Chapter 28: Jefferson's Revenge

'Mr. Zhou Ming, I really don't understand why you have to do this. We could have come up with a better solution, such as writing other articles after the incident. After all, it is very likely that Jefferson was just saying that, and would not actually support André in action. We are not without a chance, but now you have a direct conflict with Jefferson, and there is no turning back on this matter!'

Louise said to Ming, her tone full of confusion and helplessness, and even more anger at Ming's self-assertiveness: 'Maybe I should have seen it from the first day that you are just a reckless idiot! Working with you is truly the biggest mistake I have ever made in my life!'

Zhou Ming listened silently as Louise finished speaking, and then asked curiously, 'I don't understand. Are you saying that Jefferson was so arrogant in front of us, treating us like obedient slaves, and that we should just submit?

'Isn't it normal to bow to the strong? Besides, he is the illegitimate son of Patriarch Brando, a being born superior to us!' Louise said, 'Don't look at our families as the top of the tree in every country, but to the Thirteen Sects, we are just their agents in the secular world, their employees. Have you ever heard of an employee who is not afraid of the boss?'

'I'm sorry, but in my understanding, employees should treat their bosses with courtesy and respect, not blind fear,' said Zhou Ming. 'We can show the least respect to people who are better than us, but blindly bowing and apologising is definitely not my style!'

Louise emphatically told Zhou Mingqiang, 'That's why I said you were reckless and impulsive!'

Louise then added: 'But that's normal, after all you're just a young man under 30. People at your age are always a bit self-righteous and passionate. You think the world revolves around you, that your dignity is everything, and you can't stand it when anyone provokes you. You have no idea how naive you are!'

'You've probably heard of Don Quixote? His actions were ridiculous, but at least I think he stuck to his chivalry, and he wasn't foolish enough to challenge kings and nobles. But you've done so openly!' Louise said.

Zhou Ming shrugged meaninglessly: 'But in our Chinese concept, no royal power is eternal. Perhaps we have a more egalitarian mindset than you.'

'The so-called equality for all is nothing more than a propaganda slogan used by the church to fool ordinary people...'

Seeing that Louise was about to say something else, Zhou Ming immediately interrupted her: 'Your Royal Highness, I have no intention of debating with you. Do you remember the question I asked you when we first formed an alliance?'

Faced with this sudden question from Zhou Ming, Louise was immediately stunned. Of course she remembered the question. He had asked how much support she could expect from the royal family behind her...

Louise suddenly realised something: 'Zhou Ming, you're not thinking of challenging Jefferson, are you?'

Zhou Ming nodded and said, 'I should give Her Royal Highness the Princess a thumbs-up for her wisdom. She guessed my thoughts very quickly.'

Zhou Ming's frank admission made Louise gasp in shock. She looked at Zhou Ming in horror, 'You're absolutely crazy! You don't understand what Jefferson or the Grand Duke Blanford behind him really mean. You want to crash into hell on your own, but please don't take me with you. I want to terminate my alliance with you, and my royal family will not give you any help, don't even think about it!'

Louise spoke quickly and anxiously, clearly afraid that Zhou Ming would really propose to fight against Jefferson with her. That would definitely be the worst possible proposal, so she had to reject it first and not let Zhou Ming have the slightest illusion that he could drag her down.

Zhou Ming's reaction was within his expectations, so he told her, 'Your Royal Highness, don't be in such a hurry to refuse, because I'm not asking you or your royal family to participate in any actions against Jefferson. I just hope you can provide me with some information, that's all.'

'Just some information?' Louise asked curiously, obviously unable to understand what Zhou Ming meant.

Zhou Ming nodded with a smile: 'Just some information. After all, my knowledge of the outside world is very limited, but Your Royal Highness is different. And the royal family behind you is also a family deeply rooted in the outside world family. You definitely know more about the outside world than I do, so I have some information about the outside world that I need you to tell me. This shouldn't be too difficult for you, right?'

'If it's just providing information and not directly confronting Jefferson or even Brando, I don't think it'll be a problem,' Louise then added, "but I can't guarantee that your information will be useful!'

Zhou Ming still nodded and said of course, so Louise was curious and asked, "So what is the information?'

'It's not particularly difficult information, just some information about the situation in the outside world, for example, some information about the relationship between the thirteen sects of the Holy See,' Ming said.

After saying all this, Ming, Caitlin and Louise left Harrogate separately.

In the car, Ming leaned back and asked Caitlin, 'Do you also think I'm reckless?'

Caitlin hesitated for a moment before nodding and saying, 'Ming, you are reckless, but I'm sure you have your reasons.'

'So my Princess Caitlin, do you really intend to become my wife?' Zhou Ming suddenly asked.

This sudden question left Caitlin stunned. Zhou Ming continued, 'If you really think that way, then please try to change your thinking. Remember the saying, 'A king or a general is never invincible. Anyone can be defeated.

Caitlin was silent. She was a smart person and of course understood the purpose of what Ming had said to her. She also understood that what Ming had said seemed easy, but when it came to the real thing, she was afraid that Ming was the only one who could think and act like that. In contrast, as the princess, did Louise not fear for her life when she heard the names of the 13 Jeffersons or Patriarch Blagovest?

'I'm very sorry about this, but in the future I will try to change myself and keep up with your ideas,' Caitlyn said.

'That's more like it!' Ming Zhou was very happy to rub her little head. After all, it was fine to give him different ideas and opinions, but it was very annoying to show negative emotions in front of him all the time, so Ming Zhou had to change Caitlyn's ideas.

'Then let's study it up at night. I remember that your father's castle in Bermuda was taken over by Bankman Bank, which happened to be owned by Jefferson. Perhaps we can help your father avenge this,' Ming Zhou said to Caitlin.

Or, with a bit of luck, we might even be able to get to Jefferson before he gets to us!

Zhou Ming was thinking this as he spoke, but luck was clearly not on Zhou Ming's side. Or perhaps it could be said that Jefferson was really angry this time. In any case, before the next day was out, Jefferson's revenge came.

It was at 6 o'clock that evening when Ming Zhou received a phone call from Governor Edwards. Without any preamble, he said, 'Ming Zhou, what have you been doing in the outside world? Have you offended someone you shouldn't have?'

From his tone and words, Zhou Ming immediately thought that this was probably related to Jefferson's revenge. So Zhou Ming asked, 'Mr. Governor, is something wrong?'

Edward told Zhou Ming, 'Just this morning, I received a phone call from one of my campaigners, who is from the Massachusetts Truth Society. On the surface, this organisation is just a charity affiliated with the church charity organisation, but in reality it is the corporate agent of a certain denomination in Massachusetts. I think that you, Ming Zhou, have already entered the outside world, and this situation should not be unfamiliar to you, right?'

Zhou Ming replied, 'I know. So what did this organisation say when it called you?'

'He told me what would happen in Brighton today. First, the catering association and health organisation will conduct a mandatory thorough investigation of your dormitory convenience store project and impose a very high fine. Second, your Wharton insurance insurance company will be arrested for financial fraud and all funds in the account will be confiscated. Your classmates in Harvard Yard will also be attacked by extremists.'

Edward let out a sigh here: 'That person only told me that these things would happen. I know his purpose is to make me take a stand in the incident.'

'Thank you very much, Mr. Governor. You do what you need to do, I won't blame you,' said Zhou Ming.

Edward let out a sigh of relief: 'I believe Mr. Zhou Ming understands the greater good. Then I won't go too far. I just want to ask you who you have offended and why there is such a big fuss?'

Zhou Ming thought for a moment and said, 'Jefferson, I don't know if you have heard of this name?'

As Zhou Ming said this name, Edward let out a gasp of cold air: 'My God, how could you have offended this person? This is just too horrible!'

Zhou Ming could hear Edward's voice change, and couldn't help but ask curiously, 'Isn't he the illegitimate son of Marlon Brando the Patriarch? How terrible can he be?'

Edward calmed down a little and then said, 'I understand, Ming. You must think that he is just a bastard, and no matter how favoured he is, his status won't be powerful. But this idea itself is fundamentally wrong, because the most important thing is that the power of the sect is not what you think it is. It is a very powerful force, and just a little move can make the President of the United States unable to cope!

'What's more important is also his status as an illegitimate child. This status allows him to do things in a completely unstructured way, and he won't be as self-assured as other cult members. He will be even more lawless!' Edward said.

'I see, no wonder he can move so fast,' Zhou Ming said. 'But Mr. Governor, please rest assured, I can handle it. I am very grateful to Mr. Governor for informing me of this news. Then I will let my classmates know as soon as possible. I don't want them to get hurt because of me.'

Zhou Ming hung up on Edward after saying this, and immediately called Chen Shu, the class president of the finance class who was still attending Harvard.

When the call connected, Ming directly asked Shu to immediately take all his classmates to the New York Consulate for shelter. Shu was very puzzled: 'Why? Teacher, we are currently in class, and today's class is very important. Can we go after class?'

Zhou Ming was very determined: 'Go now, don't go to class. That knowledge is insignificant compared to your safety!'

With Zhou Ming's words, Chen Shu and the others did not ask any more questions, and immediately all of them skipped class and left Harvard, taking a car to the Chinese Consulate in New York to take refuge.

However, Zhou Ming, who had resolved the safety of the finance class, did not let his guard down, because Zhou Ming knew that Jefferson's revenge could not be just like that, but at this time, Zhou Ming also could not imagine that Jefferson would be that crazy.