Rong Cang looked away and said calmly: "Young Master Gu is a smart man. He should know what the king wants?"
"Please forgive my stupidity." Gu Chengye's eyebrows were slightly lowered, making it difficult to see the fluctuations in his eyes, "His Royal Highness, you might as well say it clearly."
"The account book that Chen Shan submitted to me has been sent to the capital as requested by the caregiver, but the amount recorded in the account book is not in line with the king's estimate." Rong Cang leaned on the brocade couch with a somewhat stern posture. Lazy, "The Gu family has made a lot of money from it over the years."
Gu Chengye's eyes were attentive: "Your Highness, do you want money?"
"I have 400,000 soldiers and horses under my command. Food, grass and military pay are a huge expense." Rong Cang's tone was calm, and he couldn't hear any emotion or anger. "It's cold and freezing in the north, and it's a bit difficult every winter. I plan to provide They bought two sets of winter coats to keep out the cold.”
Gu Chengye's expression remained unchanged: "Is one million taels enough?"
"The Gu family has swallowed up at least seven million taels of silver in the past three years." Rong Cang looked coldly, "You want to send me away with one million taels?"
Gu Chengye's expression changed: "His Royal Highness the War King——"
"Five million." Rong Cang said calmly, "One or two less is not enough."
Gu Chengye's face froze.
He didn't expect that Rong Cang would open his mouth like a lion and ask for five million taels of silver.
Does he think that the Gu family has a great business and everyone is drinking the northwest wind? That money sounds like a lot of money, but the Gu family has so many clan members to support, and they have to manage officials in various places, and secretly recruiting soldiers and horses is even more expensive.
By asking them to take out five million taels at once, did they want to directly drain the Gu family's wealth?
There was a moment of silence in the private room, and then he said: "Jizhou's tax revenue in the past three years has not been that much. His Highness thinks highly of the Gu family."
"If you feel something is wrong, then there is nothing to talk about." Rong Cang's voice was indifferent, "I can find someone who can talk to me."
Gu Chengye's face suddenly turned cold: "Your Highness, do you mean to support a family head again?"
"It does mean that." Rong Cang said, "I like people who are obedient."
Gu Chengye sneered: "Although the Gu family is in internal strife, it will never -"
"If that's the case, why not give it a try." Rong Cang raised his hand to interrupt him, "Please, Mr. Gu."
Gu Chengye paused, sitting stiffly in his seat, silent for a long time.
Rong Cang didn't rush him and gave him time to think clearly.
Gu Chengye gritted his teeth: "Three million."
"What I said is very clear, there is no room for bargaining." Rong Cang's eyebrows were cold and formidable, "Gu Chengye, what makes you think that the Gu family is qualified to negotiate with me? The Gu family is corrupt and perverts the law, lies about disasters, and privately raises soldiers and horses. Each one you pull out is enough to kill you a hundred times."
Gu Chengye gritted his teeth: "How can the eggs be intact when the nest is overturned? If something happens to the Gu family, both the concubine, aunt, and the prince will be implicated."
Rong Cang said calmly: "This is not something you need to worry about."
Gu Chengye was silent for a long time and asked, "Are there any other conditions?"
"If you agree, I will talk to you about other things." Rong Cang narrowed his eyes, "If you can't agree, there is no need to talk about other conditions."
"...Okay." Gu Chengye decided to agree first, "I will discuss it carefully with them when I get back."
Rong Cang seemed a little impatient: "It's not about discussing, it's about making a decision now."
Gu Chengye smiled ugly: "For such a big thing, you have to give me some time."
"The head of a family should act vigorously and resolutely. If you can't make these decisions, I'm afraid you are not qualified to be the head of the family."
Gu Chengye's heart sank slightly and he was speechless for a moment.
He didn't expect Rong Cang to be so difficult to deal with.
In the past, he only knew that he was good at fighting, but in his impression, even if generals who were good at fighting were not completely reckless, they were far inferior to other princes in the court in terms of scheming.
And now he is completely at a disadvantage, so he should have some scruples. Where does he have the confidence to be so tough?
"Okay." He gritted his teeth, "What are the other conditions?"
"I want to be crown prince."
Gu Chengye froze: "What did you say?"
"You should hear it clearly."
"This is impossible." Gu Chengye's expression changed with shock, "This is absolutely impossible! The only one supported by the Gu family is King Chen, and the imperial concubine and aunt will not agree..."
"Gu Chengye." Rong Cang looked at him coldly, "Although you have invited me to talk tonight, what I said to you is not a negotiation, but must be fulfilled, otherwise there will be no need to discuss anything else."
Gu Chengye squeezed the tea cup in his hand and his expression became colder: "Your Highness, the War King, isn't he worried that he won't be able to get out of Shuozhou City?"
"You can try." Rong Cang said indifferently, "Let's see how long I stay in Shuozhou, or how long you, the temporary head of the family, live."
Gu Chengye's face turned pale and he couldn't say a word.
Rong Cang stood up, straightened his clothes, turned around and walked to the window, looking at the boats on the river: "Shuozhou has a beautiful scenery at night. It and Jizhou are two of the most prosperous cities in Chu State. . The Gu family is in charge of this place and they live like an emperor. I believe that Mr. Gu is reluctant to part with this."
Gu Chengye said nothing, struggling in his mind.
He didn't dare to move Rong Cang, this was a fact.
Even if he dared, it was still unknown whether he could move Rong Cang.
To say the least, even if he could get the best result and leave Rong Cang's life here as he wished, the emperor would probably be furious. With a decree, Rong Cang's trusted generals could lead their troops and raze this place.
This is the greatest advantage of the leader.
But if Rong Cang lives...
Gu Chengye's face was ugly, Rong Cang's temper was too strong, and there was no room for change in everything. This conclusion can be drawn from the conversation just now.
If Rong Cang lives, the Gu family will not have good fruits to eat in the future.
Moreover, there is a lot of internal fighting in the Gu family now. If he intervenes forcefully and supports the person he thinks is obedient, then he will most likely lose his position as the head of the family.
So he must die.
But he couldn't die in Jizhou, or on the Gu family's territory.
Gu Chengye hesitated for a long time, and unexpectedly thought of the secrets his father had revealed to him, and his heart moved slightly: "If I promise you, what benefits can you give me?"
Rong Cang didn't even look back: "I don't need to promise you any benefits."
Gu Chengye paused: "..."
This is clearly an unfair negotiation.
Rong Cang is determined that he can't do anything to him?
"You know what the Gu family has done in Jizhou over the years." Rong Cang said calmly, "If you want to punish the crime according to the law, a hundred rounds of death for your whole family will not be enough."
Gu Chengye has completely lost the initiative.
He thought that by leaving Rong Cang dry for a few days, he would be able to get rid of him. Unexpectedly, he...
But he heard what he meant.
The Gu family deserves to die for what they did before, but as long as they agree to Rong Cang's request, the past can be wiped out.
But their losses will be huge.
Originally, it was King Chen who secretly recruited troops and horses. As long as King Chen ascends the throne, the power of the Gu family will reach its peak, and no aristocratic family in Chu State will be able to compare with the Gu family.
If they support the War King in the future, how should they explain to their aunt?
My aunt was very cold towards this son, never liked him, and even had an inexplicable dislike for him.
Gu Chengye knew what the reason was, but he couldn't say it, otherwise not only Rong Cang would die, but his aunt would also be killed.
There are many secrets in the palace, and even if the Gu family doesn't care about anything, they are sometimes forced to know some.
but……
A calculating light slowly appeared in Gu Chengye's eyes. Rong Cang's background was impure. Even if he agreed to it now, he would not be able to sit in that position in the end.
His ambition will only hasten his demise.
What Gu Chengye is thinking now is, should he use this secret to control Rong Cang, or should he follow his will and support him to the position of prince, wait for him to stand tall, and then reveal this secret and make him fall hard?
