352: Chapter 10 Picking Peaches_1 352: Chapter 10 Picking Peaches_1 The position of the Prefectural Governor of Sunshine County has slipped away!
Zhongxuan Sheng had been building montum for a long ti, making nurous efforts, but at the last mont, soone else took the prize.
The new Prefectural Governor of Sunshine County was to be Tian Antai.
The imperial edict had been issued, unalterable, and he was to take up his post imdiately.
Thus, the ticulous planning of Zhongxuan Sheng and Jiang Wang was abruptly cut off midway.
Enraged, Zhongxuan Sheng stord into Green Sheep Town to relay the news to Jiang Wang.
Jiang Wang had been anticipating this position, seeing the benefits it would bring to his power base; the disappointnt was hard to swallow.
Still, he consoled, “One can’t control everything.
There are flaws in the Heavenly Dao, and envies among people; it seems unavoidable!”
The position of the Prefectural Governor, one of the three major ones in the Yang Realm.
Huang Yixing was essential for governance, anyone in charge of divvying things up would need soone like him.
However, it was only after Zhongxuan Chuliang gave his nod that the person could ascend to the position.
Although complete loyalty couldn’t be guaranteed, he could already be seen as one of Zhongxuan Chuliang’s lineage.
Gao Shaoling was involved in an interest exchange overseen by Zhongxuan Chuliang, making a degree of exchange and cooperation with the Jinghai Gao Clan through the position of Prefectural Governor of Chiwei Prefecture.
This too was a by-the-book division of spoils.
Only the Sunshine County Prefectural Governorship was what Zhongxuan Sheng intended to cultivate as his core base.
Under no circumstances was it Tian Antai’s turn for this position.
Granted, as a general of the Autumn Kill Army, Tian Antai participated personally in the Extinguish Yang Battle, displaying valor on the field and earning his rits.
His cultivation level in the Inner Mansion Realm was indeed sufficient for the role.
But in terms of rits, he was definitely not superior to Jiang Wang’s flag-capturing feat, nor to Zhongxuan Sheng’s general-slaying achievent, not to ntion the rits before the battle in dismantling Song Guang’s seventy-thousand strong army.
That Tian Antai could take up this position was firstly because his background in the Da Ze’s Tian family was substantial, and secondly, it’s inevitable the emperor has unfathomable motives, not wanting Yang Region to beco rely Zhongxuan Chuliang’s private land, sothing inconvenient to state directly.
Thirdly…
“It was Zhongxuan Zun!”
Zhongxuan Sheng declared fiercely, “If it weren’t for him representing the Zhong Xuan Family’s stance in agreent, His Majesty would never have bypassed my uncle’s opinion to appoint Tian Antai!”
The statent held two pieces of information.
One was that Zhongxuan Zun still had absolute advantage inside the Zhong Xuan Family and could represent it at crucial tis.
The other indicated that Emperor Qi himself might not want Zhongxuan Chuliang to reap too much, but due to his significant contributions, it was impossible to suppress him openly.
This was typical of an emperor’s mindset, rather ordinary.
Jiang Wang furrowed his brow, “How could the Zhong Xuan Family agree to give up Sunshine County?”
For a top-tier Aristocratic Family like the Heavy Mystery, no matter how much they favored Zhongxuan Zun, they should not make a choice that harms the family’s interests.
Zhongxuan Sheng’s expression darkened, “The Tian family offered the ten-year developnt rights to the Adored Vessel Island in exchange.”
Realizing Jiang Wang might not understand the significance of Adored Vessel Island, he added, “This island is part of the Near Sea Archipelago, rich in resources and no less than Sunshine County in that regard.
It has always been the private property of the Tian family.”
So that’s how it was!
Perhaps in terms of resources and tangible benefits, Adored Vessel Island might not surpass Sunshine County, but the implications were different.
From the Zhong Xuan Family’s perspective, they already had enough gains in the Yang Realm, and missing out on the Sunshine County Prefectural Governorship wouldn’t hurt the overall situation.
An Adored Vessel Island, however, could strengthen the family’s influence over the Near Sea Archipelago, marking an expansion of their influence.
In a way, this was also an exchange of benefits within the “division of spoils” stage.
Yet, the conquest of Yang had been single-handedly pushed forward by Zhongxuan Sheng, and at the mont when the “cake” had been made and it was ti to “divide the cake,” Zhongxuan Zun had stepped forward to oversee it!
This was neither reasonable nor justifiable.
However, Zhongxuan Zun was acting from the family’s interests, leaving no room for opposition.
Because to prompt Qi Country to wage war against Yang wasn’t sothing Zhongxuan Chuliang and Zhongxuan Sheng, the uncle and nephew, could achieve by themselves.
They also relied on the family’s power and support to make such a bold wager.
At the endga, there was no reason not to let the family reap the benefits.
Trading the Sunshine County Prefectural Governorship for the ten-year rights to Adored Vessel Island was a choice with more pros than cons for the Zhong Xuan Family.
But for Zhongxuan Sheng himself, it was as if all his efforts were in vain!
Jiang Wang was doubtlessly going to stand by him; if he could secure the Sunshine County Prefectural Governorship, it would amount to the entire Sunshine County becoming his, Zhongxuan Sheng’s, foundation.
Yet the ten-year rights to Adored Vessel Island belonged to the entire Zhong Xuan Family.
Zhongxuan Sheng could only expect to get a fraction of the leftovers.
Zhongxuan Zun, whom Jiang Wang had yet to et, acted decisively, with thorough consideration.
In the Heavenly Abode Secret Land incident, the obstruction by Zhongxuan Xin was more like a casual move; the man had never truly received earnest commitnt from Zhongxuan Zun.
Wang Yiwu’s involvent seed more like a proactive move on his part, or rather, a spontaneous response to Zhongxuan Sheng’s last-minute change of command, rather than a seriously plotted strategy by Zhongxuan Zun.
The fact that he secured a spot in the Heavenly Abode Secret Land in such a short ti also demonstrated his capabilities.
This ti, however, was a truly deliberate move by Zhongxuan Zun.
A move specifically against Zhongxuan Sheng.
Whether it was because Zhongxuan Zun finally decided to exert himself, or he just found the ti, once he made his move, he plucked the fruits of victory right from Zhongxuan Sheng’s grasp!
No wonder Zhongxuan Sheng found it hard to calm his emotions.
“This at least proves one point!” Jiang Wang said in a grave tone, “At least by now, Zhongxuan Zun has been forced to regard you as a competitor!”
Previously, no matter how Zhongxuan Sheng mingled or built up his influence in Linzi, the reaction from Zhongxuan Zun was always lukewarm, as if he couldn’t muster the energy to care or simply didn’t.
Now at least, it could be said that Zhongxuan Sheng was no longer soone he could ignore.
“Yes!” Zhongxuan Sheng patted Jiang Wang, “I rushed over to comfort you, yet it turned out that you’re the one comforting !”
He paused, “I just want to say, we’ve been through worse tis, and therefore, we deserve better tis as well!”
In such a fraught mont, the fact that his first thought was to console Jiang Wang for any potential loss spoke volus of their friendship.
Jiang Wang smiled, “Your visit alone makes the door seem wider!
Let alone lifting my spirits!”
…
In the residence of Zhongxuan Chuliang, the plaque of the Marquis who Stabilizes Distant Lands had only recently been hung.
The newly-appointed Sunshine County Garrison Commander, Tian Antai, had been standing in the courtyard for quite so ti.
It wasn’t until after lunch that Zhongxuan Chuliang, in no hurry whatsoever, ca out to the yard, hands behind his back, looking at Tian Antai, “Has the Commander co to show strength today?”
Tian Antai bowed respectfully, “I co here today for two reasons: firstly, to express gratitude, and secondly, to ask for forgiveness!”
The gratitude was naturally for the support in achieving military rits, and asking for forgiveness was naturally for usurping the position of Sunshine County Garrison Commander.
With the backing of the Tian family from Da Ze and personally appointed by Emperor Qi, he, Tian Antai, didn’t need to act this way, especially when he wasn’t in the military ranks at the mont.
But still, he ca.
“Your daring to ask for forgiveness today makes reevaluate you,” Zhongxuan Chuliang said with a smile.
Zhongxuan Chuliang smiled, “It must be Tian Anping’s idea, right?”
Tian Antai did not dare to admit, nor deny, only saying, “I am truly anxious and frightened!”
“Clever play, Tian Anping.
If I whip you, I tarnish your reputation.
If I kill you, I defy the imperial will.”
Zhongxuan Chuliang narrowed his eyes as he spoke, “But tell , Tian Antai, if I wanted to kill soone, would I care about such things?”
Cold sweat imdiately drenched Tian Antai’s back, and his heart cried out in despair.
Would Zhongxuan Chuliang, a man who could slaughter 210,000 soldiers in the Yang Army at will, really care about such trivialities when he turned ruthless?
“Your Martial Excellency is mighty above all…
naturally, naturally…”
He stamred “naturally” for a long ti, unable to co up with a solid reason.
Impatiently, Zhongxuan Chuliang waved his hand, “Enough.
Go back and tell Tian Anping, I won’t kill you, but he must rember this favor!”
Even a fierce person like Zhongxuan Chuliang eventually compromised…
Tian Antai’s heart relaxed, he perford a great salute, and fled hastily like a man escaping disaster.
Though the threat of a massacre hadn’t touched him, it was more torturous than actual punishnt.
If possible, he would never want to visit the Marquis’ mansion again in his lifeti.
However, he had to admit, though he didn’t want to, that…
When it ca to the requests of his younger brother at ho, he had even less courage to refuse.
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