New and dark light years

Chapter 538 Making Enemies Against All the Powerful Families

"Little sister, what's your name?" Zeng Hongluo asked.

"Cao Honghong!"

"The red in 'red makeup'?"

Cao Honghong shook her head: "It's the 'Hong' in rainbow... Xiao Hong is my nickname."

Zeng Hongluo smiled and said, "It's a nice name."

She walked over and took the girl's hand: "I was also a member of the Zhuxian Society, and now I live here. If you have any questions or need any help, just let me know."

Faced with Zeng Hongluo's enthusiasm, Cao Honghong was somewhat at a loss.

Seeing her lost in thought, Zeng Hongluo pulled her towards her room: "Are you still not used to being here after just leaving the Zhuxian Guild? Come stay at my house for a few days. Your house will need two maids to work on it for a few more days before it's habitable."

Cao Honghong looked at her house, and it really did look uninhabitable. It would be very tiring for her to clean it up by herself.

"Then I'll trouble my sister."

“You can call me Sister Hong!” Zeng Hongluo couldn’t help but laugh. “You’re also called Xiao Hong. We’re both ‘Hong’, which is quite a coincidence.”

Cao Honghong nodded gently.

At this moment, Zeng Hongluo felt a sense of surprise and delight.

Not long ago, Huang Qing wrote to her, asking her to do more "merits".

But she was a little unsure what constituted merit.

But now that Li Lin has brought this girl over, she instantly 'understood' it.

Looking at Cao Honghong, who trusted her so much, Zeng Hongluo's lips curled up slightly.

Several days later, at the administrative center.

Inside the White Tiger Hall, Li Lin's expression was very displeased.

He looked around at the more than twenty civil officials below.

"You mean, suspend the 'establishment'?"

No one speaks.

Li Lin looked at Jiang Jili: "Secretary Zhang, you need to explain this matter."

Jiang Jili stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "Governor, the timing is not right."

"What's wrong with it?" Li Lin asked.

"It is only possible when Your Excellency obtains the divine artifact."

Hearing this, Li Lin laughed and said, "Then let's leave it at that. You all go about your business. The chief secretary and the prefect will stay here."

The other officials left quickly, a hint of smugness in their eyes before they went.

Soon, only three people remained in the White Tiger Hall.

Li Lin said, "How did things develop like this? Why weren't you informed of it?"

In fact, Li Lin had already figured it out: these officials who had joined forces to suspend the "establishment of offices" were all scions of powerful families, the kind who were all connected by blood.

Jiang Jili said helplessly, "Because of me, I have also been ostracized by them."

Li Lin looked at Wen Bi.

Wen Bi nodded: "That's true."

Wen Bi was a true scion of a poor family; he was inherently different from those officials from aristocratic families.

Of course... his abilities weren't as strong as those of officials from aristocratic families.

However, his abilities are also gradually increasing. Few people who have reached their current position through scientific research are fools. Although he may lack practical skills, he now has no shortage of platforms to do things, and his governance and internal affairs abilities are steadily improving.

Li Lin nodded: "I understand. You two may leave now."

Jiang Jili said, "Sir...this matter needs to be considered carefully."

Li Lin smiled and said, "No problem, I will think carefully about how to handle it."

After the two left, Li Lin finished his internal affairs and then went home.

At the same time, a pigeon flew away from the Li residence and went to the military camp in Tianjin.

Inside the Fugui Building.

A group of officials, dressed in civilian clothes, were drinking and making merry.

They looked very happy.

"You didn't see it, Li Lin's helpless expression was really satisfying to watch."

The people around him burst into laughter.

An official surnamed Zhao laughed and said, "He wants to replace us with those poor kids. Do you think we don't know? I didn't hold it against him for the last time when he paid the common soldiers, but now he's doing these petty tricks. Does he really think we scions of noble families are all fools?"

At this moment, an official said worriedly, "He comes from a military background, what if he takes action?"

“He wouldn’t dare. He’s ruthless enough to outsiders, but he’s very reasonable with his own people. And the more reasonable he is, the less afraid we are of him.”

Everyone laughed again.

At this moment, the civil official sitting in the main seat said, "Listen to me, everyone. Li Lin is outwardly a king but inwardly a saint; he can be deceived by his methods. He is overly soft-hearted towards ordinary soldiers and lacks the ruthlessness to accomplish great things. So, as long as we grasp this point, we don't need to confront him. We just need to feign compliance and use gentleness to overcome strength."

"Yes, that's right. If he insists on signing the document, we don't need to argue with him on the spot, but when it comes to implementation, we can find ways to delay it."

"This is a good idea."

"Where is Jiang Jili...should we inform him?"

"No need. He has connections with Li Lin, and he's no longer on our side."

Everyone nodded.

The young civil official sitting in the main seat raised his glass and said, "Gentlemen, Li Lin is indeed capable and ambitious, but we can use his talents to achieve our own success."

The others immediately raised their glasses.

……

For the next two days, Li Lin continued as usual, going to the White Tiger Hall in the morning to handle internal affairs.

It seems that the matter of establishing an office has been abandoned.

Those civil officials looked smug.

They just hid it very well and didn't show it.

Even when I see Li Lin, I still maintain a high level of respect for him.

Then on the third day, a 3,000-strong army entered from outside the city and surrounded the administrative center.

This caused panic among many people.

Hearing the commotion outside, Zhuang Xiu stepped forward and asked the constable beside him, "What's going on outside? Why is there such a commotion? Go and see."

The constable immediately ran out, then quickly ran back in.

"My lord, it seems that the government troops have surrounded our administrative center."

Zhuang Xiu suddenly stood up. He had a bad feeling, but when he thought that he and the others had not done anything really bad, he forced himself to calm down.

"What has the military governor done to mobilize the troops?" Zhuang Xiu murmured subconsciously.

Just then, several civil officials rushed in, flustered: "Brother Zhuang, is the army on a march... by the military governor...?"

"probably not……"

As Zhuang Xiuzheng was saying this, a military officer led a dozen soldiers in.

He smiled when he saw Zhuang Xiu and the others: "Oh, so you're all here. Gentlemen, come with me."

Zhuang Xiu angrily asked, "Transport Commissioner Huang, what do you mean by this?"

The visitor was Huang Ying, Huang Qing's younger brother. He had been serving as a transport commissioner, a position that, while not high-ranking, had been actively involved in several major battles.

After these battles, many people have been promoted, but as Li Lin's brother-in-law, his position has remained unchanged. He was the Transport Commissioner three years ago, and he is still the Transport Commissioner now.

Many people found it strange, but Huang Ying remained calm and composed.

They don't care about this at all.

He knew that given Li Lin's doting on his eldest sister, he would definitely have a chance to be promoted in the future.

The reason we are not moving now is that the time is not yet right.

And now... the task of arresting these civil officials has fallen to him.

He then realized that his chance for promotion had arrived.

My brother-in-law is going to start using him.

Huang Ying laughed and said, "It doesn't mean anything. It's just my brother-in-law's idea to invite you to stay in the prison for a few days first."

"Imprisoning officials without cause or trial—what is the military governor thinking, acting so perversely like this!"

Huang Ying said indifferently, "What is a Jiedushi? In this place, my brother-in-law's word determines life and death. That's what a Jiedushi is. Enough with the nonsense, come with us."

"you……"

Huang Ying smiled and said, "Don't force me to use force."

Zhuang Xiu took a deep breath and, along with the other three civil officials, followed Huang Ying.

Zhuang Xiu and the others then arrived at the courtyard and found that, in addition to them, there were twenty other people who had also been brought there.

And these people just happened to be the ones who were drinking at the Fugui Building that day.

Zhuang Xiu immediately understood that what he and the others had said at their gathering had reached Li Lin's ears.

It shouldn't be like this!
Zhuang Xiu was somewhat puzzled. These twenty-odd people were the 'core' of the entire administrative office. Without them, the affairs of the entire administrative office would be interrupted.

If Yulin County were to descend into chaos, how could Li Lin dare to do such a thing?

Despite their confusion, they were still escorted by Huang Ying to the torture chamber and imprisoned.

In the afternoon, Li Lin summoned Jiang Jili, Wen Bi, and Huang Ying to the White Tiger Hall.

"More than twenty people have been imprisoned, and the administrative office is currently suspended. The three of you will have to work hard for the next two days."

Jiang Jili cupped his hands and asked, "What should be done with the vacant positions?"

Li Lin looked at Huang Ying and said, "Huang, Transport Commissioner, starting today, you will be transferred from the prefectural army to serve in the administrative office. You will take over the position of 'Assistant Commissioner' that Zhuang Xiu previously held."

Huang Ying was overjoyed and immediately bowed, saying, "Thank you so much... thank you for your trust, Governor."

Then Li Lin looked at Jiang Jili and said, "Although the 'establishment of the government office' could not be held, those scholars who came from afar should not have left."

Jiang Jili said, "There are rumors in the neighborhood that Jude has not been appointed to a post. This news was spread by Zhuang Xiu and his group, mainly to drive away those scholars and at the same time to make you, sir, have a reputation for being untrustworthy."

Huang Ying angrily said, "These people are too vicious."

Li Lin said, "These twenty-odd people, although they are all considered the core of the administrative office, are not particularly outstanding in terms of ability. Except for the position of Chief Huang, the other positions will be filled by their deputies. Vacancies will be filled by the next level of officials in turn."

Jiang Jili took a deep breath: "Military Governor, how do you plan to deal with those people? They represent more than a dozen powerful families. If you want to sit on the throne, you will still need their... families' support."

Li Lin chuckled: "You overestimate them. These people can't offer help in times of need, they can only add to existing success. It's good to have them, but it won't change anything if they don't."

Jiang Jili looked somewhat helpless, then nodded and said, "I understand. I will proceed with the personnel appointments immediately."

After saying this, he cupped his hands in greeting and left the White Tiger Hall.

Li Lin looked at Wen Bi and said, "You are in charge of clearing up the rumors in the county and telling all the scholars that the opening of the government office will be postponed for ten days and then reopened."

"Yes!"

Wen Bi also left.

At this point, only Li Lin and Huang Ying remained.

Huang Ying asked with a smile, "Brother-in-law, you clearly have the skill to form an army of paper figures. You could have taken them down three days ago. Why didn't you do it then and instead waited for three days? If it were me, I couldn't have endured it."

Li Lin laughed and said, "Imprending officials without cause is bound to create panic. If we use paper figures on top of that, it will be even more sinister and detrimental to public morale. But surrounding them with troops is different. Although it is still violence, it is within the acceptable range for the people. Besides... if we don't let the government troops come, how will they get here?"

"Huh, what does this have to do with me?"

Li Lin explained, “The position of clerk is almost equivalent to that of the head of the study. If you are promoted without any merit, who in the jurisdiction will respect you?”

Huang Ying wasn't stupid; he immediately understood: "What my brother-in-law means is..."

"You've done a great job this time."

Two days later, the government office posted an official document.

'Urgent report from the Criminal Investigation Department of Zhunjin County: Twenty-three officials colluded with the bandit Qin Tuo, plotting to seize control of the county government and assassinate the military governor. The Prefectural Military Transport Commissioner, Huang Ying, investigated and reported them, and all the traitors were apprehended. According to the law against treason, they were all executed at Caishikou.' (End)

Later that day at noon, twenty-three officials were escorted to Caishikou, where countless people watched.

The official robes of the twenty-three officials had been removed, and they were all dressed in gray prison uniforms.

Almost everyone inside was wailing and howling, shouting that they were wronged, or trembling with fear, defecating and urinating indiscriminately.

He completely lacked the demeanor of an official and seemed even worse than an ordinary person.

Only Zhuang Xiu and two other officials were able to stand upright.

At this moment, the people in the distance were discussing it animatedly, quite puzzled.

After all... killing so many officials at once is indeed a big deal.

Looking at the chattering crowd around him, including some scholars, Zhuang Xiu's anger suddenly exploded.

Why... why did Li Lin dare to kill them?

Why should these lowly commoners dare to come and see their pathetic state?

I am the legitimate son of the Zhuang family.

I am not satisfied!
He roared in anger:
"The treacherous Li family has ravaged the people! Now, sycophants hold power and slaughter the honest officials. The sun shines brightly, yet wolves and jackals rule the land. Elders, behold: if you kill me today, tomorrow your heads will be hanging on your heads! Why not join together to spit on this treacherous minister and defend our homeland!"

His voice was very loud, so loud that most of the people around could hear it.

But all the people were stunned because they couldn't understand.

After a while, someone asked, "What is he shouting about?"

A scholar nearby explained, "He said the military governor is not a good person and told us to go and curse him."

There was a long silence around them.

Then an old woman picked up a rotten vegetable stalk and hurled it at him.

At this moment, Zhuang Xiu was still immersed in the heroic spirit of awakening all living beings with his own body when the rotten vegetable suddenly hit his face, stunning him.

Once people start, rotten eggs and stinky chickens fall like raindrops.

"Do we not know whether the military governor is a good person or not!"

"This kid, who grew up eating dog shit, actually dares to curse the military governor."

"The military governor doesn't even steal women, so why is he speaking ill of the military governor?"

Elsewhere, Li Lin was famous, but not popular.

But in the three prefectures of Tianjin, Guangxi, and Yunnan, Li Lin's prestige was unmatched.

I won't go into details about things like clean government and strict governance.

The fact that he built the official road connecting the three prefectures and had the Zhenjun Temple for protection is enough to earn him the approval of all the people.

Before the execution, Zhuang Xiu was almost killed by rotten vegetables.

At noon, the twenty-three heads fell to the ground, and cheers erupted all around.

Watching this scene from afar, Jiang Jili sighed, "The military governor has made an enemy of all the powerful families in the land."

(End of this chapter)