The Legend of the Condor Heroes: From Being Expelled from Peach Blossom Island

Chapter 320 Seizing Power (Part Two)

Tang Kuonan considers himself the head of the family's private army, representing the family's military power. He was able to suddenly launch an attack and place Madam Wen under house arrest back then, so it is only right and proper for him to invite Madam Wen out to take charge of the overall situation now.

Although he had offended Madam Wen, he had softened his stance in time. Given his prestige within the family and Madam Wen's usual leniency towards her relatives, she would likely not press him too hard.

Even though he controlled the family's military power, he never thought of usurping the throne, which was a major taboo among the Jin nobles. He opposed Lady Wen back then because Tangkuo Shanying, the rightful heir of the family, stood in front of him, and the Jin upper class would not do anything to him.

Now that we've brought Lady Wen out, given her relationship with the Empress, as long as she regains her freedom and power, she can naturally suppress Tangkuo Shanying while also blocking the pressure from above. This can be considered as correcting the wrongs and making a great contribution.

As a fence-sitter, he had a very clever plan.

Unfortunately, someone had already anticipated his reaction and wouldn't give him any chance.

"Men, come here!" With Tang Kuonan's order, more than a dozen warriors wearing armor and long swords entered from outside. Only the two leaders were not wearing armor, but were dressed in tight-fitting short clothes, which showed that their status was above that of ordinary private soldiers.

Although they were called private soldiers, these people were no different from the regular army of the Jin Dynasty. Keeping so many private soldiers was a taboo, but most of the nobles in the Jin Dynasty did so, and even the emperor could not control them.

Leaving aside the ordinary warriors guarding the house, Tang Kuo's family also had several hundred cavalrymen, who, once on horseback, were on par with the elite cavalry of the Jin Dynasty.

This is the trump card of the Tangkuo family as the number one family in Tongguan County. Even if Madam Wen is the matriarch of the family, such power can only be handed over to the Tangkuo family to control.

"Young Master Shanying is not feeling well and is talking nonsense. Please ask him to go back to his room to rest."

"And gentlemen, why don't we all go and invite the matriarch back to take control of the situation?"

Wu Chengyu didn't speak, ignoring the warriors who came in. Instead, he picked up a knife and cut pieces of meat from the lamb leg next to him, chewing them slowly. The taste was really good. What was happening before his eyes was exactly what he had expected, or rather, what Madam Wen had anticipated.

He recalled what Madam Wen had said last night: "Tang Kuonan is of a high generation and has some prestige in the Tang Kuo family, but he is actually senile, which is why I trusted him to take charge of the family's private army."

The Tang Kuo family's private army was their strongest armed force, and I was a Han Chinese, so they wouldn't allow me to get involved. But how could I possibly hand it over to someone else?

Tang Kuo's private army was ostensibly managed by Tang Kuo Nan, but he was actually just a figurehead, though he himself was unaware of it.

There are two leaders who are in charge of training the private soldiers and managing all matters related to them. One of them is named Tang Kuoquan, who is a rising star among the younger generation of the Tang Kuo family.

This time, he was the one who ordered me to be placed under house arrest. It was truly a coincidence; everything happened so suddenly that I was caught off guard.

In the end, I was still deceived by Tangkuo Shanying's disguise. I never expected that Tangkuo Quan had always been Tangkuo Shanying's man.

The other person in charge is called Nalan Zhuisong. He is my confidant. At the same time,..." Madam Wen turned to look at Yan Chunyu.

Yan Chunyu immediately understood and said, "Na Lanzhui Song is actually one of our rebels. Besides Sister Guan, he is the only one in Tongguan County responsible for transporting supplies to the rebels. One is in the open and one is in the shadows, and both are trustworthy people."

Wu Chengyu muttered "Nalan" twice to himself. This was also a surname of the Jin dynasty nobles, which was actually the Nara clan of the Qing dynasty. He couldn't help but ask.

"How could a nobleman from the Jin Dynasty join the anti-Jin resistance army?"

Yan Chunyu explained: "Na Lanzhui Song was actually a Han Chinese. His real name was Song Zhui. Back then, Lady Wen accidentally encountered a Jin man who was seriously injured. This man actually had ulterior motives. Lady Wen saw through his scheme and secretly executed him, which allowed her to obtain his information and identity documents."

This man's family had fallen into decline, and he left home early to make his way in the world. He had no relatives left. With identification, I sent Song Zhui to join the Tang Kuo family under the guise of Na Lan Zhui Song. His Jin identity earned him the trust of others, and he was later promoted by Lady Wen to become the leader of the Tang Kuo family's private army.

Madam Wen continued, "Tang Kuo Shanying's actions this time were too fast and too sudden. Song Zhui happened to be in charge of transporting a batch of supplies out of town. Otherwise, with Song Zhui protecting me, they wouldn't have been able to place me under house arrest. However, he returned yesterday and secretly came to see me this morning."

I don't usually have any private interactions with him. I only bring him along when I go to the Eight Thousand Mile Escort Agency to talk to Chief Escort Guan.

Song Zhui was usually quiet and reserved in Tang Kuo's household, rarely interacting with others. However, he was diligent and reliable in his work, and the people in Tang Kuo's household trusted him greatly. No one ever doubted that he was one of my people.

When he came to see me this morning, he said that the private soldiers under his control could set things right, but now that Cheng Yu and his brother are disguised as Tang Kuo Shan Ying, we have a better plan.

I didn't tell Song Zhui that Tang Kuo Shan Ying was a fake, but I instructed him to follow your orders for the time being. He should do whatever you tell him to do.

On the surface, you are now the next patriarch of the Tangkuo family, so it's only natural that Song Zhui obeys your orders.

Wu Chengyu immediately understood Madam Wen's intention: "So, even if Tang Kuonan can't stand my perverse actions after I took power and seized family interests and power, and he orders his private soldiers to control me and wants to reinstate you, Tang Kuoquan and Nalan Zhuisong are both truly obedient to my orders. My position will still be very stable, and I will still be the one who actually controls the Tang Kuo family."

Madam Wen nodded and said, "That's right. Our ultimate goal is to have Tang Kuo Shanying punished by being sent to Youyan Ridge for at least ten years. The mistake he made now, as the only heir, will at most keep him in the mansion for a year or two."

When that time comes, the direct descendants of Tang Kuo's family in Zhongdu will inevitably intervene. I am, after all, a Han Chinese, and it is impossible for me to gain their true trust.

Before long, Tangkuo Shanying will be released again, and with the support of the Zhongdu loyalists, he will openly compete with me for power.

Therefore, Tangkuo Shanying must commit a serious mistake so that the people above will have nothing to say. Just as arranged before, you use Tangkuo Shanying's face to rob Wanyan Hongsheng's tribute. This will inevitably offend the Empress, and the Tangkuo family in Zhongdu will naturally not dare to plead for him.

At that time, with the support of everyone in the Tang Kuo family, it will be perfectly logical for me to drive you to the fortress at Youyanling.

In any case, in order to continue to have the Tangkuo family secretly contribute to the rebel army, my position cannot be moved, and Tangkuo Shanying cannot die. It's just that you'll have to occasionally impersonate Tangkuo Shanying and show your face in the future.”

Wu Chengyu's thoughts were quickly pulled back to reality by Tang Kuonan, because no matter how loudly Tang Kuonan shouted, Tang Kuoquan and Nalan Zhuisong just stood there unmoved, and their subordinates followed them resolutely, with no one paying any attention to Tang Kuonan, who had always been the private army commander.

Wu Chengyu then used a knife to cut off a few more pieces of roasted meat, slowly savoring the aroma of the fat, before leisurely looking at Tang Kuonan.

"You old codger, do you really think that Tang Kuo's private soldiers will listen to you and attack me, the only heir to the family headship?"

Tang Kuoquan obeys the order.

The younger of the two private army commanders stepped forward, saluted, and waited for Wu Chengyu's order without saying a word.

"Send this old geezer back home and lock him and his family up. Since he dared to defy me, the head of the family, I must make an example of him."

Go and ransack his house. He's amassed quite a fortune over the years, and that money originally belonged to me. I want it, and nobody dares refuse.

"Tang Kuoquan obeys the order." Tang Kuoquan turned and walked towards Tang Kuonan. The old man still tried to resist, but Tang Kuoquan knocked him to the ground with three punches and two kicks. Then, he grabbed him by the collar and dragged him out of the council hall, no matter how much Tang Kuonan shouted.

Wu Chengyu glanced at the other family stewards, who were all now silent and trembling with fear. Although their faces were grim, they dared not say anything more.

With a casual wave of his hand, he summoned Lan Zhui Song and his men to surround the council hall, and the faces of the officials immediately turned pale with fright.

"What I want is actually very simple: I want power. All the power of the Tang Kuo family should be in my hands."

You people have gained a lot of benefits from that bitch, but you've all forgotten that these benefits also came from my Tangkuo family. Without my Tangkuo family's status, what is that bitch?

You've all seen what happened to that old geezer. I ransacked his house, leaving him with not a single copper coin.

You should obediently hand over 70% of the profits you've received over the years, and then work diligently for the family. If you perform well, I'll definitely reward you.

After I finish speaking, those who want to continue resisting me might as well raise their hands so I can admire your brave yet foolish face.
Is it you? Or is it you? You've always looked down on me, haven't you? Now you're behaving yourself.

So, who else is there?

The real Tangkuo Shanying wouldn't have seized power so blatantly. He might have had the mindset, but he definitely didn't have the guts. Wu Chengyu, on the other hand, did, and at this moment, he was displaying an overbearing arrogance.

"Alright, since everyone recognizes me as the head of the family and is willing to listen to me, then go back and prepare, take stock of the assets you have, hand over the account books, and most importantly, the money you have swindled from the family over the years. I really don't want much, just 70%."

You can all get out now.

After all the stewards had left, Wu Chengyu walked up to Nalan Zhuisong and said, "Now that you're back, the defense of the mistress's side is in your hands. Take your men and protect the mistress's safety. Fulfill any needs she may have."

Na Lanzhui Song hesitated. He still thought the person in front of him was Tang Kuo Shanying, but he really didn't understand why Tang Kuo Shanying would give him such an order. However, this suited his needs just the way he wanted, so he bowed and accepted the order.

Wu Chengyu watched Nalan Zhuisong's departing figure and immediately breathed a sigh of relief. With his own people protecting Madam Wen, he could rest assured. The second step of the plan was complete, and now all that was left was to wait for Wanyan Hongsheng's tribute caravan.

(End of this chapter)