Chapter 77: Gu Zhan’s Weakness
Recently, the Linjiang City Prefecture Government has been in complete disarray. The Clear Transport Department has been completely purged from top to bottom, and officials associated with the Rong Family have almost all fallen from power, leaving many positions vacant.
These positions, naturally, have aroused the envy of countless people. Various noble families are fighting tooth and nail for them because the Clear Transport Department, responsible for trade, is one of the most lucrative departments in the Linjiang Prefecture Government and was the primary foundation of the Rong Family’s standing for hundreds of years.
At the same time, with the collapse of the Rong Family, East City has also become chaotic. The official power of the Rong Family has been entirely purged, and the Martial World influence has been thoroughly shattered by Gu Zhan. Additionally, due to the Government Office’s crackdown, over seventy percent of the Rong Family’s senior members have been implicated, leading to the complete downfall of the Rong Family.
This has directly resulted in the Rong Family’s legacy becoming akin to a child flaunting gold on the street, attracting various factions to scramble for it. The remaining members of the Rong Family cannot withstand the chaos, and the Martial World in East City has descended into disorder.
At this time, various reports are continually being sent to the Prefecture Government Office,
and Prefect Yang Yuzhi, looking at the stack of documents piling up on his desk, did not feel exhausted. Instead, he was full of vigor. The arrival of these reports meant that his first step in dealing with the noble families had been perfectly successful!
"Wan Yan," Yang Yuzhi looked at Wan Yan sitting across from him and asked, "What’s your plan for the next step? Are you going to act directly against Wu Yang?"
Wu Yang is the County Magistrate of Linjiang Prefecture Government, the second-in-command of the Government Office, the current Patriarch of the Wu Family, Linjiang County’s foremost noble family, and the leader of the noble families confronting the Government Office.
"It’s not the right time yet," Wan Yan waved his hand and said, "Wu Yang has a deep-rooted influence within the Government Office and is the leader for various noble families. If we act against him now, all the noble families will surely fight desperately to protect him, possibly leading to desperate actions."
Yang Yuzhi frowned slightly and said, "With the downfall of the Rong Family, all the noble families are already at each other’s throats. Isn’t that enough?"
"It’s not enough," Wan Yan said. "While this interest has indeed reddened the eyes of all the noble families, it’s still not sufficient to make them desperate. Although suspicions have arisen among them, it lacks the spark needed to completely shatter their alliance."
Yang Yuzhi pondered for a while and asked, "What do you plan to do? Attack another family?"
"Impossible," Wan Yan said. "The same trick can only be used once. Once a tactic is overused, it becomes useless, but no matter how things change, some principles remain. A single blade can cut through different people."
Yang Yuzhi asked suspiciously, "Do you plan to continue using Gu Zhan? You’ve already offended Gu Zhan thoroughly this time. If you use him again, he might just flip the table!"
Wan Yan chuckled lightly and said, "Why not use it? How sharp is Gu Zhan’s blade? Even with a minor use this time, it completely sliced through the Rong Family. Such a handy blade would be a shame not to use!"
Yang Yuzhi said, "Gu Zhan’s rapid growth is indeed astonishing. However, dealing with this man is not easy. This time, you’ve already pushed him to his limits. If you try again, he will surely retaliate."
"Ha," Wan Yan sneered slightly and said, "If one day, a blade turns back on its master, it’s time for that blade to be discarded. Alas, it’s such a pity. Gu Zhan has exceptional talent. He had the potential to shine gloriously in Yunzhou but was born at the wrong time, destined to meet his end here in this small Linjiang City!"
Yang Yuzhi slightly frowned, not saying much more because he knew that although Wan Yan acted in an unconventional and reckless manner, leading to long-term suppression, his abilities were indeed exceptional. If he said so, there must be a meticulous plan.
Sure enough, Wan Yan smiled and continued, "Let Gu Zhan emit his final brilliance."
"Specifically?" Yang Yuzhi asked.
Wan Yan said, "Now that all the noble families have grown suspicious of each other, we must strike while the iron is hot and not give them a chance to mend their ways. Therefore, we need to offer a sufficiently enticing profit for them to fight over, and this profit... lies in South City!"
Yang Yuzhi, with his brow tightly furrowed, asked, "What do you mean?"
Wan Yan tossed out a stack of files and said, "These are some lease records of the Market in South City that I’ve investigated. Initially, Luo Bingsheng led several local noble families to forcibly section off South City, so the noble families were unable to get involved.
But now, the Luo Family has declined, Luo Bingsheng is dead, and those leading local noble families have been broken by Gu Chuan and Gu Zhan. The structure of South City has actually changed, yet no one dares to touch it because Gu Zhan stands in the way.
And these few days, I sorted out those Markets in South City and found out that more than fifty percent have already expired. By the usual practice, leases would naturally be renewed, continuing to rent to those gangs and local families. But now, we can use it as bait, an offer that no noble family can refuse.
The vast South City, with its prosperous economy, coupled with the fact that these noble families have been entrenched for too long and are desperately seeking expansion, hindered only by a lack of room. Now, we will officially divide these Markets and lease them to the noble families, mixing them together.
Even blood siblings cohabiting regularly get into arguments and fights, let alone these noble families. It won’t take long before they begin to bicker amongst themselves. If that’s not enough, we will secretly add fuel to the fire, rendering their alliance nothing more than a hollow name. And then, it will be time for you to act against Wu Yang. From the Government Office’s perspective, once you’ve succeeded in taking down Wu Yang, the influence of the noble families therein will become rootless, easily toppled."
Yang Yuzhi nodded in agreement.
It’s not that he doesn’t have any leverage against Wu Yang, but for someone like Wu Yang, having a bit of leverage doesn’t matter much because his background is complex, and any slight misstep could cripple the entire Government Office.
And if Wu Yang’s backstage connections were to break,
then Wu Yang would be completely isolated.
"There’s just one issue," Yang Yuzhi said, "It goes back to the very first problem. As of now, in South City, it’s not up to you or me to decide anything; Gu Zhan has the final say. His words carry more weight than any official decree. With his presence in South City, the noble families can’t stir up any turmoil, let alone bring about the collapse of their alliances."
Wan Yan smiled and said, "I mentioned before, Gu Zhan’s blade is useful but not very obedient, so it must be destroyed."
"How do you plan to destroy it?" Yang Yuzhi asked.
Wan Yan slowly explained, "Gu Zhan’s strength partially lies in his personal prowess, but also in something genuinely frightening to the noble families: his control over South City, stronger than anyone can imagine. Cut off Gu Zhan’s control over South City, and his effectiveness will diminish by seventy percent."
Yang Yuzhi said, "But right now, Gu Zhan doesn’t heed orders, establishing his own foothold, firmly controlling South City and turning it into an impregnable fortress without a single weak point."
"Impossible. As long as a person exists, there are always flaws," Wan Yan squinted slightly and said, "There’s an old saying, a gentleman can be deceived by principles, but Gu Zhan, he is no gentleman. At most, he’s a butcher of cattle and dogs. And the righteous are often found among such folk, revealing Gu Zhan’s weakness — loyalty!
A gentleman can be deceived by principles,
Gu Zhan can be deceived by loyalty!"