Chinese Generals Summoning System

Chapter 29: My Maternal Grandfather’s Coldness

“Oh, are you by any chance the son of Liu Hao and Chen Min?” Chen Ta asked Liu Ji in a deep voice. “Grandfather, my mother is Chen Min, and my name is Liu Ji,” Liu Ji said as he clasped his hands together in a bow. He had the feeling that, aside from coldness, there seemed to be no other emotion in his grandfather’s voice. But upon reflection, Liu Ji realized this was only natural—even his own mother had never been held in high regard by the Chen family, let alone him, a grandson who had suddenly appeared out of nowhere! Chen Ta saw that Liu Ji was merely bowing to him without kneeling to kowtow, and couldn’t help but furrow his brow. Chen Yan, standing nearby, noticed his father’s frown and exclaimed urgently, “Liu Ji, hurry up and kowtow to your maternal grandfather!” No sooner had Chen Yan finished speaking than Chen Ta said, “Second Son, there are many women in the Chen family compound, and Liu Ji has brought quite a few servants with him. It wouldn’t be convenient for them to stay here. Arrange for the Liu family to stay at that mansion on the west side of the city! I’m feeling a bit tired today—you may all take your leave.” Immediately afterward, Chen Ta picked up a book from the writing desk and began reading, paying no further attention to Chen Yan or Liu Ji. Liu Ji had already been about to kneel and kowtow upon hearing Chen Yan’s words—after all, this was his maternal grandfather—but Chen Ta’s subsequent remark caused him to straighten his legs, which had just begun to bend. There was no need to press his warm face against someone else’s cold backside. Chen Yan looked at his father’s expression, opened his mouth, but said nothing. Liu Ji, however, spoke with a respectful expression: “Thank you, Grandfather. If there’s nothing else, your grandson will take his leave now!” After stepping out of the study, Chen Yan frowned and said, “You’re such a clueless kid. You didn’t even know to kowtow to your maternal grandfather. Now look—he’s sent you straight to that run-down house on the west side of town.” Liu Ji shrugged indifferently. “Second Uncle, I’m just glad I have a place to stay. Besides, I’ve been used to living a carefree life since I was a kid. If I stayed at the Chen family compound and ended up angering my grandfather, that would be a disaster.” “Sigh—that house isn’t small, but it’s been unoccupied for a long time and needs some tidying up. You can move in there with your people for now, and we’ll see what happens when your father arrives.” Chen Yan then turned to the steward who had spoken earlier and said, “Send people to clean up that vacant house in the west part of town. Also, transfer a cook and a few servants there. Make sure all food and daily necessities are fully stocked. The silver will be drawn directly from my account. Furthermore, pass on my message: this is my own nephew, Chen Yan. Anyone who dares to cause trouble for my nephew—don’t blame me if I lose my temper!” Hearing Chen Yan’s words, Liu Ji felt a little better. It wasn’t pleasant to be dependent on others. If it weren’t for waiting for his father and Uncle Tie in Qi County, given Chen Ta’s attitude just now, Liu Ji would have walked out long ago. “Second Uncle, thank you so much for your help!” “Don’t be silly! You’re my own nephew!” Chen Yan personally escorted Liu Ji and his party to the mansion on the west side of the city, staying until they were comfortably settled before leaving. Liu Ji was quite pleased with the residence—it was a three-courtyard compound with an exquisite layout and refined decor, ample enough to house the dozen or so of them. Even with the few servants Chen Yan had sent along, there was still plenty of room. Liu Ji casually asked Chen Yan how much the mansion was worth. He was considering whether he should buy a house in Qi County himself; that way, when his father and Uncle Tie arrived, they wouldn’t have to feel like they were living under someone else’s roof. However, upon hearing that it was worth at least 4,000 taels of silver, Liu Ji tactfully kept his mouth shut—he currently had a total of just over 400 taels in his pocket. After Chen Yan returned to the Chen family compound, Chen Ta summoned him again to the study. “Has your fifth sister’s child been settled in?” “Father, they’ve already been settled into that house on the west side of the city!” “Hmm. Make sure they have plenty to eat and everything they need. After all, they are my—Chen Ta’s—grandchildren! Now that your eldest brother is busy organizing our Chen family’s private army, you’ll need to take on more responsibility for managing both household and external affairs.” “Yes, Father, I understand!” At that moment, Chen Ta sighed and said, “You don’t know yet, but this time our Chen family needs to send 90 men to Qianzhou to garrison the border!” “What? Border defense? Father, what’s going on?” Chen Ta then explained that Qi County was required to muster eight hundred troops to be sent to Qianzhou for border defense. Chen Yan gave a wry smile and said, “County Magistrate Wang Ji really has terrible luck. These days, being stationed in the prefectures near the grasslands is practically a death sentence.” Chen Ta nodded and said, “Thank goodness we recruited over 400 able-bodied men from among the disaster victims this time; otherwise, our Chen family’s newly formed private army would have immediately lost nearly half its men.” Chen Yan hesitated for a moment and asked, “Father, what if those disaster-stricken men refuse to go guard the border?” Chen Ta snorted coldly and said, “The able-bodied men among those disaster victims are already considered soldiers of our Chen family’s private army. Military orders are as unyielding as a mountain; if they dare disobey, they will naturally be dealt with according to military law.” At the Chen family farm where the disaster victims were being housed, Chen Baocai quickly selected 90 men from among them—all of whom were frail and elderly. As soon as Chen Qi announced that these 90 men would become the “honorable” Qianzhou Border Guards, some immediately protested. No one was foolish these days. The Qianzhou border was practically becoming a hunting ground for the barbarians; going to Qianzhou to serve in the border troops at a time like this was no different from walking to one’s death! Among the other male disaster victims and their families watching the commotion from the sidelines, some began to shout in protest as well. Many of the 90 selected men were related to them—some women’s husbands were even among the group. Chen Qi looked at the chaotic crowd of 90 male disaster refugees and let out a cold smile. He then gave a subtle nod to the four bodyguards standing beside him. Immediately, the four bodyguards drew their swords, charged into the crowd, and dragged the two men who were causing the most commotion out of the group. Chen Qi then bellowed, “Let me make this clear: from the moment you set foot in this village, you have become soldiers of the Chen family of Qi County. I, Chen Qi, the eldest son of the Chen family, am the Qi County Captain appointed by the Great Jin Dynasty. From this day forward, every word I, Chen Qi, speak is a military order to you!” Chen Qi turned to the two young men who had been dragged out and asked in a stern voice, “Do you dare disobey my military orders?” “Sir, I don’t want to go to Qianzhou to guard the border—it’s full of barbarians there!” “Sir, please don’t make me go to Qianzhou. I have a wife and two children—if I go to Qianzhou, what will become of the three of them?” Chen Qi remained unmoved by the two men’s pleas. “I’ll ask one more time: are you going to Qianzhou to guard the border?” “Sir, I won’t go—I haven’t even married yet!” “Sir, I’m not going either. I’m not going to Qianzhou!” Chen Qi waved his hand. “Anyone who disobeys military orders shall be beheaded!” No sooner had Chen Qi finished speaking than his guards severed the heads of the two men with a single stroke. The wife of one of the men fainted on the spot, and the commotion among the disaster victims instantly ceased. Chen Qi’s thunderous actions had struck fear into the hearts of the crowd. With a menacing look on his face, Chen Qi shouted, “Anyone else who causes trouble will meet the same fate!” Afterward, two more unfortunate male disaster victims were singled out to replace the two who had been beheaded. Subsequently, the 90 men destined for border garrison duty were temporarily detained, to be sent to Qi County in a few days and dispatched to Qianzhou to guard the border alongside men selected from other powerful clans.