Yefutidaolu

Chapter 356 Preface
“He must have a bigger scheme behind staying,” Li Zoufang continued. “The target of his scheme can’t be the Youming Land itself, with its deep-rooted foundation and terrifying power. Yuan Lu is not someone he can swallow whole. So, who else could be the target who would allow him to plot under the nose of the Youming Land, and who could have the tacit approval or even cooperation of that old devil Yuan Lu?”

He paused, tapping his fingers on the smooth jade table. “It can only be those… ‘fat sheep’ that require a price to be paid and that can satisfy Yuan Lu’s appetite. And on the land of Youzhou, apart from Youming itself, the fattest and most likely to cause internal strife are these ‘Four Pillars of the North,’ which occupy an entire province and seem to be an impenetrable block but are actually riddled with cracks!”

Shu Jian's beady eyes suddenly lit up, as if he had grasped a clue: "You mean... Gao Jian's target is... the Four Pillars of the Northern Lands in Youzhou? At this time, he's still thinking about eating people?!"

At this point, Gao Jian was surrounded and in a precarious situation, his life in danger at any moment. He was almost beyond saving, but all he could think about was how to kill others.

“Not bad.” Li Zoufang nodded, his eyes flashing with approval. “Youmingdi is a powerful and influential place, and Gao Jian can’t touch it or chew it up. But the Four Pillars of the North, entrenched in Youzhou and riddled with internal conflicts, are a group of fat sheep that are both rich in resources and relatively easy to target! Gao Jian’s staying here must mean that he has persuaded Yuan Lu to turn his attention to them! With Yuan Lu’s power, Gao Jian’s wisdom, and the strength of Youmingdi, it is not difficult to pry open this seemingly solid alliance of the Four Pillars from within! The Four Pillars are in danger!”

Shu Jian gasped: "Then... what about Yan Pavilion? You said 'preserve Yan Pavilion'?"

“Yan Pavilion,” Li Zoufang’s eyes sharpened, “Yan Pavilion’s stance in the North is uncertain; it’s a movable weight, a key piece in balancing the various forces. It cannot fall, nor can it be drawn into the eye of this storm. Once the four pillars of the North are torn apart by Gao Jian and Yuan Lü, the huge power vacuum it leaves behind will inevitably trigger a frenzied struggle among Youzhou and even the surrounding forces. Youmingdi and Gao Jian, as the instigators, will naturally grab the lion’s share. But what about the scraps, and the ensuing chaos…”

He pointed to the six million gold notes: "This money is to reassure Yan Pavilion and provide them with start-up capital! It allows them to stabilize their position before the storm arrives, secretly gather the scattered talents, intelligence networks, and some industries after the destruction of the Four Pillars, and even... absorb some 'orphans' willing to submit to the court. It gives them enough capital to play a more important role in the future of Youzhou and become the new cornerstone for the court to control this place! Instead of being torn apart by this storm or being swallowed up by other covetous forces."

Li Zoufang looked at Shu Jian with a profound gaze: "So, this money isn't for Yan Ge to charge into battle against Youmingdi or Yuanlu, but rather for them to be responsible for cleaning up the battlefield, consolidating Youzhou's territory, and rebuilding order after the upcoming gluttonous feast! This six million gold is the reconstruction and life-saving money given to them by the imperial court, ensuring that they not only survive the great purge against the Four Pillars of the North launched by Gao Jian and Yuanlu, but also... rise from the ashes and reach even greater heights!"

Shu Jian finally realized!

It stared at the gold note, its eyes shifting from shock and confusion to a hint of excitement. So that's how it is! That kid Gao Jian wasn't stuck in the quagmire; he deliberately jumped in to be a troublemaker… no, to be the one wielding the knife! And the imperial court, through this huge sum, was making moves on the other side of the game, laying the groundwork for the future of Youzhou, ensuring its core interests were not harmed, and even strengthened!
"Gao...Gao Jian, this kid...is really..." Shu Jian murmured, unable to find the right words to describe him.

“Go.” Li Zoufang waved his hand, picked up the jade slip on the table again, as if they had just discussed ordinary official business. “Take the gold notes and go to Youzhou immediately. Give them to Yan Ge and tell him that this is the court’s will. Tell him to… take care of himself and not fail the Emperor’s grace.” He paused and added, “Once you get there, take a look at the wind direction in Youzhou with your own eyes, and you will understand everything.”

Shujian took a deep breath and carefully picked up the heavy gold note with its two little paws, as if it were holding a mountain of gold. It nodded solemnly: "Don't worry, Lord Li, Shujian understands! I will definitely live up to your expectations!" After saying that, its small figure turned into a gray shadow and disappeared from the jade table in an instant, leaving only a few untouched spirit sunflower seeds and a faint hamster scent in the air.

But after a few seconds, he turned back, put the remaining melon seeds in his pocket, and ran away.

Li Zoufang looked in the direction where Shu Jian had disappeared, then looked down at the jade slip in his hand containing information about the taxes of the northern states. He closed his eyes and muttered to himself, "Brilliant idea... Stir it up, the more chaotic the better. It's time for a change in the situation in Youzhou."

It's worth noting that Li Zoufang supported Gao Jian precisely for this reason.

At that time, Li Zoufang said to Gao Jian: "Among the civil and military officials of the court, there are often hidden villains. However, if these villains are not eliminated, they will inevitably turn into great thieves. Currently, there are many unscrupulous people in the Divine Dynasty. Farmers cannot cultivate crops, merchants cannot make money, scholars cannot be well-informed, and craftsmen cannot master their skills. They rely entirely on the legacy of their ancestors and the natural resources of the land. They lack the will to be strong and courageous, and they lack the ability to reform abuses and eliminate corruption. The state of the Divine Dynasty in recent years is all due to these people." (See Chapter 192 for details)
He laid his chest on Gao Jian: "I'm not afraid of their cunning and wickedness, I'm afraid that they're cunning and wicked at the same time, and they're also useless. I wonder if you can do the job of eliminating the useless?"

As the Minister of Revenue, Li Zoufang knew that the imperial court could no longer afford to support so many greedy and incompetent officials.

Gao Jian agreed at the time.

And now, the Four Pillars of the North are just such useless things.

Gao Jian's move was a strategic retreat; imprisoned by the Netherworld, he turned the tables and used its power to his advantage, intending to wipe out Youzhou as well...

Adding to what he did in Liangzhou before, does he really think he can take down the useless aristocratic families of two prefectures in just half a year?

That's really insightful of you.

I can't let myself down.

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Four days have already passed.

In a secluded courtyard of the Fang family, next to the stables, the air was thick with the stench of blood and a sense of oppressive fear.

"Clap! Clap! Clap!"

The piercing sound of the whip, like a venomous snake flicking its tongue, brutally tore through the air.

The Seventh Young Master Fang Jun was completely different from his flamboyant and carefree self during the hunt on the meadow. His face was ashen, his eyes were bloodshot, and he was brandishing an oil-soaked cowhide whip, frantically lashing a servant who was cowering on the ground and trembling!

The servant's coarse cloth clothes had been torn to shreds, revealing his back, which was covered in blood and torn flesh.

He clutched his head tightly, letting out incoherent wails and pleas for mercy: "Seventh Young Master, spare me! Spare me! I... I did everything as usual, feeding the horse at dawn, washing it at dusk, and walking it at sullen hour... I didn't slack off at all! The Crimson Flame Steed... it just wouldn't eat, I really had no choice..."

"You dog of a servant! How dare you argue!" Fang Jun was even angrier upon hearing this, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. The whip in his hand fell even faster and more viciously, each strike bringing up a cloud of blood mist. "What a magnificent steed the Crimson Flame Steed is! It was always fine before, but today it is listless. If it's not because you've served it poorly, then have I, its master, mistreated it?! It must be you, you filthy thing, who's been lazy and shirking your duties, or you've been dishonest and neglected my precious steed!"

After saying that, he flicked his whip, seemingly a little tired.

But he was still not satisfied and said to the guards beside him, "Pick it up and beat him! Beat him to death!"

Several other stable servants knelt on the ground, their heads bowed low, their bodies trembling like leaves, not daring to breathe, for fear that they would be next.

Just as the servant being beaten was growing weaker and weaker, and his cries were fading into inaudibility, a steady voice rang out: "Seventh Brother! Stop!"

The third young master, Fang Qian, strode over, his brows furrowed and his face showing displeasure. Behind him followed two guards with composed demeanor.

Fang Jun stopped moving, his chest heaving violently as he gasped for breath. He glared fiercely at the dying servant on the ground before reluctantly cutting off the blood-stained whip.

He looked at Fang Qian, his tone irritated: "Third Brother, what brings you here?"

Fang Qian walked closer, his gaze sweeping over the mangled figure on the ground and the servants kneeling there. He then looked at the Crimson Flame Steed in the stable, which, though somewhat agitated, was clearly not sick, only showing signs of reduced appetite. He understood. He said in a deep voice, "I know you're upset, but taking your anger out on these servants won't help, and it's beneath your dignity!"

He waved his hand and ordered the guards, "Carry him away, find a doctor to examine him, and use the best wound medicine."

"Yes!" the guard replied and stepped forward.

"Young Master is so kind!" "Thank you for your mercy, Young Master!"

The kneeling servants felt as if they had been granted a pardon, and kowtowed repeatedly, tears of gratitude streaming down their faces.

Upon hearing the words "show mercy," the half-dead servant, seemingly summoned by some unknown strength, struggled to raise his head. With his last ounce of strength, he performed a perfectly executed, seemingly ingrained, full-body prostration towards Fang Qian, mumbling incoherently, "Thank... thank you, Third Young Master... for your great kindness... for your great virtue..."

However, as he bowed, his body suddenly stiffened, and the last breath he had been holding on to completely dissipated. His head slammed heavily onto the cold ground, and he fell silent.

The air solidified instantly.

A guard stepped forward, checked his breath, and shook his head: "Third Young Master, he... he's not breathing."

Fang Qian's brows furrowed even more, and a barely perceptible look of disgust flashed in his eyes.

He waved his hand casually, his tone flat and devoid of any emotion: "Take him out and bury him somewhere. According to the rules of the manor, give his family double the compensation."

A quick-witted personal attendant stepped forward and whispered, "Young Master, this man is called Zhang Erniu. His parents died when he was fleeing famine years ago. He has not yet married or had children. Back in his hometown... he only has a twelve-year-old sister."

"Little sister?" Fang Qian paused slightly, glancing at the servant as if dealing with a trivial errand. "In that case, let her come into the manor. Find her an easy job, like in the laundry room or the flower room. That will give her a way to make a living."

"Yes! The Third Young Master is kind!" The servant bowed and replied hastily, pondering how to arrange things for the orphan girl.

Fang Qian stopped looking at the corpses on the ground and the servants who seemed relieved yet harbored hidden fear. His gaze shifted to Fang Jun, whose face remained grim. He dismissed the others, walked to Fang Jun's side, and lowered his voice to say:
"Seventh Brother, I know what's bothering you." Fang Qian's eyes were insightful. "Is it that Miss Xia?"

Fang Jun's body trembled slightly. He didn't deny it, but scratched his hair in frustration, his eyes filled with resentment and a twisted longing: "Third Brother! You didn't see it! She...she's like a fairy who stepped out of a painting! No, even more than a fairy...But that guy surnamed Gao! Why does Miss Xia listen to him so obediently, without even glancing at anyone else? I...I feel like my heart is being scratched by a cat!"

Fang Qian looked at his younger brother, Fang Jun, whose budding romance was tinged with possessiveness and the arrogance of a scion of a powerful family, and shook his head inwardly. He patted Fang Jun's shoulder, his tone both admonishing and serious:

"Seventh Brother, calm down. That Xia Youdu is a true disciple of the Netherworld! What kind of place is the Netherworld? It's a demonic sect that even our ancestors avoided mentioning! How could you possibly covet its true disciples? As for that Gao Jian… you saw his methods. He's definitely not simple at the Imperial Academy! To be able to join the Imperial Academy means he's a top scholar in the province, and to have someone like Xia Youdu by his side, his background, scheming, and strength are all unfathomable! Although our Fang family is powerful in Youzhou, we are no match for someone like him…"

Fang Qian didn't continue, but his meaning was clear—they weren't enough. He changed the subject: "These past few days, Gao Jian has been staying indoors, only cultivating in the guest courtyard, and Miss Xia hasn't shown herself either. Don't provoke them, and don't let personal feelings ruin important matters! There's been some undercurrent in the Four Pillars of the North lately, and the Liu family has been making frequent moves. Our ancestors instructed us to act cautiously and avoid causing any unnecessary trouble!"

“But…” Fang Jun wanted to argue, but seeing Fang Qian’s serious look, he swallowed back what he was about to say.

Fang Qian looked at his younger brother's expression and sighed inwardly. He knew that his younger brother was proud and arrogant, intimidated by Xia Youdu's appearance and temperament, and overshadowed by Gao Jian's popularity. At this moment, he was most resentful.

Hopefully... it won't cause any trouble.

He looked up towards the direction of the guest courtyard, his eyes deep and unfathomable. That young man named Gao Jian was like a bottomless, icy pool; beneath his calm surface, who knew what turbulent undercurrents lay hidden?

Was his stay at the Fang family home really just for "travel" and "chance encounters"?

Ugh.

It's really bad, at this crucial juncture...

But, not bad.

The Fang family is as solid as a rock. Although the four pillars of the North have some differences, they have never doubted their unity against external forces.

The four pillars of the North share the same fate, rising and falling together. The Liu family is the strongest, while the Fang family has the advantage of being near the mines, but their martial prowess is slightly inferior. The Wei family and the Wang family either observe or mediate to maintain the balance. In addition, there are many marriage alliances now, and his sister is about to marry a young master from the Liu family. The current turmoil should be coming to an end.

Sigh, my seventh brother is exceptionally talented, but his temper is too explosive. It seems I'm the only one left to inherit the family headship...

(Extra chapter tomorrow)
(End of this chapter)