CHAPTER 427: CHAPTER 427: AID

This might give an impression of blind confidence.

But this was Su Jin’s intuition.

Her father was too formidable.

Even without going to the battlefield, the Flying Tiger Army, in coordination with Old Master Xie, captured King Beimo alive.

If her father were there, needless to say.

Like father, like son.

Su Yang inherited Marquis Dongxiang’s character, wise beyond his years, and in the future, his achievements will definitely not be less than Marquis Dongxiang’s.

With two generations dedicated to serving the court and starting at the rank of Marquis, it’s unreasonable not to be ennobled in the future.

However, precisely because of the high starting point, how to reward Marquis Dongxiang this time indeed troubled the Emperor for a while.

Back then, when Su Jin saved the Emperor, no one expected the bandits from Qingyun Mountain to be the Flying Tiger Army.

Feihu Village occupied strategic positions, robbing the court, which was indeed a scourge.

But this group of bandits was undefeated by the court for a long time.

Considering the people living at the foot of Qingyun Mountain, coupled with the favor of saving his life, the Emperor thus bestowed the title of Marquis Dongxiang.

If it were known that they were the Flying Tiger Army then, the Emperor’s reward wouldn’t have been so great.

Marquis Dongxiang earned credit for rebuilding the Flying Tiger Army, but acting as bandits and robbing the court for many years tarnished the court’s reputation, which is a misdeed.

But now the court’s reputation is back, how could ordinary soldiers fight against the ever-victorious Flying Tiger Army?

A crushing defeat is not surprising.

The Emperor weighed the merits and demerits and appointed Marquis Dongxiang as the Great General of the Flying Tiger Army.

Su Chong naturally remained the Young Master of the Flying Tiger Army.

The other lucky ten who survived the Flying Tiger Army also received rewards.

The eight thousand Flying Tiger Army soldiers were rewarded based on their merits.

After the rewards were given.

Marquis Dongxiang thanked on behalf of the soldiers and then presented two account books to the Emperor.

One thick, one thin.

The thin one recorded the silver and grain robbed from the court over the years.

The thick one detailed how the robbed pay silver and grain were spent.

When the two account books were revealed.

Duke Chong couldn’t stand well.

Many ministers also changed their expressions.

Such changes in expression were within Marquis Dongxiang’s expectations.

Over the years, how many blames had Qingyun Mountain taken for those corrupt officials?

He robbed twenty thousand taels, but when it came to the Emperor, it was at least fifty thousand taels.

Most of the benefits were taken by them, and the Emperor’s anger was directed towards Qingyun Mountain.

Each bandit extermination was thanks to those corrupt officials’ machinations.

Though it wasn’t entirely bad for Marquis Dongxiang.

But how could Marquis Dongxiang let them take advantage for nothing?

He meticulously recorded every single account—

Calculated altogether!

Looking at the account books, the Emperor was furious.

Qingyun Mountain was a group of fake bandits!

His ministers were the real bandits!

Marquis Dongxiang presented all the evidence to the Emperor; could the Emperor not thoroughly investigate?

The Emperor immediately handed the account books over to the Minister of the Ministry of Justice.

Yes.

The Minister of the Ministry of Justice had just returned to the Capital from an investigation yesterday evening.

Marquis Dongxiang returned as the Deputy General of the Flying Tiger Army and could no longer re-enter the Ministry of Justice.

Even if he entered again, knowing Marquis Dongxiang wasn’t a bandit, the Minister of the Ministry of Justice now had only respect for him, not fear.

After handing over the account books, Marquis Dongxiang proactively took action; he looked at Duke Chong and said, "Although Tingting is the eldest young master of Duke Chong’s Mansion, he left when he was young. I always advised him not to argue with Duke Chong’s Mansion, but unexpectedly they ended up facing each other."

"Tingting didn’t know his own identity and won Duke Chong’s ancestral residence."

"But within family, debts must be settled clearly. I believe Duke Chong would willingly concede, so I won’t let Tingting give up the ancestral residence."

Duke Chong’s face slightly turned blue; he clenched his fist and said, "This is a family matter; how can it be discussed in the Political Discussion Hall?"

Marquis Dongxiang laughed, "Indeed, it’s a family matter, but the Emperor cares about Old Duke Chong."

"Previously, didn’t Duke Chong’s Mansion say Old Duke Chong was too ill to move out?"

"Tingting is Old Duke Chong’s legitimate grandson; I’d like Tingting to take care of the Old Duke, with the Duchess’s help. Duke Chong shouldn’t have anything to worry about, right?"

What’s there to worry about?

Everything from head to toe is worrisome!

But Duke Chong couldn’t speak those words.

Old Duke Chong and Duchess of Chong were saved by Su Chong along with people from Dongxiang Marquis Mansion during a fire.

Previously, it was also Duchess of Chong taking care of Old Duke Chong.

If she could do it before, can’t she do it now?!

Moreover, who in the court doesn’t know that Old Duke Chong has longed for his grandson over the years; he would certainly want to live with his grandson.

It wasn’t just the ancestral residence; they were seizing his father too.

Yet Duke Chong was infuriated to the point of vomiting blood, but he had to endure it.

Willingly concede.

He couldn’t take it back just because it was his nephew.

If Su Chong wasn’t Shangguan Ting?

There’s no bullying of the younger like this.

As for Duke Chong’s ancestral residence, Marquis Dongxiang certainly wouldn’t keep it.

After fifteen years of anonymity, relying on robbing the court to rebuild the Flying Tiger Army, all returned to Su Chong, let alone just a residence.

From start to finish, Duke Chong couldn’t find a flaw to attack Marquis Dongxiang.

His only option was the appearance.

Finding no resemblance to those years at all.

But even so, could Marquis Jibei mistake his own son?

Duke Chong forcibly restrained his anger—

Nodded.

The morning court discussions lasted till late, then came the issue of how to deal with King Beimo.

Though King Beimo was captured alive, he was incredibly stubborn, easy to kill, but hard to force surrender.

Moreover, when he was captured, King Beimo declared, "Whoever dares surrender, the nine clans will be exterminated!"

Beimo didn’t surrender, but they retreated a hundred miles.

Now that they brought him back to the Capital, how to deal with him was up to the Emperor.

But King Beimo isn’t an ordinary prisoner; killing him would completely alienate Beimo.

Releasing him would be like letting a tiger back into the mountains.

Neither killing nor releasing, just imprisoning isn’t a solution either.

The officials were divided in their opinions.

Some suggested killing, some advocated releasing, and others suggested detention.

The arguments were heated and uncompromising.

The Emperor couldn’t decide at once either.

But Duke Chong’s suggestion to kill King Beimo and support a new King Beimo was opposed by both Marquis Dongxiang and Duke Zhen.

This matter didn’t need an immediate decision. The Emperor postponed it for further discussion and concluded the court session.

The Emperor asked Marquis Dongxiang to stay for a conversation in the Imperial Study.

As Duke Chong exited the Political Discussion Hall, he was on the verge of collapse, supported by Elder Yong Cheng.

Returning to Duke Chong’s Mansion, Duke Chong could no longer hold on and fainted.

But while he fainted, troubles for Duke Chong’s Mansion came one after another.

The Flying Tiger Army returned.

After rewarding the three armies, they took turns going home to visit, which was like returning in glory.

Naturally, those in the Capital returned first.

Over these years, Marquis Dongxiang had been supporting the Flying Tiger Army, and everyone in the army could testify to it.

The expenditures were clearly outlined in the thick account book as well.

However, aiding the families of the Flying Tiger Army wasn’t the court’s responsibility; Marquis Dongxiang took care of the deceased brothers’ wives, children, and parents, so most money used was from Marquis Dongxiang’s own ventures and wasn’t counted as military pay.

Duke Chong had never provided a penny to aid the families of the Flying Tiger Army but claimed credit that belonged to Marquis Dongxiang; how could the army endure that?

Moreover, Duke Chong’s Mansion’s servant punched and kicked the families of the Flying Tiger Army to force information about who aided them.

How could spirited men endure their families being treated so?!

More so, against Duke Chong’s Mansion, it was old enmity unrequited, now with added new hatred.

Then—

The Flying Tiger Army filed a lawsuit against Duke Chong’s Mansion.