The Dharma Manifestation represents one's essence, spirit, and will, a manifestation of the dual energies of yin and yang.
Changsun Wuchou smiled and bowed, but the Fox Dharma Manifestation approached Li Guanyi, seemingly probing.
It was unclear whether it was some kind of observational technique.
However, as the fox drew closer to the young man, the Bronze Cauldron trembled, and the Dragon and Tiger Dharma Manifestations pounced forward. The tail of the Red Dragon remained on the Bronze Cauldron, but the diamond-shaped scales coiled around the fox's neck, while the White Tiger leapt in for the kill.
Clearly, they were merely two undeveloped Dharma Manifestations, yet they forcefully tore away a large portion of the fox's qi, causing the fox to retreat in fright.
For some reason, a flicker of instinctive panic suddenly arose in Changsun Wuchou's heart.
This emotion was something he had never experienced while wandering alone in the Western Regions. The techniques learned from ancient texts to probe others' qi seemed ineffective; the result of his probing was a void of darkness, where a young man in a dark blue long robe stood, silent and dangerous like a mountain tiger, slightly bowing as he said:
"I am Li Guanyi."
"I have met with Mr. Changsun."
Changsun Wuchou looked at the young man, slightly furrowing his brows, but quickly suppressed the unease in his heart and nodded with a smile.
"Indeed, a young hero."
Li Guanyi watched as Changsun Wuchou departed.
Turning back into the Xue residence, the Red Dragon and White Tiger brought back the torn qi of the fox. It seemed that a flow of light illuminated the Bronze Cauldron, but this fox appeared unworthy to enter the cauldron; a section at the base brightened and then dimmed, and the fox's qi completely dissipated.
The White Tiger and Red Dragon Dharma Manifestations each absorbed a portion.
Both became brighter, each slightly stronger than before.
Meanwhile, Changsun Wuchou was led to the Listening Wind Pavilion, where Xue Daoyong personally received him. Changsun Wuchou walked briskly, directly bowing deeply, addressing him as "Uncle." The elderly Xue Daoyong, with his white hair, caught up and supported him, patting his shoulder, reproaching, "Nephew, what is this?"
"Is this too formal?"
The two exchanged smiles, understanding each other without words.
Changsun Wuchou stood up, and Xue Daoyong invited him to sit inside for tea. After a few cups, Changsun Wuchou smiled and said, "You should have received the letter I sent earlier, right? I came today specifically for this matter."
When the Breaking Cloud Tremor Bow first howled, Xue Daoyong was reading that letter, laughing as he said:
"Of course."
Changsun Wuchou spoke softly, "The descendants of the Dangxiang people are in the Western Regions now. The Tuyuhun have occupied their territory. You opened the path for us to sell salt and iron weapons to the Dangxiang people. With weapons, the Dangxiang's left prince happened to die suddenly."
"They have already begun to fight with the Tuyuhun."
"This has stabilized the borders of Ying Kingdom and Chen Kingdom."
"Old man, truly a good strategy."
"Profiting tenfold while having the Dangxiang people block the Tuyuhun for Chen Kingdom."
Xue Daoyong replied, "Though I am a merchant, when Marshal Yue left and the borders faced difficulties, I had to use my own methods to stabilize the borders. Unfortunately, I am just an old man now, unable to ride and fight anymore..."
Changsun Wuchou smiled in agreement.
Xue Daoyong asked, "What about the Dangxiang people?"
Changsun Wuchou replied, "They have blood courage."
Xue Daoyong took a sip of tea, flipping through the transaction documents, and said lightly:
"They can still be helped for a while, until they are strong enough to balance against the Tuyuhun."
"After that, it will be up to you, nephew, to sell weapons and salt to the Tuyuhun."
Changsun Wuchou looked at the elder before him, understanding the bloodshed behind his words, and said, "Old man, you earn money for yourself, yet stabilize the borders. It’s just a pity that the Tuyuhun and the Dangxiang tribes in the Western Regions will continue to fight endlessly."
Xue Daoyong laughed, "Nephew, you are also serving the great clan of Longxi; isn't that the best thing?"
The two raised their cups and drank tea, the translucent porcelain filled with tea that tasted like the vastness of the Western Regions. Xue Daoyong said, "The foreign tribes use swords and horses for farming, often raiding the borders; I have seen it before."
"Those who are not of our kind will surely have different hearts."
"For the Central Plains, a chaotic Western Region is the best Western Region."
Changsun Wuchou did not discuss anything with this lion of the chaotic world who had witnessed foreign tribes descend, smiling as he said, "We have finished discussing the trade here; this is the latest map of the world's territories. I wish to discuss the trade of the world with Uncle Xue."
He took out a scroll made of cowhide, but the elder smiled and said, "No rush."
"Today, I would like to be bold and let a child observe, how about that?"
Changsun Wuchou smiled and said, "It seems the Xue family has someone capable."
"If you are willing, old man, I naturally have no objections."
He wandered alone in the Western Regions, which was largely under the Tuyuhun's control now, but that area was too vast, with the Dangxiang people, Tiele people, and some remnants struggling to resist. Although Changsun Wuchou was a wandering merchant, he was backed by the great clan of Longxi.
Cooperating with the eldest son of Elder Xue was enough to influence the situation in that region.
He had seen many young heroes, and all three sons of the great family he was currently in were outstanding.
The Xue family was, after all, merchants, so he remained composed.
As the door opened, a chilling killing intent entered with it.
Changsun Wuchou smiled, his previously narrowed eyes slightly widening as he saw the young man in a blue robe. At this moment, Li Guanyi had a leather belt around his waist, a knife at his side, and a plain rainbow bow in hand. A blue flying crane cloud adornment on his forehead prevented sweat from entering his eyes, his brows calm, and his demeanor already that of a martial artist.
Changsun Wuchou sat up straight.
It was him.
Xue Daoyong beckoned for the young man to sit down, pointing at him with pride, "From Jiangzhou, Li Guanyi."
"My family's Qilin child!"
He then pointed at Changsun Wuchou, saying, "Descendant of the Right Cavalry General of Ying Kingdom, currently serving the Duke outside the borders. That great family is vast, and it is only fitting for Changsun Xianzi to introduce himself."
Changsun Wuchou looked at Li Guanyi, smiling as he clasped his hands in greeting:
"Longxi Duke, second son of the Li family, under the second son of the Erlang."
"Son of the Right Cavalry General of Daying."
"Nephhew of the Ritual Officer of Daying, direct descendant of the Changsun family, greetings to the young master."
This was the exchange of families in this era.
To inform of one's origins, the family, the Duke of the Li family, referred to the ancestor of this lineage being enfeoffed in Li territory, thus taking that as their surname, but the surname was Ji, granted by the former emperor of the Central Plains.
Li Guanyi did not have such a foundation; he merely clasped his hands in greeting and said:
"I have already met you, Mr. Changsun."
"I am Li Guanyi."
Changsun Wuchou smiled in response.
He took out the map and spread it on the table, which not only included Ying Kingdom and Chen Kingdom but also the Tuyuhun region of the Western Regions, the northern Turks, and the northeastern Khitan, Rouran, and Wuluo Hou, with mountains, rivers, cities, and towns detailed.
Xue Daoyong waved his hand, closing all the windows of the Listening Wind Pavilion. Thirteen night pearls the size of fists illuminated the surroundings. Changsun Wuchou introduced the current state of the world, pointing at the Western Regions, saying, "At present, the Western Regions are in chaos, and with Uncle Xue's methods, the Dangxiang people are eager for revenge."
"Your country's Marshal Yue was captured while protecting the people, and the Yue family army is stationed at the borders, confronting the Tiger Barbarian Cavalry, while the general of Ying Kingdom leads troops northward to confront the Turks at the pass, preventing those Turkic cavalry who have starved for a winter from invading the Central Plains."
"The world is largely at peace..."
Li Guanyi sat quietly, watching these two discuss the state of the world, observing the documents that clearly outlined the route from Chen Kingdom to Ying Kingdom, memorizing it in his heart, but his gaze fell on the map, the teachings of General Xue from five hundred years ago echoing in his mind.
He could actually understand the words of Changsun Wuchou and Xue Daoyong.
The great merchants plot for the nation.
Elder Xue used silver to disrupt the Western Regions, stabilizing the borders.
No wonder that day when he spoke of great merchants plotting for the nation, for the world, for eternal peace, Elder Xue was so happy.
He must have thought I was his confidant.
But how could I have such great ambition?!
I am merely a pretender.
Li Guanyi's thoughts wandered, the knowledge imparted by General Xue surfacing in his mind, gradually becoming clearer. Changsun Wuchou looked at the young man over there, wanting to offer guidance, smiling as he pointed at the map on the table, saying, "Young master, what do you think will happen if the situation in the world changes?"
Li Guanyi looked at the world, recalling General Xue's teachings, and instantly made his own judgment.
He habitually picked up the pen beside him.
Turning it around, he pointed on the table.
"Here."
Changsun Wuchou and Xue Daoyong looked over.
The Western Regions?
"The borders are in disarray, and Ying Kingdom is resisting the Turks. The Tuyuhun have no worries behind them. If it were me... I would not let the Dangxiang people clash with the Tuyuhun at this moment."
The young man sat quietly, his brows calm.
He was still young, with a scholarly air in his eyes.
But in a daze, it felt as if the greatest general of the world sat behind him, clad in black armor, his sleeves flowing down, fingers pinching a chess piece, with the world before him.
Li Guanyi raised his hand, as if that divine general had crossed five hundred years, his finger landing on the map.
"Let the Dangxiang hold back for now, feigning weakness; the Tuyuhun will surely want to take advantage of the confrontation with Ying Kingdom to descend southward, occupying the Tianfu region to make up for their weaknesses; at this time, if the Dangxiang suddenly rise to cut them off, the Tuyuhun will surely be thrown into chaos."
"The noble families outside Ying Kingdom will not miss this opportunity and will surely advance."
"If a general were to lead elite cavalry out from the borders of Chen Kingdom at this moment..."
"They could raid the Tuyuhun territory, and with Chen Kingdom and Ying Kingdom, they could tear apart the hegemony of the Western Regions, dividing the land among three."
"........"
Li Guanyi realized this was not a secret realm, retracting his hand, feeling ashamed in his heart, saying:
"Discussing strategies on paper, boasting, I hope the two will not laugh at me."
Fortunately, it was not General Xue; otherwise, I would surely have more marks on my forehead.
Xue Daoyong said, "… Such military strategy truly resembles the military texts left by our ancestors."
Changsun Wuchou also laughed heartily, saying, "Haha, young brother, what you said makes sense. At your age, this is quite good."
Changsun Wuchou and Xue Daoyong exchanged glances.
They both casually remarked on the naivety of Li Guanyi's thoughts.
Yet they only saw a flicker of surprise in each other's eyes.
That night, when Li Guanyi left the Xue family, he returned to bring his aunt back to the Xue family; while Changsun Wuchou rested outside, Xue Daoyong gazed at the map of the world, remaining silent for a long time, saying, "… Is it truly the Martial God descending to the mortal realm? His strategies are still immature, lacking many details, crude at best."
"Yet they are also fantastical, like a deer’s antlers."
"Simply put, he completely does not understand the basics of military strategy, yet possesses first-rate insight."
"Who taught such a person? Did they not teach the foundational rules, starting directly from military strategies?"
The elder looked at the secret letter on the table, a note from the court instructing him to confront Yue Qianfeng, sighing, "Those who are in the game will also become pieces; this is inevitable, isn't it, Yue Qianfeng?"
The elder sighed, "I truly do not wish to clash with the generals of Marshal Yue."
…………
Changsun Wuchou was writing a letter.
It was addressed to the second son of the Longxi Duke.
All about local customs and sentiments, but he paused at the end.
Written in the script of the Xianbei outside the borders:
"… I have been ordered to discuss matters of the Western Regions with the Xue family, hoping to temporarily delay the attacks of the Dangxiang people and join forces with Chen Kingdom to break the hegemony of the Tuyuhun. I encountered a young man whose judgment of the Western Regions and the situation is remarkably similar to yours, and his age is also the same. His name is… Jiangzhou, Li Guanyi."
Clearly addressed to the second son, yet the letter read:
"Second Miss, you might find this interesting."
The letter was tied to the claw of a flying eagle, which flapped its wings and flew away. After a day and night of rapid flight, by the second sunrise, it had arrived at the borders, where the Longxi Duke, of the Li family, had guarded for generations. The eagle let out a long cry, and the letter descended.
As the sun rose, an imperceptible bird caught the letter.
Flapping its wings, its feathers glowed with fire, a magnificent Phoenix bathing in the sunlight.
It landed on the shoulder of a thirteen-year-old girl.
The girl had a pair of phoenix eyes, a red vertical mark on her brow, her dragon and phoenix form exceptionally beautiful.
On her shoulder, the naturally born Phoenix Dharma Manifestation appeared languid.
She flipped through the letter.
Raising an eyebrow.
"… The same as my judgment?"
(End of this chapter)