A son who doesn't resemble his father? Love you, old man, see you at Xuanwu Gate!

Chapter 243 Loyalty
The candle melts, and the flame burns ever brighter.

Thanks to the raised edges of the mulberry leaf-shaped lamp, the lamp oil melted and solidified simultaneously without any overflow.

The staggered arrangement of the three-tiered branches ensures adequate lighting coverage while effectively preventing flames from interfering with each other, making the situation in the dark room even clearer.

Facing the gazes of Zhou Gong, Xiao Qing, and Zhang Cheng, Chen Mo seemed oblivious and simply remained silent.

What ancestor of the greatest sage of the Han Dynasty?
It's definitely not my ancestor Chen Ping. My Chen family has no lineage of poison masters, and the idea that "it would harm the harmony of heaven but not the Chen family" is utter nonsense.

Upon seeing this, Zhou Gong, Xiao Qing, and Zhang Cheng became even more certain of their thoughts: the Chen family was a "drug den."

People know Chen Ping, and most know of his six ingenious plans to restore the Han dynasty and the Ming dynasty.

A scheme to sow discord: In the Battle of Pengcheng, Xiang Yu, the Hegemon-King, defeated Emperor Gao's army of 560,000 with only 30,000 elite cavalry. After the defeat, Emperor Gao retreated to Xingyang. Xiang Yu pursued his victory and surrounded Emperor Gao. At this critical moment, Chen Ping offered a scheme to sow discord. At the cost of 40,000 gold, he made Xiang Yu become estranged from his advisor Fan Zeng. This caused Fan Zeng to resign in anger and die on his way home. Xiang Yu lost his most important strategist.

The second strategy was to escape unscathed: eliminating Fan Zeng could not change the fact that Emperor Gao was still trapped in Xingyang, so Chen Ping offered the strategy of escaping unscathed: first, feign surrender and agree to meet at the East Gate.

When the Chu army gathered its heavy troops at the east gate, Emperor Gao sent a double with two thousand women in armor out of the city. The Chu army was attracted by this unexpected scene, and the guards of other city gates also rushed to watch. Taking advantage of the chaos in the Chu army's formation, Emperor Gao, under the protection of his generals, successfully broke through the siege through the west gate.

The third strategy was to press the attack: In the fourth year of Emperor Gaozu's reign, Chu and Han were locked in a stalemate at Xingyang. The Hegemon-King, whose supplies were running low, proposed peace talks, agreeing to divide the world equally. Just as Emperor Gaozu was about to accept, Chen Ping said: The Hegemon-King is already at his last gasp. Now is the perfect opportunity to counterattack. Emperor Gaozu adopted the suggestion, decisively tore up the peace treaty, and launched a general offensive against the Chu army.

The fourth strategy is to retreat in order to advance: Before the decisive battle between Chu and Han, Emperor Gao needed Han Xin's support, but Han Xin was reluctant to send troops and even demanded the title of King of Qi. The Han army was on the verge of splitting. Emperor Gao was reminded by Chen Ping and changed his mind to appoint Han Xin as King of Qi. Han Xin, who had received the reward, finally led his army to help. In the Battle of Gaixia, he helped Emperor Gao defeat the Hegemon-King in one fell swoop and complete the great cause of unifying the world.

Five schemes to promote someone in name only: After the Han Dynasty was established, Han Xin's great achievements made Emperor Gaozu uneasy. Chen Ping suggested that Han Xin be summoned under the pretext of a tour of Yunmeng Marsh. Although Han Xin had doubts, he still came with the head of Zhongli Mo to show his loyalty. Unexpectedly, Emperor Gaozu arrested him on the spot on charges of treason. Later, Empress Lü plotted to kill him.

The sixth strategy to save the country through indirect means: When Emperor Gao was suppressing the rebellion of King Xin of Han, he was besieged by the Xiongnu at Baideng Mountain. After seven days and seven nights, he was almost out of food.

Chen Ping sent someone to bribe the Xiongnu queen with a large sum of money, promising to offer her beautiful women and treasures. The queen persuaded Modu Chanyu to withdraw his troops, and Emperor Gao was thus saved from danger.

After the Six Strategies, Chen Ping also devised strategies such as cleverly releasing Fan Kuai and eliminating Lü Buwei and securing Liu Bang's rule. He eventually died peacefully in his later years. However, before the Six Strategies, Chen Ping's life was full of hardships. Legend has it that he stole his sister-in-law's money, married a widow who had caused the deaths of five husbands, first served King Wei Jiu of Wei, then Xiang Yu, the Hegemon-King, and finally joined Liu Bang, the King of Han. It is no exaggeration to say that he was a retainer of three different families.

But in those chaotic times, to be trusted and even entrusted with important tasks by rulers and warlords one after another is a skill in itself.

At least in terms of how to "surrender" and how to demonstrate "loyalty," no one in the Han Dynasty could surpass Chen Ping.

However, sweet talk and empty promises are unlikely to sway the Chen family, who are determined to act only after seeing tangible results.

"Twenty percent!"

Xiao Qing looked at Chen Mo and solemnly said, "As for the rewards in the future, the Zhou, Xiao, and Zhang families will each give the Chen family 20%."

Zhou Gong and Zhang Cheng's lips moved slightly, but no sound came out. None of the families were doing very well at the moment. With the Crown Prince's wealth, even 20% of his wealth would be enough for the family to live on for several years.

Moreover, the Zhou, Xiao, Zhang, and Chen families share weal and woe and receive roughly the same rewards. If each of the three families gives 20% to the Chen family, it would be equivalent to each of the three families receiving 80%, while the Chen family would receive 160%, making one family equivalent to two families. Such a distribution method would not be easy to feel psychologically balanced.

"Uncle, this isn't about money."

"Thirty percent."

"it is good!"

After Xiao Qing raised the price, Chen Mo immediately agreed. Looking at Zhou Gong and Zhang Cheng, who were showing dissatisfaction, he said earnestly, "Uncle, Zichuan, even if it's 70%, it will still be more rewarding than if you directly reported His Majesty's conspiracy to restore the throne. Don't feel like you're losing out." "What I'm gaining isn't yours, but the Emperor's!"

The rewards for betraying someone are completely different from those for directly betraying someone and then being rewarded according to merit. First, the monarch must see your loyalty and consider you one of his own.

The former is plentiful and reassuring, while the latter is scarce and risky. This is why the Chen family cannot bear the "fruit of loyalty" alone. If they could, they would definitely not involve the Zhou, Xiao, and Zhang families.

Wisdom has a price. If it were during the reign of Emperor Gaozu, and Emperor Yuanzu Chen Ping were still alive, even if he took 50% or 70%, Xiao He, Zhang Liang, and Zhou Bo would all be willing to say thank you.

For a subject, expressing loyalty to the monarch can sometimes be futile, even if it costs thousands or tens of thousands of gold coins; the three parties involved will only profit, never lose.

Moreover, this reward was something that Zhou Gong, Xiao Qing, and Zhang Cheng wouldn't normally receive. Is there a problem with him taking it?
Zhou Gong and Zhang Cheng still looked grim. Chen Mo was telling the truth, but who wouldn't want to keep something once it's been handed over?

"Xiao Mo, the benefits from the Supreme Lord might not be so easy to obtain," Xiao Qing reminded him.

Each family contributes 30%, plus the Chen family's own share, which means the Chen family receives 190%. Gold and silver are good, but too much of it can be overwhelming.

"Thank you for the reminder, Uncle."

Chen Mo thanked him first, then smiled mysteriously, "However, after this matter, the Chen family will not receive any reward. In other words, the Chen family will only receive 90% of the benefits given by the two uncles and Zichuan."

The Chen family will profit 90% of the Crown Prince's benefits, but will return 100% to him. In this upheaval that will determine the fate of the nation, the Zhou, Xiao, Zhang, and Chen families will all profit greatly, and the Crown Prince, being the key figure, will profit even more.

The Chen family never takes advantage of the winners.

Xiao Qing was taken aback.

Zhou Gong and Zhang Cheng were completely dumbfounded.

So, who lost out?
Furthermore, why is it that the Chen family members always speak in a way that is difficult to understand?

After going through all this trouble, what exactly does the Chen family want to achieve?
Seeing the three of them frowning at him, Chen Mo shrugged. He had inherited his family's traditions, so he could be as willful as he wanted.

"what should we do?"

“Three things made the King realize your loyalty.”

Chen Mo smiled and said, "First, everything that is known to outsiders is completely undisclosed."

"Second, if something is good, attribute the credit to the superiors; if something is bad, take the blame upon yourself."

Third, be loyal to your superiors.

"..."

Looking at Chen Mo, who was speaking eloquently, Xiao Qing keenly noticed the "you" Chen Mo mentioned. It seemed that the Chen family had its own way of demonstrating loyalty.

(End of this chapter)