Book 14: Chapter 143

Art of War

The last thing Ming Feizhen expected back then was that their duel would turn him into Lord San Shen and the former Lord San Shen into Zero. No matter how one sliced it, Ximen Chuideng was the biggest winner in the deal. Thinking back on his sworn brother made Ming Feizhen have an urge to be frank.

There have been too many surprises this year. I was lucky you were around in Nanjiang.

Gewu came knocking after Ming Feizhen exhausted himself sending Pangu back to its slumber. Had Zero not arrived in time, Shen Yiren and Ming Feizhen wouldve been done in. Ming Feizhen summoned Zero over before taking on Pangu because he expected to spent afterwards, except it all started earlier than he expected. If he had Zeros help against Pangu, perhaps he wouldnt have been in such a pathetic state.

Ming Feizhen took a hundred days to return to his peak after his fight against Zero, while Zero took half a year to recover. The duel was informative in the sense that Ming Feizhen learnt what the consequence of exhausting himself using Spring Wind Rainy Night Art would be. For all he knew, Zero mightve just been a fossilised Tianhu against Pangu, which wouldve only became extra dead weight.

Ming Feizhen shook his head with a smile. Thanks to you putting on a show with me for His Majesty, Im saved of suspicion in the future.

Your subject deserves death!

Huh?

Your subject laid his hands on you and never had the opportunity to apologise. He has been living with anxiety. Sadly, ordinary weapons cannot hurt your subordinate. Baimas spear is a bit useful, but it had to be returned. Your subject has been searching for a weapon you could use to hack your subordinate with.

No, no, no, I ordered you to do that. Theres no need to punish you, Ming Feizhen responded as he wagged his hand.

That will not do! Your subject hurt you badly. How can th-

Zero. Ming Feizhen switched to a serious expression. I said no punishment. Are you questioning me?

Your subject is grateful for your magnanimity.

Ming Feizhen had to speak in a serious tone because he knew that Zero was always serious about this sort of stuff. If he wasnt stern, Zero mightve gone somewhere secluded and cut himself, not that it wouldve been anything serious considering Zeros abilities. Moreover, he was in need of a combatant, so it was a stupid to diminish Zeros capacity.

Didnt you come for the jade? queried Gongsun Chu, finally spotting an apt moment to speak.

Zero took out the broken jade from his s.h.i.+rt. Why should I care about it? I came back for Master. This is just for fooling the moron.

Aforementioned moron was none other than Li Jingan.

Why does Jingan want to kill me? I cant figure her out.

Well said, Master. If you cannot figure it out, how about we not waste our energy on trying to figure it out?

Knowing Zero was clever, Ming Feizhen questioned, You have a plan?

Zero held his hands up in salute. How about we kill her first?

Stop! Ming Feizhen nearly fell out of his chair for a second. I have enough on my plate. If you kill a Princess, Ill retire if His Majesty doesnt have wanted posters for me and a bounty available internationally.

Zero stopped to think, nodded and then suggested, That is true. Your subject has been studying the imperial citys defence protocol in the last few years. How about we take out His Maj-

Stop! Stop! Stop! How many people do you want coming after me! Hey, Gongsun Guy, dont listen to him! What are you looking disappointed for?!

Does that not mean you will have suffered for nothing, Master?

A little bit of suffering is nothing. If we follow your suggestion, well be so busy running that well have no time to enjoy pork shoulders or women. Dont kill them, okay?

Gongsun Chu was no longer sure how to feel as he knew that the suggestion was actually doable for the duo.

Okay, so, Mr. Gongsun, called Ming Feizhen. We made a bet, right?

Gongsun Chu simpered. Yes. So?

I just want to discuss the art of war with a veteran rebel.

Im all ears.

As mentioned in Sun Tzus Art of, The highest form of generals.h.i.+p is to baulk the enemys plans; the next is to prevent the junction of the enemys forces; and the worst policy of all is to besiege walled cities..

Gongsun Chu responded, The section from Sun Tzus Art of War Attack by Strategem states, The highest form of generals.h.i.+p is to baulk the enemys plans; the next is to prevent the junction of the enemys forces; the next in order is to attack the enemys army in the field; and the worst policy of all is to besiege walled cities. You missed one.

Zero narrowed his eyes.

Ming Feizhen laughed heartily. We brutes arent educated. If I missed one, so be it. Neither of us are in top form today, so how about we have a strategy contest instead?

Gongsun Chu just smiled. It was stereotypical for Ming Feizhen to try to push for more gains when he had the upper hand, so it was clear he was after something, except it wasnt clear what it was.

If you have no objections, lets start with baulk the enemys plans.

Sure. Please go ahead.

Would you believe me if I told you I predicted we would meet tonight?

Why not? Your hobbies certainly are special, like sitting in a chair with a trap installed, trying to win against someone dangerous when you have no access to your internal energy, and trying to control the board without lifting a finger?

The board? Mm, you speak to highly of me. The board has nothing to do with me, really. I never controlled anything. Plus, while it is a clever strategy, it is far from being extraordinary.

What makes it ordinary? Could you enlighten me, Duke Ming?

Ming Feizhen held his hands up in salute. There were two aims behind the strategy: craftily steal Nine Dragons Fire Jade and lure everyone away to a.s.sa.s.sinate His Majesty. Liaoliao had a good plan, had the skills and the brains, but he lacked judgement. He couldnt beat Shang Bies.h.i.+, yet he approached you. I bet he genuinely believed hed be able to kill you after he got his hands on Nine Dragons Fire Jade, never realising he was set up from the get-go. He thought he was clever, but he was no match for you.

Me? You flatter me. I am no match for him. I was relying solely on s.h.i.+tou; however, s.h.i.+tou doesnt obey all my instructions. If he truly turned against me, there would be nothing I could do.

That is the contradiction, and he didnt even get it. Ming Feizhen shook his head. You dont benefit directly from His Majestys death. You want to destroy Li Dynasty. Killing one Emperor will just open up s.p.a.ce for another Emperor, but youre the only person alive who wants to restore the previous dynasty. How stupid would you have to be to risk your life with him, not to mention he had his intention to kill you afterwards on his sleeve? You just worked with him to release s.h.i.+tou. s.h.i.+tou was free to run once he was free. While Fiends Genesis is history, the Seven Stars are still alive for the most part. The moron used all of Cold Mountain Temple as his bargaining chip, yet he thought he was getting a deal. He probably thought he was a genius for the idea, too. Uncle Jiyi really needs Buddha.

Gongsun Chu laughed and then clapped. You truly dont give yourself enough credit. Thats an amazingly unscrupulous strategy you came up with.

I am just reciting your strategy.

True, true. In that case, would the plan have worked without you?

Of course not. A convoluted plan to steal a valuable item and a.s.sa.s.sinate an Emperor, where the two masterminds are each harbouring their own agenda, succeeding would take a miracle and a half. He went wrong from the moment he decided to count on you. Coveting the Nine Dragons Fire Jade on top of that was another mistake. If he wanted to succeed, he needed to give up on one, which was either giving you the jade and taking His Majestys head. That mightve worked out if you, s.h.i.+tou, him and Silver Crow worked together. Obviously, thats a moot point if you ran into Zero.

To sum up, Tianhu is the reason for the plans failure, no? Gongsun Chu stole a glance in Zeros direction. That does not qualify as strategy, does it?

Zero bodying you lot was pure coincidence. I knew youd be back after we went our own ways at the underground palace. That was why I had Zero return from Beiping right away. Jingan wanted to provoke Tianhu into killing me, and you thought it was ingenious. He was never far from me. He only went to confirm that my allies were safe and sound. Your encounter with him was bound to happen as long as you came after me. The fact that you didnt know who Zero was is proof that Im smarter than you.

The defeated gentleman shrugged it off. I have nothing to say. It is my loss.

Ming Feizhen didnt mind the insincere surrender. Since weve concluded our baulk the enemys plans contest, lets move on to prevent the junction of the enemys forces.

Gongsun Chu bobbed his head with a smile. That is even more interesting. What say you?

Remember we made a bet?

I do. I do. I did not say what would happen if I lost in the last bet, did I?

Ignoring the shameless comment, Ming Feizhen, wearing a small smile, demanded, Gongsun Chu, come serve me.