Chapter 1212: Give Him a Sea, Then Give Him a Boat!

Yun Ji said nothing. That meant she agreed.

Digging a tunnel was nothing difficult for her. So long as the people above ground were properly arranged and no one noticed the disturbance while she worked, there would be no problem. Nor was that part hers to worry about. Once Niu Youdao gave the order, others would naturally arrange the necessary cooperation.

The actual digging could wait. For now, she had to go out with Niu Youdao.

Watching the two of them leave, Guan Fangyi gave a dissatisfied click of her tongue. In the past, she had always been the one to accompany Niu Youdao when he went out. Now Yun Ji had replaced her, and for no particular reason it irritated her.

But there was nothing she could do. Niu Youdao was currently posing as Yun Ji's attendant. Wherever he went, he had to take Yun Ji with him and follow behind her.

...

The Nanzhou Provincial Inspector's Residence and the Prince's residence formed a single compound, with the government offices in front and the residential quarters behind.

Inside the main council hall of the Provincial Inspector's Residence, the states of Qin, Han, and Song had all sent representatives. Their delegations included cultivators as well as senior court officials. As host, Shang Chaozong presided over the conference.

As for the Yan court, Shang Chaozong had not even informed it. The message was obvious: he represented the Yan court.

Qin, Han, and Song had no objection. The very fact that they had sent people in response to his invitation meant they accepted that Shang Chaozong possessed enough strength and influence to speak for Yan.

Naturally, none of them wanted Jin to swallow Wei and Qi and become overwhelmingly powerful. But once the discussion reached what each state would actually have to contribute, the wrangling began. No one wanted to suffer a loss.

While representatives from the various states argued their positions, Shang Chaozong remained silent. Lan Ruoting did the speaking for him and talked until his mouth was dry.

Among the Song delegation, Jia Wuqun sat quietly toward the rear, coldly observing the situation without saying a word. Not that he could say one.

Apart from the cultivator leading the Song delegation, no one from Qin or Han knew Jia Wuqun had come. Even the other members of the Song delegation did not know.

Most of the time, Jia Wuqun watched Shang Chaozong's words and actions. Once the representatives began arguing, he paid even closer attention to Shang Chaozong's reactions.

Perhaps it was only his imagination, but he noticed that one of the guards behind Shang Chaozong seemed to keep studying him. Jia Wuqun did not know who the man was. He had never heard of such a figure around Shang Chaozong and made a mental note to investigate later.

That man was none other than Niu Youdao.

Niu Youdao had no interest whatsoever in the conference before him. He had been the one to instruct Shang Chaozong to arrange it in the first place, and he had never expected them to reach any real result. Unless the situation forced them to a certain point, expecting these people to cast aside selfish interests and work together with one heart was a fantasy. If cooperation were that easy, they would not have waited until today to sit down together.

The person he was truly interested in was Jia Wuqun. He had created this entire spectacle for the sole purpose of luring one Jia Wuqun here, while also providing cover for this side's meeting with him.

They argued for half the day without reaching a conclusion. By then evening and the dinner hour were approaching. Shang Chaozong rose and made the decision. Discussions would pause for the day, and a banquet would be held shortly to entertain the guests.

As everyone began dispersing, Niu Youdao used the opportunity to move beside Jia Wuqun and murmur, "The Prince requests your presence."

Jia Wuqun gave a slight nod.

After leaving the council hall, he exchanged a few words with the cultivator leading the Song delegation. Under the man's cover, Jia Wuqun slipped away from the group alone.

Before the delegation departed Song, Zi Pingxiu had already given the cultivator leader the necessary instructions.

Once Jia Wuqun was alone, someone was naturally waiting to receive him. He was led to a secluded room.

After a short wait, Shang Chaozong arrived with only two people: Yun Ji and Niu Youdao.

Jia Wuqun cupped his hands in salute. Unable to speak, he could only make the gesture.

Shang Chaozong pointed at his own face.

Jia Wuqun smiled faintly, raised a hand, and peeled away the disguise on his face, revealing his true appearance. He was a lean, middle-aged man with fair skin, bright eyes, and a calm bearing.

His features looked ordinary enough, yet there was something about him like a detached wanderer watching the world from its farthest edge. Niu Youdao studied him with particular interest.

"Sir has traveled a long way at our invitation. You've had a hard journey." Shang Chaozong smiled and gestured for him to sit.

Jia Wuqun cupped his hands again in thanks and sat with him.

Niu Youdao, behaving exactly like a servant, presented a full set of writing implements with both hands and arranged them before Jia Wuqun: brush, ink, paper, and inkstone, nothing missing. He personally began grinding the ink beside him while watching Jia Wuqun's reaction.

Jia Wuqun's gaze settled on the writing board before him. His eyes tightened.

He was shocked.

The style of the writing board was exactly the same as the one he used at home.

His gaze shifted to the brush, brush rack, and inkstone. They looked exactly the same too.

Unable to resist, he picked up the brush. It felt intimately familiar in his hand. Even its degree of wear seemed identical. If these things were placed among his own belongings at home, they could probably pass for the originals so perfectly that even he would have difficulty telling which was which.

What did that imply about how thoroughly these people understood his circumstances? It was as though he had no secrets at all. The depth of Jia Wuqun's shock was difficult for an outsider to imagine.

Niu Youdao saw his reaction and smiled. He had put genuine thought into these items.

For the sake of this little set of stationery, he had not hesitated to use a few methods of his own. The Zi residence had been made to feel that Jia Wuqun's writing implements were getting old and ought to be replaced, so Jia Wuqun received a new set.

As for the old set, it had fallen into Niu Youdao's hands.

He had then gone to the trouble of transporting the entire thing here from far away. How could the items not look perfectly authentic?

"These writing implements were specially prepared for Sir by the Prince," Niu Youdao asked from beside him. "Do they feel comfortable to use?"

Jia Wuqun's breathing had grown heavier. The brush in his hand was light, but his heart had never felt heavier.

He suddenly felt as though coming here had left him standing naked before these people, without a single secret to hide.

What was so special about this set of writing implements? Shang Chaozong was puzzled. He could tell Jia Wuqun's reaction to them was abnormal. The calm the man had shown after removing his disguise had vanished in an instant.

Shang Chaozong had no idea what was happening. He did not know what trick Niu Youdao was playing, why he had deliberately targeted this man in such a fashion, or how much pressure this set of writing implements was placing on Jia Wuqun. Of course, he knew Niu Youdao must have his reasons.

After calming himself, Jia Wuqun dipped the brush in ink and wrote several characters on the board, then turned it toward Shang Chaozong: Your Highness has been most thoughtful.

He then wrote on the other side: Your Highness summoned me here. What instructions do you have?

Standing beside Jia Wuqun, Niu Youdao gave Shang Chaozong a slight nod.

Shang Chaozong smiled. "Naturally, this concerns joining forces against Jin."

Jia Wuqun turned the board back, removed the sheet, and wrote again: From what I observed of Your Highness gathering the various states today, the conference seemed intended merely to create a lively scene, with no real intention of reaching a decision. Yet Your Highness has gone to such lengths over this Jia. If there is something you wish to say, please speak plainly.

After reading it, Shang Chaozong burst out laughing and rose. "Sir Jia, the envoys from the various states should already be arriving at the banquet. I must go keep them company. Wang Xiao, take good care of Sir."

"Yes!" Niu Youdao cupped his hands in acknowledgment.

Shang Chaozong turned and strode away. Jia Wuqun frowned and stood as well. Being unable to speak was troublesome; he could not even call after the man and ask him to stay.

Niu Youdao turned and gestured toward the seat. "Sir Jia, please sit."

Jia Wuqun did not regard him as worth his attention and swept his sleeve aside as he headed for the door.

Yun Ji's figure flashed and blocked his path.

Jia Wuqun stopped and looked coldly from one to the other.

Niu Youdao said, "Zhao is destroyed. The balance beneath Heaven is broken. The Western Three States are locked in bitter war and have no strength to look east. The newly founded State of Qin has been drawn in as well and can barely protect itself. If Jin wins, Wei and Qi will fall. Before long, Jin will emerge from the passes and send its armies eastward, able to attack when advancing and defend when withdrawing. The Four Eastern States will inevitably be thrown into prolonged upheaval."

"If Jin instead becomes trapped in a long war, it will have no strength for an eastern campaign. With Jin, Wei, and Qi all unable to turn their attention east, weak Qin will inevitably draw the covetous eyes of Yan and Han. With such a piece of fat meat set before their mouths, how could they pass it up? Yet Song lies behind both states. Yan and Han will inevitably join forces to eliminate that danger at their rear once and for all."

"Whether Jin wins or loses, the signs of chaos beneath Heaven have already appeared. Every side is husbanding its strength and plotting for advantage, eyeing the rest like tigers. Wu Gongling is no enlightened ruler. Song cannot endure for long. It must fall. Who will ultimately possess all under Heaven is difficult to predict. Sir should make your choice early."

Jia Wuqun's eyes flickered for a while. At last, he slowly returned to his seat and wrote: Did the Prince summon me here merely so that you and I could discuss the greater situation beneath Heaven?

Niu Youdao said, "No. The Prince only wishes to ask Sir for one favor."

Jia Wuqun wrote: Could it be that you want me to persuade the Chancellor to help the Prince annex Song?

"A mere Zi Pingxiu is not enough for the Prince to concern himself with. Nor has the time yet come to annex Song."

Jia Wuqun wrote: Apart from that small bit of usefulness, this Jia truly cannot think of any other way I could help the Prince.

"Sir need not belittle yourself, and there is no need to hurry back to Song. Within three days, the Prince will provide something for Sir to read. Once you have read it, you will understand."

Jia Wuqun raised his brush as though intending to write more, but Niu Youdao reached out and pressed down his hand. "Sir, the Prince's banquet has begun. Please go eat and fill your stomach."

Jia Wuqun instead lifted a hand and pointed at Niu Youdao.

Niu Youdao looked puzzled. Jia Wuqun pushed his hand aside and continued writing: Who are you?

"Wang Xiao. I am to the Prince what Sir is to the Chancellor. The world knows Sir, but it does not know me."

Jia Wuqun's gaze paused slightly. So this man had also always remained behind Shang Chaozong, only even more quietly than he himself remained behind Zi Pingxiu?

"The banquet has begun. Sir, please." Niu Youdao extended a hand in invitation again.

The other man plainly had no intention of saying more. Jia Wuqun knew he would get nothing else from him, so he slowly set down the brush, rose, and left.

After being escorted back to the banquet, he quietly resumed his place at the rear of the Song delegation without drawing attention. He ate and drank slowly, yet his thoughts surged like waves.

A favor? What could they possibly want his help with? They were not after Song. He could rack his brains and still find no thread to follow.

In the end, there was nothing to do but wait and see what exactly they intended to show him.

After the banquet, he instructed people in the Song delegation to investigate this Wang Xiao. The answer came back that Wang Xiao was one of Maolu Villa's people. Nothing more specific was known for the time being.

"One of Maolu Villa's people..." Jia Wuqun murmured beneath the moon, turning the matter over in his mind.

For the next two days, he tossed and turned whenever he tried to rest. During the day, he continued sitting in on the discussions, watching a roomful of people argue over how to resist Jin.

Two days later, Yuan Gang entered Niu Youdao's cultivation chamber carrying a stack of documents. The material Niu Youdao had requested was ready.

Niu Youdao only glanced through it before handing it back. "Find a way to give this to Jia Wuqun without anyone seeing."

Yuan Gang accepted the documents and reminded him, "This contains a great deal about the struggle between you and Shao Pingbo. It's extremely detailed. If he sees it, could he suspect you're still alive?"

"You're worrying too much. It's perfectly normal for people in Nanzhou to know about the affairs between Shao Pingbo and me. Besides, former people of Maolu Villa are still here. There's nothing strange about them being able to provide inside information."

"So he agreed to work for you."

"No."

Yuan Gang was slightly surprised. "He didn't agree, and you're still letting him see this?"

Niu Youdao said, "A man like this can't be persuaded. There's no need for me to waste endless words trying. He has his own considerations. Let him make his own choice. Give him a sea, then give him a boat. As for what comes after... once he's aboard, there is no 'after.' Go."

[End of Chapter 1212]