Chapter 844: Great, We Don't Have to Rebel

This contracted "fish pond" is a chicken rib to Great Yin—tasteless to eat, a pity to discard.

Now Tang Luo wants it, and the Cheng family readily agrees.

But for another "same" thing, the Cheng family is not so willing.

Tang Luo wants money—precisely, various supplies—to build the Chaotic Lands.

This bite is huge and ruthless.

To be frank, Great Yin has no money now, truly none, and the war with Great Qian needs money; later, Tang Luo leading the great army straight in, deploying troops to resist also needs money.

War—sometimes winning still doesn't make money, losing needs no further explanation.

At first, the Cheng family planned to use the treasury's lack of money to stall, but after a few words, the Weeping Death God Lin Daiyu entered and walked around.

Without her usual weeping face mask, not even her daily black armor and black cloak—aside from the black cloak, she was basically dressed like an ordinary young lady.

Paired with that face, she had a somewhat overwhelming beauty.

One couldn't help but want to compare her to the peerless beauty of the age, Diaochan.

Of course, they had never seen Diaochan; now seeing Lin Daiyu, they didn't feel their spirits sway.

They only felt their hairs stand on end—this is the Weeping Death God!

Though wearing the weeping face mask, she never weeps; the weeping comes from her Flower-Burying Palm and her enemies.

Lin Daiyu had just stepped in with her front foot, when Xue Baochai entered with her back foot, taking on maid's work, giving each person a new cup of tea, and smilingly asking them to enjoy slowly.

Some people stared at the steaming tea before them, feeling damp—specifically, their buttocks cleft damp, nervous and sweating all over, where they sweat the most.

The Smiling Yama Xue Baochai, smiling more gently than anyone, yet giving the impression more terrifying than the Weeping Death God.

"I just don't understand why you're not afraid of me? I'm also a Grandmaster." Jia Da·Zhu Bajie, responsible for negotiating with the Cheng family, sighed.

Unfortunately, he cannot become a fearsome role; in a team, there cannot be only fearsome roles.

When the team lacks a "civil servant" who can stand alone, Zhu Bajie can only fill in temporarily.

"Let me think, whose wall corner can we dig?" Zhu Bajie distractedly dealt with the Cheng family, pondering the wall-digging problem.

His gaze fell on the great cauldron.

There are many Three Kingdoms warriors, and strategists (civil servants) are not few.

Not saying every strategist excels in administration, but with their intelligence, helping govern a small Chaotic Land is more than sufficient.

Only, though talented people are many, those who can dig are few.

Mainly, Zhu Bajie's standards are too high—he sees only historically famous people.

Such people basically have secure positions, and with the Three Kings Tripod Standing, unlike the early chaos, job-hopping is arbitrary.

Now arbitrary job-hopping counts as "serving two masters," and spreading it gives a bad reputation.

Think of Zhuge Liang, Zhou Yu—those are out of the question.

"We should pick those depressed and unfulfilled." Zhu Bajie thought to himself, "Or those not yet famous."

Being unknown means no reputation to ruin, just like having no money means no loss—perfect.

"Xun Yu, this won't do." In Zhu Bajie's mental theater, the first name that appeared was crossed out.

This person often mistaken for "Gou or" was, in history, somewhat tragic; a talent under Cao Cao, highly valued, but he was loyal to the Han royal house, not to Cao Cao.

Thus, tragedy ensued.

Two people who had walked together all the way finally parted ways; Xun Yu was transferred from the central hub and died of illness in "a foreign land" (one version says suicide).

Here, the Great Ding royal family does not have such a great "orthodox mandate"; with the Three Kings Tripod Standing, Xun Yu does not oppose Cao Cao being enfeoffed as king, nor minds if one day Cao the boss has the ability to destroy the Shu king, Wu king, and unify as emperor.

So, Xun Yu won't do—cannot be dug.

Next, Zhu Bajie first locked onto Xu Shu.

This person once helped Liu Bei win several battles, later forced into Cao's camp, and has since remained silent.

To this day, Cao Cao still keeps him as an idle person.

Xu Shu also maintains his silent attitude, having long lived a retired life.

"Also……Jiang Wei." Zhu Bajie chose another.

Jiang Wei, as the "Later Three Kingdoms" period, Zhuge Liang's designated successor, naturally is also a talent.

Now he has not yet shown his talent; spend some time to find him and take him directly—simplest.

Zhu Bajie naturally understands Tang Luo's plan—he has no intention of building a great state; with Xu Shu and Jiang Wei, two people, more than enough.

Digging wall corners is far more interesting than wasting time on this group of flies buzzing around dogs and petty, nitpicking fellows.

Zhu Bajie stood up at once and walked toward the door.

Now the Cheng family people all panicked.

What's happening? Leaving? Impossible—is he going to kill? Aren't they afraid of being laughed at and spat upon by the world?

Fortunately, Zhu Bajie paused at the door, said a few formal words, then left.

The remaining Cheng family people glanced at each other, then turned away, lowered their heads, not letting others see the flickering light in their eyes.

At night, Zhu Bajie's temporary mansion saw some people sneak in, one after another.

Three days later, negotiations ended.

Tang Luo's side appeared to concede much, offering conditions satisfying the Cheng family.

After the news spread, many praised the Cheng family as not bad—losing things on the battlefield, yet able to retrieve them at the negotiation table, truly formidable.

Subsequently, the Great Yin court announced to the world, thanking the Jia family's heavenly person Jia Rong Zunzhe for "clearing the ruler's side," saving Great Yin from water and fire.

To express gratitude, they granted "Chang'an Commandery" (Chaotic Lands) to the Jia family.

Roughly this meaning, but actually the wording is extremely ornate and complex, leaving people dazed.

Reading half a day, between the lines only two words: "cede territory."

Many Great Yin people were angry for a moment, but after careful thought, they discovered a blind spot.

In this proclamation, from beginning to end, there was nothing about the Great Qian; it only spoke of the Jia family.

So it was not ceding territory to the Great Qian, but giving it to the Jia family, more precisely, to Jia Rong.

This made me feel much better in my heart.

As for Tang Luo, the Lion, opening his mouth wide to demand supplies and money, naturally these would not be announced publicly, but would be sent continuously to Chang'an Commandery, becoming the startup funds for Tang Luo to establish his base.

Half a month later, the Jia family led the Great Qian army slowly withdrawing from Great Yin.

Those Cheng family people of Great Yin were then beating their dog brains out in the Forbidden City.

It was like this: when Zhu Bajie was leaving that day, he said a few formal words while separately sending voice transmissions to those Cheng family people present: "You (the mastermind behind you) want to be emperor?"

Then, that very night, someone came to defect.

Pounding his chest, he declared that as long as he became the Great Yin Emperor, he would send up all of Venerable Jia Rong's conditions, doubled.

Zhu Bajie then proposed another plan, saying the lord would not openly stand up righteously; that would be too forceful, and the side effects would be too great—gaining the throne unjustly would inevitably bring retribution.

Which country's emperor actually ascended the throne with the support of someone from another country?

It is utterly an unjust accession; the outcome will surely be miserable, even if that supporter is a supreme grandmaster.

Therefore, Venerable Jia Rong will only give you a note; when the time comes, you take it out to show the other Cheng family people, and they will know in their hearts.

This emperor can only be you; if it were anyone else, they would die.

The content of this note is also very simple: "Cheng X will be a good emperor."

As for you, you are essentially buying this note with money.

The price? Not expensive; anyway, you can afford it.

Indeed not expensive; Zhu Bajie's opening price was pressed against the bottom line of those Cheng family people, belonging to them smashing their pots and selling their iron, agonizing yet they would grit their teeth and pay.

Thus, Zhu Bajie sold this business seven or eight times, and in the final harvest, it was even more than what the original entity had proposed.

The treasury had little money, but the money of those Cheng family people, added together, was not a little.

After Tang Luo's great army left, those Cheng family people holding the notes gathered in the Forbidden City palace, one by one feeling pleased with themselves, looking down on people with their noses.

After one incense stick's time, you are to kneel down and call Your Majesty!

You wouldn't believe it? I have Venerable Jia Rong's imperial endorsement.

Then, everyone together took out the notes written by Tang Luo, and all were dumbfounded.

What, you also have one? Everyone has one?

The Cheng family people were furious to the point of losing their minds—this is treating us like monkeys, right?

If this can be endured, what cannot? So, they themselves on the spot beat out dog brains, having no choice, for they dared not openly turn against Tang Luo.

Not to mention retaliation, they did not even dare to stretch out their hands to recall the money and material convoys already dispatched and on the road.

Because they knew, once they stretched out their hands, they could not pull them back.

Jia Rong would unhesitatingly chop off their dog paws.

As for whether he would also chop off their dog heads along the way, no one dares to guarantee, let alone take the risk.

So, it is better to first eliminate the other competitors, then become emperor before speaking.

Once you become emperor, those losses are no longer losses; the entire Great Yin will be yours.

Although it was announced that the entire Chang'an Commandery already belonged to Tang Luo.

But Tang Luo did not lead his ten or so ten thousand troops straight to Chang'an Commandery; instead, he marched back to Great Qian.

He did not need those ten or so ten thousand troops to establish his own base.

Moreover, the soldiers' willingness to follow him to attack Great Yin is one thing; completely surrendering to Tang Luo to establish independence is another matter entirely.

The victorious army that had marched all the way to the enemy's capital and returned in triumph—Great Qian should have celebrated nationwide.

But in reality, the atmosphere in Great Qian was not joyful.

On the contrary, there was still some oppression, some heaviness.

The common people need not worry; having fought a hundred victorious battles outside, for them, it would not be as practical as giving them an egg today.

On this side of the imperial city, it should be the source of celebration.

But the imperial city was deathly quiet, with no movement; thus, naturally, other places could not have any movement either.

"Esteemed ministers, what do you think we should do?" In the study, the Kaiyuan Emperor looked at his ministers below, feeling very embarrassed.

Those ministers also felt very embarrassed.

What should we do? How would they know what to do? They too felt utterly desperate.

Jia Rong returned with his ten or so ten thousand troops; what does he want to do?

Everyone was very panicked, afraid that the other side would raise their banner, indicating they wanted to purge the court.

After purging the court, what then? Become emperor—one sovereign, one set of ministers.

All of you present will die!

Then we should rebel—no, that's wrong; it's better to strike first, seize this unrighteous traitor, and wage a grand war with him; dying this way would be more dignified, very proactive.

Later generations mentioning it would also be as a resister.

Just when everyone was at a loss, an eunuch outside reported the latest news.

After entering the borders of Great Qian, Jia Rong proactively dismissed his army, letting them return to their original garrisons, bringing only a thousand cavalry to the imperial city.

"Huu—"

Hearing this news, the Kaiyuan Emperor let out a long breath.

"Excellent, we don't need to rebel." An old minister could not help but say.

Everyone also broke out in relieved smiles.

Then, the smiles suddenly stiffened.

Wait, what do you mean we don't need to rebel? You old fool, will you not speak properly?