C30. Principles and Bottom Line.
Upon hearing this, Yuan Li was briefly surprised.
"Xiao Ce, the strategist who escorted Shaoning to Youzhou?" he asked, sitting at the table and gesturing for Liu Jixin to sit as well. "The one standing by Shaoning's side, skinny with a beard, the one who touched a big knife when he saw me?"
He didn't rush to ask for reasons or dismiss Liu Jixin's words. Instead, he adopted a deliberative posture, maintaining a dignified and composed demeanor.
Surprised and pleased, Liu Jixin sat beside Yuanli. "My lord, were you interacting with Jian Shaoning at that time and noticed these things?"
Yuan Li nodded.
Unable to contain his excitement, Liu Jixin clapped his hands and said, "Excellent! If you noticed him, then please listen to me—Xiao Ce must not be allowed to stay!"
Patiently, Yuan Li asked, "Why?"
Liu Jixin's expression turned serious. He explained, "My lord, you know I once followed Jian Qibo, and Xiao Ce was his top strategist. He is talented, but after failing to secure a position through lawful means, he harbored a grudge against the Northern Zhou court, leading him to extreme actions. He is opinionated, fond of influencing your decisions, adept at manipulating people, often turning others' subordinates into his own. Most importantly, he regards Jian Qibo as his lord, not Jian Shaoning!"
The final point was crucial.
While Xiao Ce didn't regard Jian Shaoning as his lord, he accompanied Jian Shaoning to Youzhou, indicating his true intentions—whether seeking revenge on his former lord or harboring other motives. However, Jian Shaoning placed great trust in Xiao Ce.
Recalling his conversation with Jian Shaoning in the evening, Yuan Li pondered.
Before Liu Jixin spoke about this matter, Yuan Li had attributed Jian Shaoning's excessive reliance on Xiao Ce to the strong bond formed as master and servant during their escape.
However, upon reflection, the degree to which Xiao Ce had been influencing Jian Shaoning's thoughts became apparent. Xiao Ce's ability to sway Jian Shaoning's decisions could potentially turn Jian Shaoning into a pawn to fulfill his own ambitions.
Yuan Li tapped his fingers on the table, deep in thought.
In a low voice, Liu Jixin said, "My lord, allowing Xiao Ce to remain in the rear will only lead to trouble!"
Yuan Li paused, locked eyes with Liu Jixin, and asked, "Are you suggesting that I should kill Xiao Ce?"
Puzzled, Liu Jixin forced a smile, "My lord…"
"I have heard your words," Yuan Li said slowly. "You have been by my side for a long time and should know what kind of person I am. If I were to kill a strategist who came from afar to join my former classmate based on just a few of your words, would you still trust me? How would I face Jian Shaoning, or even the heavens and the people?"
Liu Jixin fell silent.
Yuan Li smiled faintly. "I understand your concerns. Chengyue, I will have someone keep an eye on Xiao Ce and prepare defenses in advance. But I want to observe him closely. Even if I have to eliminate him, it will be after he truly crosses the line."
Watching the young lord, bathed in the warm, dim candlelight, smile gently yet speak with unwavering determination, Liu Jixin was reminded of the time Jian Qibo distanced himself due to a few words spoken by Xiao Ce.
Yuan Li was different from Jian Qibo, vastly different. While he considered the advice of others, his judgment remained steadfast, and he never wavered in his decisions.
Thinking back, Liu Jixin realized that since he had known Yuan Li, he hadn't witnessed any moments of hesitation or confusion from him.
Unable to hold back, Liu Jixin said, "If only Jian Qibo could be like you…"
Yuan Li seemed to anticipate his words, shaking his head with a smile before rising and walking to the window to gaze at the moon outside. Suddenly, his mood lifted. "Chengyue, why don't we go to the courtyard and have a drink under the tree?"
Liu Jixin breathed a sigh of relief, stood up, and said, "I am willing to accompany you and return being drunk, my lord."
"Hahaha," Yuanli laughed, "You can't leave until you're drunk, but I don't have that much alcohol for you to take advantage of."
With that, he sent Lin Tian to fetch the wine and picked up the soap water from the ground, placing it next to the stone table in the courtyard.
The outside was much cooler than inside, with the night breeze rustling the leaves, dissipating the heat instantly.
Seeing the wine on the table, Liu Jixin's craving was triggered, and he went to the kitchen to see if there were any snacks available.
Seeing Yuan Li in such high spirits, Lin Tian wanted to liven things up and asked, "My lord, there are only two of us. Should I call more people to join us?"
After considering his wine inventory, Yuan Li felt it was enough and nodded, "If anyone is still awake, ask them if they want to join."
Lin Tian hurried off and, in no time, more people arrived.
Aside from Wu Kai and Guo Lin who were part of the Chu Prince's residence, unexpectedly, Jian Shaoning was also present.
Yuan Li hadn't expected Jian Shaoning to be there and quickly walked over, asking, "Shaoning? Didn't you go back to sleep?"
"I drank too much water before bed and just got woken up because of it," Jian Shaoning said sheepishly. "I happened to see your men looking for drinking companions, so I followed along."
Yuanli chuckled, "This is getting lively. With so many people here, how much of my wine will be consumed?"
With everyone gathered, there wasn't enough seating around the stone table. Guo Lin and the others sat on the ground nearby, each holding a bowl, waiting for Yuanli to open the wine jar.
As the aroma of the wine diffused from Yuan Li's jar, it was poured into the bowls, not clear and bright but rather cloudy.
The wine at this moment wasn't very strong, more like drinking water with a hint of acidity, something Yuan Li didn't particularly enjoy. He poured himself half a bowl as a formality, giving the rest to the others.
The others were accustomed to the taste, and except for Liu Jixin, everyone was reserved initially, but as they drank, they relaxed and enjoyed themselves.
Jian Shaoning loved the atmosphere as it made him feel carefree, as if he were still the carefree son of the former magistrate of Jingzhao.
Though not drunk, a little alcohol intoxicated everyone, and Jian Shaoning wiped his mouth, casually asking, "Yuan Li, do you want to trade horses with the Wuhuan people? Are you planning to use silver to buy them? If you use silver, you'll need to prepare gold because the Wuhuan people only like gold."
Pouring him another full bowl of wine, Yuanli replied, "I don't intend to give them gold. I plan on bartering with goods."
Jian Shaoning remarked, "That works. The Wuhuan people are rough and barbaric. Salt and iron are what they prefer. But Yuanli, do you have salt and iron at your disposal?"
Yuan Li smiled but didn't say anything more, raising his glass to him.
He intended to send someone to extract sea salt along the coast in a month.
For the Wuhuan people residing on the border, salt was a scarce resource necessary not only for human consumption but also for the livestock grazing on the grasslands.
Zhang Ming could use salt to trade with the Wuhuan people for horses, proving that bartering with goods was feasible. However, Zhang Mi's supply of salt was too limited, obtained through clandestine means.
Salt was controlled by the state, including Northern Zhou, with salt officials managing the salt tax. The Wuhuan people didn't appreciate fine items like soap, calligraphy, or paintings but couldn't refuse salt.
As long as Yuan Li could acquire enough salt, he would have access to plenty of horses.
During peaceful times, in cities like Ruyang or Luoyang, Yuan Li wouldn't dare openly deal in salt. But in the current chaotic era, with the court preoccupied and uprisings everywhere, and Youzhou a thousand miles away, who would pay attention to such "minor matters" at such a time?
The salt that Yuan Li is able to produce salt, which is completely different from the coarse salt available now.
During the Northern Zhou Dynasty, coarse salt was yellow or green in color, with a bitter taste. The common people didn't have many requirements for salt, as long as they could eat it.
However, they preferred it to be less bitter and more salty, while the noble families pursued cleaner salt.
Salt is consumed daily, and who wouldn't want salt with a lower bitterness, finer grains, and whiter color?
Nowadays, edible salt is extracted from seawater, lake water, wells, or mines, and not much processing is done before consumption. The quality is poor and harmful to health. Yuan Li believes that once he extracts pure, white, fine salt, the Wumani people will try it and won't be able to resist it.
It will becomes addictive.
Zhan Shaoning didn't know what he was thinking and continued drinking wine. As he drank, he became intoxicated, holding onto the wine glass and bursting into tears, shouting for his parents and his elder brother in a jumble of words that others couldn't understand.
They listened quietly, letting him vent.
Finally, Zhan Shaoning tremulously grasped Yuan Li's hand and said with a smile that seemed like crying, "Yuan Li, do you know... I smothered my little nephew with my own hands, he was only five months old."
Yuan Li was stunned, "What happened?"
Zhan Shaoning explained in a stuttering manner, causing Yuan Li to furrow his brow, "Who made you bring the baby along when fleeing?"
"It was me," Zhan Shaoning said with a lisp, "Uncle Xiao saw the soldiers find my nephew, I... I rushed forward, saved him and left Luoyang. Yuan Li, I was wrong, I regret it, I can't face my elder brother and nephew..."
With that, Zhan Shaoning closed his eyes and fell backward onto the ground. The moonlight faintly illuminated the pain and wet trails on his face.
Yuan Li slowly picked up the wine glass on the table, but suddenly, anger surged within him. He forcefully placed the glass back on the table, causing it to shatter and the murky wine to drip onto the grass.
Perhaps Yuan Li was overthinking, but he couldn't help but entertain conspiracy theories.
Did Xiao Ce deliberately let the baby die in Zhan Shaoning's arms?
Even if Zhan Shaoning didn't smother the baby, during their arduous escape, the infant could have died from being crushed by horses or starving. Would Xiao Ce not know that even a little dust could suffocate a five-month-old baby to death?
He clearly knew that bringing the baby along wouldn't save him. When he saw the baby, he should have looked away and not reminded Zhan Shaoning.
Even if Zhan Shaoning saw the baby, he should have stopped him. Did Xiao Ce not have any intention to stop Zhan Shaoning from desperately trying to save a doomed baby?
Anger boiled within Yuanli.
Or was all of this Xiao Ce's intention?
Did he hate the Northern Zhou court so much that he allowed Zhan Shaoning's loved one to die in his arms, making Zhan Shaoning hate the court and the emperor even more, leaving him with no one to rely on but him, and easier to control?
Those around him were startled and immediately stood up in surprise, "Lord?"
Yuan Li closed his eyes for a moment and when he opened them again, he appeared calm.
He looked at Lin Tian, "Take Shaoning back to the room."
After Shaoning left, Yuan Li turned to Guo Lin, "Have Zhao Ying send someone to watch Xiao Ce and the movements of the other troops."
Guo Lin bowed in acknowledgment.
Yuan Li then glanced at Wu Kai and Liu Jixin, "Before returning to the battlefield, I will have Shaoning help me procure medicinal ingredients. Xiao Ce will surely follow him. You two will work with them daily, observe who takes charge between the two of them, and be vigilant to prevent them from getting closer to the soap factory."
Both men responded firmly, "Understood."
As the crowd dispersed, Yuan Li sat alone for a while.
To be honest, he did indeed feel a moment of murderous intent towards Xiao Ce. However, he forcefully suppressed it because it was just speculation without concrete evidence.
Yuan Li had personally killed four people, causing them to bleed to death. He had also shot Ma Renyi, the arrow piercing his head.
However, these killings did not weigh heavily on Yuan Li.
As he had once said, in this era of chaos, one had to kill to survive.
Yuan Li was clear about his goals, and to achieve them, he would not spare those who deserved to die. He did not have a penchant for killing, but he was prepared to have his hands stained with blood.
Yet, Yuan Li was also stubborn.
Based on his own principles and convictions, he believed that unless a person posed a direct threat that necessitated death, why should he wield the executioner's blade?
The education from his past life and the experiences of this life intertwined within him, creating a conflict of righteousness and evil, order and chaos, shaping Yuanli's contradictory soul.
Even though people in this era found some of Yuan Li's actions difficult to understand, even excessively benevolent, considering he had killed before, they might view his demeanor as false or insincere.
Perhaps some thought he lacked ruthlessness, while others believed he was too hypocritical. However, Yuan Li did not let others' opinions negate his own beliefs.
He currently had no intention of changing who he was; he wanted to preserve the kindness and fairness within him and continue on this path.