"This man's rise has been fierce. We can't let him grow any stronger, or we'll be raising a tiger that will turn on us," Chu Ping added.
"That's simple enough. Have a word with Gao Gang. Tell him to expel Tang Wen and tear down his Tang Clan Mall.
"With no territory, what business could he do? As for his Marquis of Zhenhai title, that's even easier. Find an excuse to strip him of it.
"Once he loses his noble status, he'll be a homeless cur. Then you can deal with him however you please, little brother," Chu Jiangnan said contemptuously.
"That would be ideal, of course. Once he loses his office and the academy's protection, his death will be at hand.
"But his firearms are quite powerful. Why don't you urge His Majesty to act, Crown Prince?
"The Northwestern War is critical right now. Have His Majesty force the Tang family to hand over a large quantity of firearms.
"Without those firearms, the Tang family will be a sick tiger with its teeth pulled, all the easier to deal with," Chu Tiangong said.
"Easy, easy. Let's drink first. There's no need for my imperial father to act. Am I, the crown prince, not enough?" Chu Jiangnan raised his wine cup with a smile.
"Of course you are, Crown Prince. He wouldn't dare challenge you," Chu Ping said, nodding.
"We must keep cutting away his backers. Now that Chu Guang's teeth have been pulled, only the Sea Saint King remains," Ge Yu said.
"He's nearly finished," Chu Jiangnan said.
"Nearly finished?" Everyone immediately looked at the crown prince.
"Chu Guang was his right-hand man. We dealt with Chu Guang first. He's next," Chu Jiangnan snorted.
"Heh heh. Once he's demoted to a commandery prince and stripped of military authority, let's