Chapter Fifty-Three: The Vessel of the Nation

“Isn’t it all the same in the end?” Tie Shudeng frowned. “If we dare to extort merchants from the Great Yu Kingdom, it will certainly alarm the king. When that happens, we won’t be able to explain ourselves.”

Ye Xin let out a sigh, somewhat helpless. Tie Shudeng was far too upright by nature. After a pause, Ye Xin said, “According to the information we’ve received, Xiao Mozhi of the Grand Zhao Kingdom has decided to pass through the Great Yu Kingdom, intending to stir up unrest in Jiuding City to distract Marshal Wei’s army. If Xiao Mozhi’s plot succeeds and a large-scale incident breaks out in Jiuding City, Marshal Wei will almost certainly have to turn his troops back.”

“What information? Xin, where did you hear this?” Tie Shudeng asked anxiously.

“Of course, it’s news you gathered yourself, Third Brother. Do you really think it came from me?” Ye Xin replied. “I’m just a useless man; how could I possibly have such skills?”

Tie Shudeng blinked, finally beginning to catch on. He wasn’t stupid—he simply wasn’t familiar with certain machinations in the realm of power.

“Enough with the riddles, Young Master Ye, just tell us!” Han Yuanzi pressed impatiently.

“Xiao Mozhi has decided to launch a biochemical attack…” Ye Xin began.

“What do you mean, biochemical attack?” Tie Shudeng interrupted, confused.

“Well… Xiao Mozhi has secretly produced a great deal of poison. He plans to have people sneak into Jiuding City and contaminate its water supply, or feed the poison to chickens, ducks, geese, and pigs, or perhaps taint rice and wheat, aiming to create a mass poisoning disaster in Jiuding City,” Ye Xin explained. “And those toxins could trigger outbreaks of disease, even plague!”

Tie Shudeng and the others stared at Ye Xin in stunned silence.

“What’s the main cargo brought in by the traders from the Great Yu Kingdom?” Ye Xin asked.

“Naturally, it’s rice and wheat,” Han Yuanzi answered. “The Great Yu Kingdom is abundant in grain and fish, unlike our own Great Wei, which is mostly mountains with unpredictable climate. Of the million people in Jiuding City, over half rely on the food imported from Great Yu.”

“Exactly. The Great Yu Kingdom doesn’t know what’s going on. If they unwittingly bring in poisoned rice and wheat, what kind of disaster could that cause?” Ye Xin said.

In truth, Ye Xin’s plan to have Tie Shudeng set up an inspection post at Feihong Bridge was not about extortion, but rather to gradually sever Tiexin Sheng’s sources of support.

Tiexin Sheng’s greatest backer was the Qingyuan Sect, followed by his staunch ally, the Great Yu Kingdom. The Qingyuan Sect was too formidable for Ye Xin to tangle with for now, so he was directing his efforts at Great Yu.

By deliberately making things difficult for the merchants of Great Yu, resentment would inevitably fester. When they returned home, the noble families in Great Yu might imitate the practice and set up their own checkpoints, extorting the traders from Great Wei in turn.

Since Tiexin Sheng took power, relations between the two kingdoms had been in a honeymoon phase, exceptionally close. But with this tit-for-tat, cracks would certainly begin to show, and Ye Xin would use every means to widen those fissures.

Over the years, Tiexin Sheng had gone to great lengths to maintain the alliance, but destruction is always easier than creation—and this was Ye Xin’s area of expertise.

Tie Shudeng, of course, failed to see through Ye Xin’s dark designs; even if he did, he might well pretend otherwise. From his perspective, the most important thing was to press Tiexin Sheng to appoint an heir—everything else was secondary.

The city garrison must be held firmly, which meant Tie Shudeng needed greater resources.

“Ye Xin, is what you’re saying true, or…” Han Yuanzi murmured, unnerved. Ye Xin’s words had exposed a glaring weakness in Great Wei’s defenses—should Xiao Mozhi truly act as described, the consequences could be devastating.

Though riots among the common people could never shake the foundations of Great Wei—might makes right, after all—on another level, the commoners were essential, the cattle and sheep that sustained all the noble families and even the royal line with their lifelong toil. If the commoners suffered too many losses, what would the nobles and royals eat, drink, or use?

Moreover, a smaller population meant a weaker warrior class. When the Longteng Martial Academy was founded, it had only a dozen battalions; now it boasted over fifty, its expansion directly proportional to the city’s growing population.

“Don’t ask me, ask Third Brother—it’s his intelligence, not mine,” Ye Xin said with a smile.

“Very well, if what you say is true—what then? What should we do?” Tie Shudeng asked.

“That’s why it’s our duty to foil Xiao Mozhi’s plot,” Ye Xin replied. “We have no choice but to set up an inspection point here. However… we must be careful not to extort money from the traders, or we’ll leave ourselves vulnerable.”

“If we can’t make a little money from this, what’s the point of the checkpoint?” Wang Meng exclaimed.

“Fool,” Ye Xin chided. “The specifics of the inspection are up to us. Take a quick look and let them pass—that’s an inspection. Make them unload every last item—that’s an inspection. Say we’re short on manpower and leave them waiting for ten days or a month—that’s also an inspection. You could even carry some laxative powder and, when no one’s looking, toss it into the rice—that, too, is an inspection!”

“I see, I see…” Han Yuanzi said, eyes twinkling. “If the traders see how hard we’re working and choose to show their gratitude, well, that’s only reasonable, isn’t it?”

“The first and second times, we must sternly refuse,” Ye Xin said. “There are two advantages to this. First, the traders might believe we’re truly dutiful and won’t dare cut corners—at least there’ll be no grounds for accusation. Second, if they think we’re not interested in their small offerings, they’ll be forced to up the ante—so in the end, we’ll gain even more.”

“You want to play the whore and set up a memorial archway too…” Han Yuanzi cackled.

“Watch your mouth,” Ye Xin cut him off. “I’m not the one playing the whore—it’s Third Brother. The checkpoint will be established in his name.”

“You little rascal!” Tie Shudeng laughed, giving Ye Xin a slap on the shoulder. “Xin, tell me—how much can we expect to rake in from this checkpoint each day?”

“From what I know, the daily rice and wheat imports… average six or seven hundred thousand jin,” Ye Xin said with a grin. “That’s just the rice and wheat, Third Brother. I’d wager that in less than a month, you’ll be rolling in fat!”

Tie Shudeng’s breath quickened. The enormous profits set his heart pounding—if things went as Ye Xin said, this single road would be enough to support the city garrison!

But Tie Shudeng was a cautious man, not quick to agree. He bowed his head, lost in thought.

The others fell silent, waiting for his decision.

After some deliberation, Ye Xin spoke slowly, “Third Brother, sometimes you have to be ruthless. We know what you want—and we’re following you for the sake of future prosperity. But think: if that Iron Hao becomes heir, what good would that do us? If you hesitate now, you’ll only bring chaos upon yourself. Third Brother, don’t let us down.”

“I understand…” Tie Shudeng hesitated. “Xin, what if people in court raise a fuss? What should we do?”

“Third Brother, do I really need to teach you this?” Ye Xin replied. “First, gather some men and buy medicine that causes illness. Find a few wells and poison them, or pick a rice store and taint the grain—leave behind some clues, and then you, Third Brother, can be the one to uncover Xiao Mozhi’s plot. That’ll be a great merit! Who’d dare make trouble then? If real chaos breaks out, who’ll take responsibility?”

“Ruthless… Young Master Ye, you’re truly ruthless!” Han Yuanzi clicked his tongue in awe.

Destruction is easier than creation; so too is it easier to corrupt someone than to teach them virtue. In the past, Tie Shudeng would never have considered such a thing, but now, faced with great temptation, he was slowly starting to fall.

“It could work…” Tie Shudeng mused, then looked up at Ye Xin again.

“Don’t look at me. I’ve already given you such a brilliant idea. As for the dirty work… I think Yuanzi would be perfect,” Ye Xin said, having easily discerned Tie Shudeng’s true intention.

Tie Shudeng smiled and turned to Han Yuanzi.

“What do you want me to do?” Han Yuanzi asked.

“Idiot, he wants you to do the poisoning,” Wang Meng said, slapping him on the back of the head.

“I…” Han Yuanzi’s mouth stretched all the way to his ear.

“It’s all up to you, Yuanzi,” Tie Shudeng said quietly.

“No pain, no gain, Yuanzi. Don’t forget, you’ll get your share of the profits from this checkpoint,” Ye Xin added.

“All right, I’ll do it!” Han Yuanzi gritted his teeth.

“Don’t use too much poison—if people actually die, that would be bad. I don’t want that kind of karma,” Ye Xin warned. “There will always be someone frail enough to fall ill, then you just spread some rumors and the job’s done.”

“Yuanzi, be very careful,” Tie Shudeng urged, finally making up his mind.

Tie Shudeng lacked long-term foresight; he couldn’t yet imagine how the Great Yu Kingdom would react. Perhaps even Tiexin Sheng himself wouldn’t see the future clearly in time. By the time the danger became apparent, it would already be too late. Profit can drive men mad! Not to mention Great Wei—should the noble families of Great Yu retaliate by establishing their own checkpoints, once they tasted the profits, even if the two rulers decided to reconcile, those families would still find ways to stir up trouble.

And besides, Ye Xin had other plans in reserve!

If he only wanted to kill Tiexin Sheng, Ye Xin could attempt many methods. But his true goal was the Nine Cauldrons of Heaven and Earth—the national treasures! He wanted, after Tiexin Sheng’s death, to seize control of all of Great Wei’s resources—a much greater challenge.

Thus, Ye Xin had to proceed step by step, isolating Tiexin Sheng and plunging him into crisis, beset from within and without.

If he killed Tiexin Sheng and then fled, what would he gain? Ye Xin was not so foolish.

The discussion almost concluded, Tie Shudeng and the others wore expressions of delight. Standing at the head of the bridge, they gazed into the distance.

Money… hurry into the bowls of your big brothers…