Chapter 857 – The Most Outstanding Prodigal Son (2/2)

Chen Changsheng vaguely understood what was written in this scroll.

The Tang Old Master silently pondered for a very long time, then said, ”I admit that you have a deep understanding of the family business, and I also admit that these plans of yours are truly quite sinister and vicious. But since you are the sole grandson of the Tang clan, how can you be so cruel and callous towards your own clan? Can you persuade yourself?”

Tang Thirty-Six said, ”I will tell myself that I learned it from you. Shouldn't the head of the Tang clan be so cruel and callous?”

The Tang Old Master asked, ”Then did you ever think what would happen to the Human race if the Tang clan is destroyed?”

”I've always felt that the Tang clan's biggest problem is narcissism.”

Tang Thirty-Six explained, ”For one person, from a certain perspective, narcissism can add to one's charm, like it does with me. But for a clan, excessive narcissism is not a good trait, as it's liable to give one a mistaken perception of one's own importance and so cause mistakes when engaging in negotiations with the enemy. I hope that Sir will not make this mistake. The Tang clan is not as important as several of my uncles imagine. They think that if the Tang clan collapses, the human world will collapse with it, all the industries will fail, the people will be destitute and homeless, and everything will fall into chaos.”

The Tang Old Master stared into his eyes and said, ”The question is, how can you be so sure that such a situation will not occur?”

Tang Thirty-Six replied, ”So what if it happens? With me here, as long as the Imperial Court and the Orthodoxy don't lose their heads, the chaos will only persist for a year and a half at most.”

The Tang Old Master's eyes grew colder and colder, ”But did you ever think about how many people might starve to death in this year and a half?”

Tang Thirty-Six quietly stared at him, seemingly for ages, then said, ”I might have starved to death in the ancestral hall. Did Sir ever think about that?”

At this moment, the Tang Old Master finally felt threatened.

Because Tang Thirty-Six was threatening him with the object that he cared about the most: the continued succession of the Tang clan throughout the ages.

And Tang Thirty-Six had succeeded in proving that he had the ability to end the clan. At the least, there was a chance that he could destroy the Tang clan and was willing to do it.

The Tang Old Master finally knew how this once-unruly and cheerful grandson of his had been changed by his half a year in the ancestral hall.

……

……

”If you really do this, your memorial tablet will have no right to enter the ancestral hall and your name will be stricken from the family register.”

”On the first day that the Tang clan is ruined, I will have the ancestral hall burned down. I've already lived in it for half a year; do you think that I want to move back once I die?”

”What of the eternal infamy? Even if you're buried in the Li Palace, people will still spit at your grave whenever they pass it.”

”If I can still climb out of my grave, I'll naturally spit back. If I can't, why do I care?”

”Are you so interested in being the greatest prodigal son in history?”

”I'm very interested. You're not prepared to give this clan to me, so why shouldn't I bring this clan to ruin?”

The common people would often describe heroism with the phrase, ”Spend a thousand pieces of gold, it'll all come back.” (TN: This phrase originates from the poem 'Bringing In the Wine' by Li Bai. The poem could perhaps be described as an ode to Li Bai's love of wine and drinking.)

But to play the prodigal son to this level was what it truly meant to be heroic.

”If you give the Tang clan to me, then it's mine and I will guard it well. If you don't give the Tang clan to me, then there will come a day when I make it fall to ruin at my hands.”

Tang Thirty-Six had a very serious expression as he spoke to the Tang Old Master. There was no sense that he was making a joke.

It was clear that he had two different meanings in mind with the word 'ruin'.

The Tang Old Master looked in his eyes and said, ”Perhaps I should have killed you earlier.”

Tang Thirty-Six replied, ”It's not too late now.”

The Tang Old Master fell quiet for a very long time, then said, ”That's true.”

Chen Changsheng had remained quiet even longer than the Old Master, not saying very much since the start of this conversation. At this moment, he finally spoke.

He looked at the Tang Old Master and shook his head. ”No.”