CHAPTER 111: CHAPTER 111: INFIGHTING (PART 2)

All the stored grain?

Old Master Tang’s entire body shook as he looked incredulously at Grandmaster Tang Wu: "Old Wu!"

Grandmaster Tang Wu, fully named Tang Xianzhong, sighed deeply and said: "Big brother, in order to save you, our Tang Family has really hurt our vitality this time. When you go back, properly admit your mistakes to the clansmen!"

This squanderer!

Although the Tang Family had many businesses, the grain store was the foundation of the Tang Family’s wealth. The clan has always kept a habit of storing grain so that even in years of famine, they needn’t worry, enough for five thousand clansmen to eat for two years.

Grandmaster Tang Wu, in order to please the Commandery Princess, actually donated all the stored grain! This is digging out the roots of the Tang Family!

Old Master Tang was so angry that his whole body trembled, and when the door to the cell opened, he used all his strength to rush out and slapped Grandmaster Tang Wu heavily on the face.

Old Master Tang, having been the Family Head for decades, still had his accumulated authority. No one dared to stop this slap.

Grandmaster Tang Wu didn’t move, receiving this slap. Five distinct finger marks instantly appeared on his left cheek.

Old Master Tang was about to hit again, but the clansmen on the side couldn’t bear it and came to stop and console him: "Whatever words you have to say, save them for when you get back, don’t act out here and let people laugh at us."

"Exactly, let’s discuss it back home!"

Whether from anger or fatigue, Old Master Tang panted heavily and glared fiercely at Grandmaster Tang Wu: "We’ll settle this when we get back!"

Grandmaster Tang Wu, with a dignified demeanor, calmly replied: "Big brother, calm down, don’t harm your health with anger."

Old Master Tang gave another fierce glare, gritted his teeth, and was about to leave. He was pulled back by Grandmaster Tang Wu: "County Magistrate is here, big brother, have you forgotten to bow and take your leave."

The crowd: "..."

Even County Magistrate Zou was taken aback.

What could one say! The Commandery Princess is truly formidable, easily picking out someone like Tang Xianzhong.

Old Master Tang, as if he swallowed a fly, with a grimace, folded his hands and took his leave.

County Magistrate Zou straightened his back and waved them off. Old Master Tang, like a defeated dog, stumbled away with the support of the clansmen.

Grandmaster Tang Wu was the last to leave, and before departing, he respectfully folded his hands: "County Magistrate, building the Taiping Grain Warehouse is a good thing for the people. The entire Tang Family will certainly heed your orders."

The Commandery Princess will not stay in Xi’e County forever, but County Magistrate Zou is the parental official of Xi’e County.

County Magistrate Zou gladly accepted Grandmaster Tang Wu’s olive branch: "From now on, all matters related to grain purchasing will be entrusted to the Tang Family."

The Tang Family not only has grain stores in Xi’e County but also in several other county towns. Having been in business for many years, they naturally have channels for purchasing grain.

Grandmaster Tang Wu agreed readily.

After Grandmaster Tang Wu left, County Magistrate Zou quickly returned to the main hall to report to the Commandery Princess: "Reporting to the Commandery Princess, Tang Xiande has already been released from prison. Before leaving, Tang Xianzhong told me that the entire Tang Family will heed my orders and will give all their efforts in purchasing grain."

Jiang Shaohua made a sound of acknowledgment, in a good mood due to Tang Xianzhong donating grain: "Tang Xianzhong is indeed a smart man, understanding what this Commandery Princess values."

The amount of Tang Family’s assets mattered not to Jiang Shaohua at all.

As the Nanyang County Princess, holding Nanyang Prince Mansion, the annual tax revenue is a staggering amount. The fourteen counties under her jurisdiction includes Ye County, rich in silks and hemp, and Biyang County, which has horse farms. Most impressively, Bowan County discovered an iron mine twenty years ago, and a silver mine eight years ago. It is precisely because of this silver mine that Nanyang Prince Mansion can support a Personal Guard Camp of two thousand.

What she truly valued were the Tang Family’s grain purchasing channels.

Nanyang County needs to store enough grain for three years, and relying solely on the local farmers is far from enough. Grain purchases from outside are necessary. The Tang Family has been operating in the Two Lakes for decades, knowing many major grain merchants. Through the Tang Family, Nanyang County can continuously purchase grain.

As for the five thousand stone of grain donated by Tang Xianzhong, it would naturally be happily accepted.

Jiang Shaohua thought for a moment and instructed County Magistrate Zou a few words.

After listening, County Magistrate Zou sincerely admired the Commandery Princess’s meticulousness: "Yes, I will handle this matter right away."

...

In the evening, after returning to the Tang Family Mansion, Old Master Tang personally enacted the family law.

At seventy years old, Old Master Tang, in front of everyone, picked up a sturdy stick and ruthlessly beat Grandmaster Tang Wu.

Grandmaster Tang Wu was indeed a tough person, enduring the beating: "Big brother is sixteen years older than me, and father passed away early. Being the eldest brother is like being a father, raising me. Not to mention a beating, even if beaten every day, I should take it. Nothing to be said."

"However, there is one thing I must make clear. I am willingly taking the beatings not because I did something wrong, but because I respect big brother."

Old Master Tang was so angry that he laughed and was also truly out of strength, tossing aside the stick, pointing at Grandmaster Tang Wu’s nose and cursing: "You took advantage of my time in jail and snatched the Family Head position. Is this considered respect?"

Grandmaster Tang Wu, with saliva sprayed all over his face, wiped it with his sleeve and continued: "That’s a separate matter. If I said I did it to save big brother without any selfishness, big brother wouldn’t believe it, and I wouldn’t believe it myself."

"I want to be the Family Head not just for myself, but also for the Tang Family."

"Whether big brother believes it or not, I truly consider it for the long-term future of the Tang Family. The Commandery Princess is wise and powerful, and her methods are strict. The Tang Family cannot contend with her; nor should we stubbornly hold our heads high and walk to our deaths. Yielding to the Commandery Princess and being obedient citizens under her governance is the proper way."

Old Master Tang sneered with a spit: "I only know that our Tang Family’s five thousand stone reserve grain has all been donated. This was the clan’s reserve, potentially saving thousands of lives in famine years. Even in peaceful years, it could sell for twenty to thirty thousand taels of silver."

"You’ve used the clan property to pave your own way, ingratiating yourself to the Commandery Princess, trying to secure your position as Family Head through her might. Bah! You really think everyone is blind and can’t see your intentions?"

Grandmaster Tang Wu raised his head high: "I was just about to talk to big brother about this matter. This stored grain I donated to the Commandery Princess, I’ll pay out of my own pocket to make it up..."

Before he finished speaking, his son, who worked at the county government, strode in: "Uncle, Second Uncle, Third Uncle, Fourth Uncle, Sixth Uncle, the Commandery Princess has issued a decree, because the Tang Family’s grain donation merits, the crime of hoarding grain and raising prices by Uncle will be offset."

"Moreover, the five thousand stone of grain will be compensated according to market price. I’ve brought the silver now."

According to the market price, four taels of silver per stone of grain, five thousand stone of grain, that’s a full twenty thousand taels of silver.

Da Tang Official of the Household Department presented the twenty thousand taels silver note before Old Master Tang.

Old Master Tang’s face was slapped hot with humiliation.

Grandmaster Tang San had to take the silver note on his behalf, after careful inspection, he said in a low voice: "Big brother, this is a silver note issued by Fengsheng, there is no problem."

Old Master Tang’s face turned livid, saying nothing.

Da Tang Official helped up the Grandmaster Tang Wu, whose back was covered in bloody marks: "Father, let me help you back to apply medicine."

Only then did Grandmaster Tang Wu feel the burning on his back, gritted his teeth and gasped, limping away with his son’s support.