312: Chapter 301: The Five Great Families of Yanjing 312: Chapter 301: The Five Great Families of Yanjing “Don’t, this is my sister-in-law.
If you manage to anger her, I might have to fight you to let her vent.”
“What’s the matter for calling me here today?
You’re a busy man, not like me, who just sleeps after eating and eats after waking up.” Song Yun took a sip of his coffee and smiled.
“What I’m going to tell you is a secret.
Once you’ve heard it, you’ll be in the know.
Do you still choose to listen?” Tang Lin was serious for once and spoke earnestly.
“Then forget it, in case this is a trap you’re setting for me.
We’ve got things to do, so we’ll be leaving.
Put the coffee on your tab.” Song Yun stood up to leave, but Tang Lin hurriedly pressed him back into his seat with a sigh.
“Why are you so guarded, kid?
You need to learn to be a little more open.”
“I can’t be open.
So many eyes are watching from behind.”
“Alright, alright, you always have a reason for everything.
I was just teasing you with that last part, now onto the serious matter.
I want to ask you, what do you know about Yanjing?” As soon as Tang Lin started, he stunned Song Yun.
“I know the Great Wall, I know the Yihe Garden, I know the Great Hall…” Before Song Yun could finish counting off his fingers, Tang Lin interrupted him.
“I know about those things too, I’m asking you.
How much do you know about the affairs of the Yanjing families?”
“That…” Song Yun fell silent for a moment.
It seemed that aside from the Song Family, he was pretty clueless about the other families.
“Alright, seeing your clueless face, I know you’re a Yanjing newbie.” Tang Lin sighed.
“The five great families of Yanjing: Sòng, Zhào, Lǐ, Táng, Zhōu—your Song Family holds the highest status, a Tian-class family in Huaxia, ranked first.”
“And then?
What are you trying to say?” Song Yun asked with furrowed brows.
“These five families have been established for hundreds of years, especially your Song Family, always at the top.
This has caused the other four great families to resent the Song Family.
Everyone is among the five great families of Yanjing, so why should your family be first?
During the turbulent times many years ago, the four great families started to attack the Song family.
The Song Family was unable to fend off the assault alone and had to abandon the main family line, Song Ergou—your father.”
“Having mentioned this, I want to ask you, how much do you know about your father?”
“They disappeared when I was very young,” Song Yun said.
“After saying all this, are you just trying to tell me that those four great families are very powerful?”
“No, those four great families somehow got wind of the news that Song Ergou, the main family line, is coming back, and the higher-ups are very interested in this matter.” Tang Lin lit a cigarette and said, “You probably don’t know how much effort and connections they used to win that victory.
If your dad comes back, all their achievements could come undone; they will face huge resistance.”
“Do I look like a coward to you?” Song Yun pointed at himself and asked.
“You don’t.”
“Exactly.
If I’m not a coward, how could my dad be?
Knowing him, he can’t wait to get back.
Our motto is the greatest victory is making our enemies sad,” Song Yun laughed.
“But have you thought about who spread this news?
Hehe, only the Song Family knew about this, so I guess I won’t waste my breath.
It’s not just those four great families that don’t want to see Ergou return to take over the family business.”
“There’s so much shady business in the family; it’s disgusting.
Plus, Old Master Song has only a daughter and no son, which is a huge blow to those sideline branches.
They’d do anything to have someone from their line become the Family Head.
But now, with the sudden news of your dad’s return, their hopes are shattered.
Do you think they want you to live a happy life?”
What Tang Lin said wasn’t unreasonable and was, in fact, somewhat correct.
If his father returned, it would complicate so many things, both within the family and from external threats, all potentially fatal.
“Have you thought that you were originally an unknown young man, but once your father returns, bringing turmoil, many will push him into the spotlight, and those close to him will naturally become visible—like you.
Do you think you’ll have good days ahead?” Tang Lin said with a smile on his lips.
“Indeed, there must already be some people starting to take notice of me,” Song Yun said indifferently.
“Yup, without surprise, the rest of the four great families have already obtained your information.
Song Yun, your future challenges will be anything but trivial.” Tang Lin spoke with a sense of schadenfreude.
“Although the four great families wouldn’t dare to take your life directly, they could still trip you up in secret.”
“What should I do?” Song Yun asked directly.
“Why ask me?
I’m just an ordinary person.”
“If you didn’t come to give me an answer, why would you travel all the way from your territory to find me in Sunan?
You must have some solutions already,” Song Yun cheekily passed the buck to Tang Lin.
Tang Lin glared at Song Yun in frustration and said helplessly, “You little bastard; how many times have you pulled off this kind of trick?
Damn it, I come to you with good intentions to give you some news, and in the end, I have to clean up after you.”
“Be done with it.
Since you’re here, there’s no need for so much talk.” Song Yun chuckled.
“Speak specifically.
If I can, I will believe you.”
“Alright, alright, you’re such a rascal,” Tang Lin grumbled.
“Do you know what the main affairs of our National Security Bureau are?”
“To protect national security, to do some things secretly that the country cannot do openly; to be the dark side of the power structure.” Song Yun bit on a hangnail and said.
“Of course, this is all under the premise of protecting the nation.
National security comes before everything else.”
“Correct.
We directly answer to the top leader’s control, others cannot direct the National Security Bureau personnel without proper authorization.
So we’re like the Jinyi Guard or the Eastern Depot from the Ming Dynasty,” Tang Lin said.
“Our organization has the authority to monitor local unrest and directly report to the state for the punishment of certain officials.
All organizations and structures must unconditionally assist us.
So, tell me, how powerful do you think our organization is?”
“It’s powerful, but it has its drawbacks; that is, it can offend a lot of people.
Once you start overturning the old, you offend an entire team.”
“Yes, exactly.
So, we must have a major backer.
Our backers aren’t just two group leaders within the National Security Bureau; we also need support from outside, like families.”