Love letters are not allowed in exorcism notes

Chapter 529 Are You Aware of Being a Running Dog?

Shen Zhidong stood in front of the window, holding a newly lit cigar in his hand, silently looking down at the city outside.

He had seen this city rise from the wilderness, be destroyed by war, and then spring back to life.

This era is developing too fast, and even he, who once stood at the forefront of the trend of the times, now feels a little powerless.

"When the cunning rabbit dies, the running dog is cooked. It has always been like this in every dynasty. It is a normal thing. You should learn to adapt to it."

Hearing these words of comfort with a hint of sarcasm, Shen Zhidong turned around and looked at his old friend who was drinking tea in his office.

“But this is too fast.”

"The new government has been established for less than two years, and local governments are divided and decrees cannot be implemented. Remote areas are not aware of the change of the court. The situation in Fuso is unstable, and overseas revolutionaries are also eyeing it covetously. Colonizing the New World is a bottomless pit. I don't know how much resources will be put into it..."

"What is the president thinking at this time when he says that the cunning rabbit dies and the running dog is cooked?"

"The President didn't say that. I said it."

The person drinking tea smiled and said, "And it's not that the President is fast, it's that your Shen family is too fast."

"You can't distinguish the primary from the secondary, can't sort out contradictions, and confuse everything... It's okay to deceive others, but how come you have deceived yourself?"

"Yang Mocheng, did you come here today just to make sarcastic remarks?"

"If you think I'm just being sarcastic, then I can't do anything about it. As the saying goes, good words can't persuade a damned ghost. You can't even tell the difference between good and bad words. You deserve to have your Shen family exterminated."

The tea drinker put down his teacup and said with a smile: "I will leave after I finish this pot of tea. I will bring good wine to your grave on this day next year to pay tribute to you. We can still be friends."

Shen Zhidong was silent for a long time after hearing this, then he sat back on the sofa, picked up the teapot and refilled the teacup, and asked in a low voice: "Why did Brother Yang teach me?"

"It's not teaching, but out of brotherly love I want to ask you, what does the Shen family want?"

"Not what we want..."

"No, don't complicate such a simple question. One question has one answer. Your explanation is just a cover-up. At this point, what is there to be embarrassed about? I can say for you that the Shen family wants to become a family like the Yang family that has been passed down for thousands of years, right?"

Shen Zhidong smiled and said, "This is the first time that Brother Yang has spoken so frankly."

"If I don't put it simply and directly, I'm afraid you won't understand."

Yang Mocheng picked up the teacup and sighed, "In the eyes of the world, the Shen family is undoubtedly the henchmen of the president. But why didn't Professor Shen rise to prominence after the president took power? Have you, the Shen family, ever thought about this question carefully?"

Shen Zhidong shook his head and said, "My father is just a scholar, not good at governing."

"Look, you're still looking for reasons and excuses. When you encounter a problem, you never think about how to solve it, but only think about making excuses to deceive yourself. With the Shen family tradition like this, it's no wonder that the president is disappointed in your father."

Shen Zhidong looked slightly displeased when he heard this.

But in the end he just shook his head and sighed, remaining silent.

"If you can't say it, I'll say it for you."

Yang Mocheng took a sip of tea and said solemnly, "As loyal followers of the emperor, the Shen family has enjoyed a lot in Tianmen over the years. You have received all the benefits you deserve and those you don't deserve. It's because the new dynasty doesn't have a system of conferring titles, otherwise Professor Shen would probably be able to get a duke or marquisate with his contributions. At this time, if you want to move up, you don't know how to do it, and you just want to become an aristocratic family."

"But you have never figured out the essence of aristocratic families from the beginning to the end."

"If you want to become a noble family, you must first have a foundation. This foundation can be connections, cultural heritage, or at least bloodline, but it is not money."

“Anyone can make money. Even a pig standing on the wind can fly.” “Only veins can continue the inheritance.”

"Where is the lineage of your Shen family?"

"Is there anyone from the Shen family who joined the army? In the emperor's personal army or the local army, is there any general with the last name Shen?"

"Is there anyone from the Shen family who serves as an official in the imperial court? Is there anyone who participates in the center of the imperial court and follows the president closely?"

"Even if your father has integrity and character, has he established a school over the years? What benefits have his students gained from him over the years? What benefits have they brought to him?"

"Let's take a step back and ask, is Tianmen the Tianmen of the Shen family? Is the Seaside District the Seaside District of the Shen family? Where is your clan ancestral hall? Where is your ancestral land? Where are your roots?"

"You think you can be considered a noble family if you get involved with some fellow villagers and help a few poor relatives?"

After hearing these words, Shen Zhidong broke out in a cold sweat and dared not speak a word.

"Of course, these problems may be a bit heavy for you."

Yang Mocheng took a sip of tea to moisten his throat, making his tone a little calmer.

"Let's simplify this question a little bit. I'll ask you one question. Is there anyone in the Shen family who is willing to die for the president, or even for the country? The kind who would die without hesitation if asked to do so."

Shen Zhidong remained silent.

"In fact, there has been no such thing since the beginning, so I still don't understand what qualifications your family has to act as the president's lackey."

"The prerequisite for the cunning rabbit to die and the running dog to be cooked is that you must have the qualifications and awareness to be a dog."

Yang Mocheng put down his teacup and said earnestly, "We are all brothers. At this point, there is no need to talk about meaningless nonsense. The Shen family's chess game seems to have a few more moves, but in fact it has become a dead end. If you listen to my advice, there is still a glimmer of hope. Otherwise, in the end, the family will be broken up."

"What does the Yang family want?"

"The half of the city in your hands, Shen Bancheng."

"Your appetite is a bit too big!"

"I won't say this a second time."

Hearing the hurried footsteps in the corridor, Yang Mocheng sighed and said, "I guess you won't hear me say it a second time."

"It's been less than two years since the President left Tianmen, and you've already forgotten what kind of person she was."

A secretary didn't bother to knock on the door, but pushed it open and said urgently, "Boss, the police are breaking in!"

Shen Zhidong said coldly: "Why are you panicking! Let Daqiang block them. They are just policemen. We are operating legally here. Why should we be afraid of the police?"

After the secretary left, he glanced at Yang Mocheng who was drinking tea, picked up the phone on the table, and dialed the police station's number.

Before the call could be connected, a gunshot was heard downstairs.

Shen Zhidong's body trembled, and he lost hold of the receiver in his hand, which fell on the table with a bang.

They actually shot! How dare they shoot?
Before he could reach out to pick up the phone, he heard the terrified scream of the female secretary outside the door.

The door of the office was kicked open, and a young man, fully dressed and wearing a helmet and mask whose face could not be seen clearly, walked in from outside and asked in a cold voice, "Who is Shen Zhidong?"

(End of this chapter)