Tiantang Splendid

Chapter 4934 Duel? He is just collecting debts
During the Sui and Tang dynasties, there was a strong martial spirit and heroes were not judged by their success or failure. Although Cheng Yaojin framed An Yuanshou, attacked him by surprise, and used despicable means to successfully force An Yuanshou to leave Liangzhou and move to Guanzhong, the emperor did not look down on him and showed him every courtesy and respect.

"My dear brother Maoling, it has been more than ten years since we last met in Chang'an. You are still so majestic, masculine and domineering. I am very pleased! Haha!"

Standing outside the barracks, Cheng Yaojin bowed and saluted with a big laugh.

To this day, An Yuanshou's official position, title, and status are far inferior to his, but they had fought side by side in the past. He might not care about that comradeship in his heart, but he had to be cautious in front of others.

Besides, he is a winner now and is not reluctant to show magnanimity.

Niu Jinda also stepped forward and saluted.

An Yuanshou stopped at the door, bowed in return, and said to Niu Jinda, "Brother, when you go to Fanhe City this time, I believe your first priority is to reorganize the troops. If you have any difficulties, please send someone to let me know. I will definitely spare no effort to help you."

Niu Jinda nodded and thanked him.

An Yuanshou then looked at Cheng Yaojin, and said with a sigh, "Back then, I was not as good as you. I thought I was not strong enough, but the situation is different! Who would have thought that I am still no match for you today? I am both depressed and in awe. When the previous emperor was alive, you were his guard and he was in his heart. Now that the new emperor has ascended the throne, you are still powerful and look down on the court. It's really amazing."

At this point, all pride must be buried, and one must keep a low profile to be better off, rather than offend Cheng Yaojin because of a momentary anger, and instead be targeted and restricted by him.

Adults don’t have to care about their face. When they should admit defeat, they should admit defeat. When they should bend down, they should bend down. It’s no big deal.

What's more, even though I lost, you didn't necessarily win. Aren't you still staying in Guzang City, unable to return to Chang'an City...

Cheng Yaojin's smile froze, then he laughed and turned slightly: "Brother, we haven't seen each other for many years. We even fought a battle before. Please come in and have a drink, have a good chat and reminisce about the past."

An Yuanshou declined politely: "Of course I am willing to be close to you, brother, but the imperial decree has been issued and I must travel day and night to Guanzhong. I dare not delay for a moment. I will have to disappoint you and I am terrified."

Cheng Yaojin was not just giving in. Although the two were old acquaintances and had fought side by side, they did not have a very deep friendship. Under such circumstances, there would be nothing to say if they sat together and drank, which was very awkward.

"In that case, my dear brother, is there anything you need my help with when you enter the city? If there is anything I can help you with, please feel free to tell me!"

An Yuanshou's eyes twitched. He really wanted to say that since you are so generous, you should return An's money to me...

But knowing that it is impossible, there is no need to say such a sentence, which will only make people angry.

"I came here to take my brother back. Since Your Majesty has dealt with him, my brother's crime will be forgiven. What do you think, brother?"

"Of course!" Cheng Yaojin waved his hand and pointed at An Zhongjing who was brought over from the barracks next to him. "Isn't he right there? Don't worry, my dear brother. Although we served different masters before, I still remember our friendship in the past years. I will treat your brother well and I will never mistreat him in the slightest!"

An Yuanshou turned his head and saw several soldiers bringing An Zhongjing over. Although he looked a little haggard, there was nothing abnormal about his walking posture. Apparently, as Cheng Yaojin said, he had not been tortured or abused.

When An Zhongjing saw An Yuanshou, he ran up to him, knelt on the ground and burst into tears: "Brother, I messed up my job. Not only was all my money looted, but I was also framed by villains. I am ashamed to see you again, and even more ashamed to see the ancestors of the An family! Wuuwuwu..."

Cheng Yaojin was stroking his beard, smiling insincerely, as if the person being talked about was not him at all.

An Yuanshou said sternly, "That's enough! A real man stands between heaven and earth. Life and death are trivial matters. How can you cry and whine? Whoever took our things can take them back. If you don't agree, I will talk to you with my sword!"

Cheng Yaojin: "..."

What do you want to do, kid?

It is true that young and strong people are better at fighting, but when it comes to a fight with weapons, I will fight you brothers of the An family shoulder to shoulder with my horse lance!

An Yuanshou looked at Cheng Yaojin, clasped his fists and said, "I have a score to settle with the Yin family. This is a private matter. Could you please stay out of it and watch?"

Cheng Yaojin narrowed his eyes and pondered for a moment.

Guzang City is now under his rule. In theory, he has the right to deal with all illegal and disorderly things that happen in the city. It is reasonable for him to not allow An Yuanshou to cause trouble for Yin Hongyong. However, the two major clans, An and Yin, have been entrenched in Guzang for a long time, with deep roots and huge power. Now that the An clan has moved to Guanzhong, the Yin clan is still stirring up trouble in the dark, causing trouble for him from time to time.

If we can use An Yuanshou to suppress the Yin family's arrogance and destroy their prestige, it would not be a bad idea...

"Open fighting is not okay, but I don't care about private grudges."

The laws of the Tang Dynasty did not support private duels, and even severely punished those who were injured or killed in fights. However, the Tang Dynasty was full of martial spirit, and both scholars and generals advocated "becoming a general or a prime minister". "The literati can pacify the world with a pen, and the warriors can rule the world on horseback" was the mainstream of the scholars. The duel between cavalry generals before the military formation handed down from the Spring and Autumn Period still existed, and private fights were rampant despite repeated bans. In many cases, the government turned a blind eye.

An Yuanshou clasped his fists and said, "Thank you very much!"

Then he turned around and strode away: "Follow me to collect the debt from Yin's family!"

An Zhongjing hurried to follow.

Watching the two people disappear at the camp gate, Niu Jinda asked, "Do you want to go and take a look?"

Cheng Yaojin scratched his head and said hesitantly, "Isn't it time to go? The money is in my pocket, and An Yuanshou doesn't dare to ask me for it, so he went to find trouble with Yin Hongyong. If I'm there, wouldn't it be awkward?"

Niu Jinda complained helplessly: "You still feel embarrassed? After all, you have a friendship with An Yuanshou. Now the An family has to move to Guanzhong. The wealth accumulated over generations has been looted by you. You have no choice but to resort to this desperate measure because you can't continue to settle the family. You should give them some back!"

Cheng Yaojin's eyes widened. "I earned the money with my own ability, why should I give it back? An Yuanshou is not stupid. He doesn't dare to offend me, so he sets his sights on Yin Hongyong. I promise to stand by and watch. As for how much he can get from Yin Hongyong, it depends on his own ability!"

……

The two brothers An Yuanshou came out of the Zuowuwei barracks and walked along the city gates and palaces towards the East City. Seeing this, many Guzang people along the way breathed a sigh of relief, fearing that he would go and cause trouble for Cheng Yaojin and be harmed by him instead.

After all, Guzang City is now Cheng Yaojin's territory, and there are elite Zuowuwei troops stationed inside and outside the city...

"Where are you going, Marshal?"

A vendor brought up two skewers of lamb and asked with a smile.

An Yuanshou took the mutton skewer and ate it clean. He chewed the mutton and said, "I have a debt with Yin Hongyong. I will never come back from Chang'an. Naturally, I have to settle the debt and fight him. Life and death are irrelevant. We can only accept our fate!"

Hey!
The pedestrians on the street were shocked at first, then became excited. The two "giants" of Guzang City were actually going to fight to the death? !

Word spread from one person to ten, and from ten to a hundred. By the time the An Yuanshou brothers arrived at the Yin family mansion, they were followed by hundreds of people who surrounded them, making it impossible to get through.

An Yuanshou stood in front of the door, drew out his sword, and slashed his left palm. Blood gushed out. He walked up the steps and slapped the door with his hand, leaving a bloody handprint.

This is the tradition of the Sogdians, to leave their handprints and fight to the death.

The An family had occupied Guzang for hundreds of years, and some of the Sogdian traditions were preserved. People in Guzang knew about it to some extent. The servant of the Yin family at the gate suddenly changed color when he saw this, and hurried inside to report...

After a moment, Yin Hongyong came out with big strides. Seeing the bloody handprint on the door, his face turned very ugly. He came to An Yuanshou and stood still for a few steps. He said dissatisfiedly: "I know why you are here, brother, but every wrong has its perpetrator. All the wealth of the An family was swallowed up by Cheng Yaojin. I will go to him to ask for it."

An Yuanshou ignored him and turned to look at An Zhongjing: "Did our family's wealth come from the Yin family's caravan? Will this guy agree to help us pass the checkpoint?"

An Zhongjing gnashed his teeth and said, "If this guy hadn't agreed so readily, how could I have been fooled?"

The onlookers were shocked. The Yin family was so uncivilized!

Mr. An was desperate and came to you for help. It would have been fine if you didn't agree to help, but after agreeing, you betrayed him and embezzled his family property. This is simply shameless!
Yin Hongyong quickly defended himself: "Of course I helped you with all my strength, but who would have thought that Duke Lu would conduct a strict checkpoint inspection and find prohibited items among your family's property, so he confiscated all the money and silk. What does it have to do with me?"

An Yuanshou said, "Be loyal to the trust of others. This is the principle of life! We have known each other for a long time, but you betrayed my trust and embezzled my wealth. You are worse than a beast! There is no need to say more today. You and I will duel here. If I die under your sword, it is my own fault. If I cut off your head, it will be the will of heaven!"

He threw the scabbard on the ground and held the sword tightly: "Come on!"

Yin Hongyong's forehead was covered with sweat. He was angry and afraid. He was angry because you knew that Cheng Yaojin had swallowed up all the money but didn't dare to ask for it, and came to bully a weakling like me. He was afraid because An Yuanshou was known for his bravery and although he was no longer as brave as he used to be after living a life of luxury for so many years, if he was determined to kill him, it wouldn't be much more difficult than killing a chicken...

I definitely can't duel, and this is not the way to die if you want to die...

"Ten thousand strings of cash. Considering the hundred-year friendship between our two families, I am willing to give ten thousand strings of cash to you, brother."

You can only spend money to avoid disaster.

He also knew that the so-called duel was just to force him to pay...

An Yuanshou was so angry that he laughed: "Ten thousand strings of cash? You're just giving money to a beggar!"

He bowed his hands and faced the people around him, saying loudly: "My An family has lived in Guzang for a long time. You all know my family background. My wealth worth millions of strings of cash was embezzled and looted, and now they only give me a mere ten thousand strings of cash, and they want me to be grateful... Please judge for yourself, is ten thousand strings of cash enough?"

"Naturally not enough!"

"Even if we exclude the land and real estate, the An family's savings of hundreds of years must be worth more than a million strings of cash!"

An Yuanshou said again: "Then tell me, how much money is reasonable for me to ask for?"

"I run a pawnshop. If the millions of taels of silver are not all cash, but jewelry, calligraphy and paintings, etc., I have to give a discount when I sell them together."

Someone gave a serious estimate.

"Even if it's not worth a million, it's at least half a million!"

"Yeah, a half-off discount is very reasonable."

Although he enjoyed watching the fun, Yin Hongyong's face turned red with anxiety.

Five hundred thousand strings of cash?!
You might as well kill me!

(End of this chapter)