569 Return the Favor (2/2)
Zhang Ji seemed to notice the Military Counselor of the Dragon King for the first time. He looked Fang Wenshi up and down, picked up his glass with his long fingers, took a sip, tasted it for a while, and then asked coldly, ”What's so good about it?”
Fang Wenshi knew the principle of ”compromise is wisdom”. He had said similar phrases to people before. But these principles were only useful to kings or those who want to be kings. He was just a military counselor - an ordinary person. To compromise, he would lose and be humiliated, so instead, he fought back.
”First, the Dragon King was invited to come to Norland, but stilll hasn't been able to meet the Khan due to obstructions by several lords. The winners of the Tournament of the Royal Court are likely to be received by the Khan,” Fang Wenshi began.
”Second, Norland advocates force. The winner can gain respect and support from the people,” he continued.
”Third, some people have spread rumors that the Dragon King has secretly colluded with other forces of Norland to plot an assassination of the Khan. The Dragon King has challenged the three lords to show the world, especially the Khan, that the rumor is not true,” Fang Wenshi concluded.
Even Gu Shenwei could not have said it better than the Military Counselor. Fang Wenshi was pleased with himself and wanted to continue listing more of the Dragon King's good ideas. Then Shangguan Yun, who had been indolent, suddenly clapped his hands and said, ”What a good speech. Why didn't I realize it was such a good idea? What do you think, Mr. Zhang?”
Zhang Ji only stared at the Dragon King and then asked, ”Sir, would you rather me be polite or honest?”
”Mr. Zhang, please be straightforward,” said Gu Shenwei.
Zhang Ji nodded, and then turned to Fang Wenshi and said, ”Are you going to let the Dragon King take part in the tournament in person?”
”Of course. Dragon King's kung fu...” began Fang Wenshi.
He was interrupted by Zhang Ji again.
”Fool!” shouted Zhang Ji.
Fang Wenshi was taken aback, almost throwing his cup of wine into his opponent's face. He suppressed his anger and asked, ”Well sir, you were, indeed, straightforward. Can you explain why this is a bad idea? Don't you think the Dragon King's kung fu is good?”
”First, the Dragon King's a killer. He's good at assassination, not kung fu competitions,” said Zhang Ji.
Fang Wenshi wanted to debate, but he changed his mind and just hummed. He did not know much about kung fu and could not tell the difference between assassinations and tournaments. So, he did not have any good arguments to support his opinion, but he still believed in the Dragon King.
”Second, although by challenging the three lords the Dragon King could sever the connection with the forces of Norland, it would also confirm the rumor that the Dragon King was bought and paid for by the Central Plain. The better the Dragon King's kung fu is, the more suspicion he will garner,” he continued.
”That's not so,” Fang Wenshi said, shaking his head violently. He had a lot more to say about this.
Zhang Ji had been a teacher for more than ten years, so he was not easy to interrupt. Before Fang Wenshi could say anything else, Zhang Ji quickly finished his speech, ”Third and last, it is the worst idea to let the Dragon King compete in person.”
”Why is that?” Shangguan Yun asked next, not giving Fang Wenshi the chance to talk.
”There are a lot of races during the Tournament of the Royal Court. For example, the horse race, the dog race, the soldiers' competition and the warriors' competition. Though winners of each race will be awarded titles and fortunes, the real beneficiaries are their masters. When people talk about the race, they will not mention the competitors' names, but who their masters are,” Zhang Ji said.
”So what? After the Dragon King wins...” began Fang Wenshi.
”Well, haven't you learned anything during your days in Norland? Don't you understand that warriors, like horses, dogs and soldiers, are all pawns of noble people? Have you heard any lord take part in the competition in person? If the Dragon King participates in the competition, he will surely win the title of warrior, but he will lose his precarious status as a king. Don't you think that's a stupid idea?” asked Zhang Ji.
Fang Wenshi was speechless. He did not care about the first two points. However, Zhang Ji had made a good argument for the third point, which he had missed before. Although the Norland people advocated forces, it was just a kind of affection for fine horses and fierce dogs. Young nobles might try their skills in a tournament, but real lords would never dare to compete in person.
But Fang Wenshi still did not want to throw in the towel.
”Sir, you've made valid arguments. I'm convinced,” he said.
”Don't mention it,” Zhang Ji said, picking up his cup and taking a sip.
”I got your point, sir. You mean the Dragon King should give up the tournament and flee from Norland. This sounds familiar to me. Oh, I remember now... The eunuch who almost married a Shangguan woman and quarreled with the Cloud King put forth a similar suggestion. It seems that you two think alike,” Fang Wenshi said.
Gu Shenwei silently complimented his Military Counseler in his heart. Yes, Zhang Ji's purpose was the same as Fu Yuan's, only more tactful and reasonable.
Zhang Ji devoted himself to wine tasting and did not even raise his head. Shangguan Yun, the King of Zhang Ji, had to step in to help. ”Fu Yuan has met the Dragon King? The eunuch was crafty. The Dragon King should have been careful of him. But the good thing is that his life was short and he can never harm anyone again,” he said.
Fang Wenshi was taken aback. ”What does that mean?” he asked.
”He's dead,” Shangguan Yun said. He had been languid all night, as if waiting for this moment. Suddenly he changed from a messy drinker back to the great Cloud King. ”It just happened. The women of the Shangguan family bring bad luck. I'm sure the Dragon King probably feels the same way,” he said.
Gu Shenwei finally got a clear signal about the whereabouts of Shangguan Ru.