Chapter 214
Book 19 Chapter 8 – The Three Legendary Courtesans
Lao Ai stood in the middle of the hall and with him were Han Jie and four of his personal guards.
Tao Fang was playing host to them and retreated into the inner hall when Xiang Shaolong arrived.
Lao Ai sighed, "Shaolong, how can you not treat me like a friend?"
After Xiang Shaolong greeted Han Jie and the rest, he pulled him aside and whispered, "It’s better that I don’t touch this type of beauty. Last night that Boss Jin deliberately hinted in front of both of us that s.h.i.+ Sufang was interested in me. He’s obviously trying to make Brother Lao jealous and put me on the alert. That’s why I had to decline tonight’s meeting. Does Brother Lao understand my kind intentions?"
Lao Ai was stunned for a moment before he blushed and said, "I didn’t think of that point. Hei! At the most s.h.i.+ Sufang is just a difficult courtesan to get into bed, how can she possibly sow any discord between us. Brother Xiang, do not be overly suspicious."
Xiang Shaolong knew very well that he doesn’t mean what he said but he did not expose him. Instead he said quietly, "In my opinion, this is Pu Hu’s devious plot. You must not belittle pretty women, for they can bring down a country. Da Ji and Bao Si are examples of a fine specimen who can bring downfall upon a country and sometimes they are even more formidable than an army, and they can be almost impossible to guard against. In my opinion, if I attend the feast at your residence, s.h.i.+ Sufang will certainly pretend to be attracted to me and at the same time flirt with Brother Lao. If we are not mentally prepared, what do you think will happen?"
Since Lao Ai is pretending to be a man, of course he cannot give up his deception halfway and he stubbornly continued, "Shaolong, do not worry. I, Lao Ai, can be considered one who grew up among flowers and I’ve met all kinds of women. If she try to entice me, I naturally have my own ways to deal with it. I guarantee that our relations.h.i.+p will not be strained because of her. Ha! Why don’t we use her as a compet.i.tion, to see who can get his hands on her but without any jealousy involved. This will spoil Pu Hu’s plan. If we can win her heart, we can find out instead what secret collusion Pu Hu has."
Xiang Shaolong secretly finds this amusing and knows that Lao Ai is ultimately not a man made for great things for he cannot control his own s.e.xual urges. He chortled and said, "This is the reason why I have to reject Brother Lao’s drinking invitation tonight so that Brother Lao can expand all your efforts to get s.h.i.+ Sufang in your hands."
Lao Ai sighed, "Of course I won’t blame Shaolong now. It’s just that s.h.i.+ Sufang openly declared that she will only attend the feast if Shaolong is around. With her temper, won’t it be a damper on the occasion if she were to leave."
Xiang Shaolong said with a straight face, "See! This is exactly Pu Hu’s trap waiting for us to be hooked. So what do you want me to do?"
Lao Ai replied with some embarra.s.sment, "I wish even more that Shaolong can make a trip. Let’s see what tricks s.h.i.+ Sufang can come up with. Maybe I can even drug her a little and turn the tables on Pu Hu instead."
Xiang Shaolong was secretly cursing him for being despicable but then he remembered that he too had made an unsuccessful attempt to drug the Empress of Zhao, Han Jing so he dared not curse Lao Ai too much. Because the truth is, s.h.i.+ Sufang is indeed up to no good. He said, "If it’s so easy to get her, she would have been toyed with by many others already. A woman like her who is in the business will naturally have her ways of handling such matters. If she exposes the plan, it’ll be worse instead."
Lao Ai pulled his sleeve and said, "Time is running out, Shaolong come with me quickly!"
Xiang Shaolong was unable to resist his ‘warm offers’ so had no choice but to follow him.
After they left Wu Residence, the direction they were travelling in was not towards Lao Ai’s Department of Interior Affairs. Xiang Shaolong enquired in surprise and Lai Ai replied with a sigh, "When I found out earlier that Shaolong refused to come, I tasked someone to inform Pu Hu and asked him to subtly find out s.h.i.+ Sufang’s intentions. Never did I expect that she would immediately reply that she won’t be coming. Hei! So I had no choice but to come and beg for Shaolong’s help. Now we’re going to Du Bi’s General Residence in Xianyang. As to whether s.h.i.+ Sufang will agree to see us, it’s still an uncertainty."
Xiang Shaolong secretly thought that men are really naturally worthless scamps. The more a beautiful woman acts high and mighty, the more they feel she’s a rarity. Lao Ai has always been popular amongst women and now that he has met someone like s.h.i.+ Sufang who totally disregards him, he’s feeling an intolerable itch instead.
The more he interacts with Pu Hu, the more he feels that this person really has formidable tricks.
After all his years of struggles since coming to this ancient warring period and with the knowledge regarding this period’s history he gleaned occasionally from the talented Ji Yanran, Xiang Shaolong is no longer as ignorant as he once was when he first came to this era.
And because he came from the 21st century, all the more he can look at everything in this era from an objective angle.
The appointment of Overlords in the San Jin and the Reforms of Shangyang can be considered the biggest change of this era right now, with the changes coming fast and furious. Even the 2,000 odd years following this, other than the terrible times China suffered after the Opium War, it’s difficult to find another period in history that can be compared to this.
In this period of great changes, the various Dukes of the Spring and Autumn Period first got rid of feudalism and established the Seven Warring States where the Overlord will hold power. Most importantly, the few areas which has started to expand during the end of the Spring and Autumn Period, like the growth in industry and commerce, expansion of cities, intensification of wars, sudden popularity in new knowledge, liberation in thinking has become even more remarkable during this period.
The most influential thing that appeared during this era is the emergence of huge enterprises.
This emerging transnational social cla.s.s, because of their abundant financial backing, is able to travel far and wide, gaining experience and knowledge and with their huge social network, their influence on the political arena is incomparable.
The most outstanding one is of course Lu Buwei, collector of rare artifacts and talents. There are others, like his own Grandfather-in-law Master Wu, Guo Zong who made his fortune from the iron smelting business, and Pu Hu, who is now secretly plotting to overthrow Xiao Pan. They are all great businessmen turned politicians who can control the world.
Even Qin Qing, she was able to stay independent while protecting her chast.i.ty and gaining the respect and admiration of the Qins because her clan owns a major cinnabar mine and she is of Qin Royalty. Any other ordinary girl, with her beauty, would already have become some rich and powerful man’s mistress.
And to handle the compet.i.tion between war and politics, the scholars and fighters slowly went their own different ways and everything became professionalized.
w.a.n.g Yu and Li Si are two very good examples. If their positions were exchanged it’s a guarantee that Qin politics will be in turmoil and the Xiongnus will kill their way to Xianyang soon.
The popularity of professionalism swept through the lands and to the soldiers, the soldiers of the Warring States period is no longer like the soldiers of the Spring-Autumn Period, who are just conscripted farmers made to take up arms.
This resulted in the emergence of a.s.sociations like Weinan’s Warrior Public House, where there are martial artists and military tacticians abound for the employment of Rulers.
Therefore, regardless of external wars or internal conflicts, the level of intensity and complexity is nothing that the past can compare with.
The reason why Xiao Pan is able to unify the 6 states in future is because out his unique background, for he does not have the offensive habits of those heirs who were brought up by women who lived in the palace. That’s why he is able to s.h.i.+ne and control the world in this great era of constant changes.
But a talent like him is also a rarity in this world, such that after his death, there was no one else who has the ability to suppress the others. That’s why the Qin empire ended after the second generation.
While he was deep in thought, they have arrived outside the gates of the General’s residence situated at the west of the city.
By now Xiang Shaolong is also craving for another look at s.h.i.+ Sufang again. The lure of a beauty is indeed extraordinary. Although he knows that she is up to no good, he can’t help but want to get close to her.
This is exactly the most formidable part of Pu Hu’s plan.
A successful businessman will always know how to guess his buyer’s thoughts, and this fact has remained since time memorial.
In the middle of the great hall was a square table and surrounding this square table there were six seats.
Xiang Shaolong prefers such seating arrangements where everyone is seated around one another as it’s more conducive and close-knitted for chats.
Du Bi personally invited Xiang Shaolong, Lao Ai and Han Jie into the hall while the rest of the guards stayed outside, where they will be welcomed by others.
Du Bi’s att.i.tude is extremely warm, a rare change which makes one unable to imagine that his att.i.tude used to be frosty and aloof in the past.
Naturally Xiang Shaolong knows what he’s thinking about.
If they are really are able to a.s.sa.s.sinate Xiao Pan, or successful in s.h.i.+fting the blame to Lu Buwei, then they will try to fight for the support of Xiang Shaolong and his men because by that time Cheng Qiao would have become the legal successor.
By then, w.a.n.g Chi, w.a.n.g Ling etc will have no choice but to support Cheng Qiao.
As for Lao Ai, firstly he is still of value now and secondly, Du Bi holds no regards for him at all. Like w.a.n.g Chi, he does not believe he’s capable of doing anything great, so he just flattered him together with the group.
Lao Ai is most concerned about whether s.h.i.+ Sufang will be attending the feast so he asked, "Miss s.h.i.+…"
Du Bi interrupted with a laugh, "Lord Interior Minister do not worry, Master Pu has gone to speak with Miss s.h.i.+ personally. Hai! A woman’s heart is indeed unfathomable. Actually she has a good impression of Lord Interior Minister as well, it’s just that she’s a little vexed that Master Xiang would stand her up so she was just putting on some airs! Lord Interior Minister please do not be offended."
Now that Lao Ai has regained some dignity, his confidence is slightly restored and he’s suddenly more relaxed.
Right at this time Pu Hu returned and from a distance away, made a hand signal to show that all has been arranged. Du Bi hurriedly invited everyone to sit down, leaving the seat between Xiang Shaolong and Lao Ai empty. Obviously that seat is being kept for s.h.i.+ Sufang.
The pretty maids first served wine and food, followed by beautiful musicians whose music brought life to the gathering. A number of swirling dancers came out, their movements fluid. A pity that Xiang Shaolong, Lao Ai and Han Jie were not here for this and thus were not in the mood to enjoy.
After the dance, the dancers and musicians left the hall, leaving only six elegantly dressed beauties to serve wine and all of them were above average in looks.
Other than Lu Buwei, all the other royalty and officials of Xianyang cannot be compared to Du Bi.
Han Jie asked in pa.s.sing, "What business does Master Pu has in Xianyang?"
Pu Hu laughed, "With Shaolong’s father-in-law around, there’s no place for me here at all."
Everyone knows that he’s joking and Du Bi said with a laugh, "This old friend of mine, when doing business, is as good as Yi Yin and Lu Shang’s stratagems in governing a country, Sun Wu and Wu Qi’s military tactics and Shang Yang’s reforms. One is so impressed that one is rendered speechless."
Pu Hu said humbly, "And you call yourself my old friend, trying to flatter me against your conscience. But when it comes to business, there are three whom I respect the most. The first one is Shaolong’s Grandfather-in-law, master Wu. The horses and cattle he raises are so numerous they cannot be counted by per head, but measured by per valley. Secondly is Bai Gui of the state of Wei, who runs the grains and silk-screen industry. In times of famine, it’s easier to borrow grains from him than to take loans from some other states. Thirdly is Yi Dun, the salt in his warehouse is enough to last everyone in this world for a few years. As for Lu Buwei? He’s still not considered up to par yet."
Xiang Shaolong secretly thought "Here it