“Can strategists even ascend to the throne?”
Chapter 277: The Fish is Hooked
Until the bright lights in the sky slowly faded away in the starry night, Ze Rong was still clinging to this unrealistic hope.
After all, when Buddhism was about to be introduced into the Han Dynasty, didn’t Emperor Xiaoming have a beautiful dream of deities flying around?
It was all quite mystical, really.
Who knows, maybe he had someone craft those four Buddha statues, and even the foreign Buddhas turned their gaze here.
As he looked at the crowd before him, he truly realized how beneficial it was to possess such miraculous sights.
If those people had initially regarded him highly because of the grand spectacle he presented or because he shared food during the bathing Buddha festival, now this incomprehensible phenomenon drew even more awe-filled gazes.
For Ze Rong, who sought to replace Tao Qian as the ruler of Xuzhou, this was undoubtedly a piece of good luck dropped from the heavens.
Lost in such thoughts, he didn’t notice that at that very moment in the crowd, someone suddenly squeezed through and headed straight for outside Gaoyou City.
In fact, shortly after that bright light appeared in the sky, this person quickly shifted out of their state of shock, deciding to investigate further.
The sights Zhou Yu saw upon entering the city made him unwilling to believe that someone like Ze Rong could truly receive the blessing of such a miracle.
Due to the dimming light and interference from candles, he couldn’t accurately discern Ze Rong’s expression, nor could he know that Ze Rong was utterly ignorant of this incident, thinking it was all just a fabricated scene to maximize the effects of the bathing Buddha festival.
Desiring to confirm his judgment, he wasted no time leaving the city and pursued downwind.
The meadows of Guangling, with their streams and woods intertwined, made it hard for Zhou Yu to pinpoint the exact location of that bright light.
Fortunately, when he officially left the city, he still caught a glimpse of a faint red firelight descending, which allowed him to vaguely determine its direction. As he drew closer, he even heard distant murmurs.
However, it seemed the voices quickly vanished upon noticing his arrival.
He followed the sound and found a patch of grass that had clearly been trampled.
With his sword in hand, he pushed aside the grass and ventured further away, soon spotting some lingering sparks by the nearby stream, hastily chasing after them until he came upon a lamp that was on the verge of extinguishing.
This was a lamp woven from local bamboo.
The thin bamboo strips formed the framework, and a layer of paper covered the outside. Unlike regular lanterns, this one was sealed at the top. The section designed to hold fuel was mostly burnt out, leaving only a bit of wax left.
Zhou Yu quickly yanked up the lamp, bringing this stray piece back with him.
When the lantern fell, it became a bit loose, and the paper stuck to it was torn by the surrounding grass and trees.
He felt the lantern and realized it was made with the newly introduced second-grade improved paper from Chang’an, which was basically xuan paper, and hurriedly sent someone to purchase a few sheets from nearby merchants.
Plenty of paper had already flowed from Guanzhong, so buying xuan paper wasn’t too difficult.
After reassembling the lantern, Zhou Yu ignited the newly installed wax wick and watched as hot air filled the entire space, causing the lantern to float upwards.
If he hadn’t jerked it back down, this thing would’ve flown high!
Once he confirmed that this method really allowed the lantern to soar, Zhou Yu looked at the bamboo lamp in his hand, his expression as somber as water.
Ze Rong’s trick was indeed clever, transforming a man-made spectacle into a divine phenomenon.
From Zhou Yu’s perspective, he couldn’t just think of this matter in the context of Guangling.
This would not only make the people of Guangling increasingly believe in the supernatural aspects of the religion Ze Rong propagated but would also enhance Zu Lang’s faith in Ze Rong’s abilities during his visit.
Recalling how he heard Zu Lang and his subordinates vaguely mention Sun Ce’s name today, Zhou Yu couldn’t help but prepare for the worst.
At that moment, he still hadn’t clarified Ze Rong’s intentions towards Xuzhou, but from the standpoint of Yang Province, he realized he must impose some restrictions on Ze Rong.
Otherwise, what was to prevent him from aiding Zu Lang with the same trickery to cause trouble for Sun Ce in Yang Province?
He couldn’t be lucky every time and notice the tricks his opponent was using. If the people just bowed down like today, it would truly be trouble brewing!
Unfortunately, he couldn’t directly mobilize the troops of Yang Province against Ze Rong, and it’d be better not to appear directly.
Otherwise, internal issues of Yang Province would likely turn into a dispute between Yang and Xuzhou.
Zhou Yu stared at the peculiar lantern before him, pondering for a long time.
Perhaps he needed to find a suitable opponent for Ze Rong, one who ideally wasn’t as cunning as Lu Su or Chen Deng.
A name quickly flashed through his mind—
Zhang Yi.
And at the moment Zhou Yu made this decision regarding the lantern, not too far from Gaoyou County, two people were also staring at a lantern before them.
In the dim light cast by the candle on the table, two equally stunning faces were illuminated.
Of course, since they were both wearing men’s clothing at the moment, perhaps they should be described as handsome instead.
This particular house in the village was rented under the pretense of gathering mountain goods, surrounded by subordinates keeping watch, so they could speak freely.
Qiao Lan turned to Qiao Ting, who came from Donghai County, and said, “If only you could have thought of a way to give Ze Rong a favorable image.”
This floating lantern might also be referred to as a Kongming lantern, which had been developed by Zhuge Liang when several types of improved paper first appeared in Bingzhou, but it had been confiscated by Qiao Yan right after that.
After all, the display of the new road in Chang’an and the things to be showcased at the wine discussion had already been enough—not a need to add another item out of the blue.
Things like the Kongming lantern, which could be used as a signal light, could unexpectedly surprise enemies at any moment.
However, thinking it over, Qiao Yan still informed Qiao Lan and Qiao Ting of its usage, so they could signal for help when necessary.
Using it here wasn’t entirely without merit.
Qiao Ting replied, “Sister, you’re not bad either. After noticing someone tracking down the location where the light fell, you made a judgment about their identity and left one lamp for him.”
This lamp could land in the hands of Ze Rong’s people, or Zhou Yu or Zhang Yi’s, or they could take it directly—just as long as it didn’t fall into Tao Qian or Zu Lang’s hands; otherwise, that would contradict their goals.
The act of launching the Kongming lantern was to bolster Ze Rong’s position and entice Tao Qian into the fray, without letting them discover the secret behind it.
The two sisters exchanged smiles.
The situation in Xuzhou was intricate, with many forces involved that might not be particularly strong but were numerous. However, they had already broken the balance with this action.
Since this step hadn’t gone wrong, it was time for them to take the next action.
Qiao Lan still needed to hurry back to Sheyang County to ensure Zhang Yi would appear at the right moment in this chaotic situation.
After all, her previous reason for leaving Sheyang was to gather mountain goods, and now she had just finished that task.
Qiao Ting would need to return to Donghai County to keep a better watch on Tao Qian’s movements.
Perhaps she also needed to stir the pot a little more.
The two sisters said little more, quickly erasing the traces of weaving lanterns and pasting paper nearby, then headed north, as if they were simply merchants who had collected a batch of goods and had no reason to linger any longer.
However, their actions undoubtedly stirred up a wave in the calm waters of Xuzhou that wouldn’t easily settle.
Just a day after Qiao Ting returned to Xuzhou, the events that transpired at the bathing Buddha festival in Guangling County were brought to Tao Qian’s attention.
Interestingly, Ze Rong wasn’t as dull as one might think.
This news didn’t claim that Ze Rong, the representative of Buddhism, received the Buddha’s blessing and that miraculous events occurred, but rather stated—
Thanks to Tao Qian providing an environment for the development of Buddhism in Guangling County, this mysterious phenomenon came to be.
In this statement, the role of Ze Rong, the intermediary, still existed but attributed a considerable part of the credit to Tao Qian.
Ze Rong managed to spread the teachings of Buddhism and build his power up to this point, earning Tao Qian’s trust by overseeing grain transport, so he definitely had some skills up his sleeve.
He was pumped up from that unexpected spectacle, and his attempts to win over Mi Zhu were bold, yet he hadn’t dared to directly challenge Tao Qian.
Moreover, at this moment of surprise, he realized something.
This was not just an opportunity to win people’s hearts; it was a once-in-a-lifetime chance.
Right now, he bowed his head to Tao Qian, but it was merely… a temporary strategy!
“The Guangling Buddha Bathing Festival…” Tao Qian looked at the subordinate who came to report and asked, “That scene with countless lanterns floating in the air, did you really see it with your own eyes?”
“Indeed,” the subordinate replied affirmatively.
One couldn’t blame others for being startled and bowing down when witnessing that spectacle in Guangling, nor could one fault him for being a bit dazed when he rushed back to Donghai County to report to Tao Qian. After all, no one had ever told him that if you sealed the top of the lantern and it was light enough, the hot air generated by lighting it could lift the lantern into the sky.
He thought that while Ze Rong’s display was utterly jaw-dropping, he truly did have some capability, especially since he didn’t take all the credit for it, seeming to still be loyal to Tao Qian.
He asked, “Does the Governor want Ze Rong to return to Donghai County for a report?”
Tao Qian pondered for a moment and replied, “Sure, let him come back once.”
Though something like Zhang Jiao’s Way of Great Peace had already been debunked as a hoax eight years ago, Tao Qian hadn’t regarded the Buddhist sect as serious business when he appointed Ze Rong, thinking it was merely a way to control the masses. However, upon hearing about such a miraculous event occurring under his rule, he felt he had to have it verified by someone who actually witnessed it, and he couldn’t help but feel a flicker of hope.
Was Tao Qian really frozen in place? Did he not want to act?
Probably not.
If he could get his youthful energy back or get his two sons to show a little more initiative, Tao Qian would absolutely not hesitate to plead with the gods!
If Ze Rong truly became capable of directly communicating with the Buddha by delving deeper into Buddhist scriptures, Tao Qian might start harboring some thoughts.
But before he could send this news out to Ze Rong, he heard some rumors while in the administration of Tan County in Donghai.
The rumors of the Buddha showing miraculous signs during the Guangling Bathing Festival reached other counties in Xuzhou, and it wasn’t just Tao Qian who had the idea of “taking shortcuts”; many other common folk in Xuzhou were thinking the same thing.
With the autumn harvest just a month away, those eager to personally witness the Buddha’s glory were all plotting to make a quick trip to Guangling County.
Even if such a trip would take significant time and the Bathing Festival was already over, making it unlikely for the Buddha to show his signs again, seeking divine favor was a personal affair; no one would send a proxy or wait for the Buddha to come to them.
They believed that sincerity brings miracles.
Tao Qian: “…”
Even though these common folk had no idea what he truly thought, it certainly felt like they were sitting him down for a chat.
He then reconsidered and decided to maintain a skeptical yet hopeful attitude regarding Ze Rong’s ability to commune with the Buddha.
That being said, letting Ze Rong return to Tan County to report and explain the phenomenon might be a bit too direct, even risking offending the Buddha.
If the Buddha even existed, that is.
So, these people did have a point.
He deliberated and said, “Fine, I’ll personally make a trip to Gaoyou.”
He then instructed, “Bring more people with you.”
If Ze Rong’s claim of communicating with the gods was genuine, having more people would show his respect for Buddhism.
If the miraculous signs in Guangling were merely a fabrication by Ze Rong—perhaps hiding some unspeakable secret—then let someone deal with him right then and there!
No more of this nonsense on his territory!
The cicadas were chirping loudly in July, giving him a headache.
As Tao Qian set out for Guangling, several homing pigeons flew from Xuzhou into the borders.
The decrypted messages were sent from Maiwu to Chang’an, delivered to Guo Jia in the Grand Marshal’s mansion.
After confirming Qiao Yan’s current location, Guo Jia moved to the pavilion by the pond in the mansion and spotted a small boat at the edge of the pond, its stern covered with an oil-paper umbrella, making it hard to see if anyone was on board, with only a fishing rod sticking out into view.
Guo Jia couldn’t help but shake his head in amusement.
Over a month ago, Qiao Yan successfully implemented the alcohol restriction order, effectively taking back the power of liquor production. But with summer still sweltering, some folks who particularly enjoyed chilled beverages found the days drag on and requested Qiao Yan to ease the alcohol ban.
Or more accurately, they hoped Qiao Yan would release some of the strong liquor already brewed in Bingzhou for sale.
After all, these wines didn’t use up food resources only after the ban was imposed; it would be better to just sell them off.
Instead, Qiao Yan turned around and began recommending milk tea to them, saying it could help alleviate some of the pressure of dairy stock in Liangzhou and Bingzhou.
If anyone pressed further, she would pretend to not be around.
She would say that after the autumn harvest, there would be another batch available for sale.
Whoever farmed the best would pay the highest taxes and could buy the biggest share.
Anyway, even if they tried to brew something on the fly, it wouldn’t match what they’re already drinking, so it was better to just chill out a bit.
Currently, all matters in Chang’an city were unfolding smoothly, except for 任鸿’s Grand Historian role, which still hadn’t been fully settled. She was taking a little break here.
Guo Jia jumped onto the boat and saw Qiao Yan lifting her face from under her straw hat, sitting up in the cabin, reaching out her hand. “Give me the news from Xuzhou.”
“Why not somewhere else?” Guo Jia asked as he passed the letter over.
Qiao Yan replied nonchalantly, “Yuan Benchu is busy raising mules and brewing liquor, he doesn’t have the extra energy. With the autumn harvest approaching, most places won’t make any moves. Only in Xuzhou is there still unrest.”
Even though the various governors have escaped the dire poverty they faced when they first took office, they weren’t blind to a season’s harvest either.
If they truly raised armies at this time, unless it was like when Qiao Yan attacked Guanzhong, it would only invite complaints from the local populace and give their opponents a chance. There was no need to court such troublesome consequences.
The hot wind over the water blew across the ice cubes she had placed at the back of the boat, sending a refreshing breeze to her face.
She casually flipped open the intelligence letter and reading it made her smile even wider.
This wasn’t the letter that Mi Zhu had sent after assessing Ze Rong; this was from Qiao Ting, who had completed some covert maneuvering in Donghai and sent it to Qiao Yan.
The letter stated that by the time this message was sent, Tao Qian was already preparing to set off for Guangling County.
No, it couldn’t be said that he was heading to Guangling County.
This trip of the provincial governor was not hidden in the slightest.
Perhaps in a bid to mask his eagerness to seek divine assistance, he went around telling others it was an autumn harvest inspection tour.
But his first stop wasn’t Guangling, it was Pengcheng.
He would go through Pengcheng to Xia Pi, and only then reach Guangling County.
In that case, there was nothing anyone could criticize.
Maybe in Tao Qian’s eyes, this trip was still allowing the Buddha a breather.
After all, making frequent appearances must be exhausting.
But no matter why he made this choice, at the moment he headed towards Guangling, he was gambling with his own fate.
Though Ze Rong might not have the strength to march north and attack Donghai County, he certainly had the chance to stir things up within his own territory.
For him, the only troublesome thing was one thing.
When he chose to strike against Tao Qian, how could he provide a convincing reason!
The unfolding of this situation made Qiao Yan very satisfied with the performance of Qiao Lan and Qiao Ting; now she just had to see how the latter part developed.
She closed the letter in her hand and said to Guo Jia, “Fengxiao, we’ve got a bite on the line.”
It was at that moment she was talking that the fishing rod she had propped against the side of the boat began to shake.
She turned back to look and laughed, “Well, look at that, double happiness landing all at once.”
Right here, a fish had also taken the bait.
