novelapdf 94. Motivation
94. Motivation
Inside the council hall of Qijue Manor.
After Lin Mo finished speaking, the hall fell into a brief silence, with only the occasional crackling of candle wicks and the faint sound of footsteps of patrolling disciples coming from outside the window.
Everyone felt the immense, invisible pressure emanating from the very top of power. The Imperial Guards, the Prince of Jin, the Dark Flame Division… the power these names represented far surpassed that of any martial arts gang or aristocratic family. It was a completely different realm, with far more ruthless rules, more clandestine methods, and far more profound influence.
Hong Jiu broke the silence first, his rough fingers tapping the table with a dull thud: "Alliance Leader, now that we know it was Prince Jin and the Dark Flame Division who were behind this, why did they target us? Our newly formed alliance is, in the end, just tinkering around in this small corner of the martial world. How is that getting in the way of that high and mighty prince?"
This is the question that everyone is wondering about right now.
Lin Mo did not answer immediately. He walked back to the head of the table and sat down, his gaze sweeping over the solemn faces of the crowd. He slowly began to speak: "This is precisely the key issue we need to clarify next. Only by understanding their motives can we determine whether this attack is a one-off warning or the beginning of a sustained offensive, and only then can we find the most effective countermeasures."
He paused briefly, gathering his thoughts, and allowing everyone to process the importance of the topic. "Based on the information we have now, I believe the most likely reason is that the alliance has touched upon the interests of certain individuals. But these 'interests' may be more complex than we imagine, and involve a wider range of people."
"First and foremost, the most direct impact is on the Grand Canal," Lin Mo said, holding up a finger. "We integrated the Grand Canal wharves, established new management rules, and broke the old order that was secretly controlled by the four great families and their backers. The Grand Canal is the lifeline for the flow of goods between the north and south, lucrative and with immense influence. We've taken this lucrative prize, cutting off some people's financial and influence channels, so naturally they won't let it go. The four great families lost their life-or-death struggle with us, and their overt methods are no longer working. It's entirely possible that they'll use official forces closely associated with them, such as the Prince of Jin, who has close ties with certain families, to retaliate using forces like the Dark Flame Division."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Kun raised a thick eyebrow and said in a deep voice, "So, it's those four persistent aristocratic families causing trouble again? They can't defeat them themselves, so they call in the court's lackeys for help?"
Lin Mo shook his head slightly: "That possibility cannot be ruled out, but it's probably not the whole story. Consider this: if it were merely the four great families who requested Prince Jin's intervention, the scale and timing of the attack might be different. Choosing to launch an attack during our alliance's celebration, when all forces are gathered, suggests their purpose is likely not just revenge, but also to establish their authority in front of the entire martial world!"
"To establish authority?" The Grand Elder of the Seven Absolutes Sect stroked his beard, seemingly lost in thought.
"That's right, to establish authority," Lin Mo affirmed, his eyes sharp. "The formation of our alliance and the signing of the new Jianghu Covenant signify the rise of a new force not entirely controlled by traditional aristocratic families. This is a variable, a challenge, for those court forces accustomed to indirectly influencing or even controlling the Jianghu order by controlling a few aristocratic families. Prince Jin may be one of them. He needs to let the Jianghu people know who the true ruler of this land is. Destroying our nascent alliance is undoubtedly the quickest and most effective way to establish authority. He wants to make an example of us, to show all the Jianghu people the consequences of challenging the old order."
This analysis sent a chill down everyone's spine. If that were the case, then the alliance would not be facing a simple feud, but a crackdown on the "unruly."
Hong Jiu pondered for a moment and said, "Does the Alliance Leader mean that the very existence of our alliance makes us a thorn in the side of certain people? Even if we haven't interfered with the canal transport, they might still find other excuses to cause trouble?"
"Very likely." Lin Mo nodded. "The martial world is a force to be reckoned with. Throughout history, far-sighted rulers have tried to guide or control it. We don't know what His Majesty thinks now. But Prince Jin clearly has a strong desire for control. Our alliance model unites many small and medium-sized sects, breaks the monopoly of aristocratic families, and makes it less easy for him to indirectly control the power of the martial world by controlling a few aristocratic families. For him, this is a loss of control. Therefore, he must strangle us before we are fully established."
The Diancang Sect Leader Li's voice trembled slightly: "This...doesn't this mean that no matter how we develop, as long as we are not controlled by them, we will inevitably face this calamity sooner or later?"
"That's one way to put it." Lin Mo's tone remained calm, but carried a coldness that came from seeing through the ways of the world. "Unless we are willing to become vassals of powerful families again, or directly pledge allegiance to a certain powerful figure, independent development will inevitably attract covetousness and suppression. The only difference is when and in what form."
He then changed the subject, continuing, "In addition, there is a third possibility, perhaps intertwined with the first two."
All eyes were once again focused on him.
"Do you all remember that when we were investigating the background of the Inner Guard, we speculated that the Inner Guard was not a monolithic entity, and that there might be a power struggle between the Prince of Jin and the Grand Commander of the Inner Guard?" Lin Mo reminded them.
A glint flashed in the Grand Elder's eyes: "Does the Alliance Leader mean that this attack might be a pretext used by Prince Jin to attack our alliance, to demonstrate his power and 'loyalty' to the Grand Commander of the Inner Guard, and even to His Majesty? To prove that he can 'share the burden' of the court and eliminate 'destabilizing factors'?"
"That's exactly what he meant." Lin Mo nodded. "In Prince Jin's eyes, our alliance might not just be a Jianghu force that needs to be eliminated, but rather a bargaining chip. By successfully suppressing us, he can prove his abilities to His Majesty, consolidate his favor with the emperor, and at the same time, expand the Dark Flame Division's influence within the Inner Guard system, squeezing out the Grand Commander's power. Our life and death, in his eyes, might just be a move in his power game."
The council chamber fell silent once more, broken only by heavy breathing. Lin Mo's progressively deeper analysis clearly dissected the Jin Prince's possible motives for launching the attack—retaliation for a loss of interests, establishing authority against challengers to the new order, and using it as a tool in a power struggle. Each motive pointed to a chilling truth: the existence of the alliance had deeply stung the hidden hand behind the scenes, and the ensuing confrontation would be all-encompassing and relentless.
"So," Hong Jiu let out a long sigh, his face twitching, "we've been treated like a pushover by that Prince Jin, and a stepping stone for him to gain prestige and power?"
"So far, yes." Lin Mo readily admitted, "He chose us because we are a newcomer and seem to have an unstable foundation; because we have integrated the forces of the martial arts world and have a large enough influence; and also because we have no obvious ties with his potential rivals (such as the Grand Commander of the Inner Guard or other contenders for the throne), so attacking us will not directly offend certain sensitive forces."
"So what should we do?" Zhao Kun clenched his fists, his knuckles cracking. "We can't just sit here and wait to die, can we?"
Lin Mo stood up and walked to the center of the hall. The candlelight cast a long shadow of him on the wall, making him appear firm and composed.
"Analyzing motives is to understand our situation and find a way out." His voice was clear and powerful. "The King of Jin's motives are impure, but for us, it may not be all bad."
"Oh?" Everyone looked puzzled.
"If his retaliation is merely due to losses in the canal transport industry, there might still be room for maneuver. By conceding some profits or flexing our muscles, we might force him to back down. But if his motives involve establishing authority and power struggles," a cold glint flashed in Lin Mo's eyes, "it means he will never give up easily. But at the same time, it also means that we are not his only enemy!"
"The enemy of my enemy is my friend?" the Grand Elder pondered.
"At least they are potential targets for exploitation," Lin Mo corrected, his tone cautious. "Would the Grand Commander of the Inner Guard be happy to see Prince Jin expand with the help of the Dark Flame Division? Would the Crown Prince or other princes be happy to see Prince Jin's power grow daily? What about those ministers in the court who disagree with Prince Jin's policies? We don't need to form an alliance with them, but perhaps we can find a way to let these people know that Prince Jin is using the power of the court to intervene in the conflicts of the martial arts world, eliminate dissidents, and may even... have ulterior motives."
The eyes of everyone in the hall gradually brightened. Lin Mo's analysis was like pointing out several possible cracks on a dark cliff.
"Of course, all of this is predicated on the fact that we must first withstand the pressure from the Prince of Jin." Lin Mo's tone turned serious. "Showing weakness and retreating will only embolden him. We must demonstrate sufficient strength and resilience to make him realize that eliminating us will come at a heavy price, making him feel that it's not worth it. At the same time, we must actively seek out any potential counterbalancing forces that his opponents may possess."
He surveyed the crowd and concluded, "The motives are clear. Our next strategy requires careful consideration. Should we launch a strong counterattack, or temporarily avoid confrontation? Should we divide and win over, or use their strength against them? This will require a more detailed assessment of our strength and intelligence from the capital to make the final decision."
His gaze finally settled on the summary intelligence report about the background of the Internal Security Forces on the table, his eyes deep.
"The Prince of Jin regarded us as pawns, but little did he know that pawns could jump off the chessboard and even... overturn the game."