Volume One, Chapter Seventeen: Li Yan's Ambition, Yang Yi's Trap!
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Shudu, the residence of General Li Yan.
In a secluded side hall, Zou Ping and Fei Guan sat facing each other. Zou Ping watched Fei Guan nervously, every door and window tightly shut.
At that moment, countless thoughts raced through Zou Ping’s mind. If Fei Guan refused, he would strike at once. Even if he died there, he would silence Fei Guan on the spot.
Unexpectedly, Fei Guan remained utterly composed.
“Brother Zou, set your mind at ease. I will certainly carry out whatever Chief Clerk Yang has instructed.”
He agreed so readily that Zou Ping could scarcely believe his ears.
This was a matter that could cost a man his head, yet Fei Guan had accepted without hesitation. He had not even asked why.
Zou Ping nodded faintly, then studied Fei Guan with suspicion.
“Brother Fei, I am rather curious. You are highly valued at General Li Yan’s side, second to none among his confidants. Why, then, would you work for my lord?”
Fei Guan was Li Yan’s most trusted subordinate. Who could have imagined that, behind the scenes, he had also become one of their own lord’s men?
The corners of Fei Guan’s mouth lifted in a smug smile. Leaning closer, he lowered his voice.
“Brother Zou, have you heard of the restaurant that opened in the capital a few days ago? It is called the One-Day Immortal. Business is flourishing, and it earns a fortune every day.”
Zou Ping nodded, puzzled.
“Do you know who opened it?”
Fei Guan pressed on.
Zou Ping paused, then shook his head in confusion.
He had heard of the establishment. Not long after opening, it had advertised itself everywhere as the finest restaurant in Shu-Han, and its business was indeed booming.
Yet no one knew who stood behind it.
“It was your lord, Chief Clerk Yang!” Fei Guan said with a sly chuckle.
“I invested some money in it myself back then. Just the monthly dividends bring in a handsome number of gold pieces.”
“And those thousand-odd acres of farmland outside the city belong to your lord as well. In a single year, they yield several hundred thousand bushels of grain.”
“I invested in that venture too. Every year, I receive a considerable number of silver ingots in dividends.”
Zou Ping found it unbelievable. Yang Yi had been quietly building his strength, and his foundation was already so immense?
“Following your lord means wealth pouring in from every direction. Now look at Li Yan. That man thinks of nothing but power and influence. If something goes wrong one day, following him will likely earn us nothing but a trip to the execution ground.”
“Tell me, then—which of them should I follow?”
Fei Guan gave him a meaningful smile.
Zou Ping suddenly understood.
If Fei Guan’s words were true, only a fool would continue following Li Yan.
Yet learning what Yang Yi had accomplished in secret stirred complicated feelings within him. He was astonished by how deeply his lord had concealed his strength, but also vexed that he himself had remained entirely in the dark.
“Sigh... My lord has done so much behind the scenes, and I knew nothing about it.”
Seeing Zou Ping’s expression, Fei Guan smiled faintly. His voice carried a hint of consolation.
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“Your lord has always acted with caution and planned far ahead. Even the Chancellor, when he was alive, might not have known about these matters. How could someone like you possibly have known?”
“Your cultivation is still lacking. In the future, pay closer attention to your lord. Do not spend every day merely carrying out orders. Watch carefully, learn carefully—it will do you good.”
Fei Guan’s words left Zou Ping’s face flushed crimson.
Yet he could not deny that there was some truth in them.
He gave an embarrassed laugh.
“Brother Fei, your rebuke is justified. I was thinking too simply.”
“After this reminder, I will take greater care. As for my lord’s present instructions... you will have to put in some effort. We will be counting on you to maneuver with Li Yan.”
Fei Guan lifted his teacup. A trace of ferocity entered his eyes.
“Rest assured. Since I have agreed, I will see it done.”
“Go back and report that to your lord. I shall go find Li Yan at once.”
...
After seeing Zou Ping off, Fei Guan went to the main hall in search of Li Yan.
At the same time, in the main hall—
“Father, it is almost time, is it not? We have heard nothing from the Chancellor’s residence. We should be heading there.”
The speaker was Li Yan’s son, Li Feng.
They had learned that Zhuge Liang was dead, yet they had not gone to the mourning hall. Instead, they had remained at home, waiting and observing the situation.
Li Yan furrowed his brow slightly and spoke in a measured tone.
“Feng, the situation is changing from moment to moment.”
“The Chancellor’s residence must be in utter chaos by now. We should continue observing for the time being and make our move only after the dust has settled.”
Li Feng drew a deep breath, suppressing his agitation, and nodded.
“Father is right. You and Zhuge Liang have never seen eye to eye. His trusted followers must harbor deep resentment toward you as well.”
“With the situation in turmoil, this is precisely the opportunity we need to seize power.”
A vicious glint flashed through Li Yan’s eyes. He gave a cold snort.
“Those men regard me as a thorn in their side. Now that Zhuge Liang is dead, they have lost the pillar supporting them. This is our chance to turn the tables.”
“But we must not act rashly. First, we must determine what every faction intends to do. Only then should we strike.”
Just then—
“My lord! Young master!”
Fei Guan hurried into the main hall from outside, feigning great alarm.
Li Yan and his son immediately turned toward him expectantly.
After all, they relied on him for every scrap of news from beyond the residence. Since he had arrived, he must have brought the latest developments.
“Fei Guan, what is the situation at the Chancellor’s residence?” Li Yan asked impatiently.
Seeing the anxious expressions on father and son, Fei Guan sneered inwardly.
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He lowered his voice and knit his brows.
“I have just received word that at the Chancellor’s mourning hall, Wei Yan’s military faction and Jiang Wan’s civil faction have been locked in bitter conflict for quite some time.”
“Just now, the Son of Heaven arrived at the Chancellor’s residence to pay his respects.”
“My lord, the moment has come.”
Li Yan fell into deep thought. He had long anticipated that the civil and military factions led by Jiang Wan and Wei Yan would clash.
“If Wei Yan and Jiang Wan remain evenly matched, would I not become the target of everyone’s hostility if I went to the Chancellor’s residence now?”
Fei Guan immediately replied, “But if you do not go, General, you may well be accused of the gravest disrespect.”
Li Yan’s son, Li Feng, immediately grew restless.
“Then what are we to do? Going is dangerous, and not going is dangerous. In your opinion, what course should we take?”
Fei Guan offered his counsel.
“The situation is extremely unfavorable to our household. Our only way out is to choose one side between Jiang Wan and Wei Yan and lend it our support.”
Li Yan nodded at once.
“I was thinking along the same lines. But neither side is close to us. How are we to join forces with either of them?”
Fei Guan swallowed.
“We need an offering of allegiance.”
“Jiang Wan and the other civil officials share Zhuge Liang’s political views. They support the northern campaigns and the reforms. Wei Yan’s faction also supports the northern campaigns, but their vision differs from Zhuge Liang’s. Moreover, Your Excellency has many trusted men within the army. For these reasons, we ought to lend Wei Yan a hand.”
“Furthermore, this offering must benefit Your Excellency and Wei Yan’s faction while harming the civil officials.”
“And the greatest support those civil officials have at present is...”
Fei Guan glanced at Li Yan, then at Li Feng. As he reached that point, his voice gradually faded away.
“The Son of Heaven?” Li Yan’s brows suddenly drew tight.
Fei Guan’s voice stopped abruptly. The words he had not spoken could not be attributed to him.
Li Feng, however, instantly became animated.
“Father, Uncle Fei is right. Now that Zhuge Liang is dead, the Son of Heaven has long trusted the civil officials and remained close to Zhuge Liang while keeping his distance from you.”
“This is an opportunity that comes once in a thousand years.”
As he spoke, Li Feng glanced around and lowered his voice.
“If we simply send someone to assassinate the Son of Heaven, we can blame the deed on Jiang Wan’s civil faction. That way, we accomplish two aims with one stroke.”
“With A Dou absent, Father is the most senior official in the court. At the same time, with the civil officials discredited, you can join forces with Wei Yan and offer the emperor’s life as your pledge of allegiance.”
“Father can then take advantage of the moment to reclaim supreme authority and restore the Li family’s standing in Shudu.”
“Perhaps even...”