Chapter 219: Plotting Others, Plotting Oneself

The glow of floral candles bathed the curtains in light.

At the window, Wang Yang unfurled a sheet of white paper, dipped his brush in ink, and Chen Chen Chen Qingshan suddenly stood beside him, her bright eyes fixed unwaveringly on the paper, her expression eager.

Wang Yang smiled: "I'm not writing a novel today."

"Oh." Chen Chen Chen Qingshan's phoenix eyes dimmed, and her whole demeanor wilted slightly.

Seeing this, Wang Yang said: "I'll tell you a segment later."

Chen Chen Chen Qingshan's eyes lit up instantly, her lips curled upward, she nodded rapidly, her expression tinged with quiet excitement.

Wang Yang prepared to write, but saw Chen Chen Chen Qingshan still waiting beside him; he chuckled in exasperation: "Here's the deal—go practice your sword first. I'll come find you when I'm done."

Chen Chen Chen Qingshan thought for a moment, then asked seriously: "If I don't practice sword, can I read instead?"

"Of course."

"Can I eat tangerines?"

"Yes."

Chen Chen Chen Qingshan blinked, tentatively: "Then—"

"Xiao Shan, while reading, you must not eat foods that are juicy, crumbly, or oily."

"Oh."

Xiao Shan's attempt failed; she slumped away, dejected.

As Wang Yang wrote, he spoke leisurely:

"I had Song Ao buy hazelnuts and chestnuts—each one bites cleanly, no crumbs, no juice or grease—but remember to wipe your hands..."

Xiao Shan's figure froze, then instantly revived!

Wang Yang watched Xiao Shan leave, full of energy, and smiled, then turned his gaze back to the paper.

On the paper were the three barbarian tribes he had just written:

"Yongning Barbarians (A), Wu Ning Barbarians (B), Yidu Barbarians (C)."

Wang Yang had already reached his conclusion during Kong Kong Kong Kong Kong Kong Kong Zhangyu's discussion, but he always preferred caution, so now he was reviewing—retracing his reasoning to find any flaw in his logic.

Wang Yang was not the only one reviewing.

Kong Kong Kong Kong Kong Kong Kong Zhangyu was also reviewing—for the Prince of Badong.

"My first suggestion to him was to eliminate—Yidu Barbarians (C)."

The Prince of Badong frowned: "You..."

"Your Highness, imagine if he was sincere in his first layer—then he would heed my advice and remove Yidu Barbarians.

But if he was in the second layer, deliberately probing for secrets, he would treat Yidu Barbarians as the object of our negotiation."

The Prince of Badong nodded: "Indeed."

"But if he was in the third layer..."

The Prince of Badong: "Huh???"

"If he was in the third layer—he truly came to probe secrets, yet could also see from our perspective and realize that my firm rejection of 'Yidu Barbarians' (C) was a decoy—so he wouldn't believe it!"

Wang Yang stared at the three characters "Yidu Barbarians," his inked brows slightly furrowed.

The Prince of Badong asked puzzled: "If he didn't believe it, isn't that exactly right? Your decoy didn't even mislead him."

"No. If he was in the fourth layer..."

The Prince of Badong interrupted, speechless: "Wait! How can there be so many layers..."

Kong Kong Kong Kong Kong Kong Kong Zhangyu fixed his gaze on the Prince of Badong and said steadily: "He is Wang Yang."

The Prince of Badong paused, then sat upright, gesturing: "Continue, Master."

"If he was in the fourth layer, he would understand that the real is disguised as false, and the false as real—he would suspect I deliberately did the opposite. Thus, the very Yidu Barbarians (C) I first discarded, the most conspicuous one, might be the one I truly wish to conceal!"

Wang Yang held his brush, the tip hovering above "Yidu Barbarians," his gaze calm.

A hint of amusement flickered in the Prince of Badong's eyes; his lips curled slightly: "Interesting."

"Moreover, when I argued over the remaining two tribes, I deliberately ignored Yidu Barbarians. If he harbored ulterior motives, he would suspect I was deliberately diverting attention—avoiding the real, feigning the false, obscuring the critical point. Thus, he would likely wrongly conclude that Yidu Barbarians (C) is the truth we are concealing!"

Wang Yang wrote, drawing a cross over "Yidu Barbarians" (C).

The Prince of Badong nodded in satisfaction, then asked with some concern:

"But what if he's in the fifth layer?"

Kong Kong Kong Kong Kong Kong Kong Zhangyu smiled faintly: "I've already prepared for it. To guard against the fifth layer, after eliminating Yidu Barbarians (C), I immediately strongly recommended Yongning Barbarians (A)."

The Prince of Badong exclaimed in shock and anger: "You—"

"Your Highness, hear me out! If he is deliberately probing secrets and has seen through the decoy of Yidu Barbarians (C), such cunning thinking means he is not merely calculating the matter—he is calculating people. So to defeat him, I must calculate people too!"

Wang Yang stood before the desk, left hand supporting his right elbow, right fingers counting silently in the air, gazing at the night outside the window, his eyes deep.

The Prince of Badong, still startled and angry, glared with fierce eyes: "Calculate people? What do you mean?"

"He calculates I dare not take risks; he calculates I am timid and scholarly, bound by your orders, unwilling to act on my own initiative—and your Highness's nature is... in short, you would never approve such conduct; he calculates we demand absolute safety, unwilling to allow the slightest risk—"

The Prince of Badong immediately said: "Of course we cannot allow the slightest risk!"

Kong Kong Kong Kong Kong Kong Kong Zhangyu, confident and steady, said:

"There will be no risk. While recommending Yongning Barbarians (A), I also opposed Wu Ning Barbarians (B). If he truly harbors ill intent and believes I dare not take risks, then his suspicion must lie between Wu Ning (B) and Yidu (C)—how could he suspect the Yongning Barbarians (A) that I strongly advocate? Would I not fear he would directly choose Yongning Barbarians (A) to open the trade route?"

Wang Yang picked up his brush; the tip paused briefly above "Yongning Barbarians" (A), then slowly moved toward "Wu Ning Barbarians" (B).

The Prince of Badong's expression darkened:

"I see no fear in you—I see you are bold to the point of recklessness.

Don't forget, we are merely being cautious, acting meticulously because we suspect he has ulterior motives.

But if he simply wants to choose a barbarian route, and after hearing your advice, chooses Yongning Barbarians (A),

what then will you do?

Isn't that turning cleverness into folly!"

Kong Kong Kong Kong Kong Kong Kong Zhangyu bowed: "Your Highness, rest assured—it will not happen."

The Prince of Badong's voice grew low, tinged with suppressed anger: "How can you guarantee it?!"

"I said before—I must calculate not only the matter, but the man. I calculate this man: Wang Yang."

The Prince of Badong's eyebrows shot up: "So what if he is Wang Yang?"

"He is not easily swayed, nor ignorant of affairs.

He has engaged in commerce with penetrating insight, helped establish the Ever-Normal Granaries, and authored the 'Comprehensive Survey of Southern Barbarians.'

Would such a man change his mind after a single debate with me?"

He rejects 'Yongning Barbarians' because Yongning Barbarians carry a fatal flaw for trade: constant warfare!

Wang Yang understands the way of trade: it requires peace and stability; the place chosen must be secure."

Kong Kong Kong Kong Kong Kong Kong Zhangyu smiled faintly:

"Yongning is not peaceful—how could he choose it? How could the court dare to use it?

As for the 'Wu Ning Barbarians' (B) I strongly disparaged—if he were a narrow-minded Confucian, I would fear he clings to convention, blind to changing times, and believes me too easily;

if he is ignorant of barbarian affairs, I would worry he judges blindly, unaware of the true origins of Wu Ning Barbarians' bad reputation.

But he is intelligent and learned—I have no fear or dread.

His repeated debate with me over the 'Wu Ning Barbarians' (B) in fact proves he has already discarded 'Yongning Barbarians' (A)!

Thus, the chain I prepared fits precisely around this clever man!"

The Prince of Badong stared at Kong Kong Kong Kong Kong Kong Kong Zhangyu and hissed:

"Lao Kong, you seem different today—like when you first presented me the 'Crush-Cart Strategy' and planned to dispatch my personal guards into the army."

Kong Kong Kong Kong Kong Kong Kong Zhangyu bowed deeply, smiling cheerfully:

"An old dog, when nothing happens, lies limp at the gate—but if a thief creeps near, the old dog rises, shakes himself awake, and guards his master's home."

Here, he dropped his smile, his expression solemn:

"I have been favored by Your Highness, elevated to your inner council. Though I dare not claim extraordinary wisdom, I know that planning must be hidden, action must be secret.

I do not display my sharpness daily—not because I am incapable, but for Your Highness's greater interests—I do not wish to draw attention.

Today's matter is critical, so I must reveal my claws and fangs—to repay Your Highness's trust!"

After speaking, Kong Kong Kong Kong Kong Kong Kong Zhangyu bowed deeply, sleeves folded.

The Prince of Badong knew that Kong Kong Kong Kong Kong Kong Kong Zhangyu's display was largely provoked by his own desire to recruit Wang Yang into his council—he must not only compete with Wang Yang in this scheme, but also solidify his own position, proving himself irreplaceable. Thus, all talk of "sharpness" and "drawing attention" was a veiled slight against Wang Yang.

But he did not mind Kong Kong Kong Kong Kong Kong Kong Zhangyu's small scheming—just as he did not mind Wang Yang's own little schemes.

The Prince of Badong laughed heartily:

"Jinhuai!

You have served in my council for years—I value you most!

Today, you reveal your sharpness, outwit Wang Yang—truly impressing me!

I have you, as a fish has water!

With such a wise man, what task cannot be accomplished?"

Kong Kong Kong Kong Kong Kong Kong Zhangyu's expression lit up as if bathed in sweet dew, as if drinking fine wine; he immediately swept his robes and knelt, voice soaring:

"Kong Kong Kong Kong Kong Kong Zhangyu is unworthy, but I vow to lay down my life for Your Highness—death itself I will not shun!"

The Prince of Badong called out loudly: "Bring me twenty thousand coins for Master Kong!"

Kong Kong Kong Kong Kong Kong Kong Zhangyu trembled, voice quaking:

"Your Highness's generous gift—how could I possibly deserve it?! I have merely done my duty—what merit or virtue have I to receive such a reward?!!"

The Prince of Badong beamed with delight:

"Deserves it! Deserves it!"

That brat Wang Yang has fooled this Prince several times—now you've fooled him, and that's repaid me for all that frustration!"

Moreover, Wang Yang topped the scholarly debate and won ten thousand coins, and the Confucian students of Jingzhou revere him.

But I know—he lost to you today!

He got ten thousand; you deserve twenty thousand!"

The Prince of Badong stepped forward and patted Kong Kong Kong Kong Kong Kong Kong Zhangyu's hand:

"Whatever you haven't received, I will make up for you. The fame you now hide, I will proclaim for you in the future!"

Kong Kong Kong Kong Kong Kong Kong Zhangyu's eyelids turned red, his cheeks trembled violently; he slammed his forehead to the ground, bowed low, and wept uncontrollably: "Your Highness!!!!"

The Prince of Badong tilted his head back, filled with profound satisfaction. The only regret was that Wang Yang had no idea he had been defeated.

The carved wooden door stood half-open; a slender figure appeared silently.

Chen Chen Chen Qingshan's head peeked around the doorframe, a strand of black hair slipping down, softly brushing her cheek.

Wang Yang's figure was cast in candlelight; he turned and smiled:

"What are you sneaking around for?"

Chen Chen Chen Qingshan suddenly heard her heartbeat thundering in her ears; she stammered: "I-I... is it done?"

Wang Yang grinned: "It's done. The Wang Yang Story Hour begins."

He sat down at his usual spot, where he always told stories to Chen Chen Chen Qingshan.

Xiao Shan hurried in, carrying a small porcelain jar, and sat opposite Wang Yang, placing the jar between them—inside were her shelled hazelnuts and chestnuts.

Wang Yang picked up a chestnut and ate it, then said: "Last time, we reached the treacherous path of Feng Mountain, where Duke Duke Zhuang Zhou silenced nine masters with a single sword—wait, hold on, I need a drink of water."

"I'll get it!"

Chen Chen Chen Qingshan leapt up, strode to the desk, poured tea for Wang Yang, and noticed a sheet of paper on it, bearing the words: "Yongning Man (A), Wu Ning Man (B), Yidu Man (C)."

Strangely, Wu Ning Man (B) and Yidu Man (C) were both crossed out, while Yongning Man (A) was circled.

After the nine characters came another line: "To scheme against others is to invite schemes against oneself."

——————

Note: *Zizhi Zizhi Tongjian, Qi Annals, Volume Two*: "At first, Prince Zi Xiang was adopted by Prince Yi of Yuzhang; later, Yi had a son of his own and petitioned to retain Zi Xiang as heir. Whenever Zi Xiang entered court, he wore attire distinct from other princes and would punch the walls of his carriage. The Emperor heard of this and ordered his attire to match that of imperial princes. Thereupon, officials petitioned that Zi Xiang should return to his original lineage. On the third day of the third month, Ji Hai, Zi Xiang was established as Prince of Badong."