"The majesty of a sage is contained yet not exposed, stored up yet unreleased, formidable without anger, subduing the enemy without fighting. Viewed in this light, our realm dispatching a munitions convoy straight through Southern Jin is truly somewhat... inappropriate," a middle-aged Confucian scholar said, shaking his head knowingly.
Across from him, a young scholar, keeping in mind the Qingyuan in his pocket, hurriedly refilled the man's cup with tea, adopted the most earnest expression, and promptly asked, "Please enlighten me, sir—in what way is it inappropriate?"
Patrons at several surrounding tea tables were also drawn in by the topic, turning their heads to listen, and some shifted their seats around to face them. Seeing that he had garnered so much attention, the scholar felt quite pleased with himself. Instead of continuing, he put on airs and feigned modesty: "This is merely my humble opinion; I fear it would only make you laugh."
Most of the patrons in this "Tianya" teahouse were spirited literati and scholars. It was the most famous venue in Qingming for debating state affairs. Many came here to discuss the merits and faults of Qingming's administration. Over time, numerous prominent figures had voiced their opinions here, and it was even rumored that the Realm Lord himself had visited incognito.
The moment the man began playing hard to get, the surrounding patrons grew impatient, and someone remarked coldly, "Turns out he only has a catchy topic to bluster with!"
The vast majority of the people here had graduated from Qingming Higher Academy, and some even hailed from the premier Qingming Academy. They appreciated substance and hated nothing more than provocateurs who spouted sensationalist claims without being able to offer a shred of real reasoning. Here, being called a sensationalist was the greatest insult.
The scholar's face immediately flushed red, and he cried, "Of course I have my reasons! The Sage said, 'Subdue others with virtue.' When I look at Qingming's past actions, such as partitioning Western Jin or laying the floating road through Eastern Jin, all was accomplished through brute force and coercion. If we bully the weak like this, how can the realm ever be genuinely convinced? The common folk may call themselves subjects with their mouths, but what do they think in their hearts? Relying solely on intimidation without moral virtue will only breed resentment. The moment an opportunity arises, they will rise in revolt! The collapse of a dynasty would happen overnight!"
A young scholar slammed the table and stood up, saying, "Our Qingming has always walked the grand path straight and true! Wait for the neighboring states to see reason? Wait for them to submit wholeheartedly? Who has that kind of time? If they never see reason, are we supposed to do nothing? Besides, foolish and stubborn people are everywhere under heaven. If they never come around in their lifetimes, are we never to march forth? As I see it, you've been on your knees for so long that you only dare do something once outsiders have come around and agreed to it!"
The scholar turned crimson with rage and stammered, "We are merely debating policy, why resort to insults? Look at that convoy right now—isn't it blocked at the mountain pass, unable to advance or retreat? They claim they gave the other side a deadline to open the gates once time is up, but the deadline is almost here. If Southern Jin doesn't open the gates, won't this become a laughingstock?"
At that moment, a languid voice spoke from the side: "Empty talk harms the nation. I'm afraid you haven't understood the Realm Lord's true intent."
The crowd turned to look and saw a young literatus sitting alone at a table. He was quite handsome, though perhaps falling short of the legendary beauty of Pan An. Yet he carried an effortless poise that naturally quieted everyone, leaving them eager to hear his insights.
The literatus smiled faintly and said, "A compliance test."
The crowd pondered this, but the scholar retorted, "Nonsense, ridiculous! To win people over, one must convince them in heart and mind. How can you force compliance by pushing their heads down?"
The literatus replied unhurriedly, "Whether it's nonsense or a joke actually hinges on just one thing: when others refuse to comply, can you hold them down?"
***
Several colossal flying missiles, unprecedented in size, skimmed across the land at speeds approaching that of an immortal, heading straight for Southern Jin's closed pass city.
The missiles suddenly froze in an eerie stasis. Soon after, Cui Wantong appeared in front of them, looking displeased, and said, "Isn't this going a bit too far?"
Standing atop the missile in the center was a cultivator of peerless grace—none other than Zhang Sheng. Hands resting behind her back, she remarked coolly, "Senior ought to say those words to the people in the heavens above."
Cui Wantong said angrily, "Wei Yuan failed his immortal ascension, but I didn't make a move against him. Why must you make an example of me?"
Zhang Sheng said, "In the vicinity of Qingming, Senior's place happens to be the most suitable."
Cui Wantong laughed in anger. "Kill the chicken to scare the monkeys? You take me for the chicken?"
Zhang Sheng said nothing, giving a silent assent. Cui Wantong's face darkened, and he said, "What if I refuse to let these missiles through?"
"Then open the pass."
"And what if I don't open the pass either?"
An immortal sword radiating an ancient aura appeared in Zhang Sheng's hand, drawn three inches from its scabbard. On the clear, bright blade lingered a trace of cyan-gold, which instantly stung Cui Wantong's eyes.
It was the remnant of an immortal's blood!
Zhang Sheng slowly sheathed the immortal sword and said serenely, "If Senior insists on having your own way, I can only test Senior's methods. Though this sword of mine was newly forged, it has already tasted the blood of an immortal."
Cui Wantong's face turned ashen. Though Zhang Sheng was not yet an immortal, her seat among the realm's sword immortals had long been assured. And having slain an immortal was enough to place her above nearly half the crowd of immortals in the heavens.
Cui Wantong gritted his teeth hard and said, "There are still many mortals inside the pass city. These missiles must not land. I... will open the pass."
Zhang Sheng smiled faintly and said, "Senior is indeed reasonable and sensible!"
The missile beneath her feet turned around and flew back toward Qingming, and the remaining missiles turned as well, following her away.
Left standing alone where he was, Cui Wantong's expression shifted several times before he finally gritted his teeth and gave the order. Below, nestled between two mountains, the grand pass opened its gates on its own.
Outside the walls, the young Qingming general sneered and bellowed, "Break camp, all troops! Enter the pass!"
Beside him, a personal guard asked with some worry, "General, could it be a trap?"
The young general looked at the gaping, dark gateway and said, "Very likely! You all wait outside the pass, then. I'll go in first."
The general rose and surprisingly took off his armor, wearing only plain cloth clothes without any protection. But just as he was about to fly toward the gateway, his personal guards held onto him for dear life:
"General, don't hog the perks all to yourself!"
"If you're going to your death, take your brothers with you!"
"Live and die together!"
Nearby, a new recruit escorting the convoy watched with twitching eyelids and whispered to an experienced soldier beside him, "Are they always this fierce?"
The veteran lowered his voice and said, "Look at you, clueless again, aren't you? The general holds an official post in the Daoist Court, and those personal guards are registered with the Daoist Court as well. Even if they die in battle, their souls can flee back to Qingming and reincarnate. When you die for Qingming and then reincarnate, your aptitude will be on a completely different level! So in our army, being reborn into a good life isn't a blessing—it's an employee benefit!"
The new recruit's eyes lit up instantly. "Then how do you join the Daoist Court? My parents have called me stupid ever since I was little!"
The veteran pointed up at the sky. "Work hard and earn merits. Every bit of merit you achieve, the Realm Lord sees it all."
Chapter 1444