Chapter 1378 – Southern Sheng, The Autumn of Chaos (Part 4)
The Tao Clan and their comrades probably never imagined that Jiang Pengji could be so cunning.
They were still dreaming of the “clam and gull” scenario where they could profit from the conflict, completely unaware that while dreams are lush, reality is stark.
When Jiang Pengji revealed the Tao Clan’s schemes to Qi Guanrang, he furrowed his brow, a hint of mockery lurking in his eyes.
“They…” Qi Guanrang thought for a long time before settling on a fitting descriptor, “are rather naive.”
Jiang Pengji chuckled, “They truly are quite naive.”
Yang Si laughed heartily, “Our Lord has eyes like a hawk, how could he be so easily hooked? Yang Tao is no simple character either; how could he be easily schemed against? The Tao Clan thinks they can sit back and watch the tigers fight, but they clearly overestimate their worth. Do they have the qualifications to perch on the fishing platform?”
That was still a rather mild way to put it; in the language of the idle folks in the live stream, the Tao Clan was completely clueless!
Didn’t they realize their own weight? What gave them the right to boast in front of two giants?
Even Huang Song and Xu Pei are not this bold, yet the Tao Clan dares to dream?
Jiang Pengji clicked her tongue, casting a sidelong glance at Yang Si, who had been positively blooming lately.
Even after running around for days with Han Yu, he still couldn’t hide his contentment.
Hmph!
So smug!
Jiang Pengji laughed, “Jing Rong, you’re mistaken; the Tao Clan is imitating Jiang Taigong’s fishing, while I am the willing fish on the line.”
If the Tao Clan had minding their own business, Jiang Pengji could’ve contemplated how to find trouble for Yang Tao.
But the Tao Clan’s setup to “design” her and Yang Tao was exactly what she wanted.
Qi Guanrang coldly interjected, “Our Lord desires it, but Yang Tao will not be fooled easily.”
Previously, everyone had analyzed several warlords, mostly driven by ambition and eyeing the imperial throne, but there were also pacifist lords like Yang Tao. Yang Tao initially revolted to avenge his father, Yang Jian, and ever since Zhao Shao’s demise, the grudge against his father’s killer had eased. As a lord, Yang Tao lacked some ferocity; he was more about maintaining status than aggressive action.
Given Yang Tao’s pacifying nature, the Tao Clan’s schemes might not bait him into recklessness.
He also had an extremely difficult-to-deal-with companion, Yan Lin; if the Tao Clan could deceive Yang Tao, Yan Lin would not be as easily fooled.
“Even the idle have dreams; who knows, maybe the Tao Clan can make their dreams come true,” Jiang Pengji said with a cheeky grin, then pivoted her tone to a more playful one, “Besides, what we need is a reason to act, not a reasonable reason…”
Just give a reason, no need for it to be rational.
The confidants beside Jiang Pengji were all sharp-witted!
With their Lord being such a rogue, even they felt worn out.
While the little princesses felt exhausted, the idle viewers in the stream were happily chatting away.
【Stowaway Non-Money】: This streamer’s style is totally reminiscent of a certain self-proclaimed world police nation, the most rogue-like police.
【Sincerely Inviting Membership】: The ancient giant is indeed an ancient giant; the comments always hit the nail on the head. The streamer’s rogue behavior is indeed strikingly similar to that of a certain country—they both need just a reason to act, regardless of the validity or rationale—
【Fresh Breeze Tissue】: As long as there’s strength, one can be willful.
【Clear Mouth Lemon Slices】: Is this live stream really a place for political discussion? Aren’t you afraid of being banned?
【Old Driver Alliance】: Ah, clearly a newbie in the live stream, not aware that this space is beyond the reach of both Huaguo and the world’s number one rogue! Tsk, don’t even mention politics; you can throw the letters of the eighth code in here without fear of a ban.
Forget political discussions or serialized eighth code articles; even organized battles via comments are totally fine.
【Farmer Spring Water is a Bit Suspicious】: I disagree with that analogy; the streamer is clearly a reasonable person.
The idle viewers weren’t trying to bash Jiang Pengji; they were just expressing their thoughts.
Quickly, the topic was drowned under a flurry of comments, while Jiang Pengji and the little princesses continued their discussion.
Jiang Pengji noticed Wei Ci’s hesitance and seized the moment to ask.
“Zixiao, do you have a different opinion?”
Wei Ci replied, “To report to our Lord, I believe the time for military action is still premature.”
“How could we move troops now? The earliest would be next spring,” Jiang Pengji shook her head with a sigh, “After the successive battles, the common people have suffered greatly. To wage war against Yang Tao, we must allow a year or two for recovery; they need to regain their strength.”
Having fought Huang Song and Xu Pei recently, even with Jiang Pengji’s substantial resources, her own forces were currently beleaguered.
To get new resources, she was eyeing the salt business controlled by the Tao Clan, hoping to get a substantial reimbursement.
If the Tao Clan had been sensible, Jiang Pengji wouldn’t have minded them taking their accumulated wealth and withdrawing, merely restricting their faction’s entry into official circles and curbing their ambitions. Who knew they would be so insatiable, prompting Jiang Pengji to take decisive action?
Salt concerns the livelihoods of the people, its importance is akin to copper and iron; unless one has lost their mind, she would never allow private forces to control it.
The Tao Clan’s blatant disregard left her no option but to roast them alive if her name wasn’t worth writing backwards!
Wei Ci quickly realized his Lord had misunderstood and hurriedly explained.
“What I meant is not quite so,” Wei Ci said, “Currently, the situation in Southern Sheng is highly chaotic, and the various lords are at odds with the Southern Barbarians; it’s a hotbed of conflict. If our Lord rashly intervenes, she will surely be accused of ‘aiding the barbarians,’ which is quite improper.”
It was just like when Jiang Pengji attacked the Northern Border, and Meng Zhan tried to stab her in the back but ended up being the one shamed.
The same principle applied; while the lords of Southern Sheng band together against the Southern Barbarians, Jiang Pengji would be vilified for taking advantage of the chaos.
Such accusations could not be easily washed away.
Jiang Pengji replied, “Zixiao is right. However, just because they cannot eliminate the Southern Barbarians does that mean I cannot act against them?”
Were the Southern Barbarians still the protectors of those unremarkable characters?
Wei Ci shook his head, “The various powers of Southern Sheng have united to combat the Southern Barbarians, and by the summer solstice at the latest, the victor will be determined.”
Utilizing his experiences from previous lives, he analyzed the current situation, sensing the imminent downfall of the Southern Barbarians.
Jiang Pengji remarked, “Zixiao hopes I let them weaken each other before reaping the benefits?”
Wei Ci nodded.
Wasn’t that exactly how the previous monarch profited?
An Huan fought fiercely against the Southern Barbarians, slaughtering over 638,000 and exhausted himself in the process, leaving a lack of defenses.
Eventually, the Southern Sheng ruled by An Huan was swept up by the monarch who charged south, effortlessly taking the entire region. Even though this life’s Lord was in a much better situation than the monarch during the same period in the previous life, the domestic power dynamics of Southern Sheng were vastly different, and Wei Ci didn’t want her to take risks.
Jiang Pengji mused, “From the beginning of spring to summer solstice isn’t such a long time; we can wait a little longer.”
Rarely, Qi Guanrang did not object but merely cast a glance at Wei Ci, maintaining his cool, detached demeanor.
Noticing his gaze, Wei Ci suddenly felt a sense of relief.
