This official was none other than Sun Chao'en. The former county magistrate had now risen to become the vice prefect of Bianning Commandery. Wei Yuan had only discovered this old acquaintance while gathering intelligence on the establishment of all the local commanderies and prefectures, and had paid him a secret visit.
The commandery seat of Bianning lay a mere eleven hundred li from Hanyang Pass. Situated right up against the border pass, it could draw upon the support of tens of thousands of garrisoned troops at a moment's notice. If the Shamans wished to invade, they would first have to break entirely through Wei Yuan's Ningxi Commandery before reaching Bianning.
Serving here as vice prefect, Sun Chao'en enjoyed both safety and a prosperous seat of government, making it quite the lucrative post among the four commanderies. Because he offered ample tribute, the Right Prime Minister had arranged things generously for him—a clear testament to the Right Prime Minister's character.
Having not seen each other for several months, Vice Prefect Sun had grown a circle plumper and a shade fairer. With his round face, kindly brows, and benevolent eyes, he looked every bit like an upright man.
Sun Chao'en sent his steward out to hurry the kitchen along, carefully closed the study doors, and casually cast a ward of dharmic power. The spell sprang to life with a mere flick of his sleeve, without the slightest hesitation. It was evident that although he had received a promotion and gained weight, his cultivation had not fallen behind in the least; rather, it had advanced considerably.
Once the group took their seats, Sun Chao'en did not speak at first, looking instead toward the two people beside Wei Yuan.
Wei Yuan said, "This is Wang Yu, hailing from the Wang family, a Heaven Tier Dao Foundation. This is Miss Xu Yi, of the Xu family's direct lineage, also a Heaven Tier Dao Foundation. Both have braved life and death with me and can be trusted."
Sun Chao'en relaxed slightly and said, "That is well. Since our parting back then, you have built quite the grand undertaking in such a short time, worthy brother. To dare plant a boundary stone in the desolate territory and preserve countless lives is truly a monumental merit! I too have read the sages' books for decades, yet whenever I search my conscience, had I been in your shoes back then, I fear I would have lacked both the resolve and the courage to shoulder it."
Wei Yuan offered a bitter smile. "Back then I was young and headstrong; an impulse got the better of me. Now, I am merely struggling to hold on."
Sun Chao'en said, "Your visit at a time like this can only be for one matter: grain."
"Lord Sun's foresight is miraculous."
Sun Chao'en smiled faintly. "Yuan Qingyan is a man of considerable skill. Since he went to such great lengths to lay out this starvation scheme, he has most likely calculated things down to the letter. Allow me to outline the current situation for you, worthy brother."
Sun Chao'en smoothed a map across the desk and tapped several spots along the eastern border of Ningxi Commandery. "I just received word that Governor Chen is determined to blockade the grain routes and rebuild the military redoubts. The matter is being personally overseen by Provincial Commander Yue, who plans to lay an ambush and wait for you to take the bait. However, I wager that you will not fall into their trap."
These points were all situated at critical choke points. When Yuan Qingyan had chosen these locations to erect the military redoubts, he truly had left no way out for the domain.
Wei Yuan frowned. "The Wu domain is difficult terrain, and supply convoys require level roads all the more. These redoubts are indeed placed in just the right spots. If we do not knock one out, no grain can pass through even if we have it. Does Lord Sun know where the ambush is being laid?"
Sun Chao'en chuckled. "If this were the early days of the Great Tang, one might truly have to fight. But now the Great Tang's Nine Marquises stand divided, and here we are in the Western Jin. In all things, harmony is prized; if a fight can be avoided, it is best not to fight."
Wei Yuan's interest was piqued. "Then how might we secure grain without fighting?"
Sun Chao'en said, "I surmised you would likely come these few days, worthy brother, so I already laid some groundwork in advance. Even if you hadn't come, I would have sent someone to find you. To travel thousands of li to serve as an official is solely for wealth—this is the universal consensus throughout the Western Jin officialdom from top to bottom. The Western Jin today is like a great ship leaking water on all sides. Even if Chen Dao is determined to play the paper-hanger, his solitary strength can patch only a few spots, while even more leaks will spring up elsewhere."
Sun Chao'en stepped out of the study, summoned his steward, and instructed, "Send someone to Guerrilla General Yue's residence. Say that I have prepared a fine feast tonight and would like to invite him over to share it."
The steward took his orders and departed.
Sun Chao'en then chatted with Wei Yuan about the current affairs of the Western Jin imperial court, followed by a detailed rundown of the origins, backgrounds, temperaments, and personalities of the commandery prefects of the four commanderies. All of this was of vital importance, and Wei Yuan committed every word to memory.
A short while later, a private banquet was laid out in the inner hall, and General Yue arrived.
The man who walked through the door was a spirited general, appearing remarkably young, with impressive cultivation. Observing him with his Qi-Gazing Technique, Wei Yuan saw that his Dao Foundation was solid and radiant—an upper-grade Earth Foundation, already cultivated to the late stage.
Sun Chao'en closed the doors and laid down a ward before making introductions. "This is General Yue Qilin, the current guerrilla general of Bianning Commandery. All eight thousand men across our commandery fall under General Yue's command."
As Wei Yuan and the others rose to exchange courtesies, General Yue was secretly taken aback.
Though Wei Yuan and his companions had altered their appearances, Wang Yu and Xu Yi both came from prominent clans; the effortless poise and dignity in their every gesture could not be concealed, nor could an ordinary person ever mimic it. Wei Yuan, meanwhile, felt to him like an abyss of pure darkness. The moment Yue closed his eyes, he could no longer perceive Wei Yuan's presence, yet his own divine soul throbbed with a persistent, faint prickle, as though locked in the gaze of a natural predator.
Whatever lingering arrogance Yue Qilin held vanished from his face. He greeted them with a smile, took his seat, and settled beside Sun Chao'en.
After three rounds of wine, the atmosphere loosened, and Sun Chao'en said with a smile, "In truth, General Yue holds another identity—one that is far more important. Our grand Provincial Commander Yue is none other than the general's uncle."
"A blood uncle," Yue Qilin added with a grin.
Wei Yuan adopted an expression of solemn respect.
Sun Chao'en pointed toward Wei Yuan. "This Mr. Zhang is a major financier from out west. He deals only in profitable ventures, and only in large ones."
Yue Qilin asked, "May I ask what goods Mr. Zhang purchases?"
Wei Yuan smiled faintly. "Out west right now—no, in all of Ningxi—only two things yield the highest profit: livestock and grain."
Draft oxen were rare in the Western Regions. In this territory, 'livestock' in the mouths of the upper class carried a different meaning, referring specifically to human sacrifices. Wei Yuan was, after all, currently one of the foremost horse bandits in the Shattered Lands and knew the underworld cant of the Western Regions like the back of his hand.
Yue Qilin was visibly moved. "Impressive means, sir. How much can you take?"
"As much as you have, paid in immortal silver."
Yue Qilin probed cautiously, "Then... do you have specialty goods from further west?"
"With the war underway, the normal trade routes are all severed, but I still have a bit of stock on hand. The general surely understands the situation out there; when armies march across the land, everything is left a scorched wasteland. No merchant caravan dares venture through."
Yue Qilin cast a glance at Sun Chao'en. Catching his drift, Sun Chao'en spoke up, "We do indeed have a batch of surplus grain on our hands. We just do not know what kind of price Mr. Zhang can offer."
Wei Yuan had already coordinated this with Sun Chao'en beforehand, so he said on the spot, "Within the Great Tang, the price of military grain is ten jin per tael of mortal silver. But this is the frontier, so the price cannot be calculated that way. The price I offer is fifty jin per tael of immortal silver!"
Yue Qilin's hand shook, sloshing wine from his cup. Wei Yuan had raised the price twentyfold in a single breath! The military grain in Yue's possession was entirely allocated by the imperial court; it did not cost him a single copper.
Yue Qilin slammed his cup onto the table. "Forty jin! And I will see it delivered right to your doorstep!"
Wei Yuan offered a charming smile. "General Yue truly possesses heaven-reaching means!"
Yue Qilin said proudly, "A minor matter like this is well within my reach. That is my blood uncle, after all!"
"The price is no problem. How much grain can General Yue provide?"
Yue Qilin pondered for a moment, then set his jaw. "I'll give you 1.2 million jin, all top-grade military provisions! But you must do one thing for me."
"Please, General Yue, speak."
"The commanding general of the second-to-last redoubt in the south is Wang Kun, a life-and-death brother of mine who can be trusted. I will have the grain convoy pass through his post under the pretext of delivering military provisions to him. Once you are near the redoubt, have your people intercept the convoy. There will be a vice general with them named Song Chao. I want that man dead!"
Sun Chao'en chuckled. "As for this General Song, he is rather pedantic and has repeatedly spoiled General Yue's good fortunes. To make matters worse, he happened to marry a fair and beautiful concubine. General Yue already found him an eyesore, and hasn't he now taken a fancy to that little sister-in-law? This is the perfect chance to take care of both matters at once."
Wei Yuan remained impassive. "His appearance and Dao Foundation profile."
Sun Chao'en promptly produced a sheet of jade paper and set down his brush in a brisk flurry. The portrait he painted was remarkably lifelike, and the details below were written in minuscule standard script. While not quite at the level of a grand master, it was more than fine enough for ordinary wealthy merchants to collect. When it came to the six gentlemanly arts, Sun Chao'en was in no way inferior to Fang Hetong.
"It is all here." Sun Chao'en slid the jade paper across. Wei Yuan glanced at the words 'late-stage Dao Foundation' and looked no further, handing the sheet to Wang Yu to put away. Aside from his master, his Eldest Senior Sister, and a select few others, every Dao Foundation in the world looked the same to Wei Yuan.
Well, that young maiden had to be counted as well.
With the major business concluded, the mood shifted again. Wei Yuan said, "I came in haste this time and didn't expect General Yue to deal on such a grand scale. I only brought ten thousand taels of immortal silver, which I shall leave in Lord Sun's care for now. The remaining twenty thousand will be delivered tomorrow."
Yue Qilin said, "You must take care on the road."
Sun Chao'en laughed. "Vast as the Western Regions are, if we speak of anyone capable of taking something from Mr. Zhang, aside from your uncle and Lord Chen, I truly cannot think of a third. I'd almost like Lord Yuan to catch wind of this and try intercepting him alone."
Yue Qilin was visibly stirred. He gave Wei Yuan a deep look and said slowly, "The Fifty Bandits of the Heaven-Battling Gang truly live up to their name. Rumors have long held that even dharma idols have fallen by your hands; it seems they were not empty words."
Wei Yuan said casually, "A few blind fools did indeed throw themselves into our path."
Yue Qilin immediately raised his cup. "Splendid! Then I shall await Mr. Zhang's good news! Allow me to drink first!"
Sun Chao'en also lifted his cup. "To General Yue finally taking the beauty into his arms, I drink as well!"
After several more rounds of wine, the atmosphere grew even livelier. Sun Chao'en said, "General Yue, the quantity this time is rather large. We will need to take some care in balancing the accounts."
Yue Qilin nodded. "Indeed. For such a massive sum of military provisions, relying solely on burning granaries won't pass muster. Does Lord Sun have a good solution?"
Sun Chao'en spoke with utter confidence. "It is quite simple, really. The Western Regions are hot and humid, so military provisions spoil easily. When the time comes, we divide the ledger into three parts: one part intercepted by Mr. Zhang, witnessed by all at the redoubt; one part written off by burning a granary as per custom; and the last part lost to rot. That too is simple—pile wood shavings at the bottom, lay a layer of spoiled grain on top, inspect it, and burn it away. The inspectors will all be our own people anyway."
Yue Qilin was thoroughly convinced. "Lord Sun has truly thought of everything!"
Sun Chao'en chuckled. "The key is still having a great patron like Mr. Zhang, who doesn't even bat an eye when parting with tens of thousands of taels of immortal silver. Only then can this system of ours keep turning, and only then can all our learning find its proper use."
"Too true! We must toast Mr. Zhang three cups!" Yue Qilin raised his cup and drank.
In the quiet depth of the night, host and guests reveled to their hearts' content.
Under cover of darkness, three riders slipped out of the commandery seat, heading west.
The inescapable dragnet that Chen Dao had painstakingly laid was thus turned into a sieve by his own people, all over the clinking of wine cups.
Chapter 218