Chapter 712: A Brilliant and Extraordinary Man. |
To provide charcoal in snowy weather (idiom: to offer timely assistance in a dire situation, to extend a helping hand in a moment of need)
"This is truly inconvenient. In that case, I shall see you off, if only for a short distance, esteemed sir. Please take care!" Jiu Shan cupped his hands.
He didn't try to persuade him, nor did he want to. He had no need for extra trouble.
"Farewell!" Gu Wu Chun said, cupping his hands, then turned to leave.
Jiu Shan breathed a sigh of relief. Who could have known that Gu Wu Chun would only take a few steps before suddenly slapping his forehead? He turned back and said, "Elder Jiu, I've been foolish. The Chancellor still had a matter. I almost forgot. I hope Elder Jiu Shan will relay everything to Head Si Hai Tang."
Jiu Shan smiled faintly. "I'm listening intently."
Gu Wu Chun said earnestly, "The situation is thus: battlefield fortunes are fickle. The Yan Kingdom Army is rampaging brutally through our territories, and our army cannot withstand them. Is the Song Kingdom a place where anyone can come and go as they please? We searched for a location and found the Thousand Beast Sect's territory to be highly suitable for a decisive battle against the Yan Kingdom Army! The Thousand Beast Sect has stood in the Song Kingdom for many years. Surely, it must also care for the Song Kingdom and will not allow such a kingdom to vanish. I've already stated it, the Thousand Beast Sect can begin preparations early. I, Gu, take my leave. Elder Jiu, please don't see me off!"
Jiu Shan frowned.
Gu Wu Chun turned around, waving a hand as if to depart.
Gu Wu Chun halted and turned, as Jiu Shan swiftly approached him. The two men met each other's gaze.
"Elder Jiu, do you have any further instructions?" Gu Wu Chun asked with a smile.
Jiu Shan said in a cold tone, "Was Brother Gu serious just now?"
Gu Wu Chun replied, feigning surprise, "Why ask such a thing? Elder Jiu, can one jest about matters of national warfare?"
Jiu Shan understood that the guest wished to see the Head. However, this was no laughing matter, and he could not make the decision himself. Therefore, he slowly replied, "I will relay the message, but I cannot say at this moment whether the Head will emerge from seclusion. I ask Brother Gu to wait a little. If the Head emerges, then Brother Gu may personally deliver the message."
Gu Wu Chun replied cheerfully, "I would indeed like to meet the Head. How could I miss such an opportunity? Other matters can wait, if it means I can meet Head Si Hai Tang. I shall wait!"
"Wait." Jiu Shan bowed and immediately departed.
Seeing the disciples of the Thousand Beast Sect staring at him with predatory eyes, Gu Wu Chun chuckled nonchalantly. He clasped his hands behind his back and began pacing with a pleased expression, as if completely oblivious to the Thousand Beast Sect disciples.
The cultivators sent from the capital, noticing the disciples' discontented gazes upon Gu Wu Chun, immediately positioned themselves beside him. They observed everyone with vigilance.
Not long after, Jiu Shan flew back. He landed beside Gu Wu Chun and said, "Brother Gu, the Head has emerged from seclusion to meet with you!"
"I have disturbed the Head by making him emerge from seclusion. My apologies, my apologies." Gu Wu Chun immediately cupped his hands.
The two men walked shoulder to shoulder, ascending the steps. They headed towards the Thousand Beast Sect's palace.
When they reached the doors, several Thousand Beast Sect disciples emerged and blocked the path of the cultivators accompanying Gu Wu Chun. They were not permitted to enter.
Gu Wu Chun turned his head and waved a hand, indicating that all was well. He instructed them not to follow him in.
He himself stood in the doorway and looked inside. There, he saw Si Hai Tang himself, along with other high-ranking elders of the Thousand Beast Sect.
Although he didn't know all the elders, he had seen most of them before. Only Chao Jing was absent. Perhaps this was related to Chao Sheng Huai's return.
After assessing the situation inside the palace, he began to analyze. He lifted the hem of his robe and entered the hall. Then, cupping his hands to all the elders, he walked towards Si Hai Tang. Upon reaching him, he bowed and said, "Greetings, Head! It has been a long time, and the Head grows ever more distinguished."
Si Hai Tang said, "Master Gu is a brilliant and extraordinary man. Otherwise, he would not have been able to enter this hall. Why such excessive politeness?" He spoke in a somewhat disrespectful tone, as if he was not particularly pleased to see him.
Gu Wu Chun waved a hand, as if resigned to his fate. Then he cupped his hands towards the elders on his right and left.
Si Hai Tang said, "I heard Elder Jiu mention that Master Gu wishes to arrange a decisive battle with the Song Kingdom Army on our Thousand Beast Sect's territory?"
Gu Wu Chun replied, "The Head has misunderstood. This was not my suggestion, but a decision made by the Imperial Court."
Si Hai Tang said, "Oh? The Song Kingdom is vast, with much territory; any could be chosen. Why specifically here?"
Gu Wu Chun shook his head. "To be honest, I myself do not understand what is so advantageous about choosing this territory."
Si Hai Tang said in a cold tone, "Then why? Are you perhaps looking for trouble for my Thousand Beast Sect, or was there no such matter at all?"
Gu Wu Chun smiled faintly. "The Head understands everything. The Grand Marshal responsible for the military campaign is Luo Zhao. And he is the son-in-law of the Ascension Palace. Why Luo Zhao chose this territory, I do not know."
He was subtly implying that it was the three sects who were looking for trouble with the Thousand Beast Sect.
If the battles turn unfavorable, not only will the three sects suffer losses, but the Thousand Beast Sect will as well.
Si Hai Tang said, "If the Imperial Court has made its decision, then my Thousand Beast Sect will not interfere. We will relocate. We will vacate the premises for you. We will not disrupt the Imperial Court's military affairs."
Gu Wu Chun said, "War is merciless; in battle, everything here will likely be destroyed."
Si Hai Tang said, "Well, that is unavoidable. The Thousand Beast Sect cannot, for selfish reasons, impede the affairs of the great Song."
Gu Wu Chun said, "The Thousand Beast Sect is noble, magnificent, and spiritually pure. But if everything here is destroyed, where will the Thousand Beast Sect go? The Thousand Beast Sect is such a large sect. There are many disciples here; I fear that other territories will not be able to accommodate such a grand sect."
Si Hai Tang said, "Listening to Master Gu, it seems you believe there is still a way for our sect to remain?"
Gu Wu Chun said, "The Chancellor still wields influence at court. Though Luo Zhao is the son-in-law of the Ascension Palace, he still listens to the Chancellor's words, and those of the Emperor. If the Thousand Beast Sect so wishes, the Chancellor can revoke the imperial decree!"
Si Hai Tang nodded and said, "A rare opportunity to 'provide charcoal in snowy weather'! The Chancellor helps us, but perhaps the Chancellor also expects something from us?"
Gu Wu Chun said, "The Chancellor's son-in-law, Cheng Shao Tong, leads the troops to block the path of the Yan Kingdom Army. And he must win this battle. He cannot afford to lose. If he loses, the relationship between father-in-law and son-in-law will greatly impact the Chancellor. Therefore, it would be best for the Thousand Beast Sect to help him win. This would be an immense help to the Chancellor!" He had been beating around the bush for half a day, and it turned out this was the crux of the matter. The elders on the sides smiled coldly.
Si Hai Tang said, "I fear we will have to disappoint the Chancellor. The Thousand Beast Sect trades throughout the entire realm, and we have never meddled in the affairs of kingdoms. If the Imperial Court desires our territory, then there is nothing to be done. As I said, we will vacate the premises for you. We will not disrupt the Imperial Court's military affairs."
Having learned his true objective, Si Hai Tang no longer believed that their territory was merely being used as a battleground.
"Head..."
Gu Wu Chun was about to say something when Si Hai Tang interrupted him. "If Master Gu has come merely as an intermediary, then there's no need to say anything more."
"Hahaha..." Gu Wu Chun burst into laughter, growing louder and louder. Then, looking at the Head, he said, "I haven't merely come as an intermediary. I am striving for the Thousand Beast Sect's own good. I wish for the Thousand Beast Sect to avoid disaster, to avoid annihilation!"
Si Hai Tang said in a cold tone, "I am still curious, who would dare to destroy my sect!"
Gu Wu Chun said with a smile, "The Chancellor!"
"Zi Ping Xu? Hahahah..." Si Hai Tang laughed coldly. "Just him? Master, are you not afraid of such bold pronouncements? My Thousand Beast Sect has no intention of assisting any kingdom. I, for one, would like to see who dares to attack my Thousand Beast Sect during these battles. Let anyone who isn't afraid of defeat try!"
Gu Wu Chun said, "I wish to remind the Head of something. The Thousand Beast Sect is, after all, located within the territory of the Song Kingdom. Will you truly stand by and watch the Song Kingdom fall?"
Si Hai Tang said, "There's no need to remind me. If the Song Kingdom loses, if the Song Kingdom ceases to exist, who then could threaten my sect?" A joke! By then, we would have to look out for ourselves!"
Gu Wu Chun smiled. "Head, you mustn't think so simply. How could the Song Kingdom truly vanish? Regardless of whether the Song Kingdom loses this battle or not, it will not disappear. Does Head Si Hai Tang truly believe that the Yan Kingdom possesses the strength to swallow our Song Kingdom whole? Or that the Han Kingdom will destroy us? Both options are impossible! The Yan Kingdom is weak; they will fight us to weaken us both, and then stand together against the Han Kingdom."
He looked at the others. "Gentlemen, believe it or not, the moment the Song Kingdom is slightly weakened, the two kingdoms will begin negotiations. The Yan Kingdom will not fight us for the sake of the Han Kingdom. Otherwise, they would create a greater danger for themselves! Therefore, the Yan Kingdom wishes to drag the Song Kingdom along to resist the Han Kingdom. That way, both kingdoms can oppose the Han Kingdom! Where, then, is the annihilation of our kingdom in this?"
All the elders frowned. Although they were not deeply versed in the affairs between kingdoms, they still understood that such a possibility was entirely plausible. For many years, they had observed the kingdoms. Today, kingdoms might be at war, and tomorrow, they would be allied, fighting others. This was a normal phenomenon.
Gu Wu Chun observed the others' reactions and continued, "Previously, the Chancellor also made a mistake. He did not think that the river defenses would fall so quickly under Meng Shan Ming's attacks. And he himself voluntarily recommended Cheng Shao Tong for the post of defender of the kingdom. He wished to earn merits for his son-in-law. In the end, after his recommendation, news arrived of the defeat of our defensive forces. And now, the entire burden of defense has fallen upon Cheng Shao Tong's shoulders."
"Cheng Shao Tong barely managed to gather a crowd of several hundred thousand people. But how could they possibly compare to Meng Shan Ming's two-million-strong army? The Chancellor is now in a desperate situation! Even if the Song Kingdom does not fall, and as I said, they enter peace negotiations with the Yan Kingdom, Cheng Shao Tong's defeat will be a severe blow to the Chancellor. His pursuit of personal gain will place the Chancellor in a difficult predicament."
He again surveyed everyone and continued, "The Chancellor cannot simply sit by and await death peacefully. He can only protect himself! But how? Since it is now difficult for him to say anything to the Imperial Court, he can turn to the three sects. He can rely on their influence to remain within the Imperial Court! The Thousand Beast Sect occupies such a large territory in the Song Kingdom. The three sects have always felt uneasy because of this. Therefore, the three sects would gladly support the proposal to remove the Thousand Beast Sect from the kingdom. Then, the Thousand Beast Sect will find itself without a home! Reaching such a step, the Chancellor will no longer fear anything. He will have nothing left to lose, and will thus resort to extremes!"
Si Hai Tang flickered and appeared before Gu Wu Chun. He seized him by his whiskers. "Who are you! I gave you a chance to leave peacefully. Yet you, a mere ant, dare to come here and threaten my Thousand Beast Sect? I'll see how you'll sing now!"
Using force, he violently tore the whiskers from the speaker. Blood began to trickle down.