I support the army through farming and business.

Chapter 339 Losing money and eliminating disaster
Wu Yier and others were pulled from the sea by the soldiers of the Jiangsu and Zhejiang naval forces and lay on the shore coughing violently.

Seeing the miserable state of these landlubbers, Tang Zhao pondered how to add more training programs while instructing them to adjust their breathing. He also took the time to ask Feng Jie for 5,000 naval troops.

Five thousand? Feng Jie was startled and felt he needed to ask more clearly, "What does the princess need a navy for?"

"They've bullied us to the point of blatant disrespect. Should we just let them get away with it?" Tang Zhao's smile was icy. "I led my men to raid four large families overnight. If I missed even one, I'll write my name backwards!"

Unable to dissuade him no matter what he tried, Feng Jie hurriedly pleaded, "Your Highness, please say something!"

Gu Ci ignored him. "I ordered the Northwest Army to cross the river ahead of schedule and surround the entire Suzhou Prefecture."

With chaos looming over Jiangnan, Feng Jie wished he could rush up and shake the water out of Gu Ci's head: "Your Highness, please wake up! If war breaks out in Jiangnan, the spittle of the imperial censors will drown both you and me!"
“Excellent,” Tang Zhao clapped his hands. “The four great families have countless gold, silver and jewels. It’s perfect for the Northwest Army to transport the wealth back to Luoyang to fill the national treasury, saving Father Emperor the trouble of sending people to collect it.”

Seeing that the two of them had settled such a major matter that would cause a huge upheaval in Jiangnan in a few words, Feng Jie felt extremely bitter and couldn't help but interrupt, "Princess, the Jiangsu and Zhejiang naval forces are responsible for protecting the coastal people from the Japanese pirates and cannot be moved lightly."

Tang Zhao: "How many men can you send?"

Feng Jie glanced at Tang Zhao's expression. "One thousand."

Tang Zhao didn't hesitate, "One thousand it is."

Feng Jie immediately regretted it and thought for a moment before saying, "If Your Highness doesn't mind, I am willing to accompany you on this trip."

"How could I possibly accept this?" Tang Zhao declined. "Lord Feng is busy guarding the coast and resisting Japanese pirates. He has no time to waste on such trivial matters."

Feng Jie, having shot himself in the foot, said bitterly, "Your Highness is too kind to me. I am willing to serve Your Highness and Your Highness with utmost loyalty."

Tang Zhao gave Feng Jie a meaningful look, and only looked away when Feng Jie's face stiffened. "Then I'll have to trouble you, Lord Feng."

"I dare not. Your Majesty, I will return to the naval camp immediately to mobilize manpower and ships. Please allow the Princess and the Prince to rest for the night in Ningbo Prefecture. Once I am ready, I will come to invite the Princess and the Prince to board the ship."

Feng Jie knocked on the city gate of Ningbo Prefecture overnight and, together with the prefect of Ningbo Prefecture, invited Tang Zhao and Gu Ci to rest in the back office of Ningbo Prefecture before leading the navy back to the main camp.

He summoned his trusted deputy general who was left to guard the camp and told him to "immediately send someone to the four major families and tell them that if they want to save the lives of their entire clan, they should be prepared to spend money to avoid disaster."

"Yes!"

After the deputy general left, Feng Yuancai said, "Father, His Majesty is now clearly going to punish the four great families, yet we are still leaking information to them. If this gets back to His Majesty, won't it displease him?"

Feng Jie, unlike his naive demeanor in front of Tang Zhao and Gu Ci, said shrewdly, "It's just some insignificant news, enough for the four major families to make some preparations in advance. What does it have to do with the overall situation?"

Truly important news would not be conveyed to the four major families through him.

"Over the years, thanks to the tributes from the four great families, I have been able to support my 50,000-strong navy. If it were up to the imperial court, my soldiers and I would have starved to death long ago."

Feng Yuan hesitated, "But just a month ago, the imperial court sent over the full amount of military pay and supplies."

Feng Jie sneered, "If it weren't for the sake of this batch of military pay and supplies, why would I, the commander, personally lead the campaign to wipe out the private armies of the four major families?"

"I just didn't expect the four great families to be so bold as to send thousands of private soldiers to besiege the prince and princess."

If they had succeeded, that would have been fine, but they failed, and even left many survivors. They really tried to steal a chicken but lost their rice instead. A bunch of useless fools!
Feng Jie rubbed his fingers. "These next few days, try to quietly kick the people from the four major families out of the military camp, and also get rid of the concubines sent by the Yang family in your backyard."

Feng Yuan was somewhat reluctant, after all, Aunt Yang truly possessed a face of unparalleled beauty. "Father, isn't this too obvious?"

"What do you know? The four families' ship is about to sink. If you don't leave now, are you going to go down with them?"

"What if the four families reveal their collusion with the navy..."

“They wouldn’t dare,” a cold glint flashed in Feng Jie’s eyes. “No matter how powerful the four families are, they ultimately don’t have military power. As long as we leave them even a little room to maneuver, they won’t dare to fight to the death.”

Colluding with the imperial army is a capital offense. As long as the four major families are of sound mind, they know that such things can only be done, not talked about.

Once he speaks out, not only will the imperial court not let him off the hook, but he will be the first to draw his sword and kill them!

“I understand, son. I’ll go and make the arrangements right away,” Feng Yuan said, turning to leave.

Looking at the burning candlelight, Feng Jie realized there was something else he hadn't mentioned: Emperor Wu'an was a man of great talent and ambition, and he certainly couldn't tolerate the financial power of Jiangnan falling into the hands of the four major families. The salt administration reform was only the first step; there would be other reforms targeting Jiangnan's commerce afterward.

Feng Jie never doubted Princess Zhaoshan's exceptional talent in commerce. He believed that given time, she would surely bring the wealth of Jiangnan into the hands of the imperial court.

Without his immense wealth, why would he continue to maintain ties with the four great families? Just because of the beauties they sent him?
Where can't he find beautiful women? As long as he remains the commander of the Jiangsu-Zhejiang naval forces, plenty of women will be offered to him!
Early morning, at the Yang family mansion.

Master Yang stumbled into the main courtyard, crying out, "Father, something terrible has happened!"

Yang Fan stopped spinning the prayer beads in his hand. "What's the matter that you're so panicked?"

"Father, a messenger from the Jiangsu and Zhejiang naval forces has arrived with a message," Master Yang said, his eyes filled with terror, "The assassination plan has failed! Tang Zhao is not dead!"

Yang Fan, a member of the Jiangsu-Zhejiang naval force, gripped his prayer beads tightly. "Are there any survivors?"

"Yes!" Master Yang swallowed hard. "Many were left alive, and they are all being held in the naval camp now."

Yang Fan felt a little relieved. "What else did Feng Jie say?"

"They also said that if we want to save the lives of the entire clan, we should be prepared to spend money to avoid disaster," Master Yang said, both shocked and angry. "Father, how else can we avoid disaster?"

Every year, 20% of the income of the four major families would be secretly given to the Feng family and the generals of the Jiangsu and Zhejiang naval forces. In addition, there were tributes during festivals and seasonal gifts, which added up to another 10% of their income.

Isn't this considered losing money to avoid disaster?

"You think Feng Jie is extorting the four major families?" Yang Fan glanced at his stupid son. "Wrong! It's Tang Zhao who's extorting the four major families!"

Tang Zhao? Master Yang gritted his teeth and said, "Without evidence, as long as we deny it to the death, no one can pin the assassination on us!"

"Son, I will send men to kill all the families of those private soldiers, and then move the soldiers to another place to hide them. We will not let Tang Zhao find any evidence against them!"

Yang Fan closed his eyes, unwilling to look at Master Yang again.