Chapter 495: To kill them, you have to pretend that you don’t know their identities
In Jiangling City, Yangzhou, a black Taoist robe fluttered in the wind.
Yao Xisheng, who entered Taoism through the art of diplomacy, came here.
Jiangling City is located in a perfect time of year when rain brings life to all crops and the weather is clear and bright. But just like last year, the tender Chinese toon trees before the rain are still not picked, and countless green tea mountains are just left there.
After a spring rain, the fragrance of spring tea drifted across the entire Jiangling City.
But even so, without the Ouyang family's approval, not only the big tea merchants in Jiangling City, but even the individual tea traders themselves would not dare to go up the mountain to pick a few.
Although the mountain was full of tea leaves, the Ouyang family was reluctant to pick them. The reason was simple: the head of the Ouyang family liked the elegant tea fragrance very much recently.
If the Ouyang family doesn't agree, no matter how anxious the tea merchants and tea farmers in the city are, they can only watch helplessly, because Jiang Ling's surname is Ouyang.
Yao Xisheng walked slowly in Jiangling, where it was raining, and watched the street vendors selling snacks.
However, a child of a peddler stared at the Taoist priest, who was about forty years old and had a beard, with wide eyes, because the child discovered that although it was drizzling outside, the Taoist priest seemed as if no raindrops had fallen on him.
Yao Xisheng noticed the child's gaze, smiled slightly, and waved his hand gently like a magic trick, and Xiaoyu changed into a small fish.
But it was fleeting.
But the child saw it clearly and immediately shouted, "God!"
Yao Xisheng smiled lightly and ignored it. It was just a small trick using a little internal energy, nothing serious.
Although he has no shortage of money and other material possessions now, he has entered the Taoist sect after all, and he has to do some cheating and deceiving people.
It is rumored that the current Daojia, the old Taoist priest from Mount Longhu, used to cheat and deceive people whenever he went down the mountain. He kept this trick on himself to fool people.
Walking straight towards the Ouyang family mansion, Yao Xisheng noticed that many silk shops were closed along the way.
There was no need to ask anything specifically, as other passers-by along the way had asked, and he knew the reason after hearing them.
Countries like the Arabs placed large orders for silk, tea, and porcelain via maritime trade, a business worth over one million taels. Several families in Jiangling City took part of the orders, with the Ouyang family taking the lion's share. These silk shops all had silk, but all of it was bought out, and at the command of the Ouyang family, they all ran out to purchase goods, leaving no room for business.
After hearing this, Yao Xisheng smiled lightly. Even the government offices in Jiangling City were named Ouyang. It was only after Zhao Yulang came that some of the government offices were divided up. It was natural for them to behave like this.
When Yao Xisheng arrived at the magnificent Ouyang Mansion, there was no more rain and the dark clouds had dispersed.
Yao Xisheng bowed to the gatekeeper and said, "Please inform Master Ouyang that Yao Xisheng wants to see you."
The concierge was not a snob. The servants of the wealthy families had trained their eyes to be sharp. When the Taoist priest came to them, he directly told them his name. Such a person did not seem like one of those who came here deliberately to make friends and get something in return.
So he said "Please wait a moment" and turned into the mansion.
After a while, a lady with charm came out with the doorman. Her skin was not actually fair, but it looked a little dark under the white clothes.
Yao Xisheng took a look and guessed that the person was Ouyang Huarao, the third child of the Ouyang family.
So he immediately bowed and said, "Madam Ouyang."
Ouyang Huarao looked at Yao Xisheng and said without further ado: "Mr. Yao is here, just come in directly. Are you being too polite in my Ouyang family?"
Yao Xisheng smiled, knowing that they knew about his intrusion into the Xu family, but he had also guessed that it would be known. After all, that was how he informed the noble families of the news that he, Yao Xisheng, had come.
After laughing, Yao Xisheng joked, "I'm afraid of disturbing the three masters of the realm in your mansion. I still can't fight three alone."
Ouyang Huarao narrowed her eyes slightly and leaned sideways: "Since Mr. Yao is here, please come in."
Yao Xisheng said softly "Sorry for bothering you" and walked into the door.
Ouyang Huarao said, "Mr. Yao, you've come at the right time. The people from the Chamber of Commerce's major families are currently discussing matters at our house. Since you're here, it's a good opportunity to talk about the purpose of the King of Shu asking you to come."
While speaking, Ouyang Huarao deliberately paid attention to Yao Xisheng and found that he was no different from the rumors. However, when he put on this Taoist robe, he did not have the feeling of being a "demon" as rumored. Instead, he looked no different from an ordinary Taoist.
After all, as far as the Ouyang family knew, Yao Xisheng, the contemporary leader of the Zongheng family, was giving advice to the King of Shu. In order to achieve his goal, he killed 30,000 Shu people and foreigners while drinking wine. Moreover, even the internal split of Zoroastrianism and the tense situation of the 36 countries in the Western Regions were all caused by this person. Even that dog, the one named Zhu Huang, suffered several losses at the hands of this person.
Yao Xisheng smiled and said, "Madam, please don't look at me. I am not good-looking either."
Ouyang Huarao smiled when she heard this: "You said in the Xu family that their Xu family is the next Fan family, and Gusu is the next Quyang. According to what you said, when the emperor comes to our Jiangling, will our Ouyang family become the next Fan family?"
Yao Xisheng didn't say anything.
Ouyang Huarao frowned: "Don't tell me?"
Yao Xisheng smiled and said, "Didn't I agree?"
Ouyang Huarao frowned, "Is there no solution?"
Yao Xisheng smiled bitterly: "Killing those people who went south is not a way to solve the problem once and for all?"
After saying that, Yao Xisheng looked puzzled and said, "Didn't you let me into the mansion because you knew that this was the only way?"
Ouyang Huarao angrily shouted: "Stop talking nonsense in my Ouyang family!!"
After saying that, he flicked his sleeves and strode towards the lobby just in front.
Yao Xisheng rolled up his sleeves with a smile, but looking at Ouyang Huarao's back, he guessed that the big thing had already been accomplished, and the next step was just a matter of chess piece layout.
Stepping into the lobby, Yao Xisheng looked at the seven people in the lobby, smiled and bowed.
The scholar sitting at the front of the hall waved his hand and said, "Mr. Yao, please sit down and talk."
Yao Xisheng smiled, but did not sit down. Instead, he asked directly, "You guys are still not doing anything. Are you waiting to be exterminated?"
The whole hall was shaken by this statement.
Ouyang Huarao frowned.
The other family heads stared at Yao Xisheng one by one with unfriendly eyes, and some of them with hot tempers were about to stand up and shout!
However, Ouyang Wenyou, the current head of the Ouyang family who was sitting in the front row, smiled and waved his hand. Although the anger in the hall was still there, everyone stopped moving and just sat on their chairs.
Yao Xisheng smiled and looked at Ouyang Wenyou. "Wherever the emperor passes by, those who obey will prosper and those who disobey will perish. You created the Xiayi Chamber of Commerce, Xiushui Villa, and the Fan family who are now qualified to sit here. Especially Quyang City where the Fan family is located, it was originally an important trade turning point for the Shangjun Chamber of Commerce, and it was also the place where you opened up the trade point with the Western Regions. But now, it has been captured and killed by the Yuan family who obeyed the emperor. The old man of the Yuan family is even heading towards a direction where no grass will grow. All your powerful stores in Quyang City have been completely eliminated! The emperor's next destination is Guangling City. Although the Xu family, Qi family, and Zuo family there have nothing to do with you, if they are gone, can the Ouyang family and the other families survive?"
Ouyang Wenyou said, "I have heard for a long time that the art of persuasion and hesitancy of the strategists is amazing, sir. Now it's time to call you Taoist priest. You hit our weak spot as soon as you walked in. Please sit down first. We are all smart people. You should know that there is no need to test us like this. Besides, my third sister told me what we talked about just now and how you answered. You should have guessed that we did have this idea in mind."
Yao Xisheng smiled, and this time he sat directly on the chair, and then said: "I have to test you, the head of the Ouyang family, otherwise how can I trust you to hand over my five masters of the realm to you?"
Hearing this, the five great masters of the realm came.
Inside the lobby, Ouyang Wenyou's expression remained unchanged, but the others looked at each other, and then at Yao Xisheng.
Ouyang Huarao even asked, "Did you plan the Eighth Prince's conspiracy to assassinate the emperor?"
Yao Xisheng shook his head: "I didn't participate. I was in the Zoroastrianism at the time. It was planned by one of my colleagues, but unfortunately, it was used by the emperor, and the Eighth Prince was killed instead."
Ouyang Huarao immediately asked back: "Then how can you be sure that the emperor didn't deliberately set a trap for us this time! The emperor is so ostentatious, and even sent the people from the Xiayi Chamber of Commerce to Zhao Yulang to question my Ouyang family. All these actions clearly show that he wants us to take action. Even so, you still want us to take action?"
Yao Xisheng said: "Originally, the emperor wanted to force you, the noble family, to kill her. Is there any need to speculate about this matter?"
Ouyang Huarao was a little angry, because this was not the first time Yao Xisheng treated her like a fool!
Yao Xisheng continued, "It's an open conspiracy. Whether you try to get in or not, you'll fall into the trap. The emperor wants to kill people, and your Ouyang family can stop him with just the gold medal of immunity from death? Therefore, the emperor knows that you have only one way to go, so she will naturally let you go."
One of the family heads stood up and shouted angrily: "Aren't you talking nonsense!?"
Yao Xisheng shook his head: "So I'm here to help you. If you want to live, you have to kill the king. If you want to die, just wait and enjoy the joy of these days. Isn't Old Master Ouyang's birthday coming soon? Enjoy it well, after all, you may die at any time."
Bang!!
After these words were spoken, some family heads could no longer sit still and stood up by slamming the table.
After all, how can I not be angry when the old man’s birthday is linked to death!
However, Ouyang Wenyou said softly: "Everyone sit down."
After these three words were uttered, the family heads looked at Ouyang Wenyu, who seemed to be hesitant to speak, and then sat down one after another.
Ouyang Wenyou looked at Yao Xisheng: "Is the Queen really at the end? That sword fairy is her?"
Yao Xisheng nodded: "I myself can't believe it, but as far as the intelligence is concerned, it really is her. I don't know what method she used, but she has reached the end of the world in just half a year, but she killed several people in the end of the world with one sword, and that sword killed one of the ten people in the world, as well as more than a dozen grandmasters of the end of the world."
Ouyang Wenyou continued to ask: "If that's the case, are your five realm masters still useful?"
Yao Xisheng said: "Of course there is. After all, it is a borrowed sword. Now the sword is just an empty frame and cannot be used to draw such a sword."
Ouyang Wenyou looked at Yao Xisheng: "How can you be sure?"
Yao Xisheng said, "No need to confirm, this is the fact. And it's all thanks to the sword that was drawn, otherwise, we really wouldn't be able to do this."
Ouyang Wenyou continued to ask: "How strong are your five people?"
Yao Xisheng said, "These four are more powerful than the three people in your house."
Ouyang Wenyou was silent.
Yao Xisheng looked at Ouyang Wenyou, smiled and said, "I just learned that your Shangjun Chamber of Commerce made over a million taels of silver from a random business deal with the Arab countries. The emperor would naturally know about such a huge fortune, but he can see it but cannot take it. If you want me, I will kill you and take it from you."
Ouyang Wenyou's expression remained unchanged. The family heads in the hall frowned one by one, and even Ouyang Huarao looked at her brother.
In fact, many things don't need much explanation.
Because what they were worried about was the power of that sword.
As for whether to do it or not.
Of course we have to do it!
After all, the emperor came here to kill people, and none of them wanted to die!
Ouyang Wenyou looked at the tea leaves in the cup and asked again, "Behind the emperor, there must be the Shen Ce Army, or even Yan Yunxiao leading the Chixia Army himself."
Yao Xisheng said, "Three thousand Shen Ce troops and five hundred Huang Long guards, all of them are in the dark. As for Yan Yunxiao, he is still in the capital. The emperor is accompanied by the commander of the Shen Ce troops, Li Xizhi, and the Empress."
Ouyang Wenyou took a sip of tea and looked up at Yao Xisheng: "The emperor had arranged all the plans for killing Li Nishang, exterminating Xia Chenfeng, and Li Shanchang in advance, and every one of them was perfect. How can you be sure that the emperor didn't guess that the King of Shu would cooperate with us? Or that the emperor already knew everything we were going to do."
Yao Xisheng smiled and said, "No need to speculate. After all, it's a matter of seeing who can kill whom. It all depends on who has more variables."
As he spoke, Yao Xisheng took out a piece of paper from his bosom, and then said: "The only variable from the emperor is whether the queen has another sword like that. After all, that sword is gone, and we don't know if there is another one. So I came here today, in addition to delivering the five realms, I also have another matter."
Ouyang Wenyou looked at Yao Xisheng.
Yao Xisheng said, "My master once told me a story about your grandfather. He said that the one who was among the ten people in the world who could fight Yan Yunxiao back and forth, the "Two Invincibles", had some friendship with Mr. Ouyang?"
Ouyang Huarao frowned: "If you want my father to invite that person to come out of seclusion, then just pretend that this matter does not exist! Not to mention our Ouyang family, I'm afraid even your King Shu can't invite that person! Not to mention doing this matter!"
Yao Xisheng smiled and said, "I can't find that person, so I can't send this note to him, but you know where he is, right? In that case, please send this note to him. After he reads it, he will definitely take action!"
Ouyang Wenyou opened the note at this time.
There is a line of words written on it.
"The swordsman is still alive. The emperor and the queen know where he is."
Ouyang Wenyou looked at Yao Xisheng.
Yao Xisheng smiled and stood up. "It's comfortable to talk to smart people. The Ouyang family is indeed much smarter than the Xu family. The main purpose of my coming here today is to deliver this note. I will not get involved in matters such as whether to do it or not, and how to do it. As for the five masters of the realm, the three in the Ouyang family's mansion should be able to feel where they are. Just tell them before you do it."
After saying this, Yao Xisheng bowed and was about to leave.
But just as he turned around, he thought of something and turned to look at Ouyang Wenyou: "Master Ouyang is a smart man, at least smarter than I thought, so he should know that you didn't know their identities and that's why you took action. You only knew that they killed someone, so you took action. You killed them under the pretext of morality and justice to achieve your own goals. That's all."
Yao Xisheng bowed to Ouyang Wenyu again, then turned around and left.
Morality and justice are never the goal, but only a means.
Yao Xisheng knew that the resident of the Ouyang family must be aware of this matter, but he still had to remind him.
Walking out of the lobby, Yao Xisheng looked up at the sky. It was a clear day after the rain. What a nice day.
(End of this chapter)
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