Capital City, Eastern Depot.
Cao Zhengchun sat in his chair, listening to his subordinates report important intelligence.
His brow furrowed slightly. Why wasn't there a single piece of good news to cheer him up?
"Reporting to the Governor: Thousand-household Liu of the Jinyiwei in Pingyang Prefecture has brought Hundred-household Lin of Bailing County to request an audience. They say they have something important to report."
Chief Head Iron Claw Flying Eagle snapped, "Get out! Can just anyone come to see the Governor?"
But Cao Zhengchun suddenly raised his hand in an Orchid Finger gesture. "Wait. Hundred-household Lin of Bailing County? Why does that sound familiar?"
Iron Claw Flying Eagle bowed. "He's the man who reported intelligence on Great Song's Southern Beggars' Gang last time. You personally appointed him Hundred-household, Governor."
Cao Zhengchun's eyes lit up. "Him? Then let them in. Perhaps they have some good news."
"Liu Xiong, Thousand-household of Pingyang Prefecture, and Hundred-household Lin Lang pay their respects to Governor Cao."
Cao Zhengchun waved a hand, his face wreathed in smiles. "Dispense with the formalities. Sit down, both of you. What important matter brought you all this way to report to me?"
Thousand-household Liu lowered his head. "Governor, Lin Lang has devised an ingenious plan to deal with the martial sects, but we aren't sure whether it will work. So I brought him here to report it in person and ask for your decision."
Cao Zhengchun looked at Lin Lang, his tone most courteous. "Lin Lang, your report on the Great Song Jianghu last time was a delightful surprise. I even regretted not getting to meet you. Have you brought me another surprise today?"
Lin Lang declared loudly, "Governor, Great Ming now has countless martial sects. Many produce nothing, yet control vast amounts of wealth, and they repeatedly use their martial prowess to flout the law."
"Wiping out every martial sect in one stroke would be difficult, but my plan could eliminate half of them in a short time. Within a few years, it could even wipe out more than eighty percent of the major sects."
Iron Claw Flying Eagle sneered, "What shameless boasting!"
"Do you know how many experts those renowned major sects have? They have Grandmasters and even Great Grandmasters! Dragon Guard Manor hasn't managed it despite twenty years of planning, yet a mere Hundred-household like you has a way?"
Lin Lang looked at Iron Claw Flying Eagle in surprise. "Chief Head Flying Eagle, why do I feel you're fanning Dragon Guard Manor's fighting spirit while snuffing out the Eastern Depot's prestige?"
"Just because Dragon Guard Manor can't do it doesn't mean the Jinyiwei, backed by the Eastern Depot, can't."
"Well said. I like young men with ambition." Cao Zhengchun looked at Lin Lang, his eyes filled with appreciation.
His Eastern Depot had to stand a head above Dragon Guard Manor.
"Governor, the fewer people who know about this, the better." Having said that, Lin Lang deliberately looked toward Iron Claw Flying Eagle.
He knew that Iron Claw Flying Eagle was actually a spy planted at Cao Zhengchun's side by Iron-Gallant Divine Marquis Zhu Wushi, so he could not let Iron Claw Flying Eagle hear this intelligence.
Cao Zhengchun waved his hand. "Flying Eagle, thank you for your hard work today. Go and rest."
Iron Claw Flying Eagle shot Lin Lang a resentful look, then turned and left.
He regretted speaking out of turn earlier. Otherwise, he could have heard the plan and reported it to the Iron-Gallant Divine Marquis.
Only after Iron Claw Flying Eagle had gone far enough away did Lin Lang continue. "Actually, I learned this method from you, Governor."
"At court, plenty of people once opposed you. Did you kill them all? No."
"You chose to support some people and have them deal with others, occasionally lending a hand against those who jumped around too energetically. That brought the entire court under your control."
Cao Zhengchun extended his fingers in an Orchid Finger gesture. "The court is under His Majesty's control. I am merely a servant attending His Majesty. Everything I do is to serve him loyally."
"You're right, Governor." Lin Lang did not argue and continued, "The martial world is much the same. We can support certain sects and help them suppress others, letting them slaughter one another and weaken their strength, while secretly helping deal with disobedient sects."
"Before long, only obedient sects will remain. All the disobedient ones will disappear."
"Not only will the martial world become far more stable, but we'll also reap many benefits."
"For example, the wealth controlled by the destroyed sects, their martial arts legacies, and even some experts who surrender."
Cao Zhengchun's eyes grew brighter and brighter. "Lin Lang, I knew you were a talent! Which sect do you think we should support, then?"
Great Ming's martial world had many major sects: the Sun Moon Demon Cult, the Five Mountains Sword Alliance, Northern Shaolin, the Northern Beggars' Gang, the Wudang Sect, Moving Flower Palace, and the Golden Coin Gang. Which should he choose?
"The Sun Moon Demon Cult or the Five Mountains Sword Alliance. They have a generations-old feud. Supporting one against the other would give us the quickest results."
Curiosity filled Cao Zhengchun's face. "Then tell me, why would they be willing to throw in their lot with the imperial court?"
Top-tier sects like these had always ignored the imperial court.
Lin Lang's face was full of confidence. "It's simple. Without us, both sides will suffer ruinous losses. Only the side that joins us will be able to win."
"With Thousand-household Liu's support, I recruited Liu Zhengfeng, an elder of Hengshan, into the Jinyiwei. Through him, I killed six of Mount Song's Thirteen Guardians and pinned the blame on the Sun Moon Demon Cult."
"The Mount Song Sect has just wiped out three Branch Altars of the Sun Moon Demon Cult. The two sides are now as incompatible as fire and water."
"What we need to do now is deny them any chance to stop, draw all their experts into the fighting, and ultimately have one side completely destroyed."
"It doesn't matter if neither side is willing to join us. Once they've both suffered ruinous losses, we can wipe them out together. You will still have accomplished what Dragon Guard Manor failed to do in twenty years."
Cao Zhengchun roared with laughter. "Well said! I truly appreciate you more and more."
The mere thought of getting the upper hand over Zhu Wushi made Cao Zhengchun unable to stop smiling.
Cao Zhengchun had defeated everyone else at court. Only Zhu Wushi repeatedly opposed him. This time, he would make Zhu Wushi understand: When it comes to governing the martial world, your Dragon Guard Manor is still no match for my Eastern Depot!
You think your ranks are brimming with talent, Zhu Wushi?
My Eastern Depot has talented men too!
"Then how will you guarantee that both sides fight to the death? As far as I know, their feud has lasted decades. Countless elders and disciples have been killed or wounded, yet neither side has committed to fighting the other to the bitter end."
"Plant spies!" Lin Lang looked at Cao Zhengchun. "Just as you must have your people within the Civil Officials' Faction, Governor. As long as we plant people on both sides to keep stirring up trouble, their hatred will grow ever deeper. I'm confident I can handle the spies."
"Besides, Zuo Lengchan of the Five Mountains Sword Alliance is fiercely ambitious. He is bent on exterminating the Sun Moon Demon Cult and making the Five Mountains Sword Alliance the foremost sect in the martial world, wresting the position of Pillar of the Martial World from the Wudang Sect and Northern Shaolin."
"If he sees a chance to exterminate the Sun Moon Demon Cult, he certainly won't let it slip. We can create that chance for him. For instance, we can use spies to feed him false intelligence that makes him unable to resist striking. This is Drive the Wolf to Swallow the Tiger."
"Excellent!" Cao Zhengchun pointed at Lin Lang. "Lin Lang, you truly have given me a surprise, and I certainly won't let you go unrewarded."
"I'll put you in charge of this matter. Starting tomorrow, you will be a Deputy Thousand-household of the Jinyiwei. If you can destroy the Five Mountains Sword Alliance or the Sun Moon Demon Cult, I'll make you a Thousand-household."
"If you can wipe out more than eighty percent of the major martial sects, I'll make you Commander of the Jinyiwei!"
"Liu Xiong, you deserve credit for recommending him. I'll make you a Pacification Commissioner."
"Neither of you is to disappoint me. Go ahead without holding back. If you need anything from the Eastern Depot, come and report to me directly."
If Lin Lang was merely blowing hot air and could accomplish nothing, he would show Lin Lang just how miserable the consequences of deceiving him could be!
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