Chapter 401

"Old Jiao, come, try my flower tea."

"Sss-ah! Young Master's flower tea is truly fragrant! I've never drank such good flower tea in my life! Is this osmanthus? Why does it taste completely different from the osmanthus tea on the market? Even in the Tea Tasting House, there wouldn't be tea this good, right?"

Jiao Zheng was scalded and kept sucking in air, but he couldn't stop drinking, showing he liked it very much.

Wang Yang said:

"It is osmanthus. I took the half-opened osmanthus buds, removed the stems, and mixed them with Jin Ling tea, one layer of flowers, one layer of tea..."

Jiao Zheng had no interest in listening to the young master talk about tea, but he pretended to be very interested, sighing in admiration and envy.

"I'll pack two bags for you when you leave later..."

Jiao Zheng was immediately flattered, thanking him profusely, and then took the opportunity to take out a red lacquer carved box. Opening the lid, lined with plain silk, a pair of small, exquisite jade Pixiu lay on the silk:

"Young Master has bestowed such grace, I have nothing to repay you with. I obtained a pair of jade Pixiu a few days ago, said to be ancient Wei Jin jade, and the quality is decent. Such things are a waste in my hands, so I offer them to you today, wishing you peace, prosperity, and long-lasting good fortune!"

Wei Jin green jade Pixiu, now housed in the Palace Museum.

Unearthed from the ruins of the Weiling Mausoleum of Emperor Yuan of Han.

Jiao Zheng had specially searched for this pair of Pixiu in the market, spending sixty-three thousand coins. Although the jade quality wasn't top-tier, it was ancient jade and a pair, so it wouldn't be shabby as a plaything for a noble young master.

Wang Yang picked up a jade Pixiu casually:

"Hetian jade, the staining is quite good, it has an aura, but the workmanship is average, though it's considered decent for the Wei Jin period. Wei Jin jade wares are not bad if they capture the Han charm, but the ones that truly break new ground and have their own character are the jade cups..."

Jiao Zheng saw Wang Yang's indifferent attitude and hurriedly said:

"So you like Wei Jin jade cups. I happen to know a friend who has one, I'll send it to you tomorrow!"

Wang Yang laughed:

"I didn't ask you to look for one..."

Jiao Zheng smiled apologetically:

"The object is ready, it's just a matter of running an errand. My friend doesn't understand jade either; it's the same in his hands as in mine, he can't see anything, doesn't dare use it, and can only let it sit idle, wasting the item..."

Wang Yang put down the jade Pixiu:

"Old Jiao, you came to see me for something, right?"

Jiao Zheng put on a constrained, fawning smile, his facial wrinkles bunching up:

"Nothing can be hidden from you, Young Master... Actually, I came to disturb you today because there is indeed something I want to ask of you, but it's hard to speak of, so I sought some small gifts first, wanting to please you—"

"Old Jiao, look at you, doing this again. We are old acquaintances, if there's anything, just say it, let me hear it!"

Seeing Wang Yang in a good mood, Jiao Zheng was happy and hurriedly explained the matter.

It turned out that the Prince of Badong was gathering a great army, and Jiao Zheng was also on the conscription list. Unlike high-ranking adjutants often served by noble clan sons, such as Advisory Adjutants, Regular Adjutants, Traveling Adjutants, or Legal Adjutants, low-ranking adjutants like him could sit in the office and handle affairs in peacetime, but once war broke out, they had to don armor, wield swords, and fight on the battlefield.

This was originally a way for low-ranking adjutants to advance, allowing them to fight for a future with military merit. If Jiao Zheng were younger, he might have been willing to give it a try. But now he really didn't have the heart for it, especially after the Chen Tianfu case, feeling that gambling his life for battlefield fame wasn't worth it.

Moreover, the Prince of Badong's rebellion had an uncertain outcome; if he won, he might not live to see it, and if he lost, the army would disintegrate, and he would have a slim chance of survival. Even if he survived by luck, he might not escape accountability. So he wanted to stay and guard the city, which was safe and allowed him to adapt to circumstances, guarding his family and assets—wasn't that better than going thousands of miles away to stab others?

The idea was good, but implementation was too difficult. He was a low-ranking military officer from elsewhere, with no connections, no faction, and no support; otherwise, how could he have remained stuck in this position for so long?

If one had to count a connection, Liu Yin was actually his connection. But Liu Yin looked down on him, and coupled with the Chen Tianfu incident, avoided contact with him. It was thanks to this that he survived when Liu Yin fell, unlike so many others who suffered.

Actually, whether it was going to war or guarding the city, it was all decided by the military government, and it was very difficult to pull strings. Moreover, it was a special period, and the most taboo thing was for someone to shrink from the battle or fear the enemy. If caught, he might be sacrificed to the flag before the battle even started; that would be worse than following the expedition and leaving it to fate.

Jiao Zheng had been about to give up, but then he heard that Wang Yang had been appointed as a Military Affairs Official, wielding great power! He didn't know how many people were looking for him to handle affairs, inquire about news, pull strings, or build connections every day!

This reignited Jiao Zheng's hope! He rushed over to give Wang Yang a gift, hoping Wang Yang would remember their little "friendship" and help him this time.

He had previously handled the Black Man's military registration for Wang Yang, but at the time, hindered by Du San, it was done half-heartedly, only extending the transfer order by seven days, which clearly couldn't be expected to exchange for Wang Yang's help. So he didn't even mention it—not to Wang Yang, and not to the Black Man who had kept him waiting in the gatehouse.

After all, the Black Man was not what he used to be; if he thought he was intentionally exposing his shortcomings, thereby offending the head steward of the Wang residence, that would be bad.

Fortunately, since Wang Yang could accept those three hundred thousand coins, he was clearly someone who could be persuaded, so Jiao Zheng offered a heavy gift first to show his sincerity.

After hearing him out, Wang Yang thought for a moment and said:

"If the City Defense Office comes forward, would it work?"

Jiao Zheng's eyes lit up, and he hurriedly nodded:

"It would work, it would work! If the City Defense Office is willing to issue a dispatch to keep someone, that is legitimate! It's just that my name is already on the military register, I'm afraid the military government side..."

"The military government side is easy to handle, I'll just cross your name off directly."

Jiao Zheng was so excited he almost cried!!

He felt that the venison meal he arranged back then was truly worth it!!!

Even those three hundred thousand didn't hurt so much anymore!!!

At this moment, he looked at Wang Yang as if looking at his savior! He knelt down and bowed:

"If you can say a word to the City Defense Office, I will surely repay your kindness heavily!"

The City Defense Office certainly wouldn't dare to reject his face, but involving city defense personnel, just saying a word to the City Defense Office might not be enough; he would also need Kong Zhangyu, who was responsible for the defense, to nod.

Kong Zhangyu originally intended to be on good terms with him, and besides, he had accepted his gold and pearls. Kong was also afraid of leaving a grudge regarding the Wenyang dispute in front of the Prince of Badong. At this time, if he asked him to help keep a small official, he wouldn't refuse. At most, he would keep an eye on Jiao Zheng, fearing he might defect, and wouldn't assign him to a key position.

Wang Yang looked at Jiao Zheng kneeling on the ground:

"I can help you with this, and I can even ensure you don't have to guard the city arduously, giving you a leisurely position. But I don't want you to repay my kindness; I only want one thing."

Jiao Zheng was full of joy, his mouth wide open:

"That's fine, that's fine, just tell me what you want! As long as I have it! I will surely offer it to you!"

Wang Yang leaned against the desk, a smile playing on his lips:

"You have it; it is the thing you use to save your life."

Jiao Zheng was full of question marks:

"The thing to save my life, what are you talking about—"

"It is the thing you used to save your life in the Chen Tianfu case."

Boom!

Jiao Zheng was struck by lightning!

The eyes that had been shining just a moment ago were now wide open, the ecstasy within vanished, replaced by unbelievable terror and dread!

"Yo-Yo-Young Master, what are you talking about..."

Jiao Zheng's lips trembled violently, his voice sounding as if it were squeezed from between his teeth, his brain buzzing and in a mess!

Wang Yang picked up the jade Pixiu and played with it casually:

"You did such a big thing for them, the reason you weren't silenced was naturally because you held something in your hands. What are you holding?"

(Chapter 179, "Not Asking": "Wang Yang felt a bit guilty, because regarding his father's case, he had long seen a clue but had never told Chen Qingshan.")

Jiao Zheng's face was as white as a dead man's, his whole body kneeling there, leaning back involuntarily, as if wanting to escape, yet as if nailed to the ground, unable to move:

"No... nothing, nothing! I have nothing—"

"Old Jiao, do you know why I haven't touched you for so long?"

Jiao Zheng looked up in a daze, meeting Wang Yang's eyes, which seemed to be smiling but not smiling. It was these eyes! He used to think it was the noble young master's free-spirited, game-playing nature, but now it made all the hair on his body stand up!

"Chen Tianfu was an old friend of my father. He died unclearly, and I need to understand what happened. As for you, I have a good impression of you; you treated me to a meal and sent me money. The saying goes, 'those who eat are soft-mouthed, those who take are soft-handed.' Since you treated me sincerely, and you didn't kill Chen Tianfu, I didn't take action against you.

This time, leading troops to Jiankang, I don't know if I can return alive. Anyway, regardless of success or failure, I need to have a count in my heart. If you give me the thing, this matter has nothing to do with you, and I will find someone else; if you don't give it, then the matter falls on you. I can only use you to make a clean break."

Jiao Zheng opened his mouth, as if wanting to say something, but was choked by something. Suddenly, he prostrated himself on the ground, his voice hoarse and broken, wailing with a crying tone:

"It's not that I don't want to hand it over! But if I hand it over, I won't be able to live!!!"

"Do you think you can live if you don't hand it over?"

Jiao Zheng shuddered!

Wang Yang leaned back, his voice not heavy, even somewhat lazy:

"Old Jiao, I won't pursue whether you had merit in being the first to report, whether it was before or after Chen Tianfu's death; I won't pursue whether you were an active conspirator or forced to frame him. You say you didn't frame Chen Tianfu out of greed for wealth or position, I believe you. But do you believe that if you don't hand the thing to me today, whether you go on the expedition or guard the city, within three days, I will have you stripped of your office, bankrupted, and executed?"

Jiao Zheng was so scared his bones trembled, kowtowing repeatedly and begging:

"Young Master, please leave me a way to live! Young Master, please leave me a way to live!!!"

"The way to live is right before your eyes, you just didn't see it clearly. Well, for the sake of being old acquaintances, I'll point it out clearly for you.

The reason you have this thing to save your life is because they are afraid you will expose it; it's a handle, so they dare not kill you. But a handle is a handle even if it's not in your own hands. If you put it where they can't reach, it's still a handle.

Besides, if I take this thing, I won't tell anyone; it's just to corroborate the truth of your words. So they won't know you've lost the handle. Now that the Prince is raising an army, the situation has changed drastically. Whether they have the heart to deal with you, the opportunity to deal with you, or even the life to deal with you, is all uncertain. But I can deal with you right now; isn't it clear how you should choose?

The current situation is that the thing can't protect you, but I can.

I can do it now, and I can do it in the future. If you give the thing to me, you can stay in the city with peace of mind. When we win, I will be in power, and since you are my man, I will naturally take care of you. If we lose, I will die, but my Langya Wang family does not betray people; I will leave a letter for the Chen Jun Xie family and the Xinye Yu family.

While I am here, I protect you; if I am not here, the Xie and Yu families will protect you. With my Langya Wang family's generations of reputation as a guarantee, you should believe me. Of course, you can choose not to believe me, but you have no choice.

Oh, that's not right, you have one more choice: you can assassinate me right now."

Jiao Zheng's breathing suddenly stopped!!!

Wang Yang's eyebrows lifted slightly, his hand resting on the sword gifted by Lady Le, revealing a bit of heroic spirit amidst his laziness:

"Right now, before my guards come in, attack with all your might.

If you succeed, I die, and then you and your family will be buried with me;

If you don't succeed, I won't die, but you will still die, and your family will also die.

Make your choice."

Wang Yang's voice turned cold.

Jiao Zheng froze for a moment, completely collapsing, his whole body as if his spine had been pulled out, paralyzed and crying:

"I'll hand it over! I'll hand it all over!!!!"