Green Mountain

"Beat the steward to death?" Chen Liqin looked at Zhang Zhuo in astonishment, "Why go to such lengths? This steward is an old servant I brought with me from the Imperial Capital; he has been diligently managing everything for over ten years, and if not for his achievements, then at least for his hard work."

Zhang Zhuo laughed, "When the late Emperor was alive, was General Hu Guang’s contribution not big enough? He recaptured Chongli Pass, blocking the Jing Dynasty’s Iron Cavalry for more than a decade. His contributions were so great that he dared to hold military power and roar in the court. What was his fate in the end? The late Emperor first promoted Liu Wencheng to Minister of War and into the cabinet, then let Official Liu clip General Hu Guang’s wings, had his family exterminated and home ravaged. When Official Liu was cursed by everyone as a treacherous minister, the late Emperor issued an edict to demote Official Liu to return to his hometown, and he was immediately praised as a wise ruler."

Chen Liqin’s expression changed, "Lord, be cautious with your words!"

Zhang Zhuo chuckled and said with certainty, "You are a righteous gentleman, so you certainly wouldn’t go to the Eunuch Party to tattle on my misdeeds. You are just too conservative."

Chen Liqin, being called conservative, felt displeased and said with a heavier tone, "Lord Zhang does not resemble a scholar, but rather a petty person."

Zhang Zhuo responded carelessly with a bow, unconcerned, "Flattery will get you nowhere."

The cold wind was piercing.

Although Liu Quxing and the others’ hands were red with the cold, they didn’t notice, all keeping quiet as they calculated how to divide the five thousand taels of silver.

Everyone looked at each other, none willing to speak first.

In the midst of silence, Chen Ji spoke. He smiled at Liu Quxing and the others and said, "I won’t be modest with everyone. I’ll take thirty percent of the silver each year, and you can divide the rest."

Take thirty percent?