CHAPTER 98: CHAPTER 92: CONTRARY OPINIONS

Zhao Hanzhang pulled Fu Tinghan out of Fifth Uncle’s house and, seeing the bustling street outside the alley, invited, "Shall we take a stroll?"

Fu Tinghan also wanted to see the difference between the economic conditions of a Wu Castle and a typical town, so he nodded.

Ting He and Fu An were tidying up at the old mansion. Seeing that no attendants were following the two, the servants of Zhao Mansion hurried to catch up, but Zhao Hanzhang waved them off. "In our own Wu Castle, who could possibly bully us? No need to follow."

The servants bowed in response, watching the two walk away.

Once they had walked some distance, Fu Tinghan finally spoke, "Zhao Ming is truly formidable."

Zhao Hanzhang replied, "It’s just a pity his ambition isn’t big enough; otherwise, he could completely replace Zhao Ji."

"However, Zhao Zhongyu’s abilities are not weak. Even if he currently lacks prestige, for the sake of stability, the Zhao Family wouldn’t consider changing the clan leader," Zhao Hanzhang pondered for a moment and said, "But now that Prince East Sea has taken the emperor to flee from the Capital City, who knows what the future holds."

She continued, "If the situation worsens in the future, they might migrate south. At that time, Zhao Zhongyu would probably take the clan with him. Right now, it’s better to be still than to act rashly. Zhao Ming’s considerations are not wrong."

Fu Tinghan asked, "Would you migrate south?"

"In five or six years, we should have found the way back, right? If we haven’t by then, then perhaps we never will, and we’ll just see how it goes, following the trend and doing what’s safest," Zhao Hanzhang said calmly, basing her judgment on her knowledge of history, which Zhao Song was unaware of.

So they were addressing each situation as it came.

With a whiff of alcohol, Zhao Ming entered the study, and Zhao Song glared at him disapprovingly, "Drinking in broad daylight, doing nothing. Are you still a child?"

Zhao Ming plopped down cross-legged on a mat, poured himself a cup of tea and drank it in one gulp. "I’m sobering up as we speak, don’t be angry, old man."

Zhao Song: ...How am I supposed to not get angrier?

Setting down his tea cup, Zhao Ming wiped his mouth and asked, "Go ahead, why did you call for me? Are we supposed to sort out the clan property and the industries originally managed by my uncle to hand over to the clan leader? I’ll go do it right now."

"Stop right there!" Zhao Song snapped irritably, "Aren’t you even going to ask who’s going to manage them before handing them over?"

Zhao Ming replied helplessly, "Father, Tan Zhong has already moved into Wu Castle; I’m not deaf, I naturally heard about it."

Zhao Song frowned, "Just going to hand it over like that?"

"The clan’s properties are meant to be managed by the clan leader. Most of those assets my uncle left already went to the clan leader and Zhao Ji. If we don’t hand them over, are we going to file a lawsuit against the head lineage? Nowadays, the Jin Dynasty is in turmoil, and court strife is rampant. It’s better not to distract the clan leader with clan affairs. Let him handle it as he sees fit," Zhao Ming replied, before pausing and adding, "Actually, I think the clan leader might not genuinely want to hand everything over to his aides. It’s just that he’s short on cash right now, and having just become the clan leader, he can’t easily ask Father for help, so he’s considering liquidating the assets to raise some funds."

"Hmph, Third Lady exchanged the lands and shops around Luoyang with him, and even without discussing the value of those lands and properties, just the stock and cash in the shops, wasn’t it enough for his expenses? Why must he turn to the clan to raise money? Your uncle when he was in charge never did such a thing," Zhao Song retorted.

"Father, wasn’t this an unexpected situation? Third Lady mentioned at the time that the incident happened suddenly. The clan leader went to the palace and escaped with the emperor, while Third Lady and the others stayed home, only managing to pack some valuables, which were all lost. As for the items in the shops, never mind getting back to Luoyang, even if they could, is there anything left there now?"

Zhao Ming noticed Zhao Song’s silence and tried to reassure him, "Why is it that the clan leader would rather hand assets to aides than the clan itself? Isn’t it because Father and the clan leader have never been close? You question the clan leader, forcing him at every turn; why would he entrust assets to you?"

"Did you respond the same way when my uncle needed money while he was in charge?"

Zhao Song’s eyes widened, anger flaring up, "Are you lecturing your father?"

Zhao Ming sighed helplessly, "I’m just reasoning with you. See, you’re refusing to be reasonable again."

"I refuse to be reasonable!" Zhao Song fumed, stomping his foot in anger. "I’m not handing over anything to him! Luoyang is in chaos now, making those properties and lands seem worthless. But when he and Third Lady made the exchange, there was no chaos then!"

"He’s a senior; my son has inherited the title, and my brother has entrusted him with the ancestral property. What else is he unsatisfied with? He even tricked Third Lady into exchanging properties, and yet he has the nerve to tell me that the lands and shops in Ru Nan were gifted to Third Lady," Zhao Song said, slapping his own face, "I feel ashamed for him. Luckily, I didn’t speak out back then; otherwise, as a senior, I wouldn’t be able to face Third Lady, especially with Fu Changrong around here. It’s not just Zhao Zhongyu’s face that’s lost; it’s the entire Ru Nan Zhao Family’s!"

Having listened, Zhao Ming considered it briefly and nodded, "Indeed, it’s disgraceful."

Zhao Song’s temper eased slightly, "At least you understand the embarrassment?"

"But we can’t act on impulse. You still haven’t said how we’re going to handle this," Zhao Ming pointed out the core issue directly, "Now the clan leader is short on cash, and how are his ancestral, clan, and personal properties supposed to be managed?"

Zhao Song: ...Feeling so upset! He didn’t want to hear anything related to Zhao Zhongyu at this moment, yet it had to be dealt with.

He sat back on the mat, breathing heavily with irritation, and after a while, said, "Tomorrow, take them to check the harvest in the fields. My suggestion is he can hand his personal assets to his aides, but the ancestral and clan properties are a no."

He looked at Zhao Ming, frowning, "I was thinking, why not let Third Lady manage the properties near her lands, and give him a portion of the rent annually? The rest should be managed by the clan. What do you think?"

Zhao Ming replied, "...Father, was this Third Lady’s proposal?"

"Of course not, it was my idea; I haven’t told Third Lady yet."

"Why would Third Lady take on such thankless work? If she benefits from it, aren’t you worried that future relations with the clan leader, our family, and Third Lady’s family will worsen?"

"It shouldn’t all be up to him. How can so much ancestral and clan property be handed over to his aides?" Zhao Song argued, "Not your uncle, nor even the generation before him, ever handed the clan’s assets to outsiders to manage."

"You shouldn’t give it to Third Lady either," Zhao Ming replied, "Third Lady is around that age; she’s going to get married in a couple of years."

"But isn’t Second Son there?" Zhao Song replied, "This isn’t really giving it to Third Lady, but to Second Son."

Ultimately, Zhao Song felt for Zhao Erlang, thinking that as Zhao Changyu’s grandson, he received so little in assets, much of which should first be part of Third Lady’s dowry.

When did the descendants of the Zhao Family have to live with such grievance?

Zhao Ming looked at his father with helplessness, "Father, you underestimate Third Lady, but over trust her too."

Zhao Song looked at him with disdain, "You underestimate your uncle. If he trusts Third Lady enough to let her manage Second Son’s assets, it means he has absolute trust in her."

Honestly speaking, Zhao Song’s trust was in Zhao Changyu.