Volume One: The Little Monk Leaves the Order Chapter Sixty-Six: Deadlock (Part One)

That evening, Qin Shirong invited Chen Bufan and Elder Huiren to dinner. They discussed a number of matters, and in his anger, Chen Bufan inadvertently smashed the table belonging to the lord of the Ministry of Personnel.

“Outrageous!” Chen Bufan said, his face darkening, enunciating each word. He shook his head and sighed, “It is my own fault after all! I... I will settle accounts with them!”

“Hold on, Master Chen. Not all of this is your fault,” Qin Shirong replied gently, shaking his head.

“We truly underestimated these great clans... how could they go so far?” Elder Huiren furrowed his brow. At first, he had supported Chen Bufan’s approach.

Yet things had turned out unexpectedly...

“Given the situation, Master Chen’s intentions were sincere... But since matters have become so grave, I am at a loss for what else to do. That is why I invited you both to discuss this,” Qin Shirong said solemnly.

“Perhaps Master Chen and I should try speaking with those families again?” Elder Huiren suggested, his brow still knit.

“It’s useless. Look at the grain they’ve purchased—all at double the price, and in round amounts! So tidy, so deliberate,” Qin Shirong tapped the booklet on the table.

“They’re making a show of force!” Chen Bufan slapped the table, his rage unabated.

“Indeed. After this grain crisis, they truly have united,” Qin Shirong nodded.

“At this point, the smaller and mid-sized clans in the market have little grain left; they can’t afford to sell. Only the big families still have surplus,” Elder Huiren agreed.

“So, are you saying there’s nothing we can do? If things have reached this point, I must make amends for my mistakes! Even if I have to take it by force, I will!” Chen Bufan said, his voice low and resolute.

“Master Chen, calm yourself. The real issue is the price of grain! We must strike at that. I invited you here today precisely because I need your help,” Qin Shirong continued. “Now that they’re all in the same boat, we must find a way to drag them down, one by one.”

He hesitated for a moment. “But this will require you to endure some hardship, Master Chen...”

Under the dim light, Qin Shirong spoke in a low voice to Chen Bufan, who kept nodding as he listened.

After Chen Bufan departed, Qin Shirong took out a small booklet and placed it before Elder Huiren. “Master Huiren, please look at this.”

Inside were records of the results achieved by implementing the new disaster relief strategy—figures Qin Shirong intended to report to the court as good news.

“This... Sir, you are truly wise... Such fortune is wonderful,” Elder Huiren, whose mood had been dampened by Qin Shirong’s earlier words, now found a glimmer of hope in the booklet.

“Master Huiren, you should know this is not my achievement,” Qin Shirong continued. “The credit belongs to the booklet you brought me days ago.”

“The booklet?” Elder Huiren was clearly puzzled, having never given much thought to it—he’d assumed Xiao Yan was simply scribbling nonsense and was grateful he hadn’t caused trouble.

“The disaster relief strategy, this one...” Qin Shirong placed another booklet in front of Elder Huiren.

This was Xiao Yan’s original manuscript. Once Qin Shirong realized its importance, he had the original brought back, as the court required the authentic document.

“So... does this disaster relief plan truly work?” Elder Huiren asked, still uncertain.

“Not only does it work, but so far, no other plan compares to it,” Qin Shirong sighed. “Therefore, Master Huiren, you know the person who wrote this, don’t you?”

“I... How should I put it...” Elder Huiren hesitated.

“I understand, Master Huiren. No need to make things difficult. If he asked you to keep it secret, he must have his reasons—I respect that. But now, given the circumstances, he must step forward. Someone capable of writing such a booklet is no ordinary man! I hope you understand and can convey my request to him,” Qin Shirong said, pausing before continuing.

“Sir Qin, he is nothing more than a wayward monk from Golden Mountain Temple, hardly worth mentioning...” Elder Huiren finally blurted out.

“Haha, Master Huiren, perhaps you don’t realize what this booklet means—it has saved tens of thousands of lives! And soon, many more...” Qin Shirong shook his head, continuing, “If he has ideas, let him come to me...”

Elder Huiren was still bewildered as he left the council chamber. Could that infamous Xiao Yan from Golden Mountain Temple have saved tens of thousands with a single booklet?

Upon returning to his quarters, Elder Huiren immediately sought out Xiao Yan and told him everything.

At that moment, Xiao Yan was practicing calligraphy in his study, scribbling something on the desk. Little Yue was beside him, doodling on another piece of paper.

Xiao Yan shook his head, set down his brush, and sighed softly, “Heh... I am but a humble monk. He faces mountains upon mountains—how could I possibly play this game? I can only move a few pebbles at the foot of the mountain; to move the mountain itself is far beyond me...”

“But...” Elder Huiren seemed on the verge of speaking, then hesitated.

“Better advise him to beware the landslide,” Xiao Yan said.

“These are human lives...” Elder Huiren protested.

“Save what you can, but as for all, or most... we must do what we are able,” Xiao Yan replied, glancing at Little Yue beside him and then falling silent.

The next day, the disaster relief camp’s grain stocks could no longer support the influx of refugees.

Over three hundred people starved to death in the northern streets of the city.

Tens of thousands of homeless refugees squatted in the corners, waiting each day for the wealthy households to throw leftover scraps into the streets.

On the third day, Chen Bufan returned to the Huang family, to the Green Mountain Sect.

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