Chapter 615

Starting a rumor takes just a mouth, but refuting it can break your legs.

Rumors have always been a soft weapon with enormous destructive power since ancient times.

Especially in an era when scholar-officials placed extreme importance on reputation, rumors could easily ruin a scholar-official's future; fortunately, Chen Wuji only paid moderate attention to such things, and sometimes he even wanted to add fuel to the fire.

"Hu Zhizhou, if Dingzhou's powerful clans and great surnames lack the sort of people I just mentioned, they can rest easy—my butcher's knife will not fall on their heads." Chen Wuji said with a light smile.

"However, regarding the investigation of land holdings and tax matters, they still need to cooperate fully; don't make things too difficult for me."

Hu Bu Gui's expression remained somewhat complex; he acknowledged with a sound, then after pondering for a while, he asked: "Regional Inspector, could the investigation of these troublemaking horses be entrusted to me, the Subordinate? I will also urge them to strictly carry out the Regional Inspector's orders."

"Of course." Chen Wuji readily agreed.

Through prior understanding and these few words exchanged today with Hu Bu Gui, Chen Wuji had basically figured out what kind of person he was; entrusting this task to him would not only be unproblematic, but actually a good thing.

Hu Bu Gui is familiar with Dingzhou's situation; the powerful clans and great surnames also acknowledge him, and having him take the lead would reduce much trouble and stabilize Dingzhou's situation more quickly.

"Subordinate has no further doubts; please forgive any impropriety, Regional Inspector." Hu Bu Gui suddenly rose, "Please also allow me to leave for a moment, Regional Inspector."

"Without a doubt, show Hu Zhizhou the way." Chen Wuji thought he was going to release water, so he casually ordered.

"Yes!"

Unexpectedly, when Hu Bu Gui returned again, he was holding a box in his hands.

He solemnly placed the box on the ground, took out the Yin Shu from inside, bowed low and raised it high above his head with both hands, "Regional Inspector, as the Nan Jun Jiedu Guanchasi, logically there is no need for me, the Subordinate, to perform this surrender ceremony, but because of the complications caused by Lu Ping'an, I am unsure whether I should do it, so I went ahead and did it."

Chen Wuji glanced at it and realized that the box actually contained the Prefect's Yin Shu and Dingzhou's yellow registers; Hu Bu Gui had come prepared.

Chen Wuji rose and personally took the Yin Shu from Hu Bu Gui's hand, saying, "What Hu Zhizhou said is correct; logically, since I hold an Imperial Edict personally written by His Majesty the Emperor, there really is no need to go through this procedure. However, because the various prefectures of Nan Jun regard me as speaking recklessly and self-appointing a Military Governor, I not only have to perform some unnecessary procedures, but even have to launch a large-scale military campaign."

After sighing, he turned and handed the Prefect's Yin Shu to Chen Luozi.

Once this seal has been handed over, don't think about taking it back.

Chen Wuji could never allow Hu Bu Gui to regain Dingzhou's civil and military authority; if he remained in office, what would be the point of this surrender?

"Hu Zhizhou, please sit, please sit." Chen Wuji called out.

"We might as well speak plainly, Prefect—you can no longer continue in your post, but I can let you freely choose any of the major offices in the prefecture."

Hu Bu Gui obviously had already prepared himself mentally to leave office, his expression showing no ripple.

After sitting down again, he said, "Regional Inspector, compared to holding office, I, your humble servant, actually prefer to lead troops in battle; please allow me to continue commanding the Bīngmǎ. I need not garrison a locality, nor bring Dingzhou's old subordinates; just let me lead a fresh regiment to fight the Qiang People."

"Subordinate's greatest aspiration in life is not to hold a high office, but to serve as a general, to campaign for the state, to sweep away bandits, and to be wrapped in horsehide upon death."

These words left Chen Wuji somewhat embarrassed for a moment.

He did this precisely because he did not want Hu Bu Gui to continue leading troops; thus he generously promised him free choice, but Hu Bu Gui turned around and immediately requested to continue leading troops.

This is somewhat troublesome.

Giving military authority to someone who will obviously oppose him later and even stab him in the back is undoubtedly a Path of Taking Risks, no different from cultivating one's abilities by nurturing poison within oneself.

While Chen Wuji was hesitating, he saw Xu Zengyi lightly nod.

Seeing this, Chen Wuji did not hesitate further and agreed, "Hu Zhizhou has relinquished the power in his hands, and I will not disappoint you. However, exactly which division of the Bīngmǎ you will command still needs some discussion; for these few days, stay settled in Dingbian, observe its local customs, and then we will discuss troop deployment in Yushan Prefecture."

"Yes!" Hu Bu Gui happily agreed.

The matter went smoothly, completely beyond his expectations; he had no reason to be unhappy.

Before coming to see Chen Wuji, he and the Dingzhou Civil and Military had discussed this matter countless times, proposed many possibilities, and finally settled on three major options and corresponding countermeasures.

Whether the situation was good or bad, Hu Bu Gui had already been mentally prepared. But Chen Wuji's attitude was even better than the best outcome they had imagined, so good that it left Hu Bu Gui feeling quite surprised.

Chen Wuji was far more amenable to talk than the rumors suggested—by a factor of ten million.

In the eyes of the Dingzhou Civil and Military, Chen Wuji is a person who is extremely benevolent toward the common people, yet extremely ruthless toward enemies and powerful clans.

Hu Bu Gui had always considered Dingzhou's troops to be quite formidable within Nan Jun, but hearing that Chen Wuji, who enjoys pit killings, building monuments of skulls, and using enemy fragments as weapons, was about to attack, many officers still lost sleep.

"Wei Xianwei, I'll entrust Hu Zhizhou to you for these few days; as host, you must entertain my guest well, but if there's anything you can't handle, just come find me." Chen Wuji said with a smile.

Wei Shuzhang let out a long sigh of relief, rose, and accepted the order.

Thanks to the Nine Heavens Gods and Buddhas, his little life seemed to be preserved.

At today's banquet, he was truly terrified, feeling as if a bone were stuck in his throat.

The dishes on the table were all excellent, each one his favorite, yet he ate the smallest amount of his life, as if he couldn't even manage an average bite of any.

After Wei Shu led Hu Bu Gui away, Chen Wuji's group of four held a serious council over dinner.

"Old Xu, is it really safe to give him the Military Authority Token?" Chen Wuji asked uneasily.

Xu Zengyi gave a light smile, filled his own Wine Bowl, and said, "Go ahead, go ahead; this poses no problem for now."

"My lord still holds the title of Nan Jun Jiedu Guanchasi personally bestowed by the Emperor; although I have continually urged my lord to rebel, raising that banner still requires a long time—perhaps a year or two, perhaps three to five years."

"Over such a long span, Hu Bu Gui himself probably cannot guarantee his loyalty to the Court will last until then; a few disappointments would be enough."

"My lord, be more careful in arranging his future; use your own people for the lower-ranking officers, so that even if he harbors ill intent, he won't be able to stir up any major waves. The Chen clan is vast, with many military commanders; for my lord, this amounts to nothing more than a trivial inconvenience that can be resolved with a flick of the wrist—there's no need to keep it in mind."