Chapter 222: Abolishing Canal and Changing To Sea, One Word Disturbs The State

Chapter 222: Abolish Inland Shipping for the Sea, One Word Confounding the State

Zhao Changhe felt half of his body go numb from that "dear brother" call, secretly marveling at how formidable this enchantress was.

Come to think of it, since his transmigration, why did he constantly run into women with the traits of an enchantress? Leaving aside the blind woman, the greatest enchantress in his heart, there was also Chichi, Sisi, and Suzaku. Although they were all inherently different, at least their outward appearances were very similar. The Winged Fire Snake before his eyes was even more so; her seductive charm was something that even her mask could not conceal, practically overflowing.

Her figure was unlike those of young girls like Chichi and Sisi; it was burning hot, brimming with a fully ripened charm. He wondered what kind of glamorous face lay beneath that snake-shaped mask. No matter how he thought about it, it couldn't possibly be ugly, right?

Yet it was hard to say; what if she turned out to be a Qiao Biluo...

"Speak to me, dear brother..." Suzaku suppressed her gnashing teeth and still said in a sweet voice, "You wouldn't just be casually deceiving me, right? If so, dear brother really might die, you know. Don't think I wouldn't dare kill you. In this wilderness, getting rid of you quietly is something nobody would ever know..."

"Cough, cough. Am I that kind of person?" Zhao Changhe spoke with righteous severity. "This sort of thing is actually very simple; just changing your mode of thinking will settle it."

"Oh?"

"Take the example of the Inland Shipping Gang. Aren't you all trying to exert influence through Wan Dongliu, wanting his father to join the Four Symbols Sect as well? However, Wan Tianxiong is a hero of his generation with his own profound understanding of martial arts, so he might not necessarily agree with your Four Symbols ideology. That's why you can't get him on board, right? Many of those you develop are young cultists cultivated from scratch, and it's for this very reason, isn't it? Because experts who already have their own self-understanding are not so easily fooled?"

Suzaku said, "Yes. Your so-called change in the mode of thinking wouldn't happen to be having Wan Dongliu commit patricide to seize power, would it? He wouldn't agree to that, and our Four Symbols Sect isn't that kind of..."

Zhao Changhe cut her off directly. "Where are your thoughts wandering off to? Your Four Symbols Sect isn't that kind of sect, but am I, Zhao Changhe, that kind of person?"

"Then an alliance?"

"Not that either. Frankly, you all must have had a secret alliance long ago; I don't believe Wan Dongliu couldn't even achieve that much of a bridging effect."

"Hmm... then forcing a rebellion?" Suzaku sighed. "When the necessary time comes, we would of course consider this. But the nature of the Inland Shipping Gang is rather unique; one could say your choice of them as an example is not quite appropriate. They are the gang with the closest ties to the officialdom. Countless officials share interests with them, sucking the blood of this river together... Furthermore, it is actually very disadvantageous for them to rebel; they won't do it unless pushed to a dead end. Truly pushing Wan Tianxiong to a dead end is not much different from patricide and seizing power. How could Wan Dongliu be willing to cooperate?"

"It seems you all have already considered things quite thoroughly."

"Indeed. Did you really think the Venerable One had thought of nothing, just sitting around waiting for Wan Tianxiong to die so Wan Dongliu could succeed him?" Suzaku said with a hint of disappointment, "If these are the only solutions you've come up with, then there's no need to say more."

Zhao Changhe shook his head. "How could it be that complicated? Forcing them to rebel requires only a single proposal."

Suzaku's eyes widened.

"The Wang family strongly dominates the Eastern Sea, and they already have ships going out to sea for mineral exploration. I believe it wouldn't be difficult to have them sail south along the coast. As long as your people in the imperial court have enough influence to propose abolishing inland shipping in favor of maritime transport, the Wang family will boundlessly rejoice and cooperate. Wan Tianxiong will actively contact the Venerable One that very day, asking with burning anxiety when they will rebel..."

Suzaku froze on the spot.

As if a bolt of lightning had struck her mind, her crimson lips beneath the mask began to tremble slightly.

The Wang family's level of maritime navigation... actually, to say nothing of the Wang family, even the Tang family could likely manage coastal navigation along the shoreline.

This was absolutely feasible. Not only was it feasible, but it could also cause the Wang family and the Inland Shipping Gang to bash each other's brains out. What the Four Symbols Sect wanted was not to contend for hegemony, nor to absorb how many forces; what they wanted was simply chaos. Whosoever became emperor was none of their business. If they could truly push this matter forward, acting as the black hand behind the scenes, their room for manipulation would be immense.

Before this, no one had ever thought toward maritime transport... because this world had painstakingly re-emerged from the ruins of an era, and for the time being, no one's perspective was cast overseas. It was unknown whether there were even nations across the sea. Judging by the names on the Chronicle of the Troubled Times rankings, it was highly likely that there was no civilization out there. Under this restriction of perspective, whose brain would turn toward maritime trade and transport?

But if maritime transport opened up, what would happen to inland shipping?

This was digging out their very roots! How could Wan Tianxiong not be so anxious that his forehead broke out in sweat?

As expected, it was merely a matter of changing one's mode of thinking. It required no divine strategies or ghostly ploys, lacking only a single word to provide sudden enlightenment.

But why would this be Zhao Changhe's train of thought? This was a toxic strategist whose single word could confound a state!

"Aren't you helping Tang Wanzhuang? Wan Dongliu is also somewhat of a friend to you." Suzaku asked in disbelief, "How could you, how could you think of such a vicious plot to throw the world into chaos?"

"Wan Dongliu has already joined the Four Symbols Sect. Is what he pursues not the stars of the martial path? Is he still dwelling on how the Inland Shipping Gang monopolizes and makes money?"

"Then what about Tang Wanzhuang?"

Zhao Changhe said very calmly, "You said it yourself, the Inland Shipping Gang and its associated officials are sucking the blood of the canal. Is that the river's blood? That is the blood of the common people. Why should I safeguard their interests? Things that are backward must be smashed to pieces. If Tang Wanzhuang is merely safeguarding someone's right to suck blood, I will be equally disappointed. Why a troubled world becomes troubled, I believe she should have an inkling."

Suzaku stared at him blankly, speechless for a long while.

"Maritime transport will be developed sooner or later; I even hope it develops earlier. And inland shipping can actually coexist; it isn't so absurd as to be a matter of life and death. This is an inevitable outcome for the future." Zhao Changhe added, "Of course, I don't wish for the world to be thrown into chaos. It would be better to have a stable strategy. At least it cannot be blindly carried out now during the time of the barbarian invasion; that would be a traitorous act in disguise. If you return and mention this matter to the Venerable Suzaku, I hope she does not proceed with it now. Give me some face."

Suzaku remained silent for a moment, then shook her head. "You also know that the Inland Shipping Gang is merely an example, and there are many others... of course it won't begin immediately. Speaking of which, since you are unwilling to start now, why did you tell me all this right now?"

"Hmm? Weren't we chatting about Venerable Suzaku's operations?" Zhao Changhe said, "I am merely telling you that changing your way of thinking can solve many problems. Venerable Suzaku's level is indeed very high, but in the end, she is just one person. With no one to deliberate with, pondering alone will always have limitations and dead ends... Actually, she could deliberate more with Chichi. Chichi's brain is quite sharp. Don't just view people as juniors, alright?"

Suzaku fell silent.

Zhao Changhe added, "Perhaps you have forgotten the original intention of the Venerable One sending you to accompany me north... It was the Venerable One who wanted you and me to have more contact, so as to determine whether I am a choice candidate to join the sect. Chatting about these matters is what is fitting between you and me, little snake. Could we truly be chatting about dear brothers and dear sisters?"

Suzaku finally burst into laughter. "The good and the bad have both been spoken by you? So it was me acting cheap by calling you 'dear brother'?"

Zhao Changhe said with a thick face, "Just call me that. It sounds nice when you say it."

Beneath the snake-shaped mask, beautiful eyes shifted, lingering on his face for a good while, before she laughed softly, "In the future, if you still have brilliant theories, one idea in exchange for one 'dear brother', fair to young and old alike."

"Cheh, do you take me for a sucker? In the future, it will be other conditions." Zhao Changhe gulped down a few mouthfuls of wine, randomly found a tree to lean against, and said, "Going to sleep. The cave is yours; I'll rest outside."

Suzaku slowly ate the remaining flatbread, her beautiful eyes constantly resting on his face, wondering what she was thinking.

Before long, she discovered that Zhao Changhe had already begun practicing his internal cultivation.

Suzaku nodded slightly. A person who silently practiced even during the intervals of a journey... everyone said Zhao Changhe learned quickly and was an unparalleled genius, but how many could achieve his level of diligence?

In truth, it was all the same. To be able to practice to the level of Suzaku or Tang Wanzhuang, who among them had not gone through such a period?

It was just a pity that nowadays, both were busy with mundane affairs, and it was very difficult to have such pure cultivation again. Looking at people like Zhao Changhe and Xia Chichi now was like seeing her own past years.

Speaking of which, she didn't know whether Zhao Changhe's thoughts just now were notions that had long been turning in his mind simply because he was familiar with the Inland Shipping Gang, or because he truly possessed the talent to govern a state... If it were the latter, then regardless of whether he had any connection with the Night Emperor, such a talent must absolutely be absorbed into the sect.

Accompanying him this time was indeed not a mistake... She felt that even Chichi might not necessarily understand that he possessed such insights. Perhaps the Zhao Changhe known to the world was just one side of him; he still had many things that had not been revealed.

But wanting to understand more was a bit difficult... The face beneath Suzaku's mask felt a bit bitter. This time it was 'dear brother', what would it have to be next time?

Suzaku pinched her fingers, secretly thinking that once this matter was concluded, she must quickly find a pretext for the role of Winged Fire Snake to "die" and be done with it. Otherwise, if it were discovered in the future that Winged Fire Snake was actually her, Suzaku, how could she go on living...