Chapter 68: Guoyuan’s Little Sister

“Master Tian.”

“Master Gao, what instructions do you have?” Tian Qi bowed respectfully.

“The ruler intends to campaign against Lu. What is your opinion?”

“Whatever Master Gao thinks, Tian Qi will think as well.”

“Good, good.” Gao Zhang was very pleased. “The State of Qi is now strong in both soldiers and horses—it's time we teach Lu a lesson. However, the army's expedition will require provisions. I entrust this matter to you, Master Tian. What do you say?”

“Understood.” Tian Qi accepted without hesitation.

Upon returning home, he happened to encounter Tian Chang, who had just come back to report on the guesthouse matter.

“You handled it well,” Tian Qi praised, not at all displeased with his son’s initiative.

“Father, did you just visit the Gao residence?”

“Yes. The ruler intends to campaign against Lu, and Master Gao asked me to arrange provisions.”

“Father, Gao Zhang’s intentions are treacherous!” Tian Chang was shocked and sprang to his feet.

Tian Qi nodded slightly. How could he not understand Gao Zhang’s true purpose? A campaign against Lu would mobilize the army, and since Qi’s wealth lies among the people, forcibly requisitioning provisions from them would greatly damage his own reputation among the populace.

Guo and Gao, both self-important mediocrities, couldn’t think that far ahead; it must have been Yan Ying’s meddling.

Speaking of Yan Ying, Tian Qi gritted his teeth with hatred. If not for that remark, “Qi’s governance will ultimately fall to the Tian clan,” the ruler, along with Guo and Gao, would never have viewed him with such suspicion.

“There’s no rush yet. Send someone to the marketplace to spread rumors: say that Jin has allied with Zheng and Wei to attack Qi.”

“Father, that’s an excellent plan! This way, the ruler will not dare send troops against Lu, and the requisition of provisions will fade away!”

Yet Tian Qi’s scheme failed. The next day, the ruler of Qi, Chu Jiu, summoned the ministers to the palace for a council. The matter at hand was to form an alliance with Zheng.

Zheng had once been the hegemon of the Central Plains, but after Duke Zhuang’s death and several struggles for succession, its power declined greatly.

Its location was a battleground, surrounded by Jin to the north and Chu to the south, without natural defenses. Often, it served as the stage for clashes among the lords. In the end, it survived by siding with whichever of its neighbors was stronger—Chu when Chu was dominant, Jin when Jin prevailed—barely maintaining its existence.

Zheng did not share a border with Qi in the east; between them lay Lu, Wei, and Song, and they had little interaction. The ministers were puzzled as to why an alliance was suddenly proposed.

After the envoy Ziyang explained, everyone understood the origins of the matter.

It all began years ago at the Assembly of Zhaoling. Tang and Cai, harassed by Chu’s powerful steward Nang Wa, rebelled in anger and sought help from Wu and Jin.

Wu seized the opportunity, raised an army, and invaded Chu along the Huai River, nearly destroying Chu.

Jin’s chief minister Fan Yang rallied the lords to uphold justice for the Marquis of Cai, convening an assembly at Zhaoling. Fan Yang, along with Guo Xia of Qi, and the rulers of Lu, Song, Cai, Wei, Chen, Zheng, Xu, Cao, Tai, Zhu, Dun, Hu, Teng, Xue, Qi, Little Zhu, and others—a total of eighteen lords—gathered at Zhaoling to discuss a campaign against Chu.

Jin had six chief ministers. Zhongxing Yin, one of them, demanded a bribe from the Marquis of Cai and, upon refusal, objected to the campaign, arguing it was unprofitable and disadvantageous for Jin.

The Fan and Zhongxing clans were staunch allies, but at this time, friction among Jin’s ministers intensified. Fan Yang, out of consideration for his ally, refrained from attacking Chu and instead helped Cai destroy Shen, a vassal state of Chu, thus merely going through the motions.

So, the grand Assembly of Zhaoling ended in nothing, and Jin’s prestige was greatly damaged.

The most disappointed was Zida Shu, the chief minister of Zheng.

Zida Shu had always favored Jin, suppressing pro-Chu factions in his state with an iron hand. His plan was to form a coalition army at Zhaoling; even if Chu could not be destroyed, at least it would suffer a heavy blow.

Zheng could then expand southwards, exploiting Chu’s vast interior and resources, perhaps even restoring its former glory.

The greater the hope, the deeper the disappointment. On his way home, Zida Shu fell ill from grief and soon died, leaving Zheng’s people embittered against Jin.

But turning to Chu was now pointless—Wu’s invasion had crippled Chu, and it would be a long time before it recovered. Zheng decided to ally with Qi, the eastern great power, to counterbalance Jin.

The ruler and ministers of Qi were naturally delighted—a new ally in the heartland increased their chances of regaining ancestral dominance.

The sharp-eyed Yan Ying immediately discerned that Jin was unstable internally; otherwise, Zheng would never dare make such covert moves.

Only Tian Qi was silently distressed, realizing that the campaign against Lu was now unlikely to be reversed. Returning home, he hastily urged Tian Chang to contact Meng Di.

Meng Di was currently at the Guo residence. The master, Guo Xia, was away with the army, so all affairs were managed by his eldest son, Guo Yuan.

“Han, Jing,” Guo Yuan said apologetically, “I’ve just received orders from Master Gao—the annual wager is cancelled.”

He was not like Gao Li, eager to show off; holding power in his family, he cared little for the profits from the salt fields.

“It seems we can’t help you, Young Lord Guo,” Meng Di remarked curiously, “Is it because the Gao family, seeing the wager is unfavorable, dares not participate?”

“No, not at all. Uncle Gao is fair and never interferes in the affairs of the younger generation.” Guo Yuan had only just learned of the campaign against Lu; his father had gone to the army for preparations, and matters like the wager naturally had to wait. Cautious as he was, he would not divulge anything without approval.

“Do you two have any interest in serving as generals in the army?” Guo Yuan shifted the topic, revealing his true intent.

Meng Di’s refusal was expected, but that Liu Xiazhi showed no interest either, which was a complete surprise.

“Jing, with my father in the army, you could achieve success in no time—surely that’s better than merely escorting merchant caravans?”

“Young Lord Guo, recruiting in front of others is perhaps not the best approach.” Meng Di feigned annoyance.

Guo Yuan quickly apologized, still expressing his regret. Every year, the winners of the martial contest took pride in joining the great clans. If not for the imminent campaign against Lu, he would not dare offer direct commissions in the army, yet even so, he failed to sway the two.

“Everyone has their own ambitions, and I can’t force it. But since we’ve become fast friends, is there anything I can help with?” Guo Yuan adjusted his mood, resuming his elegant composure.

“I do have a request, Young Lord Guo. Linzi is unrivaled in prosperity, and our caravan would like to stay here for some time. We hope you might keep an eye out for us.”

“Naturally!” Guo Yuan agreed at once.

With their business settled, the two took their leave. Guo Yuan was most courteous, personally seeing them out. The Guo estate was vast and tranquil. The three strolled along the winding paths, Guo Yuan displaying impeccable manners, without the slightest hint of disappointment, chatting and laughing amiably.

As they rounded the lake, Guo Yuan suddenly fell silent and stopped.

Meng Di and Liu Xiazhi looked up to see a young woman in martial attire, standing poised with a sword, her attendants keeping their distance, silent.

Guo Yuan patted his forehead and sighed, “Little sister, don’t make trouble.”

“Hmph! You wouldn’t take me to watch the martial contest yesterday, and now I hear the champion is here—I must see for myself.” The girl twirled her sword, eager for a challenge.

“Forgive me, Han and Jing. My sister has practiced swordplay since childhood and is much indulged by our father. Even I, her brother, can do nothing with her.” Guo Yuan smiled wryly.

Meng Di and Liu Xiazhi exchanged glances. Seeing Guo Yuan’s helpless look, Liu Xiazhi leapt back as if bitten by a snake, shouting, “Impossible! How could a man of honor duel a young lady?”