Chapter 1288: Taking Sides Among the Four Kings and Eight Dukes!

In a secluded courtyard somewhere in Shuntian Prefecture,

The people summoned here were sitting together,

Watching the maid pour tea, everyone's brows furrowed with solemnity,

Because Zhang Cheng had already told them about the summons,

Walking in from outside, Zhang Cheng was wearing ordinary clothes, then sat down on a chair,

The representatives of the Four Kings and Eight Dukes and Twelve Marquises looked at him and nodded in agreement,

"Jue Ge'er, why have you summoned everyone in the middle of the night?"

Looking at Zhang Cheng, Feng Tang asked,

"Uncle, the matter of the Western Regions, you all must be aware of it—the Rosians are becoming increasingly excessive, now not only occupying vast territories but also daring to oppose our Great Qian, which the Retired Emperor absolutely cannot allow!"

Looking at the people before him, Zhang Cheng grew solemn,

"We know, but what does this have to do with your summoning us?"

Dongping Wang looked at Zhang Cheng with curiosity,

"With the Retired Emperor's tacit approval, His Majesty has already prepared to reclaim the silver owed by the Ministry of Revenue, and the first household tomorrow will be my Ningguo Prefecture! You all should think about what to do!"

Explaining to Dongping Wang, Zhang Cheng smiled,

"What? Reclaim the silver owed by the Ministry of Revenue?"

Shocked at Zhang Cheng, everyone present was stunned,

Because among those sitting here, who doesn't owe the Ministry of Revenue silver?

And among us here, we are not of one mind!

In fact, among the Four Kings and Eight Dukes and Twelve Marquises, there are actually three factions!

The first faction is the Retired Emperor, the second is Emperor Hongde, and there are also some people who have placed bets on both sides!

The representative of this is the Shi family, after all possessing Marquis Baoling Shi Ding, and also Marquis Zhongjing Shi Nai!

The status of a family with two marquises is second only to the Jia family,

But the problem is, the Shi family was finally confiscated, which likely indicates a problem, after all, the title Marquis Zhongjing represents hidden loyalties!

Titles bearing the word Zhong basically belong to the imperial lineage, for example, Feng Tang's Zhongyi, Zhang Cheng's Zhongwu.

And Marquis Zhongjing Shi Nai—whose loyalty is to whom? This makes people ponder!

Moreover, those loyal to the Retired Emperor are not necessarily on his side—don't forget, there's also the incident of the Iron Net Mountain encirclement,

The former Crown Prince still has living offspring! And he was enfeoffed as Prince Yizhong!

If these people intend to use the Retired Emperor's influence to restore Prince Yizhong to power, then after the Iron Net Mountain encirclement, the decline of the Four Kings and Eight Dukes makes sense!

After all, giving you a chance, you're useless—you couldn't even win a rebellion, so what's there to say? Losers withdraw!

In a sense, Zhang Cheng does not belong to either faction; he simply wants to climb upward.

"Is Marquis Zhongwu intending to return the owed silver?"

Looking at Zhang Cheng, Shui Rong asked,

"If not repaying, can it be done? Without the Retired Emperor's indication, would His Majesty dare to demand our silver?"

Speaking to Shui Rong and others, Zhang Cheng smiled knowingly,

And after hearing Zhang Cheng's words, everyone present fell silent,

Indeed, without the Retired Emperor, how could Emperor Hongde dare to demand repayment now?

You know, the Rosians have already reached the doorstep; even if the Retired Emperor wanted to protect them, he must make his own name look better!

"Jue Ge'er, you also know, my Shi family is poor!"

Looking at Zhang Cheng, Shi Nai hadn't spoken yet, but Shi Ding began to lament their poverty,

And looking at Shi Ding, Zhang Cheng smiled and said: "Uncle Shi, don't worry—why don't you ask the old lady about this?"

Smiling, Zhang Cheng asked,

He's not a fool—Ningguo Prefecture's arrears aren't settled, yet he comes to help the Shi family—isn't that senseless?

Besides, even if it were the Jia family's arrears, he plans to sell part of his farmland to make up the shortfall,

This isn't saying Zhang Cheng has no money, but rather he wants to set an example for Emperor Hongde,

After all, if someone of his stature sells farmland to repay debts, what right do you have not to repay? As for whether others will bear grudges, Zhang Cheng doesn't care—after all, those from the Liaodong Military Garrison are all in the same boat! If he suffers misfortune, others will fare better, and this amount of arrears, for annual business, is hardly anything!

Hearing Zhang Cheng's words, Shi Ding also fell silent,

Is the Shi family really penniless? According to the book, Shi Xiangyun spends all day sewing female embroidery to supplement household income,

But if a marquis's daughter can sew female embroidery, where did your Shi family's money go?

You don't gather money to rebel—where is your family's silver? You've ended up like this, and you still have two marquises in one family?

Moreover, logically, even if the family was confiscated, Shi Xiangyun wouldn't end up on an official ship—clearly, the Shi family has been resented by Emperor Hongde!

So saying, poverty is real, but lacking silver isn't certain—the main issue is where this silver went!

Thinking of Prince Yizhong, Zhang Cheng narrowed his eyes, for this is no easy opponent!

Never underestimate those who dare to rebel—for these people are fighting to take your life!

After the banquet dispersed, the Four Kings and Eight Dukes left one after another,

Sitting beside Zhang Cheng were Feng Tang and the Jia family, along with many others who remained behind,

Glancing at this group, Zhang Cheng understood—after all, these are all from the Liaodong Military Garrison!

"Jue Ge'er, those people's hearts are probably not reconciled!"

Speaking to Zhang Cheng, Feng Tang grew solemn,

"Unreconciled—what can be done? Must we follow you to risk our lives?"

Speaking to Feng Tang, Zhang Cheng said ambiguously: "Uncle, have you also entered the trade?"

"No, no, we are all the Retired Emperor's people, but now everyone's thoughts are in chaos!"

With a meaningful opening, Feng Tang's words clearly meant that many of the Four Wang Ba had begun to lean toward Prince Yi Zhong!

"This matter, we need not concern ourselves with; as long as the Retired Emperor remains clear-minded, he will absolutely not allow this to happen!"

Explaining to Feng Tang, Zhang Cheng raised his wine cup and took a sip,

"But what if one day the Retired Emperor becomes confused? We"

Looking at Zhang Cheng, Qiu Liang beside him then inquired,

"No greater merit than saving the sovereign"

Having said this with a calm expression, Zhang Cheng then set the cup down,

And upon hearing Zhang Cheng say this, Feng Tang and the others immediately widened their eyes and exclaimed: "But these are all old relatives!"

"No matter how close the relationship, they are not family in the household! Do they think no one knows what they have done? Once something happens, fame and status will be like passing clouds, and even relatives will be demoted to slaves."

Speaking with a grim expression, Zhang Cheng turned his head and said: "Everyone has already climbed high enough; climb higher, and it may become merit that shocks the sovereign!"

Looking at Zhang Cheng say this, Feng Tang immediately sighed and said: "Alright, we know what to do now, and Jue Ge'er must also be careful!"

"I will be departing for the Western Regions in a few days; even if they wish to cause trouble, they won't be able to find me!"

Smiling, Zhang Cheng began to tease,

Hearing Zhang Cheng say this, Feng Tang and the others all burst into laughter,

The next morning, after moving out chest after chest of gold and silver, Zhang Cheng also handed over the manor and fertile fields outside the city to the Ministry of Revenue,

Seeing Zhang Cheng's cooperation, the officials from the Ministry of Revenue who came were all stunned,

However, just as Zhang Cheng was paying the owed silver, the neighboring Rong Guo Fu exploded, for Zhang Cheng's words—was he not putting Rong Guo Fu on the fire to roast? They had silver there, and now they are even more frantic, dazed and confused.

In the Prince Yi Zhong's mansion, when a youth wearing a five-clawed dragon robe learned of this news, he fiercely slammed his cup onto the ground and said: "Uninteresting thing!"

(End of Chapter)