"Didn't I put word out that the Xu family's Dharma Idols are all trash? Just because someone at the perfection stage showed up doesn't mean I should cower, does it? Besides, it's not like I'm guaranteed to lose," Wei Yuan insisted.
Bao Yun had argued with him to no avail. Gritting her teeth in frustration, she grabbed his arm and bit down hard. The bite only jarred her pearly teeth so painfully that she grew even angrier.
Wei Yuan hurriedly softened his flesh. Left to raw physical instinct, his skin would have been nearly impossible for her to pierce.
Fuming, Bao Yun snapped, "If you want to go get yourself killed, go right ahead! Nobody's stopping you!"
"All right, I won't go."
Bao Yun was taken aback. Feeling it would be undignified to look happy too quickly, she fought to keep a straight face and asked, "What changed your mind?"
Wei Yuan said, "I'm the one who put those words out, and the whole realm already knows it. If Xu Lanshan can't swallow it, she should be the one coming to find me. Every day she stays back with the Xu family, she only pins herself to a pillar of shame for another day."
Bao Yun nodded. "Now that makes sense! Still, we can't just passively wait, or she'll simply play deaf and dumb. We need to send people into Xu territory to spread rumors. Tell them... tell them Xu Lanshan is nothing but a pretty vase who slept her way to the top. Say she has the cultivation stage but none of the actual fighting strength. If a third-realm Mind Idol at perfection doesn't even dare challenge a first-realm Spirit Nurturing cultivator, she's utterly useless and might as well hurry up and find a husband to marry."
Wei Yuan gave her a thumbs-up. He never would have come up with that himself—only minds of Wolong and Fengchu caliber could conceive such a plan.
Wei Yuan immediately dispatched an enlightened Dao Foundation scout to contact insiders within the merchant caravans, ordering them to spread the rumor across the Xu lands at once, especially inside Hanyang Pass. It so happened that many within the caravans were already dissatisfied with Xu Lanshan, so they readily agreed.
Bao Yun continued, "I heard Xu Lanshan has taken charge of the Xu family's western defenses now. She was the one who ordered the pass sealed, forbidding a single person or scrap of supplies from leaving to aid the enemy. Rumor has it even True Monarch Qiuniu clashed with her over it, but to no effect. If she dares brush off a True Monarch's face, she must have Xu Wangu backing her."
Wei Yuan nodded. "Our own chartered caravans are trapped inside the pass right now, carrying nearly a hundred thousand refugees with them. Their rations won't last long. But if I try sending grain in now, the Xu family will undoubtedly seize every bit of it."
After a moment's thought, Bao Yun said, "We absolutely cannot send food! Doing that will only show them we're desperate for those refugees, giving them leverage over us. At the very least, they'll jack up the price and demand an exorbitant sum.
"Look at it from another angle: everywhere except Qingming views refugees as an encumbrance and a burden. Our concern for them is actually abnormal. Therefore, we must act as though we don't care at all. That is the proper attitude."
Looking pensive, Wei Yuan asked, "What if we pay the Xu family a transit tax? Ten taels of silver per person, just like in Zhao?"
Bao Yun shook her head. "The situation here is different from Zhao. You don't understand how aristocratic clans operate. With a hundred thousand refugees trapped inside the pass, the Xu family is under just as much pressure as we are. If so many people truly starve to death beneath the pass, it will become an earth-shattering scandal across the realm. The Xu family's reputation would be completely ruined. When that happens, even if Xu Lanshan were Xu Wangu's own daughter, she would still face punishment—ten years facing the wall would be the lightest penalty.
"We aristocratic clans place immense value on reputation. If a clan commits too many atrocities like this, they could even be expelled from the Seven Clans and Thirteen Prominent Families. Right now, the Xu family is likely riding a tiger they cannot dismount. It all comes down to who can endure longer. I'd bet Xu Lanshan is waiting for you to bring up paying silver so she has an easy way out."
Wei Yuan frowned. "Does reputation even matter? I mean, the Xu family has done so many evil things. What reputation do they have left? Why would they care about something they don't even possess?"
"You only think their reputation is rotten because you know the insider truth. Such filthy deeds can be done freely in private, but never in public. Otherwise, they face universal condemnation, and other clans will cut ties with them. In the eyes of the world right now, the Xu family is still a respectable aristocratic house—merely somewhat aggressive due to their shallow heritage."
Upon deeper reflection, Wei Yuan realized she was right. Even the two times the Xu family attacked Qingming, they did so under the guise of bandit suppression, and Qingming back then had indeed differed little from bandits.
Even after Wei Yuan became a Military Commissioner, the public still viewed him as an upstart who rose through martial force—fundamentally no different from a brigand, eliciting zero sympathy even in death.
Only after winning the war against the Land of Rain and slaying a million alien invaders did Qingming truly enter the Great Tang's favor, gaining legitimacy and a righteous pretext. When all was said and done, the people of the Tang believed only those who subjugated alien tribes and expanded the borders were true heroes.
If the Xu family wished to attack Qingming now, they would need a meticulous excuse. Otherwise, turning their blades on a frontier army that had just repelled foreign foes was a grave taboo across the realm; if the matter blew up, the Tang Son of Heaven himself would issue an imperial decree of inquiry.
Eastern and Western Jin and Northern Qi had desperately wanted to eradicate the Palace of Grand Beginning's Northern Mountain Gate, but they waited over a century, finally finding their opportunity only when the palace weakened itself and the Liao Clan launched a massive invasion. Even then, they dared not openly strike the Palace of Grand Beginning, resorting to quietly opening a corner of their defenses to let the Liao forces through.
Wei Yuan had long understood this, of course, and detailed plans had already been drawn up within the Smoke and Fire of the Mortal World. Even so, he feigned ignorance and humbly sought her guidance. "Then what should we do now?"
Bao Yun gave a soft huff. "You must already have an idea. Why bother asking me?"
Yet seeing the eager look on Wei Yuan's face, her heart softened. "The initiative rests in our hands right now, so our goal is to find ways to pressure the Xu family. The greater the pressure, the faster this resolves. Currently, the best way to apply pressure is to drag their reputation through the mud. Didn't some pedantic scholar named Cai Shizhi write a flurry of essays denouncing you not long ago, kicking up a massive stir?
"If he can slander you, he can slander anyone. Hundreds of thousands of refugees are hanging between life and death entirely because of the Xu family's selfish interests—a man-made disaster through and through. If he doesn't churn out a stack of blistering essays to tear them to shreds over something this momentous, can he even call himself a scholar?"
"Where are you getting hundreds of thousands?"
"One hundred thousand sounds too small; it lacks punch in an essay. Besides, by the time anyone arrives to verify the head count, our goal will already be achieved."
Wei Yuan said, "That's true, but a fellow like that might not be easily manipulated. If he refuses to write, we'll have no recourse."
Bao Yun gave a faint smile. "Who says we have no recourse? That man has a bitter rival in the literary circle named Liu Wenkai, matching him in stature and reputation. The two have exchanged dozens of insulting poems attacking each other.
"This Liu Wenkai once sought a favor from my Bao family, and I've already sent someone to reach out to him. This gives him a chance to repay our family while striking at his nemesis, so he agreed on the spot. With him goading the man, Cai Shizhi's temperament will guarantee he walks right into the trap."
This time, Wei Yuan wasn't feigning anything; he was genuinely surprised and delighted. Taking Bao Yun's hand, he said, "I'm amazed you managed to think so far ahead!"
A light blush crept onto Bao Yun's cheeks. "It's nothing. Anyone could do it with a little thought."
Seeing her flushed cheeks, the Smoke and Fire of the Mortal World erupted into an uproar. Countless voices chanted in unison: "Kiss her! Kiss her!"
All those raising the commotion were the various immortal plants; mere mortals were not privileged to peer into Wei Yuan's private life. Even the normally upright Red Lotus Bodhi joined in, shouting louder than anyone, giving Wei Yuan a whole new appreciation for the true colors hidden behind this respectable-looking immortal plant.
Wei Yuan had no intention of indulging them, but having finally placated Bao Yun, and with the mood having arrived at this point, he leaned in and pressed a light, lightning-fast peck against her cheek.
Bao Yun rolled her eyes at him, then countered with a deep kiss, catching Wei Yuan entirely off guard.
With peace fully restored, Wei Yuan seized the opportunity to ask, "Why were you so angry?"
The mention of it brought a sharp glare from Bao Yun, her residual irritation still showing, though she spoke: "The red lotus karmic fire is no ordinary fire of karma—it's something only immortal ancestors and Buddhas can command. Refining a million Shamans with it, do you realize how monumental that karmic burden is? How could you be certain you'd survive it? And... and you didn't even tell me!
"You went off to die while I had no clue what you were doing, only finding out once everything unfolded right before my eyes. Do you have any idea how despairing that feels?
"So after the battle ended, I originally planned to slip away quietly once the aftermath was settled."
A chill of lingering dread seized Wei Yuan's heart. Pulling her tightly into his embrace, he said, "I actually consulted Martial Uncle Feng beforehand, and Martial Uncle Feng was the one who laid the formation. We didn't plan on using it at first, but the opportunity suddenly presented itself. At that moment, I just thought we couldn't let it slip, so I went for it."
"Truly?"
"Of course it's true! I don't want to die yet! Besides, we were already gaining the upper hand; there was no need to gamble my life against Hongye. Martial Uncle Feng calculated it: that karmic debt originally came from the Shamans, and returning it this way actually settled part of the karma. The remainder is well within my tolerance, something I can dissolve gradually over time. So I really wasn't throwing my life away. Besides..."
Light returned to Bao Yun's face as she asked, "Besides what?"
Wei Yuan hesitated. The solution provided by the Smoke and Fire of the Mortal World was plainly effective, but saying it out loud felt rather shameless.
Seeing her press the question, Wei Yuan gritted his teeth and forced himself to say, "Besides, how could I die now? If I truly died, what would you do?"
Bao Yun burst into brilliant, radiant laughter. "If you die, I'll marry someone else the very next day! Then I'll pour the wedding wine right over your grave!"
Wei Yuan breathed a quiet sigh of relief. Truly, there were talented minds among his quirky advisors.
What he had just said was an obvious lie, and Bao Yun knew it was a lie. But she was delighted that Wei Yuan had made the effort to lie to her. Thus, she was finally soothed.
Just then, Wei Yuan received word that Perfected Chuhe had returned. Taking his leave of Bao Yun, Wei Yuan hugged her farewell, his paws acting up once more as he tried to grasp the twin peaks—only to fail, unable to encompass them with one hand.
Bao Yun rubbed her face against his cheek like a kitten before seeing him out of the room. Both of them were relishing their gradually deepening intimacy, in no rush to force the issue.
Wei Yuan suddenly felt this dynamic was much like the ice cream from the other world: taking only a small lick at a time made the sweetness linger for a long while.
Then he recalled that Xu Wenwu always ate ice cream in big bites, devouring it in a few mouthfuls. At that thought, Wei Yuan felt that not an ounce of fat on that chubby fellow was undeserved—every bit had been painstakingly earned, bite by bite.
Beaming with pride, Perfected Chuhe launched into an endless monologue the moment he saw Wei Yuan, babbling on about how the heads of the various silk clans revered him, how dumbstruck they had been upon learning of his heavenly merits, and how none of them dared show him the slightest disrespect anymore.
Wei Yuan was speechless. This was simply another one of the old Daoist's bluffing tactics. The old Daoist did possess a sizable tally of heavenly merits, but they had all been clawed out by the cat, with the snake contributing nearly half; the old Daoist was primarily responsible for spending them.
The main purpose of Perfected Chuhe's journey was to deliver a vital message: Qingming was purchasing silk once again, but only from sources with no ties to the Xu family, and the exchange had to take place outside Hanyang Pass.
At first, the clan heads harbored doubts, suspecting the garrison at Hanyang Pass would not sit idly by. But the old Daoist thumped his chest, swearing that as long as they transported the goods three li beyond Hanyang Pass, they could leave the rest to him. No matter how many soldiers the Hanyang Pass garrison sent, none would cross that three-li line of life and death. The moment a single foot stepped across, the old Daoist would ensure they never returned!
His fierce words had proven remarkably effective. The clan heads possessed diverse channels to move goods out of Hanyang Pass, and silk was hardly strategic contraband, so there was no valid reason to block it.
Having recounted his exploit, Perfected Chuhe grew a bit uneasy and asked, "Nephew, I've already talked big. We won't fall flat, will we? If we do, this old face of mine will have nowhere left to hide."
Wei Yuan didn't bother mocking the fact that the old Daoist believed he still had face to lose. He had been fretting over how to apply pressure to Xu Lanshan, and hearing the old Daoist's words gave him an instant spark of inspiration. He let out a hearty laugh. "You were still being far too conservative! I won't let a single soldier or horse from Hanyang Pass make it past their city gates!"
Chapter 568