Qiang Jin Jiu (Author : Tang Jiuqing 唐酒卿)

Chapter 103 : Beauty

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How was there still room for Zhou Gui to refuse when the words had already been laid out so clearly? Xiao Chiye and Shen Zechuan had hit them right where their weakness was, using both carrot and stick. Everything they spoke about was all the most pressing issues in Cizhou at present. The private banquet could only end here.   

Zhou Gui personally saw both men back to their courtyard, then strolled back with Kong Ling with a lantern in hand. He asked with a worried frown, “What do you think?”   

Kong Ling said as he strolled, “Difficult. Both of them are tough nuts to deal with. But what they have said so far is true. At present, the Empress Dowager is in charge of the imperial court, and Secretariat Elder is old and ill. With the recent rise of disputes within the Grand Secretariat, Jiang Qingshan’s transfer to the post of the Provincial Administration Commissioner of Zhongbo is no longer that certain. If they arbitrarily appoint an official from the noble clans over, then the good days in Cizhou will come to an end.”   

“That’s what I think too.” Basking in the aqueous moonlight, Zhou Gui contemplated it for a moment and said, “I’m worried that if we agree too quickly, both of them will think Cizhou is too easy to control. But agree too slowly, and I fear that they will run out of patience and Cizhou will lose the chance to get back on its feet. It’s really hard to get a measure of this.”  

“We might not necessarily be able to trick and trap Xiao Chiye by playing cat and mouse with him.” Kong Ling looked back at Zhou Gui. “We should make up our minds on this matter as soon as possible. Dragging it on too long will only prove to be disadvantageous to us.”

Kong Ling was right. They could still negotiate with Xiao Chiye and Shen Zechuan now because Xiao Chiye was currently in a hurry to pass through Cizhou. Considering the influence of Cizhou on the Northeast Provisions Bridle Path, Xiao Chiye and Shen Zechuan could not forcibly barge their way through, nor could they fall out with Cizhou. So, Cizhou was the one with the upper hand. But the longer Cizhou hesitated, the more it would be detrimental to Cizhou. This was because the group of bandits led by Lei Changming was a menace to Cizhou. If Lei Changming entered Cizhou’s territory to plunder them, Zhou Gui would have to ask the Imperial Army for help. By then, Xiao Chiye would trade places with Cizhou and become the one with the upper hand. 

“Seeing how Xiao Chiye isn’t bothered about trifles, he shouldn’t be the kind of person who will simply sit and watch from the sidelines.” Zhou Gui was still hesitating. “Let’s wait… for Qudu to make a move.”

“How rare of you to be this muddle-headed.” Kong Ling gave a long sigh. “Risking all the lives in a prefecture on just an assumption that he ‘isn’t bothered about trifles’. We may know a person’s face, but not his heart! If they raise their prices there and then, they won’t be this accommodating and open to negotiation as they are today.” 

“It’s precisely because this matter concerns the lives in an entire prefecture that I’m hesitating.” Zhou Gui caught up with Kong Ling in a few steps. He shook his sleeves to extend his hands out and said to Kong Ling, “Chengfeng, is it really that easy to go independent and make yourself king? Think about the former Crown Prince. That’s truly a real fall from grace. Libei has revolted now, but if you think about it from various angles, how is this battle an easy one to fight? It’s not all that beneficial to Libei. They not only need to take the Biansha Cavalry into consideration, but also be on guard against Qidong’s advances. If the Northeast Provisions Bridle Path is cut off too, then wouldn’t they become a trapped beast in a cage? They can’t survive for long! When the time comes, Libei won’t even be able to fend for themselves. Then what should our Cizhou do? Won’t we end up at others’ mercy like meat on a chopping board? We will even have to live with the infamy of being a traitor!”