"The second thing you mentioned was that the timber trade is some kind of murderous blade." Wang Yang drew a slight breath, looking utterly baffled. "I don't know whether you deliberately twisted my meaning or misunderstood it by accident. I made myself perfectly clear before: what we want is quality timber, superior wood. It's all meant for wealthy households and powerful families. That's why it can fetch a good price, and why both my Ten Thousand Mountains Freight Depot and your Wenyang Tribe can profit! What is fine timber? Fine trees in a forest are like fine generals in an army! A thousand soldiers are easily found; one good general is hard to come by. Did you think we were chopping firewood all over the mountains?"
Wang Yang suddenly stopped there, as though something had occurred to him. He abruptly turned toward Guo Shao and said suspiciously:
"Wait a moment! If you knew as little about the timber trade as these chieftains"-the contemporary term for tribal leaders, similar to a tribal lord-"then a misunderstanding would be perfectly normal. But earlier you said, 'invite Han people into barbarian lands to identify timber,' and then, 'Han people will use searching for timber as a pretext to explore the mountains and rivers.' You knew enough to speak of 'identifying timber' and 'searching for timber,' which means you understand the timber trade very well! So you already knew I wanted you to select good trees to sell, not cut down the entire forest! Knowing that, you still talked about tigers losing their forests and the lay of the mountains being exposed. Isn't that deliberate incitement?!"
A perfectly measured trace of anger appeared between Wang Yang's brows!
Every barbarian turned his gaze toward Guo Shao, some scrutinizing him, others wary.
Guo Shao began to panic