Chapter 49 Greed and Schemes (1/2)
Chapter 49 – Greed and Schemes
”According to my intel, Yuan family has betrayed the Zhang family. Wen Chou and his men retreated back to Nan Pi a few days ago.” Xin Ping continued his report.
”What!? I thought they were allies. Why did they betray them?”
”It's the Zhang family's business that caught their eyes, my lord.”
”Business?”
”Yes, it's a very lucrative business that can make a profit of over 200,000 in a few months.”
Pan Feng's eyes opened wide in shock. His salary was only a hundred gold a month. He couldn't imagine how much of 200,000 would be.
”There is more. It appears that Zhang family has just created a new product that can potentially make a profit surpassing the business I mentioned earlier. So that greedy Feng Ji of the branch family changes his attitude towards the Zhang and withheld their reinforcement.”
Pan Feng touched in chin and sunk into deep thought. Afterwards, he was baffled. If that was the case then they should have more reasons to protect Zhang family and escort them to Nan Pi. Why were they abandoning them?
”I'm sorry that I've forgotten to mention. Zhang Jiao who is Zhang Tong's father is being held as a hostage in Nan Pi.”
Pan Feng gazed at Xin Ping for a minute. Afterwards, he gloomed again.
”Those bastards want Zhang Tong to lose, right? So Zhang Tong and his family will have no choice but to seek asylum with Yuan family and hand over their business to them.”
”You are correct, my lord.”
”So we were played by the Yuan and we've come here for nothing?”
”Not exactly, my lord.”
Pan Feng raised his eyebrows up. He was still confused.
”Please do not forget that the Zhang family still possess massive amount of gold from their last deal. And they are also currently in control the business.”
”You meant?”
”We can negotiate with the Zhang family to extort their gold and their business secrets in exchange for our help.”
Pan Feng's eyes lit up, but then his face lost color. He remembered that he had killed Zhang Tong's messenger and attempted to provoke him earlier today.
Pan Feng narrated what happened earlier today to Xin Ping, which caused him to glare at Pan Feng in disgust.
'Muscle brain idiot! There's an unspoken law that you can't kill a messenger! There is no permanent enemy and forever ally in this world. Hasn't he learnt about that?'
Xin Ping cursed Pan Feng in his mind. This general was incompetent. The only good thing about him was his strength and his army management skill. As for the rest, he was utterly useless.
”A mistake has been made so you should remember it and do not repeat it again in the future. In the mean times, we should send a messenger to Zhang Tong and ask for a temporary truce.”
Pan Feng nodded. Then he ordered his men to send messenger to Tong Army.
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In front of the south gate of the fortress. A messenger of Pan Feng waved his white flag, which was a sign that he was a messenger.
”Should I kill him?” Hua Shi who was standing beside Tong asked him.
”Keep your head cool and let's hear what he has to say first.” Tong replied.
Tong asked Bo Cai and Zhou Cang to go down the wall and meet the messenger at the front gate. Both of them went down to meet the messenger, after which they received a letter from Pan Feng.
Tong received the letter from the two and read it. Afterwards, he tossed it to Hua Shi.
”They want to meet up and discuss for a truce. However, they demand us to pay them 50,000 gold for killing their soldiers.”
Tong summarized the content of the letter which caused everyone to fume in anger.
”WTF!? Those people are shameless! They are the one that attacked us first, then they want us to compensate for that!?” Hua Shi cursed out loud.
”Politicians and generals are all shameless. We, too, are shameless. Anyone that was too shy from committing any bold action has no right to stand up in this turbulence time.”
”And what are you going to do?”
”Draft me a letter. Ask them for a condition that they have to repel Guo Dian Army for us. Once Guo Dian have retreated then we will give them gold.”
Hua Shi stared at Tong in disbelief. Was he going to bow down to their demand?
”Don't misunderstand. I have no intention to give them anything but my middle finger.”
Tong smiled as he clarified Hua Shi, causing her to laugh. All officers including Zhang Bao and Zhang Liang looked at the Tong in astonishment.
Zhang Bao patted Zhang Liang and shook his head. Their nephew took over their roles and he was doing well. It was his time to shine so the two sibling stepped back and watched over them.
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