The position of Provincial Governor of Rizhao County was lost!
Chongxuan Sheng had built up momentum for a long time and fought hard for it, but at the last moment, someone plucked the peaches from under his nose.
The new Provincial Governor of Rizhao County was Tian Antai. The imperial edict had been issued and could not be changed. He would soon take office.
And Chongxuan Sheng and Jiang Chen's plans were cut off at the waist.
Chongxuan Sheng came to Qingyang Town in a rage and told Jiang Chen the news.
Jiang Chen had expectations for this. This position would be very beneficial for managing his forces. The feeling of dashed expectations was not pleasant. But he still comforted him: "Momentum cannot be exhausted. The Way of Heaven has flaws, human relationships have jealousy—it must be inevitable!"
The three Provincial Governor positions in Yang Domain.
Huang Yixing was needed for governance. Anyone who presided over the distribution of the pie would need such a person.
However, it was Chongxuan Chuliang who had nodded, and only then could he rise to the position. Although his loyalty could not be fully guaranteed, he could already be considered part of Chongxuan Chuliang's faction.
Gao Shaoling was a result of the interest exchange presided over by Chongxuan Chuliang. Through the position of Provincial Governor of Chiwei County, a certain degree of exchange and cooperation was achieved with the Gao clan of Jinghai. It was also a standard distribution of the pie.
Only the Provincial Governor of Rizhao County—Chongxuan Sheng had intended to manage it as his own base.
This position, no matter what, should not have gone to Tian Antai.
Although as a general of the Autumn Execution Army, he had personally participated in the campaign to destroy Yang, fought bravely on the battlefield, and established merit. His cultivation at the Inner Palace realm also qualified him for the position.
But when it came to merit, he absolutely could not compare to Jiang Chen's merit of capturing the flag, or Chongxuan Sheng's merit of slaying a general, not to mention the merit of destroying Song Guang's seventy thousand troops before the battle.
He was able to sit in this position—firstly, because his clan, the Tian clan of Daze, had deep foundations; secondly, it was perhaps because the imperial will was unpredictable, and the Emperor did not want the Yang region to become Chongxuan Chuliang's private territory, which was inconvenient to say openly; thirdly...
"It was Chongxuan Zun!"
Chongxuan Sheng said fiercely: "If he had not represented the Chongxuan family to express agreement, His Majesty would never have bypassed my uncle's opinion to allow Tian Antai to take office!"
This statement contained two pieces of information. One was that Chongxuan Zun still held an absolute advantage within the Chongxuan family and could even represent the family at important times. The other also showed that the Emperor of Qi might not have wanted Chongxuan Chuliang to gain too much, but because of his great merit, it was impossible to suppress him openly. This was the mind of an emperor, and it was quite normal.
Jiang Chen frowned: "How could the Chongxuan family agree to give up Rizhao County?"
For a top clan like the Chongxuan family, no matter how much they favored Chongxuan Zun, they should not make choices that harmed the family's interests.
Chongxuan Sheng's expression was not very good: "The Tian clan offered the ten-year development rights of Chongjia Isle in exchange."
Seeing that Jiang Chen did not understand the significance of Chongjia Isle, he added: "This island belongs to the Coastal Archipelago, rich in resources, no less than Rizhao County, and has always been the private property of the Tian clan."
So that was it!
Perhaps in terms of resources and actual obtainable benefits, Chongjia Isle would not be better than Rizhao County, but the significance was different.
From the Chongxuan family's perspective, they already had sufficient gains in Yang Domain. One less Provincial Governor of Rizhao County would not harm the overall situation in Yang. But a Chongjia Isle could strengthen the Chongxuan family's power in the Coastal Archipelago, which was an expansion of the family's influence.
To some extent, this was also an interest exchange during the "pie distribution" phase.
However, the campaign against Yang was something Chongxuan Sheng had single-handedly pushed for. When the "pie" was made and it was time to "distribute the pie," Chongxuan Zun came out to preside!
This was unjustifiable both emotionally and rationally.
However, Chongxuan Zun was acting from the Chongxuan family's interests, which left no room for opposition. Because promoting the State of Qi to send troops to attack Yang was not something Chongxuan Chuliang and Chongxuan Sheng, uncle and nephew, could have done on their own. They also relied on the family's strength and support to carry out this bold gamble.
At the final stage, there was no reason to not let the family reap the benefits.
Trading the Provincial Governor of Rizhao County for ten years of Chongjia Isle was a choice where the benefits outweighed the drawbacks for the Chongxuan family.
Only for Chongxuan Sheng himself, it left him with an empty basket after drawing water!
Jiang Chen would undoubtedly stand on his side. If he could obtain the position of Provincial Governor of Rizhao County, it would be equivalent to the entire Rizhao County becoming Chongxuan Sheng's base.
But the ten years of Chongjia Isle belonged to the entire Chongxuan family. Chongxuan Sheng could at most get a few scraps.
That Chongxuan Zun, whom Jiang Chen had never met, struck decisively when he did, and his considerations were thorough.
That time at the Heavenly Secret Realm, Chongxin's obstruction was more like a casual move. He had never received a serious commitment from Chongxuan Zun.
Wang Yiwu's joining was more like Wang Yiwu's own initiative, or a casual response to Chongxuan Sheng's last-minute replacement of the general, rather than Chongxuan Zun's serious planning. Obtaining a spot in the Heavenly Secret Realm in a very short time also showed his capability.
Only this time was Chongxuan Zun's true strike.
A strike against Chongxuan Sheng.
Whether Chongxuan Zun had finally mustered his strength, or he had finally found the time—as soon as he struck, he plucked the fruits of Chongxuan Sheng's victory!
No wonder Chongxuan Sheng was so resentful.
"This at least shows one thing!" Jiang Chen said in a deep voice: "At least by now, Chongxuan Zun has had to see you as a rival!"
Previously, no matter whether Chongxuan Sheng was socializing in Linzi or building his forces, the reaction from Chongxuan Zun's side had been lukewarm, as if he couldn't be bothered, and didn't care at all.
Now it at least showed that Chongxuan Sheng was no longer an existence he could ignore.
"Yes!" Chongxuan Sheng patted Jiang Chen: "I rushed over to comfort you, but I didn't expect it to be you comforting me all along!"
He paused: "I just want to tell you, we've had worse times, and of course we deserve better times!"
In such a desperate situation, his first thought was to comfort Jiang Chen's possible disappointment, which showed their friendship.
Jiang Chen smiled: "Your visit has broadened my door! Much less my mood!"
...
In Chongxuan Chuliang's residence, the plaque of Marquis Dingyuan had only been hung up not long ago.
The new Provincial Governor of Rizhao County, Tian Antai, had been standing in the courtyard for a long time.
After lunch, Chongxuan Chuliang finally came leisurely to the front of the courtyard, hands behind his back, looking at Tian Antai: "Has the Provincial Governor of Rizhao come to demonstrate today?"
Tian Antai bowed respectfully and cupped his hands: "This humble one came, firstly to thank you for your grace, and secondly to ask for punishment!"
Thanking for the grace naturally meant thanking for the help in achieving merit, and asking for punishment naturally meant asking for the crime of usurping the position of Provincial Governor of Rizhao.
With the Tian clan of Daze backing him, and being personally appointed by the Emperor of Qi, and not being in the army at the moment, Tian Antai did not need to do this.
But he still came.
"Your daring to come ask for punishment today really makes this Marquis look at you differently."
Chongxuan Chuliang smiled: "Was it Tian Anping's idea?"
Tian Antai did not dare to admit, nor did he dare to deny, and only said: "This humble one is terrified!"
"What a scheme, Tian Anping! If I whip you, it completes your reputation. If I kill you, it defies the imperial will."
As Chongxuan Chuliang spoke, he narrowed his eyes: "But Tian Antai, tell me—if I want to kill someone, would I care about these things?"
Tian Antai's back was instantly soaked with cold sweat. He cried out in bitterness.
Two hundred and ten thousand Yang soldiers were slaughtered just like that. When Chongxuan Chuliang became ruthless, would he really care about those things or not?
"The Marquis's divine might is unmatched, of course, of course..."
He stammered "of course" for a long time, but couldn't come up with anything.
Chongxuan Chuliang waved his hand impatiently: "Enough. Go back and tell Tian Anping—I won't kill you, but he must remember this favor!"
Even a fierce person like Chongxuan Chuliang had to compromise in the end...
Tian Antai's heart relaxed, he performed a grand bow, and left in a hurry as if fleeing.
Although the fierce slaughterer had not done anything to him, it was more unbearable than being punished.
If possible, he never wanted to come to Marquis Dingyuan's residence again in his life.
However, what he did not want to admit but had to admit was...
He had even less courage to refuse the demands of that younger brother in his family.