Zhang Zongheng sank into deep thought.
At that moment, Tie Niaofei continued—carefully carrying out what he believed to be Dao Xuan Tianzun's instruction.
"Actually," he said, "it isn't only Tian Shenglan. I also know of seven others who have been selling goods to the Manchu and Mongols."
Sun Chuanting's heart skipped violently.
Zhang Zongheng snapped out of his contemplation at once. "Who are these seven?"
Tie Niaofei recited their names clearly:
"Fan Yongdou, Wang Dengku, Jin Liangyu, Wang Dayu, Liang Jiabin, Zhai Tang, and Huang Yunfa. Of course, Huang Yunfa is already dead—so that leaves six."
The moment the final name left his mouth, both Sun Chuanting and Zhang Zongheng stiffened.
They had just heard these exact names—spoken one by one—from the mouth of the Guanyin Bodhisattva.
To hear them again so soon, now spoken by Tie Niaofei, sent a chill down their spines.
Almost simultaneously, suspicion rose in both their minds.
Could that strange voice just now… have been this man's trick?
But the thought immediately collapsed.
Impossible.
He hadn't even entered the residence before. How could he have arranged for the Guanyin Bodhisattva to speak?
And more importantly—how could a mere mortal force a Bodhisattva to speak at all?
If the Bodhisattva was real, then Tie Niaofei's words merely confirmed the heavenly secrets already revealed.
Only if the Bodhisattva were fake would such a scheme even be conceivable.
Their thoughts churned violently.
In just a few breaths, they reasoned through more possibilities than they ever had while staring at an imperial examination paper.
Trust him?
Or not?
Believe… or doubt?
Just then, Zhang Zongheng suddenly seized upon a critical detail.
"Kong Youde."
He leaned closer to Sun Chuanting and whispered, "When the Bodhisattva spoke earlier, Kong Youde was mentioned first. And events one month from now were clearly foretold."
Sun Chuanting's eyes widened slightly.
He lowered his voice as well. "You mean… we'll know the truth once Kong Youde's fate becomes clear?"
"Exactly," Zhang Zongheng replied softly.
Sun Chuanting hesitated. "But if there's even a chance that Kong Youde might defect to the Manchu, shouldn't we submit a memorial to the court immediately, warning them?"
Zhang Zongheng gave a bitter smile. "We ourselves aren't fully convinced. Would you really dare write such a memorial? And how would you phrase it?"
He shook his head.
"If we rashly report this, claiming the Guanyin Bodhisattva foretold Kong Youde's defection, wouldn't the court accuse us of spreading White Lotus heresies?"
Sun Chuanting fell silent.
The more he thought about it, the more he realized Zhang Zongheng was right.
He himself barely dared believe what he had just witnessed—how could he expect others to accept it?
Would the ministers believe it? Would the Emperor?
Given his habit of submitting unsolicited essays on border affairs, many officials already viewed him as unhinged. Even his own student, Feng Rong, had advised him repeatedly to stop meddling in state matters.
Sun Chuanting let out a long sigh. "So… all we can do is wait?"
Zhang Zongheng nodded. "Yes. We wait."
"If Kong Youde truly defects to the Manchu, then the Bodhisattva's revelation will be proven correct. And if that is true, then the matter of the Eight Great Jin Merchants supplying the enemy will naturally also be true."
"At that point, why would we still need this merchant to provide proof? A thorough inspection of the caravans moving along the border would be enough. If they're colluding with the enemy, evidence will surface quickly."
Sun Chuanting sighed heavily. "That… makes sense. Alas."
With the matter settled, Zhang Zongheng finally turned to Tie Niaofei.
"Mr. Tie, we have recorded the names you provided. I will personally arrange for additional personnel to monitor these merchants. If they truly commit treason by colluding with the enemy, I assure you—I will show no mercy."
Tie Niaofei bowed. "The Supreme Commander is wise and discerning."
Seeing tea being served—a clear signal of dismissal—Tie Niaofei took his cue and withdrew, exiting Sun Chuanting's residence.
He had not walked far when the cotton-thread talisman on his chest stirred.
Dao Xuan Tianzun's voice sounded calmly within him.
"That's enough. You may return now. For the time being, do not clash with Tian Shenglan here."
Tie Niaofei was startled. "What? We're leaving just like that? I haven't even had the chance to deal with Tian Shenglan yet!"
Dao Xuan Tianzun chuckled softly.
"Some things cannot be rushed. Let events unfold naturally."
"Once you return, prepare for border trade. Take a little over one month to prepare thoroughly."
"When the Eight Great Jin Merchants fall, the border army will inevitably face a shortage of supplies. At that time, you will naturally take over their business and their standing."
"From then on, the supply of materials to the border armies will be handled by us."
Tie Niaofei hesitated, then lowered his voice.
"Dao Xuan Tianzun, forgive my boldness… but Gao Family Village's path clearly leads toward replacing the imperial court sooner or later. When that day comes, all under heaven will surely revere you and establish a new regime."
"If that's the case… wouldn't supplying the border army be tantamount to aiding the enemy?"
Li Daoxuan laughed lightly. "No."
"This is not aiding the enemy."
"This is resisting the enemy."
Tie Niaofei's mind reeled.
Li Daoxuan continued calmly, "Let the imperial court hold the Manchu at bay while we steadily expand our influence in the Central Plains."
"That is far better than allowing the Manchu to surge south and devastate everything."
"Because the Manchu are far more brutal than roving bandits."
Tie Niaofei froze. "More brutal…?"
"Yes," Li Daoxuan said evenly. "Bandits loot, burn, and kill—but they rely on coercion. They lack the means to sustain massive populations, so they force people to follow them and move constantly, leaving most civilians alive."
"The Manchu are different."
"They have a far simpler solution for populations they cannot sustain."
"Kill."
"Kill until a hundred million become thirty or forty million. Once the numbers are small enough, they become easy to control."
A chill crawled up Tie Niaofei's spine, locking his body in place.
Now he understood.
Dao Xuan Tianzun's restraint was not weakness—it was mercy.
He could not bear to see the common people suffer.
As Gao Family Village had not yet grown strong enough to confront the Manchu directly, destabilizing the border armies now would only invite catastrophe.
As long as the border armies held, Gao Family Village could safely consolidate power in the Central Plains.
Nibbling away… was better than swallowing whole.
Because swallowing whole would crush the people beneath it.
Tie Niaofei felt his chest tighten with emotion.
Dao Xuan Tianzun truly cared for the common people.
I could weep.
With power enough to overturn mountains in a single palm, he still chose patience—slowly laying out a path that minimized suffering, seeking a peaceful transition for all under heaven.
If even Dao Xuan Tianzun is not in a hurry… what right do I have to rush my revenge?
Tian Shenglan's head can remain on his shoulders a while longer.
With clarity settling in his heart, Tie Niaofei felt lighter than he had in days.
"Dao Xuan Tianzun," he said solemnly, "your subordinate will return at once to prepare caravans and gather sufficient supplies for the Xuanfu and Datong border armies, to help them hold back the Manchu."
Without delay, Tie Niaofei left Daizhou.
Outside the city, in the forest, he reunited with Zao Ying and Zheng Daniu—then returned to his own territory to begin preparations.