Chapter 911: Master, Something Happened in Beizhou!

It could not exactly be called taking his anger out on Shao Pingbo. Taishu Xiong was simply in a foul mood after being hounded by Qiyun Sect.

Blackwater Terrace, powerful intelligence organization—Qiyun Sect had cursed the whole lot as dogshit. Their position was simple: if the intelligence you provided had not been so poor, could something like this have happened? Clearly, your intelligence network failed to uncover the true situation, causing the sect to make a disastrous misjudgment.

Taishu Xiong had been left speechless. Where was he supposed to go to argue his case?

He had warned them from the beginning. An imperial palace was a place where all sorts of people mixed together; accidents were all too easy, so how could such a place be so simple to strike? But the Sect Leader had refused to listen and insisted on going after that windfall. Now that something had gone wrong, somehow it had become his fault. Explanations were useless in a matter like this, and arguing back would do no good. He could only grit his teeth and endure it.

But when would it end? He had just been subjected to another savage scolding. What a suffocating way to be emperor.

Three Supreme Elders had disappeared. This was no minor affair; to Qiyun Sect, it was an earth-shaking loss. Unless he could give them an explanation, the matter would never be allowed to pass easily.

Taishu Xiong wanted something major to happen that would divert Qiyun Sect's attention. Once Jin and Wei went to war, Qiyun Sect would naturally have to set this matter aside for the time being.

Shao Pingbo did not know what had put the emperor in such a temper, but he could guess that something must have happened.

The emperor had already pressed him this far. Shao Pingbo was living under another man's roof; what else could he do? He turned and gave Tao Lue, Chief Steward of the Inner Palace, a slight nod.

Tao Lue understood. He turned, waved a hand, and dismissed everyone who had no business remaining.

Only after the outsiders were gone and there was no need to fear secrets leaking casually did Shao Pingbo explain what had happened earlier, when the sovereign of Wei had tried to remove Nan Renyu from the office of Grand Commandant.

Unexpectedly, Taishu Xiong waved a hand. "Tao Lue has already reported that. I know. You failed. Xuan Wei stopped it. I told you, what I want to know is when we can act!"

Shao Pingbo inclined himself slightly toward Tao Lue in apology. "There are some matters I did not intentionally conceal from Chief Steward Tao. They concern secrets of the utmost importance. If even the slightest word leaks, everything we have done will be wasted. In carrying out this matter for Your Majesty, we can only succeed. We cannot fail. That is why I have been cautious."

Tao Lue nodded slightly to show that he understood. Hearing Shao Pingbo say they could only succeed and could not fail also eased Taishu Xiong's mood somewhat.

Shao Pingbo continued, "Your Majesty, Nan Renyu holds military power. He was never going to be easy to move against. Targeting him was only a probe. Xuan Wei was certain to stop it, and the point was precisely to make her stop it. First, it forced Xuan Wei to contradict the sovereign of Wei. Afterward, she would inevitably reflect on her own conduct and restrain herself somewhat in future, laying the groundwork for my next move. Second, and most important, it drives a wedge between brother and sister. With our spy whispering poison into his ear after this incident, Xuan Chengtian already harbors deep suspicions toward Xuan Wei and suspects his elder sister of plotting to usurp the throne. With this prelude in place, our spy can keep deepening that suspicion and push him to act again. Moving against Nan Renyu is only a facade. The real target is the Mist Bureau, the largest intelligence organization in Xuan Wei's hands. As soon as Xuan Chengtian reaches for it, as soon as he takes the Mist Bureau away from her, Xuan Wei becomes both deaf and blind."

Taishu Xiong narrowed his eyes, looking thoughtful.

Shao Pingbo continued, "Once Xuan Wei's eyes and ears are cut away, she will lose the ability to keep the situation smoothly under control. Then it will be much easier for Xuan Chengtian to move against Nan Renyu. This first attempt already made him run headlong into a wall over Nan Renyu, and Xuan Chengtian has lost trust in him. It will therefore be easy to prod him into moving against Nan Renyu again, and we can also encourage him to purge a group of Nan Renyu's core subordinate generals with lightning speed. At that point, Wei's military will inevitably fall into disorder. Jin's army can seize the moment and drive in, settling the matter in one stroke.

"Your Majesty, it will not be long. We are close. But this is precisely when we must not rush. Every step must be weighed with the greatest care. Above all, we cannot arouse Xuan Wei's suspicions. It is crucial that she retain her present impression of the sovereign of Wei. Otherwise, if we provoke her into striking back, Xuan Chengtian will be utterly incapable of resisting her. No matter what Xuan Chengtian does now, no matter how bad the situation becomes, Xuan Wei still has the influence to bring it back under control. That is why she does not believe Xuan Chengtian is capable of forcibly seizing power from her, much less that he could succeed. Xuan Chengtian is certainly no match for Xuan Wei, but that does not matter. What Jin needs is chaos in Wei, especially chaos in its military. We only need enough time for Jin to exploit the opening!"

Taishu Xiong's brows gradually lifted. His mood had genuinely improved, and a trace of excitement appeared in his eyes.

Tao Lue, standing to one side, nodded repeatedly as well.

...

Above the residence of Beizhou's Provincial Inspector, a large flying mount descended from the sky. Peng Youzai floated down into the compound, where the Tianyu Sect disciples on guard came forward to pay their respects.

With the large flying mount Niu Youdao had given him, traveling from place to place truly had become vastly more convenient. Flying high above the ground also made it much harder to run into danger.

It was only that accepting such a valuable gift still left him uneasy.

Shao Dengyun came out after hearing of his arrival and cupped his hands. "Sect Leader Peng."

"Brother Shao, you suddenly summoned me. What happened?" Peng Youzai asked with a nod.

"Please, inside." Shao Dengyun extended a hand in invitation.

Peng Youzai gave him a few extra looks, then followed him into a secure military council chamber.

Once they were seated, Shao Dengyun posted men outside to prevent anyone irrelevant from approaching. Without wasting words, he had Steward Yang Shuang carry in a medium-sized chest and set it before Peng Youzai.

Shao Dengyun gestured for him to examine what was inside.

Peng Youzai did not open it immediately. "What is it?"

Shao Dengyun answered unhurriedly, "For some time now, the court has had a group of men secretly investigating corrupt officials throughout Beizhou. They have already uncovered evidence of crimes, and a copy was given to me. It is all here." He pointed to the chest. "Master Dao sent word that Sect Leader Peng must personally see these materials. He said Sect Leader Peng would know what to do next, and that I am to cooperate with Tianyu Sect."

Peng Youzai's eyelids twitched as he listened.

Several months had passed since Niu Youdao sought him out for that conversation, with no movement afterward. Peng Youzai had even begun hoping the matter had blown over. Yet here it was after all. What was coming could not be avoided. Niu Youdao still meant to force him to make a choice.

That expensive gift had indeed not been so easy to accept.

What alarmed him even more was this: how had the court's evidence against its own officials ended up in Niu Youdao's hands? Just how far did Niu Youdao's influence reach, that he could even sway decisions within the imperial court? Something about it did not seem reasonable.

He rose and opened the chest. Inside lay a thick pile of case dossiers. He casually picked one up and began reading.

One glance was enough to tell him the material could not be fake. The dirty deeds of this or that Beizhou official were recorded in meticulous detail, right down to the signatures and seals of the court investigators responsible for each case. Everything could be checked and verified at any time.

The justification he had wanted for taking action was now sitting directly before him.

How was he supposed to choose?

Shao Dengyun stood and reminded him, "Master Dao said that tonight he wants to receive my message and see Sect Leader Peng's decision."

The dossier in Peng Youzai's hands suddenly seemed to weigh a thousand jun. He hesitated. "Isn't this a little too rushed?"

"It isn't rushed," Shao Dengyun said. "So long as Tianyu Sect's disciples cooperate, our forces stationed throughout Beizhou can move at any time. We can seize all those corrupt officials in one sweep without much difficulty. The evidence was investigated and verified by the court itself. Arrest them, pass sentence immediately, and execute them on the spot.

"Master Dao said that not one of those men who squeezed the people's lifeblood is to be spared. Kill without mercy.

"Of course, Master Dao also said that all property confiscated from them will be handed over to Tianyu Sect to dispose of. This is no small sum.

"One more thing. Master Dao said that from now on, appointments to offices large and small throughout Beizhou will be decided by me. He said he has already discussed this with Sect Leader Peng."

Peng Youzai's cheeks tightened. "Many of these men have people from the three major sects behind them. Has Elder Niu considered the consequences of doing this?"

Shao Dengyun said, "Master Dao specifically instructed me that he will handle whatever comes afterward. We do not need to bear responsibility. If the sky falls, he'll hold it up. Sect Leader Peng, it is getting late. Master Dao is still over at Zijin Cave waiting for my report. Oh, and Master Dao warned me that he has already waited several months. His patience is limited, and he will not wait any longer. If I don't want Beizhou, I should get the hell out while there's still time!"

Peng Youzai smiled bitterly. What warning to Shao Dengyun? That was plainly a warning aimed at him.

...

An honored guest arrived at Xiaoyao Palace: Meng Xuan, Sect Leader of Lingjian Mountain, had come in person.

Protocol demanded that equals receive equals. Long Xiu, Palace Master of Xiaoyao Palace, therefore appeared personally and accompanied him toward a guest pavilion amid a profusion of flowers. "Brother Meng, you've suddenly come here in person. Don't tell me you simply had nothing better to do."

Meng Xuan strolled along. "The lands around Yan have been peaceful lately. I truly did have nothing better to do."

Long Xiu raised an eyebrow and looked him up and down. As if he would believe that nonsense.

Upstairs in the pavilion, the two sat facing the beautiful scenery. Once tea had been served, Long Xiu waved away everyone who did not need to be present. Only then did he say, "There are no outsiders here. Stop circling around whatever you came to say and speak plainly. Is this about Sacred Realm?"

Meng Xuan replied, "Didn't I just tell you? The lands around Yan have been peaceful lately, and I had nothing better to do."

Long Xiu mulled over the words but still could not make sense of them. He frowned. "Say it in plain words."

"Han and Song are holding secret talks. The war between them is about to end. Brother Long surely knows that."

"I heard. And that's what you call peace? The two states stopping their war isn't exactly good for Yan. It would be better for us if they fought each other to the bitter end."

Meng Xuan shook his head. "Once Han and Song cease hostilities, neither side will be stirring up trouble for a while. Qin has no appetite to provoke anything either. Brother Long, don't you think an opportunity has arrived?"

"An opportunity?" Long Xiu did not understand. "What opportunity?"

Meng Xuan glanced sideways at him. "With the situation around Yan so favorable, do you not intend to take the opportunity to settle some of Yan's internal affairs?"

Long Xiu immediately grew wary. He had no desire to step blindly into some pit. "What affairs?"

Meng Xuan lifted his teacup. "Beizhou, for example. Brother Long, you cannot truly be willing to watch Beizhou fall completely into Niu Youdao's hands—or, put another way, into Zijin Cave's hands."

One of Long Xiu's brows rose. He understood now. "You want to purge Shao Dengyun's faction?"

"Don't you?" Meng Xuan said. "Tianyu Sect's position has always been ambiguous. If the two of us approach them together, even if Tianyu Sect refuses to side completely with either of us, getting them to remain neutral would be enough. Whatever happens, we cannot let Niu Youdao or Zijin Cave continue growing stronger. With Tianyu Sect's cooperation, purging Beizhou would not be difficult. Right now is the perfect opportunity. If something happens later and we try to act then, we will probably find ourselves constrained by one concern after another."

As they were speaking, Long Xiu's disciple Yi Shu hurried over and reported urgently, "Master, something happened in Beizhou!"

[End of Chapter 911]