A Move in the Northern Frontier, an Open Scheme Against the Great Clans

"Let us proceed according to the original plan and befriend Qiu Yan." Meng Qingyan set the tone at once.

Meng Bufan frowned slightly and asked, "What about the movable-type printing method? And how should Hua She be handled?"

"Though this happened on our Meng Clan's turf, we were not the ones leading it." Meng Qingyan pondered for a moment before reaching a decision. "Compiler Qiu is returning to the capital under imperial orders. What can we do? If the other clans wish to pursue the matter, we will have an explanation for them. As for Hua She, did the Compiler not ask us to register him?"

"Then we shall do as the Compiler said?" Meng Bufan asked tentatively.

"No." Meng Qingyan shook his head. "Since we are doing it, if he asks for seventy percent, we shall give him a full hundred. Go to the prefectural office later and register Hua She as an ordinary subject in the household rolls. If he has any relatives, include them as well. Zhang Gongcui will still have to show our Meng Clan this little bit of courtesy."

"I have remembered it all." Meng Bufan nodded, then fell silent.

Meng Qingyan glanced at him and smiled. "Do you think your father feared Qiu Yan, and that is why I followed his wishes?"

Meng Bufan shook his head. "I did not think so. Qiu Yan has cultivation, reputation, and official rank, and he possesses insight in his breast. Not to mention that he produced the firing method as bait. Whoever faced such methods would have to treat them seriously."

"Correct. The fact that you can see these things shows that your years of experience have not been wasted." Meng Qingyan nodded in praise.

"However," Meng Bufan immediately continued, "the main reason should still be the