Chapter 743: Those Who Know the Times Offer Their Family Wealth, Using Both Favor and Force to Command the Heroes

The atmosphere in the great hall of Zeng Clan Fortress was taut as drawn swords and crossbows.

All the clan elders and officials in power were urgently summoned together.

In the center of the hall, the rosewood table was piled with yellowed land deeds and thick account books, while several overseers of the granaries, sweating profusely, were checking the final numbers.

"Brother, what on earth are you doing?" Ceng Lin, covering his swollen half‑face, stood before the table and shouted, "Our Zeng family's foundation is far deeper than the Wang's; if we unite with the great clans of several other prefectures to hold the fortress, then Chen Yan has immense ability, and considering the impact, it will be hard for him to bite off this hard bone of ours."

An elder of the clan, leaning on a cane, also paused on the stone floor, his deeply wrinkled face full of discontent.

"Patriarch, you are pushing the ancestral inheritance into a furnace," the elder coughed heavily twice, "Don't you understand the principle that when the lips are gone, the teeth feel the cold? If we hand over our assets today, tomorrow he can hold a sword to our throats."

Zeng Bo strode to the table, slamming both palms onto the surface, producing a muffled thunder that silenced all the clamor in the hall.

"All of you shut your mouths and think with your brains," Zeng Bo's sharp gaze swept each face present, "Chen Yan commands an elite tiger‑wolf force; even the surging Qi army suffered heavy losses at his hands."

Zeng Bo circled the table and stood before the elder, towering over him and staring him down.

"Do you really think our few thousand guards can stop Lu Ming's heavy‑armored cavalry?" Zeng Bo pointed toward the outside of the fortress, "The Wang family fortress gate couldn't even withstand a single strike before it was smashed into splintered wood. Do you want the entire clan, young and old, to become tongue‑less wrecks?"

Ceng Lin clenched his teeth and argued.

"But if we openly reveal our grain and land, we become a fat sheep for anyone to slaughter, losing every bargaining chip."

Zeng Bo sneered, picking up an account book from the table and opening it.

"What Chen Yan needs now is stability and provisions; he doesn't care about killing a few to assert authority," Zeng Bo tossed the account book to Ceng Lin, "And haven't you seen the reaction of those poor folk outside? The whole of Xiazhou's populace sides with him; who would dare act against the wind now, becoming live targets for the people's vented anger."

Zeng Bo halted, inhaled deeply, his eyes flashing with the fervor of a high‑stakes gamble.

"That Chen Yan is no pond‑dweller; his ambition extends far beyond this tiny Xiazhou," Zeng Bo lowered his voice, "He will become a true dragon that stirs the world's clouds; if we now stake all our fortunes, we become the dragon's loyal subjects delivering coal in a snowstorm."

Upon hearing the words "dragon's loyal subjects," everyone in the hall inhaled a sharp gasp.

"Prepare the wagons," Zeng Bo ordered decisively, "Load the fifty‑thousand shi of grain and all the authentic account books onto them; I'll go to the Zongguan Fu myself today to knock on the door."

The next morning, thin mist still curled through the streets and alleys.

A convoy of heavy wagons, stretching for miles and laden with burlap sacks, pressed deep wheel tracks into the Qingshi stone road.

Zeng Bo, clad in a plain single robe, walked at the front of the convoy, letting the morning wind beat against him.

Upon reaching the imposing Zhuqi Daimen of the Xiazhou General Command, Zeng Bo made a move that shocked all the accompanying clan members.

He untied his belt, stripped off the robe, revealing a not‑very muscular bare upper body.

Zeng Bo seized a bundle of spiked brambles from a nearby servant and slung it onto his back.

The sharp brambles instantly pierced his flesh, a few strands of crimson blood slowly flowing down his spine.

Zeng Bo knelt heavily on the hard stone steps before the gate, raising both hands high with the account book that recorded all of the Zeng family's assets.

"I, humble commoner Zeng Bo, bring the Zeng clan to beg the Lord of the Pillars for forgiveness," Zeng Bo shouted with all his might, "The Zeng family is ready to fully cooperate with the authorities' investigation and will voluntarily pay all overdue taxes and grain from previous years."

The act was like a massive stone dropped into a calm lake; the entire Xiazhou City erupted in uproar instantly.

Every hidden observer from the various factions and great clan spies watching from the shadows saw their eyes widen to the point of bursting.

They never imagined that the biggest local power in Xiazhou would voluntarily surrender in such a near‑self‑destructive, humble manner, leaving not a single ounce of resistance.

"The Zeng family has gone mad; they're slapping the faces of all our noble houses!"

A strong‑armed scion hiding at the alley entrance stamped his foot in fury, muttering curses, yet was startled by the endless line of grain wagons Zeng Bo brought, his scalp tingling.

At that moment, the charcoal fire in the Zongguan Fu's study burned brightly.

Gao Jiong stood before the half‑opened window, his cold gaze fixed on Zeng Bo kneeling and kowtowing outside the gate.

"Lord of the Pillars, you see how this old fox puts on the act," Gao Jiong turned to look at Chen Yan, who was seated at the desk practicing calligraphy, "Since the Zeng family's fat meat has walked in the door, why not strike while the iron is hot and seize them all."

Gao Jiong walked to the edge of the desk, his fingers lightly tapping the tabletop.

"The fifty‑thousand shi of grain they bring is enough for our army to gorge for a year and a half; if we kill them, Xiazhou will no longer have any voices daring to defy us."

Chen Yan's wolf‑hair brush did not pause; he steadily wrote a fierce "Zhen" character on the rice paper.

"Your eyes are fixed only on the few bags of rotten grain before you," Chen Yan hung his brush on the holder and gave Gao Jiong a cold glance, "Killing Wang Huairen was to set a rule that must be obeyed in Xiazhou; that is establishing authority."

Chen Yan lifted the tea cup before him, stirring the floating leaves.

"Zeng Bo, at this moment, saw the situation clearly and voluntarily handed the knife to me; that is knowing the times," Chen Yan said, drinking the tea and swallowing, "If I were to kill even those who surrender voluntarily, who in the Northern Border would dare lay down arms and acknowledge me?"

Gao Jiong immediately dropped his cold demeanor and bowed respectfully.

"It is my short‑sightedness that failed to perceive the Lord of the Pillars' far‑sighted strategy."

Chen Yan set down the tea cup and waved to Zhang Wenqian, who had been standing outside the door awaiting orders.

"Old Zhang, go open the main gate and personally escort the Zeng clan head inside," Chen Yan instructed, "Order the kitchen to prepare a fine banquet; I will receive him with the courtesy due to a distinguished guest."

Zhang Wenqian took the order and hurried out of the study.

The gate swung wide; Zhang Wenqian ascended the steps quickly and reached Zeng Bo.

He personally reached out, grasped Zeng Bo's blood‑stained arm, and pulled him up from the ground.

"Why this, Clan Head Zeng? The Lord of the Pillars knows your great righteousness and has specially ordered us to welcome you," Zhang Wenqian ordered the removal of the brambles from Zeng Bo's back and draped a Great Cloak over him, "Please come inside; the Lord of the Pillars has been waiting in the inner hall for a long time."

Zeng Bo's heart, hanging in his throat, sank back into his gut the instant he heard those words; he knew the Zeng family's high‑stakes gamble had won.

The inner hall was arranged with great elegance, lacking any grim aura of killing.

Chen Yan sat in the main seat, a gentle smile on his face, watching Zeng Bo enter, supported by Zhang Wenqian.

Zeng Bo, ignoring his wounds, pushed aside Zhang Wenqian's hand and firmly knelt on the ground, performing the grand ceremony of three bows and nine kowtows.

"Commoner bows before the Lord of the Pillars; my failure to discern the larger situation early delayed the equal‑field measures, truly a grave fault."

Chen Yan rose, walked down the steps, and lifted Zeng Bo with both hands.

"Clan Head Zeng, where do these words come from? Speak quickly," Chen Yan pulled Zeng Bo's arm to seat him on the guest seat, "Your ability now to see the big picture and bring the fifty‑thousand shi of grain resolves the urgent crisis I face in resettling the Liuren."

Zeng Bo repeatedly gestured, sincere and fearful.

"This is what a commoner should do; as long as I can ease the Lord of the Pillars' worries, the Zeng family would die a thousand deaths without complaint."

Chen Yan returned to the main seat, sitting down, his gaze becoming profoundly distant and sincere.

"I have always been clear in reward and punishment; Wang Huairen defied orders and plotted rebellion, ending with his head and body separated," Chen Yan leaned forward slightly, delivering the heavy bomb of his admonition, "Since the Zeng family led by handing over all account books and land details, I will not confiscate your lawful private property."

Chen Yan paused briefly, looking at Zeng Bo's face, which was so tense he dared not breathe.

"I, the Duke, decree to waive all of your Zeng family's 30% commercial tax and agricultural tax for the next two years. In the future, as long as your prices are fair for Xiazhou's military supplies procurement, the Zeng family's firm may be given priority supply."

This huge gift, like a thunderclap on a clear day, struck Zeng Bo's head directly.

He had only sought to spend money to buy lives and keep his family's lineage alive, but did not expect Chen Yan's simultaneous grant of grace and authority to directly expose him to the military supply business he had never even dared to imagine.

Zeng Bo was moved to tears, his eyes brimming, and again knelt on both knees, banging his head so that it clanged loudly.

"Chen Zhuguo's great kindness and virtue, the common folk can never forget," Zeng Bo, tears streaming, swore the most poisonous oath, "From now on the Zeng family is willing to be Chen Zhuguo's running dogs; as long as Chen Zhuguo gives a single command, the Zeng family will go through boiling water and leaping over fire without hesitation!"

Chen Yan nodded with great satisfaction and ordered his men to send Zeng Bo out of the residence.

When Zeng Bo, head held high, chest out, face glowing red, walked out of the Zongguan Fu Damen, he turned and shouted a clear signal to the scouts on the street:

"Those who follow Chen Zhuguo shall prosper; those who oppose Chen Zhuguo shall perish. The Zeng family has already abandoned darkness for light; if you still wish to die stubbornly, you are digging your own graves!"

Those remaining aristocratic defenses scattered across Xiazhou collapsed and crumbled within just a few days.

The heads of all large, medium, and small families, as if mad, hired horse-drawn carts loaded with Provisions and account books, rushing to the government office's main gate to line up and voluntarily surrender authority.

Yet within just a few days, Xiazhou's Provisions crisis was not only completely resolved, but the stockpiles in the treasury swelled to an unprecedented level.

Chen Yan, without shedding blood, completely seized the entire economy and lifeline of Xiazhou, holding them in the palm of his hand.