Chapter Ninety-Five: Liang Huai is Captured

Qufu.

After receiving Meng Di’s letter, Yang Hu flew into a rage, but upon careful thought, he realized there was nothing he could do. His guard against Ji Sun Si grew, for Meng Di now seemed to be exchanging glances with him, and their aim was certainly Yang Hu himself.

At this, a menacing look appeared on Yang Hu’s face, and he ground his teeth with fury.

“Ji Sun Si, if you refuse to recognize what is good for you, then I, Yang, who once imprisoned you, shall do so a second time!”

Beside him, Ji Wu frowned, pondering for a while, his face showing hesitation.

“Master Yang, I believe Meng Di is not likely to side with the Ji Sun clan. Since he entered Fei City, he has only focused on his own development, never associating with outsiders, as if unwilling to take part in these struggles.”

Yang Hu listened, lost in thought for a moment, then asked with a sidelong glance.

“If you say so, do you have any idea?”

Ji Wu had only just thought of this, so he brought it up immediately. In truth, he had no plan, and being pressed for one, he began to rack his brain, finally speaking after much deliberation.

“Master Yang could go to see the Marquis of Lu and recommend Meng Di for his skill. In that case, Meng Di would surely come to Qufu, and you could then seize the opportunity to probe his intentions.”

Yang Hu stood up at once, heading outside.

“That’s a fine idea. I will go see the Marquis of Lu now.”

But unexpectedly, as his carriage had only just left, it soon stopped. Yang Hu, displeased, lifted the curtain to look outside and saw another carriage blocking the road ahead.

With matters weighing on his mind, he grew impatient. Seeing his servants scold the obstruction, he was about to let the curtain fall.

After waiting a while, not only did the carriage not move, but faint shouts and curses could be heard. Yang Hu grew suspicious—who was so blind as to block his carriage for so long without yielding?

Just as he lifted the curtain, he saw his servant return in distress, bearing two whip marks on his head. Yang Hu demanded furiously,

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“Whose carriage is that, to behave so rudely?”

The servant, having been beaten, was naturally resentful and embellished his account.

“That is Liang Huai’s carriage. I went to ask him to let us pass, but he responded with insolence and insulted you, master. I couldn’t bear it and argued with him, which is why I was beaten.”

Yang Hu, still brooding over Ji Sun Si’s dealings with Meng Di, was not in the best mood. Now Liang Huai dared provoke him—it was as if he was courting death. He ordered at once,

“Have the guards seize him and bring him to the residence for punishment.”

News of the street clash between Liang Huai and Yang Hu quickly spread throughout Qufu.

Upon hearing it, Zhong Sun He Ji’s face showed deep contemplation, and he gave a bitter smile.

“Yang Hu’s dissatisfaction with Ji Sun Si is evident, or he would not have acted thus. Liang Huai’s arrogance is famed in Qufu. By abducting him, Yang Hu is sending a warning.”

Zi Fu He sighed, his tone full of helplessness.

“Since Gong Shan Bu Niu’s death, Yang Hu has grown ever more arrogant. It’s not just the Ji Sun clan’s retainer Liang Huai—he even shows no respect toward you, master. We must be wary.”

Though he knew this, Zhong Sun He Ji could not make up his mind, and after a moment’s silence, he asked,

“Meng Di has won a great victory against the Qi army at Yun City. Do you think he might join forces with us against Yang Hu?”

Zi Fu He was not optimistic, for Meng Di had obtained Fei City thanks to Yang Hu’s assistance. Though Yang Hu’s motives were impure, the two did have some ties, so he replied,

“Recently, Ji Sun Si went to Fei City himself, clearly to win Meng Di over, and even sent him a batch of provisions. Now, after Meng Di’s victory, Liang Huai has again gone to Fei City, obviously trying to recruit him, but Meng Di has made no move.”

“Moreover, not long ago, Yang Hu invited Meng Di to Qufu, but Meng Di politely declined in Ji Sun Si’s name. This shows Meng Di does not wish to be involved in the struggle against Yang Hu.”

In other words, Ji Sun Si wanted to use Meng Di against Yang Hu, but so far it seemed to have little effect, and instead, had been outmaneuvered.

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Zhong Sun He Ji understood that someone like Meng Di, who could change fortunes with a turn of the hand, was far from ordinary. His current restraint was only because his strength had not yet matched his ambition.

If given time to grow, Meng Di would eventually break the power structure of the Three Huan ruling Lu, something Zhong Sun He Ji could not accept. Though Yang Hu now held power, nominally it was the Ji Sun clan governing.

At this moment, Gong Lian Chu Fu, who had been silent, spoke up.

“Master, in my opinion, Meng Di is not so formidable. I hear he reduced land taxes in his territory and allowed the people to enlist voluntarily—how laughable! To this day, Meng Di has only gathered three thousand troops; what can he accomplish?”

“He defeated the Qi army by cunning this time, but if surrounded by a large force, his men would soon be exhausted. Ji Sun Si is staking everything on him—how foolish.”

As a general, his perspective was military, but Zi Fu He disagreed.

“In Meng City, talent is scarce. Reducing taxes is meant to attract people to settle. Most importantly, Meng City lacks grain—so even if Meng Di wanted to recruit heavily, he lacks the means. Hence his current policy.”

“This shows he is a strategist at heart, and his advisor, the renowned Fisherman Ji Ran, is a figure of great renown. To have such a man as a subordinate—can Meng Di be ordinary? You must be on guard, master.”

The two held opposing views, leaving Zhong Sun He Ji with a headache, so he waved his hand.

“Meng Di’s strength is still weak and not worth worrying about for now. What matters most is how to deal with Yang Hu. If we have no plan, Yang Hu will surely take action—against us.”

Logically, Zhong Sun He Ji was now the chief among the Three Huan; if he decided to confront Yang Hu, the outcome might not be defeat, but he feared the consequences of failure.

Zi Fu He understood his master’s hesitations well, and after contemplating, offered his advice.

“Since Yang Hu imprisoned Ji Sun Si, the Lu state’s ministers have grown deeply dissatisfied with him. In this situation, master, you could unite the ministers of Lu—together you could oppose Yang Hu and have a fair chance of success.”

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