Chapter 1111: The Perfect Opportunity to Strike

In Qin, Shao Pingbo had also planted people to sow discord, making Ma Chang'an and Tian Zhengyang fear Luo Zhao gaining control of the military and delaying as much as possible the prospect of Qin sending troops to the rescue.

As for Qi, it was certain to aid Wei. In his letter, Shao Pingbo said he would find a way to hold up Qi's army for as long as possible, buying Jin time to conquer Wei. He told the court not to worry about Qi and repeatedly urged it to press Yin Chu's army forward.

After reading the letter, Taishu Feihua frowned. "Why is it the same thing again? Does Shao Pingbo have nothing better to do in Qi? Why does he keep sending messages to repeat the same instructions over and over?"

Taishu Xiong chuckled. "Yin Chu's army is crucial. He keeps emphasizing it because he's afraid we'll overlook something here, or that some other factor within the court will interfere. He wants to make sure I take it seriously and sweep aside any interference so the original plan goes forward. Besides, Yin Chu doesn't think much of him. I once told Yin Chu to give him some assistance in military matters, but Yin Chu refused to give me face. He obeyed in public and resisted in private, leaving Shao Pingbo hanging. He may be worried about that. With success or failure hanging in the balance, it's clear he's nervous too."

Taishu Feihua nodded. "He worries too much. Tell him to do his own job well. His operation in Qi is of the utmost importance and cannot be neglected. I have repeatedly instructed the retainer cultivators to protect his safety in Qi at any cost. On your side, the court must also give him its full cooperation."

Taishu Xiong said, "Rest assured. Blackwater Terrace will mobilize every resource it can use in Qi to support him. Whatever the cost, we will make sure his plan can be carried out."

Taishu Feihua gave a grunt of acknowledgment. "I hope his arrangements allow Yin Chu's army to advance smoothly, and I hope he can hold up Qi's forces. If he can accomplish both, he should receive the foremost credit for this war and be richly rewarded!"

"He'll certainly be happy to hear that." Taishu Xiong smiled, then turned and instructed, "Tao Lue, send the victory report to Lord Shao at once and put his mind at ease. Tell him I will personally keep watch over Yin Chu's side day and night and will not relax for an instant. He can concentrate on handling matters in Qi."

"Yes!" Tao Lue accepted the order and left.

...

Jin's army had invaded Wei and was advancing with irresistible momentum. Jin had finally bared its fangs, shaking all beneath Heaven.

Intelligence flew back and forth among the various states, and Nanzhou was no exception.

Outside the Hall of Martial Valor, a wheelchair was pushed up. Meng Shanming had arrived. Shang Chaozong and the others greeted him one after another, while Gong Lince, who stood before the map with his hands clasped behind his back, also smiled and nodded in greeting.

Meng Shanming dispensed with unnecessary courtesies and asked, "Your Highness, has there been any word from Qin? Have they sent troops yet?"

Shang Chaozong shook his head and sighed. "Not yet."

Meng Shanming said in puzzlement, "I've crossed hands with Luo Zhao before. He's quite capable. He shouldn't fail to see what is at stake. Is Yan's guarantee still not enough to put Qin at ease? Are they still worried we'll take advantage of their exposed flank?"

"I don't think that's it," Shang Chaozong said. "According to intelligence from our agents in Qin and Wei, Qin has already agreed to send troops to aid Wei. Their preparations are simply slow and dragging on."

"When armies go to war, speed is precious. Luo Zhao cannot possibly fail to understand even that. It seems..." Meng Shanming sighed. "Nine times out of ten, this cannot be separated from the usual wrangling at court." He signaled for the attendant to push his chair over to the map. After studying it for a while, he said, "Your Highness, send another message to Qin. Tell them to concentrate their strength on taking control of Xiping Pass first. I will also send Luo Zhao a message in my own name. Hopefully he will take it seriously and do everything he can to press Qin into securing Xiping Pass before anything else."

Shang Chaozong's gaze fell on the location of Xiping Pass on the map. As he considered it, a thoughtful look gradually appeared on his face.

Gong Lince, standing to one side, was completely baffled and could not understand Meng Shanming's meaning. He ventured to ask, "Marshal Meng, may I ask your reasoning? Xiping Pass lies in eastern Wei, far from the present fighting."

Meng Shanming held out a hand for the command pointer and tapped the map. "Above Xiping Pass stretches a boundless desert, where monstrous creatures run rampant and a great army cannot cross. Below it lies a long barrier of highland mountains. Ordinary people struggle even to breathe after climbing into those heights, much less march an army across range after range. These natural barriers to north and south almost sever movement between the Western Three States and the Four Eastern States. Xiping Pass alone provides a route broad enough for great armies to move through without obstruction. Whoever holds Xiping Pass controls the key road by which the Western Three States can march east and the Four Eastern States can march west. It is ground armies must contest!"

"Jin's manner of acting this time is completely different from before. It was clearly well prepared. Given Wei's current state, I fear it will be very difficult for them to stop Jin's offensive. The country is in grave danger."

"At present, Xiping Pass remains in Wei's hands. But once Wei suffers a complete collapse and even its capital is on the verge of falling, the army's morale and fighting spirit will naturally collapse with it. Tell me, what courage will the mere garrison at Xiping Pass, isolated in a corner of eastern Wei, have to keep defending? Without the resolve to defend to the death, Jin's army can seize it in a single surge."

"I do not believe Qin fails to see what it would mean to have Jin eyeing them like a tiger from their doorstep. I don't know why Qin is dragging its feet. Once Wei falls, Jin and Qi are bound to fight a life-and-death struggle. Jin came prepared, so who will emerge victorious is impossible to predict. And who Xiping Pass will ultimately fall to is equally impossible to predict."

"In any case, Xiping Pass absolutely cannot fall into Jin's hands. Once Jin controls it, the armies of the Four Eastern States will find it extremely difficult to march west in support."

"We cannot interfere with Qin's delays, but there is still great value in taking advantageous ground first. As long as Qin controls Xiping Pass, it will pose an enormous threat to Jin's offensive. Xiping Pass is easy to defend and difficult to attack. If Qin is determined to commit enough strength to hold it, then for Jin to take the pass and seize the initiative on the battlefield, Jin will inevitably have to divert a large number of troops against it. At the same time, Jin must fight the armies of Qi and Wei. Splitting its strength like that would have a major effect."

"Furthermore, Jin certainly does not want Qin joining the war. As long as Qin sends troops to hold Xiping Pass, Jin's army will not dare rashly attack Qin's forces."

"Xiping Pass will be safer in Qin's hands than in either Wei's or Qi's. That gives us the best possible chance of ensuring the pass is not lost."

"As long as Qin gets there first and controls Xiping Pass, it will create enormous strategic room for every state to maneuver and seize the strategic initiative for us in advance."

"Once Xiping Pass is under control, Qin can afford to drag its feet elsewhere."

Gong Lince suddenly understood. He nodded. "Marshal Meng's explanation has opened my eyes. Your insight truly is exceptional. Only... Xiping Pass is still in Wei's hands. It would hardly be appropriate for Qin to seize it by force."

"There is no need to seize it by force," Meng Shanming said. "Wei is already in such a state. What would they refuse to agree to now? As long as Qin is willing to send troops, it will place enormous pressure on Jin and affect Jin's entire battle plan and offensive. Wei will hand the pass over willingly."

"Your Highness!" Gong Lince turned to Shang Chaozong, signaling his agreement with Meng Shanming.

Shang Chaozong nodded as well. He strode behind the desk and began writing a letter to Qin with his own hand.

While they were occupied with military and state affairs, a man and woman met in the courtyard outside.

The woman had a graceful figure and an ugly face. The man was not especially handsome, but he had an open, sunny expression, stood tall, and carried a refined air.

They were Shang Shuqing and Fu Junlan, the man she had selected during the garden gathering. Both families were doing their best to bring the two together.

They had gradually begun seeing one another and trying to become acquainted.

"You've come." Shang Shuqing smiled. Gentle and courteous, she carried the quiet grace of an intelligent, virtuous woman.

Fu Junlan cupped his hands politely. "Your Highness."

Shang Shuqing stepped aside and gestured for him to proceed. The two then walked side by side toward the garden of the Inspector's residence.

"Was all the questioning on your way in troublesome?" Shang Shuqing asked softly.

"Not really," Fu Junlan replied. "The Prince's residence is the center of Nanzhou's military and political affairs. Necessary inspections are only proper. Though it does seem they've tightened their checks on everyone coming and going recently."

Shang Shuqing's voice was pleasant and gentle. "Please don't take offense, Young Master Fu. Jin and Wei have gone to war, and spies seeking intelligence from every side have become active. We have no choice but to guard against them. It isn't directed at you. I was supposed to go out and meet you, but for the same reason my family is worried something may happen to me and wants me to avoid going out as much as possible for the time being. I'm sorry to make you come back and forth by yourself."

Fu Junlan smiled mildly. "I don't understand such matters, but I can appreciate the concern. I heard that you were once abducted by people from Zhao. Being cautious is certainly necessary."

At the mention of her abduction by Zhao, Shang Shuqing's thoughts abruptly wandered. An image flashed through her mind of someone wounded to the verge of death while saving her. Even now, remembering it made her heart clench. Her pearly teeth caught lightly at her lip.

...

"What could be so important that we had to speak face-to-face?"

In the valley, at the same old place, Niu Youdao and Sha Rulai met again. Those were Sha Rulai's first words, and there was a trace of displeasure in his tone.

Niu Youdao said, "Jin and Wei have gone to war."

He had received word of the matter from Yuan Gang long ago. The problem was that Sha Rulai did not have the same freedom of movement he did, so meeting at any given time was inconvenient. Sha Rulai determined when it was safe for them to meet, and only now had they finally been able to see each other again.

"I know," Sha Rulai said. "Does it have anything to do with your present situation? You called me out just for this? It isn't suitable for us to meet frequently. It isn't safe for either of us."

"I know. But this war involves too much and will have far-reaching consequences. In your judgment, could the outbreak of war have anything to do with Hong Yunfa's death?"

Sha Rulai shook his head. "We can basically rule that out."

Niu Youdao frowned. "What makes you say so?"

"Misty Pavilion has its own intelligence channels and had already grasped the situation. Jin has been planning this war for a long time."

"If it has nothing to do with Hong Yunfa's death..." Niu Youdao said. "According to the information coming from Nanzhou, Jin's methods in this war are completely different from before. The way Wei was sabotaged from within makes me suspect one man: Shao Pingbo. I'd like you to help me investigate."

"There's no need to investigate that. Your guess is correct. The prewar sabotage inside Wei really was planned entirely by Shao Pingbo. I already knew while I was still in Misty Pavilion that Shao Pingbo had been planning it for a long time. The arrangements were ready long ago and should have been put into motion much earlier, but a succession of incidents interrupted them. It isn't surprising that they've erupted now."

Niu Youdao's voice sank. "You knew this long ago. Why didn't you tell me?"

"You never asked. There are so many matters—how could I possibly tell you every single one all at once? Besides, it wouldn't have been appropriate to tell you in advance. If you'd known, you would certainly have tried to stop it. Jin kept this operation extremely secret. The moment you interfered, someone would inevitably have noticed something unusual. And Shao Pingbo has people from Misty Pavilion watching him."

Niu Youdao raised a hand to stop him. The matter had already happened. There was no point arguing over it now.

He paced back and forth for a while, thinking carefully. Then he slowly said, "Once Jin attacks Wei, Qi is bound to enter the war. That bastard Shao Pingbo isn't the type to take care of one end while leaving the other exposed. He also has a habit of handling everything personally. He often works himself until he coughs blood, and he's bold enough to take risks. I suspect the man himself is very likely either in Wei's capital or Qi's capital, personally directing things. This is the perfect opportunity to strike! Do me a favor. Search those two places. If you find him, kill him for me!"

[End of Chapter 1111]