Chapter Forty-Eight: Governing a Great Nation Is Like Cooking a Small Fish

Meanwhile, at the Marquis Wu’s residence in Shangqiu, Bai Ling lay bedridden as the Right Chancellor Zhong Hui returned triumphant from his eastern campaign, leading a hundred riders. He hurried straight to the manor, arriving just as the Left Chancellor Yi Yin was present. Upon hearing that Marquis Wu Cheng Tang had been imprisoned, Zhong Hui was incensed, slapping his chair and cursing Xia Jie’s tyranny.

Zhong Hui, once the ruler of the State of Xue, had years ago been slandered by malicious courtiers, offending the sovereign of the Nine Provinces. Consequently, King Jie of Xia ordered an attack on Xue, dealing a fatal blow to the state. After its dispersal, Zhong Hui sought refuge under Marquis Wu’s banner in Shangqiu, thus becoming its Right Chancellor.

The reunion of the two chancellors after so long inevitably led to much conversation. In the main hall, Marquis Wu Cheng Tang spoke of past events, for it was Zhong Hui who had introduced Yi Yin to him.

It was recalled that Yi Yin, once the royal chef of Youxin, had won Zhong Hui’s admiration through his astonishing culinary skills, thereby attracting Cheng Tang’s attention. Yet outsiders might believe this was the sole reason, but the truth was more complex. Yi Yin possessed extraordinary talents, capable of orchestrating grand designs—so much so that even Cheng Tang was caught in his schemes.

This tale began thirty years earlier, with the decline of the Yi clan. At that time, the Yi Luo basin suffered devastating floods, which struck four times, leaving the Yi tribe displaced and struggling to survive. Ultimately, they were forced to disperse. The infant Yi Yin was abandoned by his mother on the banks of the Yi Luo River, but fortunately, a young woman found and adopted him, naming him Yi Zhi. Over the next decade, most of the Yi clan became slaves in foreign lands. As Yi Yin grew, his remarkable talents emerged. Entering Youxin as a slave, he worked tirelessly for years and eventually apprenticed under the master chef Da Meng. Da Meng cherished his young protégé, and under his meticulous guidance, Yi Yin quickly mastered the culinary arts and other disciplines, grasping them with ease. Within a few years, he surpassed Da Meng and became the most distinguished chef in Youxin.

In his final year, Da Meng retired quietly. Yi Yin, through diligent study and innovation, created many exquisite dishes, earning the Youxin sovereign’s favor and spreading his fame across the land.

At the height of his renown, Yi Yin suddenly declared his retirement, immersing himself in royal literature, and passed his chef’s post to a newly accepted disciple, Li. This was no ordinary succession; Li’s origins were mysterious, and he had appeared suddenly in the Nine Provinces. Yi Yin considered his meeting with Li a stroke of fate. After interacting with him, Yi Yin was astonished and regarded him as a celestial being descended to earth.

Li’s appearance and manner were eccentric, baffling all who met him. He was not only handsome and carefree but spoke in riddles, making shocking statements about events a millennium hence and even predicting circumstances thousands of years in the future. Yi Yin was initially irritated by such fantastical claims, but after much debate, he grew intrigued. Most compelling was Li’s mastery of culinary arts, which surpassed Yi Yin’s own. Whenever Yi Yin challenged him, Li invented new, bizarre delicacies, endlessly amazing his mentor. The proud chef Yi Yin eventually conceded defeat and, after prolonged companionship, accepted Li as his pupil.

First, Yi Yin was older than Li. Second, Li’s origins were unknown; he claimed to hide himself from the celestial beings above, needing secrecy.

Their meeting would influence the future of the Xia dynasty, validating Li’s prophecy of Shang Tang’s conquest of Xia.

After years of secluded study, Yi Yin used royal texts to master the art of governance, merging it with culinary theory to devise a novel political philosophy. With Li’s assistance, Yi Yin founded the “Yi Luo” organization, which spread across the Nine Provinces. Each member bore the character “Yi” branded on their arm and was a renowned chef or general serving regional lords. This was a secretive group, unknown even in later centuries. Li was a master of strategy and concealment, and among the people, he was known only as the “Poor Immortal of Northern Chu.”

“Poor Immortal of Northern Chu—half mad, half sage, half mortal, half immortal—greater than the gods themselves!”

“No worries for food or drink with Li, the Poor Immortal of Northern Chu in Jingzhou.”

Li, always dressed as a beggar, lived a carefree life like an immortal. He upheld justice, vanquished evil, and possessed uncanny foresight, knowing both the heavens above and the earth below.

Li was an anomaly among mortals, his actions astonishing all. Since Youxin lay within Jingzhou, the people of Xia Kou City both loved and hated him. He loved to tease the townsfolk, but whenever monsters or demons troubled them, he would appear mysteriously to deal with them. The people adored him, often saying, “Li the Poor Immortal, come to our shop—eat and drink, no need to pay, come whenever you please!”

But Li always protested, “No, no—I, Li, am not one to shirk my debts.”

There was even a well-known tale of his romantic exploits, widely circulated among the people. It was said he often exchanged glances with a widow surnamed Fang in Jingzhou, as if they were kindred spirits.

The widow Fang was a young beauty in Xia Kou City, famed for her allure. Li frequently owed her for vegetables, and once, he angered her so much that she chased him with a broom across several streets. But Li, quick-witted and nimble, always escaped her wrath.

One day, as usual, he arrived at the vegetable market.

“How have you been, Little Fang?” Li appeared, grinning with delight.

Fang, annoyed with him, muttered, “You’re in luck. I’ve got half a basket of spoiled vegetable scraps left. Hand over a coin, and you can take them all.”

Li scratched his head, embarrassed. “Could you give me half off?”

At this, Fang’s face changed instantly, and she spat out, “You rascal—just one coin, and you still want a discount? Do you believe I’ll chop your little third leg in half?”

Li raised a finger to his lips, whispering, “Shh, keep it down! After all, we shared a night together—shouldn’t old ties count for something? Just let me have them, all right?”

If he’d kept quiet, it might have been fine, but as soon as he said this, Fang blushed furiously and her voice grew louder as she retorted, “One night together? Does that mean you can get vegetables without paying? You always say the same thing every time you come here, fooling me! And you’re always so irresponsible. Hmph!”

Li, feeling guilty, dared not respond as Fang’s resentment surged.

But Fang was not finished. “Let me tell you, next time you come to the market, don’t let me catch you. If I do, I’ll chop your toes off just like I did to that old cripple next door!”

“Hey, Widow Fang, old ties do count! How could that old cripple compare to me?”

“Bah, bah, bah!” Fang spat three times, “You! You’re not even as good as that old cripple!”

At this, the crowd in the market stared. Li scratched his head, embarrassed. “Such words wound me deeply!”

There were countless tales about Li in Jingzhou, too many to recount. Yi Yin cared little for these rumors. Instead, Li often appeared deeply regretful, lamenting to Yi Yin, “If only I’d studied harder, I wouldn’t have ended up like this!”

Yi Yin, who once regarded Li as a celestial being, admired his humility and found him both respectable and endearing. Never did he imagine that this man was a singular anomaly of fate, capable of shaping the course of history. Over time, their relationship evolved into one of both teacher and friend—though nominally master and pupil, only Yi Yin knew how close they truly were.

Returning to the main point, the “Yi Luo” organization enabled Yi Yin to expand his influence across the Nine Provinces, orchestrating events to shape Marquis Wu Cheng Tang’s reputation. With Zhong Hui’s strong recommendation, Yi Yin soon captured Cheng Tang’s attention, their meeting orchestrated by Li’s careful planning.

Upon learning that Youxin harbored a man of extraordinary talent, Marquis Wu Cheng Tang immediately set out to visit Youxin, officially to pay his respects, but secretly to meet the legendary Yi Yin.

With Zhong Hui advising strategy, Cheng Tang readily accepted his plan and proposed marriage to the Youxin sovereign’s daughter, securing an alliance between the two states. The Youxin sovereign, pleased, agreed to Zhong Hui’s request and sent Yi Yin as part of the dowry to Shangqiu.

But Yi Yin was no ordinary man—he had long prepared for this moment. When Li set the bait and Cheng Tang took it, Yi Yin would only accept if Cheng Tang proved himself worthy. Thus, when they met, Yi Yin deliberately tested Cheng Tang three times.

Hence the later legend: “Left Chancellor Yi Yin thrice tested Cheng Tang to discern his character.”

First: To observe whether Cheng Tang possessed grand ambition and talent.

Second: To probe his character, courage, and foresight.

Third: Their aspirations must align, else Yi Yin would never serve under Shangqiu.

Even without Li’s prompting, Yi Yin’s wisdom would never let him board Cheng Tang’s ship without caution. For Yi Yin sought the grand affairs of the world, which could not be decided lightly and demanded prudence.

Recalling the past, Marquis Wu Cheng Tang laughed heartily. “I remember when the Left Chancellor personally prepared a bowl of soup for me, testing whether I had the resolve to save the people. Using five flavors as a metaphor, he laid out the fate of the realm in the soup. Five-colored vegetables represented the five guardians of Xia; beneath the soup was Xia itself. The soup’s lack of flavor showed the nation’s emptiness, but Xia, relying on the vegetables, appeared fragrant and delicious. If one could reverse the method of preparing the soup, the flavor could be restored. I only understood the deeper meaning later!”

“The Left Chancellor, master of strategy, had long seen through Xia’s plight. Though our nation is weak, if we can enlist the help of lords and allies, we stand a chance to overthrow Xia’s corrupt regime and save the people from misery! Back then, our state was small, and it’s no wonder the Left Chancellor hinted at our limitations—‘the soup is great, but the bowl is small,’ implying Shangqiu was too weak to gather all the flavors of the world. Only by uniting the realm could we achieve this. After the journey to Xia, I truly understood. Though fraught with peril, we were fortunate to have the aid of celestial beings and emerged unscathed!”

Zhong Hui, hearing Cheng Tang’s words, suddenly realized the true purpose behind Yi Yin’s tests. Yi Yin merely stroked his beard and smiled, saying nothing. After all that had transpired, Cheng Tang and Yi Yin had reached a consensus. Now, Cheng Tang despised Xia Jie profoundly, and the two shared the same ambition, united without need for words. Years of observation confirmed Yi Yin’s loyalty, and Shangqiu had grown rapidly under Cheng Tang’s leadership, alerting neighboring lords. The tests, after this journey to Xia, had forged a bond of mutual hardship and unwavering trust, unbreakable by outsiders. Though Cheng Tang was slow to recognize the meaning of past events, he now understood the circumstances and the world’s situation. All that remained was to quietly train troops, expand the ranks, identify targets, and wait for the opportunity to annex neighboring lords and strengthen their state. Now, with Grand General Guan Longfeng and former Xia historian Zhong Gu abandoning darkness for light, Shangqiu was more formidable than ever.

As the Great Xia had not yet summoned the five regional lords for war, this gave Shangqiu ample time to develop. The ancient clans of Kunwu, Zhuwei, Gu Shang, Jiuyi, and Goulong were each led by extraordinary rulers. In earlier times, Grand Yu of Xia had allied with them, swearing mutual aid. When disaster struck, the five lords would lead their troops first to defend Xia’s foundation.

But four centuries had passed, and the ancestral pact was weakened. Among the five lords, only Kunwu remained loyal to Xia; the others had likely lost faith and were poised for rebellion, hindered only by their own weakness. They watched and waited for their chance. All this was already within Yi Yin’s grasp; Li had acquired this intelligence years prior, though the time was not yet right. Compared to the Grand Priestess Yuan Ji of Xia, however, Yi Yin could not fathom her designs—a matter that weighed heavily on his mind.

To be continued.