Yang Tiansheng looked at Yang Ge silently, his gaze somewhat complex.
After a long while, he finally spoke, "Young Master understands that your mind is sharper than mine... but have you really thought this through? Do you know what you will be facing once your words are out there?"
"Jianghu is not all about fighting and killing."
"Jianghu is about human relationships and worldly wisdom!"
"Relying on not being afraid of death and charging forward recklessly is a sure way to get yourself killed..."
Yang Ge suddenly laughed, "You understand this too?"
Yang Tiansheng frowned, "Do you really think I’ve survived in jianghu all these years solely on my swordsmanship?"
Yang Ge’s smile faded, and he said earnestly, "Then have you ever considered that this might be why your sword is not sharp enough?"
Yang Tiansheng was about to retort, but before he could say anything, he suddenly remembered that his own father seemed to have said something similar. He was struck dumb, unsure of how to respond.
"I understand the principle of ’too rigid, easily broken,’ and I also understand ’the melon that sticks out gets rotten first.’
Yang Ge spoke slowly and firmly, "But in my opinion, the most important two words in life are ’choice’ and ’sacrifice.’
"You want to get things done, yet also cherish your own safety?"
"Where in the world do you find such a good deal!"
"That’s true for me."
"And it’s true for those jianghu people who seek fame and fortune as well."
After a pause, he laughed again, "Besides, Lianhuan Fort’s Third and Sixth brothers are gone because of this; if I back out now to save myself... what kind of person would I, Yang Ge, be!"
Although he was laughing, even a fool could hear the anger and resoluteness in his words.
Yang Tiansheng pondered for a long time before nodding, "I understand. I will take care of this matter as quickly as possible. You should also be prepared. If this drags on for too long, there might be many experts coming after you. You know, with money, you can make the devil turn the millstones..."
Yang Ge got up and walked slowly to the window, gazing out at the dense darkness of the night that was so thick you could not see your hand in front of you, "Never mind... let the storm come even more fiercely!"
...
"Pfft..."
Shen Fa spit out a mouthful of tea that sprayed all over the table, but he didn’t even think to glance at it. Leaning forward, propping himself on the table, he exclaimed in shock, "What did you say? That dead snake has arrested all the officials in Yangzhou Prefecture?"
Fang Ke, with the dust of travel still on him and without even changing his clothes, held official documents in both hands and was bowing in the hall. Hearing the outburst, he carefully corrected, "My lord, not all, but the majority..."
"Bring it here!"
Shen Fa’s head buzzed, and he felt utterly ruined.
Fang Ke approached with tiny, quick steps, respectfully offering the documents he held.
Shen Fa snatched the documents, unrolled them only to find the writing was a scribble, so atrocious it provoked him to blurt out, "Can’t that guy practice his handwriting? Who can understand this mess?"
The source of this c𝐨ntent is freёwebnovel.com.
Though he was in the dark about the situation, not knowing anything.
He was just outraged that Yang Ge had acted so rashly, arresting the officials of Yangzhou Prefecture without prior consultation.
And he wasn’t worried that Yang Ge would abuse the authority of the Brocade Guards, bully others, and be corrupt and unjust...
After all, what bad schemes could a dead snake, only thinking about how to survive lazily, possibly have?
He quickly scanned the document, which was no less than two thousand words long, and then he turned his head back to begin reviewing it word by word. The impatient and anxious look in his eyes gradually settled down.
A long time passed before he let out a heavy sigh, put away the document, and said, "He was too hasty. Regardless, he should have discussed it with me before acting!"
He could not possibly be ignorant of the corruption in the local government.
But what could he do about it, even if he did know?
The one on the imperial throne, does he not know as well?
Does he not also tacitly turn a blind eye?
In the world, there are few absolutes of black, and few absolutes of white.
Murkiness is the normal state of the world...
Fang Ke weighed his options for a moment, ultimately deciding to defend his immediate superior, "My lord, Lord Yang had no choice... You’ve also been to Jiangnan; you know what it’s like there. If we don’t take them down with thunderous might, can we really handle them?"
"And those corrupt officials really went too far! Just half a year ago, the government punished the officials involved with the three major grain merchants’ hoarding case, and it hasn’t been long; they dared to do it again!"
"If we don’t deal with them, it won’t be enough to demonstrate justice, nor will it appease public anger!"
These are points that definitely do not need to be explained by him.
But as a confidant, he could say things that others dare not speak of, and that weren’t convenient for others to say.
This was also the reason why Yang Ge had specifically sent him back to the capital to report on the case.
If someone else had been sent back to the capital, they would at best act as a qualified human loudspeaker, not daring to add a single word beyond the case details.
Shen Fa sighed softly, his brows tightly furrowed, "Am I not aware of what he has on his mind? But such an approach is really too taboo. Once this matter is brought up to the imperial court, all the officials will surely see our Brocade Guards as thorns in their sides, something to be gotten rid of at the earliest convenience..."
The existence of the Brocade Guards has always been a sensitive issue.
The literary and military officials were able to tolerate the existence of the Brocade Guards in the past because they were just tools in the hands of the emperor, to beat or kill at his command.
They would fight against the core of the issue, facing off directly with the emperor himself.
But now, the Brocade Guards have taken action without the emperor’s instruction, self-initiated... Can a tool with its own will still be called a tool?
Feeling threatened, how could the literary and military officials let the Brocade Guards go?
So the question arises...
Can the Brocade Guards win a fight against those shrewd people on the imperial court?
If the Brocade Guards can win against those shrewd people, they shouldn’t be called the Brocade Guards, but rather the Cabinet!
Shen Fa didn’t make his point explicitly clear.
But Fang Ke understood, and he carefully replied, "My lord, we’ve dealt with a similar case before with the three major grain merchants. This time..."