Jiang Daliang recounted everything in painstaking detail.
How the rebels had secretly contacted him.
How they promised silver.
How they asked him to open the city gates from the inside when the time came.
Cheng Xu listened without interruption, fingers loosely clasped behind his back.
When Jiang Daliang finished, Cheng Xu let out a faint chuckle.
"So, you. A local dockworker. You actually considered becoming an inside agent for the rebels."
Jiang Daliang lowered his head, ears red. "I only wanted to lure them in so I could kill Wang Wen."
Cheng Xu sighed softly.
"I understand why you thought that way. When the weak want revenge against the strong, gambling everything feels like the only option."
He looked toward the city walls of Chongqing.
"But you must also think about the ordinary people inside these walls. Luring rebels into the city might kill Wang Wen. It would also kill countless innocents. Sacrificing an entire city just to eliminate one man is fundamentally wrong."
Jiang Daliang's voice turned hoarse. "I know. I've been tormented by it. But when I saw you, Instructor He… I realized I couldn't go through with it."
Cheng Xu nodded.
"It is never too late to step back from the edge. The fact that you came to confess means you are already forgiven."
He waved a hand.
"Go. Return to your work."
Jiang Daliang blinked in surprise. "Instructor He, you are not going to have me continue contacting the rebels? Pretend to open the gates? Lure them into an ambush?"
Cheng Xu laughed lightly.
"We do not stoop to such dishonorable methods, especially when they would place you in grave danger."
"I am not afraid to die," Jiang Daliang said firmly.
Cheng Xu shook his head.
"Whether you fear death or not is irrelevant. You are a civilian. We are soldiers. Dao Xuan Tianzun has said that soldiers exist so civilians may live in peace and stability. How could we push civilians to the front line to perform dangerous work for us?"
The words struck Jiang Daliang like a hammer.
For a moment he could not speak.
Then he suddenly dropped to his knees.
"Then let me join the army. I want to be a soldier. If I am a soldier, then I can take on dangerous tasks."
Cheng Xu smiled faintly.
"Even as a soldier, you would not be assigned that job."
He glanced toward Tieshan Ping.
"With the scale of bombardment we just conducted, do you think rebel scouts are blind? They have likely fled long ago. If you go to Dragon Head Temple now, you will probably find nothing."
Jiang Daliang stared at him, then abruptly rushed out of the city.
He ran northwest toward Longtou Temple.
When he arrived, the temple grounds were eerily silent. The so-called ten thousand rebel troops had vanished without a trace.
Only three corpses remained.
An old monk.
Two young novices.
The rebels had fled.
---
When Jiang Daliang returned to Jiangbei City, he knelt before Cheng Xu again, guilt written plainly on his face.
"It is my fault. If I had informed you earlier about the rebels here, you would not have attacked the local strongmen first. You would not have alarmed the rebels and allowed them to escape."
Cheng Xu shook his head.
"You are not to blame. Those local tyrants had to be dealt with regardless. Eliminating them established our foothold in Chongqing. With cooperation from Chengdu, the rebels will eventually have nowhere to run."
He was not boasting.
Chongqing's strategic value could not be overstated.
All goods traveling upstream along the Yangtze River converged at Chaotianmen Pier. From there, smaller vessels could distribute supplies deep into Sichuan through both the Yangtze and the Jialing River network.
With Chongqing secured, Gao Family Village's logistical reach extended across nearly half of Sichuan.
The board had been set.
Now the capital would make its own move.
---
In the imperial capital, morning court convened.
Seated upon the dragon throne was Chongzhen Emperor, personal name Zhu Youjian.
Today, an unfamiliar expression brightened his face.
Joy.
His back was straight, his eyes sharp. A sense of renewed vitality emanated from him.
Moments earlier, news had arrived of a major victory at Pi Island.
The entire court, civil and military alike, buzzed with excitement.
Nearly ten thousand Manchu troops slain.
Their naval maneuver thwarted.
A firm foothold secured behind enemy lines.
Strategically significant.
Psychologically uplifting.
Zhu Youjian struck the armrest of his throne and laughed.
"I am told that the greatest merit in this victory belongs to Cao Wenzhao. He predicted the Manchus' flanking maneuver and spent a fortune to hire pirates, ambushing their fleet at sea. That is how this triumph was achieved. Minister Cao truly lives up to his reputation as one of our dynasty's foremost generals."
With the emperor praising him, the officials eagerly followed.
"General Cao's command is brilliant."
"Only he could have devised such strategy."
"To hire pirates and turn them against the enemy, truly ingenious."
"Our eyes have been opened."
Zhu Youjian raised his hand.
"What should be our next course regarding Pi Island?"
Several officials who had quietly aligned themselves with Gao Family Village's influence stepped forward.
"Your Majesty, since General Cao has proven so capable, why not have him remain to garrison Pi Island?"
The emperor frowned slightly.
"The situation on Pi Island has always been complex. Internal conflicts are many. The current commander, Shen Shikui, is not easily displaced. If We order Cao Wenzhao to seize his authority, would that not risk internal strife?"
The official bowed.
"Shen Shikui is flawed, yet loyal and courageous. There is no need to remove him. Let him remain Commander-in-Chief of the Dongjiang Garrison."
He lifted his head.
"As for Cao Wenzhao, grant him a different official post so he may legitimately remain."
Zhu Youjian narrowed his eyes.
"What post?"
"The position of Coastal Commander is vacant. Chen Hongfan deserted during the relief mission to Pi Island and was intercepted and killed by Qing forces during his escape. The office stands empty."
At once, several others chimed in.
"Precisely."
"General Cao is perfect for Coastal Commander."
Zhu Youjian considered.
"The Coastal Commander requires ships. Does Cao Wenzhao possess any?"
An official smiled slightly.
"Does he not command a pirate fleet? Since these pirates were hired to fight the Manchus, they may also be recruited into official service. Consider the great pirate Zheng Zhilong in the southeast. He now serves as a naval commander for the Great Ming."
"If Your Majesty grants Cao Wenzhao authority, he may incorporate these pirates into the imperial structure. We gain a fleet at no cost."
The phrase lingered in the air.
No cost.
Zhu Youjian's eyes lit up.
Free.
Free was good.
A naval fleet, acquired without draining the treasury.
He struck the throne decisively.
"Very well. Shen Shikui shall remain Commander-in-Chief of the Dongjiang Garrison."
"We appoint Cao Wenzhao as Coastal Commander, responsible for maritime security and support of Dongjiang."
He paused briefly, calculating.
"Cao Wenzhao is authorized to pacify and recruit pirates into imperial service. He may grant any official rank below that of Guerrilla General at his discretion."
The court bowed in unison.
And thus, with a few words spoken beneath a gilded ceiling, the sea itself began to change hands.