Chapter 15: Tong 3 Master
Chapter 15: The Third Master Tong
That night, in the Tong family study.
Bright lights.
On the desk, a six-foot-long piece of Chengxintang rice paper was spread out.
The large brush was dipped in thick ink, and the strokes moved like dragons and snakes. Eight majestic characters appeared on the paper.
"When a tiger comes down from the mountain, all the beasts are terrified."
"Good words."
A young man was grinding nearby. He looked about 70% similar to Tong Baixiong.
There was a calmness in his brows and he spoke slowly, like a pale scholar, which was completely different from Tong Baixiong's warrior temperament that seemed to be easily irritated.
"Daddy's writing skills are even better than before."
Tong Baixiong glanced at him and said, "Sanlang, practice calligraphy when you have time. You are weak and cannot practice martial arts, but that's okay. You are still young, so read some books well. In the future, you can pass the imperial examination and become an official in the court, and you will be rich and glorious for the rest of your life."
Tong Yukang smiled lightly but said nothing.
Tong Baixiong said calmly: "There is nothing that cannot be said between father and son. If you have any ideas, don't keep them in your heart. If you can't even tell your father, who else can you tell?"
Tong Yukang said: "Dad, I have no intention of taking the imperial examination to become an official for the time being."
Tong Baixiong frowned: "Why?"
Tong Yukang sighed softly and said, "The court is in chaos right now, with many factions in the palace, and generals from all over the country only follow orders and not orders. Although the emperor has the ambition to reform, he does not have ministers like Shang Jun and Wang Jinggong who can assist him in reform."
"The current emperor relies on eunuchs and imperial guards to implement several new policies, which is like a crooked monk chanting scriptures. When good policies are implemented at the grassroots level, it is another matter. It does not help the country, but only adds to the infamy."
Tong Baixiong put down his brush, feeling relieved. Of his three sons, only Sanlang had a very weak constitution and no talent for martial arts. But he could say such insightful words, which showed that he had studied hard. As for not wanting to take the imperial examination for the time being, that was fine, after all, he was only 23 years old and had a long way to go.
Tong Baixiong said with a smile: "It's fine if you don't want to be an official, but just don't hang around those unknown people in the future."
Tong Yukang suddenly said, "I have a good friend who was originally a scholar from an honest family. This year, he also joined the Northern Pacification Division. He said that although there are some scum in the eunuchs and guards, they are still more diligent in the king's affairs than the civil officials who claim to be Confucius and Mencius, who have three generations of scholars but turn a blind eye to the current suffering of the people."
Tong Baixiong came to his senses, threw his brush down, and said angrily, "Are you talking about the government, or are you alluding to something?"
Tong Yukang bowed and said, "I dare not. I didn't want to say it, but since Daddy said, 'There is nothing unspeakable between father and son,' I will tell you what I think."
Tong Baixiong was furious: "Yang Lianting is Shang Jun? Is he Wang Jinggong? Is he the reformist minister you mentioned?"
Tong Yukang said calmly: "Dad, have you ever thought about this? Yang Lianting is notorious, and you call him a villain, why are there so many young heroes in the sect willing to join him and serve him?"
"Why? Why do you say that?"
"Because Manager Yang is able to promote talents regardless of their background, he..."
Tong Baixiong interrupted him with a sneer before he could finish, "Is that what you think? So you follow Yang Lianting? I thought you were well-educated, so childish, absolutely childish!"
"Daddy..."
"Get out! Get out of here!"
Tong Baixiong sat dejectedly in the chair. It was such a great irony that his own son was working so hard for the villain he despised the most.
"Yang Lianting, this evildoer, first deceived Brother Dongfang, and then deceived Sanlang. You and I cannot coexist!"
He grabbed the inkstone, and the internal force in his palm surged. The inkstone immediately turned into ink powder, which fell all over the white rice paper. A beautiful piece of calligraphy was ruined.
A man in black robe came in from outside.
"Hall Master."
Tong Baixiong said coldly: "Send someone to secretly watch Sanlang, and report immediately if he makes any move."
The black-robed man was a little surprised: "Third Young Master?"
Tong Baixiong smiled bitterly and said, "He has been bewitched by Yang Lianting and has fallen too deeply into it." "Yes, sir."
Tong Baixiong asked again: "By the way, what about the man in the secret cell?"
The black-robed man said, "Everything is fine. I have sent over thirty good men to guard the place day and night. There are also two hundred elite soldiers stationed nearby, unless Yang Lianting sends all the Purple Cloud Guards from Chengde Hall over."
Tong Baixiong nodded and said, "Okay, everything is ready, let's wait and see tomorrow."
When Tong Baixiong thought about what happened today, he felt angry, scared, and a little creepy.
He originally thought that Sanlang was only slightly close to Yang Lianting, and even thought of asking Sanlang to get information. However, he found out tonight that Sanlang actually believed in Yang Lianting's fallacies.
"I am still worried, Iron Lion, you go to the secret cell and guard it yourself."
"What about the hall master's side?" The man in black robe is one of Tong Baixiong's trump cards. Unless it is extremely urgent, he will not leave easily.
Tong Baixiong smiled and said, "Although I am not as brave as I was in the past, I still have the strength of the pseudo-innate realm. Ordinary villains can't do anything to me. Besides, they don't dare to attack me in Pingding City."
During the bloody battle with the Seven Tigers of Ludong, his Dantian was damaged and his strength has gradually declined over the years.
………………
backyard.
Tong Yukang looked at the stars in the sky.
"Be careful."
"Third Young Master."
"Old Cai, where should we move this plate of peonies?"
"For the master's 60th birthday, Luoyang Baihuazhai sent six plates of beautiful peonies that were about to bloom. They also sent a gardener to use some kind of greenhouse method to make them bloom. Don't you think it's strange? All five plates of flowers have bloomed, but this one hasn't. The birthday is coming up soon, and my wife thinks it's unlucky, so she asked me to throw this plate away and get a better one instead."
"Give it to me, I'll take it to my room."
"But madam..."
Tong Yukang smiled and said, "I mean to send it to Qingfeng Villa in the west of the city. Even if it is unlucky, it doesn't matter."
"Then I'll have someone send it to you?"
"No, I'm just about to go back."
Tong Yukang walked on the street holding a peony, with the fragrance of cosmetics in the air and red sleeves waving all over the building.
The most common places in Pingding City are brothels and hotels.
Most of the people coming and going in the city are gangsters who never leave their swords and always talk about their parents. Fighting is more common than sleeping and drinking.
There is almost no official influence here.
The gate of the Jinyiwei Qianhu Office in Pingding City is kept closed 365 days a year.
The people responsible for maintaining order were the disciples of the Sun Moon Sect's Law Enforcement Hall. Generally speaking, as long as no one was killed, the Law Enforcement Hall would not show up. Even if someone was killed, it was just a competition for power and interests between the two sides.
Justice is totally non-existent.
Tong Yukang didn't like this. In such an environment, he, who was well-educated but powerless, felt too insecure. He liked order, law and discipline, and he liked everyone competing under clear rules.
He walked to a wall where a brick had been pulled out from it.
"Ping An Inn, Room A-3, kill Zhang Yu tonight!"
"As ordered!"
Tong Yukang didn't stop at all. He just said one word and walked away. No one would notice him in the dark, so the brick was filled back.
(End of this chapter)