Chapter 83: Return to Linzi

Capital of Qi, Linzi.

After listening to Guo Yuan’s account, Guo Xia’s brow furrowed deeply. No one understood the actions of the Tian clan better than he did.

At this moment, Guo Yuan spoke up.
“Father, who was really involved in the death of Tian Rangju?”

After a moment’s silence, Guo Xia finally replied,
“To be precise, our Guo clan was somewhat involved, but the hands that carried it out belonged to the Tian clan. At the time, Tian Rangju’s reputation in the army had grown too great; as long as he remained, neither our Guo family nor the Gao family could rest easy. Unexpectedly, the Tian clan themselves approached us then.”

He sighed, glancing at his son.
“This time, the Tian clan clearly harbors ulterior motives. What’s puzzling is why they changed their minds later on.”

Guo Yuan was perplexed.
“If that’s so, it’s odd indeed. By rights, Tian Chang should have targeted Han Zhan, yet instead, they returned to the capital together. Could something else have happened between them?”

As he spoke, a sudden realization dawned on him, and his expression changed.
“Could it be that Han Zhan presented the ‘Simafa’ to the Tian clan?”

His father, however, was not so convinced by this speculation. After a moment’s thought, he replied,
“This matter is shrouded in mystery. Don’t make wild guesses. Observe what they say and do, and their intentions will reveal themselves. Since you were able to escape this time thanks to Han Zhan’s help, pay him a visit tomorrow to offer your thanks.”

Guo Yuan immediately understood his father’s intent. The visit was merely a pretext; the real purpose was to uncover what, if any, agreement existed between Han Zhan and the Tian clan.

Meanwhile, in the Tian residence, Tian Qi paced back and forth, his brow furrowed. Suddenly, he halted and spoke,
“That Han Zhan is indeed perceptive, and your plan is sound. This way, not only do we understand the relationship between the Guo and Gao families, but we can also use this opportunity to make Gao Zhang suffer a covert loss, and gain a powerful ally—a true threefold victory.”

Tian Chang beamed, pleased by his father’s praise. Yet Tian Qi’s expression suddenly shifted.

“What do you think should be done with a talent like Han Zhan, if he will not serve our interests?”

Tian Chang had long considered this and answered at once,
“The Three Huan clans of Lu are now mere shadows of their former selves. Yang Hu is only a household retainer, yet he controls the government of Lu. For now, we should befriend Mengzi. When the time is right, we can use Yang Hu’s hand to force Mengzi to serve our Tian clan.”

Tian Qi nodded slowly, but added a warning,
“Forethought is the key to success. For now, Mengzi is useful; keep him for the time being. But if, when our Tian clan holds power in Qi, Mengzi fails to recognize his place, he must be removed.”

He walked over to a map and, pointing to the lands of Lu, spoke with growing excitement,
“If we can seize Lu, then Qi will have nothing left to fear.”

The Spring and Autumn era had passed; now the feudal lords everywhere were restless, expanding their domains. Qi was no exception. Yet Qi had rarely triumphed in open war against Lu, resorting instead to gradual encroachment.

Now Lu’s royal house was weakened, with Yang Hu holding the reins of power and internal strife raging—a perfect time for bold action. Most crucially, Jin, Lu’s protector, had lost royal authority and was beset by infighting among its six great families, leaving it unable to intervene.

This was the best time for Qi to strike at Lu. But for the Tian clan, the time was not yet ripe. Tian Qi needed to use this opportunity to undermine Gao Zhang, laying the groundwork for the Tian clan’s future rise.

Tian Chang stepped behind his father, confident and smiling.
“Father need not worry. As long as Meng Di is allowed to grow, the two tigers will inevitably clash, and Qi will benefit. In time, our Tian clan will surely reclaim dominance in Qi.”

Tian Qi agreed with his son’s view, then said,
“In that case, accept whatever terms they propose. As long as they use our trade route to Yan, the wealth is in our hands, and they cannot cause any real trouble.”

This trade route led from Gaotang, following the tributaries of the Futuo River downstream to Cangzhou, where travelers would disembark within the borders of Yan, not far from Yan’s secondary capital, Wuyang. It was a vital route for the Tian clan.

Gaotang’s location was ideal—water transport was highly convenient, with Jin to the west and Yan to the north. The Tian clan’s main source of wealth came from Jin, the hegemon of the time; by comparison, the route to Yan was less significant.

Drawing his gaze back, Tian Qi instructed his son,
“Go see Gao Zhang immediately. Tell him the truth as you know it, and for what you don’t, say it’s your own conjecture.”

Tian Chang understood and, after a bow, withdrew.

At that time, Meng Di too was studying a map. But rather than the trade route to Yan, he was considering how to resist the impending Qi invasion.

If Qi’s army marched from Yunyi, it would reach Mengyi quickly, leaving little room for maneuver. Meng Di’s only advantage lay in the high mobility of his cavalry.

Victory would require a surprise move—but what kind of strategy could yield success?

Cavalry was indeed mobile, but the plains of Mengyi were well-suited to chariot warfare, which greatly diminished cavalry’s advantages. A direct confrontation was out of the question.

Just then, Liuxia Tuo entered and bowed,
“My lord, the young master of the Guo family has arrived with many gifts, expressing his gratitude for your aid at Eagle’s Beak Cliff.”

Meng Di smiled faintly,
“It seems the visit is an excuse; he’s really here to gather information. Well, let’s hear what he has to say.”

Although an agreement had already been reached with Tian Chang, Meng Di had never been one to put all his eggs in one basket.

Upon meeting, Guo Yuan bowed first,
“Many thanks for your help, Brother Han. Without you, my life would have ended at Eagle’s Beak Cliff.”

“You’re too kind, Young Master Guo. It was nothing more than a small gesture, and with all these generous gifts you’ve brought, I’d say I’m the one who’s gained.”

With that, Meng Di led him inside, and they sat.

Guo Yuan’s curiosity was plain on his face.
“To be honest, I thought it would be difficult for you to escape, Brother Han. I never expected to see you again so soon here in Linzi. Did something unexpected happen? Might you be willing to tell me?”