Li Yuanxiu strode into the central hall, with Li Yuanjiao following close behind. There they found several clan uncles waiting eagerly, their expressions flustered and their demeanor constrained. They lowered their voices and pleaded one after another:
"Young Patriarch... my boy was reckless. Please, let him return home..."
"Indeed! Young Patriarch, governing a clan requires a bit of mercy and sentiment..."
With a sweep of his gaze, Li Yuanxiu knew these were the elders of the clan brothers who had run amok in Eastern Shanyue, indulging the troops in wanton debauchery and outrages. He merely cupped his hands and said in a grave voice:
"It is not that this junior is harsh, but rather that those brothers crossed every line. Some took joy in leading soldiers to slaughter, some violated the wives and daughters of others, and some even impaled infants on lances and danced with them... Can you elders truly stand by and condone such acts?!"
The elders were taken aback by these words. Exchanging glances, they mumbled in hesitation. Li Yuanxiu sighed softly and continued:
"Establishing the clan rector and disciplining the clansmen was the ancestral grandfather's dying wish all those years ago. Over all these years, there has never been any justification to change it.
"Furthermore, this matter has already reached Great-Uncle's ears, and he was thoroughly shocked and incensed... Even if I wished to help, my hands are tied. If you elders can obtain an order from Great-Uncle, I will release them at once!"
The ancestral grandfather Li Yuanxiu spoke of was naturally Li Mutian. The establishment of the Clan Rectory was precisely what Li Mutian had repeatedly instructed before his death. Invoking Li Tongya to pressure them as well immediately left the elders speechless, and they retreated with heavy sighs.
Li Yuanxiu watched them leave, then shook his head with a smile and walked into the rear hall. Behind him, Li Yuanjiao was struck with admiration and praised:
"Stumbling so abruptly into such a fierce, aggressive crowd, yet within breaths, Eldest Brother left them utterly speechless. Truly a masterful method."
"A minor trick, nothing more."
Li Yuanxiu chuckled softly and replied in a quiet tone:
"In this world, the strong are ultimately revered. Pressuring people with strength is the most convenient path. The methods of rule we employ are merely borrowed authority from our powerful elders. Without that authority, no matter how much you wear your tongue out, it would be utterly useless."
Chatting and laughing, the two entered the rear hall. Incense burned inside, sending curls of smoke drifting through the air. Standing respectfully in the center was a spirited man in leather armor. Looking toward the two as they approached, he cupped his hands with a smile:
"Tian Zhongqing greets both Masters."
"Mm."
Li Yuanxiu acknowledged him, stepped up to the seat of honor, and asked point-blank:
"Under your jurisdiction in Huaqian Town, there is a man named Ma Haiji who is a spy for the Yu family. Are you aware of this?"
"This subordinate did not know!"
Tian Zhongqing was deeply shaken by the revelation. His pupils dilated slightly, and he promptly dropped to his knees, blurting out:
"This subordinate failed in his judgment of men..."
"No need for that."
Li Yuanxiu waved his hand to stop him, saying mildly:
"This is not your fault. I intentionally tolerated him. Dealing with spies is not simply a matter of killing them on sight. Keeping an eye on them and managing them brings far greater peace of mind than eliminating them outright, and at critical moments, they can even be put to use."
With that, he gestured, and a clan soldier immediately stepped forward to present the bamboo tube holding the secret letter, placing it back into Tian Zhongqing's hands. Li Yuanxiu let out a light laugh and said:
"I want the Yu family to learn what is in this letter. Among all the spies, this man has the foulest name and is the easiest to dupe. We shall use this Ma Haiji."
Tian Zhongqing nodded repeatedly. Li Yuanxiu gave further instructions regarding the details, enjoining him:
"It must be done naturally, so Ma Haiji believes he glimpsed it entirely by chance."
Tian Zhongqing listened intently before taking his leave in a subdued manner. Li Yuanjiao, still sitting casually below the dais, spoke up once the man had departed:
"Brother, Yu Mugao is not easily deceived. Whether he believes it or not, the Yu family will most likely discard this Ma fellow once he has served his purpose. Do you have a plan to handle him?"
Li Yuanxiu nodded and said with a smile:
"He came to our family to serve as a spy—is there any reason to let him walk away unscathed and enjoy a lifetime of wealth and comfort? Once his information is sent out, I will make him wish he were dead."
Lifting a brush, Li Yuanxiu exchanged a glance with Li Yuanjiao and drew a circle upon the silk cloth with a smile. Li Yuanjiao raised a brow, an inscrutable expression on his face as he said:
"Tian Zhongqing and Xu Gongming are both capable talents. The various clans have large populations after all; eventually, a few formidable figures are bound to emerge."
Li Yuanxiu lowered his gaze, staring at the round circle drawn under his brush, and said quietly:
"Usable talents are sufficient. Let us hope no one like An Jingming arises. Our pond is shallow; it cannot hold a flood dragon."
* * *
Of the four towns under Mount Huaqian's jurisdiction, Huaqian Town at the foot of the mountain was the most prosperous. Over recent years, many courtyards had been built there. Amid the sparse spring drizzle, people went to and fro in straw rain capes, bustling with activity.
"This subordinate has come to pay a visit. Please inform Brother Zhongqing!"
Ma Haiji waited outside the courtyard in the continuous spring rain for a time. A servant pushed open the door with a creak and, seeing who it was, said respectfully:
"Ah, it is Master Ma. Please come inside."
Ma Haiji nodded and walked into the courtyard with his hands behind his back. Stepping over the threshold, he took off his rain cape. Tian Zhongqing was nowhere to be seen in the main courtyard, nor were there any servants around. Seeing the empty courtyard, he raised a brow and asked:
"Where is Master Zhongqing?"
"The master received an urgent dispatch early this morning and took some men out, leaving only me to watch the house. Please wait a moment, and I shall fetch tea for you."
Tian Zhongqing was frugal by nature, with only a few personal attendants in his household, and such an occurrence was hardly unusual. Ma Haiji nodded upon hearing this. The servant responded repeatedly and hurried off.
Yet upon hearing the words "urgent dispatch," Ma Haiji's eyes immediately lit up. Sitting down on a wooden chair, he watched a bamboo tube used for holding letters gently rolling on the tabletop in the breeze, musing to himself:
*I wonder if I can glean any information.*
Ten years ago, Ma Haiji had fled here as a refugee from the roads. He was eloquent and skilled with numbers, which had earned him a granary clerk position under Tian Zhongqing's command.
In reality, he had another identity. Ma Haiji was actually surnamed Yu, hailing from a collateral branch of the Yu family. By his generation, the branch had long fallen on hard times. Fortunately, he was clever, and through someone's recommendation, he had obtained the role of a spy and infiltrated the Li family.
His eyes lingered on the bamboo tube on the table, and Ma Haiji felt an itch he could barely suppress. Having stayed here for ten years, he had only ever transmitted scattered scraps of minor intelligence without making any significant moves, to the point that he had almost forgotten his own surname.
*If this information is important enough, perhaps I can return home in silk robes and glory, no longer having to fool around in this place...*
Truth be told, life under the Li family was not any harder than under the Yu family. In all fairness, supported by the tribute of several hundred thousand Shanyue, the commoners of the Li family lived far better than those of the Yu family. Although the Yu family was supported by the tribute of various clans, only the cultivators at the top grew wealthy; the common folk at the bottom still starved just the same.
Ma Haiji glanced around, strode forward quickly, and crouched by the corner of the table to look. The wax seal on the bamboo tube had already been broken off, and the inside was completely empty—Tian Zhongqing had most likely already retrieved the letter.
"A pity."
Ma Haiji sighed, sat back down with his legs crossed, and swept his gaze across the floor. There was only a strip of white silk wedged against the table leg, trembling gently in the soft spring breeze.
"Hm?"
Ma Haiji's eyes lit up at once. Quick-witted by nature, his mind spun slightly, and he instantly realized what that white silk was.
*Tian Zhongqing must have received this critical, urgent dispatch and rushed out of the courtyard in a hurry without plugging the tube tightly. The spring wind blew strong, sweeping the letter beneath the table!*
Ma Haiji was overjoyed. Leaning close, he glanced at it and saw that the ink had already smudged, leaving only a few faintly legible words:
"...An Jingming... has broken through to the eighth layer of Qi Refinement..."
"Master! The tea is served!"
The sudden call frightened Ma Haiji out of his wits. He collapsed back into his chair, took the teacup handed to him, his mind completely consumed with the urge to flee at once. Seeing the servant withdraw, he heaved sigh after sigh, wiped his face, and mentally reviewed what had just happened, thinking to himself:
*I did it seamlessly... I must leave at once!*
Chapter 193