Stop it, Taoist, Your Fight almost Ruins the DAO!
Chapter 942 - 514: Slick Maneuver, Bai Yunzi Succeeds, Red Dust Buddha, True Technique Observes!_2

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"The three bowls of noodles that constitute life, human faces and scenes can be set aside, but it's the emotional connections that are the hardest to swallow."

"With more people, there's more chatter. Take Great Qin, for example. Even His Majesty, powerful as he is, has to care for old friendships and sentiments; naturally, the Sumitra Zen Institute would do the same."

"Since some are inclined to foster good relations with our Great Qin, then as a Taoist, I should give them some chips to help them out, shouldn't I? The Sumitra Zen Institute is just a bit conservative and traditional among the sects, nothing against righteousness. I'm not looking to deal with them too harshly," Yi Chen said with a grin.

"So, State Preceptor, you're having Lin Luo tell that group of bald monks you plan to divert the course of the Guicang River? And build a grand dam upstream?" Ying Si concluded his contemplation, dropping a piece admirably.

Looking at Xiong Kui before him, Ying Si felt himself becoming increasingly benevolent with each of Yi Chen's moves.

"Your Majesty, what are you saying? The Guicang River runs through the east and west of Great Qin, nourishing countless lands on both banks and invigorating much commerce."

"But the Guicang River is notoriously serpentine, posing the risk of breaching its banks with every flood, and countless lives suffer. I'm simply taking pity and intend to regulate the Guicang River; the masters at the Sumitra Zen Institute should understand that."

"It wouldn't do for us to put the interests of the Sumitra Zen Institute above the safety of the people living upstream on both banks, would it? That would surely be contrary to the merciful Buddhist way of the Heavenly Buddha," Yi Chen retorted with a twist of his mouth, already showing some displeasure.

Ying Si's gaze was brazen indeed, making it seem as though Yi Chengzi wasn't even human.

"Diverting the Guicang River, bypassing the area around Lotus Platform Mountain, building dams upstream to regulate water flow, storing water in prosperous years, releasing it in lean years - this is a great merit. How could the Sumitra Zen Institute have any objections?" Yi Chen dropped another piece.

"What if that group of bald monks stubbornly refuses to agree?" Ying Si pondered for a moment before placing his piece.

"Under all is the King's land."

"Has Your Majesty forgotten that aside from Lotus Platform Mountain, all the surrounding mountains and rivers belong to Great Qin?"

"I need a massive amount of earth for the dam construction."

"Your Majesty, what if I were to excavate the mountains around Lotus Platform Mountain, leaving it isolated, standing alone? What would you say to that?"

"I want to test my cultivation, to move mountains and create plains from steep gorges. Isn't that bold?"

"By then, the scenic Lotus Platform Mountain will become a desolate place where not even the birds would defecate, barren and deprived of the convenience of the Guicang River. I'll uproot its water and earth veins for the benefit of all people. Surely, the masters would not begrudge making this sacrifice."

Snap!

The Great Qin State Master placed another piece.

Ying Si: ".…."

"What if the Sumitra Zen Institute still disagrees?" As Ying Si pondered the board, he started to pick at his words.

"Don't worry, my Buddhist friend Shen Hui has made a breakthrough in his cultivation and established the Red Dust Temple at the foot of Mount Daguangming. The Eastern Continent and the Central Continent are one. I believe that it's in our Great Qin's interest to support the Red Dust Temple in leading the Buddhist sects of the world."

"If the masters of the Sumitra Zen Institute still won't agree, I have yet another eight hundred methods to deal with them."

"A whole eight hundred! Your Majesty, doesn't that sound bold?" Yi Chen smiled, making a 'eight' gesture with his fingers.

The Sumitra Zen Institute wants to play with Yi Chengzi? Do they have the strength?

You need chips, then Yi Chengzi will give you chips. Why get your own hands dirty with killing?

The regulation of the Guicang River, whether a diversion or a split and rejoining, controls the sects of the world, wins the hearts of the people, and upholds righteousness – who could object, and who would dare to object?

Regulating the Guicang River is a benevolent practice. The river flows, watering mountains and fields, signifying interests. How to manage and what approach to take boils down to who gets the juicy cuts and who bears the cost.

That could be the Sumitra Zen Institute or someone else.

Yi Chen did not continue to list the remaining eight hundred methods, for to do so might be impolite.

"State Preceptor, you are truly a genius. This move redivides the world, dilutes the power of various sects, and at the same time promotes water conservancy - a grand benevolence."

"This adds a considerable chip as we aim to consolidate control over the three paths of Buddhism, Taoism, and Demonism."

"I'm as fortunate to have the State Preceptor as a fish is to water."

Ying Si never expected Yi Chen to be so greedy, so ambitious. He glanced at Yi Chen, feeling a sense of wonder.

His State Preceptor always managed to slip in his own agenda perfectly when stirring things up, aiming to enlarge the cake while still sharing profits with all stakeholders.

"I'm simply strategizing on paper; to implement such a grand plan still requires Your Majesty's coordination of all parties."

"By the way, Your Majesty, I have a rather presumptuous request."

"I promised my mentor Bai Yunzi on his deathbed to do something good for the people. This difficult task of regulating the Guicang River and moving mountains - I'll take it upon myself."

"How about we rename the Guicang River to Bai Yunzi River hereafter?"

"And call the dam Bai Yun Dam," Yi Chen said with a smile to Ying Si.

The emotional connections of life's three bowls of noodles are the hardest to digest. Without Bai Yunzi, there would be no Yi Chengzi today - he would have perished in Snow Nest long ago.

Now, with the ability and means at his disposal, and the opportunity at hand, he took the chance to plan today's strategy, also lending a golden image to his late benevolent mentor, so that the good shouldn't come under fire.

If managed well, in the future, when Yi Chengzi decides to depart on Star Road, this act would be akin to granting Hidden Dragon Temple a pass from death.

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