Chapter 1188: Gentlemen, Long Time No See!

Meng Shanming looked quite helpless. "The soldiers do not know the commander, and the commander does not know the soldiers. What use would I be if I went?"

"Wei is wealthy. Its soldiers have never had to endure much hardship to begin with, so they lack the foundation for fighting to the death. This is not something that can be fixed merely by sending in a particular commander."

"They destroyed their own foundations. Army morale has already fallen this far, and everyone is thinking only of protecting himself. Faced with Jin's offensive, Wei is finished."

"Right now Qin's army is being held outside Xiping Pass by Yin Chu, who is defending it with his life. What remains depends on Qi. The only man who can still turn the tide is Huyan Wuhen."

"The greatest problem now is that too many people in Wei are surrendering simply to save themselves. Those surrendered soldiers and generals refuse to fight to the death for Wei, yet once Jin puts a blade to their necks, they turn around and fight desperately for Jin."

"The more men surrender, the more eagerly people provide Jin with grain and supplies. With momentum like this, Jin grows stronger the longer it fights. Given the ferocity of Jin's people, once it obtains sufficient grain, the entire state may well become an army. Huyan Wuhen is under enormous pressure."

"If Qi's army can repel Jin, then after the war Qi will not dare take too much advantage of Wei's misfortune. It cannot afford to disperse its own forces excessively. Wei might still be preserved."

Shang Chaozong stared at the map. "If Qin's army cannot break through Xiping Pass and deploy successfully, I'm afraid Wei cannot be saved."

"Jin's offensive is too fierce now. It is devouring Wei like a wolf swallowing prey. The worse Wei's defeats become, the further the morale of its army collapses, and the harder it becomes to resist."

"If Qin does not break Xiping Pass in time, then once Jin's conquered territory joins up with the Pass and every line of supply can reach it, Qin will find it even more impossible to take Xiping Pass."

"If matters truly reach that point, Wei will certainly fall. What remains will be a final showdown between Qi and Jin."

Meng Shanming pointed at Xiping Pass. "Tian Zhengyang is incompetent. Qin should have replaced its supreme commander long ago."

"If Luo Zhao had commanded the first assault, then with his ability and the advantage provided by Xiaoyue Pavilion's Heavenly Mechanism Aura-Breaking Arrows, he might already have taken Xiping Pass in one great push."

"Now it is too late for regret."

Shang Chaozong sneered. "How could they possibly hand that kind of merit to Luo Zhao? The troops and generals belong to Tian Zhengyang and Ma Chang'an. If those two refuse, even Yucang can do nothing."

"Now it truly is too late for regret. I imagine Qin is frantic by this point."

Meng Shanming said, "A pack of petty men scrabbling after private advantage. Once the greater momentum is lost, it will be too late even if Luo Zhao is finally allowed onto the field."

At that moment, Lan Ruoting entered. After cupping his hands in greeting to both men, he said gravely, "Prince, Marshal Meng, Hongniang has sent word. She says the people of Maolu Annex will reach Nanzhou's provincial capital within half a day and asks us to prepare to receive them."

The room instantly fell silent.

Shang Chaozong suddenly sighed. "I thought they were only passing through Nanzhou. Did Master Dao leave them no instructions before his death?"

News of Niu Youdao's death had already reached them. There was nothing they could do about it. What could anyone do?

As for the larger worries troubling outsiders, Nanzhou was not quite as alarmed.

Before leaving, Niu Youdao had already instructed them that if he could not return, Nanzhou was to submit directly to Zijin Cave. It was the only practical option and would spare them at least some turmoil.

According to Niu Youdao's arrangement, the people of Maolu Annex were supposed to find another place to settle. Now they were coming here and had specifically told Nanzhou to prepare to receive them. That would place Shang Chaozong in an awkward position.

If Nanzhou submitted to Zijin Cave, then naturally it would have to draw a clear line between itself and the people of Maolu Annex. If it continued maintaining unclear ties with Niu Youdao's old people, how could Zijin Cave feel secure?

And if Zijin Cave decided to eliminate them, what was Nanzhou supposed to do? Stand aside and ignore it, or stand with Maolu Annex against Zijin Cave?

If Shang Chaozong refused to help, there was another problem. Niu Youdao's accumulated prestige and influence in Nanzhou were simply too great. If Shang Chaozong stood by and did nothing, how would everyone in Nanzhou look at him?

That was why the people of Maolu Annex coming here truly put him in a difficult position.

Meng Shanming pondered before saying, "We still have to welcome them. Master Dao has only just died. It would be indefensible to act too coldly now."

"Let's first see what the situation is. Perhaps they're only passing through and we've thought too much into it ourselves."

Lan Ruoting reminded him again, "Their message specifically said we should prepare to receive them."

Meng Shanming asked, "Then what would you have us do? Stop them outside the city and refuse to let them enter?"

"If we truly did that, have you considered how great an uproar it would cause throughout Nanzhou? The Prince follows the kingly way. How could he bear such infamy?"

Shang Chaozong swept one hand outward. "Enough. Don't think about all of that yet. Order preparations made. I will personally go thirty li outside the city to welcome them!"

"Prince!" Lan Ruoting reached out and pressed a hand against his arm. "Have you considered how we'll explain this to the Commandery Princess? Once these people arrive, I'm afraid we won't be able to keep it from her."

At those words, Shang Chaozong and Meng Shanming both frowned.

The moment news of Niu Youdao's death arrived, Shang Chaozong had secretly issued strict instructions.

Everyone else knew.

Only Shang Shuqing had been kept in the dark.

Even now, Shang Shuqing still did not know that Niu Youdao was dead.

There was no other reason. Marriage negotiations were already underway for her. It had been difficult enough to bring matters to this point. If she learned of Niu Youdao's death, no one knew what might happen.

They also understood that some things could not be hidden forever.

They merely wanted to wait until Shang Shuqing had married successfully. Once the matter was settled and there was no turning back, some things would naturally pass.

Affairs of love between men and women were the most troublesome of all. Ordinary reasoning could not resolve them.

Shang Chaozong was silent for a moment. "For now, don't let Qing'er know that the people of Maolu Annex have arrived. Otherwise she'll insist on coming to welcome them too."

"I'll meet Hongniang first and warn her in advance."

That was the only way to handle it.

After leaving the Hall of Martial Valor, Shang Chaozong immediately found Princess Consort Feng Ruonan and explained the situation.

Feng Ruonan understood at once.

She quickly went to find Shang Shuqing, stayed with her under the pretext of passing the time, and kept her occupied so she would hear none of the news or commotion outside.

The Provincial Inspector's Residence made its preparations.

Shang Chaozong then set out under the protection of a large force and stopped thirty li outside the city to wait.

...

The distant traveling column hurried onward.

Soon it saw banners fluttering ahead, with the royal standard bearing the great character "Shang" standing out clearly.

They had actually come this far outside the city to welcome them.

Yuan Gang stared ahead.

Guan Fangyi smiled faintly. Almost casually, she glanced back to see the reaction of Niu Youdao, who was mixed among the crowd.

The welcoming party and the arriving column finally met.

The troops who had come to receive them were vigorous and high-spirited. The arriving party, by contrast, carried a distinctly subdued air.

When the two sides met, emotions were complicated on both sides.

Niu Youdao's death had affected everyone deeply.

The man was gone.

No one had much heart for conversation.

After a few polite words, there was little else to say. No one mentioned Niu Youdao. Shang Chaozong simply extended a hand and invited them into the city.

The two parties merged.

Guan Fangyi and Yuan Gang rode on either side of Shang Chaozong, the three abreast at the head of the procession as they returned together to Nanzhou's provincial capital.

At the guest residence prepared to receive them, Meng Shanming and Lan Ruoting had also appeared and were waiting in advance.

After another round of courtesies, Shang Chaozong asked Guan Fangyi to step aside with him. He looked somewhat hesitant.

Guan Fangyi smiled. "If the Prince has something to say, just say it."

Shang Chaozong gave a bitter smile. "Qing'er doesn't know you've arrived. I deliberately kept it from her."

Guan Fangyi had expected him to say something heartless about severing ties.

She had not expected this.

She looked surprised. "Why?"

Shang Chaozong found the words difficult to say, but in the end he still spoke plainly. "Hongniang, now that Master Dao is gone, there are some things there is no longer any need to conceal."

"For a long time, Qing'er seems to have had certain feelings toward Master Dao. Do you understand what I mean?"

Guan Fangyi nearly laughed. "What's difficult to understand? I was a young woman once too. I understand how women think. I also knew a little about the Commandery Princess's feelings. There is no need to avoid saying it."

Shang Chaozong let out a breath of relief. "Then I'll speak directly."

"What kind of man was Master Dao? We knew that Qing'er was plain and could not match him, so we never dared say much in front of Master Dao. We truly did not dare aspire so high."

"Your information should not be poor. You ought to know that Qing'er is already in marriage negotiations."

"We concealed news of Master Dao's death because we do not want any fresh complication to arise for her."

"You know how difficult it is for Qing'er to marry, and even harder for her to find a suitable man. I want everything to proceed smoothly."

"Once she hears you've arrived, she will certainly come see you. We cannot easily stop her, because that would only make her more suspicious."

"So when Qing'er comes, I hope Hongniang can help us keep things under control."

Guan Fangyi nodded. "I understand the Prince's meaning. Don't worry. I'll give everyone instructions. No one on our side will mention Master Dao's death to the Commandery Princess."

"Good. Many thanks." Shang Chaozong cupped his hands in gratitude.

Then he prepared to leave with Meng Shanming and Lan Ruoting. They intended to arrange a banquet for the evening, and there were also some more difficult matters Shang Chaozong planned to raise later.

"No hurry!" Guan Fangyi stopped all three.

"It's perfect that all three of you are here. Master Dao left behind something before his death that requires the three of you to witness together. That is also the purpose of our coming here."

The three men looked at one another.

Master Dao had left something behind that required all three of them to witness it together?

Guan Fangyi glanced back in signal.

Yuan Gang immediately led men inside and personally cleared a suitable place where they could meet and speak privately.

Only after confirming there was no problem did Yuan Gang return and give the word.

Guan Fangyi then invited the three men to follow.

When they reached the place, however, the Zijin Cave guards accompanying Shang Chaozong were not allowed to enter.

The Zijin Cave cultivators immediately objected.

Shang Chaozong stopped them. "It's fine."

After hesitating, the Zijin Cave men had no choice but to stand down.

The time had not yet come when they could restrict Shang Chaozong's movements in every respect.

People were already stationed around the meeting house to keep watch.

Yun Ji sat in the courtyard, alert to everything around them.

When the group entered, one person was already inside, apparently a servant who had been cleaning.

Once Shang Chaozong, Meng Shanming, and Lan Ruoting entered, Guan Fangyi and Yuan Gang moved to either side and shut the doors behind them.

The three guests looked back, somewhat startled and uncertain.

Guan Fangyi smiled and tipped her chin toward the man inside.

All three turned again.

The apparent cleaner had already tossed away the rag in his hand. He raised a hand, tore the disguise from his face, and revealed his true appearance.

A faint smile rested on his face as he looked at the three men.

Naturally, it was Niu Youdao.

The three stared with eyes wide open, utterly dumbfounded, as though they had seen a ghost. Their faces were filled with disbelief.

Niu Youdao smiled.

He turned, walked slowly to the principal seat, and sat down at an unhurried pace.

"Gentlemen, long time no see!"

"Ma-Master Dao... this..." Shang Chaozong actually stammered.

He turned back toward Guan Fangyi as though asking whether what he saw was real.

Guan Fangyi smiled and nodded. Then she pointed first to herself and then to Yuan Gang.

With the two of them standing here, how could this be false?

[End of Chapter 1188]