Chapter 225

Gao Tianlong was filled with shock.

Gao Yang felt his scalp tingle and slowly extended a finger: "Sun Er didn't skim seven thousand taels, nor seventy thousand taels, but the 'one' in front of that."

Once these words fell, Gao Tianlong's breathing suddenly became disordered.

He widened his eyes, his face full of disbelief.

"What?"

"You wicked grandson, you skimmed one million taels?"

Gao Tianlong nearly spat out a mouthful of blood; he had sensed something was wrong at the time and had specifically sent Gao Feng to search him, thinking that if it could be found on his person, it would be a minor issue.

If it couldn't be found, then the problem was huge.

But he never expected that Gao Yang had actually skimmed one million taels.

"You and Commander Li in the palace, five hundred thousand taels each?"

Gao Tianlong paced back and forth in the room, finally looking at Gao Yang to ask.

Gao Yang nodded in response.

Gao Tianlong gritted his teeth, "I have fought battles my entire life, yet in the end, I haven't skimmed as much as you!"

"Where is the silver?"

"Commander Li gifted me a small courtyard; in the ground of the courtyard at the east end of Changan, the silver and calligraphy have all been buried."

Gao Tianlong took several deep breaths before he could barely calm his emotions.

"Give me a reason, otherwise..."

Gao Tianlong didn't finish his next sentence, his eyes merely landing on the stick in the corner of the wall.

Gao Yang's mouth twitched, and he sighed, "Sun Er originally wanted to stop after a light taste, creating a wave of greed as a weakness for the Empress, but I never expected that Commander Li Long, sent by the Empress, hadn't taken bribes for years, just waiting for this wave."

"At the time, it was all in a single thought; if I didn't take it, cutting off someone's path to wealth is like killing their parents—either I kill Commander Li, or Commander Li kills me."

"If I take it, these five hundred thousand taels could provide an extra path for me, and even the entire Dingguo Duke Prefecture."

"But this matter is indeed a trouble."

Gao Tianlong fell silent.

Everything was clear now; today's Dragon-Slaying Art and strategies for governing the country were all to cover up for those five hundred thousand taels.

But Gao Tianlong also thought of a deeper reason.

After a long while, he said, "Are you guarding against the Empress?"

This statement directly silenced Gao Yang.

But he soon nodded, "Risk and profit are directly proportional; businesses like soap are all under the Empress's nose, and I can skim a portion through methods, but this cannot be hidden from her."

"If I'm going to take it, the difference between tens of thousands and hundreds of thousands isn't great, and besides, I've studied capitalism—the bigger the waves, the more expensive the fish."

"Five hundred and ninety thousand taels of silver—Her Majesty won't overthink it, and there's no reason to investigate thoroughly."

"Since ancient times, when the cunning rabbit dies, the hunting dog is cooked; the first of the three strategies I gave you, the Middle Way, has too much risk, leaving only the second strategy of charging at the Empress, and the third strategy."

"The Empress is not easy to charge at; I don't have much certainty in that, so I can only make some preparations for the third strategy."

Gao Yang's meaning was ready to emerge.

Gao Tianlong looked at Gao Yang for a long time, finally saying in a deep voice, "The Middle Way is not impossible; why walk the edge of the sword?"

Gao Yang shook his head, his face suddenly turning calm: "Grandfather, it seems I have a choice, but in reality, I have no choice left."

"Since Prince Rong secretly plotted, and I took down the Edict for Seeking Talent, I had to reveal my brilliance to gain the Empress's esteem and, by removing Prince Rong, resolve a major danger."

"The Seven Kingdoms will undergo great changes before long; I cannot escape, I can only follow closely in the Empress's footsteps."

"But accompanying the monarch is like accompanying a tiger; the current Empress is by no means a good person."

"I was able to remove Prince Rong partly because he was arrogant and had treasonous intentions, and partly because the Empress is ruthless enough; she already possesses the characteristics of an emperor for the ages!"

"Under the 'Original Flavor Nine-Turn Intestines', Prince Rong never expected the Empress would take action; although it was my plan, it doesn't matter that I'm not a good person, but it is quite terrifying that the Emperor is not a good person."

Gao Tianlong remained silent, but having long experienced the imperial court, how could he not understand Gao Yang's meaning?

Since ancient times, how many who used vicious schemes could have a good ending?

But to let his grandson sit and wait for death, or even end up dismembered and his entire family executed, he could not do it.

He wanted to hold his life in his own hands!

Under this worry, it happened to coincide with a talent like Li Long, and in a moment of hesitation, he took the five hundred thousand taels of silver.

Hence there was gunpowder, and today's conversation with the Empress; these two strategies for a strong nation, no matter which one, could not do without Gao Yang.

This was the greatest reliance.

Especially the second one, which must rely on his grandson, but in this way, the so-called Middle Way became impossible.

Gao Tianlong looked at Gao Yang, his eyes filled with complexity.

Such power-brokering and fallback plans almost put him in an invincible position, leaving himself sufficient time.

This grandson of his is not simple!

After Gao Yang finished these words, he continued, "If I don't take these five hundred thousand taels, once the Empress changes her face, killing me would be like killing a chicken or a dog."

"If I take the five hundred thousand taels, under the entanglement of interests, Li Long and I share the same glory and the same loss; even if the matter is truly exposed, with today's Dragon-Slaying Art, as well as the strategies for governing, military, and agriculture, all needing me, Her Majesty will not turn against me."

"If the Empress has no intention of killing me, then I am naturally a capable minister for governing; but if the Empress wants to kill the hunting dog once the rabbit is dead, and burn the bridge after crossing it..."

Gao Yang raised his head, paused for a moment, and then said with extreme seriousness.

"The Dragon-Slaying Art can indeed be sold to the imperial family to achieve a great hegemony, but it can also... slay the dragon!"