Conflicts on Every Side

Du Liangcai glanced at Yang Qing, clasped his hands behind his back, and turned away with a cold snort.

Liu Mengde rose as well. After acknowledging Yang Qing and Dai Sheng, he followed Du Liangcai out.

Yan Prefecture Guesthouse

Back at the guesthouse, Du Liangcai abruptly turned around, nearly colliding with Liu Mengde behind him.

"Chancellor Liu, don't forget what we came to Western Chu for!"

Liu Mengde smiled. "Naturally, I remember."

Du Liangcai glared at him. "Remember? The way I see it, that fellow Yang has poured his bewitching brew down your throat, and now you can't tell east from west!"

"If it were me, and an enemy I had been fighting to the death not long ago suddenly came asking for peace, I would have to give it some thought, no matter how humbly they presented themselves."

Liu Mengde continued, "Besides, our chief purpose on this visit is to establish a horse ranch at the northern foot of Yan Mountain."

"Even so, since when have we of Northern Liang needed to bow and scrape before Western Chu? Chancellor Liu, this hardly befits Northern Liang!"

A vicious gleam flashed in Du Liangcai's eyes. "As I see it, that fellow Yang is the one throwing obstacles in our path! If they refuse, Northern Liang can simply invade again!"

"When that happens, never mind a horse ranch—all of Western Chu will belong to Northern Liang!"

Liu Mengde glanced behind him. Only after confirming that no one was passing did his expression darken. "Vice Minister Du, take care. Disaster comes through the mouth. We are both in Western Chu now. You would do well to be cautious with such remarks!"

Du Liangcai met his gaze without backing down. "Chancellor Liu, you grow more timid and cautious by the day. When has our mighty Northern Liang ever feared paltry little Western Chu? We represent Northern Liang's dignity. Don't end up feeding another's ambition while extinguishing our own might!"

Liu Mengde's lips moved twice before he finally said, "Vice Minister Du, I offered you kindly advice only because we serve at the same court. Since you insist on clinging to your own views, there is no point saying more."

With that, Liu Mengde left the room, returned to his own quarters, and shut himself inside.

Du Liangcai watched him leave with a dark expression. Then he beckoned, and someone appeared silently behind him.

"Go inform that man that I have agreed to the plan he proposed."

The figure vanished just as silently, leaving Du Liangcai alone.

The next day, at the Yan Prefecture Guesthouse

Yang Qing and Dai Sheng held a banquet for Liu Mengde and Du Liangcai.

Because of the matter of the horse ranch at the northern foot of Yan Mountain, Du Liangcai wore a black look throughout the meal.

Yang Qing and Dai Sheng, however, showed not the slightest anxiety. They continued chatting and laughing with Liu Mengde at the table, which only made Du Liangcai more irritated.

Yang Qing noticed his restless discomfort but did not point it out.

After three rounds of drinks, Du Liangcai suddenly stood. "I am feeling unwell and cannot continue drinking with you. I shall take my leave."

Yang Qing rose as well. "You are unwell, Lord Du? Shall I arrange for a physician to examine you, to put your mind at ease?"

Du Liangcai waved his hands. "No need, no need. Perhaps I simply slept poorly last night. A little rest will suffice."

"Someone escort Lord Du to his room to rest."

Yang Qing waved over a Prefectural Soldier, who escorted Du Liangcai away.

After Du Liangcai left, Liu Mengde also rose and took his leave.

Only Yang Qing and Dai Sheng remained at the table.

"Lord Yang, Northern Liang keeps its teeth sunk into that stretch of the northern foothills. They seem determined not to let go unless we agree to their horse ranch. What do you think we should do?"

Dai Sheng had said little during the banquet, but seated beside them, he had heard every word exchanged between Liu Mengde and Yang Qing.

"Let us wait and see. I believe their fight for a horse ranch is a pretense. Their true purpose lies in some secret scheme," Yang Qing said.

"A secret scheme? What do you mean?" Dai Sheng was deeply puzzled.

"To pursue something they know is impossible—the young emperor of Northern Liang is not so stubborn and inflexible."

"If that is so, what game are Liu Mengde and Du Liangcai playing?"

Yang Qing turned his gaze toward the window. "Perhaps this demand was never his idea, but someone else's."

Yang Qing did not specify who that "someone else" was, but Dai Sheng understood.

Aside from the Regent King, there was probably no one else in the world who could sway the Northern Liang emperor's decisions.

"Now that you put it that way, my lord, I understand a little better. I suspect Chancellor Liu's aim amounts to one word: delay."

Dai Sheng was right. Northern Liang had already raised its demand to build a horse ranch at the northern foot of Yan Mountain, but whether it would be approved depended on Western Chu.

The special envoys could not remain in Western Chu for long. Once the final deadline arrived, if the matter remained unresolved, Du Liangcai would have no choice but to leave Western Chu, however dissatisfied he might be.

But with his temperament, would he willingly return like that?

The sky gradually darkened. Yang Qing looked outside, then turned to Dai Sheng. "Lord Dai, let us head back!"

Yang Qing and Dai Sheng climbed into their curtained sedan chairs one after the other and left the guesthouse.

Overhead, the dark clouds gathered ever thicker. A downpour seemed imminent.

Yang Qing extended two fingers and lifted the carriage's cloth curtain to glance up at the sky.

"Bu Er, have them turn toward the Official Post Station! In this weather, I fear the rain will fall any moment."

At his words, the sedan bearers immediately changed direction and headed toward the Official Post Station.

Yang Qing's official sedan chair reached the Official Post Station just before the first thunderclap.

They had barely entered when the sky went completely dark. Then a blinding bolt of lightning struck down overhead.

Upon learning that Yang Qing had come to shelter from the rain, the steward of the Official Post Station arranged a vacant room for him.

As chance would have it, the room was not far from the one where Wei Li was staying.

Yang Qing sat calmly in the room, watching the rain pour down in torrents. "A day of driving rain," he said to Bu Er, "is a day for murder and plunder."

"Young master, those people certainly chose their moment well."

Bu Er added, "But however well they chose it, it won't save their lives!"

As he spoke, Bu Er swept his hand outward. A whistling sound cut through the air by the window frame, and blood sprayed across it.

Others also tried to force their way through the door, only to fall as Bu Er raised his sword and brought it down.

During this, two faint cries of alarm came from outside, both swallowed by the raging rain.

As the rain gradually eased, the commotion outside subsided as well.

At last, everything fell completely silent.

Bu Er caught his breath and looked at Yang Qing. "They should have succeeded."

Yang Qing nodded slowly. "It is about time someone came."

With that, his gaze passed through the window, half of which had already been sliced away, and settled on the scene outside.

We have already optimized the site to address freezing in certain versions of Safari on iPhones. If you still experience similar issues, you can try another browser, such as Google Chrome, or switch back to the default font (yes, the font is the cause), and contact us. We will try to make further improvements!

At the request of many readers, we now offer an ad-free feature for VIP members.

Click to view