Several days earlier, when word spread that "Bi Lingkong had issued a Martial World summons, calling on the Greenwood to attack Central Province," Chen Yan had secretly contacted Di Xiangyou. The two had discussed the matter.
First, they agreed on one overarching principle: the Heavenly Secret Bureau served the Imperial Court, and its ultimate goal was to preserve peace and stability in Great Xia. They therefore had to help the Imperial Court deal with Bi Lingkong.
But within that broad principle, how they went about it was open to discussion.
Bi Lingkong was exceptionally powerful. Neither Di Xiangyou nor Chen Yan could face her head-on. Even if they joined forces with each other, Di Cangqiong, and the veteran Attendants hidden in the imperial palace, it still would not be enough.
The problem was that even if she could not win, she could escape.
They would have to trap Bi Lingkong and kill her in one stroke, or drive her back and make her retreat in the face of overwhelming odds.
Which of those two options would the Imperial Court choose?
After a brief discussion, the two agreed that the Imperial Court would certainly choose the first.
Bi Lingkong had long been a thorn in the Imperial Court's side. Because of her, its hold over Yun Province had remained weak for years. That was especially troublesome now, when the development of Jiaozhou demanded vast amounts of supplies. If the Court could draw on the resources of both Yun Province and Jing Province, the task would be far easier.
But with Bi Lingkong there, the Imperial Court could not extract much from Yun Province, so it could only squeeze Jing Province. That had been the chief cause of the rebellion in Baixi Commandery, Jingnan, years ago.
One person had curtailed the Imperial