Suo Lun gazed at Yan Wuzhi’s stubborn yet handsome middle-aged face, sighing softly in his heart.
Although his words had reduced Yan Wuzhi to utter worthlessness, his true evaluation of the man was extremely high.
This was a person whose strengths and flaws were both exceptionally pronounced. His talent for internal governance was unparalleled, and his understanding of human nature penetrated to the bone. He knew well how to employ people, and his character was upright and resolute.
His flaw was insufficient emotional intelligence, arrogance born of talent, and stubborn self-opinion.
Although he was merely chief secretary of the Southeast Province governor’s mansion, he looked down upon everyone, not even holding his elder brother Yan Wuqi in particularly high regard.
A talent such as this required an extremely forceful person who could suppress him, boldly delegate authority, and protect him whilst allowing him to charge recklessly forward.
The former Duke Qi Wei had barely qualified as such a person. His breadth of mind was adequate, his background sufficiently strong, allowing him to entrust all internal affairs of the Southeast Province to this Yan Wuzhi.
But even so, Yan Wuzhi did not think much of Duke Qi Wei in his heart, believing him merely fortunate in birth and background, lacking in true ability.
When Duke Qi Wei was beheaded by Suo Lun, Yan Wuzhi merely felt it somewhat regrettable, but nothing more. He did not feel particularly grieved.
In his view, the Southeast Province was merely a stepping stone for him, Yan Wuzhi. Duke Qi Wei was merely a collaborator, far from a true sovereign.
Suo Lun was different. His current status had been completely carved out by himself from nothing. In less than two years, he had beaten Qi Li into utter disgrace.
Therefore, rather than saying Gui Xingfu had early on recognised Yan Wuzhi’s value, it was more accurate to say that Yan Wuzhi had early on set his sights upon Suo Lun.
Yan Tingyi was a fool, merely a loyal hound of Prime Minister Yan Wuqi.
Yan Wuzhi, from childhood, had harboured ambitions higher than the heavens, with grand aspirations to accomplish great deeds.
But due to the distinction between legitimate and illegitimate birth, he had been forced to submit to Yan Wuqi from childhood, and in the future would have to submit to his nephew Yan Tinglu.
How could he be content with this? Yet within the Yan Clique, he would never have his day in the sun. The greatest prospect of his life would be entering the cabinet to safeguard his nephew Yan Tinglu. Within the Qi Li faction, there would never be a place for him.
Therefore, Suo Lun was Yan Wuzhi’s only opportunity.
But the more desperate he was in his heart, the more he had to put on high airs, demanding that Suo Lun honour him with the rites due a teacher, ensuring a relatively equal cooperative relationship between the two parties.
In Yan Wuzhi’s view, in the future Queen Qi Yan would concern herself with nothing as sovereign, Suo Lun as regent would be responsible for the kingdom’s military affairs, and he, Yan Wuzhi, as prime minister of the kingdom would oversee all internal governance. He and Suo Lun, one civil and one military, would serve as the two carriages of the kingdom, equal in power.
His understanding of that saying was also profound: seek unity through struggle, and unity shall survive. Seek unity through compromise, and unity shall perish.
Therefore, he had been eager to give Suo Lun a show of force.
He had not expected that Suo Lun would deliver several slaps to the face, tearing away his face and dignity completely, almost breaking his very backbone.
The Southeast Province official clique that he had boasted of managing as tightly as an iron barrel had been smashed to pieces by Suo Lun in less than a quarter of an hour. All officials had defected, leaving him a solitary man.
And the greater blow was that Suo Lun’s profound and penetrating understanding and analysis of human nature when killing Ding Meng and Qin Shizhong, and everything he had said to him afterwards, all demonstrated that whether in judging people or understanding the greater trend, Suo Lun far surpassed him.
Especially Suo Lun’s vision and perspective in viewing the situation, which was far more profound and far-reaching than his own. For a proud talent such as himself, this blow was incomparably devastating.
Therefore, at this moment, Yan Wuzhi truly seemed as though his spine had been extracted, his waist bent double.
…
“I shall not kill you. Go back, return to the Royal Capital.” Suo Lun waved his hand at Yan Wuzhi.
Yan Wuzhi trembled, opening his mouth yet holding back his words.
Go back? Return to the Yan Clan?
Of course, after returning to the Royal Capital, he would certainly still have a decent position. Perhaps an important official post in the Royal Capital, or a transfer to serve as chief secretary of another province’s governor’s mansion.
But from now on, he was destined to live beneath his elder brother Yan Wuqi’s shadow, never able to be independent for the rest of his life.
He had spent seven or eight years building his career in the Southeast Province. All his endeavours were here. To depart thus, how could he be content?
But now, to kneel and pledge allegiance to Suo Lun, he truly could not accept it.
Moreover, in his view, Suo Lun had not a single person capable of serving as chief secretary of the Southeast Province governor’s mansion. Not one!
“Go bring Gui Xingfu here.” Suo Lun waved his hand.
“Yes!” a warrior said.
Soon, Gui Xingfu was brought before the great hall. He knelt and kowtowed, saying, “This old slave Gui Xingfu pays respects to Lord Governor.”
Suo Lun smiled. “Gui Xingfu, you have botched your assignment.”
Gui Xingfu kowtowed and said, “This old slave is guilty. Please punish me, my lord!”
This old tortoise was truly remarkable, his face as thick as the boundless sea. At this moment, he had actually uttered the words “my lord.”
Suo Lun said, “The chief secretary of the governor’s mansion, generally speaking, is appointed by the cabinet, or by the governor, or perhaps by His Majesty the King?”
According to kingdom law, the chief secretary of the governor’s mansion was entirely a subordinate official of the governor, completely appointed by the governor alone.
But with the development and evolution of kingdom politics, the chief secretary had gradually become a post used by the cabinet and the king to check and balance the governor, becoming the highest civil official of a province.
But at least nominally, he was still a subordinate official of the governor, completely subject to the governor’s sole decision.
How cunning was Gui Xingfu? The moment Suo Lun opened his mouth, he knew what was meant, and immediately said, “The chief secretary is a subordinate official of the governor. Of course it is for Lord Governor to decide with a single word!”
Suo Lun said, “Very well. From now on, you shall serve with the status of a criminal, temporarily assuming this post of chief secretary of the governor’s mansion!”
Gui Xingfu kowtowed heavily and said, “This old slave accepts the command. Many thanks to my lord for his cultivation!”
And at this moment, Yan Wuzhi’s face was pale, his entire body ice-cold.
He had still wanted to maintain some reserve, waiting for Suo Lun to take the initiative to appoint him. He had not expected that Suo Lun would directly make Gui Xingfu the chief secretary of the governor’s mansion.
Previously, Gui Xingfu, as a kingdom feudal lord, could not have held this post. But now, the Countess of Linhai, the city lord of Linhai, was Gui Qinshao. Gui Xingfu, a man of no rank, could naturally assume this position.
Then, Suo Lun waved his hand and said, “Men, prepare a carriage. Send Lord Yan Wuzhi back to the Royal Capital!”
Instantly, two warriors stepped forward and directly hauled Yan Wuzhi away, intending to throw him out of the governor’s mansion and expel him from the Southeast Province.
At this moment, Yan Wuzhi was burning with anxiety. How could he still care about face and reserve?
Compared to the ambitions in his heart, what was mere face worth? Was he truly to return to the Royal Capital like a defeated rooster, accepting Yan Wuqi’s pity and favour?
Instantly, Yan Wuzhi struggled desperately and shouted loudly, “Count Suo Lun, I am willing to pledge allegiance to you, I am willing to pledge allegiance…”
Suo Lun said, “You are willing to pledge allegiance? But I have no official post to arrange for you.”
Yan Wuzhi said with extreme difficulty, “I, I am willing to serve as an assistant to Lord Gui Xingfu.”
“Truly?” Suo Lun said. “You were originally chief secretary, yet now you wish to become a deputy. Are you content in your heart?”
“My ambition lies in the future. I shall certainly let you see my talents.” As Yan Wuzhi spoke these words, he nearly bit his teeth until they bled.
Suo Lun nodded. “Very well, then you shall remain and serve as Gui Xingfu’s deputy. The two of you shall join forces to govern the internal affairs of the entire Southeast Province!”
“As you command…” Yan Wuzhi knelt upon both knees, his heart relaxing yet also incomparably bitter.
What had been the point of all this? Had he not made such a fuss, he would still be chief secretary, and Suo Lun’s foremost civil official, a pillar of talent.
Now, not only had he become Gui Xingfu’s deputy, but he did not even have half a faction of his own.
Suo Lun’s massacre just now had completely severed the entire Southeast Province official clique from Yan Wuzhi.
Suo Lun looked at the two men kneeling upon the ground, Gui Xingfu and Yan Wuzhi, and said, “Issue the order. All officials of the Southeast Province at the rank of county magistrate and above from the six commanderies are to report to the governor’s mansion within ten days.”
“Yes!” Gui Xingfu kowtowed.
“Yes…” Yan Wuzhi said. “However, some officials are disciples of His Highness Qi Li. They may not come!”
Suo Lun said, “Those who do not come, kill them all!”
Yan Wuzhi trembled and said, “Yes!”
…
After everyone withdrew, Gui Xingfu remained kneeling in place.
When he had come to Donghai City, Suo Lun had despatched several dozen warriors and two thousand soldiers to escort and supervise Gui Xingfu. When Yan Wuzhi detained him within the governor’s mansion, those Shadow Pavilion warriors could completely have led troops to storm the governor’s mansion and rescue Gui Xingfu.
But they had not done so. Instead, they allowed Gui Xingfu to remain detained in the governor’s mansion, which had led to today’s grand performance.
“Gui Xingfu, do you know what you should do from now on?” Suo Lun asked.
“I know.” Gui Xingfu kowtowed. “Temper Yan Wuzhi, and make him truly become your pillar of talent.”
Speaking with a clever person was truly simple.
“Is there anything else?” Suo Lun asked.
Gui Xingfu said, “My adopted son Ling Ao is also within the governor’s mansion!”
Suo Lun’s eyes showed surprise, then he said, “Then bring him here to meet me.”
A quarter of an hour later, Ling Ao appeared before Suo Lun.
“Xiao Ao, kneel!” Gui Xingfu said.
Ling Ao gritted his teeth, his gaze incomparably complex as he looked at Suo Lun, filled with hatred, filled with loss, and filled with unwillingness.
“Xiao Ao, kneel!” Gui Xingfu said sternly.
In Gui Xingfu’s view, Suo Lun’s forces were about to undergo a tremendous expansion. From the original fifty thousand troops, they would suddenly expand to approximately one hundred and thirty thousand. And once the Southeast Province was completely absorbed, they would expand to two hundred thousand troops.
At that time, how many opportunities would there be in the military, how many positions of real power would be vacant?
Now Ling Ao had few opportunities remaining on Qi Li’s side. It would be better to come to Suo Lun’s side. He believed that before long, Ling Ao could be promoted to a real power position such as commander of ten thousand cavalry, or infantry commander.
Ling Ao’s face twitched. He certainly knew his adoptive father’s painstaking intentions.
Moreover, he and Suo Lun were not truly mortal enemies. The two of them had never had a true direct conflict. If one spoke of conflict, it was two years ago when Suo Lun and Gui Qinshao had their martial contest, and Ling Ao had prematurely broken Suo Lun’s right arm.
And Suo Lun had never truly done anything to him.
But he and Suo Lun were rivals in love. More importantly, back at the Royal Capital Academy, Ling Ao had not even registered Suo Lun’s existence in his eyes, regarding him as no better than pigs or dogs.
And now, he was actually to kneel and pledge allegiance to Suo Lun. How could he be content?
“I am not willing!” Ling Ao said through gritted teeth.
Gui Xingfu trembled instantly and said, “I raised you. You can only listen to me. Kneel!”
Ling Ao’s face became firm and brave. He looked at Gui Xingfu and said, “Adoptive father, you have shown me kindness as weighty as a mountain. I shall always respect you. But to make me pledge allegiance to Suo Lun? I cannot do it!”
Suo Lun smiled. “Oh? How strange. Is it because of Gui Qinshao, because we are rivals in love? Do you feel I have cuckolded you?”
Ling Ao’s face twitched, and he did not speak.
Suo Lun said, “It should not be. Qi Li directly demanded your conjugal rights to Qinshao. You not only gritted your teeth and agreed, but continued to kneel before him. And when he grew cold towards you afterwards, you were filled with anxiety. This shows that your self-respect is not that valuable, and your so-called feelings are not that valuable either. So what exactly is the reason?”
Ling Ao’s face was now completely bloodless, gradually twisting.
Suo Lun said, “It should be jealousy. At the Royal Capital Academy, I was originally a person of notorious reputation, a good-for-nothing without prospects. And you were the favoured son of heaven at the Royal Capital Academy, attendant to the future king, your status far surpassing mine as the heir of a feudal lord about to lose his territory. I did not exist at all in your eyes, and you regarded me as no better than an ant. And now I stand high above, and you cannot even see my back when you look up. This disparity is like heaven and earth. To make you kneel and pledge allegiance to me? Of course you are unwilling. In your heart, you would probably rather go begging than bow and scrape to me. And then you interpret this jealousy as backbone?”
“In your heart, Qi Li’s high position should be taken for granted. So if he wishes to sleep with your wife, that is also taken for granted. And for a good-for-nothing like me to rise and become Count of Furious Wave, governor of the kingdom, is completely intolerable by the laws of heaven, correct?” Suo Lun smiled. “This is like the poor neighbour you looked down upon as a child, who one day suddenly becomes wealthy. The jealousy in your heart surges to the heavens, and you secretly swear that even if you starve to death, you will not go forward to flatter or fawn upon them half a sentence. And then you interpret this jealousy as backbone?”
Suo Lun’s words were like knives, fiercely stabbing into the deepest recesses of Ling Ao’s heart, tearing open the most unsightly, most ugly aspects of his inner self.
Ling Ao was completely unable to face his own inner self. In his shame and anger, he suddenly pointed a finger and said sternly, “Suo Lun, you petty man who has gained power. Let us see how long you can remain rampant! Soon His Highness Qi Li will cast you down into the eighteenth layer of hell. At that time, you shall die without a burial place!”
Then, Ling Ao turned sharply and said, “Adoptive father, since you insist on following Suo Lun down a path of darkness to the end, I am powerless to stop you. I shall return to the Royal Capital now. Farewell!”
Gui Xingfu’s face turned deathly pale, his entire body trembling, unable to utter a word.
Watching Ling Ao storm out in a fit of pique, Suo Lun suddenly said coldly, “Who permitted you to leave?”
Ling Ao said coldly, “I am His Highness Qi Li’s special envoy, and the adopted son of Duke Tu Lingtuo. What dare you do to me?”
Suo Lun said, “Killing you would be as easy as slaughtering a stray dog. But I find it more amusing to keep you alive, so I shall not kill you. However, two years ago when I had my martial contest with Gui Qinshao, you shamelessly broke my right arm. I must repay blood with blood, and tooth with tooth!”
Then, Suo Lun said coldly, “Men, break both of Ling Ao’s legs, then throw him out!”