Dragon Canon

The official was none other than Sun Chao’en, the former county magistrate who had since been promoted to vice administrator of Bianning Commandery. While gathering intelligence on the establishment of the administrative headquarters, Wei Yuan discovered that his old acquaintance was among them. That was why he was paying a secret visit.

The commandery seat of Bianning Commandery lay only 1,100 li from Hanyang Pass. Because it was situated right next to the border, it could receive reinforcements at any time from the tens of thousands of troops stationed at Hanyang Pass. If the Shamans were to invade, they would first have to break through Ningxi Commandery, where Wei Yuan was stationed, before reaching Bianning Commandery.

Not only was Sun Chao’en serving as vice administrator, his domain was both safe and prosperous, making it one of the most lucrative posts among the four commanderies. The reason he was able to obtain this post was thanks to his generous “donations” to the Right Chancellor. It was a testament to the latter’s character.

It had been several months since they last met. Vice Administrator Sun had clearly put on some weight and gained a fair complexion. With his round face and kind, benevolent eyes, he looked every bit the good man.

Sun Chao’en sent his housekeeper away to hasten the meal before carefully locking the door and casting a mystic barrier. The spell had been cast with a mere wave of his hand and without the slightest hesitation. This showed although his rank had risen and he had gained weight, he had not fallen behind in terms of his cultivation. On the contrary, he had actually made significant progress.

Sun Chao’en remained silent even after everyone had taken their seats. He turned his gaze to the two people sitting beside Wei Yuan and waited.

Wei Yuan explained, “He is Wang Yu of the Wang Clan, bearer of a Heaven-tier Dao Foundation. She is Miss Hsu Yi, direct descendant of the Hsu Clan and also the bearer of a Heaven-tier Dao Foundation. Both of them have fought alongside me through life and death. They are trustworthy.”

Sun Chao’en relaxed slightly and said, “That’s good to hear. It hasn’t been all that long since we parted ways that day, yet you’ve already achieved many great things, Worthy Little Brother! To dare erect a realm stone in a forbidden region such as this and save countless lives—what a magnificent and virtuous merit it is! I, too, have studied the classics for decades, yet whenever I search my heart, I could never say that I would have made such a decisive and courageous decision had I been in your shoes.”

Wei Yuan smiled wryly. “I was young and hot-headed back then; the reason I acted as I did was purely because I couldn’t let it go. Now, I’m just barely weathering the consequences of my impulsive decision back then.”

Sun Chao’en said, “Given that you’ve come to see me at this time, I imagine it can only be about one thing: provisions.”

“You’ve hit the nail on the head, Lord Sun.”

Sun Chao’en smiled faintly and said, “Yuan Qingyan is quite the schemer. Since he’s gone to such great lengths to set this grain blockade in motion, he’s likely calculated his moves carefully. Let me first explain the situation to you.”

Sun Chao’en spread a map across the table and pointed to several locations in the eastern part of Ningxi Commandery. “I’ve just received word that Inspector-General Chen has decided to block the supply routes and rebuild the military forts. Commander-in-chief Yue is personally overseeing this operation, plotting to set an ambush to lure you into a trap. However, I don’t think you’ll fall for it.”

Every one of these locations were strategically positioned at key chokepoints. Yuan Qingyan was definitely plotting to destroy the realm of Qingming when he ordered the military forts to be built in these locations.

Wei Yuan frowned and said, “The Shaman realm is difficult to traverse, and grain convoys require flat roads for travel. The way these forts are positioned, there is simply no way the grain can be transported unless we take out at least one of them. Do you know where the ambush is set up, Lord Sun?”

Sun Chao’en smiled and said, “If this was the early days of the Great Tang Dynasty, then we would most definitely have to fight to see it done. But Great Tang is currently ruled by nine co-regents, and we are in Western Jin. Here, harmony is the highest priority. It’s best to avoid fighting if at all possible.”

Wei Yuan’s heart stirred at the implications, and he asked, “And how can we secure our provisions without resorting to fighting?”

Sun Chao’en replied, “I had a feeling you might show up one of these days, which is why I’ve already laid down some groundwork. Even if you hadn’t come, I would have sent someone to contact you. ‘Traveling a thousand li to hold office is solely for wealth’—this is the common sense that permeates every corner of Western Jin’s bureaucracy. The state is akin to a great ship with holes on all sides—even if Chen Dao fully dedicates his time and effort into being a repairman, he can only plug so many leaks—and the leaks would only multiply.”

Sun Chao’en stepped out of his study, summoned his housekeeper, and instructed, “Send someone to General Yue’s residence and inform him that I have prepared a fine feast this evening, and I wish to invite him over for a taste.”

The housekeeper took his leave.

Sun Chao’en proceeded to discuss the current affairs in the Western Jin court with Wei Yuan, and give him a detailed account of the backgrounds, experiences, and characters of the commandery administrators of the four commanderies. These were matters of the utmost importance, so Wei Yuan took careful notes on each point.

Moments later, a private banquet was set up in the rear hall, and General Yue arrived.

The man who came through the door looked quite the dashing general. He looked very young and possessed remarkable cultivation. Wei Yuan observed him using the Qi Viewing Spell and found his Dao Foundation to be solid and luminous—likely an upper-grade earth foundation, and in the late-stage to boot.

After closing the door and casting the necessary Dao spells, Sun Chao’en finally made the introductions. “This is Yue Qilin, currently serving as the skirmish general of Bianning Commandery. All eight thousand people in our commandery, from top to bottom, are under General Yue’s command.”

While Wei Yuan and the others rose to pay their respects, General Yue was hiding his surprise.

Although Wei Yuan and his companions had altered their appearances, Wang Yu and Hsu Yi were both from noble clans. The composure and grandeur in their every gesture were impossible to conceal, nor could ordinary people ever hope to emulate them. As for Wei Yuan, the impression he gave off was that of a mass of darkness. If he closed his eyes, he was certain he wouldn’t be able to sense the young man at all. Yet, his primordial spirit was throbbing faintly but persistently as if he was being targeted by a natural enemy.

Yue Qilin was a wise man. He instantly shed the last trace of arrogance on his face and greeted them with a genial smile. Only then did he take his seat beside Sun Chao’en.

After three rounds of wine, and the atmosphere had warmed up, Sun Chao’en chuckled and said, “To tell you the truth, General Yue has one more identity—one that’s even more significant than his current rank. Commander-in-chief Yue is none other than his uncle.”

“Paternal uncle,” Yue Qilin added with a smile.

Wei Yuan immediately looked at him with deep respect.

Sun Chao’en then pointed at Wei Yuan and said, “This is Mister Zhang, a major backer from the west. He’s always been in the business of making money—and only in big deals.”

Yue Qilin asked, “May I know what kind of things you buy, Mister Zhang?”

Wei Yuan smiled faintly. “Right now in the west—no, in all of Ningxi—there are only two things that make the most money: cattle and grain.”

Oxen were rare in the western regions. Thus, the term “cattle” had a different meaning among the upper class, referring specifically to human sacrifices. Wei Yuan was one of, if not the top horse bandit of the Shattered Realm at the moment. Naturally, he knew the slang of the western regions inside out.

Slightly taken aback, Yue Qilin replied, “You’re quite the businessman, Mister Zhang. How much can you take?”

“As many as you have. I’ll pay you in immortal silver.”

Yue Qilin asked tentatively, “What about the specialties from further west?”

“With the war going on, the normal trade routes are cut off. However, I still have some stock on hand. You should be well aware of the situation over there—armies passing through, entire regions razed to the ground. No merchant caravans dare to pay it a visit.”

Yue Qilin glanced at Sun Chao’en, and the vice administrator caught his meaning. He said, “We do indeed have a surplus of grain at hand, but we do not yet know what price you’re willing to offer, Mister Zhang.”

Wei Yuan had already discussed this matter with Sun Chao’en beforehand, so he immediately replied, “The price of military provisions within the Great Tang is ten catties per tael of common silver. But since we’re on the border, we can’t use that rate. My offer is fifty catties per one tael of immortal silver!”

Yue Qilin’s hand shook, so much so that some of the wine in his cup was spilled. Wei Yuan had raised the price twentyfold in a single breath! Moreover, the military provisions in his possession were all allocations from the royal court—he did not need to spend a single coin on them.

Yue Qilin slammed his cup down on the table and declared, “Make it forty catties, and I’ll personally deliver the grain right to your doorstep!”

Wei Yuan flashed an attractive smile and replied, “General Yue truly has connections that reach the heavens!”

Yue Qilin replied haughtily, “But of course! He is my paternal uncle after all. A mere trifle like this is nothing!”

“The price is acceptable, but how much grain can you provide, General Yue?”

Yue Qilin pondered for a moment before clenching his teeth in resolve. He declared, “I can give you one million two hundred thousand catties—all of them upper-grade military rations! But in return, you must do one thing for me.”

“Please speak, General Yue.”

“Wang Kun, the commanding general of the second-to-last military fort in the south, is my sworn brother— a man I can trust my life with. I’ll have the supply convoy pass through his fort, ostensibly to deliver provisions to him. Once they reach the vicinity of the military fort, you may have your men intercept the convoy. There will be a deputy general named Song Chao among the convoy. I want him dead!”

Sun Chao’en chuckled. “General Song is a bit of a pedant, you see. He’s repeatedly thwarted General Yue’s plans. To make matters worse, he’s taken a pretty little thing as his concubine. General Yue already dislikes him, and now he’s set his sights on his young wife. This is the perfect opportunity to kill two birds with one stone.”

Wei Yuan demanded impassively, “Show me his portrait and the information regarding his Dao Foundation.”

Sun Chao’en immediately took out a piece of jade paper and sketched a lifelike portrait with a swift stroke of his brush. The information at the bottom was written in minute, fine calligraphy. Though not quite at the level of a master, it was certainly worthy of a wealthy merchant’s collection. In terms of the Six Arts, Sun Chao’en was not inferior to Fang Hetong.

“It’s all here.” Sun Chao’en pushed the jade paper across the table. Wei Yuan glanced at the words “late-stage Dao Foundation stage” and didn’t bother reading further, handing it to Wang Yu to put it away. Aside from his master, Big Senior Sister, and a hand of others, all Dao Foundation stage cultivators in the world looked the same to him.

—Oh right, he almost forgot to include that girl in his short list.

Now that the main matter had been settled, the atmosphere shifted once more. Wei Yuan said, “I came here in a hurry, and General Yue’s generosity went beyond my imagination. That is why I have only brought ten thousand taels of immortal silver with me. I’ll leave it with Lord Sun for now; the remaining twenty thousand will be delivered tomorrow.”

Yue Qilin advised, “Be careful on the road, Mister Zhang.”

Sun Chao’en chuckled. “The western regions may be vast, but only a handful of people are capable of snatching things from Mister Zhang. In fact, I truly can’t think of a third person aside from your uncle and Lord Chen. I do hope that Lord Yuan will catch wind of this and try to intercept him single-handedly.”

Yue Qilin was stunned for a few moments. Then, he gave Wei Yuan a long look and said slowly, “The reputation of the Fifty Bandits of Heaven Fighting is indeed well-deserved. There have long been rumors that Avatars have fallen at your hands—it would seem that they are not empty words.”

Wei Yuan replied indifferently, “There have been a few who are foolish enough to deliver themselves to our hands.”

Yue Qilin immediately raised his cup. “Excellent! Then I’ll be waiting for your good news, Mister Zhang! The first toast is mine!”

Sun Chao’en also raised his cup. “And the second is mine! To General Yue finally winning the woman of his desires!”

A few rounds of drinks later, the atmosphere grew even livelier. Sun Chao’en then said, “General Yue, this is a larger sum than usual. We’ll need to be careful when settling the accounts.”

Yue Qilin nodded. “Indeed. This amount of provisions is so vast that the usual ‘the granaries were burned’ excuse wouldn’t hold up. Do you have any good ideas, Lord Sun?”

Sun Chao’en declared confidently, “It’s actually quite simple. The climate in the western regions is hot and humid, so the military provisions spoil much easier than normal. When the time comes, we’ll split the account into three parts: the first portion will be seized by Mister Zhang, which everyone in the military fort will naturally witness; the second portion will be burned with the granaries as per custom; and the third portion will simply be declared spoiled.

“We’ll stack sawdust at the bottom, and place a layer of rotten grain at the top. Once it has passed the inspection, we’ll burn it all. Of course, the inspectors are all our own people.”

Yue Qilin was impressed. “As always, you’ve thought of everything!”

Sun Chao’en chuckled. “This would not have been possible without Mister Zhang; a major backer capable of forking over tens of thousands of taels of immortal silver without batting an eye. Without him, the arrangements wouldn’t run, and there would be no place for us to apply our knowledge.”

“Indeed! Let’s raise three cups to Mister Zhang!” Yue Qilin raised his cup and drank.

The banquet would continue deep into the night, with both hosts and guests reveling in merriment.

Under the cover of darkness, three riders left the capital city and set off westward.

Thus, the meticulous trap Chen Dao had painstakingly woven was reduced to a sieve in the hands of his own men, all amidst the clinking of cups and the exchange of toasts.