The Fourth Fall - Chapter 28 preview

The conflict began that night, the first sally forth by the King of Cai successful. The argument was conducted quietly, behind words of veiled intention and careful insistence between tentative allies. Egos, grown rampant and watered by bureaucrats and courtiers over decades, now clashed as they sought to lay claim over gifts they considered theirs.

Even cultivators, supposedly wiser and above such things, looked with avarice at the gifts that had arrived. They ranged in quantity and quality, from a dao of Saint-quality sharpness and killing intent, to a pi - a lance - which cut the air itself as it was wielded, gifting steed and rider greater speed and a ji that was made from, of all things, an oar. Yet, the water-imbued dao within made the halberd perfect for use on a boat. The King had even related a story about its last wielder being saved from drowning, as the ji drew its wielder to the surface, clad in full armour as he might be.

Pills and even a few cultivation manuals were available, though of more interest were the martial styles that had been passed on. These manuals and styles were from defeated kingdoms, from sects that had been destroyed by the Cai; a not so subtle indication of what would happen to those they opposed.

And yet... such sect works, prized by the destroyed cultivators, had been the mainstay of their organisation. It had been what allowed the formation of their sect, the core teachings. Such works could be useful for expanding the teachings of any organisation, to illuminating flaws in their own work, or to provide - especially in the case of the Six Gates and the Verdant Green Waters - cultivation practices for non-core members.

"Look at this letter, from the First Prince's Uncle." Fa Yuan held up the document, waving it around with distaste. " 'We seek no more than what is due, for our great and glorious kingdom, standing before the might of the Cai that we have joined hands together to meet and contend against.' It continues, in much that vein." She shook her head. "Not even subtle about it."

"That is for the Prince's to handle, is it not?" Wu Ying asked, sprawled as he was on the ground, picking at the snacks they had set aside. The moon had descended long ago, the stars wheeling along in the sky as the world turned, the next morning approaching. And still, all parties were still sending letters, negotiators working long into the night. "Can we not put this aside till next week? Are we not playing into their hands?"

"Oh, we could." Fa Yuan said. "We should."

"But they won't," Yang Mu murmured, her hands shifting over a sand garden, raking the earth smooth again. "They understand, of course, that they are being paid. They are no fools. But they believe they can play their games and still come out ahead, they see the trap but feel they are smart enough to sidestep it. More than that, the King's trap is well made. Suited for our prince's and them alone."

"What do you mean?" Wu Ying said, frowning.

"Success or failure, the negotiation gifts will not be taken back. What has been gifted cannot be retrieved - unless by force of arms. And then, there is no guarantee it will not be destroyed in the meantime, nor would the lion's share be the Prince's in that case. The army, the generals, we would have a greater say. If items did not just... disappear." Fa Yuan chuckled a little, waggling her finger where a storage ring sat. Easy enough to keep a few extra items and call them destroyed. "But these gifts, they are marked for the kingdoms. And as the negotiating party, the leaders of these embassies, the Prince's have first choice."

"So they can take it for themselves, if they can get it," Wu Ying said.

"If they can. Not only that, they must report in soon to the true rulers," Yang Mu said, softly.

"Their fathers."

"Yes. What they can earmark for their kingdoms, now, would highlight their contributions and cast a favorable light upon them," Yang Mu said. "This first day, this first missive; it is of utmost importance. It will set the tone for any new news that might comeafter, and so they will strive to create the best perception possible."

"Which means getting as many of the gifts as possible allocated to themselves." The wind cultivator sighed, pushed the plate of snacks away and waved a hand at the teacup that was just too far out of his reach. It levitated over to him wherein he sipped the drink, continuing. "Then, what you mean to say, is that the King of Cai understands all too well the fractures in our group. What do you think he will do tomorrow?"

"What do you think?" Yin Xue asked, grumpily. He was scanning through missives too, but sitting just a little away from the others. Every once in a while, a new spirit message would float through an open window and deposit itself into the pile, where the group would pass it amongst themselves. "He's going to take us for everything that he's worth. Did you not see him?" Yin Xue shook his head. "What we're doing talking to him, rather than raising armies and crushing his kingdom when we can, I do not understand."

Wu Ying could not help but blink, hearing his own thoughts echoed. "You sound certain that's the best choice."

"I am. How could you not be?" Yin Xue snorted, tossed the paper over to Yang Mu and added, as an aside. "His ministers are trying to arrange side meetings already."

"Of course. I'm sure I'll receive my own invitations soon enough," she said, serenely as she scanned the document. "Ah Yuan, we should make sure to watch those who receive missives today most carefully."

"The Right Guardian and I will watch, for sure."

"Could not containing him, letting him bleed out with other battles, not suit the kingdom better?" Wu Ying asked.

"I am surprised to hear you say that," Yin Xue said. "Do you not care for his citizens? For the soldiers who will surely die? His and those other kingdoms. What would your 'friend' say, to condemn others so easily to die for you?"

"I ask, as an Elder of the Verdant Green Waters sect, as a son of Shen." Wu Ying said, coldly. "What I believe, what I think is right, differs from what a kingdom must decide." He paused, then shrugged. "Or at least, what it should consider before acting. I am not the Sect Head, I am not the Princes. I cannot say what they should do."

"You're not wrong," Fa Yuan said, approvingly. "Thinking of what is best, for the kingdom and the sect, and not what we ourselves would prefer, is the first step towards statesmanship. Stepping outside our biases is how we can manage-"

"Manipulate," Yin Xue said.

"- others. Ah Ying is not wrong to consider if we cannot weaken the Cai by playing for peace. Even if by a few more years, as the drought continues to drain them. If they cannot come west, they must try elsewhere."

"Cold." Yin Xue nodded to Fa Yuan. "To be expected, from the esteemed fairy. Not what I expected, from the farmer." He shrugged. "But remember, 'On desperate ground, fight(4)'. If you put the Cai's back to the river, they will fight all the more fiercely."

"You think it better to do battle now, when they are just beginning to struggle? Or have only recently found equilibrium?" Yang Mu asked, curiously.

"I think we should be speaking with allies. For the Cai are the ground of intersecting highways(5)."

"Perhaps," Fa Yuan said, then shrugged. "It is, in the end, not our choice to make. Unless you intend to attack the King yourself?" A single arched eyebrow, and then she moved on before Yin Xue could answer her. Not that his answer was ever in question. "Tomorrow, I expect they intend to exploit our division further. How they do so, however, depends on whether they wish to wage an extended campaign or not." A slight nod to Yin Xue, to use his military terms.

"And if they do not?" Wu Ying asked, curiously.

"They will push, harder. Create division among ourselves, shatter the alliance such that we cannot trust one another and then press the end of the negotiation while we fight within, using our disparate desires to gain the advantage over us."

"And what do they want?" Wu Ying muttered. "I thought, perhaps, it might be food. Yet, their reactions... their people..."

"You do not believe they care about their peasantry?" Yang Mu said, understanding immediately his thoughts. At his nod, she pursed her lips. "I cannot say you are wrong. What I have gleaned - and I must admit, it is little enough from here - speaks of a people uncommonly dedicated to the agrandisement of their nation. Even if it is at the suffering of their people."

"They'd trade nationalism for full purses and proper clothing?" Yin Xue said, with a snort.

"In a way, yes. Perhaps not to the point of death, but to hunger? To less dollars?" Yang Mu raised a hand, as though weighing some unknown quantity. "They whisper while walking their walls, while riding their horses on the hunt, of lesser kingdoms and lesser people. How great the Cai are, to have driven away all demonic and spirit beasts. How they have tamed the wilderness, with flame and bolt and spear."

"They've destroyed their state, drawn every resource they could, leaving it withered and dead." Now, Wu Ying was speaking, unhappily. The winds had spoken to him, told him of what they sensed as they blew over the state of Cai. Of hunger and drought, of lands parched and fields untended for their men were at forts and armies, training. Irrigation works, once built by past kings, lay untended and worn. Most of all, of vast fields of forests stripped of their ancient trees, of beasts missing as their flesh and bone and antlers were plundered for meat and hide and pills. "All to keep that engine of war running."

"Exactly. The aggrandisement, the expansion of their kingdom. They seek to grow, always. To put everyone under their sway." Yang Mu opened her hands. "Everything else is just a benefit to those plans."

"Again, why we should attack them now," Yin Xue muttered.

"Simple reasons are always preferable. It makes managing them simpler. In this case, we need only negotiate to get them what they want - time, to do battle with their enemies in the east. To continue their wars there." Fa Yuan pursed her lips, considering. "You had notes, I believe, about their purchases? Their requests from the merchant groups from our kingdoms and elsewhere?"

"Here." Yang Mu handed over the documents after sorting through the pile beside her. "I've added notes from the work you and the Right Guardian shared with me."

"Thank you, as always, sister." Fa Yuan smile flickered up and disappeared, as she perused the information again. "I'll pass this  on to the Princes, try to emphasise this." She sighed. "As much as they'll listen, at least."

"If they push. With so much of their strength here, I feel they would. They must. But if not..." A single eyebrow raised, as Wu Ying asked his martial sister for her assessment. She knew the politics better, she and Yang Mu.

"You have been taught this, have you not?" Fa Yuan murmured. "Surely you know."

"I can guess."

"Then guess."

He let out a huff, looked over to Yang Mu for help. She shook her head, refusing to step in. Perhaps she too believed that he needed to try. Yin Xue just looked amused, as he finished reading the missives and placed it aside. Eventually, he spoke. Slowly.

"If they try to manage this negotiation slowly, over the months we arranged for, it will be considered. They'll wear us away, give and take minor gifts and bribes like this. They will try to split us, perhaps even add side negotiations." Wu Ying frowned. "The Wei's greatest concern is if we chose to ally with the Cai directly, to turn on them. Caught between the two of us, they would be crushed. A slow negotiation is in the Cai's best inerest, if they can split our alliance sufficient that such a threat was believable.  Then the Wei would rush the negotiation, offer more to end it and seperate us. Bind the alliance more firmly."

"Very good," Fa Yuan said. "In many ways, a longer, slower negotiation benefits the Cai most of all. They can locate greater weaknesses in our fragile and new alliance. But as you said, the current environment for them, that is less than optimal. They have a real show of force here, and have weakened their armies to do so. Their King's ability and dao gives their people strength, their cultivation practices..."

"Those." Now it came, and Yang Mu's grimace was pained. "That cultivation style." A small smile then, as she fished in a pouch. Tossed it over. Wu Ying caught it, looked at the slim document and it's title. 'The Gathering Flame'. A poetic name for the cultivation method. He scanned within, noted that it was only for the opening of Energy Storage meridians. No surprise, after all, because who needed a Body Cleansing cultivation work when Yellow Emperor technique was widely available. But this one...

"It's beginning to ally the cultivation with... others? It's a combined cultivation method. Works best in groups," Wu Ying said, scanning through the document, noting how the aura was already utilised, combined. It was more open in some ways, in a specific direction, a specific pulse during the cultivation. Vulnerable, if one knew of it. Dangerous, but it also allowed another to aid with that cultivation, to speed it up. "Dangerous."

"Very much so," Yang Mu said. "I believe they can force meridian openings, during the cultivation process with the right individuals in place. Even contain the damage, of those that should not be opened. It creates fractures, weaknesses in the cultivation. You might have sensed some of it."

Yin Xue was, surprisingly, the first to nod. "Even their attendants are off.  Their meridians leak energy, but they are patched up with chi. Not the usual kind, but demonic chi." He touched his replacement eye. "It's well hidden. I don't think most could sense it, even with other... advantages." He looked at Wu Ying who shook his head, never having noticed it. He had, after all, kept his attention on the Core Formation cultivators and the King through the day, the Ministers and those who might be a major threat. "Their Core Formation cultivators are the same. And their King..."

"Demonic?" Wu Ying frowned. "Surely we would have sensed it."

"Unorthodox. He mixes them both, so much so that he comes out smelling roses. But truth is, he's using demonic chi, just like me." Yin Xue made a face. "It's probably why he has progressed so far. Is able to do what he can. No orthodox sect would accept such a cultivation method." He nodded to the manual that Wu Ying still held. "It's not something he gives to his people either."

"So. Control and empowerment, even connections," Wu Ying said, then rubbed his face. "How did we not know all this?"

"The cultivation method is not entirely known to us," Fa Yuan said. "We managed to acquire copies. It was unusual, but not something we thought was carried further. Their linkage was never reported." She grimaced as she looked over at Yin Xue. "Your gifts are not common after all. As for the King... we have never had someone be so close."

"Still, something like this..."

"Rumors," Yang Mu replied, softly. "We have rumors. But though we might trade for them, we cannot make assumptions. Only plan for it, if it came through. And the government..." she sighed. "They did not accept rumors."

"So we enterred blind. And now, we are scrambling a little. He has the advantage, in the negotiations, in what he has gifted us. He can set the pace, and we can only hope that he is not just wasting our time," Wu Ying said, tiredly.

"And if he is?" Yang Mu said, amused. "Do we care? Do you?"

"Beyond the war he might bring?" Wu Ying said.

"You think he will still wage it?" Yin Xue snorted. "He cannot afford two wars."

Fa Yuan smiled, a grim and tired one as she answered.

"Can he not?"

Footnotes:

4 - Taken from Sun Tzu’s famous Art of War, detailing strategies from various ‘grounds’ one might find themselves upon and the best course of action.

5 - Yes, from the same passage.