The First Lackey Under The Empress

That day, Jianning Prefecture was extraordinarily "lively." Under Zhao Du'an's direction, the encirclement plan targeting the Shen family had just begun, immediately drawing countless eyes.

The well-informed figures within the city quickly learned the details of the matter.

Upon learning that Zhao, the Prefect, and Grand Coordinator Ning had both been assassinated the previous night, they were all stunned, then filled with doubt, wondering if this "assassination" was real or a performance orchestrated by "King Yama Zhao."

In the eyes of many, although the Shen family's roots and tentacles ran deep, they shouldn't have had the audacity to assassinate officials of the second or third rank.

However, the authenticity of the assassination quickly became unimportant, because after the canal soldiers sealed up shops, the Shen family began to fight back.

Contrary to expectations, the Shen family did not yield, and the scenario of them proactively going to the Canal Transport Office to plead guilty and negotiate peace did not occur.

In the following days, officials of all sizes in Jianning Prefecture were shocked to find that their decrees were being obstructed.

Yes, decrees were being obstructed!

The imperial court had established large and small government offices in Jianning Prefecture, including large offices such as the Canal Transport Office and the Prefecture Office, as well as smaller offices involved in various aspects.

Ultimately, the court's laws, detailed to the very end, had to be implemented by countless clerks and officials, reaching the local people.

And almost overnight, this system was largely paralyzed.

"The Shen family has decided to fight back."

Inside Ning Zechen's "office" in the Canal Transport Office.

Zhao Du'an stood with his hands behind his back, next to a display shelf. On the desk were densely packed official documents delivered by Advisor Wen.

These documents came from various government offices, large and small, covering all aspects.

There was not the slightest surprise on Zhao Du'an's face:

"As I expected. The Shen family has indeed decided to fight back, and they are using the methods that aristocratic families are best at.

These clans will not choose to confront us head-on, because they have no soldiers in their hands, nor the right to interpret the law, and most importantly, no legitimacy.

Therefore, if they were to fight the imperial court head-on, even several Shen families combined would be reduced to ashes."

Grand Coordinator Ning sat at a large desk, looked at him, and said:

"But the Shen family has been operating in this area for too many years, with tentacles reaching every piece of land and every alley. In terms of force, the imperial court has the advantage, but in terms of penetration and control of the local area, these locals have the advantage.

As long as they send out a word, they can make many local people uncooperative with the government… No, it's not even that complicated, because many of the low-level clerks are already dogs of the Shen family."

Zhao Du'an sighed:

"Yes, the rank of officials is higher than that of clerks, but how can officials do things alone? When the clerks in various government offices are outwardly compliant but inwardly defiant, the court's decrees will be obstructed and difficult to implement."

Grand Coordinator Ning smiled bitterly:

"I had previously felt that this matter was difficult, so I repeatedly requested the assignment of new officials, but now it seems that these great clans had not used their full strength before. When they operate with all their might, we officials are reduced to figureheads."

You only understand now? Or were you unwilling to believe it before?

Why have dynasties of the past co-opted gentry clans?

If the imperial control were strong enough, there would be no place for aristocratic families…

Zhao Du'an muttered to himself, but he was not discouraged.

He walked to the desk and looked down at the "map" spread out on it.

It was densely marked with red and blue ink, delineating many areas, as if two armies were at war.

There was no open conflict between them, but while the imperial court was targeting the Shen family's industries, the Shen family was also gradually paralyzing the imperial machine.

"It seems I underestimated the aristocratic families of this era," Zhao Du'an said in a low voice.

"What?" Grand Coordinator Ning didn't hear clearly, then he saw Zhao Du'an pick up a pen and paper and begin to write a letter: "Prefect, what are you doing?"

"Luring more people to participate in this feast," Zhao Du'an explained without looking up from his writing:

"Grand Coordinator, do you believe that at this moment, the Shen family must have begun to win over other families, even promising them benefits, trying to gather more allies to obstruct the imperial court?"

"His Majesty's Fengshan ceremony is imminent. Guess what will happen when His Majesty arrives and finds the major government agencies in chaos and the court's orders almost paralyzed?"

Grand Coordinator Ning's expression changed slightly, and he suddenly realized:

"Prefect, do you mean that the Shen family's plan is to stall? To continue this confrontation, they are betting that you and I cannot afford to delay."

Zhao Du'an nodded and said quickly:

"Now, we and the Shen family are like fighting a war of attrition without bloodshed, and it depends on who can't hold out first.

If we calculate normally, we will definitely be the ones who can't hold out, because even if we cut off all of the Shen family's shops and merchant teams, their family's wealth is enough for them to sit and eat for a long time…

But we cannot allow the government offices to be paralyzed for a long time…"

"However, they underestimated me. Heh, if it were just you, Grand Coordinator, you definitely wouldn't be able to hold on. But I can."

As he spoke, Zhao Du'an had already quickly finished writing the first letter to the local military government, and took out a seal, breathed on it, and stamped a scarlet mark on the letter!

He smiled at Ning Zechen and said:

"His Majesty gave me the position of Fengshan Envoy, allowing me to coordinate all the imperial court agencies in Jiangnan in the name of Fengshan, and even seemingly unreasonable orders can be promoted with the reason of 'Fengshan.'"

Grand Coordinator Ning had a flash of inspiration and suddenly understood:

"So, you are going to write letters to other government offices, asking them to take action together and divide the Shen family's property?"

"Smart!" Zhao Du'an smiled:

"The Shen family has deep roots and extensive industries throughout Jiancheng Dao and even Huaishui Dao. Similarly, the Shen family has many clansmen, and each clansman has their own calculations and interests."

Grand Coordinator Ning stood up excitedly and interjected:

"So, as long as we unite more people to divide and encircle them, those Shen clansmen whose interests have been touched will turn around and put pressure on the Old Madam Shen. For this kind of large family, the cohesion of the people is the most important. Once the people's hearts are scattered, it will be a time of collapse!

The Shen family is indeed not afraid of fighting a war of attrition with us, but they will be afraid of us fighting a psychological war!

The Old Madam has to win over allies to maintain the continuous obstruction of the imperial court, and constantly take out benefits to make up for the losses of the clansmen below… She won't be able to hold on for long either!"

Zhao Du'an smiled and drafted the second letter, which was written to "Feng Ju," who was stationed in Huting:

"Don't forget that our allies are not only the government offices, but also the imperial merchants and families, large and small, that have been nurtured by the New Policies.

The Director Feng of Huting, who is in charge of the New Policies, has an old friendship with me. With a letter from me, he can mobilize that group of imperial merchants to join the hunt."

Zhao Du'an then took out the third letter and simply wrote to the Prince of Huai'an!

The Prince of Huai'an, a fence-sitter, showed a tendency to lean towards the imperial court when the market was opened in Huting. Zhao Du'an simply invited him this time as well.

It was worth a try.

He wrote the fourth letter to Luan Cheng, the Prefect of Binhai Dao, with a very simple request: swallow the Shen family's accumulation in Binhai Dao.

The fifth letter…

The sixth letter…

Zhao Du'an wrote a thick stack of letters in one breath, but considering the war of attrition with the Shen family, it must be ended before the Empress's Fengshan ceremony.

Also, considering the communication distance of this era, he contacted only nearby "allies."

Unknowingly, Zhao Du'an's network had long been no longer limited to the corner of the capital, but had radiated to the Nine Daos and Eighteen Prefectures.

Finally, he summoned the retainer Song Jinxi to come in and instructed:

"Send these letters out. Have the retainers of the Martial Arts Hall make a trip. I need them to be fast enough and safe enough to avoid being intercepted."

"Yes," Song Jinxi nodded, took the letters, hesitated, and asked:

"Sir, should we send out some people to protect our officials? If those assassins change their target and attack the officials below…"

Grand Coordinator Ning shook his head and said: "No! Neither the Shen family nor the Jing Prince's Mansion would do such a rule-breaking thing."

His tone was firm.

The logic was very simple. If the Jing Prince turned around to kill the officials below, then Zhao Du'an could also send his men to hunt down the people of the Jing Prince's Mansion…

Considering Zhao Du'an's five World Realm experts, a large group of royal family retainers, and the Pear Blossom Hall's elite… if both sides disregarded the rules and started assassinating each other in secret.

Both sides would suffer terribly, and it would be meaningless.

"Governor Ning is right, assassinations might still happen, but mainly targeting me and Governor Ning, so for the time being, I'll also move into the Governor's mansion," Zhao Du'an thought for a moment, then suddenly had an idea, and smiled:

"However, while there's no need for mutual assassinations, it doesn't mean we can only passively defend.

I bet the Jing Prince's secret agents are definitely watching our every move in the dark. How about this, we can deliberately throw out some bait to lure the Prince's agents to snatch it, and then you guys can counter-kill them…

You can have the Shadow Guards in the city cooperate with you, providing intelligence.

Heh, I've witnessed the Jing Prince's agents' methods many times in the capital. This time, I might as well test their mettle."

Song Jinxi smiled upon hearing this, and responded before leaving the room.

The Grandmasters of the Martial Merit Hall were confined to the palace all year round. They had been bored on this rare group outing, and now, hunting down the Jing Prince's secret agents was a good way to relieve their boredom.

… …

… …

The two sides were completely at war!

This was a fact that the big and small figures in Jianning Prefecture gradually recognized.

It started when the Shen family and the Governor's mansion began their open and covert power struggle.

The influential figures who had participated in the "Jing Garden" banquet that day began to bet, guessing who would be the first to stop and submit.

And how long it would last.

Initially, almost everyone believed that the confrontation would take a turn within a few days at most.

However, as the days passed, this invisible slaughter not only showed no signs of "ceasefire," but intensified.

What was even more noticeable was that in this drama of the local officialdom, led by the Grand Canal Magistrate, fighting against the dynasty's number one local clan, the Jing Prince's mansion, which should have come forward to mediate, remained silent, almost non-existent.

The tenth day of the war.

Civilian cases and chaos occurred frequently, with dozens of cases in a single day, causing the county magistrates to be overwhelmed.

The Jianning Prefecture Prefect couldn't bear it, and went to the Grand Canal Magistrate's office to plead for a ceasefire, but was politely "invited" out by Zhao Du'an.

The twentieth day of the war.

Letters sent from Jiancheng, Huaishui, and Binhai via express delivery were successively delivered to the Shen family mansion.

That day, the Shen family held a family meeting, with most of the family members present. No one knew what happened, only that after it ended, the Shen family cut off its wrist, proactively abandoning its overseas businesses, and fully retreating.

A full month into the war.

The collection of grain for the current season's Grand Canal transportation encountered obstacles. Zhao Du'an entered the prison late at night and talked to He Xiaolou, who was imprisoned there.

The next day, He Xiaolou and twenty experts beside Zhao Du'an disappeared. In just two days, there were more than fifty corpses in the Grand Canal.

The Grand Canal ships set sail on time, unaffected.

… …

The forty-ninth day of the war.

It was raining. Fine rain began to fall over Jianning Prefecture from daybreak.

Inside the Grand Canal Magistrate's office, the atmosphere was almost like the central command tent on a battlefield. Zhao Du'an moved a green bamboo chair and sat outside the study with its double doors open.

He closed his eyes to rest under the eaves that sheltered him from the wind and rain.

"My lord, a secret letter from the Shadow Guards!"

Little Secretary Qian Kerou ran from the front yard with light steps, the rain splashing from her boots wetting her trouser legs.

Zhao Du'an opened his eyes, raised his hand to take the secret letter, unfolded it, pulled out a thin piece of paper, scanned it, and the corners of his mouth turned up, revealing a happy expression:

"His Majesty's dragon boat has passed Huaishui. In a few days, it will arrive at Jianning Prefecture."

Qian Kerou said in surprise, "Is His Majesty coming?"

Immediately, her expression turned bitter: "But the situation here…"

After forty-nine consecutive days of fighting, although there was no smoke of gunpowder, the losses caused by the paralysis of the government and the accumulated affairs were enough to dismiss all the officials in Jianning Prefecture.

And the situation seemed to have not improved. The two sides were still deadlocked, and the Shen family seemed determined to hold out until the Empress arrived.

Once the Empress arrived and the situation remained the same, it would inevitably affect the Feng Chan ceremony.

Zhao Du'an might not care about such a great crime, relying on the Empress's favor to resist it, but Ning Zechen and a series of Jianning Prefecture, and even the entire Jiancheng Dao's local official groups, couldn't bear it.

In other words, even if Zhao Du'an didn't budge, Governor Ning would risk his life, and the rest of the local officials would start to "rebel" in order not to be affected.

"Don't panic, Kerou, do you believe me?" Zhao Du'an smiled.

Little Secretary nodded like a chick pecking rice: "I naturally believe in you, my lord."

Zhao Du'an smiled:

"If my judgment is correct, the Shen family can't hold on any longer. In the next few days, the Old Matriarch Shen must make a choice."

Qian Kerou blinked: "Because of that secret letter yesterday?"

Yesterday, the Shadow Guards in the city sent a secret letter at night, but no one except Zhao Du'an knew the contents.

Zhao Du'an smiled without saying a word. Qian Kerou guessed right. According to the secret letter, a "palace coup" occurred in the Shen family mansion last night.

The Shen family members, unable to withstand the losses and pressure, under the instigation and alliance of several Shen family disciples secretly contacted and bought by Zhao Du'an, forced the Old Matriarch to abdicate.

Although it was suppressed in the end, the seemingly powerful Shen family clan was already on the verge of collapse under tremendous pressure.

Seeing that Zhao Du'an didn't speak, Qian Kerou cleverly didn't ask, but casually said:

"By the way, Protector Song just sent two more secret agent heads. According to your instructions, they were sent to the courtyard of Prajna Bodhisattva as usual. The Bodhisattva is a little unhappy and wants you to go over."

"Understood." Zhao Du'an curled his lips.

During this period, in addition to the open warfare, the Protectors of the Martial Merit Hall used all kinds of means in secret to lure and counter-kill the secret agents of the Jing Prince's mansion.

Zhao Du'an was quite moved. What is called dimensional reduction strike… Compared to the Embroidered Uniform Guards of the Imperial Secret Service, the Protectors of the Imperial Palace, cooperating with the Shadow Guards, were simply invincible.

When fighting secret agents, it was like cutting melons and vegetables… But thinking about how much resources the royal family had invested in raising this team of only a few dozen Protectors, it was not surprising.

Zhao Du'an sighed, picked up the oiled paper umbrella by the door, and walked to another separate small courtyard.

As soon as he entered, he saw a pond in the small courtyard, covered with green lotus leaves, with frogs and fish hiding under the lotus leaves to "avoid the rain."

Prajna Bodhisattva stood quietly by the square stone pillar at the edge of the pond, without any trace of being wet, as if the rain would be pushed away by an invisible force around her.

She looked at the rippling water and slowly turned her head, gnashing her teeth:

"Lord Zhao, can you please stop sending dead heads to my place?"

Zhao Du'an smiled and said: "Didn't the Bodhisattva promise this official that she could save the dead?"

Prajna Bodhisattva wore a light gauze, her black hair flowing down, her translucent eyes staring at him quietly:

"If I had known this earlier, I might as well have gone to the temple earlier, why would I stay here to help you?"

Zhao Du'an rolled his eyes and sneered:

"Does the Bodhisattva think I don't know? The reason why you don't leave, besides coveting my body, isn't it because you promised His Majesty to protect this official? Until His Majesty arrives?

I'll tell you good news, His Majesty's dragon boat will arrive at Jianning Prefecture soon. Bodhisattva, hold on for a few more days, and you will be free to leave."

Prajna Bodhisattva bit her lip resentfully, acting like a delicate eighteen-year-old girl:

"Why is the lord so cruel? You know that I am grateful for your debate skills that day. Even if His Majesty doesn't say it, I will help you to repay this favor."

Heh… Help me? It's to avoid affecting your Zen practice, right?

Buddhism emphasizes karma. I helped you in debate, and you benefited. If you don't repay it, you will inevitably have to repay this "fruit" in the future… Obviously selfish, but insisting on loving me… Zhao Du'an despised her:

"Alright, tell me, why did you call me here?"

Prajna Bodhisattva raised her hand and pointed to the small courtyard in the rain.

There, a "pyramid of heads" made of human heads was piled up, each one from a secret agent.

At this moment, at the top of the pyramid of heads, two fresh heads were closed their eyes, dying extremely peacefully.

When these heads were sent over, almost all of them died with lingering resentment, but after Prajna's salvation, they would turn into peaceful appearances.

"This humble nun just 'saved' these two benefactors, and from the remaining memories in their heads, I saw some valuable information."

Bodhisattva Prajna's expression was unusually serious:

"This humble nun 'saw' that Prince Jing has recently been secretly sending people into Jianning Prefecture in succession."

Zhao Du'an raised his eyebrows: "What kind of people?"

Bodhisattva Prajna shook her head and said:

"Some of them are suspected to be warlocks, but they are all hiding their heads and faces, acting furtively. The only one who showed his face was not a warlock, but a martial artist. A martial artist you know."

Someone I know? An acquaintance? Zhao Du'an asked curiously: "Who is it?"

"The chief disciple of the Green Mountain Martial Immortal, Duan Shui Liu."

… …

… …

As the residence of a prince, Prince Jing's mansion is different from the Shen family, which placed the family mansion outside the city. The entire Prince's mansion is built in the city, on a prime piece of vacant land.

At this moment, deep within the Prince's mansion, in a garden filled with strange rocks and artificial mountains bought from all over the place.

Prince Jing, wearing wide sleeves and a long robe, with slightly white temples and a noble and refined temperament, sat in a hexagonal pavilion, with a long green bamboo fishing rod in front of him.

The end of the fishing rod drooped slightly, and a thin fishing line sank into the pond directly below the pavilion.

Beside him, there was a bamboo basket, and behind the bamboo basket was a set of stone tables and stone benches.

At this moment, Duan Shui Liu, short and stout, with a slightly square face, a very large nose, and draped in a black robe, was sitting at the table, holding a lamb leg in one hand and a wine pot in the other.

Enjoying the feast.

The table was full of food. Duan Shui Liu tore off a large piece of fragrant and rich mutton with his big mouth, chewing and swallowing, his appearance was crude, in stark contrast to the elegant Prince Jing.

After swallowing the mutton, he picked up the wine pot again, raised his head and stuffed the spout into his mouth. When no drop of wine could be poured out, he threw it away casually.

"Bang!"

The exquisite silver wine pot flew out of the hexagonal pavilion and fell into the pond, startling a pond of golden carp.

"Mr. Duan, you startled my fish." Prince Jing frowned and reminded helplessly.

Duan Shui Liu chuckled, wiped the grease from his mouth with his sleeve, and smiled:

"If Your Highness wants fish, I only need one palm to help you catch all the fish in the pond, how about it?"

Prince Jing shook his head and said: "This prince admires the martial arts of Green Mountain. Wouldn't Mr. Duan's palm technique be an overkill to deal with swimming fish?"

Duan Shui Liu ridiculed himself: "Your Highness, don't flatter me. Last time at Lake Pavilion, didn't I fail to deal with Zhao Du'an?"

"Ah, Mr. Duan fought fiercely with Hai Gongfeng in the past. It's not Mr. Duan's fault that Zhao Du'an was able to escape." Prince Jing waved his hand.

Duan Shui Liu sighed with emotion:

"That Hai Chunlin was clearly old and frail, and should have died long ago, but he still had such martial power. No wonder he was the one who replaced the Yu Kingdom's royal family to attend the appointment in my Green Mountain back in his prime. Losing to him is not shameful!"

After a pause, he said:

"Alright, I've eaten and drunk. What did Your Highness summon me here for? Surely, you don't want me to kill that Zhao again, do you? Hehe, I'm quite surprised that this kid can defeat Xiao Ran."

Zhao Du'an…

Hearing this name, Prince Jing's face darkened a bit, and the intelligence of his subordinates' repeated losses in the past few days flashed in his mind.

He showed a smile:

"Zhao Du'an has many experts around him this time, and this prince is not interested in fighting him again. In a few days, this prince's niece will enter Jianning to perform the Feng Chan ceremony at Mount Luo."

Duan Shui Liu raised his eyebrows without saying a word.

Prince Jing smiled and said: "Some time ago, this prince entrusted Mr. Duan to return to Green Mountain and send a letter to the Martial Mountain Master. I wonder what the Martial Mountain Master said after reading it?"

The "Mountain Master" in his mouth is naturally the "Master of Green Mountain", and also the "City Lord of Qingcheng" in the mouths of Jianghu people, the number one martial artist in the world, the celestial martial artist, Martial Immortal Kui.

Duan Shui Liu was silent for a moment, and said: "My teacher read it and tore the letter to pieces. He didn't say anything."

"Didn't say anything?" Prince Jing asked.

Duan Shui Liu said unhappily:

"Why would I lie to Your Highness? My teacher did not say a word. However… he went to bed earlier than usual that day."

Prince Jing was thoughtful. At this time, the son, Xu Jinglong, walked quickly outside the pavilion:

"Father, the Old Madam of the Shen family is asking to see you!"

Prince Jing was startled, and the corners of his mouth with his exquisite beard slightly翘起了:

"Please invite her in."

… …

… …

When the Old Madam, leaning on a dragon-headed crutch, wearing pure black mourning clothes, and with silver-white temples, walked through the bluestone road of the Prince's Mansion under the protection of the oiled paper umbrella held by the maid Hong Gu Niang, and arrived at the reception hall.

I saw that Prince Jing and his son were already waiting here.

"Haha, how did the Old Madam come today? It's a rare guest. In such a windy and rainy weather, please come in quickly, lest you catch a cold."

Prince Jing had an enthusiastic smile on his face, and personally got up and went out to greet him. The son, Xu Jinglong, followed obediently behind.

"This old woman has seen Your Highness." Old Madam Shen stopped and slowly bowed her head in salute.

In just over a month, this old woman, who was originally rosy-faced and in good spirits, had become much more haggard.

In the face with ravines, every wrinkle hides the exhaustion of mental and physical exhaustion.

"Old Madam, there is no need to be too polite."

Prince Jing pretended to be displeased and personally helped the old woman, who had the title of Lady of the Mandate, into the reception hall.

After the servants served tea and snacks, Prince Jing also inquired with concern about the funeral of the Shen family's second son. When he learned that the coffin had been buried, he could not help but look sad and comforted him with a few polite words such as not being too sad.

In addition, he did not mention a word about the recent fight between Zhao Du'an and the Shen family.

As if he had no knowledge of the wind and rain from the outside world.

The Old Madam sat in the black sandalwood chair, and after a moment of silence, she went straight to the point:

"Prince Jing, this old woman has come here presumptuously today, just to ask one sentence. Does the words that His Royal Highness said in my Shen family's mourning hall that day still count?"

What did I say? Oh, yes, I said that the gate of the Prince's Mansion is always open for the Shen family… Xu Jinglong was stunned for a moment before he realized it and showed a smile: "Of course it counts."

The Old Madam ignored him and continued to stare at Prince Jing.

Xu Jinglong: "…"

Prince Jing Xu Wen tried his best to suppress his smile: "Of course it counts."

The Old Madam nodded. The old woman, who was in charge of the number one wealthy family in Jiangnan, took a deep breath, as if she had finally made up her mind. Her pair of gray eyes, which were turbid due to sleepless nights, stared at Xu Wen and said:

"The Shen family needs the help of the Prince's Mansion."

Prince Jing was overjoyed and couldn't suppress the corners of his mouth: "It's easy to say, easy to say… What does the Old Madam need?"

The old woman in mourning clothes said calmly:

"This old woman doesn't covet anything else, I just want that Zhao Du'an to be buried with my grandson."

The son, Xu Jinglong, frowned and said: "It was the eunuch Song Jinxi who killed your grandson…"

The Old Madam snorted coldly:

"What is the weight of a mere eunuch who is ordered to act? This old woman only wants Zhao Du'an's life! After that, the Shen family will definitely follow Your Highness's lead."

The son said unhappily: "You don't want to be too…"

Prince Jing raised his hand to interrupt him, and nodded as if he had expected it, reached into his arms, and took out an envelope.

Immediately, a strand of black hair was poured out of the envelope.

… …

Outside the reception hall.

A maid of the Prince's Mansion unexpectedly raised her head and looked at Lu Yan'er walking in the rain: "Princess Consort?"