Before the vast chessboard of the world, Wei Yuan had finally taken a seat at a corner of the table.
He now held eight commanderies of Southern Jin in his grasp, where he had to contend with the two great clans of Xu and Lü. In the State of Ji, he had only just secured a firm foothold, while the State of Zhao had thrown open its entire market to him and was poised to become a vital source of raw materials.
After pondering for several days, Wei Yuan settled on his overarching strategy: first, bring more people into the vast territories he already occupied, and then guide them through Body Casting and awaken their intellects, generating an endless stream of human destiny.
Once that human destiny swelled into a vast ocean, his grand momentum would be fully formed. At that point, no matter what manner of figure lurked behind Zhang Sheng's killing tribulation, Wei Yuan was confident he could steamroll over them with majestic, irresistible force.
With the strategy decided, the details remained. There could not be the slightest carelessness now. Wei Yuan weighed and scrutinized every single step repeatedly until he was sure it was foolproof, only then settling on his tactical approach: seemingly slow, yet intensely swift beneath the surface.
At present, only Immortal Zhao-Li had any inkling of Qingming's production capacity, and even his understanding was incomplete. The other immortals likely knew nothing of Qingming's terrifying productivity and the blistering rate of human destiny accumulation stemming from it. Wei Yuan intended to exploit this blind spot, establishing his overwhelming momentum before they could react.
With his plans set, Wei Yuan handed the tasks over to the Smoke and Fire of the Mortal World, then rose and walked over to Zhang Sheng. "I have a few arrangements to make and need to leave for a few days. I'll hurry back as soon as I can."
Zhang Sheng opened her eyes and said, "Go if you must. Do you really need to report to me? How is it I never noticed you were so clingy before?"
Wei Yuan said, "I was young and knew no better back then."
Zhang Sheng rose from the couch. "Go attend to your business without worry. I will handle the daily affairs here."
Wei Yuan hesitated for a moment. That fleeting look did not escape Zhang Sheng's eyes, and she asked with a smile, "What, afraid I'll mess things up?"
Wei Yuan said, "Right now, what I need to do is feign weakness to keep them complacent. So our boundary domain from that realm stone behind us shouldn't be built too quickly; the real base needs to be built at the mystic realm's exit. As for the warfare, hold back a bit on the State of Ji's front. Don't hit them too hard, and we even need to lose a battle or two from time to time. That might be a little tough for you."
Zhang Sheng smiled faintly. "All right, I understand."
She then tilted her face, offering her cheek, but Wei Yuan bypassed it and pressed a gentle kiss directly to her lips before turning to leave.
At this moment, with Wei Yuan's five grotto-heavens exerting force at the same time, the vast Smoke and Fire of the Mortal World was slowly transforming, progressing steadily day by day. The boundary between Dharma Idol and Scenery Command had long grown blurry; only that heavenly demon, facing the sea with nothing to gaze upon but spring flowers blossoming in warmth, stubbornly persisted in trying to prove Wei Yuan was still just a Dharma Idol.
Wei Yuan, too, told everyone he met that he was merely a Dharma Idol.
Leaving the State of Ji, Wei Yuan returned to Qingming, and from Qingming set out for the Jin capital to put the first step of his scheme into motion.
***
The capital of the State of Ji.
The weather was gradually warming, yet mornings and evenings remained chilly. The weather this year had been exceedingly bizarre: bitterly cold at dawn and dusk, but scorching like fire at high noon. In private, everyone was quietly gossiping about that strange spectacle of the midday sun hanging in the midnight sky that night, though naturally no one dared let the King of Ji hear of it.
Today the King of Ji had risen early, yet he had little heart for business and dismissed court ahead of time. Returning to the rear palace, several voluptuous concubines came up to welcome him, flocking around a slender-waisted beauty. This was currently the King of Ji's favorite concubine, named Xu Shang, of the Xu family.
"Your Majesty, why the foul mood? Are you still brooding over what happened that night? Hasn't the Director of the Directorate of Astronomy already said it was caused by immortals clashing in battle, not an omen from Heaven and Earth?"
Hearing this, the King of Ji's mood finally improved somewhat.
Xu Shang seized the moment and said, "I have choreographed a new dance. Would Your Majesty care to watch?"
"Right now?" The King of Ji rubbed his sore, aching lower back, but Xu Shang had already shed her outer robe, leaving only a few wisps of sheer gauze draped around her body.
The King of Ji's spirits immediately rallied with forced vigor.
Moments later, the music rose, and Xu Shang danced with fluttering grace. With a single stride and twist of her waist, she reduced all the accompanying concubines to lifeless wooden posts.
Then the rhythm turned brisk and frantic; Xu Shang's movements grew increasingly passionate and wild, yet those few wisps of gossamer clung to her body as if glued, refusing to fall even when catching by a mere thread.
Unable to endure it any longer, the King of Ji lunged forward.
Xu Shang let out a string of soft laughs like silver bells tinkling to the floor, setting off the King of Ji's ragged, heavy breathing.
Just then, a youth robed in gray appeared, sauntering over to sit in the King of Ji's former seat to appreciate the erotic spectacle before him. Xu Shang noticed him first; she gave a slight start, but then lifted one leg higher and higher.
***
The King of Ji struggled to his feet, his robes soaked through with sweat. Just as he was about to summon the palace maids for a change of clothing, he looked up and caught sight of the youth. Startled at first, he then composed himself and asked, "Are you from that side?"
The gray-robed youth said flatly, "I have come to take Liumiao's place and prolong your Dao path."
The King of Ji hesitated, feeling an instinctive reluctance to draw close. The gray-robed youth paid it no mind and said, "My name is Cangwu. Chanting my name silently in your heart will allow you to find me. Furthermore..."
He cast a glance at Xu Shang, who was sluggishly slipping on her outer robe, and said, "Cultivate more and watch less singing and dancing if you hope to reach Scenery Command. Every day you squander now is worth three or four days in Scenery Command."
Displeasure crept onto the King of Ji's face. Although the figure before him was an immortal, as the legitimate King of the State of Ji, he did not hold immortals in very high regard. After all, even an immortal could not depose him from his throne, nor would any dare commit regicide—not even through indirect plots.
Cangwu seemed not to notice the king's annoyance and continued, "Liumiao is dead. That self-proclaimed Military Commissioner in the west will soon bear down with massive armies. In the coming days, you had best attend court more often, deploy troops to hold key strongholds, and carry out a scorched-earth defense. Remember: defend only, do not attack. Pull all your forces back. If you withstand this wave of his offensive, his momentum will flag, and he will inevitably retreat. At that point, I will grant you a million Dao soldiers to crush him in a single sweep."
The King of Ji gave noncommittal grunts of assent, barely taking any of it to heart. The gray-robed youth opened his hand, revealing the military tally used to mobilize the armies of the State of Ji. "If you find it too troublesome, I can deploy the troops for you."
The sovereign instincts honed over years finally stirred in the King of Ji. "We can manage it ourselves. Could you return that to Us?"
The gray-robed youth chuckled, tossed the military tally to the King of Ji, and said, "Keep good care of it. Find the next Duke of Long, and this time wait a little longer before executing him. Otherwise, it will just end up back in my hands."
With that, the gray-robed youth vanished. The King of Ji's face turned livid. He let out a heavy snort, yet dared not voice any real complaint.
***
The capital of Western Jin.
Wei Yuan stood in a cozy pavilion, admiring the curios displayed on an antique rack. The items resting on these shelves were all exquisite rarities of immense value.
An official wearing third-rank robes hurried into the warm chamber and bowed deeply, touching the floor. "Sun Chao'en greets the Realm Lord!"
Wei Yuan stepped forward to help him up and said, "There is no need for this. We agreed long ago that we would address each other as brothers. Heh heh, Lord Sun's career has certainly flourished of late, and your wealth has grown considerably!"
The antiques on this single shelf alone were worth ten thousand liang of immortal silver, to say nothing of the gold, silver, and jewels elsewhere in his manor.
Sun Chao'en smiled and said, "Ever since I was transferred to the post of Vice Minister of Personnel, those sending gifts have lined up daily. For matters I can manage, I turn no one away; for matters I cannot, I tell them plainly. Because of that, I have actually gained a modest reputation for integrity during this time."
Wei Yuan shook his head, thoroughly amused and helpless. Sun Chao'en had pocketed at least a hundred thousand liang of silver, yet somehow had earned a modest reputation for integrity. Clearly, the scholars in court cared nothing for right and wrong, judging only by faction.
Wei Yuan said, "Brother Sun has surely seen right through the officialdom of Western Jin by now. Right now, there is a major matter for which I need Brother Sun's help. It will be quite demanding of time and energy, and you will have to abandon everything here and shoulder infamy. Only on the day of success will your reputation be cleared. Moreover, it will bring merit to Heaven and Earth, and merit to the myriad people, granting you merit and karmic luck, with the hope of breaking through to Scenery Command."
Sun Chao'en gave a bitter smile and said, "The only reason I have reached where I am today is thanks to your early warnings all along, and for taking the right side in advance in the Crown Prince's case to render great service. As for a clean reputation, I have done so many bad deeds—what clean name do I have left to speak of? But as for Scenery Command, since you mention it, I shall dare harbor a sliver of hope. Speak, what do you need me to do?"
Wei Yuan said, "Go take office in the State of Ji, and find a way to become a treacherous prime minister for the ages."
"The King of Ji..." Sun Chao'en stood up and paced back and forth, contemplating as he walked, then said, "To take office there, infamy is indeed necessary."
Wei Yuan said, "I have already arranged that infamy for you. The Left Prime Minister's grandniece is renowned for her voluptuous beauty and is exceptionally well-suited. You will feign ignorance, snatch her into your manor, and cook the raw rice into porridge. The Left Prime Minister is bound to be furious, but in the end it will amount to no more than stripping your post and exiling you. Along the journey, you will take her and flee, and once you reach the State of Ji, marry her openly and ostentatiously, making a huge stir."
"...And then find a way to present her to the King of Ji?" Sun Chao'en interjected.
Wei Yuan gave a thumbs-up and praised, "Brother Sun truly possesses the caliber of a ruthless hegemon!"
Sun Chao'en sighed. "Having been in Western Jin's officialdom for so long, I learned everything long ago; divining the sovereign's whims is an essential skill. Besides, who doesn't know that the King of Ji has a weakness for married women, particularly the wives of his own ministers? If he accepts the woman I present without granting me an official post or promotion, his own pleasure would be cut in half. The higher my official post rises, the greater his delight will be."
Chapter 1010