What's wrong with me, a powerful minister, supporting a few female officials?

Chapter 229 Let's fight! Su Mo has never been afraid of anyone!
After hearing Su Mo's words about killing a thousand enemies while losing eight hundred of your own, Ding Yu suddenly frowned and looked at Su Mo suspiciously: "Master, what exactly is going on?"

Su Mo snorted: "Who knows what happened!"

"As soon as I sat down at the Wu Wang Temple, that guy started chasing me and biting me!"

Su Mo briefly explained the situation at the time, then asked, "Mr. Ding, do you know who that chief examiner is? What does he look like...?"

Ding Yu interrupted him: "Wang Zongwang of the Xiangling Prince's family is a fifth-rank Lingtai Lang of the Imperial Observatory."

Upon hearing this name, Wang Xiuzhi was slightly taken aback.

Although he and Wang Zongwang both have the surname Wang, this Wang is not the same as that Wang.

Wang Xiuzhi's Wang family was merely a powerful clan in Wu County, but Wang Zongwang's Wang family was one of the five surnames and seven prominent families!

The difference is so great that it can be compared to that between a clerk in a government office and a high-ranking official in the imperial court!
Of course, Wang Xiuzhi's understanding of the main branch of the Prince of Yijun and the collateral branches of the Prince of Xiangling was much clearer than that of ordinary people.

Su Mo became curious: "How does Mr. Ding know that guy's background?"

Ding Yu said calmly, "The imperial court just issued a notice that the candidates for the Immortal Martial Arts Grand Examination have been announced."

As he spoke, his brows furrowed even more, and he muttered to himself, "This shouldn't be happening!"

“Wang Zongwang can also be considered a member of the five surnames.”

“Officials from such prominent families would not make enemies of others without a reason.”

There are arrogant and domineering scions of aristocratic families, but this absolutely does not include a Lingtai Lang who is already a fifth-rank official in the imperial court.

As Ding Yu spoke, he looked at Su Mo suspiciously: "Has the Master ever had any grudges with the Wang family or Wang Zongwang?"

Su Mo also felt something was wrong, and after thinking about it carefully, she finally shook her head: "I should not have offended this person."

"However, it is unknown whether Wang Zongwang is related to my enemies."

Although he had only been in Shenjing for less than half a year, Su Mo already had quite a few enemies.

Moreover, they all have extremely powerful backgrounds.

The most typical example is Zhang Shouning.

And then there's Lu Wenxuan, who died.

In addition, the restaurant business and the soap business may have offended people in related industries.

To put it extremely, the eight major grain merchants in Changping County back then may not have been without connections to the capital.

Ding Yu frowned and pondered, then his face darkened, and he slapped his thigh hard: "Master Dong, you've fallen for their trap!"

Su Mo was slightly taken aback: "I've fallen for their trap?"

Ding Yu nodded emphatically, and the next second he sighed, "These powerful clans are truly formidable!"

“Wang Zongwang must have known about Dongweng’s temperament beforehand, so he deliberately provoked Dongweng and then pretended to be so angry that he fainted.”

"Wang Zongwang is a great sorcerer at the Divine Realm. Cultivation begins with cultivating the mind. How could he be easily angered by Dongweng!"

"Things have indeed unfolded exactly as he predicted. Both the Master and he have been stripped of their positions as examiners by His Majesty!"

Su Mo and Wang Xiuzhi were completely baffled.

"Mr. Ding, what do you mean by that?"

Su Mo frowned and looked at Ding Yu: "Mr. Ding, why do you say this is Wang Zongwang's scheme?"

"What good would it do him to do that?"

I am merely a military inspector, not even a grand military inspector, while Wang Zongwang is the deputy chief examiner. This is not how you exchange money!

Ding Yu sneered: "There are many benefits!"

"This is a plan that kills three birds with one stone!"

Su Mo frowned: "Please enlighten me, Mr. Ding!"

Ding Yu raised a finger: "Firstly, the Wang family must have known that the Master was planning to get involved in the papermaking industry, and they plotted to make the Master lose his position as Military Supervisor. This was a warning to the Master!"

Su Mo was completely baffled by Ding Yu's meaning: "I only prepared to make paper yesterday, how could the Wang family know my intentions?"

"Furthermore, Wang Zongwang himself lost his position as deputy chief examiner. What benefit did he gain from that?"

Ding Yu waved his hand: "Let's leave the second question aside for now."

"As for the first question from the Master..."

He paused slightly, then took a deep breath: "Master Dong underestimates the terrifying power of aristocratic families like the Five Surnames and Seven Noble Families."

"Has the Master sent anyone to prepare for papermaking?"

Su Mo nodded: "That's true."

Ding Yu explained, "Master Dong is currently enjoying great influence. Ordinary people are unaware of Master Dong's background, so how could such powerful and influential families not be secretly keeping an eye on Master Dong's movements!"

"Perhaps there are spies from powerful families among the villagers of Gufeng Mountain or in the artisan camp!"

"Master Dong's restaurants and soap shops are making a fortune every day, and his bicycles are ingeniously crafted, all of which demonstrate Master Dong's talent. How can the Wang family not be afraid when they know that Master Dong is trying to make paper?"

Su Mo's expression changed slightly: "So you're willing to sacrifice Wang Zongwang, the deputy chief examiner, just to warn me?"

Ding Yu shook his head: "It's not really a sacrifice."

"Wang Zongwang lost his position as deputy chief examiner, but he still retains his post as Lingtai Lang."

"Your Excellency has lost your position as Military Supervisor, and you've left people with the bad impression of being a petty, shrewish man who has gained power. Your future career path will be much more difficult!"

"Moreover, the fact that Wang Zongwang lost his position as deputy chief examiner is exactly what the Wang family wanted."

"This is the second bird in what I meant by killing three birds with one stone!"

Su Mo was pondering the meaning behind Ding Yu's words.

Wang Xiuzhi couldn't hold back any longer: "Old Ding, stop keeping me in suspense and just tell me!"

Ding Yu nodded: "If I am not mistaken, the one who will succeed Wang Zongwang as deputy chief examiner will definitely be Zhu Bi, the Grand Secretary of the Eastern Pavilion!"

Su Mo was taken aback and looked at Ding Yu in surprise: "How did you know, Mr. Ding?"

I thought Ding Yu was a pedantic scholar who was ostracized by his colleagues in the Ministry of Revenue and lost his official position.

However, Tianchang County's ruthless proposal greatly changed Su Mo's opinion of them.

Now I'm even more surprised.

Unexpectedly, Ding Yu was able to accurately identify the successor to Wang Zongwang!
Ding Yu said calmly, "There aren't many officials qualified to take over as deputy chief examiner. All things considered, only the Grand Secretary of the Eastern Pavilion can keep things in order!"

"In this way, the Wang family gained Zhu Bi's favor!"

He let out a slight sigh: "In the eyes of powerful clans, the Immortal Martial Arts Tournament is far inferior to the Imperial Examination."

"Next year in the spring imperial examination, the Wang family will be vying for the position of chief examiner. How could Zhu Bi not side with the Wang family and repay their favor?"

Wang Xiuzhi suddenly shook his head and said in a deep voice, "That's not right!"

"Next spring, Zhu Bi was a promising candidate to serve as the chief examiner."

"If I were to become the deputy chief examiner of this Immortal Martial Arts Grand Examination, wouldn't I be losing my position as the chief examiner of the imperial examinations?"

"He should resent the Wang family, so why is he grateful to them instead?"

Despite his lack of ambition for officialdom, Wang Xiuzhi had many connections within the Wang family in official circles, and through his exposure to these connections, he was far more knowledgeable about the court than Su Mo.

Ding Yu's lips twitched slightly: "Brother Wang, do you think Zhu Bi, with his current status, still needs the title of chief examiner for the imperial examinations?"

"What he needs is the Wang family's support!"

"I'm doing the Wang family a favor this time. If I have the opportunity to join the cabinet in the future, the Wang family will certainly provide their full support!"

Su Mo and Wang Xiuzhi were dumbfounded!

Unexpectedly, Wang Zongwang pretended to faint and, without making a sound, reached a tacit agreement with Zhu Bi!
People from a prestigious family should not be underestimated!

Su Mo took a deep breath and then asked, "What about the third bird?"

Ding Yu's expression suddenly turned serious, and he lowered his voice: "The third bird is Chi Wulei, the Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Personnel!"

"To appoint the Grand Secretary of the Dongge Pavilion as the deputy chief examiner is a betrayal of Chi Wulei, and even..."

He paused slightly, ultimately refusing to utter the words "Your Majesty".

"This is an ambush against Chi Wulei!"

Ding Yu's expression grew increasingly solemn as he spoke: "Everyone knows that His Majesty intends to use this opportunity to promote Chi Wulei."

"If she is promoted, she will become the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, a true high-ranking official in the court!"

Ding Yu didn't continue, but Wang Xiuzhi frowned, then nodded and said, "With Zhu Bi, the Grand Secretary of the Eastern Pavilion, as the deputy chief examiner, how can Chi Wulei compare to him, given his prestige both inside and outside the court?"

"In this way, it will become a situation where the guest usurps the host's position, making it much more difficult for Chi Wulei to advance his career by taking advantage of the Immortal Martial Arts Grand Examination!"

Su Mo's face was so dark it looked like it was about to drip water: "According to Mr. Ding, I've become the chicken that was killed in the Wang family's 'killing the chicken to scare the monkey' scenario?" Ding Yu nodded and honestly said, "What you said isn't wrong, Master."

Su Mo tried to salvage the situation: "Mr. Ding, aren't you overestimating the power of the Wang family?"

"Wang Zongwang's targeting of me has somehow led to so much trouble? Even His Majesty has been outmaneuvered by him?"

Ding Yu gave a wry smile and said with a serious expression, "Master, you must not underestimate the capabilities of aristocratic families!"

"Otherwise, how could they have survived for thousands of years?"

He pointed to himself and said, "Your Excellency is merely an advisor to me. Do you know how many advisors the Wang family has behind the scenes, devising strategies for you?"

Su Mo felt as if a million alpacas were galloping through his mind.

Finally, through gritted teeth, he squeezed out a single word: "Fuck!"

Ding Yu sighed: "That's why I advised you, sir, not to get involved in the papermaking business."

"Not only must we not touch papermaking, but we must also absolutely not touch salt, grain, cloth, or iron!"

"This is the crucial foundation upon which powerful families rely for survival and survival. Anyone who touches it will suffer a bloody defeat, at best in serious injury, and at worst in ruins and death!"

He gave Su Mo a deep look and then advised, "Master Dong's restaurant, soap shop, bicycle shop, etc., do not involve the traditional businesses of aristocratic families, which is why things have always been peaceful."

"The moment the old man revealed his intention to make paper, the powerful families immediately bared their fangs at him!"

"A mere military supervisor is merely a warning to the Lord."

"If the Master remains obstinate and does not see the truth, then when faced with the real suppression from powerful families, he will truly be surrounded by iron walls, like being trapped in a quagmire, unable to move at all."

"Actually, with the wealth and resources Mr. Dong currently possesses, he could live comfortably for ten lifetimes. It would be better to slowly accumulate power and wait until..."

Su Mo interrupted him with a dark face: "Does Mr. Ding mean that I should give up my desire to confront the powerful families, accept this loss, and not overestimate my abilities?"

Ding Yu was silent for a moment: "The Five Surnames and Seven Noble Families were not originally the Five Surnames and Seven Noble Families."

"Why is there such a rush, sir?"

Wang Xiuzhi, who was standing next to him, also said in a deep voice, "Brother Ding Yu is right."

"The Five Clans and Seven Noble Families are far too powerful; even His Majesty must give them some leeway..."

Su Mo fell silent.

Papermaking made concessions, movable type printing made concessions, and then when powerful families see that bicycles and soap are making money and want to get involved, will they also have to make concessions?
What about sweet potatoes in the future?

Once sweet potatoes are widely adopted, their impact on the grain industry will be far greater than anyone can imagine!
Can powerful families just sit idly by and do nothing?
In the eyes of Ding Yu and Wang Xiuzhi, the terror of powerful clans was unparalleled.

Su Mo, however, did not think so.

Didn't Empress Wu Zetian in history make the powerful clans unable to raise their heads?

Recalling Wu Zetian's methods of dealing with powerful families.

There are only two.

Force! Literacy!
Su Mo suddenly realized that the Wang family's sudden move against him was probably not just because of the papermaking business.

Pinyin!

The Pinyin promoted by the Craftsmen's Camp!

It can enable an illiterate craftsman to learn hundreds of characters within a month.

It can also help other people quickly acquire knowledge!
The emergence of Pinyin broke the monopoly of knowledge held by powerful families!

This is digging up the roots of powerful clans!

What makes powerful families so terrifying is that when an official from a powerful family is removed from office, another member of the powerful family can take his place.

The same principle applies to the lowest-level clerks in government offices who undermine the power of county officials!
She has the power of a female empress, and she's also good at educating the public.

Once the paper and movable type printing are ready.

We have already grasped the two essential conditions for dealing with powerful families.

So-called powerful families don't seem so scary after all!

Most importantly, Su Mo was a hotheaded eighteen-year-old, and he was being used as a scapegoat. How could he accept that?
Whether we can win is another matter.

Let’s fight again!

Thinking of this, Su Mo looked at Ding Yu and Wang Xiuzhi very seriously: "If I do not choose to back down, what will you, Uncle and Mr. Ding, choose?"

Wang Xiuzhi hesitated for a moment: "I will definitely help Mo'er!"

Su Mo keenly noticed that Wang Xiuzhi used "I" instead of "Wang family," but this statement was enough.

It's unrealistic to expect the entire Wang family of Wu County to oppose powerful clans just because of his status as a nephew-in-law.

His gaze turned to Ding Yu.

Ding Yu smiled wryly and said, "I am the Master's advisor and clerk. Do I have any other choice?"

Su Mo smiled and said, "What my uncle and Mr. Ding said is enough!"

"I am confident that I can fight the Wang family!"

Ding Yu's face was bitter: "Does the Master really intend to go against the powerful clans?"

Su Mo waved his hand: "It's not about fighting against powerful clans, it's just the Wang family."

"I once said that I was determined to make this paper!"

Ding Yu smiled wryly: "The Wang family alone is difficult enough to deal with!"

Su Mo nodded: "Of course I know that. Although the Wang family is large and powerful, I am not without help!"

At worst, it's just like soap – everyone shares the profits.

Are noble families like the Duke of Ningguo, the Marquis of Dingbian, and the Marquis of Heyuan really that much worse than aristocratic families?

Su Mo paused for a moment, then continued, "When the opportunity arises, I will introduce you to someone. She will definitely be very interested in your views on aristocratic families!"

"Perhaps this will allow you to return to the imperial court!"

Ding Yu was stunned for a moment.

Is Su Mo trying to introduce him to her?

He had always suspected that Su Mo's background was not as simple as Lin Moyin being a commander of the Right Guard of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

After all, Su Mo's current family fortune is far beyond what a mere commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard could support.

However, he and Su Mo had only spent a short time together, so it was normal for Su Mo not to completely trust him.

Of course, Ding Yu didn't believe a word Su Mo said about being able to return him to the court.

He has offended more than just his colleagues in the Ministry of Revenue!

Which of the six ministries doesn't have some shady dealings in its accounting books?

Who would want to see such an intolerant person return to the Ministry of Revenue?
But Ding Yu couldn't help but ask, "May I ask, sir, who would you like to introduce me to?"

Su Mo laughed and said, "No rush, there will be plenty of opportunities. She often comes to my house unexpectedly."

He paused, then looked at Ding Yu with interest: "But I am curious."

"Sir, your strategic thinking and cunning have truly astonished me. I fear there are few in the imperial court who can rival you."

"How did I fall into the trap set by my colleagues in the Ministry of Revenue and get dismissed from my post?"

Upon hearing this, Ding Yu's face darkened immediately, and he said irritably, "Don't mention it!"

"I don't know why, everything else is fine, I can just turn a blind eye, but I just can't get it right when it comes to numbers!"

He said bitterly, "Once I discovered an error in the Ministry of War's accounts, which was more than three thousand taels of silver short. I knew that if I pointed it out, I would offend someone."

Therefore, he kept quiet about it.

As he spoke, Ding Yu looked at Su Mo with a wry smile: "Master, guess what happened next?"

Su Mo asked curiously, "What happened next?"

Ding Yu spat on the ground, as if cursing someone, and said angrily, "I haven't been able to sleep or eat for three days, and I've lost three pounds!"

"If I don't tell anyone, I feel like I'll die of depression!"

"I finally pointed it out."

"After that, I slept well and ate well, but I offended people again!"

Su Mo and Wang Xiuzhi looked at each other in bewilderment!

(End of this chapter)