Damn it, I'm in the garbage book I wrote

Chapter 854 Steadfast Third Brother
Inside the general's tent, the aroma of tea wafted through the air.

Xia Lin told Xu Shiji everything about the assassination attempt, the current progress of the investigation, and his various speculations.

Xu Shiji listened quietly, his fingers unconsciously sliding along the edge of the teacup, his eyes focused, occasionally interjecting with a question or two about a detail.

After listening to Xia Lin's account, he pondered for a moment and slowly said, "Daosheng, in your opinion, is the primary target of this assassination truly the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty?"

Xia Lin's eyes flashed: "What does Third Brother mean?"

“If the target is indeed her,” Xu Shiji analyzed, “if successful, the Li Tang dynasty will be thrown into chaos, the situation in the Western Regions will collapse, the Northern Han may benefit, and the Tibetans may also take advantage of the situation. If it fails, it will be like now, with you and San Niang forced to become more deeply bound together and cooperation accelerated. This is not good for the Northern Han or any party that does not want to see you join forces. This move is extremely risky, and the benefits seem uncertain.”

He paused, then continued, "But what if the target... is you?"

Xia Lin's pupils contracted slightly.

Xu Shiji looked at him: "Assuming the assassin knew you were there, that arrow, seemingly aimed at the Li Tang emperor, was actually meant to force you to save him, or perhaps they anticipated you would. If you reacted even slightly slower, the Li Tang emperor would die, and you would be implicated, with the entire Li Tang nation turning against you. If you saved him, as you are now, your relationship with her would be obvious, and the opposition within the Li Tang to cooperating with Wei would inevitably rise, possibly even forcing her to abandon her cooperation with you. This would achieve the same goal of disrupting your alliance. Moreover, it could shift suspicion to the north or Tibet, confusing the public."

“Killing two birds with one stone,” Xia Lin murmured, his brows furrowing. “Whether it hits someone or misses, it achieves the goal of sowing discord and causing destruction. The person behind this is very cunning.”

“That’s right.” Xu Shiji nodded. “Moreover, they used military crossbows and poisons from the Western Regions black market, and the clues vaguely point to Tibet. This method is not as straightforward as Liu Min of the Northern Han, but rather more like the style of certain people in Chang’an.”

Changsun Wuji! The name immediately flashed through Xia Lin's mind. That old bastard, he's really good at playing dirty tricks.

"Of course, the suspicion of the Tibetans cannot be completely ruled out. Perhaps they wanted to kill two birds with one stone, both eliminating their powerful neighbor and framing the Northern Han or instigating internal strife within the Li Tang dynasty," Xu Shiji added. "It's hard to tell what's true and what's false."

"In your opinion, Third Brother, how should we deal with this?" Xia Lin humbly asked for advice.

He admired Xu Shiji's strategy, that goes without saying. Xia Lin had long said that he was only capable of being a county magistrate and could not compare with a talented person like Xu Shiji.

Xu Shiji stroked his beard, a glint of wisdom flashing in his eyes: "Take the false as real, and the real as false. Since someone wants to muddy the waters, we might as well muddy them even more."

"Elaborate."

"First, we can publicly announce that we have obtained conclusive evidence that the assassin was sent by Liu Min of the Northern Han Dynasty because he was jealous of Your Majesty's cooperation with you and intended to sabotage the overall peace in the Western Regions."

Xia Lin raised an eyebrow: "Frame Liu Min?"

“That’s right,” Xu Shiji said with a smile. “Liu Min has just suffered a major setback, and people are in a state of panic. If we pin this accusation on him, he will definitely be furious, but he will be unable to defend himself. This move can, firstly, further intimidate the Northern Han, and secondly, we can see the reactions of all parties. If it really was Liu Min who did it, he may take further action; if it was someone else who did it, this mudslinging might make the real mastermind lower their guard, and they might even slip up.”

"That's interesting." Xia Lin stroked his chin. "And then?"

"Then, we can secretly release another message, saying that a token related to a high-ranking Tibetan nobleman was found on the assassin, and that Tibet is suspected of deliberately provoking a conflict between the Tang Dynasty and the Northern Han Dynasty in order to reap the benefits."

"Two pieces of information, one explicit and one implicit, contradicting each other?" Xia Lin immediately understood Xu Shiji's intention: "To keep those hiding in the shadows from figuring out what we actually know, to incite them to suspect each other, or even turn on each other like dogs?"

“That’s exactly right.” Xu Shiji nodded. “At the same time, our overt cooperation should not only continue, but also be accelerated and carried out on a grand scale. For example, we can invite envoys from the Western Regions to observe the joint exercises of the Li Tang army and our construction corps, or announce joint funding to build a straight road from Shanshan to Anxi Protectorate, which will facilitate trade and military marches.”

"Show strength to the enemy, and sit firmly on the high ground." Xia Lin clapped his hands and laughed, "Brilliant! Third Brother's plan is brilliant! Let those bastards guess for themselves! We should do what we need to do."

“There’s one more thing,” Xu Shiji said in a low voice, “about that movie sample… I brought it with me this time, it might come in handy.”

"Oh?" Xia Lin became interested. "How else can movies be used?"

"You can choose an auspicious day to invite the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty, as well as important leaders and envoys from the Western Regions, to watch this film together." Xu Shiji's eyes gleamed. "This film tells a story of the mountains, praises the pioneering spirit, and is visually stunning and emotionally sincere. It can showcase the brilliance of Fuliang... no, the brilliance of Chinese culture and the novelty of its technology, and it can also subtly convey our shared vision of establishing a new order and pursuing common development in the Western Regions. Compared to the threat of war, this may be a gentler, yet sharper, weapon."

Xia Lin's eyes lit up. He immediately understood Xu Shiji's meaning. Military conquest can only instill fear, while cultural infiltration can inspire longing. Wasn't this film the best vehicle for cultural export?
"Great! Let's do it this way!" Xia Lin slapped his thigh, his face beaming with excitement. "Third Brother, you're a lifesaver! With your help, how can we not secure the Western Regions! Come here, give me a kiss."

Xu Shiji raised his hand to refuse: "There's no need for that."

Xia Lin suddenly felt enlightened.

Xu Shiji's previous agitation and murderous intent were largely soothed by his scheme. The best way to deal with a conspiracy is not to confront it head-on, but to use superior strategy to neutralize it or even turn it against you.

"I'll go arrange it right away. Let's give that old bastard Liu Min a taste of his own medicine first!" Xia Lin stood up excitedly, his eyes gleaming with mischief.

Xu Shiji looked at his decisive and efficient manner and shook his head with a smile. He was indeed still as impulsive as ever. However, it was precisely this kind of personality that allowed him to stir up trouble and create opportunities in this turbulent era.

He picked up the teacup, took a small sip, smiled and shook his head, but his eyes became increasingly clear.

The film sample brought by Xu Shiji was named "Mountain Moon Romance" by Xia Lin. The name was rustic, but it was enough for the situation; those who were too refined couldn't stomach fine things. After several days of intensive preparation, a unique film screening was held in the newly built auditorium in Shanshan City.

This so-called auditorium was actually a huge rammed earth building, with massive timber beams inside and a thick felt roof to protect against wind and sand. The walls were covered with carpets in the style of the Western Regions, making it look very luxurious. At the very back, a piece of fine silver-white cotton cloth soaked in a special medicine hung on the wall.

Besides Emperor Li Tang's third empress and her core close ministers, those invited included kings or special envoys from major Western Region states such as Kucha, Khotan, and Kashgar, and even chieftains from several large tribes. On the Northern Han side, Xia Lin, in the spirit of "being utterly disgusting," sent an invitation to Liu Min, but Liu Min claimed illness and did not attend, only sending a minor military advisor to observe the ceremony.

The hall was brightly lit by candles, teeming with people, and filled with the scents of spices, leather, and a subtle tension. The envoys from various countries whispered among themselves, speculating about the true nature of this so-called "movie." Most of them had heard of the thunderous power displayed in the martial arts arena, and were both curious and somewhat awestruck by Xia Lin's new gimmick.

Third Sister sat in her reserved seat in the front row, dressed in casual clothes, her expression calm. She only occasionally exchanged a few words with Xia Lin beside her in hushed tones, the panic from that night no longer visible in her eyes. Xia Lin's security measures had now completely taken over her core guard, which truly put her at ease.

Xu Shiji, dressed in a clean Taoist robe, stood in the makeshift projection room at the back of the auditorium, personally overseeing the operation. Several burly soldiers were working hard to operate a modified foot-operated generator, ensuring a stable light source for the projector, which had been shrunk in size after numerous adjustments.

"The auspicious time has arrived, turn off the lights!" With the master of ceremonies' shout, the candles in the hall were extinguished one by one, leaving only a few eternal lamps in the corners emitting a faint light.

The crowd stirred in confusion.

Just then, a beam of strong light shot out from behind, hitting the screen. At first, it was just some flickering spots and lines of light, which immediately drew a few gasps. But as Xu Shiji steadily turned the projector handle, the light and shadow on the screen gradually stabilized and became clear.

The first thing to appear was the bustling street scene of Jiangnan, with small bridges, flowing water, and bustling traffic, which was presented to everyone.

Although the image is in black and white, the lifelike figures, the flowing boats, and even the smiles on the faces of the pedestrians are clearly discernible!

"Heavens! This...this is bringing Jiangnan onto cloth?" Old King Yutian's eyes widened, and he couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.

The scene then shifts to the misty, verdant Miao mountains, with their cascading waterfalls and flowing springs. The camera zooms in, revealing the hardships of the mountain people practicing slash-and-burn agriculture, the children's yearning for knowledge, and the vibrant scene of scholars leading the villagers in clearing land and building roads.

The vast primeval forest, the arduous task of clearing the way through the mountains, and the hopeful smiles around the campfire all deeply moved the hearts of every audience member present.

There was no sound, only the slight clicking of the projector and the synchronized narration in steady official language by the scholars arranged by Xu Shiji beside the screen.

Yet this silent light and shadow seem to possess a magical power, gently unfolding a story about the mountains, about change, about ideals, and about love.

When the plot unfolded to the point where Shanling and Liang Wenhan poured out their hearts to each other under the mountain moon, the hazy light and shadow and the actors' delicate and vivid performances perfectly rendered the pure emotions that transcended cultural backgrounds. Many women who had come to the Western Regions with their families couldn't help but cover their mouths and gasp, their eyes filled with tears.

When the story ends, Liang Wenhan, now middle-aged, reunites with Shanling before the road opens. When Shanling's silent words, "The road is open," are presented through the subtitles, an indescribable complex emotion permeates the entire auditorium.

As the film ended, the light and shadow on the screen faded, and darkness returned.

The auditorium was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Several breaths passed before someone, as if waking from a dream, began to applaud. Immediately afterward, applause surged like a tide, growing louder and louder, mixed with exclamations and discussions in various languages.

"Incredible! Such a miraculous skill exists in the world!"

"That wasn't magic, that was... that it captured my soul!"

"So the Wei people weren't just about killing; they did this kind of thing too..."

"The road is open... the road is open..." the King of Kucha murmured to himself, his eyes flickering, lost in thought.

The lights came back on, and Xia Lin stood up, walked to the front of the stage, and looked at the crowd below with a gentle smile, their expressions varied.

"Ladies and gentlemen," Xia Lin's voice, though not loud, clearly reached everyone's ears, "what you just witnessed was a little trick of our China, called 'movie.' It records the stories of ordinary people in the mountains of Lingnan." He continued, "That place was once isolated and impoverished, but once roads were built, people's hearts opened up. I, Xia Lin, have come to the Western Regions not only with weapons, but also with the desire to work with you all to make the roads here more accessible, so that the lives of people of all ethnicities can improve, just like in the movie."

He didn't preach any grand principles; he simply used this film to subtly instill a concept of development and a vision of cooperation into the minds of these rulers of the Western Regions.

The power of culture is sometimes sharper and more enduring than swords.

After the film screening, a grand banquet followed. Leaders and envoys from various Western Region kingdoms stepped forward to toast Xia Lin and San Niang, their attitude even more enthusiastic and respectful than before. The film not only showcased the unimaginable technology of the Wei Dynasty but also revealed a more attractive method of governance and development model than one based on military conquest.

Third Sister held her wine cup and looked at Xia Lin, who was surrounded by people, with a complicated expression.

After a while, she walked to Xia Lin's side and whispered, "Your soft knife is more powerful than a cannon."

Xia Lin chuckled and clinked glasses with her: "So, you won't lose out by cooperating with me."
-
My new book will be released soon. It's about a thousand chapters long, which means it will be available in about two months. So, it should be released in the middle to late part of this month. The new book is a food-themed story, but not purely about food; it also includes some farming elements. As you know, fighting and killing aren't my strong suit. It's currently in the drafting stage, and I'll try my best to present it to you in a pretty good state when it's released.

(End of this chapter)