Feng Chang Liu: Everyone knows the score. There's no need to pretend!
— Let's not talk about that. — Niu You Dao interrupted him. That wasn't why he had called him. At the moment, he had neither the goods he'd sold cheaply nor the money.
— Song Jiu Ming said that by killing me, the Song family could rise again. And that it would benefit the Liuxiang Sect. That's why they forced the Liuxiang Sect to come here. Am I right?
Feng Chang Liu didn't know what to say. Was he surprised that Niu You Dao knew about this?
Zheng Jiu Xiao and Xia Hua looked at him skeptically, cursing to themselves, "The Song family... well done, if they only want to help the Liuxiang Sect, why did they approach us then?"
Peng Yu Cai, meanwhile, was aware of this, as Shang Chao Zong had conveyed the news through him. It seemed Shang Chao Zong had his own spies within the Song family.
Feng Chang Liu: I said other matters don't concern me. Only the property that disappeared from the shop.
Niu You Dao: Sect Master Feng, the Liuxiang Sect couldn't kill me before. And now, you certainly won't be able to. How then will Song Jiu Ming recover? And what benefit will he bring you?
Feng Chang Liu: Are you not listening to me? Compensate us for the losses at the Zhaixing shops, and the Liuxiang Sect will pursue nothing else.
Ignoring his words, Niu You Dao continued:
— Song Jiu Ming won't recover. I'm willing to bet that the Song family will soon fall!
Feng Chang Liu:
— Why are you speaking to me about the Song family? In those matters, everyone is their own master. But the disappearance of property from the shop affects the entire Liuxiang Sect. And I need something to tell my disciples, what shall I tell them? This concerns me. Otherwise, our conversation will be empty and useless. Of course, if the Ice and Snow Palace tells me not to pursue this matter, then I will obey the Ice and Snow Palace's command. Otherwise, you won't escape us!
Without answering the question, Niu You Dao said:
— The Liuxiang Sect has always stood by the Song family, relying on them for support. Now the Song family will fall, so what will the Liuxiang Sect do then?
Feng Chang Liu: Those are our affairs, and they don't concern you!
Niu You Dao looked at everyone:
— This time, I've summoned you all to discuss the division of profits from the Southern Domain of the Yan Kingdom. And the Song family won't provide you with that. Sect Master Feng, if you're not interested, you may leave. I won't force you. Later, whether I live or die, you can try to settle accounts with me at any time.
— .... a few people were startled.
Divide the profits of the Southern Domain of the Yan Kingdom?
Feng Chang Liu, Zheng Jiu Xiao, and Xia Hua exchanged bewildered glances.
Peng Yu Cai was astonished, then smirked and said:
— To divide the Southern Domain... quite a big bite to chew. Is this what the Ice and Snow Palace wants?
Niu You Dao pointed at Feng Chang Liu:
— I said I'm not forcing anyone. Sect Master Feng, if you wish, you may leave.
Feng Chang Liu replied indifferently:
— It doesn't hurt to listen.
Niu You Dao smirked. He looked around and asked:
— Does that make sense? You want to settle accounts with me, yet I'm supposed to reveal secrets to you here?
Wu Shao Huang, standing behind Feng Chang Liu, leaned over and whispered something to Feng Chang Liu.
Feng Chang Liu tensed, then frowned and said:
— If the profits from the Southern Domain of the Yan Kingdom compensate our losses, then our Liuxiang Sect agrees. And then we will forget our past grievances.
Niu You Dao looked at the other two sect masters:
— What do Sect Master Zheng and Sect Master Xia think?
Zheng Jiu Xiao stroked his mustache and said:
— We'll listen first, then decide!
Xia Hua nodded.
— Since that's the case, then listen. — Niu You Dao smiled, then looked at Peng Yu Cai:
— This has nothing to do with the Ice and Snow Palace. Did Sect Master Peng truly believe that the interests of a mere Prince Shang would be confined to Qingshan County?
If it had been related to the Ice and Snow Palace, then fine. But it turned out the Ice and Snow Palace had nothing to do with it, and Peng Yu Cai immediately lost interest. He said disdainfully:
— Who doesn't want to rise higher? But to rise, one needs corresponding strength.
Niu You Dao replied:
— But one can certainly try! Just think, Prince Shang would still only be in Cang Wu County now if he hadn't tried. And just like that, in only a year, the Heavenly Jade Sect acquired Qingshan County! Is Prince Shang truly incompetent and helpless?
These words hinted at the Heavenly Jade Sect's helplessness. Thus, Peng Yu Cai retorted displeased:
— If not for our support, the prince wouldn't have taken Qingshan County.
Niu You Dao: Then why didn't the Heavenly Jade Sect take Qingshan County earlier? Were you respectfully waiting for the prince to be released from prison? Did the Heavenly Jade Sect already know that the prince would be released, that he would turn to you for help, and then seize Qingshan County? Heh-heh! If the prince had chosen another side, perhaps the Heavenly Jade Sect would currently be hiding its head in Kuangai County.
— NONSENSE! — an elder sitting behind Peng Yu Cai cried out in displeasure.
Niu You Dao took a sip of tea and cast a sidelong glance at that elder. He slowly continued sipping his tea:
— Whoever is seated speaks. There's no need for anyone to shout.
Having said that, he slowly took a few more sips and continued:
If the prince, upon first arriving in Kuangai County, had declared he would seize Qingshan County, everyone would have laughed at him. Everyone would have thought it a joke. But what about today? Sect Master Peng never even imagined that Qingshan County could be seized for him. Yet reality is already such!
Feng Chang Liu, Zheng Jiu Xiao, and Xia Hua pondered for a moment. Indeed, no one had thought that Chao Zong would be able to seize Qingshan County.
Peng Yu Cai raised his hand and stopped the displeased elder behind him:
— There is indeed benefit in this. If Shang Chao Zong has a method to take the Southern Domain, then the Heavenly Jade Sect will naturally support him. But how large are Qingshan County and Kuangai County, and how vast is the Southern Domain? Even if our Heavenly Jade Sect can stop the other sects, how can the people of Kuangai County and Qingshan County take the domain? The domain is full of people. And even if they seize it, the imperial court will not just stand by and watch.
He spoke sincerely, stating that if there was an opportunity to seize the Southern Domain, they would help. That was why he stopped the enraged elder. One shouldn't miss a great opportunity over a few words. As a sect master, he clearly understood this.
Niu You Dao: To seize the Southern Domain, soldiers are precisely what's needed. Relying solely on the Heavenly Jade Sect, there wouldn't even be enough people to plug the gaps. Therefore, you need the prince.
Cheng Tian Xu — the elder standing behind Peng Yu Cai — smirked and said:
— Feng Lin Bo can also rule. Why are we only considering Shang Chao Zong?
Niu You Dao: Of course he can. It's just that I support Shang Chao Zong. It's that simple!
Cheng Tian Xu continued mockingly:
You support? On what grounds do you support?
Niu You Dao: I don't understand military matters. When I spoke with the prince and Sir Lan Ruo Ting, I asked them how many men were needed to seize the Southern Domain. They replied that for an attack, 300,000 well-trained soldiers would be enough! As for seizing and holding it, even more would be needed. In truth, not that many people are needed. Otherwise, a large army is also a great burden. I estimated that Kuangai County already has 100,000 well-trained soldiers. Another 200,000 are needed!
Everyone failed to understand why he was stating the obvious.
Peng Yu Cai: In Kuangai County, at most, 100,000 soldiers can be recruited. If more are recruited, Kuangai will no longer be a rich land. Neither Kuangai County nor Qingshan County can feed a large army.
Niu You Dao slowly sipped his tea and continued:
— This is precisely where I can help you!
Peng Yu Cai: Do you know how much it costs to feed a single ordinary soldier? At its simplest, just food will cost 10 copper coins. But then you also have to feed the soldier's family, and for each soldier, it amounts to at least 300 copper coins a month. And that's just to sustain life. What about clothing, armor, weapons? Not counting horses and command staff, not counting training and treatment after injuries.
— A basic soldier alone will cost 20 copper coins a day. 200,000 well-trained soldiers... that's 4 million copper coins spent on them every day. If converted to gold, that's 400 gold coins. But this is for ordinary soldiers and a simple calculation. In reality, well-trained soldiers will cost three times more. That comes out to approximately 1500 gold coins every day.
— And that's just for one day. 10 days... 15,000. 1 month... 45,000. And a year... about 550,000 gold coins. How many more people, masters, and craftsmen stand behind 200,000 soldiers? Do you know how many horses need to be purchased? And military operations, if war breaks out, how many materials, people, resources, and money will be required? And if a soldier dies, compensation must be paid to their families. Boy, to take the Southern Domain... it's easy and pleasant to say. But it's not so easy to achieve. Can you support this? Where will you get such support from?
Feng Chang Liu confirmed in a cold tone:
— He probably took our money from the shops, that's why he speaks like this.
Niu You Dao: You don't need to tell me these complex terms, figures, and calculations. I don't understand anything about such matters. I only provide the finances; how to spend them and on whom will be Prince Shang's concern.
Peng Yu Cai extended his hand:
— Where's the money? Just produce it. Let the prince recruit men, horses. Not to mention the Southern Domain, even if he attacks the entire Yan Kingdom, our Heavenly Jade Sect will not object.