Chapter 107: Turning Hostile and Denying Acquaintance

"Why is it always the military and the noble clans? What about the civil officials? Have they all become saints who no longer eat the food of mortals?"

"The civil officials are far more cunning. They have been clamoring to bring the salt trade under state control. It sounds selfless, but if that happens, the military will be completely shut out, and in the end, it is the civil officials and the noble clans who will benefit. His Majesty is currently at his wit's end. Since you are the one who produced the salt, if you just step forward and say something, no one would have any reason to object."

"Ahem! I can't! I'm old, covered in old wounds, and can't move much anymore." Cai Cong immediately began to cough, sitting on the ground and feigning agony.

"Nonsense! If you pretend again, I'll beat you to death!" Yan Dong completely exploded. He could no longer stand the little brat's posturing. With a violent shout, he punched through a tree as thick as a bowl nearby. *You are old? You aren't even as tall as a carriage wheel yet; it's far too early for you to start acting like a senile elder.*

"I can't go on, I can't! You've frightened me. Fang Yuan, Fang Yuan, hurry and help me back to rest. Bring me some pearl powder to calm my nerves." After saying this, Cai Cong got up and ran away, leaving Yan Dong in a state of disarray.

"What kind of karma did I create to deserve this?" Yan Dong stomped his feet and left in a fit of rage.

Back at the palace, Li Shimin asked with a smile, "Were you played by that kid again?"

"This old servant is incompetent. No matter what I said, the Marquis just wouldn't budge. He spouted nothing but nonsense. In the end, I was so frustrated that I broke a tree in his courtyard, but he wasn't afraid of me at all."

"He's waiting to watch the dogs fight each other. Once he tosses out a scrap, those ancient, arrogant noble clans and high-ranking officials scramble for it like dogs seeing a bone—the uglier the fight, the better. That kid is probably laughing his head off right now."

"Indeed! There have been over a dozen skirmishes, and more than twenty people have died. And that is only what is visible; there's no telling how many have died in the shadows." Yan Dong agreed. He grew increasingly in awe of Cai Cong, who treated the secret formula for salt refining like a worn-out shoe, tossing it aside without a second thought.

"However, this old servant noticed that the Marquis doesn't seem to pay much attention to the salt business. When I brought it up today, he seemed to know nothing about it."

"Hmm, that is true. The Secret Guards report that Cai Cong spends his days dealing with trifles, and he has even handed over military camp affairs to Meng Bao. The only thing that could be considered a major event was Wei Zheng coming to seek revenge. What do you think he is actually trying to do?"

Li Shimin walked away as he spoke; he did not expect this old servant to provide an answer. No matter what Cai Cong was plotting, the truth would come to light one day. As for the salt, he would just have to stall. They had endured for so long; a few more days would not make a difference.

Wei Zheng arrived at the estate again. Cai Cong ordered his retinue to line up, threw the main gate wide open, and greeted him with a fawning smile. He had no choice! The day Wei Zheng returned to Chang'an, he had marched straight to the Marquis's estate and, without a word, tried to dash his head against the gate pillar. The gatekeeper had been so terrified that his legs went weak, and he had to cling to Wei Zheng, not daring to let go.

When Wei Zheng arrived this time, his face was as dark as the bottom of a pot. He refused to give Cai Cong a pleasant look. Not long after Cai Cong left Shandong, a large number of the Shandong gentry had died. No one believed it wasn't Wei Zheng's doing, and rumors spread that the Shandong clans viewed him as a mortal enemy.

Cai Cong was serving his own interests, so conflict was not surprising, but Wei Zheng was seen as a traitor, and traitors are often hated even more than enemies.

"Heh heh... it is truly an honor to have you visit, Elder Wei!" Cai Cong smiled like a scoundrel. Anyone who didn't know better would have thought something was wrong with him!

"Hmph, do you think I wanted to visit your home? I had no choice. The entire court treats me like a tiger or a leopard; if I don't come to you, where else can I go?"

"Who in the world doesn't know that you, Elder Wei, are the finest example of justice? The common people in Shandong have even erected spirit tablets for you while you are still alive!"

Before Cai Cong could finish, Wei Zheng glared at him and took a step forward. "Try mocking me again, see if I don't..."

"Dash your head against the gate pillar. I believe you, of course I do. Please, come inside, Elder." Cai Cong said helplessly. This old man was ruthless and always threatening to die; he was truly terrified.

"Hmph, at least you have some sense." Wei Zheng stomped inside, fuming. As soon as he reached the main hall, he slapped the table and shouted, "Where is the tea? Is this how you treat a guest? I've arrived, and you haven't even served a cup!"

"Stop slapping the table, old man. Hurry up and speak! What do you want from me?" It’s true that people can change their faces faster than flipping a book; once inside the estate, Cai Cong’s attitude shifted from "Elder Wei" to just "old man."

"Hm? What kind of attitude is that? Don't forget, I was the one who took the heat for you regarding the Shandong affair." Wei Zheng sensed something was off and immediately barked.

"Last time, you took the sales rights for glass in Hebei Province from me. What do you want this time?" Cai Cong asked irritably.

"I want a word from you." Wei Zheng looked at Cai Cong sternly and said, enunciating every word: "The sales rights for the Great Tang's salt profits must belong to the government. In exchange, one-tenth of the profits will go to your Cai family."

"Pah!"

Without hesitation, Cai Cong spat a mouthful of thick phlegm right onto Wei Zheng's face. Wei Zheng wiped it off with a chuckle and shouted, "If you don't give me a clear answer, I will stain your Marquis's estate with my blood today."

"Do you really think the same trick works every time? Last time, I was caught off guard and panicked, which is why I let you bluff me into losing the Hebei glass market for nothing. You dare try it again? Do you really think I'm a fool?"

"So, you've been plotting against me? I’ve walked right into your trap, haven't I?" Wei Zheng said with a bitter smile.

"What do you think? You staged a play with the Shandong clans, kept all the good reputation for yourself, made me out to be a coward who ran away, and walked off with the sales rights for Hebei—the hometown of your wife’s family. You were the biggest winner this time. Listen, Old Wei, a person shouldn't be so greedy! Salt profits can stir men's hearts, but can you actually stomach them?"

Cai Cong sneered. Wei Zheng shook his head and said firmly, "I am doing this for your own good. After what you did in Shandong, if you don't bleed a little, they will target you every single day. As for the salt, it must be brought under state control. This commodity may seem insignificant, but if managed poorly, it can shake the very foundations of the nation. It must not fall into anyone's hands. The realm has only recently found peace; we cannot afford another disaster. If you give it up today, there will be peace. If you don't, just wait until tomorrow when my family brings a coffin to your gate to mourn."

"Are you threatening me?" Cai Cong stood up, his eyes full of rage.

"Don't look at me with such ferocity; I am indeed threatening you. It would be even better if you were willing to kill me." Wei Zheng said calmly. He did have good relations with the noble clans, but if those clans sought to destabilize the realm, he would never stand for it.

"This is not up for discussion. As for how the salt should be handled, His Majesty will naturally decide; it is not for you or me to worry about." Cai Cong suddenly smiled. At this moment, he didn't trust anyone. Regardless of how good someone's reputation was in history, it didn't mean it was necessarily true. Look at someone like the legendary lecher Deng Tuo—wasn't his reputation completely ruined?

"The various factions are constantly maneuvering. Even His Majesty cannot make an easy decision. Only you, as the owner of the secret formula, can legitimately determine its fate."

"I don't care. Yan Dong didn't leave long ago, and I didn't say a word to him either. If you want to die, I'll have someone bring you a rope so you can die with some dignity. If you don't want to die, leave quickly. There are plenty of government affairs waiting for you; don't loiter in my house."

Hearing Cai Cong order him to leave, Wei Zheng slammed the table and glared at him. "I thought you were a man who cared for the public interest; I didn't expect you to be so callous and indifferent."

"Don't pin those labels on me! You lot are jumping around like dogs over a mere salt formula. Do you think I value a measly salt formula as much as you do? Old Wei! Do you know why the common people have rebelled since ancient times?"

Cai Cong also slammed the table and shouted. The two men were red-faced and refused to give an inch; an outsider would have thought they were about to come to blows.

"I have studied the classics and histories extensively. Naturally, I know that harsh governance is fiercer than a tiger. Under the tyranny of cruel rulers, the people cannot survive, so they naturally rise up."

"Bullshit! Let me tell you why they rebel: because they are hungry! Try making sure every person in the world has food to eat when they are hungry and clothes to wear when they are cold, and see who still wants to rebel!"

Cai Cong's words struck Wei Zheng's heart like a bolt of lightning. He slumped into his chair, utterly devastated.

After a long silence, he finally asked, "Is... is this your true ambition?"