Chapter 85

Gao Tianlong smiled, put down his teacup, and said, "Given our friendship, there is no need for such formalities. After I pass away, the Duke of Ding's Prefecture will still need to trouble you all for care."

Because their friendship was very deep, and they were all old generals who had fought together for Great Qian, Gao Tianlong spoke naturally.

The others did not decline.

To them, it was not just about their own friendship, but also because the current military officials were weak; no matter who died first, they should look after each other's descendants.

Qin Zhenguo, with graying hair, said meaningfully, "Old Duke, it should be the Duke of Ding's Prefecture looking after us in the future."

Lu Zhen was very rough, and his voice was loud. He said carelessly, "That's right, damn it, your boy's performance these past few days made even me panic!"

"The Living Yama of merchants, the Living Yama of locusts!"

"Now he's even the Living Yama of officials!"

They were all military generals, so there was no beating around the bush; they spoke directly and boldly.

Gao Tianlong was stunned, a look of confusion appearing on his aged face.

"I know a little about the Living Yama of merchants and the Living Yama of locusts, but where does this Living Yama of corrupt officials come from?"

Gao Tianlong asked.

Qin Zhenguo picked up a cup of tea, took a sip, and said, "During the morning court, the Emperor announced the transport of grain to Guanzhong for disaster relief, but issued an edict ordering Chang Hong to be responsible for the relief!"

Gao Tianlong was shocked.

"This person has excellent ability, but he is a major corrupt official of our dynasty. He was stripped of his position and returned to farming a year ago because of corruption. The Emperor ordered him to provide disaster relief?"

Lu Zhen continued.

"Who says it isn't? One stone stirred up a thousand waves, and the officials exploded. The Prince of Rong was also in the court; he was the first to stand up and accuse the Emperor of mistreating the people, calling it the act of a foolish ruler!"

"Subsequently, thirteen censors angrily criticized the Emperor together, even stating on the spot that if the Emperor insisted on having his own way, they would smash their heads against this Jin Luandian!"

Gao Tianlong looked surprised, and his expression even turned somewhat solemn.

Gao Yang was right; the Prince of Rong was indeed not honest. This was tantamount to forcing the palace.

"The Emperor shouldn't be so muddled!"

Gao Tianlong said, his brows furrowed.

Upon hearing this, the three of them laughed.

"Muddled?"

Qin Zhenguo laughed loudly, his voice like a bell: "Old Duke, not only you think so, but we all thought so too, but everything that followed stunned us all."

"The Emperor gave Chang Hong a death order: if the disaster relief is effective, he will be restored to his original position; if the disaster relief is inadequate, his entire clan will be exterminated. Furthermore, the Emperor sent trusted aides to follow him!"

Only then did we understand!

This Chang Hong has extremely strong ability and a powerful network behind him, otherwise he would have died long ago. With such a promise, Chang Hong, in order to return to the court, will surely try every possible method to provide disaster relief!

He might even pay out of his own pocket and squeeze the officials he previously promoted!

Otherwise, his nine clans will not be saved!

"Those thirteen censors who claimed to be pleading for the people, as well as the Prince of Rong, Xu Xiang, and others, their faces turned green. It was truly spectacular!"

"And I met the Emperor privately afterward, only to learn that the brilliance of it doesn't stop there. If Chang Hong fails in disaster relief, the Emperor will release news of the massacre of refugees, forcing the world's noble families to act in the name of justice, and then exterminate Chang Hong to appease the public anger!"

"Very few people know about this!"

"Is this method ruthless or not?"

Hiss!

Gao Tianlong was stunned.

In his life, he had experienced too many wars and seen too much suffering of the people. He could almost conclude that this method was feasible!

But he realized the key point of the problem, "But this is the Emperor's method; how does it involve Yang'er?"

Duke of Protecting the State, Zhao Ponu, spoke up, "Everyone knows the Emperor's character. Such methods, especially the backup plan, definitely did not come from the Emperor!"

"Although the Emperor didn't say it directly, everyone in the court knows that yesterday afternoon, the Emperor kept your grandson alone. No one knows what they said."

"In this Great Qian, who else could think of such a poisonous method besides Gao Yang of the Duke of Ding's Prefecture?"

Gao Tianlong smiled.

He also nodded.

He understood the Empress's character; such a strategy indeed did not come from her.

It seems it really came from Gao Yang!

This brat, he didn't even tell him about such a poisonous scheme in advance, causing him to lose his composure.

That one thousand taels of silver was wasted!

But Gao Tianlong's face was full of smiles.

This was like a group of parents chatting, listening to other parents talk about their own excellent descendants. This sense of satisfaction was beyond words.

In one word: awesome!

In two words: really awesome!

In seven words: damn it, too awesome!

Qin Zhenguo said in a voice like a bell, "Old Duke, quickly call your playboy grandson over and let me see him."

"It's the first time in so long that I've seen the Prince of Rong so frustrated. Today, I must ask him how this kid jumped from being a playboy famous in Changan to a Living Yama who makes the world tremble!"

Zhao Ponu also said, "That's right, I also want to ask him properly, so I can go back and discipline the unfilial descendants in my own prefecture."

Gao Tianlong looked at the servant and said, "Go call Yang'er."

Lu Zhen took a sip of tea and said with some dissatisfaction: "Old Duke, you are not being authentic. You have an incredible poisonous strategist in your prefecture, and you treat us with this tea?"

"Hurry up and bring out the good tea in the prefecture."

Gao Tianlong laughed and scolded, "You are the picky one. I do have a lot of good tea. I'll take some today for you to taste."

Lu Zhen laughed loudly, showing his boldness, "Life and death are separated by a thin line on the battlefield. We all crawled out of piles of dead people and fought for a lifetime. What's wrong with enjoying ourselves now?"

Qin Zhenguo and Zhao Ponu also nodded in unison, "That's right, this tea is astringent; we should change to good tea!"

Gao Feng's heart stirred, and he stepped forward, "A few days ago, my son went to Linjiang City. Because of his merit in lowering grain prices, the local County Magistrate, Du Jiang, specially sent a box of tea."

"Although my son is a playboy, his filial piety is commendable. He specially brought it back to honor me and Father. Until today, it hasn't been opened. Today, let's taste it with all the old generals."

"Someone, bring the tea box from the innermost layer of the cabinet in my room!"