You Have Science, I Have Martial Arts-Chapter 593 - 269: Da Liang Will Fall Before I Even Rebel

Liaodong Commandery, Bai Geng City.

Early in the morning, Cheng Tinghu got up and exercised with his concubine, working up a sweat and feeling thoroughly relaxed. He then took a bath and changed clothes, while supporting his sore lower back with a sigh: "Getting old, the back isn’t as strong as it used to be. Back in the day at the Qinhuai Riverfront, handling eight beauties in one night was nothing."

Several close attendants nearby flattered him with a smile: "General, you’re in your prime, you can kill a bull with one punch, how could you be old?"

Although he knew they were flattering him, Cheng Tinghu still felt quite satisfied after hearing it. He then remembered his son going to Ji City and asked, "Has Jimo returned?"

His subordinate quickly replied, "Not yet."

"It’s been days. Has he gone off somewhere to drink with companions?"

Cheng Tinghu cursed with a laugh, but didn’t take it to heart.

As they say, like father, like son. Cheng Jimo’s arrogance and unruliness were learned from Cheng Tinghu, acting like a local tyrant in Youzhou, looking down on everyone.

The Liaodong General Family, including the Cheng, Li, Ma, and Nie families, were just four border army officers when Da Liang was first established.

At that time, the Central Plains were newly settled, the country was in ruins and needed rebuilding, so the Court was unable to deliver supplies to Youzhou to resist the Donghu invasion, forcing the Emperor to establish four major border towns in Liaodong, relocating people to cultivate the land, combining military and agriculture. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

Over time, these four border towns gradually evolved into independent kingdoms, with the Cheng, Li, Ma, and Nie military noble families holding thirty thousand fierce border troops, making it difficult for Da Liang’s decrees to enter Liaodong.

In Bai Geng City, the Cheng family wielded overwhelming power. Cheng Tinghu was especially arrogant and extravagant, monopolizing all the profits of the city’s merchants and residents under his own name.

For merchants in the city, if someone from the Cheng family didn’t take a share, their business couldn’t continue.

And the juniors of the Cheng family acted fearlessly, abducting whichever married woman they fancied on the street. If anyone dared to object, they would be accused of colluding with enemies and have their entire family executed.

In recent years, Cheng Tinghu even led raids on passing merchants, committing robbery and murder, amassing enormous wealth, and the local magistrates didn’t dare to interfere.

Therefore, in Cheng Tinghu’s view, since Ye Qingzhou had already offended King Chong, he must be seeking to ally with him, otherwise, he wouldn’t be able to gain a foothold in Youzhou.

That’s why Cheng Tinghu dared to reach out for Ye Qingzhou’s spoils of war; those millions of cattle and sheep were just too tempting for him.

And all he wanted was thirty percent, was that too much?

In Bai Geng City, the Cheng family usually took a seventy percent share as a stakeholder, but now they were only asking Ye Qingzhou for thirty percent of the spoils, which was already giving him face.

Meanwhile, in Linghe City, Liaodong Commandery, the Nie family was also embroiled in a dispute.

"Father, we can’t hesitate any longer!"

The youngest son, Nie Yongjie, urged impatiently, "Cheng Jimo has already taken people to Ji City, and I hear the Cheng family is making a huge demand, wanting to take thirty percent of the spoils all at once. If we go late, it’s not just cattle and sheep we’ll miss out on, but even the dung might not be left for our Nie family!"

Millions of cattle and sheep, such a windfall, makes everyone green with envy.

Now, with the State Governor’s orders supporting them, it’s like sanctioned robbery. The four Liaodong military families couldn’t hold back any longer, all entertaining thoughts of claiming it for themselves.

Nie Dingyuan was quite tempted at this moment, but then hesitated: "Let me think again, maybe we should wait for your second brother to return before making a decision."

Nie Yongjie couldn’t help but urge upon hearing this: "Father, fortune favors the bold. What are you hesitating for at a time like this?"

"General, the second young master has returned."

"What?"

Nie Dingyuan was extremely pleased to hear this. Among his three sons, the eldest was useless, the youngest ambitious but talentless, only the second son, Nie Shixiong, was steady and decisive, resembling the ancestors, capable of great responsibility.

Soon, Nie Shixiong rushed back to Linghe City from a long journey, striding vigorously towards Nie Dingyuan and Nie Yongjie: "Father, third brother."

"Shixiong, you’re back. Just in time, there’s something to discuss with you."

Then Nie Dingyuan relayed Nie Yongjie’s earlier words to Nie Shixiong, though he spoke in a somewhat gentle manner: "I know Ye Jianjun has been kind to you, but we won’t take these benefits from the Nie family without giving anything in return. We will mediate for Jianjun and placate the other three families. What do you think?"

Nie Shixiong sighed upon hearing this: "Father, isn’t living well enough? Why seek self-destruction?"

Nie Yongjie became quite displeased, stood up angrily, and admonished Nie Shixiong: "Second brother, how can you speak to father like that? This matter concerns our Nie family’s interests, don’t be swayed by emotions!"

Whoosh~

Nie Shixiong suddenly made a move, grabbing Nie Yongjie’s neck and lifting him into the air: "In the past, no matter how you misbehaved, I considered you too young to understand. But not this time. Our master’s martial arts are unparalleled. I cannot stand by and watch you destroy the Nie family."

Nie Yongjie’s face turned red, his eyes rolled back, struggling painfully as Nie Shixiong choked him.

Seeing the brothers fighting, Nie Dingyuan hastily scolded: "Shixiong, what are you doing? Let go. He is your own brother!"

Only then did Nie Shixiong release Nie Yongjie, who fell to the ground, coughing and gasping for air. Though there was anger on his face, there was more fear and awe.

"If he wasn’t my brother, he’d already be a corpse."

"Shixiong, do you think you’ve got wings now, that you don’t even regard me, your father, anymore?"

Nie Dingyuan was exceedingly angry, and also felt that his son had become a complete stranger in such a short time.