The Art of Inciting Greed
"So the Gangso Merchant Group declared war before they left?"
"Yes. It seems we have grown to the point where we now threaten them."
Cheonhwa was deep in conversation with Nam Sa-ik, leader of the New Wind Squad. The discussion centered on the troubles that had arisen with the merchant group they currently operated and how best to respond.
"I doubt that's the real reason. They're still the top merchant group in Jiangsu, so leaving us unchecked must simply irritate them. If they've issued a formal declaration of war, the chances that the Wolyeong Moon will get involved are high."
"With so many eyes watching, I suspect they will entrust the task to the Sapa sects rather than have the Wolyeong Moon move openly."
"Like when they sent the bandits from Hongze Lake. Does that mean we'd have to fight every Sapa faction in Jiangsu?"
Cheonhwa wore an expression of pure exhaustion.
"That won't come to pass. The moment a single Sapa sect is shattered, the Warlord Alliance and the rest of Murim will prick up their ears and begin investigating everything happening in Jiangsu."
"Then aren't we at a disadvantage? We can't simply crush them in the open."
"We cannot act openly, but if we meet the heads of the Sapa sects in secret and intimidate them properly, they will begin weighing their options."
The irritation in Cheonhwa's eyes transformed into something far more interested. A bright, radiant smile spread across his face.
"How exactly?"
Watching his lord's sudden change, Nam Sa-ik shook his head and continued.
"Excluding the Wolyeong Moon, the strongest Sapa faction, there are roughly twenty Sapa sects in Jiangsu. Four of them have over fifty disciples, five have over forty, and the rest mostly hover between thirty and twenty members."
"And?"
"We stimulate the greed inherent in every Sapa practitioner."
"Stimulate their greed? So what you're suggesting, Leader Nam, is that we choose one of the sects with over fifty members, prop it up, and let it swallow the rest of Jiangsu's Sapa?"
His lord possessed a brilliant mind yet found actually using it incredibly tiresome. The realization brought a faint smile to Nam Sa-ik's lips.
"Precisely. After looking into it, Bae Du-sang, leader of the Sayeong Sect, has far more ambition than his capacity can contain. Satisfy that hunger to a reasonable degree, and he will likely swear loyalty to you, my lord."
"Bae Du-sang of the Sayeong Sect? But men like that tend to betray others as easily as they breathe. That would become exhausting rather quickly."
"As I mentioned, his greed far exceeds his vessel. Even if betrayal crosses his mind, he will calculate every variable first. If you meet him in person and display overwhelming martial force, he will not dare turn against you lightly."
Cheonhwa fell silent, seemingly lost in thought about something else entirely. The quiet stretched longer than expected. Though Nam Sa-ik burned with curiosity, he waited patiently for his lord to speak first.
"I'll handle that issue myself."
"Understood. Then how should we respond to the Gangso Merchant Group's provocation?"
"For now, crush anyone they send our way. It would also be wise to send the Gangso Merchant Group a clear warning that we won't simply sit and endure. Among their legitimate businesses, which one generates the highest profit?"
"Civil engineering projects. By offering massive bribes and gifts to Ahn Hyung-tae, the provincial inspector of Jiangsu, they have secured nearly nine-tenths of all provincial construction contracts."
"Doesn't our Haedong Merchant Group engage in civil engineering as well?"
"We did in the past, but these days we only handle modest architectural work—mostly building houses."
"Well, when you're building houses you eventually construct fortresses, pave roads, and carry out urban renovation projects too. Couldn't we speak with the Jiangsu provincial governor and redirect those contracts to the Haedong Merchant Group?"
"That is possible. However, if the Haedong Merchant Group suddenly takes on a massive volume of work, we won't be able to complete it within the required timeframe."
"Fine. Then we'll start by stealing the easier projects one at a time. Also, is there anything troubling the Jiangsu governor? Tell him we'll take care of it if he asks."
"Understood. I will meet with the governor and resolve the matter."
"Good. Now, let's talk about us for a moment."
Nam Sa-ik met Cheonhwa's gaze.
"How is your martial training progressing? Any difficulties?"
"Nothing particularly difficult. However, when practicing the Chaos Asura Art, I grow overly cautious about possible internal energy clashes. It prevents me from being decisive and makes me too passive."
"Then let them clash."
"Pardon?"
"Opposing forces meeting each other—clashing is only natural."
Nam Sa-ik tilted his head at the remark.
"Shouldn't we prevent such collisions?"
"No. Collision is the normal state. Among the five elements there is both mutual conquest and mutual generation."
"That is correct."
"People often speak of wood generating earth. A tree needs soil to live, after all."
Nam Sa-ik wondered what manner of sophistry was coming, yet he had learned that listening to Cheonhwa usually revealed not sophistry but an entirely different way of seeing the world.
"But what if a landslide occurs and earth and sand bury the tree? Wouldn't that become earth conquering wood rather than wood generating earth?"
"Hmm..."
"Another example. To temper iron, fire is required. Weak fire cannot temper it. Too strong a fire melts it completely. For the iron, is fire conquest or generation?"
"A difficult question."
"It is. Yet the solution to difficult problems is often surprisingly simple."
Nam Sa-ik watched his lord with genuine interest.
"Simply let it be. If the fire is weak, it will merely take longer. Left alone, it will slowly and evenly temper the iron."
"I see. And if the fire is too strong?"
"The iron melts into molten metal. Then you pour that molten metal into a mold and forge something entirely new."
Nam Sa-ik realized, somewhat belatedly, that he had once again been drawn into Cheonhwa's logic.
"What of the tree buried beneath the landslide?"
"Given time, a sprout will push through the soil and rise again."
"Hmm..."
"In the same way, if you simply allow things to run their course, they will naturally transform into a new shape and reveal themselves."
"So what you are saying, my lord..."
"Exactly. Let the energies clash as they will. According to each person's own enlightenment, they will emerge in a new form."
Nam Sa-ik nodded slowly.
"The most important thing to remember is that you must never intervene with your own subjective judgment at the forefront."
"Why is that?"
"Subjectivity invites self-interest. Self-interest breeds worry. Worry leads to anxiety, and anxiety inevitably causes problems."
"Ah..."
"Water flowing from above to below is the principle of the world. Yet what happens if a person interferes and forces the water to flow upward?"
"It will pool somewhere along the way."
"Precisely. Stagnant water rots, and eventually causes harm. Therefore, let clashes remain clashes and let generation remain generation. They will naturally attain enlightenment and sort themselves out."
"Thank you for the lesson."
"When my father taught me to swim, he simply took me to the middle of the ocean and threw me in."
"The grand duke did that to you?"
"Yes. And then he told me this."
"What did he say...?"
"Act boldly. If you swing your arms and legs without hesitation, you will float upon the water and move forward."
Nam Sa-ik still didn't fully understand, but he waited for the rest.
"Yet no matter how hard I thrashed with both hands and feet, I didn't move forward at all. I simply flailed beneath the surface."
It was an entirely predictable result.
"Meanwhile my father never even considered helping. He simply watched me from the boat."
"How cold-hearted."
"Seeing that, anger surged through me. I shouted at him, asking if he could even call himself a father, then gave up completely and lay floating in the water."
"And the grand duke remained silent?"
"He stood in the same spot, still looking down at me. Then something truly remarkable happened."
"What...?"
"I had thrashed so violently that my strength gave out. I thought I was going to drown. Yet strangely, my body began to float."
Nam Sa-ik nodded.
"Then I slowly moved my hands and feet. Suddenly, as if by magic, I was cutting through the seawater and gliding forward."
"So that is how you learned to swim."
"Yes. When I tensed up, my body sank again. When I relaxed, it floated. Through that process, I realized something."
"What was it?"
"I've already told you, Leader Nam."
"Ah...!"
"Therefore, practice your martial arts boldly, without doubt or hesitation."
"Understood. However, my lord."
"Speak."
"Did you not curse at the grand duke? After you emerged from the water, did he remain silent?"
Cheonhwa's expression shifted subtly. That small change alone was enough to suggest what had happened next.
"It's not a memory I particularly wish to revisit, so I'll leave it to your imagination, Leader Nam."
Even as he spoke, Cheonhwa gave an involuntary shudder. The reaction proved contagious; Nam Sa-ik found himself shivering as well.
"Understood. I will convey today's teachings to the squad members."
"Do so. I'll handle the Sapa sects of Jiangsu. In the meantime, Leader Nam, make certain the Gangso Merchant Group understands that we will not remain passive."
"So the Sayeong Sect, Eumsabang, Hobangpa, and Akcheongok occupy the east, west, south, and north of Jiangsu Province, correct?"
"Yes. And at the center—in Nanjing, which could be called the heart—sits the Wolyeong Moon."
After parting from Nam Sa-ik, Cheonhwa headed directly for the Hao Mun. Beyond simple information, both the Open Beggar Sect and the Hao Mun understood Jiangsu's situation better than anyone. Moreover, the Hao Mun conducted far more business with Sapa figures than with the orthodox sects, so they would possess intimate knowledge of the unorthodox factions' internal affairs.
"Branch Leader, among these four, which sect do you believe would be most receptive to our words?"
"What do you mean...?"
"I intend to pull down the Wolyeong Moon. I'm asking which sect would be most suitable to become the new top Sapa faction in Jiangsu afterward. Preferably one that listens well to what we say."
"An unexpected question. I'll need a moment to consider."
"Very well. I was told that Bae Du-sang of the Sayeong Sect possesses far more greed than his capacity warrants. What of the other leaders?"
"Let's see. Ho Wangtae, leader of Eumsabang, is cunning and distrustful. He suspects everyone and never reveals his true heart."
"A man who cannot trust others cannot be trusted himself."
"Bang Taesan, sect leader of Hobangpa, possesses a bold temperament but is excessively given to bravado. He would be unsuitable for careful planning."
"Then what about Akcheongok?"
"Since Akcheongok is an assassin valley, Valley Lord Ma Sangcheon takes responsibility for every word he speaks. Yet he is cautious in all things. Working with him would require ample time and patience."
"Then Akcheongok might be preferable to the Sayeong Sect."
"That is true. However, if you reliably give Bae Du-sang his proper share, he will follow without complaint."
"Simple-minded, then. But a man like that would switch sides without hesitation the moment someone offers him more, wouldn't he?"
"Exactly. Therefore, if you plan to work with Bae Du-sang, it would be wise not to engage in any deep transactions."
"It seems there isn't a single decent option among them."
"Indeed. In that case, dealing with the Wolyeong Moon might actually be better."
"With the Wolyeong Moon?"
"Yes. Lord Chae Yeo-dong of the Wolyeong Moon at least understands the ways of the Sapa."
"Hmm... He's currently receiving enormous financial support from the Gangso Merchant Group. Do you truly believe he would abandon them to join hands with us?"
"It would be difficult at the moment, but it would still be preferable to allying with the other sects."
"Then, setting these four aside, is there any other sect worth approaching?"
"There is one. However, their power is too insignificant to be of much help in what you wish to accomplish, Lord Cheonhwa."
"Which sect?"
"Cheolsajang. Their leader is a martial artist named Cheol Dae-woo. For a Sapa figure, he possesses a surprisingly upright character."
"Cheolsajang... Provide me with detailed information about them."