Scumbag Chapter 140 The Reformed White-Eyed Wolf General (6)

Considering that if this matter were to spread, it would have a negative impact, Emperor Chang also granted Mingting's father-in-law the tit

Considering that if this matter were to spread, it would have a negative impact, Emperor Chang also granted Mingting's father-in-law the title of County Baron with a fief of two hundred households.

Although this title was only seventh-rank, there was a huge difference between a nobility title with a fief and one without.

"I remember that back then, your father-in-law supported the rebel army by sending a lot of provisions and supplies. I haven’t forgotten any of that. He’s also a loyal and honest man. Go back and help me reassure him properly!"

Upon learning that the Liu Family only had one son, Emperor Chang also granted Liu Cheng the title of Cloud Cavalry Captain, which is equivalent to seventh-rank.

Mingting understood that all of this was Emperor Chang’s ‘hush money’.

If news of the Prince of Han’s actions got out, it would demoralize the officials.

They wouldn’t think this was solely the Prince of Han’s idea. Instead, they might worry that the Emperor was preparing to discard his aides once they had outlived their usefulness.

After all, such things had happened in history before, otherwise, the saying ‘When the birds are gone, the good bow is stored away; when the rabbits are dead, the hunting dogs are cooked’ would not have been passed down.

Emperor Chang’s generosity served two purposes, first, to console, and second, to ensure Mingting kept his mouth shut and buried this matter deep in his heart.

"Your subject thanks Your Majesty for your gracious favor on behalf of my father-in-law!"

Mingting expressed his gratitude profusely.

Before leaving, he hesitated and glanced around furtively.

Seeing him act so suspiciously, Emperor Chang couldn’t help but feel exasperated, "Do you have anything else to say?"

"There is one more matter."

Mingting leaned closer to Emperor Chang and quietly revealed the names of the other princes who had privately tried to recruit him.

"Perhaps I overthought it. Your Majesty is a wise ruler, so how could you possibly do such things? It might be because I sternly refused the Prince of Han before, and he held a grudge, which led to this scheme."

Emperor Chang was well aware that his sons had their own ambitions, and he understood that.

But he had only been on the throne for a few days, and they were already trying to win over court officials? And when recruitment failed, they resorted to murder?

This was something Emperor Chang could not tolerate.

"Your subject is loyal only to Your Majesty If not for Your Majesty’s promotion, I would still be a bandit in the mountains, and my head might have been chopped off by the authorities at any time."

"Your Majesty also helped clear my father’s name and restored the honor of my Wei Family. You are my benefactor."

Mingting kowtowed solemnly with utmost respect.

"Your subject pledges lifelong loyalty to Your Majesty, and I will never have second thoughts!"

Mingting understood well that no one in power didn't like displays of loyalty. One couldn’t just bury their head in work, as they also had to ensure their superiors saw their dedication.

Sure enough, hearing Mingting’s declaration of loyalty moved Emperor Chang deeply.

Soon, Emperor Chang recalled all the loyal and righteous deeds Mingting had done in the past.

It's not that others haven't pledged their loyalty, but when the Emperor needed someone to step up, such as dealing with the Eastern Sea pirates who had been harassing the coastal regions since the previous dynasty, only Mingting had been willing to give up the luxuries of the capital and go to Yaozhou to serve the court.

For a moment, Emperor Chang’s heart swelled with emotion.

‘I also have loyal and trustworthy ministers by my side!’

Emperor Chang was happy, and the lingering resentment in his heart was soothed by Mingting’s words.

Seizing the opportunity while Emperor Chang was moved, Mingting also asked for more troops and supplies.

With the new dynasty just established, everything was in disarray and far from being properly organized.

If he went to Yaozhou without his own men, funds, and supplies, he would be like a skilled housewife unable to cook without rice.

In the original timeline, the protagonist had struggled just to recruit sailors when he first arrived in Yaozhou.

The crying child gets the milk! (T/N: It is saying which tell that the person that makes the most noise or expresses the loudest complaint is the one most likely to receive attention.)

If he didn’t take advantage of this moment to ask the emperor for resources, once Mingting arrived in Yaozhou, which is a remote and distant place, any future requests might not be so readily approved.

Emperor Chang’s emotions had been stirred up and down by Mingting today, and now, in high spirits, he saw that Mingting’s requests were reasonable and aimed at better coastal defense. Since he wasn’t being greedy, the Emperor approved them on the spot.

Originally, Emperor Chang had intended to bestow some servants upon Mingting, knowing that his Count’s Mansion was still empty, but Mingting refused.

"Your subject will be leaving for Yaozhou soon. Unless those Eastern Sea pirates are completely eradicated, I have no plans to return. A few servants to maintain the residence will suffice. I am still young, and my focus should be on serving Your Majesty, not indulging in luxury."

Even after Mingting left the palace, Emperor Chang continued to marvel at his fortune in having such a loyal and capable minister.

Liu Yongshan had no idea why his son-in-law’s trip to the palace had resulted in him receiving not only a noble title, but also a fief. Liu Cheng was also overjoyed, repeatedly exclaiming how amazing his brother-in-law was.

Though the rank of nobility was low, it had been granted by the Emperor himself. Now, they are also people of status!

"My good son-in-law! The proudest moment of my life was marrying Huiniang to you." That night, a drunken Liu Yongshan clutched Mingting’s hand, crying messily.

"Our Liu family has finally risen in the world!"

With the noble title, Liu Yongshan’s back straightened with pride.

Together with his son, he selected some servants for the Count’s Mansion. Each of them was personally inspected by Liu Yongshan’s sharp eyes.

Since his son-in-law was so capable, he, as the father-in-law, couldn’t afford to drag him down.

Since Huiniang was five months pregnant, Emperor Chang didn’t urge Mingting to leave for Yaozhou immediately. He even kindly suggested that Mingting wait until spring, after Huiniang gave birth, before setting out. But Mingting refused.

His reasoning was that the sooner he went, the sooner he could familiarize himself with the local situation.

Moreover, his presence would represent the Emperor, and he could convey the court's intentions, which would also reassure the people, knowing that His Majesty always cared about them.

When he heard Mingting said this, Emperor Chang  felt deeply comforted.

‘Now this… this is what a loyal minister who serves the nation and its people looks like!’

During the court assembly, Emperor Chang lavished praise on Mingting, and then picked up a few things and severely punished Prince of Han, ordering him to reflect at home under house arrest.

After the court, Prince of Han came to Mingting and looked at him fiercely: "Count of Dingyuan, you are really great!"

"Your Majesty! The Prince of Han is threatening me…"

Mingting shouted at the top of his lungs, startling the prince so badly that he turned tail and fled.

‘Tch. With such a cowardly disposition, he still dares to threaten me?’ Mingting snorted.

He originally wanted to go to Yaozhou first and let Huiniang give birth in the capital, where the medical conditions are better. But she refused and insisted on accompanying him to Yaozhou.

Liu Yongshan and Liu Huangshi also insisted on following their daughter and son-in-law, while Liu Cheng declared that he had never seen the ocean before and wanted to witness it firsthand.

Seeing their optimistic and resilient attitudes, utterly unafraid of hardship, Mingting cursed the original protagonist in his heart again.

‘Such a wonderful wife, such a great father-in-law, mother-in-law, and brother-in-law… and that bastard didn’t appreciate them? What an ungrateful wretch!’

With their departure imminent, Mingting had much to prepare.

Emperor Chang had promised him that he could select some people to take with him, so Mingting unhesitatingly took all his brothers, who had been with him in the mountains before.

Among them, he had been the fiercest, which was why he rose so quickly in the rebel army.

In the original timeline, the original owner had distanced himself from them after becoming a Count. But Mingting wouldn’t make the same mistake.

‘To hunt a tiger, you need brothers, and to go to war, you need father and son.’

Though they weren’t blood brothers, they had fought side by side for years, knew each other inside out, and trusted one another implicitly.

To start anew in a completely unfamiliar place, he must have trustworthy people around him.

Moreover, if Mingting wanted to establish himself in the court, he needed his own faction.

Others think that coastal defense is a very difficult thing and it is difficult to make achievements. But for Mingting, it is not difficult. Instead, this was an easy path to military merit.

Since there is such a good thing, why let someone like Shi Jing take all the credit? It is better to bring his brothers along and let them rise with him. In the future, they’ll be his people!