A Pawn’s Passage

After the smaller meeting concluded, Qi Xuansu followed Gosaku and the others to attend the main assembly.

Ise Province's current situation was too unusual. One could go dozens of kilometers without seeing a soul. Neither the Chancellor's Office nor the Daoist Order had sent spies into this region. Qi Xuansu had initially refused many times before finally agreeing under pressure, which in Gosaku's eyes made him seem all the more trustworthy. If Qi Xuansu had really been a spy, he would have eagerly seized the chance to climb upward.

If this had been in the Heian Capital, the Sonno-joi faction would never have been so lax.

Since Daoist Crane Crafts frequently besieged the cities, the assembly was held in the wilderness, outside the urban area. The wandering, restless spirits and ghosts ironically became perfect cover.

By midnight, only a sliver of moonlight slipped through the heavy clouds, casting a hazy, illusory glow on the hills and fields. The night wind rustled softly through the grass.

Deep within the dense forest was an abandoned ancient temple, which served as the site of the assembly.

Along the way, others kept joining the group. Since the mountain paths were treacherous, all had come on foot. The terrain was extremely complicated, with interwoven rivers and dense forests that blocked sunlight. Even if Heavenly Beings or Crane Crafts flew overhead, they would barely be able to see what lay beneath.

Clearly, the location for this assembly had been carefully chosen.

This temple had been abandoned for years, but it was evident that in its prime, it had thrived with incense offerings. The compound was spacious and could accommodate many people.

Qi Xuansu made a rough estimate. There were at least 1,000 attendees, which was quite a number. With so many present, it was impossible to screen everyone thoroughly. That was how he had managed to slip inside unnoticed.

Then again, one should not overestimate the Sonno-joi faction. They were more of a loosely allied movement, so they could not possibly conduct identity checks as strictly as the Daoist Order did.

With so many people, not everyone could sit. Only the more prominent figures were granted seats. The rest had to stand behind. For Qi Xuansu's group, their representative was the young shinkan, who had enough status to secure them a spot inside the main hall. Those of lower rank were lined up out into the courtyard.

After much noisy arranging, the leaders took their seats, waiting for the assembly's organizers to make their appearance.

Blending into the crowd, Qi Xuansu could not help but feel like he was in a gathering of bandits.

After a brief wait, a figure wearing a domaru stepped forward and stood before the altar of the Buddha statue.

A domaru was a type of body armor unique to Fenglin. It was originally worn by lower-ranking samurai, but eventually gained popularity among the higher ranks as well. The most notable distinction was that high-ranking samurai wore an elaborate crested helmet. The man in front was wearing exactly that.

After the man stood still, he swept his gaze across the crowd, then pressed his hand downward, signaling for silence.

The hall and courtyard instantly turned quiet.

Qi Xuansu could not help but be startled. This man was none other than Maeda Masao.

After Sage Qingwei arrived in Xiujing, he issued 13 warrants for the Sonno-joi patriots—dead or alive. The swordmaster Katsura Yoshiyuki was on the list, and so was Maeda Masao, one of the faction's top leaders. Though Maeda Masao's cultivation was far below Katsura Yoshiyuki's, his charisma, seniority, and prestige were equal to or even greater. Many within the faction saw him as their true leader, believing he was the only one capable of uniting their scattered, vagabond-like movement.

This was truly a big fish, but unfortunately, Qi Xuansu was alone and too underpowered to reel him in.

Maeda Masao did not introduce himself and began his speech. "To revere the emperor and expel the Daoists, we must hold fast to two words—loyalty and righteousness. For many years, countless patriots have given their lives to resist the Chancellor's tyranny and root out traitors. Only then did we arrive at today's situation.

"Now, the Daoist army is pressing in, slaughtering the loyal, devastating the land, stopping at nothing. All present here today have either suffered the loss of their families or the murder of their kin. I need not elaborate on such pain.

"Yet despite our fearless sacrifices on the battlefield, the Daoists possess powerful firearms, and the Chancellor's minions bolster them at every turn. In the end, we are outmatched and continue to lose ground. At this point, we must seek change and aid—only then will there be any hope of victory."

As soon as he finished his speech, someone asked, "What sort of change? What kind of aid? Master Masao, please enlighten us."

Maeda Masao replied, "If we are to seek aid and change, then we must now look beyond our borders. Please welcome Metropolitan White."

Qi Xuansu's heart sank.

It turned out to be someone from the Western Holy Court. As expected, the West could not resist stepping in, taking advantage of the chaos to meddle in Eastern affairs.

But upon reflection, it made perfect sense. The Daoist Order dominated the East, while the Holy Court ruled the West. For now, they did not interfere with each other, but a clash between East and West was only a matter of time. Once the end of the era arrived, there would surely be a showdown between the two behemoths. The victor would then be crowned ruler of the world.

Qi Xuansu could not help but sigh inwardly. This was invaluable intelligence. Even if he failed to persuade Suzuka Gozen to join their cause, this trip to Ise Province had not been in vain.

A blond-haired, blue-eyed man stepped forward, dressed in a black clerical robe and a soft cap. He also wore the Holy Sigil on his chest. His features were chiseled like a sculpture, and his entire presence radiated solemn authority.

"A Westerner?"

"Someone from the Holy Court?"

The crowd immediately broke into murmurs and speculation.

Many people even showed expressions of disapproval and skepticism.

Qi Xuansu's small group was no exception. They had advocated for assassinating Daoist leadership, yet now a Westerner had shown up instead.

No matter what, the Daoist Order's people at least looked like the people of Fenglin, with black hair and black eyes. What sense did it make to bring in a blond-haired, blue-eyed foreigner? After all, brothers might quarrel at home, but they would unite against outsiders. Nobody here would consider these blond-haired Westerners to be their own kin. In contrast, the black-haired people of the Central Plains still seemed more like brethren.

Moreover, since the Daoist Order took over Fenglin, they had mainly targeted aristocratic clans. They had not oppressed the common folk and had actually worked to win public support. If the Sonno-joi faction was not careful, they could very well lose the people's trust altogether.

Furthermore, if they chose to ally with the West, then the Chancellor's Office would have every right to question them. The Chancellor's Office was backed by the Daoist Order, while the Sonno-joi faction was backed by the Holy Court. This would no longer be a domestic power struggle but had now become a clash between East and West.

Such a move would cause the Sonno-joi faction to lose its already fragile claim to moral legitimacy.

This move would just be handing Fenglin over to the Daoist Order on a silver platter.

Maeda Masao saw everyone's reaction but did not offer much explanation. He simply raised his hand again to call for silence.

Metropolitan White stood tall, performed a Western gesture of greeting, and then spoke in fluent Wa language. "I've come here on behalf of Cardinal Deacon Brown to offer our sincerest greetings to you all. To assist you in resisting foreign aggression, the Holy Court has brought 30 new cannons and 2,000 new-model rifles as a token of goodwill."

Metropolitan White paused briefly, watching the crowd's expressions, then continued, "Going forward, we will offer over 1 million silver Eagle coins worth of additional aid, including ammunition, weaponry, and even ships. We will also extend a 3-million Eagle coin interest-free loan to the Fenglin royal family through other channels. Cardinal Brown has pledged that the Holy Court will rally the Western nations to offer our Eastern friends every necessary support. So long as your resistance endures, our aid will not cease—until the last fighter falls."

After hearing Metropolitan White's speech, the crowd once again began to whisper among themselves.

The Westerners' sincerity was evident. War ultimately boiled down to manpower and logistics. The Sonno-joi faction certainly had the manpower—perhaps even a numerical advantage—but they lacked supplies and support. From that perspective, the West's offer was timely and valuable.

Just then, someone shouted, "Will the Holy Court send troops to help us?"

Metropolitan White's smile froze briefly, but he quickly recovered and said, "I'm sorry. Though the Holy Court would love to send troops, we are separated by the vast ocean. We are, regrettably, powerless despite our intentions."

Another voice asked, "I've heard the Holy Court is one of the Daoist Order's largest trading partners. Can you cut off trade with them? If they run out of money, they'll naturally withdraw."

Metropolitan White's smile froze again, and he replied slowly, "I'm afraid that's not a decision I can make. It would require thorough discussion by the Cardinals. Furthermore, the Holy Court holds contractual integrity in the highest regard. Since a contract was signed, we must honor it. Even if we choose to sever ties, it will have to wait until the agreement expires."

"So that means you can't."

"All this talk about contractual integrity—isn't it just about making money?"

"Pft! Double-dealers! Trying to do business with the Daoist Order on one hand and preach support to us on the other... I reckon they can't be trusted."

"These Westerners can't be trusted. Whatever else, the Daoist Order is a proper, upright opponent, worthy of respect. The Central Plains was once our teacher, and these blond-haired people act more like sneaky backstabbers. We'd better beware of being used like cannon fodder."

The crowd below erupted once more in a flurry of voices.

Maeda Masao had no choice but to speak. "Gentlemen! To defend our land and protect our homes, we must rely on ourselves. The Holy Court is our friend, here to help us repel foreign enemies. But how can we place all our hopes on a friend?"

Someone chuckled coldly and said, "Master Masao, cakes don't just fall from the sky. These Westerners surely didn't come here out of charity. Once it's all over, how much land will they demand? Or what kinds of contracts will we be forced to sign?"

Qi Xuansu was a little surprised. No wonder the Sonno-joi faction could stir up such a commotion in Fenglin. They had some sharp minds among them. The Westerners certainly were no saints and always wanted to rob others.

These words instantly stirred righteous fury. The Daoist Order at least had a legitimate cause for revenge, a righteous banner. They even used the Chancellor's Office as a shield and did not intervene directly in Fenglin's political affairs. They only dabbled in commerce, and yet they were still targeted by the Sonno-joi movement. If the Daoist Order were replaced by Westerners, then even if the Sonno-joi faction won, it would be a victory drenched in disgrace, their names forever tarnished in history.

Maeda Masao looked toward the speaker and raised his voice. "Master Yoshida, if not this, do you have a better plan?"

Qi Xuansu was startled once again.

Could this Master Yoshida be Yoshida Yoshiaki, also listed among the Daoist Order's 13 most wanted persons? He was another top leader of the Sonno-joi faction and the man who orchestrated the assassination attempt on the Kampaku.

Excluding the Fenglin Court, the Tenmon Sect, the Buddhist Sect, and the regional daimyos, the Sonno-joi patriots were primarily composed of lower-ranking samurai and had 13 key leaders. Today, two of them appeared in the same place.

It was a pity that Qi Xuansu was not yet a Pseudo-Immortal. Otherwise, he might have captured both of them right here, right now.