CHAPTER 110: CHAPTER 110: INTERNAL STRIFE (PART 1)

In the following two days, a massive internal conflict within the Tang Family left everyone dazzled.

Old Master Tang was detained in the county government jail. Tang Five persuaded Grandmaster Tang San and promised numerous benefits to buy off the likes of Grandmaster Tang Er, and more than half of the Tang family’s elders were swayed.

Old Master Tang’s eldest son was away trading grain in the Two Lakes and had not returned, leaving only his eldest grandson, Tang Qi. Unfortunately, Tang Qi, being in his twenties, was too young and impulsive, and before he could say much, Grandmaster Tang suppressed him thoroughly.

On the morning of the third day, at the Tang Family Ancestral Hall, representatives from each branch of the Tang Family came out to vote. Grandmaster Tang obtained eighty percent of the votes, securing with absolute advantage the position of the new Family Head.

Tang Qi watched his side be utterly defeated, his face flushed with anger, and sparks almost flew from his eyes: "Fifth Great Uncle! Grandfather is still in jail, and instead of thinking of ways to save him, you seize the opportunity to usurp the position of Family Head! Aren’t you afraid of being scorned and ridiculed by the clan for such heartlessness?"

What does being scorned and ridiculed matter? Becoming the Family Head is what truly counts.

Tang Qi is still too young, valuing face too highly. Little does he know, in the face of power and profit, face is worthless.

Grandmaster Tang Five sneered in his heart but appeared righteous: "It is precisely because I am anxious to save my elder brother that I want to become the Family Head."

"My elder brother has been at odds with the County Magistrate. The County Magistrate bought grain to replenish the Taiping Grain Warehouse, which is a great deed. However, my elder brother inflated the grain prices to obstruct him, angering the Commandery Princess, who personally led troops here."

"If our Tang Family does not give the Commandery Princess an explanation soon, and she orders my elder brother beheaded, it will be too late to regret it!"

"To save my elder brother’s life, we must please the Commandery Princess. I, Tang Wu, dare to swear by heaven that everything I do is for the sake of the Tang Family. If there is even a hint of selfishness, may I, Tang Wu, be struck by lightning and die without a burial place!"

Grandmaster Tang Five is indeed a ruthless person; his vows are venomous.

Nowadays, Buddhism is flourishing in Da Liang, and everyone believes in karma; they wouldn’t dare swear lightly. Upon hearing such a curse, Tang Qi’s face turned ashen, but he had nothing to say.

Grandmaster Tang San coughed, softened his voice to mediate: "Today is the day we agreed to with the Commandery Princess. Fifth Brother, you should go to the county government now, and no matter what, you must bring our elder brother back."

Grandmaster Tang Five solemnly declared: "If I fail to bring elder brother back, this position as Family Head will be given to Third Brother immediately!"

Grandmaster Tang San was startled, waving his hands incessantly: "You mustn’t say such things. Do you think becoming the Family Head is child’s play?"

Being the Tang Family Master is not something everyone desires. For instance, Grandmaster Tang San, knowing his mediocre abilities, never had this thought from the beginning.

On the other hand, Grandmaster Tang Five is the smartest and sharpest among the six Tang brothers. For years, he has been Old Master Tang’s right-hand man, handling many matters within the clan.

Grandmaster Tang Five has ambition, as well as the capability to match that ambition.

Otherwise, do you think the clan elders are just profit-seeking fools? Benefits are important, but more importantly, Old Master Tang is detained with an uncertain fate; no one but Grandmaster Tang Five can come forward to save him now.

Grandmaster Tang Five turned to Tang Qi and said: "Dalang, you will go with me to see the Commandery Princess."

Tang Qi, shouldering responsibility, nodded in agreement.

Grandmaster Tang Five then selected a few more clan members. To show respect for the Commandery Princess, they didn’t even ride a carriage and walked straight to the county government.

...

"To report to the Commandery Princess, Grandmaster Tang Five leads the clan members requesting an audience outside the county government."

Jiang Shaohua chuckled: "This Tang Five indeed has some skills. I, the Commandery Princess, shall go and meet him."

The movements of the Tang Family in the past few days certainly didn’t escape Jiang Shaohua’s notice.

The clerk in charge of the Household Department at the county government was the son of Grandmaster Tang Five. To show his loyalty, Grandmaster Tang Five relayed messages to the Commandery Princess daily through his son.

Another clerk in the Criminal Room, Little Tang, is also a legitimate descendant of the Tang Family. Every day, he visits Old Master Tang in jail, bringing him meals as well.

"Elder Uncle," Little Tang, the youngest son of Grandmaster Tang San, with a temperament and cautious conduct much like his father, spoke and acted modestly: "Fifth Uncle has brought Dalang and them to the county government."

Old Master Tang, spending three days in jail, neither tortured nor starved but already faintly smelly from not bathing or changing clothes for days.

The cell was more damp and cold than outside, and the seventy-year-old Old Master Tang, with failing legs, felt the cold seeping into his knees, causing bouts of pain.

Upon hearing that Grandmaster Tang Five had come, Old Master Tang felt not comfort but a surge of anger, standing up abruptly: "What is he here for? To hand over the entire Tang Family to the Commandery Princess? Bah! These ungrateful descendants, what face will they have to meet the ancestors underground?"

Old Master Tang, entering jail himself, would also struggle to face the Tang Family ancestors!

Little Tang kept his dissent to himself, outwardly complying.

Old Master Tang fixed his cloudy, old eyes on his nephew: "Tell me, did Tang Five really get eighty percent of the clan’s support to become Family Head in the ancestral hall today?"

Little Tang replied in a low voice: "Yes. Elder Uncle, please don’t get too angry. With Elder Uncle in jail, the Tang Family must have someone to manage things. The eldest cousin is still away, and Fifth Uncle is the most shrewd and capable in the clan; only he dares to meet the Commandery Princess..."

"Bah!"

Old Master Tang let out a sinister laugh: "Old Five has always been ambitious; taking advantage this time, who knows how many benefits he promised to persuade the clan to support him. I will deal with him properly once I get out of jail."

Once out of jail, who will deal with whom is still uncertain!

Little Tang again hid his disagreement in heart, looking sincerely honest, nodding in agreement.

This frustration tormented Old Master Tang; he paced back and forth in the small cell more frequently than a donkey on a millstone: "No way! Go find out what Old Five has said to the Commandery Princess and come back and tell me."

Little Tang pulled a long face: "Elder Uncle, don’t make it hard for your nephew. As a clerk in the Criminal Department, I used to flaunt my Tang Family backing a bit. Now with the Commandery Princess’s troops stationed in the county government, each like a god of death, how dare I show my face? You think my neck is too strong and my life too long?"

Old Master Tang fumed: "I told you to go, do you dare not go? Do you really disregard me?"

Little Tang hurried forward, consoling Old Master Tang with tender words, refusing to take a step.

Old Master Tang was furious but had no way out.

Suffering through half a day of enduring vexation until near evening, Grandmaster Tang Five brought Tang Qi and others to the cell. Along with them came County Magistrate Zou.

The usually affable County Magistrate Zou, now bolstered by the Commandery Princess, was much more assertive: "Tang Xianzhong handed over all the grain stored by the Tang Family in exchange for the Commandery Princess’s consent to release him. Tang Xiande, you better watch what you say and do in the future!"