Chapter 132: Seeking Private Gain

Although Yang Hu was somewhat tempted by these words, after a moment of reflection, he flatly refused.

"Master Meng, you underestimate the State of Jin. If word of this reaches them, the State of Lu will be seen as having broken faith with Jin, yet we will have failed to improve our relations with Qi. Would that not be destroying our own foundation for the future?"

"Furthermore, the State of Qi is ambitious; they have long coveted the hegemony among the feudal lords and have been eyeing Lu like a tiger. To act in this manner is to bargain with a tiger for its hide and cut off our own retreat. Does Master Meng have some other hidden motive for suggesting this?"

It was no wonder Yang Hu was so suspicious; seeking rapprochement with Qi at this juncture was clearly a foolish move. Regardless of whether Qi agreed or not, Lu would have thoroughly offended Jin.

Meng Di had already prepared a response to Yang Hu’s skepticism. He spoke calmly and composedly: "Master Yang misunderstands. I am not suggesting that we form an alliance with Qi right now. Recently, bandits from the State of Ju have repeatedly encroached upon our territory, and since Ju is a vassal of Qi, we can use this as a pretext to send an envoy to Qi."

"We can take this opportunity to build rapport with the Gao and Guo clans and express the difficulties Lu is facing. In doing so, we can clarify our position to Qi. If things go wrong in the future, will we not have an extra path to retreat?"

Upon hearing this, Yang Hu finally understood. Meng Di intended to find an excuse to visit Qi, try his best to ease tensions, and simultaneously express concerns regarding the current situation in Jin.

If the power-hungry State of Qi received this news, even if they launched an attack on Lu, should they fail to secure a quick victory while internal troubles emerged within Jin, then Lu could seize the opportunity to form an alliance with Qi.

The current situation was highly unfavorable for Jin. Many feudal states were either turning toward Chu, flirting with Qi, or, like Lu, remaining on the sidelines. Yang Hu saw this clearly; if Jin continued on its current path, it would not be long before they found themselves abandoned by all. With this thought, he nodded and looked at Meng Di, asking meaningfully:

"Since you are the one proposing this, do you intend to serve as the envoy to Qi? You previously dealt the Qi army a crushing defeat outside Yunyi. I fear Gao Zhang hates you to the bone. If you go to Qi now, you will likely face grave danger."

Hearing this, Meng Di adopted a righteous expression and said in a clear, resonant voice:

"The situation in Lu is critical, and as a Minister, it is my bounden duty to act. If this can save Lu from a catastrophe, what does it matter if I face some peril?"

"If Qi were to arbitrarily detain an envoy from another state just as Jin has done, how would the world view them? Such an act would only cause other feudal states to hesitate and wait, which, for Lu, would actually be a positive outcome."

Yang Hu nodded as he listened, and finally, a look of admiration appeared on his face.

"Master Meng is truly an extraordinary man. Since that is the case, accompany me to see the Duke of Lu."

Everything proceeded smoothly from there. After Meng Di paid his respects to the Duke of Lu and sent a generous gift to Ji Mei, he returned to Mengyi to prepare for his mission to Qi.

In Linzi, the capital of Qi, Tian Qi received Meng Di’s letter. A look of contemplation crossed his face as he spoke to his son, Tian Chang, who was by his side.

"This Meng Di’s approach is truly unexpected. To send an envoy to Qi at such a time, and to target Ju as well—this is quite interesting. What are your thoughts on this?"

Tian Chang frowned and pondered for a while, then a confident smile appeared on his face.

"Father, if Qi were to join forces with Lu to take Ju at this time, it would be a good thing for us. However, since Ju is our vassal, the best method would be to let Lu send troops to attack them while we reap the benefits."

"Once Ju is unable to defend itself, we shall then deploy our own troops to annex the territory and force Lu to withdraw. In this way, we do not break faith with outsiders, and we gain the land of Ju for free."

After he finished, Tian Qi remained silent for a long time. He looked out the window and shook his head slightly.

"What you say is not wrong, but what benefit does it bring to our Tian clan? We have worked for many years and have gained significant prestige in Qi, yet the Guo and Gao clans remain wary of us."

"Meng Di acts only for the sake of Lu, and we cannot let him have his way. When he arrives in Linzi, you shall meet him. Tell him that he must use forceful language when addressing Gao Zhang. If he can provoke Gao Zhang, our clan will certainly support him with all our might."

Upon hearing this, Tian Chang pondered briefly and immediately understood his father's intent: to incite hostility between Meng Di and the Gao clan. If Meng Di agreed, the Tian clan would provide him with even greater support.

They could use Meng Di’s strength to wear down the Gao clan. If he refused, the Tian clan could withdraw their support, causing Mengyi to fall into chaos in no time. After all, it was only through the aid of the Tian clan that Meng Di had been able to settle so many people in such a short time; they held the lifeline of Mengyi in their hands. If they used this as leverage, he would have no choice but to agree.

However, Tian Chang had other concerns. After a moment, he reminded his father:

"Father, if this happens and Meng Di cannot withstand the armies of Qi, won’t our previous investments go to waste? At the very least, what gain is there for us?"

Tian Qi smiled, took a deep breath, and said in a resonant voice:

"The Tian clan already possesses more than enough wealth. At this point, we must take a gamble. If we succeed, the Gao clan will surely fall out of favor with the Duke of Qi, and that will be our opportunity."

"If Meng Di truly has the ability to defeat the Qi army, our clan can step in to mediate. Once the situation in Jin changes, successfully drawing Lu into an alliance with us will be a great achievement for our clan."

Tian Chang nodded repeatedly, filled with admiration.

"Father’s vision is indeed far-reaching. I know what to do. However, if Meng Di agrees, he will surely demand corresponding conditions. How do you think we should respond?"

After contemplating for a long time, Tian Qi spoke slowly:

"After this matter is settled, we can secretly support Lu in attacking Ju, divide the territory with Meng Di, and provide him with a supply of money and grain to resolve his immediate crisis."