Interference

Three Kingdoms City No. 1 Group: 727130
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The village of Great Qi sent an envoy requesting an audience, and Zhan Xiaobai instructed him to come to the administrative courtyard.

Upon seeing Zhan Xiaobai and the others, the envoy greeted them respectfully, “Greetings, Chief Xiaobai! Elder Sword Overlord, Elder Autumn Water, greetings.”

Zhan Xiaobai nodded, smiling, “How is Brother Qi doing?”

The envoy replied, “Our village chief is well. Ever since he witnessed your presence last time, he’s been thinking of you. But village affairs are demanding, and he hasn’t found time to visit. He hopes you’ll forgive him.”

Zhan Xiaobai chuckled inwardly. This envoy was shrewd, flattering and speaking well for his chief.

He did not press further.

“So, what brings you here today?” Zhan Xiaobai asked.

The envoy quickly responded, “Chief Xiaobai, I come to seek justice! Here’s the situation…” He recounted in detail the conflict between Great Qi Village and Tiger Leopard Village, embellishing the story to paint the players of Tiger Leopard Village as savage and domineering. He ended plaintively, “Tiger Leopard Village is bullying us, even though the river is wide enough for everyone to fish in peace. Why must they drive our villagers away from our own stretch of the river? Chief Xiaobai, your fairness is respected by all the players in this region. Please stand up for us and judge fairly for Great Qi Village!”

“This…” Zhan Xiaobai hesitated, a troubled look on his face. “It might not be appropriate for me to intervene. I’m an outsider to the dispute between Great Qi Village and Tiger Leopard Village. If I meddle recklessly, people will accuse me of arrogance and meddling in others' business.”

Sword Overlord, knowing Zhan Xiaobai’s intentions, smiled and added, “Indeed. Our Xiaobai Village is on equal footing with Great Qi and Tiger Leopard. We have no authority over each other. How could we rashly intervene? Please report back to Great Qi truthfully; I’m afraid we can’t help with this matter.”

The envoy from Great Qi grew anxious. With no promise of help, how could he return? He would be scolded mercilessly by Great Qi.

He pleaded, “Chief Xiaobai, Elder Sword Overlord, please have mercy. You wouldn’t want to see Tiger Leopard Village continue their arrogance. When our village chief sent me, he said that if you are willing to lend a hand, he is prepared to form an alliance with you to jointly oppose Tiger Leopard Village.”

“Oh? Is that so?” Zhan Xiaobai thought for a moment, having made up his mind, then shook his head, “An alliance against Tiger Leopard Village? Brother Qi’s offer lacks sincerity. Tiger Leopard Village is a trade partner of ours; we have extensive exchanges in iron ore and medicinal goods. But we rarely trade with your village. Though Brother Qi and I have a bond, I cannot offend my major client without reason. Wouldn’t that put me in a difficult position?”

The envoy’s face fell. Without a substantial offer, Xiaobai would never offend Tiger Leopard Village. Yet, his chief, Great Qi, was notoriously stingy and unlikely to pay such a price.

Zhan Xiaobai said, “Tell Great Qi that if he’s sincere, he should come and negotiate in person.”

Helpless, the envoy could only return with this message and took his leave from Xiaobai Village.

.....

Afraid of being seen, Afei slunk into the administrative courtyard and, spotting Zhan Xiaobai inside, tried to slip away.

“Come back!” Zhan Xiaobai shouted.

Afei froze and trudged back, head lowered. “Boss, what is it?”

Zhan Xiaobai eyed him, half amused. “You’ve been avoiding me these past few days—what trouble have you gotten into?”

Afei pounded his chest, “No, absolutely not! I, Afei, am the most upstanding man in the world… well, second to you, Boss. I’d never do anything wrong!”

“Oh, really?” Zhan Xiaobai said casually. “Funny, I heard someone relieved himself in the river… Who could be so lacking in decency, making everyone drink his urine?”

“Exactly! How despicable!” Afei was as bitter as if he’d swallowed gall, unable to defend himself.

“It wasn’t you, was it?”

Afei was alarmed. “Boss, you knew all along?” He wilted, “Boss, I caused trouble. If those punks from Tiger Leopard Village find out it was me, they’ll go crazy hunting me down.”

Zhan Xiaobai asked, “So, the players from Tiger Leopard Village saw you doing it in the river?”

Afei nodded honestly, “Yes, I was on a raft upstream with some brothers from our village. Unfortunately, they caught me in the act. They mistook us for villagers from Great Qi, and started a dispute with them. Boss, this is all my fault. If there’s punishment, let it fall on me alone.”

Zhan Xiaobai chuckled softly and shook his head, “No need for punishment. Only our Xiaobai Village has rafts in this area. Black Tiger isn’t stupid—he knows it was us. He just wanted an excuse to seize Great Qi’s fish. Now, I have a task for you.”

Afei immediately responded, “Just say the word, Boss, I’ll get it done.”

Zhan Xiaobai instructed, “Go to Tiger Leopard Village and tell them to stop the dispute with Great Qi Village. As for the stretch of river at Great Qi, let both sides split it evenly.”

Afei hesitated, “Black Tiger is a tough guy. Will he listen to me?”

“It doesn’t matter if he listens or not. I’m sending you just to make our position clear,” Zhan Xiaobai replied. “When you go, make a grand entrance. Let players from both villages see you’re acting as a mediator. Whether or not it works, Great Qi will owe us a favor. As for the outcome, that’s up to fate.”

Afei didn’t quite grasp Zhan Xiaobai’s strategy, but the mission was simple—just running an errand, nothing complicated.

With Zhan Xiaobai’s backing, Afei swaggered into Tiger Leopard Village with a group of brothers and met Black Tiger. He wasn’t the least bit intimidated by Black Tiger. “Black Tiger, I have a message. My boss asked me to tell you the river incident was nothing—don’t make a fuss. Oh, and he said, as for Great Qi’s stretch of the river, you and Great Qi split it evenly.”

Black Tiger was flabbergasted. Damn, this troublemaker Afei actually had the nerve to play mediator.

Black Tiger’s face was unreadable as he mulled things over, then said, “Fine, I’ll yield and split the river with Great Qi. Tell Xiaobai, I’m only making this concession out of respect for the deep friendship between our villages. Otherwise, I would never have agreed.”

Afei was surprised by Black Tiger’s easy compliance, and left to report back.

As Afei departed, Black Tiger ground his teeth in frustration. The great expansion of farmland and peak construction was approaching. He already regretted tangling with Great Qi over such a trivial matter. Now, with Xiaobai Village stepping in, it was the perfect excuse to de-escalate and put the conflict on hold. He’d count this favor as a gift to Xiaobai. When his own village grew stronger in the future, not just Great Qi—even Xiaobai would have to take notice!

With an elder from Xiaobai Village mediating, Tiger Leopard Village immediately ceased hostilities. The good news reached Great Qi, and the entire village cheered—the trouble was finally over.

Great Qi, however, felt bitter. He’d sent someone to beg Xiaobai to mediate and was refused, yet when he didn’t ask, Xiaobai resolved the matter of his own accord.

Damn it, he’d become everyone’s punching bag, to be hit or tossed aside as others pleased. The humiliation from Tiger Leopard Village would not be forgotten—he’d get his revenge someday. Xiaobai Village clearly had no respect for him either.

His subordinates came to ask how to arrange tomorrow’s farming, as there were barely fifty farmers. Annoyed, he barked, “Everyone to the fields—plant as much as you can! We mustn’t have less farmland than Xiaobai Village… no, than Tiger Leopard Village!”