bullyxtreme Chapter 37 Report me? Hmph, would they dare?
Chapter 37 Report me? Hmph, would they dare?
When Zhao Wude returned to his temporary residence, his trusted advisor immediately approached him, his face full of worry, and whispered, "Sir, we've only just arrived in Chenzhou, and our foothold isn't yet secure. Isn't it too hasty to solicit bribes from these officials like this?"
"These officials are local strongmen in Chenzhou. They have been operating in Chenzhou for many years and have extensive connections. In the future, we will still need to rely on them to handle affairs in Chenzhou. If we push them too hard, it may backfire."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Wude smiled dismissively and waved his hand, "What do you know? This isn't simply soliciting bribes; I'm giving them a warning!"
"As a new prefect, if I don't show some skill, these people will not submit to me or obey my orders. Only when they know who is the master of Chenzhou will they work obediently."
His tone was arrogant, and a glint of ruthlessness flashed in his eyes: "Those who obediently pay their money know what's good for them, and those are the people I should use."
"If they dare to make excuses and refuse to pay, it means they don't respect me. I'll just remove them from their posts."
"Those vacant official positions are perfect for selling for a good price. It will not only fill my pockets but also allow me to place my own people in positions. It's a win-win situation, so why not?"
Upon hearing this, the clerk remained worried: "But sir, if these officials unite and report you to the higher authorities, that would be a real problem."
Zhao Wude sneered, his tone full of confidence: "Report me? Hmph, do they dare? I have connections in high places, and people in the government are backing me up. These few think they can report me? They're practically courting death!"
"If I just pull a little string, they'll be doomed before their complaint even reaches the higher authorities. Then, who would dare to report me?"
After a pause, Zhao Wude composed himself and ordered his advisor, "Go and arrange for people to collect information on these subordinate officials, including their corruption and weaknesses. Whether it's embezzlement or collusion with foreign enemies, gather everything you can to get to them."
"Secondly, and most importantly, we need to gather evidence against Liu Yao... oh wait, he's changed his surname to Zhu now, to uncover Zhu Yao's crimes!"
He emphasized his words, a glint of greed flashing in his eyes.
"The money of those officials is just a small matter. This Zhu Yao is my biggest target. He is the richest man in Chenzhou, owning tens of thousands of acres of fertile land and a huge family business. As long as I can find something to hold against him and take him down, I can extract a huge amount of wealth."
A greedy smile crept across his lips as he laughed loudly, "With this money, I can bribe officials at all levels and smooth things over. Turning this prefect into a governor, or even a higher position, won't be a problem!"
The clerk immediately bowed and replied, "Yes, sir! I will arrange for men to gather as much dirt on these people and Zhu Yao's crimes as possible, so as not to disappoint your expectations, sir!"
Zhao Wude sat in his chair, picked up his teacup, his face full of anticipation, already plotting how to extort money and rise through the ranks.
......
In less than half a day, the clerk rushed back, his face beaming with excitement. He carried a thick stack of files, strode into the room, bowed, and said, "My lord, great news!"
"Your subordinates have gathered damaging information and weaknesses on officials at all levels in Chenzhou. Every single one of them is thoroughly investigated and accounted for without exception!"
Upon hearing this, a glint of shrewdness flashed in Zhao Wude's eyes. He quickly put down his teacup, reached for the file, and eagerly began to read it. The more he read, the more smug he became, and the smile on his lips never faded.
"Good! Good! Well done!" he exclaimed repeatedly as he flipped through the files. "These are excellent pieces of information; every single one of them is a handle against them. With these, let's see if they dare to disobey us again!"
After turning the last page, he tossed the file onto the table and casually asked, "By the way, have any of these officials come to give me money? The three-day deadline hasn't passed yet, but those who know what's good for them should have already done so."
The clerk's excitement faded slightly, and he bowed, saying, "Your Excellency, as of now, no official has come to deliver money. It seems they are still observing the situation or still raising funds, and are hesitant to come."
"Watching and waiting?" Zhao Wude sneered, a hint of displeasure flashing in his eyes. "It seems they won't know how powerful I, the prefect, am until I teach them a lesson!"
He instructed his advisor, "Go now and invite all these officials. Tell them that I, Zhao Wude, am hosting a banquet today and have invited them to the prefectural government office to discuss the affairs of Chenzhou. Make sure they all come; not a single one is missing!"
"Your subordinate obeys the decree!" The clerk dared not delay and quickly withdrew, arranging for people to invite the officials.
In less than an hour, officials of all ranks in Chenzhou, including the Assistant Prefect and the Vice Prefect, arrived at the Prefectural Government Office on time, dressed in their official robes. They looked at each other with trepidation, unable to guess Zhao Wude's intention in suddenly hosting a banquet.
The group was invited into the living room, only to find the table completely empty, without any food or drinks, not even a cup of tea. They were increasingly puzzled, their faces filled with confusion, and they stood there, hesitant to sit down.
The newly appointed prefect, Zhao Wude, slowly walked into the living room, sat in the main seat, looked at the officials in front of him, and said with a hint of helplessness on his face, feigning grievance, "Gentlemen, I am truly sorry. I have just arrived in Chenzhou and am really too poor. There is nothing in the government office, and I cannot even afford a decent banquet. Please forgive my poor state."
Upon hearing this, all the officials felt a chill run down their spines, vaguely guessing Zhao Wude's intentions. They all lowered their heads, not daring to speak, and the living room instantly fell into a deathly silence.
Seeing the panicked look on everyone's faces, Zhao Wude smiled faintly, then changed the subject and said in a cold tone, "However, although I am poor, I know that you gentlemen are not poor at all."
He picked up the files on the table, patted them gently, and slowly began to read out the dirt on each official: "Your Excellency, three years ago, you abused your power to seize hundreds of acres of fertile land from the people, forcing them to lose their families and lives."
"Your Excellency, you have accepted bribes, protected corrupt and lawless gentry, and disregarded human life."
"And you, County Magistrate, you embezzled grain from the official granary for your own enrichment, resulting in a complete crop failure for the people in your jurisdiction..."
With each one he read out, the corresponding official's face paled a little more, his whole body trembled slightly, cold sweat beaded on his forehead, and he didn't even dare to breathe.
After reading through all the officials' incriminating information, Zhao Wude's tone was laced with threat, his words dripping with murderous intent: "I, the prefect, am fully aware of these matters. If I were to report them to the imperial court, do you gentlemen think you could still hold onto your current positions?"
"I'm afraid the consequences could range from dismissal and exile to confiscation of property and extermination of the entire clan."