Volume 1 Jiangdong Fengyun Chapter 90: Test
Seeing that Sun Ce was glaring at Yu Fan, the latter did not show any embarrassment, but instead glared back rudely. Bai Tu quickly said: "Okay, okay, we are all family... Zhongxiang, I believe that Bofu is a sincere gentleman, just as I believe in you." Bai Tu said sincerely.
Sun Ce was deeply moved by what he heard, but Yu Fan did not appreciate it: "Could it be that Lord Bai's achievements are based on 'belief'? Now there is a 70% to 80% chance that Sun and Zhou will not return to the east, and Lord Bai is betting on this unfounded 20% to 30% chance?"
Just like the trust of "being familiar" before, not everyone will fall for Bai Tu's trick, such as Yu Fan... He wants to recognize his lord, and what he values more is ability, rather than the so-called gratitude.
Yu Fan’s logic is very simple. Whether he can revive the Yu family depends on his ability. As long as he has the ability, the lord will naturally respect him and will not be moved by "favors"!
In his opinion, Bai Tu's two actions were both demerits.
He couldn't bear to see Bai Tu gambling on human nature and chance with the future of Jiangdong, relying solely on his own will, which was not what a hero should do.
"Zhong Xiang, you... wouldn't have any prejudice against Bo Fu because of the matter of the Overlord's armor, right?" Bai Tu suddenly said.
In order to appease the Chu area in the early Han Dynasty, Liu Bang did not pursue the Chu survivors who supported Xiang Yu in the past. Even now, four hundred years later, Jiangdong seems out of place compared to the Central Plains. Even if we "predict" future generations, even the dynasty more than a thousand years later will need to look at "Jiangnan" differently.
However, as the family of Xiang Yu's wife, the Yu family still suffered a great blow. They went from being one of the four surnames of Jiangdong at the end of the Qin Dynasty to being a prominent family in Kuaiji County today.
"No! Mr. Bai, be careful with your words! The one I can't stand... is not him!" Yu Fan glared at Bai Tu angrily.
Yu Fan did not lie. What he could not stand mainly was Bai Tu's impulsiveness. However... Yu Fan could not explain whether classifying "acting on impulse" as a decisive flaw of a ruler was due to the historical legacy of the Yu family. Anyway, the education he received since childhood was to regard a certain tyrant as a negative example.
"Don't be angry, Gongjin is also a good boy... ahem, I'll introduce you to someone later." Bai Tu guessed that since he either disliked Sun Ce, he must disliked Zhou Yu!
Zhou Yu: ...
Zhou Yu initially suspected that Yu Fan was hired by Bai Tu to play the villain, but now that they were arguing so realistically, his suspicions were dispelled.
"Bofu, you don't have to worry about anything. Just do it. I'll wait for you to bring your family and generals back safely." Bai Tu said.
Sun Ce didn't say anything for a long time. Zhou Yu turned his head to look at him in confusion, and found that Sun Ce's eyes were filled with tears. He couldn't help but think that something was wrong - although Zhou Yu did not mean to be in vain, he didn't want Sun Ce to sell him out.
Sun Ce took off his red headscarf and said , "Mr. Bai, I'll leave this in your hands first. I'll return it within half a year!"
Yu Fan said unhappily, "It's just a headscarf, what's the restriction? Why don't you detain your wife and children?"
"Ce has not yet married..." Sun Ce looked at Yu Fan with gritted teeth.
"Hmph, you don't even want to keep your sworn brother here!" Yu Fan said, looking at Zhou Yu.
Sun Ce was a little hesitant when he heard this. After all, it was safe for Zhou Yu to stay in Jiangdong, and he had never thought that he would breach the contract.
But at this time Bai Tu hurriedly said: "No, there are many cunning people under Yuan Shu's command, and Bofu is alone... cough, Gongjin must follow him."
Bai Tu was worried that if Zhou Yu didn't go, Sun Ce would not be able to come back even if he wanted to!
During this period, Yu Fan and Sun Ce kept glaring at each other, as if they looked down on each other.
This is similar to the "first encounter" between the two in history - Yu Fan was originally Wang Lang's subordinate. He had been helping Wang Lang to resist Sun Ce's invasion of Kuaiji County and persuaded Wang Lang to retreat in time.
However, after Yu Fan returned home, Sun Ce personally went to his house to invite him to serve as an official, which eventually moved Yu Fan.
Before Sun Ce was assassinated, Yu Fan had been reminding him not to surrender to the White Dragon Fish and told him that Jiangdong was not safe . Unfortunately, Sun Ce did not listen to his advice and was eventually killed by Xu Gong's followers.
But in this world, Bai Tu was very curious about how Xu Gong's followers killed Sun Ce, who possessed the armor of the Overlord and was also wearing a golden and jade armor!
In the end, Bai Tu took Sun Ce's turban and sent the two of them out of the governor's mansion. Then he took the angry Yu Fan to Cheng Ji's mansion. Yu Fan was also very confused. Why did he have to meet people in Cheng Ji's mansion?
At the same time, not long after Sun Ce and Zhou Yu left, Lu Kang and Lu Su also came to visit. Bai Tu also invited them yesterday, but the time was different from that of Yu Fan.
Lu Kang is now the bridge between Bai Tu and the aristocratic families of Jiangdong, while Lu Su is Bai Tu's confidant.
Because of Lu Xun, Lu Kang and Lu Su could be considered friends regardless of age difference. Taishi Ci led the two into the central hall and apologized on behalf of Bai Tu, saying that it would take more time for a cup of tea.
"General Taishi, I see Yu's carriage outside. Is the lord going to meet Yu Fan?" Lu Kang asked doubtfully.
After a moment's hesitation, Taishi Ci decided that there was nothing to keep secret, so he nodded in agreement.
Lu Kang was a little confused - why was Yu Fan not in the main hall but in the backyard? When did the lord and Yu Fan become so familiar with each other?
"Zi Jing, Xiaoxun is not causing any trouble to you, right?" Lu Kang turned to Lu Su and asked.
"Lu Lang is smart and studious. Now he can help me with some simple secretarial affairs." Lu Su said.
Although he has not been officially appointed yet, Lu Su already knows that Bai Tu wants to hand over the Ministry of Civil Affairs to him, and recently he has asked him to count the prices in Jiangdong, the "production capacity" in various places, and... the conditions of the aristocratic families in each county.
After the two chatted for a few more sentences, Lu Kang asked with some concern: "Zhong Xiang has a straightforward personality, will he offend the lord?"
"Don't worry, Mr. Lu. I think... the lord and Yu Fan will get along very well!" Lu Su said.
Lu Su already knew about Yu Ji's affairs, and it was he who helped Bai Tu analyze the situation. With Yu Ji around, they could contact Yu Fan directly. Now the Yu family had no other choice.
Originally, Bai Tu was a little worried. Although Yu Ji was of an older generation, but... after all, the Yu family's investment in Xiang Yu had failed. Bai Tu was not sure how much influence this great-great-aunt could have on the Yu family.
However, Lu Su's words dispelled his hesitation - since Yu Ji was on Bai Tu's side, the Yu family had no other choice.
Just because Yu Ji's identity cannot be exposed now doesn't mean it will never be exposed in the future. In other words... even if the Yu family wants to bet on other people, they will not be able to gain the trust of others as long as Yu Ji's affairs are exposed.
Moreover, to some extent, Yu Ji was still considered as the princess of the Yu family. Judging by Yu Fan's standards, Yu Ji's presence in Bai Tu's camp was a decisive plus point - if Bai Tu could prosper, the Yu family could return to being one of the four Jiangdong clans, which was something that no other princes could guarantee.
In this situation, even if Yu Fan thought Bai Tu had many shortcomings, he could only try his best to assist Bai Tu to make up for his shortcomings, rather than go against Bai Tu.
Just when Lu Kang seemed to disagree with Lu Su's words, Bai Tu and Yu Fan came in from the back hall.
Bai Tu first apologized for being late, then pointed to the seat next to Lu Kang and showed Yu Fan. Under Lu Kang's surprised gaze, Yu Fan's face became even more bitter, as if she was a bullied wife, but she firmly sat down according to Bai Tu's instructions.
"Mr. Lu, I have tested Zhongxiang's knowledge. How about letting him be the chief secretary of the Ministry of Revenue?" Bai Tu said.
Lu Kang: ???
