Chapter 139: Schemes (2)

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“Then I thank you, sir.”

“Second, I shall dictate, and trouble you to put pen to paper on my behalf. If possible, please have the letters delivered to my friend, Brother Mu Changfeng, and let him see that they reach their destinations.” Kong Sheng’s voice was exceedingly low.

Nangong Wang nodded and bellowed, “Someone fetch paper, brush, ink, and a writing table!”

Meng Zan and the others turned to Nie Chuchen.

Nie Chuchen raised her willow brows and waved a hand, signaling them to obey Nangong Wang’s command.

Before long, a small table, a couch, and all the necessary writing materials had been brought in. Nangong Wang lifted the hem of his robe, sat down cross-legged, and declared cheerfully, “Young master, please begin!”

“To the presence of Li Xuan, Princess of Fengyang. From Kong Sheng, a palace-appointed student of the Son of Heaven and magistrate of Songcheng County in Suiyang Prefecture, Henan Circuit, by imperial decree. Respectfully submitted as my final letter.”

Kong Sheng’s voice was gentle yet firm. “If anything I have done in the past has offended you, I beg the princess to forgive me… The rebel An has raised an army and plunged the realm into chaos. His Majesty has now ascended the throne at Lingwu and summoned all forces loyal to the throne to rise against the rebels. I believe the day of their suppression is not far off. Guo Ziyi has led his troops into Hedong and Hexi, while Li Guangbi is defending Taiyuan Prefecture and is now engaged in battle with the rebel army. This battle will surely end in victory. Within six months at the latest, Guo Ziyi and Li Guangbi’s armies will strike the rebels from front and rear. The restoration of the imperial capital at Guanzhong and Luoyang will then be within reach.”

“As for the war in Henan, the key lies with Suiyang. If Suiyang can be held, the crisis in Henan may yet be resolved. But should Suiyang fall, all Henan will pass into the rebels’ hands. Even if His Highness the Prince of Guo withdraws to defend Pengcheng, he will find it difficult to escape the danger of annihilation. I therefore beg His Highness the Prince of Guo to raise his troops and reinforce Suiyang, so that they may stand against the enemy. So long as they hold out for a year, the rebel army will retreat without a fight…”

Amid the biting wind, Kong Sheng spoke at length while Nangong Wang’s brush flew across the page. Yet his heart was filled with confusion and astonishment. He had not expected Kong Sheng’s final letter to be addressed to the Prince of Guo’s daughter, Princess Li Xuan of Fengyang, rather than to a relative or old friend. Nor was the letter concerned with personal sentiment. Instead, it described the state of the realm and urged Li Xuan to persuade her father, Prince Li Ju, to dispatch troops to reinforce Suiyang.

Listening from the side, Nie Chuchen was even more astounded. That little thief was already facing death, yet he still had the leisure to concern himself with the war in Henan and the imperial court’s campaign to suppress the rebellion?

She gazed deeply at Kong Sheng, and the killing intent in her eyes gradually faded. In its place arose a strange emotion.

What an odd little thief. His conduct was so unexpected, so utterly unlike anyone else’s…

The howling wind grew fiercer, sweeping yellow leaves into the air. Kong Sheng’s voice suddenly ceased. Nangong Wang set down his brush and sighed with admiration.

“Young master, your heart is burdened by the nation’s calamity, and you remain concerned with affairs of state. This humble man is deeply impressed. Truly, age has nothing to do with ambition—what spirit you possess, young hero!”

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Kong Sheng gave a soft laugh. He was no lofty idealist, nor did he intend to put on a show of affected virtue before Nangong Wang and Nie Chuchen, these mountain bandits, pretending to be some great man or gentleman. He had merely spoken from the heart. He could not accept the course the war in Henan was taking, and by writing to Li Xuan and suggesting that she persuade Prince Li Ju to send reinforcements to Suiyang and Zhang Xun’s men, he might perhaps alter the course of history.

If the Prince of Guo heeded his advice, tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians in Suiyang might at least be saved.

Kong Sheng lowered his voice again. “Please continue to write for me, sir. I have one more letter.”

“To my revered teacher, Master Baiyun of the Shangqing Terrace. From your unworthy disciple, Kong Sheng of Jiangning, with utmost respect.”

The moment Kong Sheng spoke those words, Nangong Wang abruptly raised his head. The brush, thick with dark ink, slipped from his hand and landed with a splatter on the white paper. He stared at Kong Sheng in astonishment.

Nie Chuchen, meanwhile, sprang forward and shouted, “What did you just say, you little thief? The Master Baiyun you mentioned—could he be Sima Chengzhen? You are actually Grandmaster Sima’s disciple? Little thief, what proof do you have?”

Kong Sheng was taken aback as well. He glanced at the agitated Nie Chuchen and said coldly, “I became Grandmaster Sima’s disciple when he was in Jiangning. My swordsmanship and internal cultivation were both taught by my master. Everyone in Jiangning knows this. What proof do you expect me to produce?”

Nangong Wang drew a deep breath and rose to his feet. After studying Kong Sheng for a moment, he understood that Kong Sheng could not possibly be impersonating Sima Chengzhen’s disciple. A few inquiries in the lands south of the river would settle the matter. What was more, Kong Sheng could not have known of the private connection between Sima Chengzhen and Nangong Wang and Nie Chuchen. Indeed, none of the bandits of Chemen Mountain Stronghold knew that the wandering swordsman Fan Yuncong had been a friend of Sima Chengzhen’s despite the difference in their ages. In his youth, Fan Yuncong had traveled throughout the realm with Sima Chengzhen, and half of what he had learned came from Sima Chengzhen’s Shangqing lineage. Strictly speaking, Fan Yuncong could be considered half a disciple of Sima Chengzhen.

Thus, Nangong Wang and Nie Chuchen shared with Kong Sheng the bond of belonging to the same martial lineage and the friendship of their elders.

Nangong Wang and Nie Chuchen exchanged a glance, then slowly turned around and stood shoulder to shoulder, facing Kong Sheng.

At that moment, Nie Chuchen suddenly remembered the “little fellow of the Kong family” whom Sima Chengzhen had mentioned when he passed through Chemen Mountain not long before, as well as the “kept man of the Yang family” that Sima Chengzhen’s personal child attendant, A-Tai, had jokingly described. She burst into a silvery laugh, raised her hand, and mocked him.

“I remember now! So you’re that famous wastrel and scoundrel from Jiangning, the one who lives off the Yang family!”

Nie Chuchen was a straightforward, broad-stroked sort. When Sima Chengzhen had passed through Chemen Mountain and lingered there for a day, he had casually mentioned taking a disciple in the southern lands without elaborating. A-Tai, however, had entertained them with a few humorous tales about Kong Sheng’s “shameful deeds.” Nie Chuchen had forgotten all about them afterward. Had Kong Sheng not mentioned Sima Chengzhen just now, she would never have remembered.

Nangong Wang burst into hearty laughter. “So the flood has swept the Dragon King into his own temple—one family failed to recognize another! Brother Kong, Grandmaster Sima was an old friend of my master’s and an elder to us two disciples. Since you are Grandmaster Sima’s disciple, hehe… Someone, quickly remove the bindings from Young Master Kong!”

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A welcoming banquet was laid out in the Hall of Brotherhood. To the mountain bandits, it was an astonishingly sumptuous feast, especially the great bowls piled high with meat—delicacies they would ordinarily never have the chance to taste.

Nangong Wang and Nie Chuchen sat in the seats of honor, while Kong Sheng occupied the guest seat. The grievances between both sides appeared to have been entirely set aside. They chatted and laughed together, and the atmosphere was remarkably cordial.

At least, that was how it seemed on the surface.

Kong Sheng felt a quiet surge of emotion. Sima Chengzhen truly was the great benefactor destined to guide him through this second life after his rebirth in another world. He had given him the flute-sword, imparted his supreme arts without reservation, and recommended him to Guo Ziyi and the imperial court. Now, before the bandits of Chemen Mountain Stronghold, he had saved Kong Sheng’s life once again.

Had it not been for the regard in which Sima Chengzhen was held, Kong Sheng would most likely already have perished beneath Nie Chuchen’s merciless Cloud-Piercing Arrow.

Nangong Wang asked briefly about how Kong Sheng had become Sima Chengzhen’s disciple, but he stopped after touching upon the matter and did not pursue it further. Such probing was unnecessary. Given Nangong Wang’s cunning and calculating nature, he had surely already dispatched messengers at full speed to the southern lands to verify the truth for himself.

Kong Sheng answered every question fluently. Although Nangong Wang was exceedingly warm toward him, Kong Sheng clearly detected a trace of disappointment in his eyes. This man was deeply scheming, forever devising one stratagem after another. He had probably seized upon the opportunity and intended to use Kong Sheng’s situation to fan the flames, ultimately taking control of the forces under Nie Chuchen.

According to Nangong Wang’s layers of calculation, if Kong Sheng died at Chemen Mountain Stronghold, the imperial army would surely launch a major reprisal. Once the stronghold had been destroyed and several hundred bandits deprived of their refuge, Nangong Wang would have ample opportunity to lead them in seizing control of Lake Hongze once more. And once they reached his territory around Hongze, Nie Chuchen would no longer have the final say.

Besides, given Nie Chuchen’s simple and forthright nature, if Nangong Wang wished to manipulate her, it would be as easy as lifting a finger.

From this perspective, Nangong Wang was in fact the sort of ruthless character who could kill without ever drawing a blade.

Kong Sheng gave a secret, cold laugh. Yet he pretended not to know and made no attempt to tear away the thin veil between them.

To be continued.