Those skilled in battle have no great achievements. When something has just happened, or when only a hint of trouble appears, resolving it seems effortless and unremarkable — yet it actually demonstrates even greater skill.
Compared to being pushed to a desperate corner and fighting back with a fury — sending Chong Xuan Zun to the Jixia Academy, using Xu Fang to implicate old affairs and strike at the Jubao Commerce Guild — Chongxuan Sheng's recent two responses to Wen Lianmu's schemes had left Jiang Wang even more impressed.
Simple, direct, without a ripple — the matter was smoothed over with ease.
So Jiang Wang was genuinely curious: what countermeasures had this fat man prepared?
"What do you plan to do?" Jiang Wang asked.
Chongxuan Sheng clicked his tongue: "I'd better not say. A person like me — all twists and turns — I'm afraid you'll get dizzy!"
"That's true." Jiang Wang held his hand: "I'm prone to dizziness, so I'm only fit for studying Dao techniques and practicing swordsmanship! My new sword form still has some imperfections — why don't you spar with me to help me refine it?"
"Listen to you." The flesh on Chongxuan Sheng's face trembled, then forced itself into a smile: "By the way, what did you ask just now? What's my plan, right? We're the closest of friends — how could I not tell you when you have doubts?"
His tone shifted immediately: "Now all of Linzi knows that Wang Yiwu has engaged me in direct confrontation. This is the perfect time for me to strike at the Jubao Commerce Guild!"
Previously, when the Eleventh Prince Jiang Wuqi gave him a warning, Chongxuan Sheng had immediately backed down, showing considerable respect and great caution.
To now turn around and attack the Jubao Commerce Guild while locked in direct confrontation with Wang Yiwu was indeed unexpected.
Even Jiang Wang, who was in the same camp, hadn't anticipated this: "It is indeed a move that catches them off guard. Destroying the Jubao Commerce Guild is also necessary. But is it the most urgent matter right now? Su She is playing dead, the entire Jubao Commerce Guild has gone quiet, and they're in no position to help Wang Yiwu. Wouldn't it be better to ignore them? We can deal with them after we've taken care of Wang Yiwu."
"The fear is that once we've dealt with Wang Yiwu, or been dealt with by him, the wind will have passed. Su She won't need to play dead anymore." Chongxuan Sheng shook his head: "If I hadn't seized his lifeline last time and forced him to keep his head down, he'd be far more troublesome to deal with than Wen Lianmu."
Jiang Wang had his own considerations and wouldn't abandon his thinking just because Chongxuan Sheng was brilliant: "It's like combat — compared to facing two opponents simultaneously, defeating one first and then the other is always the better choice. Wang Yiwu is no easy foe, and neither is Su She. Don't be too careless."
"You're right. But we're not just facing combat. What we need to consider isn't just victory itself, nor just our opponents. Those on stage and off stage — both need to see."
Chongxuan Sheng explained: "Do you know who Wen Lianmu is? Five consecutive years of first place in the Grand Military Exercises' strategy category. The most famous military genius of the younger generation in recent years. His reputation in military strategy once rivaled that of the War God's chief disciple, Chen Zeqing."
"Of course, military strategy isn't the same as political maneuvering, and in Linzi he may not be as adept as on the battlefield. I'm not saying this to boost the enemy's morale and diminish our own. But you must understand — since someone like this was persuaded by Wang Yiwu to move against me, would he really not have considered my counterattack?"
"I've received a great deal of intelligence lately. Every day I see countless opportunities. But I don't dare to seize a single one, because I don't know which is his trap. Until I actually step into it, I truly cannot tell."
"But — why should I need to counterattack him specifically? Spending effort without gaining results — understand?"
Throughout this time, Chongxuan Sheng had actually been guiding Jiang Wang very carefully in these matters.
Because he knew very well that Jiang Wang was not stupid — he simply lacked experience in these areas.
"Competition focuses on two main points: weakening your opponent and strengthening yourself. We don't have to fixate only on the former — that's narrow-minded," Chongxuan Sheng said. "If I devour the Jubao Commerce Guild in one gulp, can Wang Yiwu hold on by himself?"
Jiang Wang was convinced.
On the same question, Chongxuan Sheng indeed saw further and deeper than he did.
The ability to overturn Chong Xuan Zun's seemingly guaranteed position as the next clan head — this fat man's capabilities were becoming increasingly recognized by everyone, including Jiang Wang himself.
"Devour... the Jubao Commerce Guild. How?" Jiang Wang racked his brains but couldn't figure it out.
After all, the Jubao Commerce Guild was a massive entity. To have forced Su She into playing dead was already shocking enough.
To talk about devouring the Jubao Commerce Guild — the newly established Desheng Trading House was far from having such appetite. Even the Four Seas Trading Alliance couldn't do it — if they could, would Qing Xi have held back?
Chongxuan Sheng laughed it off: "I was just boasting casually. Food, of course, must be eaten one bite at a time. Things must be done step by step."
He narrowed his eyes: "To eat the meat, first slaughter the pig!"
...
From that day on, rumors began to spread wildly through Linzi.
The Qi Emperor was said to be extremely displeased with the Jubao Commerce Guild's early support of the deposed Crown Prince, and harbored intentions of settling the old score.
The source of this news was unknown, but it grew more and more intense.
The Jubao Commerce Guild, which had been cutting its losses and playing dead in hopes of lying low during this period, was once again thrust into the eye of the storm.
Inside the "Jubao Basin."
Ever since Xu Fang knelt outside the Qingshi Palace and Su She spent an entire day running around to no avail, he had locked himself inside the Jubao Commerce Guild headquarters, never going out, never stepping beyond the inner doors, sequestered away reading books.
He allowed the Four Seas Trading Alliance and Chongxuan Sheng to furiously suppress the Jubao Commerce Guild's businesses, watching helplessly as shops closed one after another or changed hands.
The massive Jubao Commerce Guild remained silent when being carved apart, showing no visible signs of resistance. The entire process produced not a single stir, and for a time it seemed as though the Jubao Commerce Guild had simply "vanished."
Many people even began to wonder — had the Jubao Commerce Guild already ceased to exist?
Of course, to truly clever people, when the Qi Emperor's attitude remained uncertain, this was undoubtedly the wisest course of action.
Temporary gains and losses were secondary — the Emperor's favor or disfavor was the critical factor determining the guild's survival or destruction.
At a time like this, jumping around and making noise — no matter what they did — would inevitably draw the Emperor's attention. Then, fortune or disaster would be impossible to predict.
So on the surface, Su She simply locked his doors and played dead, adopting a posture of complete submission — utterly loyal, leaving everything to the Emperor's judgment.
But behind the scenes, he was frantically active, spending his entire fortune trying to influence those around the Qi Emperor, seeking kind words on his behalf.
Yet all these efforts bore little fruit.
Because the Jubao Commerce Guild's past support of the deposed Crown Prince was simply too sensitive a matter. Especially when the Qi Emperor was in the prime of his power, this was an especially taboo subject.
Forget about others — even the most favored concubine by the Emperor's side dared not speak a single word of support for the Jubao Commerce Guild.
Su She was so anxious that blisters had formed at the corners of his mouth.
He knew that if he couldn't quickly calm the Emperor's fury, even if the Jubao Commerce Guild didn't die, it would lose a layer of skin.
...
That day, at Chongxuan Sheng's manor.
Jiang Wang and Chongxuan Sheng sat facing each other over a game of Go.
Chongxuan Sheng held a black stone, hesitating to place it, instead looking at Jiang Wang with a smile: "Do you know what everyone is talking about outside right now?"
Jiang Wang's mind was clearly not on the board. He responded absently: "Talking about what?"
"That the Qi Emperor intends to settle accounts with the Jubao Commerce Guild." Chongxuan Sheng placed the black stone and smiled: "That news — I was the one who had it spread."
Jiang Wang was slightly startled: "You spread it?"
"Of course." Chongxuan Sheng said proudly: "Now all of Linzi is discussing this matter. The Jubao Commerce Guild is in a state of panic, and Su She is as anxious as an ant on a hot pan. This is the perfect time for me to make my move."
Jiang Wang frowned: "Aren't you afraid of drawing the Emperor's attention?"
"Why would I be?" Chongxuan Sheng said dismissively: "The Emperor has thousands of matters to attend to every day — does he have time to bother with our little games? Besides, this news isn't something I fabricated. I merely gave it a push."
Jiang Wang fell silent in thought.
Seeing this, Chongxuan Sheng smiled and said: "Don't worry, I know exactly what I'm doing. This time I want the Jubao Commerce Guild to know who the real master of Linzi is."
...
Meanwhile, at the Jubao Commerce Guild headquarters.
Su She was pacing anxiously in his study.
A trusted confidant hurried in and said in a low voice: "Guild Master, the news outside is growing more and more unfavorable. It's said that the Qi Emperor has already issued a decree to thoroughly investigate the Jubao Commerce Guild's past support of the deposed Crown Prince."
Su She's face changed: "Is this true?"
"Absolutely true," the confidant said. "Moreover, it's said that the Qi Emperor has already designated a specific person to handle the case."
Su She's heart sank. He knew the situation had become serious.
He took a deep breath and forced himself to remain calm: "Immediately use all our connections. We must find out who exactly the Emperor has appointed."
"Yes." The confidant received his orders and departed.
Su She stood alone in his study, his face shifting between light and shadow.
He knew that this time, the Jubao Commerce Guild was truly in danger.
...
At Chongxuan Sheng's manor.
Jiang Wang looked at Chongxuan Sheng and said gravely: "What exactly are you trying to do?"
Chongxuan Sheng smiled: "What am I trying to do? I just want the Jubao Commerce Guild to understand that some things are not theirs to do simply because they wish it."
Jiang Wang said: "Aren't you afraid of bringing fire upon yourself?"
"Bringing fire upon myself?" Chongxuan Sheng shook his head: "If I were afraid, I wouldn't have done this. Don't worry, I have my arrangements."
Jiang Wang watched Chongxuan Sheng's confident demeanor, yet felt a faint sense of unease in his heart.
He knew that while Chongxuan Sheng was full of stratagems, this time they were facing the Qi Emperor and the Jubao Commerce Guild — one wrong move would mean utter ruin.
...
Night fell.
Within the city of Linzi, undercurrents surged.
A greater storm was brewing.