Huang Feihu took up his post.
The Northwest Protectorate had its seat in the North Sea. Fei Lian and Kong Xuan, the region's military and political heavyweights, were old acquaintances, and they had already recruited a staff for Huang Feihu.
The protectorate had been established by King Zhou himself, which showed how much importance he attached to it. Though he had not assigned it any personnel, that did not mean his subordinates would simply stand by and watch.
Thus, even though the North Sea was short of soldiers and horses, Fei Lian had gritted his teeth and scraped together a staff.
Deeply moved, Huang Feihu took the initiative to ask, "Brother Fei, mere thanks cannot repay such kindness. The North Sea has only just been pacified. Are you facing any difficulties?"
"Well..." Fei Lian did not know where to begin. The North Sea was indeed in dire straits.
Kong Xuan was more forthright. "A shortage of soldiers and commanders would be a minor problem. The real issue is that the North Sea has suffered through war and lacks provisions. The common people had no chance to sow their crops earlier, either. I fear it will be hard to make it through this year."
"Food? The Gui Fang in the northwest are nomadic tribes with plenty of cattle and sheep. At worst, we can raid-" Huang Feihu stopped himself mid-sentence.
Raid what? King Zhou's Three No's Principle expressly forbade antagonizing the Gui Fang!
Fei Lian shook his head and sighed. "Commander Kong had the same idea earlier. The Gui Fang have ridden across our borders and plundered our Great Shang since the days of the High Ancestor. Naturally, we could raid them in return. But when we heard that His Majesty had specially established the Northwest Protectorate to administer the northwest, and laid down that Three No's Principle, we had no choice but to give up..."
Huang Feihu frowned. "His Majesty has always been wise. There must be a deeper meaning to this move that we have yet to discern. Why don't we carefully work through it today? Perhaps we can glimpse something of his true intent."
The three began drinking and chatting about the situation in the north.
As they talked, Huang Feihu suddenly slapped his forehead. "I've figured it out!"
Fei Lian brightened. He knew he was not clever; he had been too busy drinking to think at all.
Kong Xuan pricked up his ears as well. He was unfamiliar with mortal affairs. Leading troops into battle, dueling enemy generals, and matching magical powers were his strengths. Asking him to fathom the king's intentions and devise a strategy for the Gui Fang was truly asking too much, so he had not been thinking either.
"No war, no forceful measures-that means we must proceed gradually." Huang Feihu took a sip of wine and continued, "No humiliation, no provocation, no military action. But we can compete."
"Compete?" Kong Xuan seemed to have grasped something.
"Compare martial strength, mounted archery, food and clothing, housing..."
Fei Lian still did not understand. "What do you mean?"
"We demonstrate the might of our Great Shang in every respect, until the Gui Fang submit wholeheartedly and willingly become our subjects." Huang Feihu gazed toward Chaoge, his eyes full of admiration. Now this was a true king!
Utterly convinced, Fei Lian could not help shouting, "Excellent! This is a strategy to conquer their hearts!"
Kong Xuan also felt a stir of anticipation. He cared nothing for any great tribulation of heaven and earth, nor for whether Cheng Tang's allotted fortune was running out. His mother was Great Shang's guardian deity, so he was its guardian deity as well. Faced with such a wise king, how could he not give his utmost assistance?
Fei Lian asked, "How should we proceed?"
"We need only do this, then this..." Huang Feihu explained each step, sketching out a plan.
Fei Lian nodded repeatedly, then shook his head just as often. "We have neither troops nor commanders, nor any provisions. Without prior preparations, what are we to do?"
Huang Feihu swept a hand through the air. "My father is the commander of Jiepai Pass, where grain is stockpiled. There is no harm in borrowing some for the time being. I will write to him at once."
Jizhou.
Since returning to Jizhou, Su Hu had remained in the Marquis's Manor without venturing out for days.
Today, his eldest son, Su Quanzhong, came home and asked him, "Father, King Zhou has treated us so outrageously. Why not rebel? If you fear that Grand Tutor Wen Zhong, I will lead an army myself and cut off his head."
Rebel? Rebel against what?
This was all a scheme between His Majesty and me!
I, Su Hu, have been wise all my life. How did I end up with a son whose head is stuffed with muscle?
Fortunately, my daughter entered the palace and enjoys great favor. With my contribution to purging the court this time, Jizhou will not fall into decline even a hundred years from now.
Su Hu then explained everything to Su Quanzhong in detail.
"So that is how it is. But why has Grand Tutor Wen stationed his troops here? Could he harbor suspicions?"
Su Hu slammed the table. "Unfilial son! His Majesty's virtue rivals that of Yao and Shun. How dare you speak ill of him?"
Then, seeing Su Quanzhong's foolish expression, he could not help softening and explaining, "With Grand Tutor Wen's troops stationed here, Chaoge City's defenses are weakened. This is the perfect opportunity for traitors to rise in rebellion-a plan to lure the snakes out of their holes. His Majesty is willing to brave danger himself to leave the villains at court nowhere to hide and restore a bright, unclouded world to Great Shang."
Just then, a servant suddenly arrived with a report, and a household officer was admitted to the room.
"My lord, the court has ordered the construction of beacon towers using abandoned earthen forts as foundations, with reeds, firewood, and other materials laid out upon them. Once lit, their thick smoke will be visible from ten li away. King Zhou intends to use them to transmit messages."
Having delivered his report, he withdrew.
Su Hu said calmly, "Our opportunity has come."
Su Quanzhong could make neither head nor tail of it. He merely said, "Your son is slow-witted. Please explain, Father."
Su Hu laughed heartily. "The day the smoke rises will be the day we lead our troops into Chaoge!"
Su Quanzhong asked, "Father, are you going to capture Chaoge and proclaim yourself king?"
The smile vanished from Su Hu's face.
This boy was his own flesh and blood. Like him, he had a fiery temper; like him, he possessed exceptional martial skill and unmatched courage among the armies. Yet he had inherited none of his wisdom.
What could he do? A foolish son was still his son.
Su Hu explained once again: they would lead troops into Chaoge to rescue the king and purge the traitors. Once the traitors were captured, they could clear King Zhou's name and restore his good reputation. Then they could bask in glory as maternal relatives of the emperor and live without worries for the rest of their lives.
After sending Su Quanzhong off to the barracks to prepare the troops, Su Hu sighed to himself in his room. He needed to find some way to give Su Quanzhong experience. He might as well use this rescue of the king to secure a post for him.
Meanwhile, at Wen Zhong's encampment, scouts reported movement in Jizhou's barracks. Wen Zhong placed his entire army on alert. He reckoned Su Hu would soon rebel and declare independence; when the time came, he would have to seize him in one decisive push.
Mount Zhongnan.
Yun Zhongzi was a disciple of Yuanshi Tianzun. Some time earlier, his master Yuanshi had sent word through a jade slip that the Investiture of the Gods had changed.
That day, he rode the clouds and summoned mist, when he suddenly spotted a streak of demonic aura in the southeast, piercing straight through the clouds.
After making some divinations, Yun Zhongzi sighed. "This beast is merely a thousand-year-old fox. It has now assumed human form and concealed itself within the royal palace of Chaoge. Unless it is eliminated soon, it will surely become a great calamity."
Recalling his master's earlier message, he sensed a connection.
Yun Zhongzi hurriedly summoned his attendant boy. "Fetch me a length of old, withered pine branch. I will carve a wooden sword and go eradicate this evil."
The boy asked, "Why not use the Demon-Illuminating Sword to slay the demon and root out the calamity forever?"
Yun Zhongzi smiled. "It is only a thousand-year-old white fox. A wooden sword will suffice."
The boy brought the pine branch, and Yun Zhongzi carved it into a wooden sword. He instructed the boy, "Look after the cave abode. I must be away for a while."
Yun Zhongzi left Mount Zhongnan and set off toward Chaoge atop an auspicious cloud.
The beacon towers were under construction.
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