Internal Conflict

Chapter 93 – Internal Conflict

During the private talk, Sima Fang agreed to let his children work for Tong once they grew up. However, Tong had to provide them with a tutor and a proper education for them while they were still young.

For this condition, Lu Zhi was asked by Tong to be their mentor as he could not return to the Capital anytime soon. Tong whispered to him in secret and told him that Sima Yi was a genius who had promising potentials. Lu Zhi accepted happily because he enjoyed teaching promising youths.

Sima Fang did not complain about this arrangement. He entrusted his children to Lu Zhi.

…

Tong returned to his room with a slight headache. The pain came back during the negotiation with Sima Fang, and the condition persisted until now.

'What in the world is this headache? If it isn't because of the skill of Sunday, I would have thought that I have a brain tumor or cancer.'

Hua Shi, who had been lazing around in the room, saw Tong's condition and his pale face. She licked her lips in anticipation.

'Every time he has that headache, he'll become a beast in bed. It's going to be an all-night entertainment again. Ufufu.'

…

April 3rd.

An uproar took place in the morning assembly at the government hall this morning. Because Tong introduced the Justice Department and the new director, everyone was shocked.

Despite the troubles that Sima Fang could inflict upon the government staffs and himself, Zhang Jiao approved of this promotion. He also wanted someone to put a rein on the old and new officials, so they could not be easily tempted by the authority they had and committed any unethical act.

Lu Zhi volunteered to assist his junior, who was still new to this city, as the deputy director of the Department of Justice. The other staffs in this division would be recruited personally by Sima Fang himself.

Ten thousand garrison troops would be transferred to the department and converted into the new unit called "Police". They would no longer participate in any battle beyond the gate or outside of the walls, but they would be the first to act if there was an incident within the city.

The remaining ten thousand garrisons, including Zhou Cang, would be stationed outside the gate as another combat battalion.

Zhang Bao, Zhang Liang, and Bo Cai were summoned back into the city to inform them the news of the changes. They had to entrust the new recruit training to their deputies and returned.

Hua Shi gazed at Tong in worried.

"Will this be alright? Sima Yi's sons will backstab you in the future. Are you fine with it?"

WIthout cares, Tong had a smug look on his face.

"Let them coup if they can. Until then, I'll make them work their ass out for me. Besides, Sima Shi and Sima Zhao will only rebel once the country is at its strongest. Once we unified China, we'll worry about it later."

'I doubt I'll be here that long anyway. I'll be summoned back to netherworld in a few years ...'

'I feel bad for my subordinates. But I have no choice.'

'I'll lay a strong foundation for this city. I'll use all my lifespan to create more food.'

'After I leave, father and the rest should be fine on their own.'

'As for Sunday, I should take her with me.'

'I hope Friday allow a mistress ... or else, I'm fOOked.'

…

…

Outside of the City, Yuan Family camp.

Tian Feng received the intel from the inside of the city today. It was the information about the SE shops and WM shops that had been opened recently.

After he finished reading all of the reports, he chased away all servants and was left alone in his tent.

'Zhang Tong is selling his spice to his citizens at 10% of the market price while he is selling them for us at 20%. All merchants without Julu citizen identification have to buy it at full price …'

'All items from the shops are provided by Zhang Tong himself. All source of these products is nowhere to be found …'

'Just like what that man had said, we were deceived …'

'Then we have two choices, one is to buy everything Zhang Tong has. If we cannot clear out his items, we pick the choice number two, sell the concession to the others.'

Tian Feng decided to follow Te Langpu's suggestion. He wrote a letter to the five merchant representatives and stated he wanted to sell the concession to the men at 400,000 taels of gold. The deal would be set at May after the Yuan family completed the transaction at the end of April. He wrote it in advance, so once the time came, he could send the letter immediately.

After he had finished the letter, Tian Feng ordered everyone to return to Nanpi for the preparation of the next trade by the end of April. He also told the executive members about the plan to sell the concession to the five merchants.

Feng Ji, who was listening to the side, was angered by Tian Feng's action. He put so much effort to get this concession. Why did this Tian Feng ruin it like this?

"I object this decision! We spent 500,000 gold to auction for this! Why do we have to sell it away at 400,000 gold!? This is our chance to make the Yuan Clan prosper. Why are we giving it away to the outsiders!?"

Feng Ji stood up and protested in front of everybody, which half of them agreed to Feng Ji's objection.

"Sir Feng has a point. Head butler Tian, would you please reconsider?"

"Yes, we can make more profit if we hold this concession for a year."

"Indeed, it's like pouring a good wine into a river. Please do not waste this opportunity!"

"That's right. Good trade like this is hard to come by! Please reconsider!"

Feng Ji's supporters stood up and protested, while the Feng Ji himself had a smug look on his face. He glared at Tian Feng without hiding his hostile intent.

'Moron! You've made a mistake! I'll make you pay for it!'

Feeling great about stepping on Tian Feng, Feng Ji threw more oil into the flame.

"Butler Tian, I did my best to acquire this concession with great difficulty in hoping that the Yuan family can reap benefits from this deal. How could you give it up easily like that? Come to think of it, since you have become our butler, you have done nothing to contribute to the prosperity of our Lord. Are you certain that you are working for our Lord, or are you working for Zhang Tong?"

The officers in the tent looked back and forth between Feng Ji and Tian Feng. They were contemplating what Feng Ji had said. The rivalry between the two was well-known among the servants of the family.

During the times Feng Ji was holding the title of the head butler of Nanpi branch family, he had gained many achievements through the years. Everybody in the tent was also aware of it.

However, Tian Feng had yet to contribute anything to the family, just like Feng Ji had voiced out, which instigated discontentment within the heart of everybody here.

Meanwhile, Tian Feng still had an indifferent expression on his face. He ignored the opinions of the protesters as he deemed them ignorant.

"Then are you all aware that we are being tricked by Zhang Tong yet again?"

Everybody was silenced the moment Tian Feng spoke out.

"Zhang Tong laid a trap in this deal. He is selling his items to his people at one-tenth of the market price and is selling us at 20% of the market price. Do you see the picture? He can afford to sell it so cheap to his people and us. Don't you think that he can procure these items somewhere cheaper than these?"

The crowd murmured in hesitation and shocked. They concurred with Tian Feng's reasons. From a merchant's perspective, Tong had to acquire these items at a lower price. Or else, he would not be able to sell it this cheap.

Then, if the source of these items got out and the market price dropped lower than what they had initially bought, they would make a huge loss. They would lose out the 500,000 gold that they had bid for the concession, and they would lose the capitals that invested in the products.

With that logic, it could be concluded that the Yuan family had been scammed by Tong.

Traces of frustration and anger appeared on the faces of the executive officers. The relationship between the Zhang family and the Yuan family was not that great to begin with. By adding fuel to the flame, their hatred toward Tong and his family increased.

"Bastard Zhang Tong!"

"How dare him!"

"That brat deserves a thousand death!"

Curses and swearing were tossed out from the crowd's outrage. All officers in the tent shifted their discontentment to Tong instead of Tian Feng with just a few arguments.

Feng Ji stared at Tian Feng in disbelief. His chance to bring down Tian Feng was swiped away just like that. Realizing his inferiority in wits when he compared it with Tian Feng, Feng Ji gritted his teeth with hatred.

'FOOk you, Tian Feng! I'll send a report to our Lord! I'll tell him that you've ruined a business deal and soiled our relationship with the Zhang Family. Let see how he will deal with you!'

On the other hand, Tian Feng harrumphed and frowned as he glanced at Feng Ji.

'All you did was trying to harm me instead of helping our Lord. You can't hold a high post if you continue to be immature.'

Tian Feng shook his head. He continued the meeting and suggested more solutions to minimize the loss. The officers did not protest nor showed signs of disagreement with Tian Feng again, which caused Feng Ji to fume in anger and stomped out of the meeting tent.

Te Langpu, who had been observing all of them from the start to finish, laughed in his heart as he enjoyed the drama.

'What a bunch of stupid monkeys. One of them has an inferiority complex. The other one is ignorant toward employee psychology. This is why Yuan Shao will meet his end. Welp! That's none of my business. I'm just a leech that happens to catch a good sucker.'