Chapter 459: with translation of chapter title

Why?

Chen Wuji gave a light sneer, raised his hand and pointed at the vast crowd ahead, "You all want to let me see your abilities before we talk, right?"

Zhu Zaidao and Jia Wentao both looked shocked, probably not expecting that, facing the Prefect's temptation, Chen Wuji still clung to their incitement of the populace.

We wish to cooperate with Deputy Commander Chen; we must let him see some of our sincerity and weight. We harbor no ill will, but if we cannot let the Deputy Commander gauge us, speaking would be empty. Zhu Zaidao's expression was like constipated, yet he forced himself to speak.

Chen Wuji suddenly let out a cold snort, "But I don't like your kind of sincerity!"

I just fought two battles with Gu Wenjie, didn't catch my breath, and hadn't even entered the gate of this Government Office behind me, and you pull this stunt—do you think I like it?

…… Jia Wentao lowered his head, thought a moment, then hastily added, "This matter indeed was our oversight; that… grain, right, we won't take the grain, we're willing to fully support the army."

Chen Wuji gave them a cold glance, "Scram!"

Really gave them face.

Deputy Commander, my uncle enjoys deep trust from His Majesty in the court; the Prefect position is not something we boast about. Jia Wentao said immediately.

Chen Wuji's face darkened completely, "Say another word and I'll exterminate your nine clans!"

Jia Wentao immediately shut his mouth.

Beside him, Zhu Zaidao even seemed unsteady; he quietly tugged Jia Wentao's sleeve, bowed to Chen Wuji, and gave an embarrassed smile, saying, "Sorry to bother Deputy Commander Chen, we're taking our leave!"

Chen Wuji waved his hand like shooing away a fly.

Jia Wentao and Zhu Zaidao looked embarrassed, slowly departing.

As they passed Yuan Qi's side, they exchanged a few words, but the conversation seemed unpleasant; Jia Wentao and Zhu Zaidao left with angry faces, sleeves flung.

Yuan Qi instead did the opposite, walking toward Chen Wuji.

Old man Yuan Qi pays his respects to Deputy Commander Chen.

Chen Wuji glanced at this old man who seemed to be with Jia Wentao and Zhu Zaidao but hadn't spoken a word the whole time, "What else do you want to say?"

I ask Deputy Commander Chen to wipe out the Jia and Zhu clans; if they aren't destroyed, Deputy Commander will struggle to achieve anything in Hezhou. Yuan Qi spoke flatly, dropping a bombshell.

That absolute? Chen Wuji showed a bit of interest.

Yuan Qi nodded, "The Jia and Zhu clans have long been entrenched in Hezhou, deep-rooted, they are two major malignant tumors. Deputy Commander Chen governs Yunan affairs; I've also heard a little, and the Jia and Zhu clans will surely be a stumbling block for Deputy Commissioner Chen's governance of Hezhou."

I'm not Gu Wenjie; I don't like slaughtering families on a whim. If you're suggesting this just for that reason, I have reason to suspect you want to use me as a blade! Chen Wuji said lightly.

Hezhou still has its own ways.

These local gentry give Chen Wuji a strange, indescribable feeling.

Deputy Commander Chen, you might first hear me out. Yuan Qi said candidly, "The Jia and Zhu clans are both scholarly families; though not as illustrious as four generations of three high officials, they indeed have considerable connections in court, with deep pathways."

However, as far as I know, they are all part of the Ruan Xiang Faction.

That statement made Chen Wuji get serious.

Ruan Xiang Ruan Yuchang, this person originally should have been far away from him.

But the absurdity of the world is that, when he was merely a hunter, he offended that Ruan Xiang from afar, and did so gravely.

You mean they want to use Ruan Xiang's connections to secure a Prefect position for me? Chen Wuji asked, "If so, I'd actually have to thank them instead."

Their goal… is likely to use Deputy Commander Chen. Yuan Qi said.

Deputy Commander Chen perhaps doesn't know, Gu Wenjie trusts Jia Wentao and Zhu Zaidao immensely; many of his major undertakings in Hezhou rely heavily on them—for instance, the families Gu Wenjie slaughtered a few days ago were secretly manipulated by these two.

Besides, I uncovered these secretly; openly, they also suffered Gu Wenjie's poaching. Furthermore, both clans have descendants serving under General Lu Ping'an, and they also have deep secret ties with the Qiang People.

Chen Wuji was bewildered, "How come I find this hard to understand…"

It's a bit convoluted.

Yuan Qi chuckled, "Their approach is indeed hard to grasp, but if I say they're doing all this merely for family prosperity, Deputy Commander Chen might understand."

They have deep connections in court; logically, there's no need to link with General Lu Ping'an and the Qiang People, but these two clans are among the few local grandees of Nan Jun, this being their ancestral land, thus multiple contacts become necessary.

Put that way, Chen Wuji indeed understood much better.

In short, it's betting on multiple sides and laying out multiple fronts.

What did you mean earlier when you said they wanted to use me? Chen Wuji asked deliberately.

Yuan Qi paused slightly, "If I'm not mistaken, they painstakingly sought the Prefect position for Deputy Commander Chen, aiming to exchange it for civil authority—from Assistant Magistrate down to minor clerks—and then sideline Deputy Commander Chen."

Moreover, given these two clans' habits, they might also intervene in military affairs, eventually turning Hezhou entirely into their domain. Hezhou City already has civil authority in their hands, up and down deeply entrenched; what I said about controlling the counties is correct.

Chen Wuji glanced sideways at Yuan Qi, "You lot aren't in cahoots, are you?"

This old bone of mine, speaking frankly, amounts to a two-faced, three-bladed fence-sitter; the Jia and Zhu clans are mighty, and for my family's survival I can only go along with them. Yuan Qi gave a self-mocking smile, speaking extremely bluntly.

Then what does this mean now?

Now I want to ask Deputy Commander Chen for a chance to let this fence-sitting grass fall toward Deputy Commander Chen.

I don't like fence-sitters.

Deputy Commander Chen, you might first examine my worth.

Chen Wuji gave a light smile, "I believe you definitely have worth; as a fence-sitter, you've spoken so bluntly, saying you have no worth—you'd have no face to say that."

Besides, how could you think of turning toward me? As a fence-sitter, is your vision off? The Jia and Zhu clans have so many connections, they can even fool those two lunatics, Gu Wenjie and the Snake Staff Elder; following them would be the right path!

Yuan Qi said, "If Deputy Commander Chen insists on a reason, it's roughly—evil does not prevail over righteousness!"

Speak plainly.

These words from his mouth sounded even more unpleasant to Chen Wuji than Jia Wentao's earlier flattery.

Yuan Qi chuckled, "Deputy Commander Chen can even make use of someone like Yang Pojun; I reckon my old bones won't be wasted under Deputy Commander Chen."