Chapter 78: Fighting Law

Words are not speculative, and the meeting between the two lasted less than a quarter of an hour before it was declared over.

Carrying a stomach full of doubts, he left the yamen and was arranged to stay in a luxurious salt merchant mansion.

After seeing the decorations inside, Xu Wenyue was so angry that he wanted to scold his mother.

There were too many places that exceeded the system; even he, a Cabinet minister, didn't dare to be so arrogant.

Just as he wanted to sit down and rest to calm his mood, he saw the golden divine dragon carving on the chair.

If he hadn't observed carefully and found that the divine dragon above was missing a claw, he would have thought someone was privately making a dragon chair.

Even so, Xu Wenyue still didn't dare to sit.

In an instant, he suddenly understood why Emperor Tianyuan was determined to kill these salt merchants.

It was truly too arrogant, completely ignorant of the height of heaven and earth.

An embarrassing scene soon appeared.

He didn't dare to sit in the chair left by the owner.

He didn't dare to sleep in the bedroom left by the owner.

He didn't dare to use the quilt cover left by the owner.

……

What could be used were all the things of the servants.

The main reason why this mansion could be vacated was that there were too many places that exceeded the system, and everyone didn't dare to live in it.

Even those playboy descendants who were bold enough to break the law didn't dare to touch it, so Xu Wenyue dared even less.

Ordinary people exceeding the system can still say that the ignorant are fearless, and the Emperor generally doesn't care.

A Cabinet minister exceeding the system is a serious political problem.

"Don't waste time packing; move directly to the lower room to live.

It's just a few days; after the Marquis of Wuyang leaves, we will move to the yamen!"

Xu Wenyue said, suppressing his anger.

Just entering Yangzhou, he was dug a big pit.

Fortunately, he was cautious enough; if he had been foolish enough to live in it without observing carefully, it would have been a big trouble.

"Grand Secretary, why don't we go to an inn!

There are too many places in this mansion that exceed the system; if there is an impeachment by a censor, it will be very difficult to explain clearly later."

Hou Huaichang stepped forward to

However, mixing in officialdom inherently requires fighting, scrambling, and seizing.

If he does not play the villain, the officials of the Pure Stream Party in the Huai region will surely be wiped out.

The officials subsequently appointed by the imperial court will also not see a trace of the Pure Stream Party members.

Local gentry will likewise sever political ties with them for the sake of their own interests.

"Grand Secretary, they are too presumptuous, it's simply..."

Before Hou Huaichang could finish, Xu Wenyue glared at him.

"Shut your mouth!

Did you not hear my words? Enter the city!"

It is already late, and if they delay any longer, it will be time to close the city gates.

If the garrison shuts the gates directly, they will have to spend the night outside.

Under normal circumstances, no one would dare lock a Grand Secretary like him outside the city.

But encountering this bunch of lawless fellows from the Five Cities Gendarmerie, it is hard to say.

As the motorcade moved slowly forward, looking at the Prefectural Yamen ahead, Grand Secretary Xu's expression gradually turned gloomy.

When they were outside the city, it was possible that the other side was blocking the news and no one in the city knew.

But he has been in the city for so long; even with the slowest reaction, the officials and local gentry in the city should have received the news.

That no one has come to greet them yet can only be explained one way: someone gave instructions in advance not to let them come out to greet them.

The Marquis of Wuyang's control over Yangzhou exceeded his expectations.

An official's power comes not only from above but also from below.

No matter how high-ranking and powerful he, the Imperial Envoy, is, he still needs the people below to be willing to listen.

If the people below don't do their jobs, he is just a figurehead.

That business of dragging people out to be beheaded over a disagreement is just a trope from stage plays.

In the Great Dayu Dynasty, there are many procedures to go through to take down an official.

If a superior is dissatisfied with a subordinate, it's nothing more than giving them a hard time, assigning them dirty and tiring work, and the person can still just slack off to cope.

As long as they don't commit a principled error, they cannot be dismissed at all.

This is the balance of power!

Even an Imperial Envoy must follow the rules.

Even with the treason case involved earlier, the Marquis of Wuyang only placed them under house arrest and did not directly order anyone to be beheaded.

The Eastern Depot and the Embroidered Uniform Guard are hated in officialdom precisely because they can bypass the rules to arrest people.

"Grand Secretary, please forgive me. The people below were ignorant and actually blocked you outside the gate; please be understanding.

The Marquis is currently holding a military meeting; please go to the rear office to rest for a while!"

Hearing the steward's words, Xu Wenyue did not feel any surprise.

In power struggles, one step back is an abyss.

Since a confrontation is destined, naturally one cannot be afraid of offending people.

Since no one else was allowed to come out to greet him, it is even less likely that the Marquis of Wuyang, the ringleader, would come out.

"Lead the way!"

Deep down, Xu Wenyue kept reminding himself: don't get angry, don't get angry!

No matter how impressive a military general is, they are still a military general in the end.

In the Great Dayu Dynasty, governing the locality is the job of civil officials; the situation was special before, so the Marquis of Wuyang could manage Yangzhou's affairs on their behalf.

Now that he, an Imperial Envoy of civil official background, has arrived, the Marquis of Wuyang must hand over the management of the locality.

This includes the suspects imprisoned in the city; all of these must be handed over together.

Once the power is handed over, the current awkward predicament will be gone forever.

"Grand Secretary, you have come from afar, and it is truly my fault for failing to come out to greet you.

However, the war ahead is urgent, and I dare not delay for even a moment; I ask Grand Secretary Xu to forgive me!"

Looking at the Marquis of Wuyang before him, who was apologizing with his mouth while showing not a hint of shame on his face, Xu Wenyue was speechless.

His skin is truly too thick, rivaling those old foxes in the imperial court.

Sure enough, everyone is improving.

That young relative who previously had no presence has also matured after seven years of mixing in officialdom.

"The war is the priority; I am just an old man, the Marquis need not mind!"

The seemingly bland response was full of implications.

Among the several Grand Secretaries, Xu Wenyue is considered young, so naturally, he cannot be an "old man."

"Need not mind" is even more of a joke; to dare not take a Grand Secretary seriously—to what extent must one be arrogant and domineering?

He might as well have said: "Stop the nonsense, it's time to hand over power.

I know you are unhappy, and I can overlook the previous matters, but power must be handed over.

If you keep making a scene and cause trouble, it won't look good for anyone!"

The Marquis of Wuyang was very dissatisfied with that "I've got you figured out" expression.

Yet, the imperial court's rules are right here.

Even if he is the Emperor's brother-in-law, if he violates the rules, he will face no small amount of trouble.

"Grand Secretary, you are in your prime; you shouldn't say such dispiriting things.

His Majesty still needs you to contribute to the country; you must not shirk your duty.

Tomorrow, Commander Rong will set off with the vanguard, and the day after, I will also lead troops on an expedition; I will have to trouble you to take care of Yangzhou's affairs!"

The Marquis of Wuyang said with a huff.

One mountain cannot hold two tigers; Yangzhou City cannot hold two Imperial Envoys either.

He does not have the ability to suppress Grand Secretary Xu, and he does not want to be subordinate to others, so leaving is the best choice.

The crisp and decisive statement stunned Xu Wenyue; intuition told him that when things are abnormal, there must be a demon.

To cause such a big scene earlier just to slight him—that would be too petty.

Knowing there is a problem but not knowing where it lies makes him very distressed.

(End of chapter)