Chapter 437: Surpassing the Bearded

Inside the Yue residence, Yue Zhan's brows were tightly locked as he paced back and forth in the room.

Lady Yue sat quietly behind the desk. Account books were stacked upon it, and counting rods were laid out in rows. She would occasionally pick up a brush to make notes or shift the rods to calculate, appearing as if she were not in the least affected by her husband's pacing.

Yue Zhan stopped his steps:

"Madam, why do I feel... that something is wrong with this matter?"

Lady Yue checked the estimate sheet, her voice gentle:

"What is wrong with it?"

"Is there really no problem with sending these military provisions? What if—I mean, what if—what if Wang Zhi rebels? He now holds a large army and has the aid of the three barbarian tribes; isn't it just provisions that he lacks? If he truly has ulterior motives, then by supplying his military needs, we would be aiding a rebellion..."

Lady Yue recorded the accounts while saying as a matter of course:

"Exactly. Otherwise, since Wang Yi is clearly capable of making the decision, why would he need the three of you to all nod in agreement?" (Chapter 423, "Jingzhou Broadcast," regarding the so-called "Four Giants" of the new Jingzhou landscape.)

After a start, Yue Zhan struck his palm with his fist:

"I knew he had no good intentions! He's afraid of bearing the consequences alone if something goes wrong later, so he's simply dragging us all into the water!"

Although Yue Zhan felt Wang Yang would not rebel, this move by Wang Yi made him feel some anxiety:

"What should we do now?"

Lady Yue set down her brush and stood up. With a beaming smile, she invited her husband to sit, gathered the account books and counting rods to the side, poured him a cup of clear tea, and asked with a smile:

"Then, how about we don't supply military provisions to Wang Yang?"

Yue Zhan immediately denied it:

"That wouldn't be good, would it? When Gao Er and I were imprisoned, we relied heavily on Wang Yang's care; later, being able to escape was entirely due to his planning. Having received such great kindness, how can we betray him?"

He paused, then added:

"Besides, if we don't provide the provisions and something goes wrong on Wang Yang's side—regardless of whether the Jingzhou army rebels or triggers a barbarian uprising—who will bear the responsibility?"

The curve of Lady Yue's lips deepened, her gaze carrying a hint of knowing amusement:

"This is the brilliance of how Wang Yang does things.

He makes light of life and death, defies the rebellious prince, treads on dangerous ground, sets ingenious plans, and resolves the crises of the people of Jingzhou.

Whether it is you, my husband, or Seeing Yu Yi, or Wang Yi, or Director Liu Tan Tan, everyone has received his favor. To call it a 'life-saving grace' is not an exaggeration.

If it were an ordinary person relying on favors to demand gifts, they would certainly feel their request was within their rights and that others must comply.

But when Wang Yang plans, he always seeks perfection.

Beyond human sentiment, he adds the element of profit.

When profit is not enough to reassure, he binds them with power."

Yue Zhan was thoughtful:

"Madam's words are quite interesting. I understand the human sentiment part, but what do you mean by profit and power..."

"Profit is interest. Take Wang Yi, for example. Going as an envoy to the barbarian tribes was originally Wang Yi's duty. But chaos arose midway, and he could not complete the journey. Yet, in the midst of the crisis, Wang Yang took the difficulty upon himself alone, without consuming the national treasury or laboring the imperial army, not only protecting Seeing Liu Cheng but also subduing the three barbarian tribes! His wisdom and merit go without saying. Having achieved success, he does not claim it all for himself but is willing to share the merit with Wang Yi! The submission of the three tribes is already a great merit; if he can truly strike while the iron is hot and fully pacify the Jingzhou barbarians, then this merit will be complete and without regret! Wang Yi is the person in charge, and he will achieve great merit with a wave of his hand. All he needs to do is issue the provisions. My husband, do you think Wang Yi is willing?"

"Then he must be willing!!"

Hearing this, Yue Zhan was even a little envious of Wang Yi!

With such a good nephew to assist him, first recovering Jiangling and then pacifying the Jingzhou barbarians, it would be hard for Wang Yi not to be promoted!

Lady Yue continued:

"As for Director Liu Tan Tan, his younger brother is still in the barbarian territory, so naturally, he does not want to create complications. Furthermore, Seeing Liu Cheng is about to take the daughter of a barbarian chieftain as a concubine; if the Jingzhou barbarians submit, then Seeing Liu Cheng's marriage alliance is also a merit..."

Yue Zhan couldn't help but laugh:

"What marriage alliance! Madam, you are teasing again! What was that word Wang Yang used? Right, naughty! Madam, you are being naughty again!"

Lady Yue said earnestly:

"I am not teasing; this is a marriage alliance.

Wang Yang's strategy of promoting trade and subduing the barbarians is a grand design.

Although I do not know the full picture, I can see that his focus is by no means limited to one or a few barbarian tribes. It is not even limited to the Jingzhou barbarians or the southern barbarians, but can be extended to all the tribes beyond the reach of civilization in the entire Jiangnan region!

Jingzhou is the first to start this, so it naturally should have a new atmosphere.

The Liu family is a prominent clan of Hedong, noble and distinguished; Seeing Liu Cheng is the direct heir of a Duke, the elite of the aristocracy. Now, taking the daughter of a barbarian chieftain as a noble concubine is a demonstration to the imperial court that they do not treat the barbarians as outsiders.

Once this precedent is set, such marriage alliances will surely be endless. In this way, the various barbarian tribes will rely on us more and more, making it difficult for them to break away, and the barrier between barbarian and Han will gradually disappear.

If Seeing Liu Cheng had not been trapped in barbarian territory, even if Wang Yang harbored a long-term strategy, it would have been difficult to urge the two families to form a marriage alliance. Now that Seeing Liu Cheng is trapped among the barbarians, with his life hanging in the balance, Wang Yang pushes the boat with the current, using the threat of the barbarian tribes to make the Liu family yield; and he uses the prestige of the Liu family to win the hearts of the barbarian tribes.

And both families are grateful to Wang Yang!

Multiple gains from one move, several benefits from a few words!

The level of his methods is truly admirable..."

Yue Zhan sighed with emotion:

"Madam's discussion here is something that might not even be heard in the halls of the provincial government! Wang Yang's genius is indeed breathtaking. But Madam's clear and brilliant insight is also something to be admired!"

Lady Yue laughed:

"I am merely an outsider, and a bystander sees clearly. Having been by my husband's side for so long, I have been influenced by what I have heard and seen, and have stolen a bit of insight; it is nothing worth mentioning."

Yue Zhan could not stop laughing! He asked again:

"Then where is the profit for Seeing Yu Yi?"

"From the incident with the Ever-Normal Granary last time, we know that Seeing Yu Yi lives in seclusion but keeps the country in his heart; benefiting the country is the profit for Seeing Yu Yi. Perhaps there are other benefits we do not know about."

Yue Zhan nodded:

"True. And what about the profit for our family? Is it also benefiting the country?"

"Beyond benefiting the country, there is also benefiting the family."

Lady Yue pulled a scroll from the account books and handed it to her husband:

"My husband, take a look at this."

Yue Zhan looked, and it was filled with dense lists of goods and descriptions—things like long beam wood, rudder wood, miscellaneous wood, and large fir wood. He switched to another scroll, and it was the same, flipping through them casually—all fox fur, deer sinew, cat bamboo, yellow hemp, feathers, and so on. Yue Zhan had never been interested in these trivial matters, so he returned it to his wife and asked:

"What is this?"

Lady Yue then explained to her husband the business plan for Wang Yang's Wanshan Warehouse and that Wang Yang wanted to gift the Yue family a ten-percent equity stake, letting the Yue family (actually Lady Yue) manage the affairs.

(Chapter 285, "A Gentleman for Ten Thousand Years": "Besides Seeing Liu Cheng, Wang Yang plans to add another technical shareholder and give this person equity, but he hasn't told Seeing Liu Cheng yet.")

Yue Zhan clicked his tongue in wonder:

"Zhiyan has such great talent, yet he is still so keen on commercial matters. Even while on an envoy mission to the barbarians, he doesn't forget about business. It is truly... truly rare...

And I am a Provincial Assistant, setting up a warehouse... this... and you know, I really have no talent for the way of wealth..."

"My husband is a man who does great things; trivial matters like wealth-making are naturally for me to handle on your behalf!

And in my view, this matter has great potential. If Wang Yang can truly pacify the Jingzhou barbarians, once the trade routes are opened and traffic is constant, this business will likely be even larger than we currently imagine.

Moreover, it is not purely a business in itself, but part of the imperial court's strategy to subdue and pacify the barbarians. If the barbarian people only know the might of weapons, they will fear but not necessarily feel close. If they see the might but also receive the benefit, they will willingly submit.

This idea is clearly something Wang Yang thought of, so his building of the Wanshan Warehouse can also be considered as sharing the burden for the imperial court.

What does my husband think?"

"It makes sense. If Madam thinks it can be done, then do it. However, we don't want... equity. We will also contribute money. Otherwise, to share in the profits without contributing a single coin, it feels a bit like taking advantage, doesn't it?"

Lady Yue laughed:

"Taking advantage is taking advantage. Only by taking advantage can one repay, and only by repaying can one take advantage again. Back and forth, doesn't this friendship become deeper and deeper? Only when there is indebtedness can there be interaction. Today I owe you a little, tomorrow you owe me a little; the more we owe, the deeper the bond becomes. After owing and owing, it becomes a close family friendship.

Besides, Wang Yang and Seeing Liu Cheng are neither short of money nor short of relationships with the imperial court and the barbarians, but when it comes to acting within the territory of Jingzhou, it is ultimately not as convenient as it is for us.

Furthermore, they are both guests in Jingzhou. When they leave in the future, the business of the Wanshan Warehouse cannot be moved with them; someone will always need to look after it. Rather than having to beg others and make requests back and forth when things happen, it is better to directly pull us into the partnership. So, we are not taking this profit for nothing.

Of course, the premise for all of this is that Wang Yang can survive this hurdle."

Lady Yue's smile faded as she looked out the window. Twilight was spreading from the eaves, dyeing the distant horizon a deep, heavy gray.

Yue Zhan comforted her:

"Rest assured, Wang Yang is of the Langya Wang clan, has achieved remarkable merit in suppressing the rebellion, and has the great merit of pacifying the barbarians; nothing will happen to him."

"If Jingzhou were the one making the decisions, then even if Wang Yang had truly rebelled, he could be kept safe.

But when the imperial court discusses the matter, I fear it will not be so simple...

However, Wang Yang should have made preparations. Sharing the merit of pacifying the barbarians with Wang Yi, including demanding military provisions, actually has the meaning of 'must rectify names,' and also has the intention of binding Wang Yi.

Wang Yi may have seen this, but he cannot refuse. Just as you said, my husband, Wang Yang raised the banner of righteousness and returned to Jingzhou to pacify the barbarians; if a military mutiny were caused because provisions were not supplied, who could bear the responsibility?

Also, Wang Yang followed the Yang River to enter, and could have reached Jiangling directly, but changed his route south midway. This is his intention not to hand over military power!

With a large army abroad, sending an envoy to demand provisions—supplying them follows human sentiment and aligns with interests; not supplying them could lead to unforeseen disaster.

My husband, do you say we supply them or not?"

Yue Zhan was suddenly enlightened, slapping his knee and sighing:

"So this is what Madam meant before by 'Beyond human sentiment, he adds the element of profit. When profit is not enough to reassure, he binds them with power.'

In this way, he makes people both care about the sentiment and enjoy the profit;

Those who are willing are naturally happy, and those who are different are forced to follow.

They exert their best efforts without feeling used, and they pursue the task while thinking they have gained an advantage.

In the past, I heard that Wang Rong was as wise as a god when he was young, and I always suspected that people loved talent too much and inevitably embellished it too much.

Now, observing Zhiyan, I finally believe that there truly are people in the world who are transcendent and peerless!"

Lady Yue said:

"Yes, so my husband, you don't need to worry at all that Wang Yang will rebel now."

Yue Zhan asked, puzzled:

"Why?"

Lady Yue smiled slightly:

"Since he is a transcendent and peerless person, his insight must also be far beyond the ordinary.

My husband, look at the small fish in the creek; they leap with an inch of water and think they can roam the rivers and seas.

Great dragons hide in deep abysses; without wind and rain, they do not lightly show their horns.

People in the world are the same.

Mediocre people become arrogant with a little fame, and vulgar people become crazy with a little power.

A village elder who suddenly becomes rich cannot hold his gold for more than three days before he thinks of showing off to his fellow villagers;

A minor official who is suddenly promoted does not even wait for a month after holding the seal before he begins to look down on his colleagues.

Thus, there are brutes who occupy a village and style themselves as kings, and madmen who, upon gaining half a commandery, delusionally aspire to be emperors.

Those of average quality, once they gain a little popularity, think of receiving the Mandate;

Those of dull talent, once they encounter a favorable wind, plan to seize the throne.

All of these are cases where spirit exceeds insight, and ambition exceeds talent.

Their eyes are dazzled by small gains, and their hearts are shaken by immediate profit.

Therefore, their actions are light, and their failure is swift.

Only great talents who change the world and heroes who surpass their time can first understand the times and then recognize the situation.

When the situation is not ripe, even if they possess two-thirds of the world, they can lower their brows and fold their hands, hiding their sharpness;

When the situation is ripe, even if they only possess eight hundred men under their command, they will rise with sword in hand and shake the universe!

For a person like Wang Yang, whose ambition is free and whose spirit is high and clear, even if he has different plans, he must wait for the situation to align; how could he rashly act today?"

Yue Zhan listened, his spirit captivated and his heart surging!

After a long while, he exhaled a breath of turbid air and sighed:

"Madam's breadth of mind is vast, and her spirit is clear; you surpass countless bearded men!"

Lady Yue's eyebrows lifted slightly:

"That's right! You don't even look at whose wife I am? Under the guidance of a brilliant mind, how could one remain dull for long?"

Yue Zhan laughed heartily, waving his hands while laughing, laughing until his eyes were almost gone!

Halfway through his laughter, he suddenly thought of something, straightened up abruptly, stared at his wife, his face changing drastically:

"Madam, you... you just said there is no need to worry about Wang Yang 'rebelling now,' and also said 'even if he has different plans.' What... what does this mean?"

Lady Yue looked at her husband, who seemed frightened, and smiled:

"It was a hypothesis."

Yue Zhan finally breathed a sigh of relief:

"That's good, that's good. I thought you had seen something..."

"Just to scare my husband."

"Naughty!" ===== CHAPTER 438 =====