Chapter Seventeen: Exploiting Contradictions
Inside the Purple Light Palace, the eerie blue demonic flames cast flickering shadows on the three solemn faces.
"The mining inspectors under the Fourth Prince and the stewards of the Ninth Prince's Imperial Household Department clashed head-on in the third mining area of the Obsidian Mine, resulting in more than ten casualties." Li Yue's voice was low and steady, but the content of his report was alarming. "The conflict arose from a dispute over a newly discovered branch of high-purity Shadow Magic Crystals. Both sides have their own version of events. Prince Ao Li accused Guan Shan Yue's people of illegally mining beyond their territory and launched the first attack with magical weapons; Prince Guan Shan Yue, on the other hand, accused Ao Li's people of deliberately provoking and disrupting the Demon Palace's resource management, attempting to monopolize the mine. Currently, reinforcements from both sides are still facing off in the mining area, with magic crossbows cocked and magic patterns flashing. The conflict is imminent and could escalate into a localized shootout at any moment."
Bai Yu knelt to the side, her face pale as she added more vivid fragments of information: "This servant also heard... that the Fourth Prince's people cursed the Ninth Prince for being greedy and insatiable, a bloodsucking leech, interfering too much, even meddling in the miners' labor... while the Ninth Prince's people mocked the Fourth Prince for having only martial prowess, not business acumen, his head full of demonic muscles, and that occupying the mines was a waste, with output remaining low year after year..."
Shang Jiuya listened quietly, her fingertips unconsciously tapping the animal skin paper spread on her lap. Next to the symbols representing Ao Li and Guan Shanyue, Li Yue had just marked the words "Obsidian Mine Conflict - Casualties - Standoff" with charcoal sticks, and next to it was a distorted symbol representing an explosion.
The obsidian vein, a rich mine brimming with rare Shadow Magic Crystals, is crucial for crafting magical artifacts, constructing arrays, and even cultivating high-level magical cultivators. It has always been a coveted prize for various factions, and the most sensitive area at the border between Ao Li and Guan Shanyue's forces. Previously, under the suppression of the former Demon Lord and the balance maintained by the Elder Council, it was possible to maintain a semblance of peaceful mining. Now that the balance has been broken, this vein has immediately become the fuse that ignites a powder keg.
“Their chaos might not be a bad thing for us,” Shang Jiuya said. “On the contrary, it could be an opportunity.”
Bai Yu and Li Yue immediately looked at her, their eyes sharpening.
Shang Jiuya's sharp gaze swept over the two symbols on the parchment. "Ao Li and Guan Shanyue, one arrogant with his military might and a champion of conquest, the other in charge of internal affairs and adept at scheming and manipulation, have long harbored resentment towards each other. This mine conflict is merely the culmination of their open conflict. In that case... why don't we lend them a hand and let this fire burn even brighter and more fiercely? So they have no time to spare for anything else!"
"What does Your Excellency mean?" Li Yue's eyes narrowed, and he leaned forward slightly.
"We need to secretly fan the flames, exacerbate their conflicts and suspicions, and make them feel that the other side is the one relentlessly pressing them and trying to kill them!" Shang Jiuya pointed to the location representing the mineral vein. "Let them consume each other, like dogs fighting! The fiercer they fight, the more energy, manpower, and resources they invest, the less pressure they will put on us in other areas, allowing us to gain precious breathing space, and even... find opportunities to exploit!"
An extremely bold plan quickly took shape and was refined in her mind.
“Bai Yu,” she said quickly and clearly, “you immediately spread two rumors through your most reliable low-level informants. First, spread them in places near Ao Li’s territory, such as taverns and magic repair shops: Princess Guan Shanyue has already secretly promised 70% of the obsidian mine’s profits for the next three years to the Third Elder, Gong Liang, in exchange for his full support for her complete control of internal affairs and sidelining all other heirs. This conflict was deliberately provoked by Princess Guan Shanyue to anger the Fourth Prince, create trouble, and provide an excuse for her to completely seize control of the mine by force!”
"Secondly, spread the following message in the accounting offices, workshops, and maids' residences within Guan Shanyue's sphere of influence: His Highness Ao Li is extremely dissatisfied with the current resource allocation, believing that the Elder Council favors His Highness the Ninth Prince, and this mining dispute is just the beginning. His most elite 'Cracked Claw Demon Riders' have been secretly deployed to the southwest region of the Demon Palace, under the guise of exercises, preparing to forcibly take over all resource points in the southwest at any time under the pretext of the mining dispute, including those productive demon plant gardens and precision workshops managed by His Highness the Ninth Prince's confidants, completely cutting off His Highness the Ninth Prince's source of wealth and supply of demonic artifacts!"
Bai Yu took a deep breath, trying hard to remember this complicated task, and nodded emphatically: "This servant understands! I will definitely choose those lazy servants who love to gossip and spread rumors, but have clean backgrounds and are not easy to trace, and let them 'accidentally' leak these words through casual conversation and complaints, just like water droplets seeping into sand!"
“Li Yue,” Shang Jiuya looked at the head guard again, her gaze intense, “your mission is more dangerous. Select a few of your old subordinates who are absolutely quick-witted, reliable, highly skilled, and adept at concealment. The number should be small, but not large. Have them disguise themselves as low-ranking officers or arrogant lackeys of the opposing camp and carry out several quick, precise, and highly insulting provocations.”
She made detailed arrangements:
"Send someone to disguise themselves as a distant relative of Guan Shanyue, a powerful official in the Imperial Household Department. Dress them in similar attire and have them go to the 'Demon Horn Tavern,' a mixed-race establishment frequented by Ao Li's low-ranking guards. They should 'speak carelessly after drinking,' pounding the table and cursing Ao Li's subordinates as 'a bunch of stupid bulls who only deserve to gnaw on rocks in the mines. They don't know how to run a business, they don't know how to be worthy of respect, and they deserve to have their mines confiscated by the Ninth Prince! The Ninth Prince has long disliked you!' Their voice should be loud and their attitude arrogant. Then, they should quickly slip away in the chaos."
"Send another person, disguised as a bodyguard of one of Ao Li's notoriously arrogant demon generals, to 'accidentally' ram into the convoy transporting account books in the narrow alley outside 'Jiran's Room,' where Guan Shanyue's officials often go to check accounts. The attitude must be extremely arrogant; not only should they not apologize, but they should also shove the leader of the convoy to the ground, crush the scattered account books, and shout: 'Get out of the way! A good dog doesn't block the way! Can't you see I'm in a hurry? This Demon Palace will eventually be decided by strength! You spineless cowards who only know how to calculate will be kicked out sooner or later!' After saying that, they should immediately use their movement technique to escape, leaving behind a fragment of an insignia that belongs to one of Ao Li's units."
"The movements must be as swift as lightning, the traces as fleeting as a breeze, striking and disappearing without lingering. The goal is not to cause actual harm, but to precisely insult the opposing group, deepen misunderstandings and hostility, make them feel that the other side has gone too far, actively provoked and humiliated them, and thus become enraged and eager for revenge!"
A cold glint flashed in Li Yue's eyes. Without the slightest hesitation, he said, "I will personally select the most reliable old brothers to carry out this task, ensuring that nothing goes wrong. If anything goes wrong, I will answer to you with my head!"
In the following days, rumors about the ownership of the mine and the two sides' shocking ambitions spread like a deadly miasma among the low-ranking servants, guards, and disgruntled officials. They were so vivid and detailed that it was as if the speakers had witnessed it themselves, making it impossible not to believe them.
Those few "perfectly timed" provocations were like sparks thrown into boiling oil. Ao Li's subordinates were outraged, feeling that Guan Shanyue's men were not only greedy but now also defecating on their heads, openly insulting His Highness and all the soldiers; Guan Shanyue's subordinates were shocked and furious, believing that Ao Li's men were becoming increasingly arrogant and domineering, their words and actions filled with naked threats of force and extreme contempt for their civilian staff, simply lawless.
The conflict quickly spread from the mine standoff to every aspect of the Demon Palace's daily life. When the two patrols met in the palace's narrow passages, it was no longer a simple standoff; instead, they glared at each other, exchanged insults, and even deliberately bumped into each other with their shoulders. Small-scale physical altercations and clashes of demonic energy occurred almost daily, and the number of injured continued to rise. The elders responsible for maintaining order and making arbitration were overwhelmed, running around to various parties, but they were simply unable to suppress the rising anger and murderous intent on both sides, which were almost materializing.
Finally, at an emergency meeting personally chaired by Elder You Chi, aimed at resolving the mineral vein dispute and recent frictions, Ao Li and Guan Shanyue's representatives once again argued heatedly and irreconcilably over the attribution of responsibility and compensation issues—
"Enough!"
The heavy palace doors were violently pushed open with a brute force, crashing against the walls with a loud bang. Ao Li strode into the palace, instantly pinpointing Guan Shanyue's location.
Almost simultaneously, a soft laugh came from the other side.
Guan Shanyue was dressed in an elaborate dark purple palace gown today, her makeup exquisite, and she was as beautiful as ever. She met Ao Li's murderous gaze without flinching, "Fourth Brother, you have quite the temper. Are you trying to demonstrate what 'threat of force' means in front of the elders?"
The meeting abruptly ended. All the elders' eyes were focused on the two heirs who had suddenly appeared and were now locked in a fierce confrontation. You Chi frowned slightly, a barely perceptible glint of calculation flashing deep in his eyes; Gong Liang leaned forward slightly, his gaze shifting uncertainly; Jiang Zheng remained expressionless, but the fingers resting on his knees were slightly curled; Chang Dong's face was grave, his brows furrowed…
Ao Li completely ignored Shang Jiuya and the elders on the throne, his demonic pressure directly assaulting Guan Shanyue. "Ninth Sister! You condoned your subordinates' illegal mining, killing and injuring my people, spreading vicious rumors, and stirring up trouble. Now you've even allowed your lackeys to openly humiliate my soldiers! What exactly are you trying to achieve with all this? Do you really think that just because you have a bit of cleverness and the elders' slight favoritism, my blade, Ao Li's blade, won't dare to strike at the gates of your Imperial Household Department?!"
Guan Shanyue retorted sarcastically, "Fourth Brother is truly a villain who accuses others first, and his ability to turn the tables has become increasingly refined! It was clearly your people who attacked first, deliberately disrupting the order of the Demon Palace. Now they've gone even further, condoning their arrogant and violent acts and insulting my Ministry of Internal Affairs officials! They've even secretly mobilized the 'Cracked Claw Demon Riders,' with ulterior motives! What, Fourth Brother, do you think you've grown powerful enough to seize power by force? Do you really think the Elder Council and the Demon Lord don't exist?"
"Bullshit!" Ao Li was furious, and his demonic pressure suddenly surged, causing the weaker servants in the hall to almost lose their footing. "Guan Shanyue! Stop spreading rumors! You colluded with Gong Liang, trying to embezzle the mine and cut off my resources. Do you really think I don't know? Your filthy thoughts have long been known to everyone!"
The Third Elder, Gong Liang, whose name was mentioned, frowned and snorted coldly: "Fourth Prince, watch your words! Without evidence, don't make baseless accusations!"
Guan Shanyue sneered, "Ao Li! How dare you speak so filthyly before the elders! You accuse me of collusion? Then how do you explain your secret mobilization of the demon cavalry? What are you planning? Are you going to stage a coup against Daqing Palace next?!"
"I mobilized the demon cavalry to defend against the insatiable greed of certain individuals! Unlike you, who only knows how to hide in the gutter and resort to despicable means!"
"Despicable? Is it as badass and domineering as Fourth Brother?!"
The two openly accused each other in the Daqing Hall, their voices growing louder and their words more and more heated. Magic collided in the air, sparking tiny arcs of electricity and sparks, making the atmosphere in the entire hall extremely oppressive. The trusted guards they brought behind also put their hands on their weapons, glaring at each other, as if they were about to fight right there in the Daqing Hall at the slightest provocation.
All the elders looked stern, and You Chi had no choice but to shout, "Insolence! How dare you make such a racket in the Great Celebration Hall! What kind of behavior is this!"
But clearly, the two men, in their rage, were almost deaf to any advice.
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