Free Web NovelChapter 445: Chapter 246: Black-robed Steward (Part 2)
Luo Dingran and Chang Younian had switched posts. Chang Younian was now within Da Liang territory, and Li Xuejin had been by his side.
And yet, here he was.
After sitting down, Li Xuejin’s scholarly elegance was evident in his every move. He spoke with an air of nonchalance,
"Lord Chang governed poorly. The Sovereign had him executed."
Cheng Zongyang was taken aback. "In the current climate, they actually punished him?"
Li Xuejin, in turn, seemed surprised. "Could it be that Mr. Cheng knows the reason why?"
Cheng Zongyang didn’t answer. Instead, he asked, "What business brings you here?"
Li Xuejin smiled faintly. "I would like to join the Cheng Family."
Cheng Zongyang froze. His brow furrowed as he stared intently at the man.
Li Xuejin, however, paid Cheng Zongyang’s gaze no mind, meeting his stare with a serene smile.
After a moment, Cheng Zongyang’s expression was just as calm. "Why?"
SNAP. Li Xuejin opened his folding fan and waved it gently. "I can help you," he said with a faint smile. "If I’m not mistaken, your next move is to take sole control of the County Town, isn’t it?"
’He truly is worthy of his reputation as Chang Younian’s strategist and Master,’ Cheng Zongyang thought, his estimation of the man rising.
He had seen Li Xuejin a few times and heard a great deal about him—all from the idle chatter of others, of course.
Many knew Li Xuejin was Chang Younian’s personal Master. Outsiders more often referred to him by his moniker: the Black-robed Steward.
As for Chang Younian being killed by the Emperor, there was likely nothing even a man as resourceful as Li Xuejin could have done.
’For him to have seen through my intentions, he must have been living in the County Town for some time and investigated deeply to reach this conclusion.’
Li Xuejin didn’t wait for Cheng Zongyang to speak, continuing,
"Based on my observations lately, you may have been forced to eliminate those three families, but there’s no denying you also took advantage of the situation—or even orchestrated it intentionally.
The fact that you had the power to destroy them means you have the power to destroy the other three families as well. But you didn’t, and for one reason only: you’re hiding your true strength.
The nail that sticks out gets hammered down. You don’t want the Li Family to target you exclusively, so you let those three families be. But it’s undeniable that your recent actions have all paved the way for the Cheng Family and the Celestial Break Gang to grow stronger.
Now, you’ve brought the Da Yi Commerce Association into the West City District. It’s foreseeable that the district will soon be dominated by a single power. This seals the fate of the remaining three families: they must either leave, join you, or suffer the same fate as the ones you already eliminated.
But no matter what schemes you pull, you cannot get past the Li Family. You will have to face them eventually. This means the Cheng Family will ultimately have to either truly submit to the Li Family or move into Da Liang."
After listening to Li Xuejin’s analysis, Cheng Zongyang still gave no reaction. He simply asked again,
"According to your analysis, I am fully capable of taking sole control of the County Town; it’s merely a question of whether I want to. But if the Li Family is an unavoidable obstacle, how can there be any talk of sole control? And how could you help me achieve it?"
Li Xuejin, however, shook his head slightly. "There is a way. It just depends on whether Mr. Cheng is willing to pay the price. But first, I wonder if my analysis so far aligns with your own thoughts?"
Hearing this, Cheng Zongyang suddenly smiled. "Your analysis is logical and well-reasoned, but it’s still just speculation. Besides, if what you say is true, I can accomplish it all myself. Why would I need you?"
Li Xuejin also smiled. "’Man proposes, Heaven disposes.’ I can help you accelerate this process. Time is what’s most precious. Six months! If you trust me, I can put the County Town completely in the hands of the Cheng Family within six months, and even the master of the Li Courtyard will have no objections."
Cheng Zongyang fell into a brief silence. He didn’t trust offers of help from men like this. ’Everything has a purpose.’
He had many secrets. Combined with his recent procurements, he was confident he could stabilize his control over the County Town and consolidate it completely within a year. Even if Da Liang launched another war to seize the Land of Four Mansions, he was confident he could keep the County Town independent of both Da Liang and the Royal Family.
Therefore, Li Xuejin’s presence or absence made no real difference to him. But he was curious about what the man wanted. He looked at him and asked,
"What do you want to get out of this? Or rather, what do you want the Cheng Family to do for you in the future? Don’t tell me there’s nothing. We both know better. There’s no such thing as a free lunch."
Li Xuejin laughed, then closed his fan. His expression grew serious.
’It’s not a problem if he has an agenda; it would be a problem if he didn’t.’
Li Xuejin was a smart man, and he didn’t underestimate Cheng Zongyang, so he laid his cards on the table.
"I do. First, I genuinely see great potential in you. With your strength and intellect, you are destined for great things. I, too, am looking for a place to put my talents to use. Second, I want revenge!"
Cheng Zongyang ignored the potential flattery of the first point and focused on the second. "You’re quite the loyalist. You want to avenge Chang Younian? Seek revenge against the Emperor?"
Li Xuejin, however, shook his head. "My enemies are the Gate Valves. This isn’t about avenging Chang Younian."
Cheng Zongyang was surprised. "Your enemies are the Gate Valves? So you want to use the Cheng Family to make trouble for them? Don’t you think you’re overestimating my Cheng Family? We’re currently just one of the Lower Three Grade Families. In Da Liang, that barely qualifies as a Noble Race."
But Li Xuejin shook his head. "A blood debt must be repaid. I never expected to be able to claim vengeance myself, but my descendants can. All I ask is that when the Cheng Family rises in the future, it fulfills this condition."
"So you’re making a wager," Cheng Zongyang said, finally understanding.
Li Xuejin looked at Cheng Zongyang, neither confirming nor denying it—a silent admission.
Cheng Zongyang recalled something and gave him a knowing look. "So when you served Chang Younian, you were also betting that he would rise through the ranks? That you could help him become the head of the Chang Family and then use them to fight the Gate Valves? No... you wanted to help the Chang Family become a *new* Gate Valve, to fight the old ones?"
Li Xuejin didn’t respond. Inwardly, he was stunned.
Cheng Zongyang’s shrewdness had far exceeded his expectations; he had basically figured out his original plan. His assessment of Cheng Zongyang rose another level.
’I absolutely cannot try to fool or deceive this man.’
Just then, Cheng Zongyang spoke. "I’m sorry, but I have no intention of making enemies for myself. I live a quiet life here. Aside from the trouble that finds me, I never go looking for it. Therefore, you aren’t of much use to me.
If I wanted to, I could also take control of the County Town in six months. The only difference would be the aggressiveness of my methods. I’m a man who prefers stability. A stable takeover of the County Town is better than an aggressive one that creates enemies.
Furthermore, what you’re asking for is completely disproportionate to the ’talent’ you’re offering. From a business perspective, the return is far lower than the cost. No one in their right mind would agree to such a deal.
Now then, there are no grudges between us. My grudge was with Chang Younian. Since he’s dead, I have no reason to cause trouble for you.
Of course, if you are truly set on joining, you could go to the Celestial Break Gang. They’re also in need of managerial talent. I can recommend you to Gang Leader Li. He knows you, and if you were to join, I imagine he would be more than willing."
Li Xuejin fell silent once more.
He had looked into Li Lu. The man had just been a minor government official. He only got to where he was today after meeting Cheng Zongyang.
Although the Celestial Break Gang and the Cheng Family were two separate powers, most insiders knew the gang was nothing more than the Cheng Family’s "muscle."
He had never considered working under Li Lu. If he had, he wouldn’t have come to visit Cheng Zongyang in person.
But this rejection was within his expectations, so he wasn’t disappointed. He looked at Cheng Zongyang and spoke slowly.
"I hear the Celestial Break Gang has been searching for ancestral temples and shrines within the County Town. I wonder what Mr. Cheng is looking for? Perhaps I can be of assistance?"
Cheng Zongyang’s gaze shot toward him, the corners of his mouth twisting into a smirk. "I’m surprised you concern yourself with so many things, Mr. Li. Why don’t you take a guess at what I’m looking for?"
Li Xuejin remained unconcerned by Cheng Zongyang’s show of hostility. He stared into Cheng Zongyang’s eyes and slowly uttered one word: "Huangfu!"
Cheng Zongyang’s expression instantly darkened. ’My first thought was that Li Lu had leaked the secret!’
’But on second thought, that couldn’t be right.
I never mentioned to Li Lu that I was looking for the Huangfu Family’s ancestral hall or lands. My orders were simply to find, investigate, and record places of that type. Li Lu couldn’t possibly know.
If even Li Lu didn’t know, there was no way his subordinates could have leaked the secret.’
