Above the Great Dao
Chapter 585 - 269 You Are Old_2

Chapter 585: Chapter 269 You Are Old_2

Chen Tang gladly said, "It is better to obey than to be respectful."

Xia Jiuge invited him onto the carriage, and the two sat inside, facing each other.

Xia Jiuge broke the silence with a smile, "Mr. Chen, at such a young age, you are already the Assistant Minister at the Ministry of Revenue, holding a third-rank position. Even as the Governor of Gongtian Prefecture, I hold the same rank. Mr. Chen, coming from a non-noble family and reaching this height is indeed rare."

Chen Tang replied, "It’s not that Tang has any special talent, but rather duty demands utmost care and prudence. The court appointed me as Assistant Minister because it saw my dedication and diligence."

Xia Jiuge smiled slightly, "A third-rank official, and that’s the limit."

Chen Tang said, "I don’t understand."

Xia Jiuge said leisurely, "Without wealth, background, nor the support of any of the great families, reaching third-rank is everyone’s limit. To move higher, the backing of the Thirteen Families would be needed. Mr. Chen, you are in a position highly esteemed among the emperor’s servants. Your career in the government has reached its peak."

Chen Tang watched his nose and his heart, remaining silent.

Xia Jiuge looked out the window and said, "You must have already sent someone to rescue your son, right? You deliberately avoided going to the Guangji Storehouse first. By waiting here for me, you gained a bit of time for your rescuer to get ready. But Mr. Chen, have you considered that the target might not be your son?"

Chen Tang looked up and met his gaze, "I don’t understand."

Xia Jiuge said indifferently, "You, as the Assistant Minister, manage the eight vaults and four granaries, including the silver money, grain, military supplies, and disaster relief funds from the fifty provinces of West Bull New Continent. I wonder how many rely on your decisions to live. But you are too aloof; you stick out like a nail that can’t be moved. A tree dies when it is moved, a person thrives. Since you won’t move, someone will have to move you."

He looked straight into Chen Tang’s eyes, "You don’t take bribes or favors. If you don’t, how can others accept them? How can the Chief of Staff accept them? Countless eyes covet your position, wishing you’d step down."

He leaned back slightly, "Whether your son lives or dies today depends on whether you move from your position."

Chen Tang was silent for a moment, then spoke, "The court employs me because I have principles. With me at the Ministry of Revenue, the finances and grain reserves of Great Ming will not collapse, so the Cabinet, Three Dukes, Six Ministries, Eastern Factory, Five Camps, Divine Machine, Divine Strategy, all feel reassured. Moving me is not their idea."

He looked directly into Xia Jiuge’s eyes and whispered, "Then whose idea is it?"

After a moment’s glare, Xia Jiuge smiled, "After the top scorer aims to manage the silver, grain, military supplies, and ammunition."

Chen Tang asked, "Does the top scorer want me to give up the Assistant Minister at the Ministry of Revenue?"

Xia Jiuge slightly smiled, "The top scorer appreciates you highly, saying you would be a capable minister for a good governance. He is upright and will not meddle with you. Yet, we believe you need to step aside. Mr. Chen, if you relinquish your position as Assistant Minister, retire and return to your hometown, your son will also safely leave Western Capital and accompany you back to Xinxiang."

He looked out the window, "There is not much time for you to consider, until we arrive at the Guangji Storehouse, before you get out of the carriage. If you don’t move, you’ll only have a corpse to collect."

Chen Tang’s expression was unfazed.

Eventually, the carriages of Gongtian Prefecture arrived outside of Guangji Storehouse, and the carriages stopped.

Xia Jiuge looked at the unmoving Chen Tang, smirking, "Mr. Chen truly is ruthless."

He stood up, and Chen Tang got up to open the door for him.

As their eyes met, Xia Jiuge snorted and stepped down from the carriage.

Chen Tang followed behind him, closing the door.

Gongtian Prefecture’s officials arrived one after another, followed swiftly by the government officials and Prefecture Soldiers, brimming with hostility, surrounding the gates of Guangji Storehouse.

Outside the gates of the Guangji Storehouse, a cannon was pushed out, and a two-zhang-long dragon-head rocket was mounted. Ma Zongzhou, Zhou Qianying, and others were tied on it, many unconscious from beatings, while a few conscious ones hurled insults or begged for mercy.

Governor Yan Qian, too, was beaten black and blue. He sternly reprimanded Ambassador Chen Shi’s actions, while secretly giving a thumbs-up to Xia Jiuge who was approaching.

Xia Jiuge glanced back at Chen Tang with a sudden cold demeanor, loudly proclaimed, "Ambassador Chen Shi, you expect me to apologize to you? Do you realize you have violated the imperial law, an unforgivable crime?"

Chief of Staff Gao Zhihuan stepped forward and shouted, "How audacious to assault an Imperial Official from Gongtian Prefecture! These officials were carrying out the orders of the Governor to retrieve weapons, yet you had them severely injured and strung up on rockets! You act beyond the law!"

Governor Yan Qian cried out, "Help me, saviors!"

Gongtian Prefecture’s officials examined him closely and were shocked, repeatedly exclaiming, "It’s Governor Yan Qian! How did Governor Yan Qian get beaten too? You monstrously dared to hang Governor Yan Qian on a rocket!"

Gao Zhihuan couldn’t contain his rage, bellowing, "Governor Yan Qian is a lawful fifth-grade official, sent by the governor to inquire. How dare you harm him so grievously!"

The officials of Gongtian Prefecture, filled with righteous indignation, clamored to arrest Chen Shi and punish him.

Chen Shi surveyed the crowd and shouted, "What are you barking for? Shut up!"

As soon as he spoke, even Xia Jiuge couldn’t contain his fury, shouting, "Scoundrel, such scoundrel! Someone seize him for me!"

Sun Yisheng hurried over, walking swiftly to Chen Tang’s side, silently shaking his head, whispering, "Sir, the person in the room doesn’t wish to come out."

Chen Tang, startled, looked at Xia Jiuge’s departing figure, his expression complex. He hesitated, then immediately walked toward Xia Jiuge.

The government officials and Prefecture Soldiers of Gongtian Prefecture aligned themselves in formation, filled with murderous intent, and were about to close in, when suddenly a sharp voice rang out, "Stop! Everyone, stop!"

The governor, Xia Jiuge, seeing the comer, was taken aback and hurriedly approached, bowing, "Brother, why have you come?"

The speaker was Minister of Rites Xia Canghai, also a Cabinet Scholar, representing the Xia Family’s presence at court. He gave him a cold look, quickly approached Chen Shi, and laughed heartily, "Mr. Chen has just assumed office today, and I didn’t expect such an unpleasant event. This is all a misunderstanding."

Xia Jiuge was dumbfounded and hurriedly said, "Brother, this man acts without laws..."

Xia Canghai glanced back at him sharply, his gaze stern, his voice nearly bursting from gritted teeth, "You gamble on the top scorer, don’t gamble the entire Xia Family! You shouldn’t be governor anymore, go back home!"

Xia Jiuge’s mind buzzed, his heart turning cold, yet he saw Xia Canghai smiling warmly, not looking at him, but chatting amiably with Chen Shi.

At that moment, another Cabinet Minister arrived, laughing heartily, "Mr. Xiao Chen assumes his post today, and I hurried here without bringing any gift, pardon my empty hands."

Gao Zhihuan, both shocked and delighted, hurried forward, "Big brother, Chen Shi has committed a crime..."

Gao Quan approached Chen Shi with a smile, his gaze sweeping over, yet utterly chilling, Gao Zhihuan felt a shiver, sweat forming on his forehead.

Gao Quan laughed out loudly, bowing to Chen Shi, "Congratulations, congratulations!"

Another Cabinet Minister, Yan Shuhe, also came forward smiling, congratulating Chen Shi on his new position, paying no attention to Governor Yan Qian tied on the rocket, just engaging warmly with Chen Shi.

Sun Yisheng stared blankly at this scene, walking to Chen Tang’s side, quietly saying, "Sir, is Mr. Xiao Chen that top scorer?"

Chen Tang frowned, "He is my son, certainly not that top scorer."

Sun Yisheng murmured, "Then why would Mr. Xiao Chen have these Cabinet Ministers also come, clearing the major families’ involvement?"

Chen Tang was equally baffled, "You have been to Xinxiang, is there something you know that I don’t?"

Sun Yisheng shook his head, suddenly remembering something, "The old lady Wu Zhu of Huangpo Village, was quite rude to him."

Chen Tang said, "Old lady Wu Zhu is rude to everyone."

At that moment, the three senior officials finished their pleasantries with Chen Shi, bidding him stay, "No need to see us out, Mr. Xiao Chen."

Chen Shi did not accompany them.

Sun Yisheng whispered, "Sir, Mr. Xiao Chen’s position seems even higher than your Assistant Minister."

Chen Tang hummed.

Xia Canghai approached Governor Xia Jiuge, smiling gently, "Our Xia Family can support the top scorer, but will not fully support him, nor offend another taboo. Jiuge, you’re not young anymore, retire and return to your hometown."

Xia Jiuge lowered his head, tears in his eyes.

He was in his prime, not old at all.

But for the Xia Family, he was already old, no longer suitable to continue sitting as the governor of Gongtian Prefecture.