Chapter 651: The Confrontation
Chapter 651: The Confrontation
Lin Xuan Qi’s hunch was right.
The first thing that he saw when he went to the construction site was Zhao Geng Nian leaving his residence with an entourage of the Qing Feng Sect disciples.
They headed towards the Governor’s Residence where Qian Shi was staying.
He narrowed his eyes and watched as they went further and further away from him.
All he had to do next was to wait for the news from Qian Shi.
...
The Governor’s Residence.
Qian Shi was seated in the main hall with the Governor in front of him with his soulless eyes looking at him.
"For your edict, I would think that it is not appropriate anymore.
"There are some changes out there that you need to know." He wanted to continue and brief the Governor on what he had known from Lin Xuan Qi, but before he could do so, the old eunuch came running into the main hall.
"What’s the matter?" Qian Shi frowned and asked when he saw the old eunuch being so anxious.
"It’s Master Zhao Geng Nian... I told him that your highness is busy with the Governor..." The old eunuch said apologetically while he cupped his hands and bowed at Qian Shi.
Qian Shi frowned and pondered if Zhao Geng Nian was trying to show him who was actually in charge here in Hong Feng City.
Before he could say anything else, Zhao Geng Nian and some of the senior disciples from the Qing Feng Sect appeared at the entrance of the main hall.
"My greetings to you, the Duke of Mu." Zhao Geng Nian’s voice boomed across the main hall, and he didn’t wait to enter it.
The Governor lifted his head with his soulless eyes and he glanced at Qian Shi.
Qian Shi waved at the Governor for him to step aside.
The Governor did so and took a seat by the side of the main hall.
"I was waiting for you to have dinner last night your highness, but I’ve heard that you went to a businessman’s place to have it there instead.
"It made me sad that I wasn’t able to show the hospitality as the Guardian of the City to your highness." Zhao Geng Nian said and he didn’t wait for Qian Shi to say anything before he sat opposite the Governor on the other side of the main hall.
Qian Shi saw what happened but he remained calm.
He gave Zhao Geng Nian a smile and said, "It was an old friend and I couldn’t reject the taste of the food in his mansion."
"I suppose the dinner must have been good?" Zhao Geng Nian asked and picked up the tea cup on the small tea table that was beside him.
"It definitely was. I would try and get the chef over to the imperial palace for the emperor to have a taste of it if I could." Qian Shi said and rested his back onto the backrest of his chair, waiting for Zhao Geng Nian to make his first move.
And it didn’t take too long.
Zhao Geng Nian had an uneasy feeling about what was happening.
Ever since he had come over to Hong Feng City, things hadn’t worked out for him.
And the very same feeling before things went wrong crept up into his mind.
Whoever it was stopping his plan was at it again.
It was best for him to deal with it as soon as possible, or else, whoever it was might be a step ahead of him.
Which was why he got impatient and had taken the initiative to come over to the Governor’s Residence instead of waiting for Qian Shi.
Time was of the essence and he wouldn’t want to slip up this time.
The sect master was already frustrated at the lack of progress from him.
And this time after taking such a huge risk to cooperate with the cultivators from the north, he had better be able to accomplish his plan.
It would be disastrous for him and the Qing Feng Sect if the alternative happened instead.
"I suppose we get on to serious business.
"You should be aware by now of what happened, and I think that it is important for us to have the support from those in the city to ensure that we are able to fight against the cultivators from the north successfully." Zhao Geng Nian said and he glanced at Qian Shi.
"Yes, I’ve heard.
"But with what had happened to Hong Feng City within the past few months, I think that those in the city aren’t really able to afford it anymore.
"And from what I know, what you ask for is even more than what they would have to pay for the autumn tax..." Qian Shi said and tried to use the autumn tax as leverage for himself to remind Zhao Geng Nian how he was overstepping his role.
Zhao Geng Nian heard him and nodded his head in silence.
He stroked his beard and pondered for a few moments.
Qian Shi was much more capable than he thought in making use of the emperor.
With what Qian Shi had said, Zhao Geng Nian could either reduce what he requested to be equal to or less than the autumn tax or he could openly declare that his words were much more important than the emperor’s.
Zhao Geng Nian would have preferred the latter if he could.
But it was not the right time now.
The Qing Feng Sect’s plan wasn’t at fruition yet, unless he succeeded here in Hong Feng City first.
The sense of anger and frustration with whoever it was that constantly stopped his plans crept up into his mind and heart.
Zhao Geng Nian calmed himself by having a few sips of the tea.
And when he was ready, he put the tea cup down and said, "Maybe your highness doesn’t know the magnitude of the things that we are dealing with here."
He glanced back at the senior disciples and they nodded their heads at him.
They got out from the main hall and returned after a few moments.
"What is this?" The old eunuch said when he saw them carrying some things that were covered in white cloth with them.