Chapter 45: Face is the most important

"Chief, you are finally back!"

Not long after Ai Jingxia left, Zhao Xinghan, Cui Zongji and others finally returned with the large army that had entered the mountains.

Both the three flag guards who went to support in the first batch, and the young and strong people from the Foreign Affairs Office who went to support in the later batch, have returned.

After all, the mountain is only that big, and without any threat, it would be easy for the people from Fu'an Marquis' Mansion to find each other.

To be honest, when Dai Fayan saw Su Xiangqi in the mountains, he felt more surprised and relieved than angry.

Although Su Xiangqi did not obey Dai Fayan's order and moved away immediately.

But who doesn’t want the person they value to also value them and be willing to risk their life for them?

Human beings, as creatures, are often so contradictory.

Dai Fayan was worried along the way. What if Su Xiangqi really understood his hint and ran away? Now that the danger is over, how should he explain it?
It’s just right now, I don’t have to think about it anymore.

However, although Dai Fayan was more pleased than angry about Su Xiangqi's choice, it did not mean that Dai Fayan's anger disappeared.

just in case…

Su Xiangqi is courting his own death!

No elder would be willing to see the younger generation whom he or she has high hopes for die in vain.

But looking at Su Xiangqi's surprised and excited smiling face, Dai Fayan couldn't get angry at all.

And he was also teased by Zhao Xinghan and Gao Yao.

Jokingly, Dai Fayan has a good nephew.

Zhao Xinghan, Gao Yao and Dai Fayan were the three heroes of the Marquisate, and they knew a lot about Dai Fayan's affairs.

It is known that Dai Fayan followed Zhu Chengwu only after he failed in the family struggle.

He also knew how much Dai Fayan valued his nephew Su Xiangqi.

Zhao Xinghan and Gao Yao both had a good impression of Su Xiangqi.

Especially Zhao Xinghan, after he found Su Xiangqi, a young and strong man from the Foreign Affairs Office in the mountains, Zhao Xinghan had an even better impression of Su Xiangqi.

There is a saying in the Ming Dynasty: When your father dies, bury him anywhere; when your mother dies, wait for your uncle to come!
This sentence fully illustrates the close relationship between nephew and uncle.

This sentence has its social background.

In the Ming Dynasty, people with the same surname and clan had the right of inheritance.

For example, brother dies and brother dies, etc.!
If the father dies and the child dies too, the family will be extinct.

It is in accordance with the etiquette and regulations of the Ming Dynasty for clans with the same surname to inherit the family business of an extinct family.

But my uncle is different.

Although uncle and nephew are related by blood, they cannot inherit the inheritance left by their sister and brother-in-law because they have different surnames and clans.

Only when the nephew is alive and inherits can he gain some benefits from the relationship between the uncle and nephew.

Such etiquette and legal regulations lead to the fact that the relationship between uncle and nephew without conflict of interest is much closer than the relationship between uncle and nephew with the possibility of conflict of interest.

However, Zhao Xinghan would not care about these backgrounds.

In Zhao Xinghan's eyes, as long as the nephew has a good relationship with his uncle and the nephew is close to his uncle, he is a good nephew and will receive his kindness.

Because Zhu Chengwu's maternal family is Zhao.

And he was born into the Zhao family.

As long as Zhu Chengwu has better relationships with his uncles and nephews, Zhao Xinghan believes that it will more or less influence Zhu Chengwu's attitude towards and trust in the Zhao family.

This is the correlation of interests.

It is also what is called the butt determines the head.

"How is this going?"

Cui Zongji looked at the Cui clan members who came to him crying, then glanced at the messy team camp and asked with cold eyes.

“Patriarch, this is it.

Soon after you led the elders and General Zhao into the mountain, several fireworks appeared on the mountain...

Afterwards, General Li took all the guards of the Marquis' Mansion and left...

Afterwards, Su Xiangqi also led the remaining young men into the mountains...

But unexpectedly, just after everyone left, the unprotected base was attacked by a witch named Wanwan!
She wants to kill Sister Yun!
We, the Cui clan, fought bravely and suffered heavy casualties!

Finally, the witch Wanwan was frightened by our bloodiness and retreated, and only then was Sister Yun saved..."

This member of the Cui clan briefly reported what happened after Cui Zongji left.

Although there are some artistic processing, for example, the Cui clan members who bravely fought against the enemy were actually only a small number...

For example, Wanwan was not scared away by the bravery of the Cui family members at all!
But Ai Jingxia used illusion to cover her body the whole time, and no one in the base noticed Ai Jingxia except Wanwan and Cui Shuyun.

Therefore, the statement of this Cui clan member is generally consistent with the facts.

“Chief, it’s him!

it's him!
It’s Su Xiangqi!
Not only did he take away the only remaining guards in this temporary base, he also almost put Sister Yun in danger!
And he even shot and injured Fa Ge'er and the others with a crossbow...

You have to know that Brother Fa and his friends are the rare ones in our Cui family who have martial arts skills.

If he hadn't shot and injured Fa Ge'er and the others, we wouldn't have been helpless against that witch Wan Wan, our Cui family wouldn't have suffered so many casualties, and Yun Jie'er wouldn't have been nearly killed..."

Suddenly, a member of the Cui clan saw Su Xiangqi in the crowd. They stared at Su Xiangqi, pointed at Su Xiangqi, and cried to the clan leader Cui Zongji.

The crying of the Cui clan members immediately made the atmosphere at the scene silent and awkward.

Having just experienced a joint fight against the enemy with mutual trust, the relationship between Cui and Fu'an Marquis' Mansion should have entered a honeymoon period.

but now…

The crying and accusations of this Cui clan member immediately ended the honeymoon period.

Dai Fayan turned his head and looked at Su Xiangqi behind him, with worry in his eyes.

Everyone looked at Su Xiangqi, as if waiting for his explanation.

But Su Xiangqi said nothing.

Although there was some artistic processing in the words of the Cui clan member, the facts were basically correct.

Su Xiangqi had nothing to explain.

It was a risk and a gamble for Su Xiangqi to take away the last of the garrison's guards to reinforce Dai Fayan.

Now Dai Fayan and the others are fine, and they don't need the support that Su Xiangqi will bring.

However, something went wrong at the base where the last guard force was taken away by Su Xiangqi...

Su Xiangqi is willing to admit defeat.

Willing to accept punishment!

Cui Zongji ignored the people in the marquis's mansion who had different thoughts.

He took the elder members of the Cui clan around the base, took a look at the scene, and his expression turned grim.

At least twenty people from the Cui family were killed or injured at the scene, plus those killed or injured in the mountains.

During this outing, Cui's family has suffered nearly 30 casualties.

This amount of casualties was enough to cause a huge wave for a family, making the clan members question Cui Zongji's leadership ability.

Just like Zhu Chengwu's previous life, even if a county had hundreds of thousands of people, as long as a dozen or dozens of casualties occurred, it would be enough to force several county bosses to resign.

Although there is no industrial revolution in this world!

Although the information flow in this world is not high.

Although people in this world are much more tolerant of casualties and injustice than Zhu Chengwu in his previous life.

But a family does not have as many people as a county in Zhu Chengwu's previous life.

Casualties of more than 30 people are already a huge toll on a family!

If this matter is not handled properly, it will be a big trouble for the Cui family and Cui Zongji.

Reality is not fiction.

Just throw a few dead people into the stinking ditch and that's it.

The deaths of dozens or hundreds of people were simply glossed over.

Everyone has a family, relatives, friends, and various networks...

Not during a major disaster or war.

In peacetime, dozens of people died abnormally, which had adverse effects... Now more than 30 people have died abnormally, and the Cui family needs to consider the impact.

We must consider the trust that the people have in a place or a family.

Someone needs to take the blame for this!

To calm the emotions of the tribe!

Just like Zhu Chengwu’s previous life, a senior official clearly did not know that some companies were producing in violation of regulations, but once a safety incident occurred, the senior official still had to bear joint liability for poor supervision.

Such are the rules of social life.

This world also has similar rules.

"Chief Zongji, I will deal with this matter seriously..."

Dai Fayan took the initiative to find Cui Zongji, who had a serious expression.

"Boss Dai, I know what you are going to say!
Indeed, there is nothing wrong with Su Xiaoge’s choice!

But the actual consequence of this incident is that you are fine, Brother Su is fine too, but it is my Cui family members who suffered heavy casualties!
This is the truth!"

However, before Dai Fayan could finish speaking, Cui Zongji interrupted him.

Cui Zongji knew what Dai Fayan was going to say.

It's nothing more than talking about reason, building relationships, and showing favors, so as to minimize the responsibility that Su Xiangqi needs to bear for the deaths and injuries of Cui clan members.

Cui Zongji also knew that Su Xiangqi's choice was understandable.

What is even more clear is that if Su Xiangqi did not take away the young and strong people from the Internal Affairs Department, it might not help with the casualties in the garrison.

On the contrary, it is more likely that there will be more casualties.

After all, Cui Zongji had witnessed the strength of the witch Wanwan with his own eyes.

But the fact now is that the Cui clan suffered heavy casualties.

However, the only casualties in the Marquis of Fu'an's Mansion were the elderly and weak who were left behind.

How could Cui Zongji accept this?

How can Cui Zongji explain this to his clansmen?
Dai Fayan was choked by Cui Zongji's words and didn't know how to respond for a moment.

After all, Cui Zongji was telling the truth.

Cui had just handed over the rare treasures of heaven and earth to the Marquis of Fu'an's mansion, but as a result, the family members suffered heavy casualties...

If Cui is not given a satisfactory explanation and the news gets out, it will cause great damage to the reputation of Fu'an Marquisate and Zhu Chengwu.

This is exactly the opposite of “spending a fortune on a horse’s bones”!

As long as a person has not yet reached the level where he can fight the world alone, fame and reputation are very important.

Dai Fayan knew that the best way to handle the situation was to hold Su Xiangqi responsible for taking away the last bit of defense force in the garrison on his own initiative, which was the cause of all these tragedies. He should use Su Xiangqi to calm the emotions of the Cui clan members.

If this kind of thing happened to someone else, Dai Fayan wouldn't say anything.

But now, it happened to be Su Xiangqi!

Dai Fayan didn't know what to do for a moment!
In terms of price, it is worth exchanging Su Xiangqi for Cui's relief.

But emotionally, Su Xiangqi is Dai Fayan's nephew and the younger generation that Dai Fayan values ​​the most. Moreover, it is for Dai Fayan's sake that Su Xiangqi would not bring anyone into the mountains without permission!
Human nature is selfish!
However, to save Su Xiangqi, Dai Fayan alone is not enough!

After all, Dai Fayan was only the deputy envoy for this wedding reception.

Everything depends on the attitude of the envoy Zhao Xinghan.

Thinking of this, Dai Fayan looked at Zhao Xinghan on the side with pleading eyes.

"Uncle, I am willing to take on everything..."

"Shut up!"

Dai Fayan directly stopped Su Xiangqi who was speaking at the side.

“Patriarch Zongji, the losses and sacrifices made by the Cui family have been seen by the Fu’an Marquisate, and will be remembered in their hearts!
I will report everything to the Marquis after I return.

I think the Marquis will not treat Cui badly!"

Zhao Xinghan received Dai Fayan’s signal for help.

After thinking for a while, he said so.

Everyone has their closeness or distance!

Compared to the Cui family members with whom he had hardly met, Zhao Xinghan was naturally closer to Su Xiangqi, who had studied martial arts for several years in Fu'an Marquis' Mansion.

Moreover, the deep uncle-nephew relationship between Su Xiangqi and Dai Fayan also greatly increased Zhao Xinghan's favor for him.

What's more, by speaking a word for Su Xiangqi this time, he could also save face and a favor for Dai Fayan, who is also one of the three heroes of the Marquis' Mansion.

Why wouldn't Zhao Xinghan do it?

Zhao Xinghan’s remarks made Cui Zongji frown.

Then he changed the subject.

"General Zhao, our Cui clan members suffered heavy casualties this time! The ten clan members who went to the Marquis' Mansion for further studies may have to go back and re-select!"

Because Cui Zongji knew that once Zhao Xinghan spoke, it would be difficult to use Su Xiangqi to end the matter!
If we continue to insist on this, it would seem that Cui is ungrateful!

As for the compensation that Zhao Xinghan mentioned, Cui Zongji, who was determined to keep his distance from Marquis Fu'an, did not want it either.

Instead of arguing about something that will most likely not produce any results, it’s better to just leave it at that!

Moreover, the attitude of Fu'an Marquis's Mansion in handling this matter will also make other elders of the Cui clan understand that Fu'an Marquis' Mansion still does not regard the Cui clan as their own.

This would be beneficial to Cui Zongji's subsequent strategy of keeping a distance from Marquis Fu'an.

So, that’s it!

Therefore, Cui Zongji did not respond and did not mention Su Xiangqi again. Instead, he talked about the issue of Cui's further study candidates.

"As it should be!"

Zhao Xinghan didn't know what Cui Zongji meant, but since Cui Zongji took the initiative to expose Su Xiangqi, Zhao Xinghan naturally wanted more.

"Zong Yan! To escort the bride, we from the Cui clan won't send so many people!
So many of our disciples were injured...

And the dead...

We in the Cui family have to handle a lot of funerals in the next few days!"

After Cui Zongji finished speaking, he turned and said to Cui Zongyan.

“Everything is subject to the arrangements of the clan leader!
So many people in the tribe were killed or injured because of Yun Jie'er's marriage!

Zong Yan feels ashamed!

It doesn't matter whether we send someone to escort the bride or not!"

Cui Zongyan had been in officialdom for a long time, and his emotions came to him easily.

When talking about the dead and injured tribesmen, Cui Zongyan's face was full of grief, and everyone could see how sad he was.

“People still need to be sent!

Otherwise, outsiders will say that we, the Cui family, are ignorant of etiquette!

It depends on who among the Second Elder, Zong Ji, and Zong Chen is willing to make this trip!"

Cui Zongji refuted Cui Zongyan, but still decided to send someone to escort the bride.

Sending the bride off was a "ritual" in the Ming Dynasty!
For the wealthy and powerful families and the aristocratic world, this "ritual" is very important.

Because it represents face!

When a person or a force develops to a certain level, then their reputation will be the greatest in the world!
If you don’t give me face, you are my mortal enemy!
That’s why there is a saying that people live by their face and trees live by their bark!
"I'll go!"

The second elder, Zong Ji, and Zong Chen looked at each other, and finally the second elder took the initiative to volunteer.

Cui Zongji looked at the Cui clan members and finally nodded.

Indeed, the Second Elder is the most suitable candidate!

Cui Zongji and Cui Zongchen are the heads of the third and fourth houses. As the Cui family has suffered so many casualties, they will definitely return to their respective houses to take charge of the situation.

Cui Zongyan was not only the head of the second house, but also Cui Shuyun's biological father. According to etiquette, he could not personally send the bride off.

The Great Elder is highly respected in the Cui family. With so many Cui family disciples killed and injured this time, Cui Zongji still needs the Great Elder's support at the clan meeting.

As for the Second Elder, although he also holds a high status in the Cui Clan, he got to the position by bringing back the Fire Lotus, and not many people in the Cui Clan knew about the Fire Lotus before, so the Second Elder's status in the Cui Clan is not as high as that of the First Elder.

Even though many elders of the Cui clan now know about Huo Lian, they also know that the Second Elder has made great contributions to the Cui clan.

But because Huo Lian has now left the Cui family, the prestige of the second elder cannot be increased too much at once.

(End of this chapter)