Chapter 46: The Zhao Family of Yanjing

  Changshou Mountain south of Beijing suburbs.

  The mountain valley was leveled out to form a vast expanse of flat land, covering dozens of hectares. On this flat land stood an ancient Chinese garden-style mansion, complete with stone lions at the entrance, walls, corridors, waterside pavilions, flower halls, and wing rooms, all exuding the classic charm of traditional Chinese architecture. The mansion was heavily guarded, with strict access controls in place. Any vehicle approaching within 500 meters of the grand gate would have to stop and show identification before being allowed to proceed on foot. This gate was known as the "Dis-mounting Gate" among the powerful families of Beijing, evoking memories of ancient officials dismounting from their carriages or horses when entering the Forbidden City.

  The Zhao family, China's most illustrious clan, has produced three generals, six central government officials, and seven ministers since the founding of the country. In this generation, direct and collateral descendants of the family occupy high positions in various provinces and cities across the country. Moreover, the family's influence is complex and far-reaching, entrenched in major cities throughout China.

  The Zhao family is like a hundred-year-old tree, with lush branches and intertwined roots. Under the efforts of generation after generation of family heads, the Zhao family's power has become increasingly strong, and it is not an exaggeration to be called "the number one aristocratic family in China".

  The classical mansion under Changshou Mountain is the ancestral home of the Zhao family, which has existed since the Qianlong period. It has withstood countless wars and baptisms, standing still in the long river of history, witnessing the wind and rain of this land in China. During a special period, the Zhao family was also affected by the rebels without exception. The rebels, shouting slogans to destroy the "Four Olds", wanted to burn down the old mansion of the Zhao family. At that time, the two surviving generals of the Zhao family were furious when they learned about it, holding two Japanese swords captured during the war, standing in front of the old mansion with their horses, and preparing to fight against the rebels. The rebels attempted to launch an attack, but the two old generals charged down the mountain like fierce tigers, cutting off the heads of two rebel leaders on the spot and hanging them high on the merit archway in front of the old mansion. This move shocked all the Red Guards who had evil intentions towards the Zhao family, and the rebels retreated like a tide.

  This matter caused a huge stir in the Central Government, but at that time, the Premier and all the old generation only said one sentence: "The Zhao family is indeed as fierce as wolves and tigers, their prestige undiminished from years past."

  The people who say this are clearly familiar with the twists and turns of Zhao's family history. During the War of Resistance, nine sons of the Zhao family were filled with passion for their country, put down their pens and took up arms, and died in battle. Five of them joined the Eighth Route Army, while four entered the Whampoa Military Academy. Later, due to their bravery in combat, they rose through the ranks to become regimental commanders, and eventually became lieutenant generals. In the "Liaoshen Campaign" (this is fictional, don't take it as true!), the Fifth War Zone assembled dozens of divisions to engage in a decisive battle with the Japanese army. The four Zhao brothers fought on the same battlefield, killing enemy soldiers until they ran out of ammunition and food. The officers and men under their command died heroically, and the four brothers refused to surrender, each choosing their own way to sacrifice themselves for the country. It is said that when the Chairman learned of the death of his beloved generals, he shed tears on the spot and personally wrote the inscription "A Family of Loyalty and Bravery" in four characters, ordering it to be sent to the old Zhao family home to extol their noble spirit.

  Since then, the Zhao family has been known as a contemporary Yang Family General!

  The five Zhao brothers who joined the Eighth Route Army were also unstoppable. On the battlefield behind enemy lines, they fought so fiercely that the Japanese army was terrified at the mere mention of their names. In the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei border region where they operated, they organized multiple counterattacks, and their excellent military tactics left the Japanese generals with headaches. The bounty on the three brothers' heads reached as high as 100,000 yuan, which shows the extent to which the Japanese army feared and hated them. At that time, the leader often joked, saying: "The five Zhao brothers are comparable to Liu Bei's Five Tiger Generals."

  At that time, this sentence quickly spread throughout all military regions of China, the Five Tiger Generals!

  The reputation of the Five Tigers General was also getting stronger and stronger. All the soldiers took the five brothers of the Zhao family as their lifelong goal.

  This is also why at that time the two remaining generals of the Zhao family killed the two leaders of the rebels, and the central government did not ask about it.

  This country owes the Zhao family too much.

  It was because of the Premier's words that the Zhao family was able to survive during that turbulent period.

  Later, Deng Gong rose to power and stabilized the Jiangshan, causing the stormy China to regain its vitality. The two surviving founding generals and high-ranking officials of the Zhao family took advantage of the situation to make a comeback, which allowed the struggling Zhao family to be reborn on this land where they had fought bloody battles before.

  The Zhao family has now become a truly powerful and influential clan, with its sons and grandsons spread throughout the political, military, and business worlds. And at the center of it all is the venerable old master of the Zhao household, whose power is as formidable as a nuclear bomb, sitting in his ancestral home, exuding an aura of utmost respectability and nobility to outsiders.

  But deep within the luxurious mansion, many unknown things are hidden.

  The old man has grown old and faded out of people's sight. The master of the house in this generation is the old man's youngest son, Zhao Huayue.

  Zhao Huaye is fifty years old today, and with his rank, he can naturally move into Zhongnanhai. However, the Zhao family has a rule that the head of the household must defend their own home to the death, so Zhao Huaye currently lives in the old mansion of the Zhao family.

  The night was quiet, Zhao Hu's face was gloomy, his own daughter Zhao Xiwen had actually run to Lijiang City at this moment, and it was his wife who sent her there.

  Twenty-seven years ago, due to changes within the family, in order to protect his son, Zhao Huaye ruthlessly abandoned his own biological son, and this matter was done without telling his wife. When his wife found out, she cried every day and became taciturn.

  It wasn't until after Zhao Xiwen was born that things slowly started to get better, but now there are rumors that her own biological son has appeared in Lijiang City.

  "Yingting, Huayu Group's sudden invasion of Lijiang is too hasty. This has already caught the attention of many people." Zhao Huaye's voice was somewhat low and solemn.

  "Am I being loud? I don't think so. My son, Qi Yuting, whom I haven't seen in over 20 years, is right there. Do you think I'm being loud? Aren't you afraid someone will bully your own son?"

  "For twenty-seven years, a full twenty-seven years, he has been wandering. When he was starving and freezing, what were you doing? What did I do for him again?"

  Zhao Huyue fell silent after hearing his wife Qi Yuting's words. Indeed, he had been carefree for the past 27 years, but what about his own son? What kind of life was he living?

  "Some people at home have already become suspicious, perhaps they will discover..."

  Qī Yù Tíng coldly snorted: "What if I find out? Twenty-seven years ago, I endured it. If anyone dares to move against my son, don't blame me for the Qī family turning against them!"

  Qī Yùtíng's face was filled with a chilling intent as she spoke these words, and anyone could see that she had already harbored murderous intentions.

  "Ying, you don't understand. At my level, every step I take must be extremely cautious. One misstep will lead to very severe consequences. Many eyes are watching me, waiting for me to show a weakness so they can attack together. My current tolerance and compromise are all for the sake of our son's future return. Do you understand?"

  "I don't understand what nonsense you're talking about, Zhao Huoyue. You've been deceiving me with this phrase for 20 years. Don't think that the Zhao family is so great. My dad has already said it: whoever dares to move his grandson will have no place to hide from his bullets!"

  "Ah!" Zhao Hu Yue was stunned, he hadn't expected his wife to have already told his father-in-law about this matter. If that's the case, then the Qi family must have made their move.

  "Cough, cough!" Before he knew it, Old Man Zhao was already standing outside the door.

  Zhao Huaye looked at his father with a surprised face, while Qi Yuting was indifferent.

  "Dad, when did you come?"

  "Thirdly, the descendants of the Zhao family cannot be scattered outside. Some things should be settled by now, and I haven't seen Old Master Qi for a long time either."

  "Dad!"

  "Let go and do it, we owe Yu Ting and that child too much!" After saying this, Old Man Zhao didn't stay any longer.

  Zhao Huaye looked at his father's back, feeling a pang of sadness in his heart. His father had grown old and had many worries; perhaps he should really bring his own son back home now.