Chapter 131: Northward Campaign Against the Khitan

"Oh? Who earned such favor from you?" Wang Po felt a hint of curiosity at his words; he had long been out of touch with worldly affairs, and now hearing Wang Xin's tone full of admiration, he found his interest piqued.

Wang Xin, upon hearing this, deepened the smile at the corner of his mouth, a barely perceptible pride hidden in his eyes. Since taking on the Wang Family's intelligence and talent cultivation task, he had constantly aimed to achieve results far surpassing those of his predecessor Wang Tian; back then Wang Tian had single‑handedly stormed an enemy camp, a deed still recounted by the elders of the clan.

He was determined to shatter that "shadow" and let everyone see his skill. At Wang Po's probing, he leaned forward slightly, his voice carrying a note of approval: "This man's name is Su Qin."

"This man, named Su Qin, was originally a poor, shabby scholar in Luoyang; admiring the eloquence and achievements of the Warring States strategist Su Qin, he changed his name to Su Qin himself."

Seeing Wang Po's eyebrows lift, as if the name rang a bell, Wang Xin added: "He is not the Warring States diplomat who bore the seal of the six kingdoms; he adopted the name himself. He was a poor scholar in Luoyang, his parents dying early, surviving on neighbors' aid to study a few books, yet he idolized the ancient Su Qin who 'moved the world with his tongue,' so he discarded his original name and called himself Su Qin only."

"Changing his name shows a certain ambition," Wang Po chuckled lightly, signaling him to continue.

"It's not merely ambition; he truly has skill," Wang Xin's tone grew more certain, "This youth comes from humble origins, yet his talent is untouched. He reads and retains everything; even the rare county atlas hidden in the clan library, he borrowed for three days and could recite each state's population, taxes, and terrain without error."

He paused, then continued describing Su Qin's exceptional qualities: "What is most remarkable is his grasp of the larger picture. Last month I tasked him with analyzing the northern fiefdom situation, and he could clearly explain the temperaments, troop strengths, and grievances with the Court of the twelve military governors within Later Tang's borders.

He could even cite evidence of which governor secretly colluded with the Khitan and which hoarded supplies. Even more astonishing was his temperament—flexible and resilient. A few days earlier, while negotiating trade in Suzhou's prefectural office, a magistrate's aide publicly humiliated him; he not only remained unannoyed but smiled, shared half a cup of tea, then turned to seize the aide's corrupt leverage, quietly turning the incident into an assignment.

By the end, Wang Xin's tone added a note of regret: "What a waste of talent. A few years ago in Luoyang, he defended his fellow villagers and incurred the wrath of the local military governor. That powerful man, a hard‑hearted figure who let neither oil nor salt in, concluded Su Qin had affronted him, cutting off all his official prospects and sending men to suppress him, even causing him to lose his private tutor position.

Cornered, he slung a bundle of old books and fled south to our Jiangnan, and had the intelligence station happen to spot him discoursing on world affairs in a tea house; otherwise this thousand‑mile horse would have been buried.

"Fine, that's the one!" Wang Po said decisively, "Bring him here at once; I want to meet this contemporary Su Qin myself."

Wang Xin felt a surge of excitement, turned and hurried to dispatch the news, his steps quicker than when he arrived. The council hall fell silent; Wang Zhen stroked the secret report in his hand and said softly, "Since Father values him so, this person must possess extraordinary qualities." Wang Tian nodded, "To earn Wang Xin's such praise and dare to adopt the name 'Su Qin,' his ambition and ability cannot be far apart."

In less than half a cup of tea's time, light footsteps sounded outside the hall. Everyone looked up to see a scholar of about thirty years old entering.

He was tall and thin, wearing a blue cotton robe faded to a pale hue from washing yet spotless, accentuating his upright posture; his face was lean, a tuft of short beard on his jaw, skin the pallor of lifelong study, and his eyes unusually bright, radiating a poised, sharp spirit.

Upon entering, he saw Wang Po, Wang Zhen, and Wang Tian—the three apex figures of the Wang Family—gathered together. Any outsider would have felt their heart race at such a display, yet Su Qin showed no sign of panic.

Su Qin bowed, "I, Su Qin, pay respects to the venerable Head of Family, Head of Family, Chief Wang."

His words contained neither excessive flattery nor pretended aloofness; his demeanor was perfectly measured.

"No need for formalities," Wang Po raised his hand, his gaze blazing as he examined him, "You are Su Qin?"

"I indeed am," he replied modestly.

"I hear you wish to be a contemporary Su Qin, bearing the seal of the six kingdoms?" Wang Po's tone carried a hint of testing.

Su Qin answered without deference or arrogance, "A humble commoner does not dare to compare himself with the ancients. I only feel that a true man born in chaotic times should have the ambition to set the world right and the strategy to pacify the nation. If I were to spend my old age buried in books, dying beneath a window, would that not be a wasted passage through this world?"

"What a 'ambition to set the world right'!" Wang Po clapped his hands in approval, "Then I shall give you an opportunity right now."

He handed over the secret report concerning Shi Jingtang.

"Take a look at this."

Su Qin took the report, read it at a glance, and his complexion instantly turned indignant.

"The utmost shame! The conduct of a beast!" He set the report down, his voice tinged with the characteristic fury of a scholar, "That traitor Shi Jingtang, for his own selfishness, invites wolves into the house, cedes territory, and becomes a slave! If this wolf is allowed to succeed, the Zhongyuan lands will become a foul, stinking place, and the attire of the Han nation will cease to exist!"

Wang Po watched his agitation and was already seventy percent convinced.

What he sought was not merely a silver‑tongued individual, but someone who felt allegiance to the family, nation, and people, with a moral line. Otherwise, sending an unscrupulous strategist could end up selling out the Wang Family.

"Well said," Wang Po nodded, "Then how do you think our Wang Family should respond?"

Su Qin inhaled deeply, knowing this was the moment that would decide his fate. Though his years in the Education Department had afforded him food and clothing without worry, he always felt like a dragon swimming in shallow water, his abilities unused. He had been waiting for a chance—a chance to soar.

Now, the opportunity arrived.

Without any hesitation, he blurted out the strategy he had mulled over countless times in his mind.

"Returning to the venerable Head of Family, I, the humble commoner, believe our Wang Family should adopt the 'Drive the Tiger, Swallow the Wolf' strategy!"

"Drive the Tiger, Swallow the Wolf?" Wang Zhen asked curiously.

"Indeed!" Su Qin's eyes glittered with wisdom, "The Khitan and Shi Jingtang are like vicious wolves. Their power may be fierce, but their unjust actions are despised by the world."

And the Zhongyuan fiefs are a pack of wary tigers. Though they covet the world, they fear inviting a wolf into their midst, lest they lose even their own territories.

"Our Wang Family's role is to be the 'Tiger‑driver'! We will supply these fierce tigers with sharp claws and ample provisions, letting them fight the Khitan wolf!"

"Specifically," Su Qin's speech quickened and his thoughts clarified, "I think it can be carried out in three steps."

"First, send envoys to Zhongyuan to visit all the various lords, presenting Shi Jingtang's shameful cession of land and the massive threat of the Khitan's southern advance. Make them understand that if they do not unite against the Khitan today, tomorrow they will become cattle under the Khitan's iron hooves!"

"But verbal righteousness is unreliable. We must offer tangible benefits! We will tell them that if they are willing to form a coalition to strike the Khitan, our Wang Family will provide, free of charge, one hundred thousand sets of fine armor, one hundred thousand steel swords that cut iron like mud, and countless strong bows and crossbows!"

Wang Family, we are willing to provide free of charge one hundred thousand sets of excellent armor, one hundred thousand steel blades that cut Iron Control like mud, and countless strong bows and hard crossbows! Even, we can provide half of the military provisions for the allied army!

This scale is too grand! They also wanted to give money and weapons, but never imagined such a huge investment.

One hundred thousand sets of armor and weapons, half the military pay—this is almost equivalent to the Wang Family's one or two years of net income.

Wang Po (Wang Xiu) showed no change of expression, merely gesturing for Su Qin to keep speaking. He knew that you can't spare a child to catch a wolf. Compared with the dignity of the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan Yun and the Han, this amount of money is nothing!

"Of course, there will be some short‑sighted or mountain‑watching types. Dealing with them cannot rely solely on preaching or incentives."

"We can also impose an economic blockade! Our Wang Family's Salt Control, Iron Control, textiles, and tea are now sold worldwide. If we cut off their supply, within three months their territories will be boiling with popular discontent!"

These words were logical, well‑argued, both overt and covert, a perfect blend of open and hidden schemes—simply airtight!

This is no mere poor scholar; he truly possesses Su Qin's talent!

"Good! Good! Good!"

Wang Po uttered three "good"s in a row, then slapped his thigh hard, standing up.

"Su Qin! I ask you, do you dare to become our Wang Family's envoy to carry out this 'Drive the Tiger, Swallow the Wolf' plan?"

Su Qin showed no hesitation, lifted his robe, knelt both knees before Wang Po, and gave a heavy kowtow.

"A scholar dies for one who knows him! I am willing to die for the Head of Family, for the Wang Family, to brave fire and water, a thousand deaths I will not refuse!"

Wang Po (Wang Xiu) watched Su Qin, who was kneeling, trembling slightly from excitement, and felt his own heart swell with heroism.

He walked to Su Qin's side and personally helped him to his feet.

"From today onward, you are the Wang Family's 'Northern Expeditionary Campaign Grand Chief of Staff', fully authorized to liaise with Zhongyuan lords and organize the anti‑Khitan coalition!"

"I grant you the highest authority! Money, as much as you need, I will give; weapons, as much as you need, I will give; people, anyone you favor, you may take!"

"I only have one request!" Wang Po's gaze sharpened dramatically.

"I have only one demand!" Wang Po's eyes became extremely sharp.

We must not let Shi Jingtang's plot succeed! We must not let the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan-Yun be ceded from our Han territory!

"Su Qin, receive the command!" Su Qin's voice was sonorous and powerful, ringing as if striking the earth.