Chapter 234: Admit Defeat or Accept Compensation
"Although your experience is quite sympathetic, let's be frank. You have a little dog at home, and even if you say it to the farthest reaches of the sky, there's no reason for him to climb over the wall and bite the neighbor! Don't you think so?"
He reached out and fiddled with the abacus. The crisp and pleasant sound seemed as if the compensation money was about to arrive, which made Li Chengxiu's mood unexpectedly better.
"I know you're sad, but don't be too sad. Let's settle the accounts first. After all, your son has made a mess of my house, and there have been heavy casualties!
Although I attacked you this time and you suffered a lot of casualties in your city, but that's not how you should be counted, right? No matter what, it was your Linyue Kingdom that started the war against Dayu. So you have to pay!"
A cruel look flashed in his eyes.
"Either accept the loss or admit defeat, your choice."
Prince Feng took a deep breath, trying to calm the strong emotions that were surging in his chest.
"What does it mean to admit defeat?"
“It’s simple!
If you admit defeat, I'll have someone pack up your things and send them back to your capital. I'm not like that debt collector in your family. I'm not the type to kill innocent people.
You can go without worry, this land is mine!"
With a thud, Prince Feng fell to the bedside, his eyes closed. Doctor Meng, who had been standing by, stepped forward and, with a few deft injections, immediately brought the man back to consciousness.
Prince Feng's breath was weak.
"This Ye City is a fiefdom bestowed upon me by the late emperor. I will never give it to you! If you want it, you will have to walk over my corpse."
"Look at you, old man. Didn't I just tell you that I'm not your debt collector? I'm not the type to engage in random violence. It's so disgraceful. I'm such a good person!"
Doctor Meng stood aside helplessly as his own prince occasionally behaved inappropriately, and coughed twice to remind him.
"Your Majesty, let's get back to the point."
"Yeah, let's talk about it. Since you can't bear to leave this old nest, that's fine. Just accept the loss."
He used his claws to move the beads back and forth on the abacus. It didn't matter whether the number was correct or not; he just took it out for fun.
"Look, old man, how about this? Mu Jingchuan brought his men to my doorstep and caused serious damage to my fiefdom. You have to compensate me for this!
Not only the walls, houses, fields and other things of my family were lost, but there were also casualties.
You probably don't know that this time, your good son took advantage of the fact that I was leading the troops to the battle and had no shame at all, sneaking up with his men to attack me.
In desperation, my pregnant wife could only lead all the elderly, weak, women and children in the city to the battlefield!"
His voice became very cold.
"You can probably imagine how horrific it would be. I won't waste any more time on this nonsense. Taking into account the losses in my city and the cost of this large-scale military expedition, this is the figure! Do you agree?"
He raised his left hand and waved his fingers twice, and Li Song behind him held up the indemnity agreement that had been prepared long ago.
"If you accept the compensation, sign it now. Hurry up and raise money and food for me. I'll pack up my things and go home right away. If you don't agree, then I'll have someone pack up your things and send you back home!"
The words left no room for negotiation. When Prince Feng saw the sky-high compensation, he immediately became angry and felt dizzy. Then the miracle doctor immediately used golden needles to calm his soul.
Prince Feng woke up from the pain, holding the compensation letter with trembling fingers, and sobbing uncontrollably.
"King Qi, this number is far too huge! Even if I give everything I have, it would be difficult to gather enough."
Li Chengxiu sneered.
"This is all your son's fault, and I haven't asked for more. I'm easy to talk to, but if you were someone named Duan, I'd try and make soup out of your skin!"
Seeing that Prince Feng suddenly looked like he wanted to die and had no interest in life, he quickly changed the subject.
"I know this compensation is a huge price for you, but think about it, don't you also bear some responsibility for this? If you hadn't taught your son well, would he have lost such a fortune today?
Another thing, if you want to fight me head-on, that's fine. As for your brother, the emperor of your Linyue Kingdom, are you really sure he wants to go to war with us Dayu?
What's more, you were the ones who made the mistake first, so even if we fight to the ends of the earth, I'm still right!"
If his wife had not repeatedly analyzed the situation for him and said that the imperial court would definitely not support the war, how could Li Chengxiu have had the time to sit here and chat with this old man earnestly?
"I know it's difficult for you, but you definitely have the money. After all, you've been doing business for so many years, right? I heard from my father that you're quite good at business. Which country around us doesn't have your presence?
"Spending money to ward off disasters is actually quite a blessing. After all, if money can solve a problem, what's the point of worrying about it, right?"
He didn't even have the nerve to say, "You've already been wiped out by that debt collector Mu Jingchuan, so why are you still holding on to so much money? I'll help you spend it. I'm not tired of it anyway."
Prince Feng listened to the Prince of Qi's seemingly persuasive, but actually threatening, words, feeling helpless and resentful. But even with all his anger, he also acknowledged one point. Things that could be solved with money weren't really that big of a deal.
"You're right. But this amount is too high. Can you reduce it a little? After all, as you just said, your attack on Yecheng has caused heavy losses. We must let the people recuperate and live a good life in the future."
He smiled bitterly.
"I admit that I'm not a good father and I didn't teach my son well. But I'm the one who's guilty, not these innocent people.
I must leave them a way out.
If you agree, I will sign. If you disagree, kill me right now. I will die as atonement."
He raised his eyes and looked at Li Chengxiu, and there was a murderous look in his eyes.
Li Chengxiu frowned, unwilling to compromise easily.
"Then can I give Mu Jingchuan to you as a gift? He's the one who killed all your children and imprisoned and tortured you for a long time. Isn't he worth spending money on?"
"Just a mere enemy. I don't want him anymore!"
Prince Feng almost gritted his teeth as he forced himself to finish the last few words.
"My sons and daughters are all dead, they are no longer as important as the living people.
As for that evil creature, he's not worth a penny! If you want, go ahead and skin him, tear out his tendons, chop him up, and feed him to the dogs. I won't hesitate!"
You hit me with the abacus beads, they just shattered my face! So I have to avenge you for losing money, but why the hell are you just dreaming?
Li Chengxiu was about to use his linguistic talent to retort when the butler of Prince Feng's residence suddenly rushed to the door with an excited look on his face. However, he was stopped by the guards outside, so he could only shout into the house at the top of his voice without any dignity.
"Your Majesty! I have something important to report!"
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