his personal strength and little schemes won't matter much. I'm worried about someone else."

Wen You's eyes flickered. He blurted, "Meng Shanming?"

Luo Zhao nodded slightly. "Meng Shanming is a famous general of his generation. That reputation was not won for nothing. When I fought the Yingyang and Wulie Guards years ago, Meng Shanming was already crippled and had withdrawn from public life. Had he personally commanded them, I cannot say with certainty that I would have escaped intact."

"In my first few years in the army, when Meng Shanming was still active, Song could scarcely breathe beneath the pressure he exerted. At the mere mention of his name, generals throughout our army felt fear."

"The campaigns to seize Nanzhou and pacify Dingzhou have both shown that the old marshal's edge remains. That one man is worth an army of a million. The old blade is not yet dull. Can he truly sit by and watch Yan disintegrate without doing anything?"

Wen You smiled. "He is already old, while the Grand Commander-in-Chief is in the full splendor of his prime. Like the long river outside, later waves drive on those before them. One generation of newcomers replacing the old is an eternal law."

"The Grand Commander-in-Chief is an ever-victorious general. This is the first time I've seen you diminish your own prestige to raise another man's."

The words did stir Luo Zhao's ambition. His spirit rose, and he nodded with sudden vigor. "Yan has Shanming; Qi has Wuhen! I've long heard the names of those two, yet never had the chance to cross hands with either. If I could truly fight both of them, I would have no regrets in this life!"

Wen You stroked his beard and smiled. "Meng Shanming knows only the battlefield, not the light and darkness of court politics. That is why he ended crippled. He is already old and has no strength to turn the tide."

"Huyan Wuhen, meanwhile, has spent too long entangled in court affairs. He has too many concerns and has lost his edge. He is destined to be buried with Qi."

"Neither man is worth fearing anymore. If they meet the Grand Commander-in-Chief, they may simply add two more glorious strokes to your record. If you would count the great men of the age, look to the present day!"

"Heh." Luo Zhao smiled and waved a hand. His gaze returned to the map. "For now, let's see exactly what Nanzhou is playing at. Watch the situation there closely, especially Shang Chaozong and Meng Shanming."

"If Nanzhou truly raises troops against Yan and those two refuse to cooperate, the rebellion is real. If they cooperate, then it is false, because neither of those men would ever rebel against Yan!"

His finger came down heavily on Nanzhou's position on the map.

Wen You understood. If Nanzhou rebelled and Shang Chaozong and Meng Shanming did not cooperate, it was genuine. If they cooperated, there had to be deception behind it.

He nodded. "No matter what transformations they attempt, we only need to keep those two firmly in sight. The Grand Commander-in-Chief sees clearly. I'll make the arrangements at once."

...

Rain fell over Beizhou.

At the Provincial Inspector Residence, Shao Dengyun stood beneath the eaves watching water drip steadily from the roof. Steward Yang Shuang hurried along the covered corridor and reported with a sigh, "Master, the Fuzhou troops led by Xin Mao fought one battle with Cangzhou's rebels, withdrew immediately, and were defeated!"

Shao Dengyun's cheek twitched slightly. In the end he let out a series of cold laughs. "Defeated? What defeat? He obviously wants to preserve his own strength."

"You expect him to throw himself into a bloody battle with the Cangzhou rebels first. He expects you to throw yourself into a bloody battle with them first. How could he not lose? It would be strange if he didn't!"

Yang Shuang sighed. "It's only human nature. During that purge years ago, the imperial court betrayed them first. How many brothers died with grievances in their hearts? Everyone was forced to protect himself, and that breath of resentment has never gone away."

"Who would cripple his own strength fighting for a court like this? Each man still owes an account to the brothers under him. No one will lightly send his own men to die wrapped in horsehide, especially when they know the court would never appreciate the sacrifice."

"If men don't know what they're dying for, they have no fighting spirit. Why would they be willing to fight to the death?"

"The people's hearts have scattered." Shao Dengyun closed his eyes and raised his face toward the rain, shaking his head helplessly.

What right did he have to criticize others? Was he truly any better himself?

He lowered his head again. "Still no movement from Nanzhou?"

A peculiar look appeared on Yang Shuang's face. "There has been some movement."

"Oh?" Shao Dengyun immediately showed more interest. "What happened?"

Yang Shuang said, "Most of the grain Wei lent to Yan was intercepted by Nanzhou. According to reports, they tampered with the grain carts. The whole scene was rather ugly..."

He explained how the carts had broken down one after another all along the route.

Shao Dengyun was left speechless for quite some time.

He had thought Nanzhou might be preparing to send troops to suppress the rebellion. Instead, not only had they failed to send troops, they were actually dragging on the imperial court's hind leg.

...

"Little Brother!"

"Younger Brother."

Honored guests had come to Maolu Villa. Quan Taifeng and Hui Qingping had arrived once again. This time, when they saw Niu Youdao, their faces were covered in smiles and their greetings were extraordinarily warm.

"I didn't expect Elder Brother and Eldest Sister to return so quickly. This time you must taste the food and wine of Maolu Villa. I promise the trip will be worthwhile." Niu Youdao smiled just as warmly and extended a hand in invitation.

"Come now!" Quan Taifeng grabbed him by the arm and pulled him toward the villa. "We're family. There's no need for such courtesy. A cup of tea is enough."

"Exactly. If you're too polite, you'll only make us feel like outsiders. I won't be pleased." Hui Qingping followed beside them with a smile.

Niu Youdao estimated they had come to bring him money. He had intended to let them taste some of Maolu Villa's specialties and give them a proper welcome, but apparently the two did not have that good fortune. They had refused.

So be it. If they did not want it, he would spare the monks of Nanshan Temple the trouble.

Inside the waterside pavilion used to receive guests, everyone took their seats. Tea was naturally served, though most of the time it was no more than decoration.

Sworn siblings or not, none of them dared drink casually. Testing the tea for poison on the spot would look ugly, so it was simpler not to touch it.

The moment Quan Taifeng sat down, he pointed at Niu Youdao and praised him. "I've heard everything. Little Brother, you handled this beautifully."

Niu Youdao likewise went straight to the point. This was already their third meeting, and there was no point circling endlessly. "Naturally I keep Elder Brother and Eldest Sister's instructions in mind. I also hope the two of you remember my affairs."

Quan Taifeng and Hui Qingping exchanged a look.

Hui Qingping reached into her sleeve, took out five drafts from the All-Under-Heaven Money House, and pushed them across to Niu Youdao.

Niu Youdao had no reason to stand on ceremony. He picked them up and looked.

Each draft was worth one million gold coins.

Five million in total.

Standing nearby and slowly waving her round fan, Guan Fangyi glanced over. Her eyes immediately brightened, and delight blossomed in her heart.

This man made money as though it were a game. People were constantly volunteering to deliver money to his door, and every sum was astonishingly large.

If this happened every time, perhaps she truly could stop asking questions about all his troublesome affairs.

Unexpectedly, Niu Youdao did not look pleased at all.

His face darkened slightly. "You two, the amount doesn't seem right, does it?"

He looked as though he might turn hostile on the spot.

Quan Taifeng lightly patted the table. "Little Brother, five million is already quite a lot."

Niu Youdao said, "I seem to remember asking for ten million."

Quan Taifeng smiled bitterly. "We never agreed to ten million."

The truth was that Niu Youdao had named a price of ten million, while the other side had only agreed to five million. The bargaining had gone nowhere. In the end, they had grown tired of arguing and told him to prove himself first, after which they could discuss the price again. They had never actually agreed to ten million.

Who would have thought Niu Youdao would be so straightforward? He really did intercept that shipment of grain first and complete the task before receiving anything.

Once the other side saw that the matter truly had promise, they immediately became energetic and came running back.

In the past, Niu Youdao would never even have thought to extort money this way. He would not have believed there was any money to be squeezed out of it.

But after his trip to the capital and his face-to-face conversation with Gao Jiancheng, his thinking had changed.

He now knew the cultivation sects of Han and Song were suffering badly in their struggle against the Western Three States. They were paying too heavy a price and longed for an early end to the ordeal.

That was why he dared open his mouth like a lion.

Niu Youdao said, "I did this with my head in my hands. Is my head worth only five million?"

Hui Qingping smiled. "Little Brother, that's overstating matters. Under the present circumstances, Yan doesn't dare move against you lightly. Besides, the market value of the grain you intercepted isn't worth that much either."

"That's not how the account should be settled." Niu Youdao looked deeply unconvinced. "Market price depends on the market. In Yan today, there is almost no grain left to buy. The imperial court's grain levies are practically robbery."

"If anyone could provide that shipment of grain right now, the Yan court would absolutely be willing to pay ten million gold coins for it."

Hui Qingping smiled sweetly. "We didn't ask you for the grain. It all belongs to you."

"Once war begins, money flows away like water. Our hands aren't exactly loose either. Even this five million was pooled together by our two sides."

Niu Youdao's face fell. "If Eldest Sister insists on settling accounts that way, then there's nothing I can do. The money is in your hands. I can't exactly rob you."

Quan Taifeng waved a hand. "Once you have territory, why worry about money? So long as Little Brother raises troops, the promise of three provinces still stands. How about it?"

"Little Brother, don't blame me for failing to remind you. The present situation is obvious. There is still room to negotiate now. Once the great affair is decided, it will be too late. Miss this chance and there won't be another one like it."

Niu Youdao fell silent for a while before saying slowly, "It's not that I want to be a fence-sitter. I can still find excuses to delay matters over the grain."

"If the situation turns bad, at worst I take your money and return the grain to the imperial court."

The moment he said this, both of their expressions changed slightly.

Their gazes unconsciously fell on the money-house drafts in his hand.

Quan Taifeng immediately warned him sternly, "Little Brother, let me give you one piece of advice. If you truly do that, then once Yan falls, you'll have no road of retreat. The two of us won't be able to protect you either. You'd better watch the situation carefully before deciding."

They had dared hand over the money immediately because they were fully confident in the final outcome of the war.

Of course, they could not refuse to pay either. If they gave him nothing, why would he believe them? There would be nothing to discuss.

The payment was itself part of the risk they had to bear.

Niu Youdao said, "That's exactly why I said if. What if you lose, or withdraw your armies? If Nanzhou truly commits rebellion and Yan survives, do you think the Yan court will spare us?"

"And please don't tell me that once things reach that point, Han and Song will still pay any price necessary to save my Nanzhou. Would even the two of you believe that?"

"I can raise troops in rebellion, but there must be one prerequisite."

"If you accomplish that, I have nothing more to say. I will raise troops immediately!"

[End of Chapter 637]