RPAGF Chapter 1075 Aid
Chapter 1075 Aid
Since Zhang Ping'an had already decided to lend a helping hand regarding the imperial court's request for donations of grain and provisions, he did not keep Su Zheng waiting for long.
He could distinguish between what was more important and what was less important, especially now that foreign tribes were eyeing the border with hostility, the stability of the troops stationed along the border was even more crucial.
He was easy to get past, but the other powerful families were not so easy to talk to. Getting them to give back what they had taken in was as difficult as climbing to heaven.
The country is broken, but the mountains and rivers remain; spring has come to the city, but the grass and trees grow deep.
No matter how the political landscape changes, and no matter who sits on the throne, winning over powerful families is always essential.
Otherwise, the saying "dynasties come and go, but powerful families remain" wouldn't have come about.
Zhang Ping'an had anticipated this situation, but while he could manage his own affairs, he couldn't interfere too much in the internal matters of other powerful families. Ultimately, whether it would succeed depended on Su Zheng himself.
Meanwhile, secret messages also arrived from the Northwest. Since sending his grandson to be fostered in the Northwest, Zhang Ping'an had been in much more contact with his brother-in-law and Lin Junhui than before.
On the one hand, it was because of his grandson, and on the other hand, he was trying to curry favor, so that if things changed, the Northwest Army would be a very strong backing and support for him.
Unlike her father's optimism, Xiaoyuer trusted her uncle-in-law but remained skeptical of Lin Junhui.
In his view, "If someone were to lead a mutiny and declare himself king, given the prestige that Uncle Lin has cultivated in the Northwest Army over the years, he could certainly compete for that position. Every man has ambition, let alone a capable man!"
But Zhang Ping'an knew Lin Junhui well. "Your Uncle Lin is impeccable in every aspect, whether it is his character, knowledge, talent, or military prowess. He is a true talent! Although he seems carefree and unrestrained, he is actually very loyal to his master. He is the one who opposes the division of the world and the outbreak of war. He will not rebel against any of the four border generals. In my opinion, the most likely place to have problems is in the southeast."
"Father, do you mean Zhong Zheng?" A name popped into Xiaoyuer's mind.
“That’s right, he’s the one I’m most worried about right now. When Yang Chun died, the murderer was never found, and it became an unsolved case. It’s only in the last few years that I’ve slowly come to realize that he was the one who did it, but unfortunately there’s no evidence.”
After saying that, Zhang Ping'an himself didn't know what he was really feeling; in short, it was very complicated.
"When he first said he wanted to join the army, I had Chibao use his connections to send him far south. My intention was to let him fend for himself and not have him around so I wouldn't have to see him and get rid of him. I gave him a way out. Who knew he would actually make a name for himself? After Yang Chun's death, he has gradually gathered his remaining troops together in the past few years and is gradually showing signs of replacing the new garrison commander sent by the court."
"Yes, indeed," Xiaoyuer agreed.
“I had my suspicions before, but I always thought he was just a nobody and wouldn’t have the guts to do something like that. But you said, Father, the truth will be clear once you see who the biggest beneficiary of this matter is. Now it seems that this person is none other than Zhong Zheng!”
At this point, Xiaoyuer paused, then objectively commented, "However, from this perspective, he is indeed a remarkable person. It's not easy for him to carve out his own niche. We might clash with him in the future. For now, it's best not to antagonize him and just turn a blind eye!"
There was a hint of persuasion in his words.
Zhang Ping'an looked at his son, shook his head and smiled lightly, then picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said, "I have been an official for decades and have seen all kinds of storms. I am not so easily angered by this. Besides, as you said, times have changed, and it is not advisable for us to antagonize him for the time being."
I was just wondering who was behind him. He couldn't have done this alone. Winning over and subduing those thugs required not only personal ability but also considerable financial resources!
"Hmm, Old Scar hasn't gotten any leads on this matter yet. Every time there's a clue, it just disappears. He's hiding it very well. It seems he's no ordinary person," Little Fish said in a deep voice.
Several suspects flashed through Zhang Ping'an's mind, but now was not the time to delve into the matter. So he waved his hand and said, "Forget it, let's not talk about this for now. Let's see what your Uncle Lin's letter is about. I guess it's about the provisions and pay."
Their Northwest Army is stationed in one of the harshest and most desolate places along the border. Transporting grain, fruits, and vegetables is difficult, and they rely entirely on supplies from the interior. If His Majesty's provisions are insufficient, they will be the first and most vulnerable to attack. Your Uncle Lin is not one to sit idly by and wait for death; he will surely seek help from outside.”
As he spoke, Zhang Ping'an opened the letter on the table, unfolded the letter, and saw that it was indeed so.
"But we just gave such a large sum of money to the imperial court, how... how can we help them?" Xiaoyuer hesitated.
If we were to help, it wouldn't be as simple as tens of thousands of taels of silver; it would be at least a million taels.
How should this payment be made? And under what pretext? Given the current turbulent and unpredictable situation, we must carefully consider this.
Don't end up with a lot of trouble instead of getting any mutton.
Without the slightest hesitation, Zhang Ping'an put down the letter and said decisively, "Of course we will help. Not only will we help, but we will do everything in our power to help. Providing help in times of need is far more useful than adding to someone's success! If we don't help now, when will we?"
"As for how you want to help, I've already thought it through. Take the family token that your Uncle Ge gave me to the Ge family's money exchange and withdraw 300 million taels of silver. If that's not enough, we'll make up the difference with grain and fodder. Your Uncle Ge is a smart man; he knows what to do."
"Understood, Father," Xiaoyuer nodded in agreement and took the token.
He knew his father was playing a very big game. Old ginger is spicier, and his father's experience was much deeper than his own. He still needed his father to oversee many things.
When the time comes for him to understand, he will naturally understand.
"Yes, let's go now," Zhang Ping'an urged. "The matter of provisions and pay cannot be taken lightly. If your maternal grandfather's side asks, you don't need to hide anything; just tell them frankly!"
When the Qian family is mentioned, Xiaoyuer still feels uneasy sometimes, mainly because he intercepted that batch of treasure from the Qian family a few years ago.
Afterwards, when his fourth uncle found out, he ignored him for a while, and the two families did not have any contact for a long time. But after the anger passed, he treated him as before.
Human hearts are made of flesh. Although Xiaoyuer prides himself on being hard-hearted and willing to do anything to achieve his goals, he still cannot be completely heartless in the face of his uncles and maternal grandfather who have been good to him since childhood.
In recent years, I've always felt a bit awkward or uncomfortable exchanging New Year's greetings or letters.
The outward cheerfulness and enthusiasm could not mask the underlying unease.
No one knows a son better than his father. How could Zhang Ping'an not know his son's inner turmoil? He stroked his beard and smiled, saying meaningfully, "It seems you still feel a little guilty about what happened last time. However, we will be able to repay this favor to them soon."
"What do you mean?" Little Fish asked, puzzled.
"Just do as I just told you, and your grandfather knows what I mean."