Chapter 338: Why is he so arrogant?

Yu Zhaoan bade farewell to Marquis Pingjiang, spoke some subtle flattering words, and promised that after arriving in the capital, he would remind the Ministry of War to replenish equipment and grain as soon as possible.

Marquis Pingjiang's attitude was very polite.

Two people, one managing the people, one managing the army. The person managing the army still had to beg for grain and supplies from the person managing the people; to say the relationship between the two was harmonious was not the case. To say it was like water and fire was also not quite right.

It could only be said that they handled official business according to official procedures.

All along, it had been the people below who negotiated, and the two bosses could be said to be like the King not seeing the King.

Now, Yu Zhaoan was being promoted and getting rich and returning to the capital, so Marquis Pingjiang temporarily put aside his grudges and said a few words of congratulations and blessings.

"How does the Marquis view the current situation in the court?"

"Of course, by sitting and watching." Marquis Pingjiang rarely said a witty remark.

Yu Zhaoan was stunned for a moment and gave an awkward laugh, "The Marquis really knows how to joke."

"This Marquis is not joking; this Marquis can indeed only sit and watch." After saying that, Marquis Pingjiang patted his disabled leg and laughed at himself, "Official Yu has had similar experiences to this Marquis, but you are very lucky to have met a good physician and had your leg cured. This Marquis is miserable, having met a quack and ended up with a crippled leg. This Marquis is a cripple; don't ask me about the court situation or the world situation. If you ask, I don't know. If it weren't for the Emperor's request, this Marquis would even want to throw away the job of commanding the army to pacify the thieves."

Yu Zhaoan didn't believe a single word.

Power is a man's aphrodisiac; no man can violate this law. Perhaps there is one, that Chen family child in the Heavenly Prison, a freak who would rather be a prison guard than be promoted.

"Having no desires or demands, could it be a tradition of the Chen family?" Yu Zhaoan teased, "I admire that Chen family child in the Heavenly Prison very much; I have recruited him several times, but all were refused. Alas, what a pity!"

Marquis Pingjiang's eyebrows lifted slightly, "You are talking about Chen Guanlou."

"Exactly this little brother Chen. Does the Marquis know him?"

"He is a Chen family child; of course, this Marquis knows him. In our Chen family, if nothing else, the tradition of being content with one's lot and keeping to one's duties has always been maintained. This is the family style of the Chen family. Only by not coveting things that don't belong to oneself can one live long!"

Marquis Pingjiang shamelessly gilded his own face.

Yu Zhaoan bowed his head and smiled, "This official understands. May the Marquis have his wishes fulfilled; this official will take his leave now!"

"This Marquis's legs are inconvenient, so I won't personally see Official Yu out. Someone, see the guest off for this Marquis!"

The meeting between the two ended in a harmonious atmosphere.

After seeing Yu Zhaoan off, the strategist walked out from behind the screen and speculated, "Official Yu and the Marquis were playing word games; what does he want to do? Could it be that he wants to win over the Marquis? Since he wants to win him over, why did he avoid suspicion before?"

Marquis Pingjiang picked up his teacup and sneered, "He wants to be a pure official, yet he is not that pure. Coming to the mansion today was just to test the waters. This Marquis clearly expressed that I don't want to get involved in court politics; I think he will change his target and win over others."

"Does the Marquis really not intend to intervene in court politics? Now the court is in a mess; it is a good time to fish in troubled waters."

"Everyone thinks the old Emperor is muddled and incompetent and easy to fool. Little do they know, now is the most dangerous time. The old Emperor is vengeful, narrow-minded, and extremely paranoid. He guarded against me, not hesitating to personally break my leg. If I intervene in court politics, believe it or not, the Embroidered Uniform Guard has already started sharpening their knives. He wants to kill me, but has been hesitating and unable to make a move; do you think this Marquis can give him a chance?"

The strategist's expression was solemn, "If it weren't for the fact that the Marquis is an indispensable commanding talent in the court, perhaps the old Emperor would have already made a move."

"Yes!" Marquis Pingjiang lowered his eyes and sneered, "According to the previous plan, do it."

"Do you really want to end the Great Ming Prince?"

"He is already useless! Arrange for a few more people to approach Guo Dachun; when necessary, open a gap and let Guo Dachun go south to wreak havoc."

"Yes!" The strategist took the order and left.

Marquis Pingjiang's complexion became even darker.

Chen Guanlou's home welcomed an uninvited guest, a guest he would never have thought of.

The cult rebel Zhang Daohe!

"You actually dare to appear in the capital!"

Chen Guanlou was secretly shocked. Are people who mix in cults these days so wild and unafraid of death?

"Believe it or not, if I shout, the Embroidered Uniform Guard will soon come to arrest you. What awaits you will definitely be death by a thousand cuts. You should be very clear that the Embroidered Uniform Guard is most active in arresting cult rebels, and the old Emperor also hates cult rebels the most."

Zhang Daohe sat in Chen's study, occupying Chen Guanlou's superior seat, looking like a guest who had usurped the host's role.

Chen Guanlou snorted, standing at the door, arms crossed, looking at the other party coldly.

Zhang Daohe laughed softly, "I came because I want to do a deal with Prison Clerk Chen; you don't need to be so defensive against me. As for reporting to the authorities, you are a prison guard; your duty is to manage prisoners, not to be a constable responsible for arresting prisoners. Besides, the relationship between the Heavenly Prison and the Embroidered Uniform Guard next door is not good enough to accumulate credit for each other, right?"

"You are a cult rebel, and a fugitive. Because of you, I was implicated and punished. Tell me, should I report you to the authorities and arrest you?"

"Prison Clerk Chen's words might fool those who don't know the situation, but forget it with me. As far as I know, because too many prisoners escaped from the Imperial Prison, the Imperial Prison ultimately bore all the responsibility. As for the Heavenly Prison, aside from losing me, you suffered no losses. Where does the talk of being implicated come from?"

"You are quite clear about it. Could it be that you have an inside contact in the Heavenly Prison?"

"Haha, Prison Clerk Chen really knows how to joke. If I really had an inside contact, would I still need outside help to escape from prison? I could have relied on the inside contact to help me leave on my own."

"It's useless for you to deny it. Your outside help could accurately find your cell and successfully take you away, and you still say there is no inside contact; do you take me for a three-year-old!"

Chen Guanlou was full of sarcasm.

Zhang Daohe cupped his hands, "Prison Clerk Chen's eyes are like torches; that's right, I do have an inside contact in the Heavenly Prison. Next, are you going to ask me who the inside contact is?"

"Will you say it?"

"Of course not." Zhang Daohe looked as if it were a matter of course.

Chen Guanlou chuckled coldly, "Then I won't ask."

"Since that's the case, you might as well listen to my deal first; the price is negotiable."

"What kind of deal requires you to come forward personally?" Chen Guanlou stared at the other party suspiciously. The other party didn't care, ran to his house, sat in the study, and even when blocked at the door by him, still looked calm, not panicking at all. What exactly did he have to rely on?

Why is he so arrogant?

A fugitive on a wanted list, a cult rebel, so arrogant, neither hiding his appearance nor his tracks, just running to his house to talk about a deal.

Tsk tsk...

People who dare to do business that gets their heads cut off these days really have different neural circuits from normal people.

"A big deal! I heard people say that besides the business of antiques, calligraphy, and paintings, Prison Clerk Chen also develops the business of helping people get out. It just so happens that I want to ask you to help me get someone out; the price is negotiable."

Zhang Daohe put on the appearance of a rich man who didn't lack money.

Chen Guanlou looked at the other party with extreme disgust. ===== CHAPTER 339 =====