knife

Chapter 776 Breaking off friendship and righteousness
The three direct descendants of the Chang family were originally assigned roles according to the typical division of labor common in aristocratic families. The eldest son was responsible for managing the family business, the second son for officialdom, and the youngest son for business.

Of course, this division of labor is also determined by the abilities of the three people.

Therefore, Chang Lei is actually the most skilled of the three brothers, in every aspect.

So even though the Chang family is now in an awkward position within the Linghu Group, ostracized by their colleagues, and unable to gain Linghu Ye's complete trust, Chang Lei still managed to carve out his own niche by relying on his abilities.

Now, he wants to expand this world even further.

He picked up his pen and wrote his comments on a document. When he looked up, he saw his son's head bobbing outside. He was both annoyed and amused. This was the third time his son had come over. He was always peeking around, showing no composure whatsoever. Compared to his eldest son, his son was far too unruly.

However, it does resemble my younger self.

Perhaps this is why I favor him more and have always kept him by my side to teach him!

"If you have something to say, come in and say it. What kind of behavior is this, peeking around like this?" Chang Lei put down his pen, glared outside, and shouted in a deep voice.

Chang Ming first peeked halfway out from behind the door. Seeing that his father wasn't too angry, he walked in with a grin. Before speaking, he picked up the teapot on the table, poured a cup of tea for Chang Lei, and brought it over.

Is it about testing your patience against yourself?
Chang Lei chuckled inwardly, slowly sipping his tea, while his other hand picked up his pen, preparing to look at the next document.

Cui Cheng, that scoundrel, has made a complete mess of things in Dongdu these past two years, and now I'm the only one left to clean up his mess. Trying to salvage this mess while simultaneously helping me complete my next big plan is no easy task.

We can't expect Chang'an to offer much help now.
All their efforts must be directed towards Linghuye's northern expedition plan.

As for heading south, we'll have to figure that out ourselves.

At the court meeting in Chang'an, the idea of ​​heading south was just a smokescreen, and everyone thought so too.

So far, only Cui Cheng knows what Chang Lei really wants to do.

After loitering around Chang Lei for a while, Chang Ming finally couldn't hold back any longer. He leaned against the large table and whispered, "Father, are you really not going to see Sixth Brother?"

Chang Lei put down his pen, looked at his son, and smiled, "What's your opinion?"

Seeing that Chang Lei had finally given feedback, Chang Ming couldn't help but get excited and whispered, "Of course we should see our son's opinion!"

"why?"

“Father, that’s Sixth Brother after all, he’s Uncle’s son, and also your nephew, a close relative!” Chang Ming said, “He’s come from afar, and you’re not even going to see him? That’s just not right.”

"Is he here to visit relatives?" Chang Lei asked coldly.

Chang Ming said somewhat awkwardly, "Dad, although it was a bit underhanded of Grandpa and Uncle to abandon us back then, it seems that Grandpa's decision was still good. Now, the one who might actually take over the world is indeed Li Dachui!"

Seeing Chang Ming's hesitant demeanor, glancing out the window as if he were about to run away, Chang Lei couldn't help but laugh. It was rare for his son to finally be willing to seriously consider these matters, so he might as well take this opportunity to teach him a lesson. "Do you think I'm holding a grudge against your grandfather because of what happened back then?"

"Isn't that right? Anyway, I've overheard you complaining to your mother several times!"

"You dared to eavesdrop on my conversation with your mother?" Chang Lei glared at him, and Chang Ming immediately shrank back towards the door. "You're really asking for it!"

“Father, it’s the trend of the times, I think it’s not impossible for us to return!” Chang Ming said in a low voice: “The Northern Court has been promoting reforms and has been drastically dismantling large families. Our Chang family is now divided into dozens of smaller families. Although our eldest uncle and third uncle hold high positions, they no longer have military power. If you can return, the Chang family will naturally still have a place in the army.”

"Naive!" Chang Lei scoffed. "This is probably your uncle's opinion, not your grandfather's, isn't it? He's always been this naive!"

“Father, are you really not going to reconsider? To be honest, I don’t approve of Commander Linghu’s gamble-like strategy of making a one-shot deal. The fact that he’s doing this shows that he doesn’t think he’s a match for Li Dachui, and he’s clearly not trusting you. In that case, why should we follow him down this dark path? You’ve treated him well all these years. Since he’s so unrighteous, why can’t we be unrighteous too?” Chang Ming said angrily.

Seeing his son's sullen face, Chang Lei laughed.

"I'm quite impressed that you could think of these things!" Chang Lei said. "Do you think I'm just a blockhead? A loyal subject who wouldn't serve two masters?"

Chang Ming's eyes lit up: "Dad, what do you mean?"

"What do you think we have right now?" Chang Lei asked.

"Father, are there tens of thousands of troops that you personally led among the northern expeditionary force? What if something happens to these troops during the decisive battle between the two armies?" Chang Ming's voice was extremely low.

Chang Lei chuckled: "Kid, is this your so-called way to earn merit?"

"Isn't that right? Those tens of thousands of people, from top to bottom, every single one of them is utterly loyal to you!"

"If you really think that's possible, then the commander-in-chief would have died countless times!" Chang Lei laughed loudly. "Kid, let me tell you a cruel truth: when I left that army, it no longer belonged to me at all! What you think of as unwavering loyalty is nothing but a joke. The only ones truly loyal to me are these thousand iron cavalrymen who followed me to Dongdu. They are the brothers who share my glory and my shame, and who can entrust their lives to me."

Chang Ming opened his mouth, seemingly wanting to say something, but under Chang Lei's somewhat mocking gaze, he finally lowered his head and muttered in a low voice, "Are you saying that Uncle Li, Uncle Feng, and Uncle Qian are all unreliable?"

“Kid, never place your hopes on others. Only what you have in your own hands is real and controllable!” Chang Lei said. “And what your father is planning right now is this very thing. If it succeeds, whether it’s Commander Linghu or Li Dachui who wins later, we will have the ability to attack or defend. Only when that happens will we have the real bargaining power to sit at the table and negotiate.”

What are you planning?

"When it's time for you to know, I will let you know!" Chang Lei sneered. "Send your sixth brother away and tell the Chang family that since they have already abandoned me, Chang Lei, they have long since severed all ties with me. I am no longer his second uncle."

"Dad!" Chang Ming's eyes widened in surprise.

"Go do it!" Chang Lei roared.

(End of this chapter)