Chapter 932 – The Rabbit and Sheep Poison Scheme (Seven)
Halencha had been at odds with Wu Libai for many years, always finding himself at a disadvantage.
Now that he had an advisor to assist him, he felt like a tiger with wings, subtly showing signs of potentially replacing Wu Libai as the wise man.
Speaking of advisors, Halencha couldn’t help but smirk.
He disliked scholars, but he knew that for the Northern Border to prosper, those scholar brains were indispensable.
Coincidentally, among the slaves he purchased, there was a scholar from a humble background, someone of remarkable talent!
Halencha saved him, not only helping him escape his identity as a slave but even granting him a position of importance, allowing him to live in luxury.
As the saying goes in Zhongyuan—”A scholar would die for one who understands him!”
Halencha believed that his life-saving kindness would be enough to earn the advisor’s utmost loyalty and dedication.
Sure enough, the advisor, possessing the stubbornness typical of Confucian scholars, was determined to repay Halencha’s life-saving grace.
Ever since the advisor started guiding him, Halencha quickly began to rally his own faction in the court, basking in unlimited glory.
To solidify his power, the advisor presented him with a recipe for a magical elixir—
Cold Food Powder!
Cold Food Powder was highly esteemed among the aristocratic class of Zhongyuan, and many scholars enjoyed using it at Elegant Gatherings to ignite their inspiration. After consuming it, one’s mind would flow as if aided by a divine force, with miraculous effects of prolonging life and replenishing vitality!
Initially hesitant, Halencha thoroughly investigated and confirmed that the advisor hadn’t lied.
Cold Food Powder was indeed a marvelous thing, available only to those from affluent families.
Halencha was sold on the idea.
However, good things shouldn’t be hoarded alone, and he first thought of the Northern Border King.
By offering the recipe for Cold Food Powder, Halencha gained even more trust from the Northern Border King.
“Your wisdom truly knows no bounds; you’ve guessed correctly down to the tiniest detail.”
Halencha mimicked the bowing gesture of the Zhongyuan scholars, but unfortunately, his motions were poorly executed and looked somewhat comical.
The advisor remarked, “Congratulations, my lord, you’ve finally reaped the fruits of your hard work.”
Halencha laughed heartily, declaring, “Without your assistance, how could Halencha have come this far?”
After exchanging flattery, Halencha rubbed his hands and asked the advisor, “What should we do next? That old coot Wu Libai isn’t easy to deal with; I fear he might bounce back.”
Even a dying centipede is not so quick to perish; Wu Libai was renowned as the wisest man of the Northern Border.
“Don’t worry, my lord.” The advisor smirked coldly, “Wu Libai won’t be hopping around for long.”
Halencha felt reassured.
The two then schemed a bit more, with Halencha leaving the advisor’s tent, feeling quite pleased with himself.
Once Halencha was gone, the well-dressed advisor grew cold, standing in the tent deep in thought.
He snorted softly, “You, Wei Zixiao… what exactly are you trying to sell here?”
Meanwhile, Wei Ci hurried and changed several mount horses before finally arriving in Chongzhou.
Feng Zhen snorted, “Wei Zixiao, what on earth are you trying to sell?”
Wei Ci replied, “Spiritual Pills and Elixirs.”
Feng Zhen was momentarily taken aback.
Qi Guanrang frowned, “Does Zixiao have other plans?”
Their plan involved prompting merchants to withdraw from the Northern Border, halting the acquisition of wool and rabbits, allowing chaos to ensue in the Northern Border.
If the herdsmen couldn’t sell rabbits and sheep, civil unrest would inevitably arise.
Even if they couldn’t shake the Northern Border Royal Court, they could incite division among the tribes within.
Unexpectedly, Wei Ci disagreed, saying he wanted to continue acquisitions.
“There’s definitely something,” Wei Ci suddenly remarked with shocking news, “The Northern Border King won’t live much longer.”
Everyone in the tent widened their eyes in shock, staring at Wei Ci.
“When did you get this intel?”
Wei Ci replied, “There’s no intel.”
Feng Zhen pressed his throbbing temples and said irritably, “Just spit it all out at once; don’t leave us hanging.”
Wei Ci shot Feng Zhen a profound glance, leaving him utterly baffled.
“The Northern Border King is addicted to Cold Food Powder and consumes it indiscriminately… his body is already a shell of its former self; he won’t live much longer.”
Cold Food Powder?
Hearing those three words, Feng Zhen involuntarily shivered.
After all, the experience of being forced to quit by Jiang Pengji back in the day was far too vivid; he would wake up in fright even in the dead of night.
“Are you certain?”
Wei Ci affirmed, “Absolutely.”
Feng Zhen’s heart raced, “Wait—could it be… you’ve plotted something again?”
Wei Ci replied, “Not much.”
After saying that, he refused to elaborate, infuriating Feng Zhen and Qi Guanrang.
Seated at the top was Jiang Pengji, who chuckled, “Zixiao, don’t tease him, or he might just throw a fit.”
Wei Ci nodded slightly without directly answering and instead brought up another matter, “Cí is supervising the construction of the provincial government in the capital, and someone came to visit him at night. This person is a slave, an elderly fugitive slave. He approached Cí and expressed his desire to serve under the lord…”
Feng Zhen was surprised, “An elderly fugitive slave? Wanting to self-recommend? Does he have any background?”
“He indeed has background; he is Sun Wen from Zhong Zhao, courtesy name Zai Dao.”
“Sun Zai Dao? This… I haven’t heard of him.”
Wei Ci explained, “You naturally wouldn’t have heard of him, as he is over forty and hasn’t gained much fame.”
Although not famous, Wei Ci knew very well how tricky a character Sun Zai Dao was.
Late bloomers often emerge as great talents; he entered the bureaucracy at age forty, overpowering countless prodigies to secure the position of Chief Military Advisor.
If the Nie family had expanded rapidly in the early stages due to their deceased prodigy, they relied on Sun Wen to hold their ground later.
Hearing that Sun Wen had merely floundered around at over forty, Feng Zhen was surprised but didn’t show it.
“If this Sun Zai Dao lacks talent, Zixiao wouldn’t have mentioned him, right?”
Wei Ci nodded, “This person is indeed a late bloomer, and though older, in terms of strategic capability, Cí laments falling short.”
He was more adept in internal governance, while scheming was Sun Wen’s forte.
“By saying this, he must be quite a talent, but how did he end up a fugitive slave? A runaway from Zhong Zhao no less?”
Wei Ci elaborated, “It’s a long story; Sun Wen was originally a lowly clerk in Zhong Zhao and shouldn’t have offended anyone significant. However, he had a brilliant son who was too showy. During an Elegant Gathering, Sun Wen’s son accidentally offended the Nie family of Bianzhou and was punished. Sun Wen’s son ended up with a broken leg and died from illness while being exiled. Sun Wen’s old wife passed away from grief, and his daughter-in-law also… To survive, Sun Wen had no choice but to flee with his young grandson, begging beggars along the way to reach Dongqing…”
Wei Ci never expected the man once hailed as the intellectual backbone of the Nie family would end up in such a tragic state.
Even in his past life, Sun Wen’s defeat was marked by meticulous rituals—lightly touching incense, bathing, donning new attire, and smiling while taking his own life.
Wei Ci had witnessed Sun Wen’s remains and couldn’t reconcile that memory with the pitiful old man before him.
“This… this is a truly tragic situation…” Feng Zhen sighed, “But how does this relate to Sun Wen’s refusal to withdraw the merchants?”
Wei Ci remarked, “Sun Wen has made a military pledge to secretly infiltrate the Northern Border. He has now embedded himself next to Halencha, gaining the other’s trust and becoming an advisor. Cold Food Powder was indeed proposed by Sun Wen.”
