Book 11: Chapter 14: Big Picture

Luoyang.

Standing by the window and looking down at the Luoyang street dyed in the sunset light, Kang Ho shook his head.

"Those old demons… no."

He caught the eye of Gong Ryang, who was in the room together, and hastily changed his words.

"To the former patriarchs of the Sixteen Families, an opportunity to seize power again."

Since it was difficult to understand all at once even with Kang Ho's extraordinary memory and bright mind he deliberately uttered the story he had heard and tried to organize it step by step.

"And putting forward those former patriarchs to make the Sichuan Tang Family and the Dali Duan Family reach a dramatic agreement."

Gong Ryang opened his mouth and added words.

"Do not forget. There were even more deals involved with the Sichuan Tang Family or the Dali Duan Family."

Kang Ho nodded.

"Yes. There were transactions that resolved each of their conflicts, which even involved the Chongqing urban development project."

Yeon So-hyeon made the Emei Sect spit out its interests, providing the starting point for the two enemy giant families to proceed with the Chongqing urban development project and the Yangtze River waterway expansion and refinement project.

In addition, he had additionally promised the Sichuan Tang Family the foundation for entering Luoyang.

"However, looking at the big picture—" Gong Ryang, sitting in his wheeled chair, smiled.

"Within the basic framework, your view is correct."

"…And that deal is now connected all the way to His Imperial Majesty in the Imperial Capital."

"Since the Yangtze River waterway expansion and refinement project was the long-cherished project of the late Emperor."

"If that project starts to proceed under His Imperial Majesty's name, His Imperial Majesty will be able to secure at least a minimum of prestige through that great feat."

Though he organized it as best as he could and tried to summarize it as best as he could, it was a story to the point of making his head dizzy.

"…If someone had told me this plan in advance, I would have dismissed it as nonsense."

Looking at Kang Ho muttering like that, Gong Ryang chuckled and turned his head.

"But. Is there not something even more shocking?"

"…That is so."

Following Gong Ryang's gaze, Kang Ho turned his head and looked at Yeon So-hyeon.

"While proceeding with all of this…"

Kang Ho swallowed hard and continued.

"You have never taken a single step outside of Luoyang, Eldest Young Master."

The figure of Yeon So-hyeon, sitting with his back to the setting sun and hiding his expression in the shadow cast by it was, to Kang Ho for some reason, felt like something extremely inhuman.

"That part is also surprising, but is that indeed the part you were shocked by?"

"Pardon…?"

Suddenly coming to his senses at Gong Ryang's words, Kang Ho turned back to him.

"Is there something more here that I failed to notice?"

At Kang Ho's bewildered expression, Gong Ryang laughed softly and raised his finger.

"Do you not know?"

He pointed at Yeon So-hyeon with his raised finger.

"All of this was accomplished before His Imperial Majesty sent the imperial decree requesting help." "……!"

Come to think of it, that was so.

Surely, the Emperor's imperial decree arrived after Yeon So-hyeon ended his seclusion, but was Yeon So-hyeon's movement not something that had occurred much earlier than that?

"…Eh. Huh? Eh?"

At those words kang Ho's head, which had been somehow organized, got completely tangled up again at once.

"Eldest Young Master? What on earth is this—?"

The sound of a polite knock on the door interrupted Kang Ho's question.

"Master. The Fourth Young Master has just returned."

As Yeon So-hyeon nodded, the Fourth Young Master Yeon Bi entered and first politely clasped his hands to greet Gong Ryang.

"Elder Gong Ryang, it is my first time meeting you. I am Yeon Bi, the Fourth Young Master of the Luoyang Sword Family."

"I am Gong Ryang."

The greeting of the two, who exchanged glances filled with goodwill and trust, was brief.

The Fourth Young Master knew what kind of existence Gong Ryang was to Yeon So-hyeon and Gong Ryang knew what kind of existence the Fourth Young Master was to Yeon So-hyeon.

Therefore, that alone was sufficient for them.

"Big Brother."

The Fourth Young Master Yeon Bi reported to Yeon So-hyeon.

"Our elder sisters' business entities have been roughly organized. Since there were no issues with management before the political problems arose, the disposal was that much faster."

Yeon So-hyeon nodded silently, and Yeon Bi found his seat and sat down.

"Master."

Jeong-ah's voice.

The one who entered next was Gong Dam-ung.

"Just as you instructed, I have conveyed it to all the patriarchs."

To those families who wished to enter under Yeon So-hyeon, an opportunity to prove their loyalty was given.

When Gong Dam-ung's report was finished, Gong Ryang, who was watching his grandson's face closely, nodded.

"Your expression has changed."

Gong Dam-ung raised his hand and touched his face.

"Is that so…?"

"Yes. It seems you have now shed a bit of that greenhorn look, wild from nothing but youthful vigor."

Gong Dam-ung smiled calmly.

"Rather than running wild with fists, I have simply realized that there are things a person like me can do in my position."

At those words, Gong Ryang chuckled and laughed pleasantly.

'What I tried to correct for over ten years did not go as I wished, yet leaving it to the Eldest Young Master took no time at all.'

Finally his grandson, who had only caused him worry, began to possess the mindset as the successor who must inherit the Gong Family in the future.

"You came at the right time."

Gong Ryang pointed to a chair on one side.

"Right now, the Eldest Young Master is about to give you a great teaching, so listen carefully."

Although it was merely a seat located in the corner gong Dam-ung quickly took the seat and sat down without a single complaint.

'If it were in the past, he would have slipped away using any excuse if it was a complicated story…'

Nodding as if satisfied, Gong Ryang turned his eyes to the gatherers.

"Eldest Young Master."

As he started the conversation like that the gazes of Kang Ho, the Fourth Young Master, and Gong Dam-ung focused on Yeon So-hyeon.

"Please bestow upon these children the teaching of the meaning of the Eldest Young Master's actions, moving before His Imperial Majesty's request arrived."

"…A teaching."

Although Yeon So-hyeon muttered so he had already resolved to pass down all of his knowledge to them.

The Fourth Young Master of the Luoyang Sword Family, Yeon Bi.

Gong Dam-ung, the next successor of the Gong Family among the Sixteen Families.

Even Kang Ho, the next successor of the prestigious Kang Family of the Imperial Capital.

'When I am absent:' in Yeon So-hyeon's mind, the memory of having been unconscious for a whole day due to his struggle with the Scripture of Controlling Darkness and Shaking the Heavens rose up.

'They must represent me in their respective fields.'

Yeon So-hyeon nodded once and began the teaching.

"There is a saying that a true king does not foresee the future, but shapes the future he desires."

The ones who immediately nodded at those words were the Fourth Young Master and Kang Ho.

"Indeed, I have heard that such a saying exists in Yunnan."

"I know it as a saying passed down from the Dali Duan Family, which was the royal family of the Dali Kingdom in the past."

"Yes, that is so. In a way, it is a simple saying."

Yeon So-hyeon met the eyes of those paying attention to him.

"However, the majority of people—no, almost all people—only vaguely understand the meaning of that saying but cannot put it into practice."

Gong Dam-ung shrugged.

"Is it not originally said that doing is harder than knowing?"

Gong Ryang slammed the armrest of his chair with a thud.

"You rascal! It is not such a simple story!"

Looking at Gong Dam-ung who shut his mouth in surprise, Gong Ryang continued speaking on behalf of Yeon So-hyeon.

"The absolute majority of people living in the world are bound to be busy just reacting to the waves of the world crashing before their eyes."

"Therefore."

Yeon So-hyeon caught those words.

"Just by predicting the changes of a complex and difficult world and creating a way to react to them, someone is bound to receive praise."

Hearing the story up to that point, the one who opened his mouth first was as expected, Kang Ho, who had been listening to the story from the very beginning.

"…Like how you prepared for all of those things before His Imperial Majesty's request, Eldest Young Master?"

"No."

But Yeon So-hyeon shook his head and denied it.

"I did not make 'preparations.'" Yeon So-hyeon's eyes flashed.

"…Then?"

"It was not that I anticipated His Imperial Majesty's request and moved, but the future created by my past self moved His Imperial Majesty." "……!"

Even Gong Dam-ung, who would feel second to none in terms of boldness, flinched momentarily at that intensity.

"The Elder just said it."

Yeon So-hyeon glanced in Gong Ryang's direction and continued.

"Ordinary people endure the waves of the world, and outstanding ones predict and prepare for them."

He turned his gaze back, looking straight at the faces of those who would bear responsibility for the future of the State of Zhongyuan.

"The future I create is their very future."

It was a statement close to a declaration, to the point of being arrogant.

"I am the very fierce wave of the world that they must endure and prepare for."

Those listening held their breath and looked up at Yeon So-hyeon.

Yeon So-hyeon said to them solemnly.

"And this is the perspective and mindset of a mover of the world, not those who merely live in it." "……." "……."

While Kang Ho and Gong Dam-ung kept silent the first to nod was, surprisingly, the youngest among them, the Fourth Young Master Yeon Bi.

"…I see."

The boy, whose only drawback was pointed out as being young and lacking experience, opened his mouth.

"Everything was a matter of perspective and mindset."

Understanding that did not mean he could become like Yeon So-hyeon all at once, but unlike when he was just marveling at Yeon So-hyeon's actions and busy interpreting them.

"…Now the fog in my head feels a bit thinner."

Kang Ho and Gong Dam-ung also felt something, but they could not open their eyes as easily as the Fourth Young Master. "……." "……."

Nevertheless, looking at them lost in deep thought with terrifying intensity, Gong Ryang smiled.

'…The future of the State of Zhongyuan is growing brighter.'

The old man's gaze turned toward Yeon So-hyeon.

'At this very moment, once again, the Eldest Young Master has shaped the future.'

After thinking thoughts upon thoughts in the setting sun's light through the window for a long time, Kang Ho opened his mouth.

"Eldest Young Master."

As Yeon So-hyeon looked at him, Kang Ho carefully brought up a question.

"Then, the second obstacle of the Yangtze River waterway expansion and refinement project. How do you plan to handle Evil Tyrant Heaven, which occupies the lower reaches of the Yangtze River?"

At that question, the Fourth Young Master, who was reflecting on his realization, also shone his eyes.

"This younger brother is also curious about that."

Gong Dam-ung nodded.

"Certainly. If it is as Great Hero Yeon says, you must have already intervened in that second obstacle, right, Great Hero Yeon?"

Surely.

In the distant Imperial Palace of the Imperial Capital, Kang Sang, who reported to the Emperor, had spoken in the same context.

"Already, the Eldest Young Master of the Sword Family has also begun working to resolve that issue."

At that question, Yeon So-hyeon smiled broadly.

"Of course."

Gong Ryang stroked his long beard.

"Hmm. This old man is also curious. Indeed, what have you done, Eldest Young Master, to obtain the consent of Evil Tyrant Heaven?"

Yeon So-hyeon sent a smile toward Gong Ryang.

"Do you not already know it well?"

"Hmm?"

Gong Ryang's long eyebrows twitched.

"Did you say this old man already knows it well?"

Yeon So-hyeon looked at the door instead of answering.

"Perhaps, by now the operation has started and reports will come in…"

"Master."

As soon as his words finished, the sound of Jeong-ah knocking on the door came.

"The Lord of the Crescent Moon Pavilion has come to see you, Master."

A slight trace of gladness was lingering in Jeong-ah's voice.

It was bound to be so.

Because the Lord of the Crescent Moon Pavilion was Se-ah, Jeong-ah's elder sister and the head of Yeon So-hyeon's external information organization, the Crescent Moon Pavilion.

"Let her enter."

Once Yeon So-hyeon's permission was given, the Lord of the Crescent Moon Pavilion, Se-ah, revealed herself.

"Lord."

Although a tired look was evident a relaxed smile was playing on her lips.

At her expression, Yeon So-hyeon let out a small laugh.

"To come all the way here to report personally. Now that the Great Immortal Merchant Group has retreated, it seems you have some breathing room."

Se-ah shook her head.

"Perhaps, if it were even a little later, the Crescent Moon Pavilion would have vanished."

Against the Great Immortal Merchant Group, which possessed a far larger and more massive power than herself, holding out like that was a miracle.

"I see. Has it started now?"

Se-ah nodded.

"Yes. Just now, the Central Inspection Department and the Inner Courtyard have launched the operation against the Great Immortal Merchant Group."

At that moment, Gong Ryang cried out in a loud voice unconsciously.

"As expected, that was it!"

Everyone's gaze turned to Gong Ryang.

"So that was it!"

This time it was the Fourth Young Master.

He did not stop there, but jumped to his feet and cried out.

"It was a continuous question to me why Big Brother permitted the intervention of the Inner Courtyard so easily!"

The boy jumped up and down in his seat, revealing his excitement without filtering.

"And Big Brother definitely said, 'The raid on the Great Immortal Merchant Group will succeed, but the investigation will fail!'" Gong Ryang also laughed heartily and added.

"Currently, the person in charge of the Great Immortal Merchant Group in question is Grand Madame Ouyang, the mother of the Second Young Master."

"And Grand Madame Ouyang of the Sword Family was definitely the daughter of the Alliance Leader of Evil Tyrant Heaven!"

His gaze turned toward Yeon So-hyeon.

"Eldest Young Master! You planned from the beginning to exchange the saving of Grand Madame Ouyang's life for the permission of the business rights of the lower reaches of the Yangtze River!"

"That is why Big Brother said that even if the raid succeeds, the investigation will fail!"

The Fourth Young Master shouted even louder.

"Because the Supreme Executive Council of the Main Family will naturally vote to succeed His Imperial Majesty's project rather than punishing Grand Madame Ouyang!"