Chapter 69: The Jianghu is dangerous, please start over
"What is your face worth?"
Beside the Jinjiang River embankment, in the drizzle, Zhao Duan's voice was cold and violent.
He designed three response strategies for this meeting.
A kind of humility. The original owner was a bully and flatterer of the superiors, so it was not surprising.
One that is neither humble nor arrogant, and focuses on stability.
The third and most radical type is to show the original rebellious and unruly personality.
After the other party showed his power, he decided on this strategy. A villain who has gained power should not swallow his anger.
This is the style of play that best suits his character.
As for whether Pei Kaizhi will be angered and cause the negotiations to collapse?
He believed that given the other party's cunning, their defenses would not be breached.
…
"Do you know what you're talking about?"
Raindrops hit the bamboo hat, and Pei Kaizhi's face suddenly became gloomy. He narrowed his eyes, and the aura of a long-time superior was everywhere.
Zhao Duan did not retreat or evade, and responded tit for tat:
"You're old and can't hear clearly? Do you want me to say it again?"
Pei Kaizhi said indifferently:
"It's been years since anyone dared to talk to me like this."
Zhao Duan said quietly:
"You need to understand three things. First, I'm in the White Horse Prison, and I only obey the orders of the Saint. You can show off in front of the people below, but not in front of me. I dare not offend Li Yanfu, let alone you."
"Secondly, today's meeting is to talk, not to beg. Put away your almsgiving attitude. You must know that within ten steps, a warrior's fist can kill faster than a sword. If you provoke me, I will send you drowning in the river."
"Third, I just chatted with you for the sake of your beautiful daughter. Now, let me tell you what I want: Lu Liang's life and the benefits you promised. Only children make choices. I want them all!"
Wow——
The rain gradually got heavier, bubbles appeared on the surface of the river, and schools of fish were swimming around.
The fishing line on the fishing rod was shaking slightly, but Pei Kaizhi had no time to care about anything else.
This important figure in the "Li Party" and a powerful minister with the support of the Huaishui Pei family was stunned by the threat that was so close to him.
I realized that I had misjudged something.
Perhaps he has been in the government for too long and is too far away from the grassroots, so he has forgotten that not everyone is a politician who is well versed in the exchange of interests.
Just like Lu Liang, wasn’t he also proud back then?
The empress's lackey in front of him has not suffered any major setbacks since he came to power.
There is greed, but the blood is still there and the backbone is still strong.
The "carrot and stick" approach is not a panacea. It is very likely that the stick will be hit back and the carrot will be taken away.
Pei Kaizhi was silent for a long time, then said, "Do you think I will agree to your request?"
Zhao Duan smiled.
The other party's words showed that this old thief had lost the courage to overturn the table and act on impulse.
"You will agree," Zhao Duan said with a smile:
"I heard that the Minister dotes on his children the most, especially the younger ones, and dotes on them, just like the Fourth Lady back then and Pei Wulang now."
Pei Kaizhi's heart skipped a beat and he realized something was wrong.
He had five children in his life, and Pei Wulang was the most beloved one because he was born in his old age.
Zhao Duan sighed softly:
"What a pity! He ultimately failed to raise his children properly, especially Wulang, who is almost his grandson's age. The Minister has no energy to discipline him, and the others are even less courageous, so they have developed a domineering and dissolute character."
Pei Kaizhi frowned and asked, "What exactly do you want to say?"
Zhao Duan smiled, stood up, bent down, and snatched the fishing rod from the old minister.
With one arm and raised wrist, the expensive fishing rod bent like a bow and the fishing line stretched straight.
The fish at the bottom of the water was struggling, creating waves. It must be a big one.
"There's a private gambling house in the north of the city. I met Wulang there not long ago. We have similar interests. He was down on his luck and lost so much money that he wrote me an IOU..."
Zhao Duan narrated the incident slowly and methodically.
Pei Kaizhi's heart also sank to the bottom of the water little by little.
"So, you're here today to collect a debt," Pei Kaizhi said, his gray beard trembling beneath his bamboo hat. "Where's the IOU?"
"Oh, Minister, do you think I would carry it with me?"
Zhao Duan sneered:
"If you want to verify it, you can go back and interrogate Wu Lang, and you will know whether what I said is true or not."
Pei Kaizhi had no expression on his face:
"Do you think you can threaten me with this little mistake?"
"I dare not," Zhao Duan slowly manipulated the fishing rod, sometimes tightening it, sometimes loosening it, so that the fish would be exhausted without getting off the hook.
"How can such a small matter threaten you? At most, it would just be a criticism of your poor parenting skills."
After a pause, he smiled and said:
"But... Wu Lang won't get away with it so easily. Our dynasty strictly prohibits gambling, especially for officials and their children, and the punishment is even more severe.
If the previous emperor was still in power, he might have turned a blind eye and not criticized harshly, but now it was the Empress who was in power... The Minister also knew that the court was in a state of panic, afraid of exposing one's weaknesses...
At this time, I handed this slip with my fingerprints on it, and the location, time, and gambling terms written on it to Ma Dugong.
Or simply hand it over to the Censorate... the censors affiliated with the Qingliu Party... guess what will happen?"
Guess? No need to guess!
Those evil wolves and lackeys who racked their brains to show their loyalty to the empress will bite Wulang to death.
Using the laws established by Taizu, they tried every possible way to punish him severely, to make him unhappy, and even imposed the punishment of "cutting off his hands".
And it is impossible for Li Yanfu to mobilize the entire "Li Party" to fight against the Pei family just for a playboy.
Pei Kaizhi's face trembled, and the big fish under the water struggled even harder:
"If you make it public, your gambling will also be made public."
"ha!"
Zhao Duan laughed exaggeratedly, not really caring:
"Isn't it normal for a rotten person like me? I managed to get through the loss of Zhuang Xiaocheng, let alone such a small matter?
What's more, I just received a reward from His Majesty a few days ago. How could the Qingliu Party target me?
Even if they impeach me, at worst they'll throw me into Dao Xiao Lou and put me in jail for ten days or half a month, and I'll come out a brave man again. But Wu Lang won't be so lucky."
After a pause, he smiled and said:
"Mr. Minister, you don't want your most beloved youngest son to end up with his hands and feet cut off, his official position stripped, and forced to work, right?"
Wow!
A burst of white waves exploded, Zhao Duan raised his fishing rod, and a fat black carp with a red tail was pulled out of the water. It was unable to shake its tail, but it could not escape.
Pei Kaizhi, who was leaning on a bamboo chair, seemed to have been drained of all his strength. He slumped down, his previous arrogance gone.
Zhao Duan's words were like steel nails, piercing his softest spot.
Everyone has weaknesses, and Pei Kaizhi's weakness is his youngest son, who is different from his first three children who were quite talented and whom he personally taught in his early years.
Starting from Si Niang, they were all spoiled, and Wu Lang was even worse.
But the old minister could not accept the option of giving up his youngest son. In this case, he could only give up his son-in-law.
Close your eyes and open them again.
Pei Kaizhi said:
"First, Lu Liang cannot die, at least not in the capital. He can be demoted to a remote place, and Si Niang will divorce him. After that, I will not care whether he lives or dies there."
"Secondly, I will hand over the matter of Lu Liang to the Ministry of Justice. His official robe will be stripped off, but the Pei family will not be implicated."
"Third, forget about the teahouse or the elixirs. Young people have big appetites. Be careful not to eat too much. This is my bottom line."
It turns out to be a fake relationship between father-in-law and son-in-law. The truth will be revealed in times of adversity... Zhao Duan raised the corner of his mouth.
I caught the fat old carp in my hand and found that its lips were covered with scars. It seemed that it had bitten the hook many times, but each time it broke free.
The old fish has become a master, but unfortunately, I have a novice protection period.
Zhao Duan laughed and said:
"I also have two requests. First, the person can be arrested by the Ministry of Justice, but I want to participate to prevent you from causing trouble."
Pei Kaizhi closed his eyes: "Yes."
"Secondly, I don't like the two servants who were waiting at the teahouse and the pharmacy. Go back and teach them a lesson. Make sure they learn to respect others."
What a vindictive villain... Pei Kaizhi sighed:
"allow."
Zhao Duan dropped his fishing rod, feeling very happy: "In that case, I will go back and wait for good news."
“No!”
Zhao Duan turned around and took two steps, then suddenly stopped, smacked his lips, and said:
"One more thing."
Pei Kaizhi's eyes were cold: "Don't push your luck."
Zhao Duan smiled and said:
"Don't be nervous. I just want to say that fishing this way is too slow."
The words fell.
He suddenly threw a punch at the gray Hunhe River through the air, and a faint glow of light flashed.
"boom!!"
The river exploded into huge waves, and water droplets fell from the sky, making Pei Kaizhi's hat rustle.
In mid-air, countless fish that were stunned by the force of the punch fell to the shore, and in the blink of an eye, their bellies were turned over.
Zhao Duan tore his raincoat into pieces, opened his umbrella and left. The moment he turned around, his eyes were clear and sharp.
At this point, he had already handed out half of the "knife" he had prepared to kill the opponent, and victory was in sight.
The world is dangerous, Minister, please start over.
Thanks to: Yiqijuecheng for his 3,000-coin reward! Li Shipu for his 100-coin reward, What's the use of having good looks for his 100-coin reward, and 20220618105405889 for his 100-coin reward!
(End of this chapter)
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