bullyxtreme Chapter 71 The Troublesome Cheng Yaojin
Chapter 71 The Troublesome Cheng Yaojin
The Duke of Lu's Mansion.
Cheng Yaojin, shirtless, squatted by the well. A ladle of cold water was poured over his head, making him shiver and sneeze twice.
He shook the water droplets off his head, grabbed a cloth and wiped his face haphazardly, then tilted his head back and gulped down half a bowl of cool tea before feeling a bit less of the heat.
On the stone table in the flower hall was the reservation list that Cheng Chumo had brought back last night.
Cheng Yaojin picked up the roster and flipped through it, a barely perceptible glint of shrewdness flashing in his cloudy old eyes.
Yuchi Gong ordered three jars, Qin Shubao five jars, and Fang Xuanling two jars. In just a few days, they've already collected nearly three hundred strings of cash in deposits.
But what is this? Three or five hundred strings of cash wouldn't even buy a decent house in Chang'an. Cheng Yaojin tossed the list back onto the table, picked up his teacup, and took another sip.
The real value wasn't the three hundred strings of cash. It was that his son had changed.
What kind of person was Chu Mo before? He would get up before noon and spend all day wandering around the East and West Markets with Chu Liang, either fighting cocks or betting on horses.
Previously, rumors circulated throughout the court that he and Yuchi Gong would beat children for no reason. Some even went so far as to say that they would beat children for amusement when it rained and they had nothing else to do.
Did he really want to hit her? He was forced into it. Who doesn't want their child to succeed and surpass them?
But since my own children are so disappointing, I have no choice but to beat them.
For the past month or so, Chu Mo has been getting up before dawn to visit the noble residences, handling everything from reservations and deliveries to scheduling and reconciliation. He has become much more composed than before.
Last night, Chu Mo came back and told him about Fang Xuanling's initiative to meet with him. He didn't say anything at the time, just snorted.
But he knew in his heart that Fang Xuanling was a notoriously arrogant man, and the number of young people in the entire court who would take the initiative to talk to him could be counted on one hand.
Chu Mo was able to get a meeting with him not because of the Lu State Duke's mansion's influence, but because of what he had actually done.
Who taught him this skill? Not Cheng Yaojin.
He suddenly remembered someone. Li Jing.
When they fought the Turks, Li Jing said something to him:
There are some people in this world who don't stand out much, but the people around them become stronger without even realizing it by following them.
Making friends with this kind of person is more effective than having ten masters.
He used to laugh at Li Jing for being too bookish, but now he suddenly realized that Li Jing was absolutely right.
But teaching one's son is one thing. Matters of the court are another.
Cheng Yaojin leaned back in his chair, squinting at the old jujube tree in the courtyard. The jujube leaves were wilted by the sun, but the roots were deep, so even the driest weather couldn't kill it.
He was thinking of Changsun Wuji.
He and Changsun Wuji fought together for half their lives and also spent half their lives scheming against each other in the imperial court.
Speaking of comrades-in-arms, they are absolutely true comrades-in-arms—they defended the city together when attacking Luoyang, charged into battle together when attacking Hulao Pass, and stood together behind His Majesty on the night of Xuanwu Gate.
This life-or-death friendship can never be erased.
If you're absolutely right, then you're absolutely right—Changsun Wuji wants to be the foremost minister in Guanzhong, to ensure the Changsun family's continued prominence for generations, and he won't tolerate anyone sharing his imperial favor.
What Cheng Yaojin wanted was for his old brothers from Guanzhong to all have food to eat, positions to hold, and not be marginalized in the new dynasty.
They can usually drink and chat jokingly, but when it comes to core interests, no one will hold back.
The boy in that farm is now the core interest.
Cheng Yaojin's protection of the farm wasn't solely out of appreciation for talent.
Love is the truth, but his deeper intention in protecting the farm is that this pawn is too important to the newly rich in Guanzhong.
Those old foxes from the Five Clans and Seven Clans, relying on their centuries-old lineage and cultural heritage, dare to openly and secretly defy His Majesty even when he is compiling the "Clan Records".
These old brothers from Guanzhong are good at fighting; those who rely on literature can't compete with them.
His Majesty's deepest concern about the Empress's illness is the growing power of aristocratic families—without a struggle for the throne or the separatist rule of regional princes, the greatest hidden danger lies in these centuries-old, deeply entrenched clans.
Wang Zhihuan, this young man, had no father or mother, no ambition or desire, yet his skills were so extraordinary that they reached the ears of the emperor.
He cured the Empress's illness, which relieved His Majesty of his greatest worry; his winemaking skills and agricultural techniques are also fundamental to people's livelihood.
Such people, as long as they remain within the Guanzhong region, constitute a new force against the powerful clans.
As for his original family background as a collateral branch of the Taiyuan Wang clan, according to my investigation, after his parents died without cause.
He relinquished his inheritance, keeping only two hundred acres of land in Lantian, and completely severed ties with that place.
To retain such talent, we cannot rely on force; we can only rely on solid abilities and personal relationships.
Such a person should not fall into the hands of the five surnames and seven clans. Nor should he be allowed to monopolize the spoils by Changsun Wuji alone.
That's why he asked Chu Mo to befriend this person, not only to let his son learn some real skills, but also to give the Cheng family an advantage in this matter.
Chu Mo is now the exclusive distributor of the young man's brewed wine. Yuchi Gong, Qin Shubao, and Fang Xuanling have all placed orders, and this connection line, using wine as a medium, has been established.
With this connection, the new elites of Guanzhong could create a completely new gathering place outside of the established families—not relying on social status or marriage alliances, but simply on a young man's wine to bring everyone together.
This matter sounds simple, but it was a piece that Cheng Yaojin had been pondering for a long time.
But he also knew that Changsun Wuji wouldn't just sit idly by. Once he made his move, the other side would certainly not hesitate.
He knew that old fox's methods all too well. With Changsun Wuji's shrewdness, he wouldn't openly target the farm, much less be foolish enough to reach out under His Majesty's nose.
He will wait, he will find people, and he will secretly set up a more elaborate scheme than what he sees now.
Based on my understanding of him, he might not even have contacted someone from within the Guanzhong Plain—
He might be a centrist, or he might be someone no one would expect; in any case, he won't get involved with it himself.
Cheng Yaojin wasn't afraid of Changsun Wuji taking action. What he feared was Changsun Wuji not taking any action.
If it doesn't move, it means it's still laying the groundwork; if it's still laying the groundwork, it means this move will be more ruthless than expected.
But Cheng Yaojin was no pushover either. He had already deployed sentries along the official road from Lantian to Chang'an. He also had spies planted among the Five Clans and Seven Families.
On Changsun Wuji's side, the people he had planted for over a decade, although unable to obtain core information, would eventually know when the winds of change shifted.
All he could do was gain the initiative in every game, ensuring that he had time to respond no matter which direction Changsun Wuji placed his piece.
The worst-case scenario is that the Five Clans and Seven Clans have also caught wind of this.
This matter is rather delicate. While there was internal competition within the Guanzhong Plain, the situation changed once the five surnames and seven clans got involved.
At that time, no matter how fiercely he and Changsun Wuji fought, they would have to stand on the same side first.
Internal affairs of the Guanzhong Plain should be resolved behind closed doors; outsiders must not be allowed to take advantage of any vulnerabilities.
He believed that Changsun Wuji also understood this principle—that old fox was selfish, but never confused when it came to important matters.