Chapter 12
“And that’s when we left the patrician’s guards darting about the entire warehouse in a tizzy, so desperate to secure the shipment of priceless jade we had claimed before those boxes were ever delivered, and all their panic did was cover our tracks so perfectly that not even the elite inspector he hired could find our trail! ”
Chaoxiang’s eyes twinkled with mirth. He shared a warm smile with his old counterpart as they clinked a pair of jade goblets from that very heist, savoring exquisite and absurdly expensive rice wine that only a few desert calderas were so hydrated as to export in any quantity.
“Those were indeed fine adventures we shared, Chaoxiang,” Nili said fondly, savoring her drink. “Emblematic of far simpler times, when the world’s cares were the furthest thing from our minds. When we needed to worry about nothing more than our next big score.”
Chaoxiang gave a knowing chuckle. “Oh, but that’s when the fun and excitement truly began, little Nili.
For taking the role of the reformed rogue and concerned patron, you were able to elevate your, ahem, protege to quite exceptional heights, were you not?
Soaring so high that she went from hot-headed little monster no one cared to teach or tutor, to a study in elegance and grace, talent and refinement.
She is a jewel now polished to such exquisite perfection that, should tumultuous times consume our guiding lights once more, the council’s vote of confidence for our future queen is all but guaranteed. Wouldn’t you agree, Nili?”
The rotund guildmaster flashed Nili a too-knowing smile. “I’ll bet our dear Princess Sunlay could claim Wanshi’s throne and win the hearts of the people within a single season, should the vagaries of fate and fortune put her in line for such a path.”
Nili’s smile stiffened, jade chalice frozen an inch from her lips. “May such a necessity never come to pass,” she said.
“Oh, indeed, indeed! May his royal grace live on, our esteemed and vaunted scholarly Silver, for a hundred years… a millennia! Whatever leads to the continued safety, security, and prosperity of our home. For that’s the real reason you choose to walk in the princess’s shadow, is it not, my dear former master?
Your vested interest in the safety and integrity of our home.
And having a princess sympathetic to the many benefits that a strong JiangHu relations can provide our fair city.
Showcasing the best attributes of our, ahem, enlightened organization where the benefits of unlimited trade with our neighboring cities will be found in ever-full bellies for our people and, of course, mercantile fortunes that will soon be beyond all compare.
With a fair portion of that going to the royal coffers as well, no? Ha ha!”
Nili gave her former colleague a pointed look.
“No, dear Chaoxiang. I suspect even our dear princess would be loath to sacrifice more than the tiniest patches of our exquisitely fertile but painfully limited farmland to the cultivation of poppy and cannabis. Of course, even the most prudent apothecary will acknowledge the medicinal benefits that both herbs provide in modest quantities, and a bit more grown for controlled vice and placating violence also has its place, as you and I both know. But any more than what’s already grown would be a burden we can ill afford until the waters flow far more heavily than they do now. ”
Nili crossed her arms, gazing pointedly at her counterpart.
“And don’t think I haven’t spotted a number of rooftop operations in this quarter of the city, Chaoxiang.
Tiny operations that might supply a dozen here or there with relief of one sort or another, which we have chosen to turn a blind eye to.
But such forgiveness, such leniency, doesn’t mean that our princess is keen on the idea of giving up food independence for a chance to corner that particular market.
Because we both know what happens when such exotics are suddenly in great supply, and a rare seasonal indulgence becomes a much craved treat one simply cannot live without…
no matter the wrack and ruin that makes of too many fragile mortal lives. ”
Chaoxiang raised a dispassionate eyebrow.
“An indulgence that could have hundreds upon thousands bending their knee in supplication to our future queen. The blessed benefactor who will turn all their cares to sweetest bliss, so long as food and silver flows into our silos and coffers… or force them to suffer the consequences of an open palm becoming a closed fist of denial, subjecting them to weeks of agony like fire in their veins, without our having to lift a single finger, sacrifice a single cultivator, or field a single army.”
He gave a cold chortle. “Can you imagine it, Nili? If any of our so-called competitors actually protested? Fielding their armies to starve and wilt in the desert heat, pounding fruitlessly against our caldera walls when a third are writhing in the agony of desperation? Why, our queen could offer citizenship and unlimited supply of bliss to whoever was willing to kill their superiors and swear allegiance to our cause, and it would be as if our enemies had hand delivered us an army to serve as our own!”
Chaoxiang’s laughter faded, Nili’s expression void of all emotion as she took a thoughtful sip from her goblet, her gaze not leaving her former disciple.
Chaoxiang’s smile only grew. “And this leads right to a topic near and dear to both our hearts. The continued safety and prosperity of our home. For nothing matters more than the survival of our people, yes?”
He steepled his fingers as Nili stilled.
“You’re no fool, Nili. I see the twitch of your ears beneath your bonnet.
I think you already know which way the wind is blowing.
So is it not in our best interest to secure what stability and resources we can?
” He nodded at his own question. “Of course it is. Of course it is! And a strategic water cistern would do much to alleviate pressures in all sorts of directions. Do you understand, Nili?” He took another sip of his drink, peering intently at his enigmatic counterpart.
“Should certain resources be made available, should certain promises be made, there is absolutely no reason why your deepest desire cannot be made manifest. No reason the young scion you have spent so many seasons grooming can’t claim the throne that is her birthright, while solidifying an alliance that will see Wanshi stronger than it has ever been before! ”
His eyes twinkled with warmth. “Do you understand, dear Nili? We need not fear being crushed before the forces confronting us. Or, to quote an ancient proverb, you need not fear being washed away by the river’s currents if you can channel them for your own ends!
” He sighed, sat up, and pointed his jade chalice toward an exquisitely rendered painting on carefully treated bamboo slats that depicted the entire basin as if seen from up high.
He thought nothing of casually poking a bronze tack into the bamboo.
Nili’s eyes widened, taking in the color of the tack’s top.
“You understand as well as I the threat we face, should we refuse to channel the river’s might for our own ends.
But the beauty of it, Nili, is that we actually have a choice!
Should we aid the current, Fate’s currents will favor us in turn.
Currents that will see our precious princess washed upon Wanshi’s throne with a powerful Deep Silver who will dote on his future wife.
Currents and networks that will then make the flow of poppy effortless, far greater and more efficient than our cobbled-together amateur caravanners, most of them petty criminals overstaying their welcome in any one caldera who hardly know what they’re doing on their best days! ”
Chaoxiang positively beamed as he spread his arms wide, eyes alight with the grandiosity of his vision.
“We will turn our crimson enemies into bosom buddies! Allies that will happily ship our glorious spices of delirium throughout the desert. Our princess will truly be a queen free to indulge in her every passion and desire, the weight of the crown resting lightly upon her privileged brow as you and I forge an empire within the one even now being formed! An empire of top-quality products and fanatically loyal customers that will see our humble little sect rising to such glory that we will become the stuff of legends! Self-made entrepreneurs able to navigate the winds of fortune to unfathomable heights! Every aristocrat who once treated us as a necessary evil or dung beneath their boots will weep tears of envy when our fortunes eclipse their own. We will be the ideal to which every JiangHu associate will aspire to emulate. Do you understand, old friend? A world of exciting opportunities lies before us. We can sidestep our own extinction and ensure undreamed fortunes, just by reaching out and seizing hold!”
Nili took a long sip of her drink, gazing so intently at the man before him.
His charming smile could light up a room, even if not the shadowy corners within which other figures hid.
And the fortunes he offered, such an enticing prize…
or so her thoughtful smile suggested, the tiniest of nods making Chaoxiang beam all the wider, before her calm reply froze him where he stood.