Chapter 84: Old Age Brings Wisdom

Even Meng, a butcher with countless lives on his hands, felt a chill at their words. Looking at the seven old men calmly sipping tea, and the grandsons standing behind them in respectful attendance, even Meng could not help but shiver.

"That is fine, then. Do you know? This wound truly hurts. I was even thinking that once it healed, I would take five thousand elite troops and strike down a few clans, wipe out a few lineages, and vent my anger. But since you have done this, whom should I hold accountable for this injury?"

As Cai Cong spoke, he pressed a hand to his wound and looked down upon the seven old men, like a starving tiger from the mountains, staring at the seven aged goats beneath its jaws.

"This matter... was not done by us. If you were killed, the Emperor would not let it rest, and the army would surely trample across Shandong. Compared with the survival of our clans, a few useless descendants are nothing; we know what must be done, and would never commit such folly."

Master Lu fell silent as he looked into Cai Cong's eyes. Only after a long while did he avert his gaze and say with a sigh. It was only then that he realized the prestige of the seven clans meant nothing at all to Cai Cong. Cai Cong's mother alone held a title; the rest of his kin were mere commoners, utterly unafraid of the power the seven clans wielded among the scholars, in official circles, or among the people.

"Truly not?" Cai Cong pressed step by step. Master Lu met his gaze and said solemnly, "The seven clans swear this: if we are responsible, may our lineages be extinguished and our lives cut short. Heaven and earth bear witness."

"Since that is so, let this matter rest. But if anyone in Shandong again trips me up or resorts to underhanded tricks, I will destroy their house and exterminate their clan."

Cai Cong spoke coldly. He knew that these old men would not make false oaths; at their age, their fear of heaven and retribution only grew stronger.

Yet his anger only flared higher. If it was not the seven clans, then who was it? Zhang Liang? Or Changsun Anye? Or was someone else stirring the storm behind the scenes? Still, he could not rule out the possibility that these old men simply did not believe in divine punishment. Thinking of that, his head throbbed with pain.

"I came today for another matter. Heavenly envoy, your wisdom is beyond the ordinary. A humble commoner's daughter is unworthy to join with you for a hundred years. Our seven clans have daughters of fine intelligence and gentle beauty. If the envoy is inclined, you may choose one to betroth. Our seven clans are bound together by the same breath and the same veins; in the future, we will surely support you with all our strength."

Master Lu spoke with a smile. Under heaven, all men counted it an honor to marry a daughter of the Five Noble Clans, and even princes and generals were no exception. For Cai Cong to be able to choose freely among the daughters of the Five Clans was an immense privilege. He did not believe Cai Cong could refuse.

"I am still young, so there is no hurry. I will send word to the people of all parts of Shandong that they are not to target the scholar-gentry any further. But if anyone dares to play tricks in the shadows, I guarantee that even if the Emperor orders my recall, I can still leave Shandong strewn with corpses."

Cai Cong politely but firmly declined Master Lu's proposal, and then unsparingly threatened everyone present. Master Lu's face darkened. Even the Emperor would not dare speak to the seven clans in such a manner. Cai Cong, a calf newly born, knew no fear of tigers; he was simply lawless.

"Rest assured, Heavenly envoy. The seven clans also place the common people first; we would not dig our own graves. Since this matter is settled, we shall take our leave."

Master Lu spoke coolly, and the seven men rose with the help of their grandsons and departed.

"Let my words stay with you. Whoever drags his feet will leave the people of Shandong with little chance of survival. I do not mind at all making sure they are utterly dead."

Cai Cong watched the departing elders and spoke even more evenly.

The seven old men all shuddered and said nothing, slowly walking on. Who were they, after all? When had they ever been threatened again and again like this?

"Heh... I know you are all great men. I am still so young, after all; as the saying goes, a mouth without whiskers speaks without authority. But what of smallpox? If I so desire, I can unleash it across Shandong at any time."

The moment Cai Cong finished speaking, the seven old men abruptly turned back to glare at him. There was not the slightest trace of age in them now; each looked as though he might devour a man.

Cai Cong tucked the blanket around himself and said blandly, "Do not look at me like that. I am not like you. You people are all filthy, willing to use any means to reach your aims. I am different. I will inform you in advance. If you are unafraid, then we can settle this by strength."

"And you call us filthy—are you not despicable yourself by doing this?" Master Lu said through clenched teeth with difficulty. Having seen countless people, he could naturally hear the confidence in Cai Cong's words. More to the point, they did not dare take the risk.

"That is why I am telling you: it is best not to drag your feet, or do not blame me for taking you down with me. Old Meng, see the guests out!"

Cai Cong was already growing impatient. Ever since his rebirth, he found his temper growing shorter and shorter. Now he no longer bothered with patience at all and simply relied on fear.

The seven old men trembled with rage, shaking off their grandsons' supporting hands, only wanting to leave as quickly as possible from this place that had made them lose all face. Their grandsons were terrified, their faces changing drastically as they hurried after them. If anything happened to the old patriarchs, the clan elders would likely bury them alive to accompany the ancestors in death.

"Grandfather, our seven clans are so powerful, and half the officials in court are tied to us. Why should we fear some young upstart so much?" On the carriage, the grandson of Li Xian asked in confusion, looking as though he would have liked nothing better than to take up a blade and circle back to kill Cai Cong. Wherever he went, he was usually the center of adoration, unmistakably a child of destiny.

Needless to say, his family's old patriarch was even more so: wherever he went, officials and gentry alike would come out to welcome him. A single remark from him could make a name in scholarly circles, and an occasional recommendation from him could set a man on a soaring path. Yet today they had suffered such humiliation here.

Li Xian showed none of the fury from before. Leaning indolently against the cushion, he closed his eyes to rest. Only when he heard his grandson speak did he open them. There was no cloudiness in those eyes at all—clear, bright, and wise.

"This incident was, in itself, our test of the Emperor. This prodigy petitioning the throne was an unexpected turn, though his actions also show that the Emperor is greatly dissatisfied with clans like ours. Even though we are his own kin, he will not treat us specially."

"Grandfather, do you mean this is the Emperor's answer to our test?" Li Xian's legitimate grandson, just over twenty, widened his eyes in astonishment. As the future heir of the family, he knew all these hidden matters.

"Yes. It is quite troubling. This Emperor's ambitions surpass those of Qin Shihuang and Emperor Wu of Han. He will not allow the scholar-gentry to influence imperial power. If he ever finds the time, he will certainly move against the clans."

The old man sighed and shook his head. The future looked bleak indeed.

"If that is so, then we should strike first. Supporting a different Emperor would not be impossible."

"Not so easy. Once the realm falls into chaos, the clans themselves will also face great risk. Do you think heaven has only ever had our seven clans? Besides, this Emperor is no ordinary man. He is like a true dragon; if he truly rebels, he will certainly descend from beyond the nine heavens with dragon claws and crush all rebels."

Li Xian spoke with pain. This Emperor was simply too formidable. Even with his power repeatedly curtailed, he had still seized the most opportune moment and, with the fewest troops, killed his brothers and forced his father to abdicate, thus securing the supreme throne.

"Even if that is so, what is this Cai Cong worth? Yet he dares to rely on another's power and humiliate us so?" Li Xian's grandson was stunned. He had not expected such a high appraisal of the Emperor from his grandfather. Only after recovering did he speak resentfully.

Li Xian glanced at his grandson before saying earnestly, "As one in power, you must learn to look far ahead. What is a Cai Cong worth? Even if he uses plague to threaten the seven clans, we would not care too much. But he represents the Emperor; to strike him is to show great disrespect to the Emperor, and that would be foolish.

"Rather than quarrel with him, it is better to elevate him high. This youth is not to be feared. His mind is unstable; at the slightest provocation he threatens to drag everyone down with him. He does so to the Turks, to their village headman, and to us as well. In time, even the Emperor will come to fear him.

"Think about it: if he flies into a rage and threatens mutual ruin at the slightest dissatisfaction, then when he holds great office someday, could he still tolerate dissent? Could he still tolerate the Emperor pointing fingers at him? Would it not be better to have the Emperor personally order his death? Those in power need not do everything themselves. They must learn to borrow strength and keep themselves hidden."

After Li Xian finished, he ignored his thoughtful grandson and closed his eyes again to rest. At his age, even the slightest movement left him weak and exhausted, so he seized every spare moment to recover his strength.

The same scene played out in the carriages of the other six clans as well. The eldest legitimate grandsons all had to experience such moments firsthand; only the personal instruction of old foxes could allow them to grow quickly and become qualified heirs to their clans.