The siege of the State of Yang was something that Chongxuan Chuliang and Chongxuan Sheng had pulled together with all their political resources and single-minded determination.
Though it aligned with the Qi Emperor's wishes, it was ultimately Chongxuan Sheng who made it happen regardless of the cost.
After the Celestial Residence Secret Realm, he had gone to Handan to cultivate connections, building up his network extensively. Under the pretense of competing with Chongxuan Zun for the head position of the Chongxuan family, he befriended many of Chongxuan Zun's rivals.
Then he had gambled all of those accumulated connections on the table once more.
What he relied on was his reading of the Qi Emperor's ambition to conquer the Eastern Region, and the catalyst was the plague in the State of Yang.
Jiang Chen hadn't asked Chongxuan Sheng when he had first conceived such grand ambitions toward the State of Yang.
Because some things, even between friends, should not be spoken aloud. Chongxuan Sheng had his own aspirations, and Jiang Chen had his own demands. Just as Chongxuan Sheng would never ask why Jiang Chen built his power base around himself rather than around Chongxuan Sheng.
In truth, as early as when the Pig-Mask had begun spreading the plague, the Shadow Guard that Chongxuan Sheng had assembled had already learned of it. He dispatched a large number of Shadow Guards into the State of Yang, partly to train the team, and partly because his original purpose was simply to help consolidate commercial resources within Yang.
It was only after learning that the Bone Path had been the one spreading the plague that Chongxuan Sheng decided to raise the stakes on the spur of the moment.
Something as major as sending troops to attack a kingdom — before the army marched, it was the most top-secret of secrets, and anyone who leaked it would die. So not only had he not breathed a word of it to Jiang Chen, but even a powerful trading consortium like the Four Seas Trade Alliance had no advance knowledge.
The only people who could have known were the military and political upper echelons of the State of Qi, plus those who had helped push the matter forward.
Precisely because of this, the siege of the State of Yang was not merely Chongxuan Sheng's desperate gamble — it was also where Chongxuan Chuliang's political power lay.
Chongxuan Chuliang would never allow anyone to question this. Whoever stood in the way was an enemy.
Whatever Fu Miu's intentions may have been, his words had already provoked him.
If that man dared to name even one person, that person would have to pay the price — whether he was a duke or a marquis!
The Nine Honorary Stewards of the Four Seas Trade Alliance, each one held a noble title and belonged to prestigious families. But if any of them dared to truly come and hold the Butcher of Fierce kills accountable, one who came would die, two who came would die as a pair. If all nine came at once, Chongxuan Chuliang would kill them all the same.
"Naturally... I have no displeasure with the Grand Marshal." Fu Miu realized he had misspoken and struggled to maintain his composure, quickly adding: "The Four Seas Trade Alliance has a long history and has always served the nation and its people with all our heart. Over the years, whether donating to national affairs or paying taxes, our Four Seas Trade Alliance has always been among the top. Our earlier aid to the State of Yang was also in accordance with national policy, as Yang was a vassal of Qi. But in the blink of an eye, the situation changed drastically, and all our earlier investment went completely to waste — a blow our Alliance truly cannot bear!"
"Of course, the great river does not change its course because of a single drop. Matters of state are no concern of a few common folk. Though we have suffered heavy losses, our Four Seas Trade Alliance accepts it all! It's just..."
Fu Miu carefully glanced at Chongxuan Chuliang's expression: "Why must the Grand Marshal make things difficult for our Four Seas Trade Alliance, making us sweat and then bleed, costing us money and even lives?"
"If you don't know yourself, Mr. Fu, there's no need to bother the Grand Marshal. I'll answer you." Chongxuan Sheng spoke up from the side.
He slowly, even somewhat clumsily, turned around and took a thick stack of paper booklets from the arms of Fourteen standing behind him.
Then he raised them high, spun around, and slammed them down in front of Fu Miu!
"See for yourself!"
Fu Miu glanced at them casually and immediately recognized them as the Four Seas Trade Alliance's secret ledgers.
For this plague-relief business in the State of Yang, the Alliance had maintained two sets of books. One set was on the surface, beautifully presented to deal with the Yang government. The other was the secret ledger, accessible only to the Alliance's senior leadership for monitoring.
In truth, the only reason he had rushed here in person to the military camp to retrieve people was because he wanted to protect the secret ledger. He simply hadn't expected that in such a short time, Chongxuan Sheng had already gotten his hands on it.
"Your Four Seas Trade Alliance swore solemnly to save Yang from the plague. With all manner of promises, you earned the trust of both the States of Qi and Yang and took on the responsibility of transporting supplies and assisting the Yang court in combating the plague."
Chongxuan Sheng cursed: "And yet you took the goodwill that the people of Qi offered at half-price or for free and resold it at exorbitant prices in Yang! This caused Yang's disaster relief to fail and the plague to worsen — all because of you!"
"It also forced our great Qi to station troops at the border to prevent the epidemic from spreading through the Eastern Region! And this in turn has set the whole world talking and Yang suspicious!"
"Fu Miu! Does your Four Seas Trade Alliance admit its guilt?"
When Chongxuan Sheng had first accused the Alliance of profiting from Yang's plague, Fu Miu hadn't reacted much. But when he heard the final few words, his expression changed dramatically!
The Chongxuan family was trying to shift the blame for stationing troops at the border onto the Four Seas Trade Alliance. And worse, they wanted to concentrate all of the Yang people's hatred onto the Alliance as well.
"Absolutely absurd!" Fu Miu said furiously.
"Do you need to see the evidence?" Chongxuan Sheng asked.
At his signal, Fourteen somehow produced a large chest, walked over, and placed it before Fu Miu.
"Open it." Chongxuan Sheng looked at Fu Miu and said: "Evidence of your Four Seas Trade Alliance price-gouging and extorting in the State of Yang, the tearful accusations of Yang's common people against your Alliance — all the evidence is right here! Fu Miu, why don't you open it and take a look?"
These pieces of evidence had, of course, all been gathered by Jiang Chen.
Fu Miu knew that tangling over this was pointless. Chongxuan Sheng was clearly thoroughly prepared.
He ignored him and addressed Chongxuan Chuliang directly instead: "Grand Marshal, even if our Four Seas Trade Alliance has had some lapses, they occurred in the State of Yang, not within Qi. Even if there were mistakes, it was another nation that suffered. Why should we of Qi make things hard for our own people? Our Four Seas Trade Alliance is willing to donate one hundred thousand Dao Essence Stones, and we only wish the Grand Marshal swift victory!"
Chongxuan Chuliang did not speak.
But Chongxuan Sheng suddenly turned to those standing nearby and asked: "Does that sound like a bribe to you?"
"Young Master Chongxuan!" Fu Miu glared at him angrily. "Isn't this all because back in Handan, I refused to see you? Must you take it this far?"
When Chongxuan Sheng had first won the Celestial Residence Secret Realm, he had gone straight to Handan, hoping to break through in the imperial capital. The going had been difficult at first — he was rejected by many people, and Fu Miu was one of them.
For one thing, the Four Seas Trade Alliance was a vast enterprise and didn't think much of a fat man like Chongxuan Sheng who was gambling his life to rise to power. For another, between Chongxuan Sheng and Chongxuan Zun, they believed Chongxuan Sheng had no chance at all and weren't willing to waste a single bit of investment on him.
Even after Chongxuan Sheng had later taken a detour to Nanyao City, where he crushed Prince Jiang Wuyong of Qi and gained enormous prestige — and when he returned to Handan, he was fêted by many — Fu Miu's assessment had not changed.
He had simply assumed that although Chongxuan Chuliang had expressed support for Chongxuan Sheng, it was merely an elder's fondness for a junior. The Grand Marshal's own will would not be influenced by Chongxuan Sheng.
But only today did he realize that Chongxuan Sheng could not only influence Chongxuan Chuliang — in some cases, he could even directly represent him! Just as he was doing right now.
For the Four Seas Trade Alliance, this situation required a major reassessment of Chongxuan Sheng.
But right now... the most important thing was to pull themselves out of this quagmire.
No matter what, the Four Seas Trade Alliance could not become the trigger for war between two nations. They could not bear the responsibility that Chongxuan Sheng was trying to pin on them.
"I'm sorry, I don't recall any such thing."
Facing Fu Miu's interrogation, Chongxuan Sheng merely said mildly: "Everything I have said and done has been from a sense of public duty. The Grand Marshal acts the same way. You may suspect me if you like — how can you suspect the Grand Marshal?"
"No, that is not what I meant!" Fu Miu found himself in an impossible position but pressed on regardless: "It's just that Grand Marshal Chongxuan, our Alliance Master is extremely concerned about this matter, and you must give it careful consideration."
"Are you using your Alliance Master to pressure me again?" At this point, Chongxuan Chuliang, who had been watching Chongxuan Sheng perform all this time, could not help but laugh out loud.
Then the laughter stopped abruptly: "You have repeatedly insulted me and spoken recklessly again and again. By rights, you should have your tongue cut out. But so that you can go back and relay a message to your Alliance Master, I'll settle for your left ear instead."
"After you return, you may as well ask him this for me..." Chongxuan Chuliang said in a flat voice: "What can he do to me?"