Chapter 761
Chapter 761
“The Zhong Clan has lost.”
At the surprising news, Xue Tie narrowed his eyes and said, “So soon? The Nirvana Army truly shouldn't exist in this world.”
He fiddled with a piece of jade in his hand. It was freshly mined. In Earth terms, it was the finest glass-type jade, as clear and transparent as glass. He held the jade in his left hand and a piece of glass in his right. This glass, created by Shen Lang, had now become a luxury item sweeping the Eastern world. Comparing the two objects in his hands, the glass was indeed clearer and more transparent.
Xue Tie said, “This jade business is no longer viable. The cost of Shen Lang’s glass is astonishingly low, so no matter how much jade we mine, we can’t sell it for less than his glass. Besides, his glass already comes in various colors.”
The manager in charge of jade sales said, “But our jade is natural, while Shen Lang’s glass is man-made. In terms of value, glass is inferior to our jade. In the end, glass will surely not be able to defeat jade.”
“You’re not wrong, but that will only happen in ten or twenty years, at least. The rarer something is, the more valuable it becomes. The amount of glass Shen Lang and the Heavenly Dao Society release each year is less than our jade, and the price is so high it can’t go any higher. There are even rumors that this glass is made by refining jade. How are we supposed to compete in the jade business?”
Who spread the rumor that glass was made by refining jade? Shen Lang, of course. How else could he sell glass at such an exorbitant price?
The manager said, “Then do we still need our many jade mines?”
“Of course, we do. Not only must we keep the jade mines, but all the jade extracted from them must be well-packaged, completely sealed, and mining must cease. If the entire production of jade in the Eastern world plummets at once, it will become an increasingly rare commodity. In a few decades, when glass appears in large quantities, its value will plummet, transforming from a luxury good into an everyday item. That is when the value of jade will rise again.”
The manager said with a wry look, “My lord, you are truly wise.”
Xue Tie’s decision was certainly one of remarkable foresight, but it had become irrelevant to him. The strategy would only bear fruit in several decades, by which time even his son would have retired from the business.
“Father, an envoy from the Empire has arrived,” Xue Pan announced.
***
“Xue Tie pays his respects to Your Highness, the Prince.”
Xue Tie knelt and bowed. The imperial envoy who had arrived was Prince Yan.
“Zhong Yao has been defeated.”
To Prince Yan’s words, Xue Tie replied, “This subject has heard as much.”
“His defeat is his own affair. Your side should proceed with the plan.”
“Yes. I am currently assembling a large force. Once it is gathered, we can thoroughly annihilate the Jin Clan’s naval fleet, seize Raging Tide City, and completely blockade the entire eastern sea.”
“I promised Zhong Yao that if he eliminated the Nirvana Army, the Zhong Clan could establish itself as an independent state. So now, on behalf of the Empire, I make the same promise to you. As long as you destroy the Jin Clan’s naval fleet and blockade the eastern sea of the State of Yue, the Empire will permit the Xue Clan to establish its own independent state. How does the title, the Duchy of Nanzhu, sound?”
Xue Tie immediately knelt, kowtowed, and said, “This subject has never dared to entertain such thoughts. The Xue Clan wishes to be loyal subjects of the Empire for generations to come and has never considered establishing its own state.”
Hearing this, Prince Yan of the Empire narrowed his eyes. This statement alone was enough to tell him that Xue Tie possessed a wisdom far superior to Zhong Yao’s.
‘Whether it was Zhong Yao or Su Nan, they were all obsessed with the idea of founding their own nations. But don’t you fools realize that His Majesty the Emperor intends to completely unify the world? When that time comes, you won’t even be able to preserve a kingdom, let alone your duchies. You speak of establishing your own states at every turn. Though the Empire has permitted it, it cannot help but be displeased inwardly.’
Only Xue Tie paid no mind to such things, quietly focusing on making a great fortune. The Xue Clan was clearly wealthier and more powerful than the Su or Zhong Clans, yet he remained a mere count. Even Jin Zhuo had been granted the title of marquis.
“Then what do you want? The Empire cannot simply have you work for nothing.”
“Then, after conquering the Leizhou Archipelago and Raging Tide City, this subject wishes to manage the Leizhou Archipelago for the Empire.”
Prince Yan leaned back slightly. That was a meticulously calculated judgment. Xue Tie wanted neither the empty title of a duchy nor to be the monarch of a state, but instead requested the right to govern the Leizhou Archipelago. That would not only grant him the islands but also control over the trade in the eastern sea of the State of Yue.
“Xue Tie, you’ve been planning to strike the Leizhou Archipelago for a long time, haven’t you?”
At Prince Yan’s words, Xue Tie bowed his head and replied, “Your Highness, please do not mock me.”
Had he merely thought about attacking the Leizhou Archipelago? He had been practically drooling over it. The Xue Clan had risen to prominence after taking to the sea. How could they stand by and watch the Jin Clan follow in their footsteps? Twenty years ago, Xue Tie had painstakingly crushed the Jin Clan’s maritime ambitions. Now that the Jin Clan was once again trying to rise by that same path, how could he not be anxious? From the moment Shen Lang eliminated Qiu Tianwei and seized Raging Tide City, the Xue Clan had been preparing for this battle to destroy the Jin Clan and take the city for themselves.
“Very well. The Leizhou Archipelago and Raging Tide City—they are all yours.”
The two did not discuss any unofficial transactions, but Prince Yan had a stake in the Xue Clan’s businesses. In his decade in the capital, Xue Tie had built a large network of shared interests.
“Xue Tie, let me tell you again. Even if you are defeated, it doesn’t matter much. What is most important is to destroy the Jin Clan and blockade the eastern sea. Do you understand? You are but one of the forces that have received this order. The State of Wu to the north, the Empire’s fleet even further north, and the fleets of foreign tribes further north still—all have accepted the Empire’s will. A total of over ten fleets are participating in the complete blockade of the Eastern world's seas, spanning fifteen thousand *li* from north to south.”
Hearing this, Xue Tie trembled slightly.
‘Such a grand design? A blockade of a sea region spanning fifteen thousand *li*?’
In that case, the area Xue Tie was responsible for was merely two or three thousand *li*. What was about to happen that required blockading over ten thousand *li* of sea?
“You are an intelligent man, so you should know the weight of this matter. I cannot give you the details, but I can tell you this: heaven and earth are about to be overturned.”
Xue Tie kowtowed and replied, “This subject will only obey the Empire’s will and dares not speculate.”
“Enough. Handle it well. You are faced with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Success will bring you immense merit, and yet it is an easy task to accomplish.”
“This subject accepts the command!”
***
After Prince Yan of the Empire departed, Xue Tie stood before a massive map. This map showed that Xue Tie was different from the other nobles of the State of Yue. The Jin Clan’s map depicted only the eastern sea of Yue, and Ning Yuanxian’s map also only showed the areas surrounding Yue. But this large map of Xue Tie’s depicted all the seas and islands of the entire Eastern world. From the Sea of Eternal Ice in the far north to Mercy Island in the far south, a straight-line distance of sixteen thousand eight hundred *li*, his vision encompassed it all.
‘Something big is about to happen. A major upheaval is definitely coming. Otherwise, the Empire would not have drawn such a grand design. Mobilizing over ten fleets from various nations to blockade a sea region of over ten thousand *li*. What are they trying to blockade? Or who? Something big is definitely going to happen. But what exactly is it?’
Xue Tie had little desire to know. He was only curious about what enormous benefits he could gain from this affair. Prince Yan had said it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and an easy way to achieve great merit. Then what of the Jin Clan? Perhaps they were just a trivial, minor role in this grand performance. Weren’t the Jin Clan and the Leizhou Archipelago merely insignificant obstacles in the Empire’s current plan?
***
The Xue Clan’s fleet had already assembled. They had not yet departed because the agreement with the Empire had not been finalized. Now that the agreement was made today, they could naturally set sail. Leading this army on the expedition was Yan Nanfei. He was not only a Grandmaster but also the master of the South Sea Sword Sect and had an extremely close relationship with Mount Fudao.
Xue Tie said, “Brother, you must remember these words. You must eliminate the Jin Clan at the lowest possible cost. Do not hesitate to kill everyone in Raging Tide City. We do not need anyone on that island; we only want the island itself. Especially the people of the Jin Clan—from an eighty-year-old crone to a crying babe at the breast, leave no one alive. They must be pulled out by the roots.”
Yan Nanfei cupped his hands and replied, “Elder Brother, I will remember.”
“Between us brothers, one manages internal affairs, and one manages external affairs. You have worked hard.”
“You have also worked hard, Elder Brother.”
“Xue Pan, come here.”
The heir of the Xue Clan, Xue Pan, entered.
“You will go with your uncle and learn. You have spent too much time on land; you need to experience the sea as well.”
At Xue Tie’s words, Xue Pan bowed and replied, “Yes.”
Yan Nanfei said, “Then I will entrust all matters of the household to you, Elder Brother.”
“Don’t worry. Our Nanzhu Archipelago is two thousand *li* from the mainland, and the Xue Clan fleet is here to protect it. There is no need to worry about an attack.”
Yan Nanfei and Xue Pan boarded the Xue Clan’s towering flagship.
“Set sail!”
With the order given, flags fluttered, and the Xue Clan’s fleet majestically departed from the docks of the Nanzhu Archipelago, heading for Raging Tide City, thirty-five hundred *li* to the northeast.
“Brother, remember: by the roots!”
From the highest tower of Nanzhu City, Ying Qi and Xue Xue watched the departure of the Xue Clan’s fleet. The armada truly seemed to stretch endlessly across the sea. There were over two hundred ships, large and small, with a total of thirty thousand men mobilized. Of course, they were an allied force. Sixty percent was the Xue Clan’s fleet, but the remaining forty percent were ships from nearby maritime powers.
Naval battles were always fought this way. As the leader of this sea region, the Xue Clan always brought other forces into battle with them. The first reason was to increase their combat strength, and the second was to maintain peace in their home territory. Otherwise, the moment the main fleet departed, many of the non-clan maritime powers would remain in the region. What if their greed stirred and they harbored ambitions they shouldn't, to seize the homeland?
Perhaps someone might ask: in the past, Qiu Tianwei only had thirty thousand pirates, so how could Xue Tie assemble an allied force of thirty thousand today? Did he nurture so many maritime powers in this sea region? Of course, it was possible. With the profits of a sea trade route spanning four to five thousand *li* at stake, dozens of powers, large and small, could gather. During the Jiaqing era of the Qing Dynasty, the pirate Zhang Baozai controlled a territory much smaller than Xue Tie’s, yet at his peak, he commanded a thousand ships of various kinds and a pirate army of over seventy thousand.
Ying Qi’s gaze was extremely complex as he watched the countless ships. Xue Xue approached him from behind, embraced him, and said in a soft voice, “Your Highness… you need not be sad. I have a feeling your time will soon come.”
Ying Qi said nothing. Since his arrival in the Xue Clan’s territory, the Xue Clan had treated him with respect. Xue Tie, in particular, paid his respects daily, treating him as a young lord, but Ying Qi could not shake the feeling of being a guest living in another’s home.