Qin Shi Ambitious

Page 158

"Li Shiqi and Ziwu of Sanghai City were able to maintain the normal operation of their branch, and the cost of befriending the Confucian school was very small for Gonggongtang."

The sect leader, seated on horseback, responded to Lü Qing:

"Confucianism can't offer us much help right now, and Taoism, Mohism, and other schools of thought from the Hundred Schools of Thought have little connection with the Agricultural School, but we can maintain good relations at such a small cost, so why not do it?"

"The effort is insignificant compared to the potential gains, Uncle Qing. The Sanghai branch must continue to maintain its momentum."

"Yes, I understand."

Lü Qing nodded; he actually understood this principle very well.

Before joining the farm, when Lü Qing was running a tavern and inn in Zhuangzhen, he often generously helped others to make friends with wandering knights, hoping that a small investment could bring huge returns.

He succeeded as a result, and now the Lü family father and son hold high positions of power in the Gonggongtang of the Farmers.

Applying the practice of casting a wide net to the entire Gonggong Hall was, for Lü Qing, a new interpretation of an old idea, but the underlying principles remained the same.

The reason for asking on the way to Sanghai City was that Lü Qing could sense that Lu Wei's investment in Sanghai went beyond the scope of 'casting a wide net'.

Since the leader cares so much about Sanghai, as a subordinate, sometimes it is necessary to pretend to be stupid to find out the leader's thoughts, avoid misunderstandings, and make it easier to act.

Lu Wei understood Uncle Qing's intention and replied with the four words "keep it up." The latter immediately knew what to do next...

"The sect leader attaches great importance to Sanghai City and wants to increase investment in it!"

The inspection was not communicated to Sanghai beforehand, so when the hall master and the steward arrived at the branch, neither Li Shiqi nor Ziwu were there.

Only a few disciples hurriedly tried to go out to search, but Lu Wei stopped them:

"It's alright, I'll go find them myself. Uncle Qing, you can stay here."

"Yes, Hall Master."

Lü Qing nodded and ordered his disciple to take him to the accounting office.

It is said that Li Shiqi was at the tavern, while Ziwu went out to sea on a fishing boat. After leaving the branch, the head of the hall did not go to the tavern or the seaside, but went straight to Xiaoshengxianzhuang.

When you come to Confucian territory, it is proper to pay respects to the local host.

Although there's nothing important, if they're being so attentive now, how could the three leaders of the Confucian school possibly refuse when something really happens in the future?

Chapter 177 Confucian Leisurely Pursuits

It must have been quite a feat for the strategist Zhang Liang to maintain a 50/50 chance against him in the game of Go.

At the pavilion by the Bihe Lake in Xiaoshengxianzhuang, Lu Wei and Zhang Liang, the third leader of the village, fought fiercely for two rounds, with Lu Wei winning one and Zhang Liang losing the other. The process and the result were evenly matched.

Zhang Liang's control of the chessboard was extremely precise. He ensured that his own Go level dropped to that of a beginner, while also making a few subtle mistakes from time to time. This was very difficult.

Lu Wei started studying Go very late. He only gradually got involved a little bit a few years ago when he was waiting for Li Mu to design the game in Handan. After that, he practiced very few games, mainly because he rarely had the opportunity to use them.

Last year, the head of Shouchun Hall had the audacity to play a game or two with Chu Nan Gong, but the other party refused, leaving him with no choice.

Today, on his way to visit Xiaoshengxianzhuang in Sanghai, he happened to meet Zhang Liang, who was coming down the mountain. The two returned to the village together. Since they were both very interested in each other and had ulterior motives, they chose a pastime to pass the time and distract themselves while chatting.

During the first two games, they chatted about all sorts of things, but in the third game, both of them tactfully turned their attention to the north:

"Is it said that Brother Lu's journey in the agricultural world began in the State of Yan?"

After some time apart, Zhang Liang's tone of voice had become much gentler.

If he were willing to abandon national and personal grievances and devote himself to Confucian studies, he would surely become a virtuous and great Confucian scholar.

However, Zhang Liang himself was unwilling to do that, and neither was Lu Wei.

"Indeed, I joined a farming family in an unnamed village outside Jicheng. Later, I moved to Jicheng and joined the Gonggong Hall's branch in Yan: Luqiu Pavilion from the very beginning."

Nodding and placing a piece, when Zhang Liang shifted the topic to the State of Yan, the Master of the Hall directly and more precisely pinpointed the location to Ji City.

“You grew up there, but now Jicheng has become a meat grinder. Brother Lu must be very sad.”

Zhang Liang sighed as if he felt the same way, perhaps feigning empathy, but deep down he couldn't help but think of the ruined Xinzheng...

"No." Lu Wei had no intention of showing his tenderness. As for Zhang Liang, he would rather hear his hatred for Qin in the end.

"I am a native of Zhao. The reason I left Zhao was to escape Qin's continuous attacks on Zhao."

“From the first day I fled Zhao, I knew that the blood that flowed on Zhao’s land would one day splatter on Yan.”

"And the Qi state we are in now will not be a paradise isolated from war; it's just that the time hasn't come yet."

"What Jicheng is going through now, Xinzheng has experienced, Handan has experienced, and one day, every country will experience it."

"Having known this all along, I was mentally prepared and of course I wouldn't grieve repeatedly because of what happened in Jicheng."

"It is truly remarkable that Brother Lu was able to gain such insights at such a young age."

"But, if that's the case, why doesn't Brother Lu go to Qin?" Zhang Liang didn't dislike Lu Wei's answer just now. He knew that the Hall Master Lu who said those words didn't have a good impression of Qin, but to test him, he still said softly, "At least these wars won't happen in Xianyang, right?"

"A harsh government is more ferocious than a tiger. If I were to go to Xianyang, I'd probably be standing beneath the walls of Jicheng, sword in hand, ready to die... or perhaps even sooner, on the battlefield of Zhao."

He smiled nonchalantly, "Besides, things are unpredictable. Who knows if Xianyang will be besieged by troops in ten or twenty years?"

"Brother Lu's words do have a touch of Taoist spirit." Zhang Liang didn't refute this seemingly delusional jest. The scene of troops pointing towards Xianyang—in fact, even someone as rational as him had fantasized about it... even if it was just a fleeting moment on the way to Qi...

"Aren't there still quite a few farmers from the Gonggong Hall in Jicheng?"

The perspective shifts back to the more realistic city of Ji, with Zhang San taking charge, making pointed remarks and gradually delving deeper into the topic.

"Before the siege began, there were 460 soldiers and able-bodied men defending the city, but that number is now unknown."

"However, by this time next year, that number will probably be zero."

Zhang Liang paused upon hearing this, and slowly recited the Book of Songs in a sorrowful tone: "Neither rhinoceros nor tiger, roaming the vast wilderness. Alas, my soldiers on campaign, have no time to spare, day or night."

"King Dan of Yan led his people in a desperate resistance, and what many exquisite poems will be sung in the course of this war."

"This King Dan of Yan, besides being the king of Yan, is also said to be the leader of the Mohist school. The earth-shattering assassination attempt on the King of Qin at the end of the year before last was planned by him and Jing Ke, a master of the Mohist school."

"Brother Lu, you've been in Ji City for a long time. Have you had any contact with Prince Yan, Dan?"

As Zhang Liang spoke, he placed a piece on the chessboard, but he made a mistake and fell into Lu Wei's obvious trap. After a few moves, a large portion of his pieces were captured.

“During the reign of Crown Prince Yan Dan, he had business dealings with Lu Qiu Pavilion. At that time, the leader of the Mohist school was still known as the Six-Fingered Black Knight.”

Without denying it, Lu Wei took the opportunity to introduce Yan Dan's character for a few moments, then suddenly smiled and said something that made Zhang Liang's eyes light up: "From what I know of Yan Dan, he is a man with an unwavering hatred for the Qin state. His behavior of deliberately putting himself in a deadly predicament last year was very unusual."

Based on the known results, Lu Wei was full of confidence as he worked backward from the plan that Arita Hikaru had informed him of in advance.

"Brother Lu, what do you think Yan Dan's plan is?"

"I haven't been back to Yan for years, how would I know what plans Yan Dan has?" The hall master looked behind Zhang Liang, where another familiar figure emerged and slowly walked over.

Knowing that there wasn't much time left in this game, he lowered his voice and quickened his pace: "However, there is one thing that Zifang will definitely care about."

"Please enlighten me, Brother Lu!"

Zhang Liang noticed Lu Wei's gaze, but he didn't turn around; instead, he quickened the pace of his mouth opening and closing.

"The former Korean assassin group, Quicksand, has been staying in Jicheng for several months."

Meeting Zhang Liang's gaze, Master Lu's pupils revealed a confidence that seemed to suggest he knew everything: "And it's been hidden very well, almost never discovered by any hostile forces."

"This is indeed a surprise."

Zhang Liang placed another piece, but their conversation ended there, because footsteps were already echoing on the pavilion's corridor behind Zhang San.

"Junior Brother Zifang and Hall Master Lu have been discussing the way of chess for half an hour. It must have been a wonderful game."

Yan Lu held a book in his hand and greeted him with an elegant bow.

"Second Master Yan!" "Second Senior Brother~"

The two chess players returned his greeting calmly, their tone normal, as if what they had just discussed was, as he had said, merely a discussion of chess skills.

"I apologize for coming uninvited."

Yan Lu smiled and sat down cross-legged beside the chessboard: "Let me see this carefully crafted game between two chess masters... uh... this..."

Yan Erdangjia looked at the chessboard, expecting to witness a game of chess filled with hidden dangers, intrigue, and traps, but instead... what was this on the chessboard?

Yan Lu, who was always elegant, froze for a moment. He looked up and glanced at the renowned Hall Master Lu and his incomparably intelligent third junior brother before looking back at the chessboard, trying to find out if he had overlooked something.

Or is it that you no longer understand Go?

Upon seeing this, Lu Wei and Zhang Liang, as if by unspoken agreement, both threw their heads back and burst into unrestrained laughter.

Zhang Liang patted Yan Lu on the shoulder and said, "Senior brother, you'd better not watch. What I'm playing with Hall Master Lu isn't Go, it's a game of the mind."

"A new game?" Yan Lu was not a fool. He did not ask too many questions. He simply listened to his junior brother and looked away from the chessboard. He cupped his hands and said, "In that case, I have been impolite to disturb your enjoyment. I am truly sorry."

When Yan Er apologized, he faced the hall master more, since the hall master was a guest and Zifang was one of his own.

"Brother Yan Lu, you're too kind. Did you come here at the invitation of Sect Leader Fu Nian?"

Yan Lu is usually very quiet. Under normal circumstances, even if he knew that Lu Wei had arrived and was playing chess with his junior brother Zhang Liang, he would not intentionally come over.

The only thing that could motivate him to make this trip was the request from Fu Nian, the head of Xiaoshengxianzhuang.

"Exactly."

Yan Lu nodded calmly, his surprise at the game gone, and said in a measured tone, "Senior Brother Headmaster invites Hall Master Lu to visit the library after he and Zifang finish their game."

“Best of three, I have lost today’s game.” Zhang Liang said lightly, “Since the sect leader has invited you, second senior brother and brother Lu may go first and not keep the sect leader waiting. I will stay and tidy up the chess pieces and go a few moves later.”

“That’s fine then,” Lu Wei agreed, got up, and followed Yan Lu away.

After watching their retreating figures, Zhang Liang lowered his head and thoughtfully arranged the chess pieces by color.

His relationship with Liu Sha gradually drifted apart. Ever since Liu Sha completed his mission, killed several rivals for the Prime Minister of Qi, and left the country, the two sides had no further contact.

Zhang Liang was reluctant to see Quicksand become an assassin organization, but given the current situation, Quicksand seemed to have no other way out. He could only temporarily regard Wei Zhuang and Chi Lian as old friends and exchange a few words with them.

With Wei Zhuang's strength and the diverse skills of the members of Quicksand, as long as they don't make any foolish mistakes, establishing themselves in this world shouldn't be a problem.

Zhang Liang's original plan was to maintain his relationship with Liu Sha for the time being, and then change it when the world changed in the future.

If Quicksand could become an assassin organization, it could also be brought back.

He anticipated this change in timing to be after Qin unified the six states. A country unified by force will quickly fall apart if its ruler cannot resolve conflicts among the various factions.

At that time, by using his Confucian identity to unite the various schools of thought, he could ignite a fire from the cracks, seek an opportunity to restore the country, and ultimately defeat the tyrannical Qin dynasty in one fell swoop.

Therefore, Zhang Liang had been waiting ever since he entered Xiaoshengxianzhuang.

He was waiting for Qin to unify the six states, which would be Qin's most powerful peak, and also the beginning of its weakest period.