Wei Jiuduan found the words "surplus value" exceptionally grating on his ears.
The main experts of the Guanzhong Torture Room were the four Disciplinary Officers and the leaders of the Punishment Bureau.
The leader of the Punishment Bureau needed to be strong enough, while the Disciplinary Officers needed to be strong enough. Otherwise, they would not be able to control so many inspectors and martial sects under their command.
Wei Jiuduan's position as the Disciplinary Officer had something to do with his ability, but it was mostly because of his seniority.
Wei Jiuduan had been in the Guanzhong Torture Room for over a hundred years. His seniority was even greater than Guan Siyu's.
This seniority meant that as long as Wei Jiuduan did not make any major mistakes, his position would be more stable than anyone else's. But at the same time, it also meant that he was about to retire.
The Guanzhong Torture Room was not a place to retire. Some of the martial artists in the aristocratic families were old, but because of their bloodline, even if they could not fight, they would still be called ancestors and be revered by their descendants.
The sects were also very respectful to these old martial artists. Usually, they would give them the position of Grand Elder, which was a very respectable position.
Only the Guanzhong Torture Room was different. After the martial artists in the Guanzhong Torture Room retired, they were not allowed to interfere with the power of the Guanzhong Torture Room. Even their subordinates would cut off all relations with them and be loyal to their new superiors. As the saying went, a new ruler would have a new group of subordinates.
This was the rule of the Guanzhong Torture Room. It allowed the power to always be in the hands of a small number of people. It was not like those large sects and aristocratic families, where there would always be some old people pointing fingers and telling them what to do, affecting the authority of the family head or sect leader.
Wei Jiuduan was already very old. He would probably retire in a few years. At that time, it would be the turn of a new Disciplinary Officer.
That was why in the last few years of his position as the Disciplinary Officer, Wei Jiuduan's table manners were so unsightly that he had reached the point of being greedy. He did not care about the laws of the Guanzhong Torture Room at all. He was thinking about his future after he retired.
But although he was prepared to give up his power after he retired, he could not tolerate outsiders discussing these things.
Wei Jiuduan narrowed his eyes and asked Chu Xiu in a cold voice, "Did the Jiang family really say that?"
Chu Xiu said righteously, "Of course that's what I said. If Lord Wei doesn't believe me, you can send someone to investigate. Recently, the Jiang Clan has been borrowing Lord Wei's name to intimidate others and have done all kinds of things that are out of line."
The people of the Jiang Clan were not idiots. Of course, they would not say such things in public, but in reality, the Jiang Clan had always been doing so.
After all, the Jiang Clan had paid a huge price to establish a connection with Wei Jiuduan. Who knew how long Wei Jiuduan would be able to hold the position of the Disciplinary Officer? Of course, they had to make the best use of their resources. They wanted to obtain as many benefits as possible while Wei Jiuduan was still the Disciplinary Officer.
As long as Wei Jiuduan sent people to inquire, he would be able to easily find out about these matters.
At that time, whether or not the Jiang Clan had said such things would no longer be important. In any case, the direct descendants of the Jiang Clan were all dead. Their previous actions could represent everything.
And at this moment, Chu Xiu took another step forward and said in a low voice, "Lord Wei, this subordinate has something else to say, but I don't know if I should say it."
Wei Jiuduan narrowed his eyes and said, "What is it?"
Chu Xiu said in a low voice, "The Jiang Clan dares to say such things not only because the people of the Jiang Clan have forgotten their principles for the sake of profit, but also because they see that Lord Wei is about to retire and step down as the Disciplinary Officer. They no longer have any power, so their fear of you has greatly decreased. Lord Wei, after you step down as the Disciplinary Officer, you will definitely have to cultivate in the Guanxi region. And the few Patrols under your command, forgive me for being blunt, only know how to scheme and scheme against each other. I'm afraid that after you step down, they will all be gone. "
When he heard Chu Xiu's words, Wei Jiuduan's expression turned a little ugly. This was because Chu Xiu's words were exactly what he was thinking.
Wei Jiuduan had always been a very greedy person, including his own people. Thus, he controlled the Guanxi region by relying on his qualifications and some trickery. He didn't have a single trusted aide that he was willing to spend a large sum of money to groom.
However, although he didn't have any trusted aides that he could rely on, he was still able to manage the people in the Guanxi region in an orderly manner with his strength and experience.
But now that he was about to step down as the Disciplinary Officer, he realized that he didn't even have a single person that he could rely on.
He could hear the meaning behind Chu Xiu's words. It was nothing more than a way of expressing his loyalty.
However, Wei Jiuduan still sized up Chu Xiu and said indifferently, "You mean that you can become my trusted aide? But your backer is Chu Yuansheng. Why bother coming to me, an old man who is about to retire? Moreover, you, Chu Xiu, aren't easy to deal with. Others are scheming against each other, but won't you be the same as them? "
Chu Xiu lowered his head and looked at the ground. He said, "After all, Great Hero Chu isn't from the Guanzhong torture room. He can't interfere with the specific affairs of the Guanzhong torture room. The county magistrate might as well take charge. I only know that my superior is you, Lord Wei. Instead of currying favor with Great Hero Chu, I might as well pledge my loyalty to you, Lord Wei."
Wei Jiuduan narrowed his eyes and subconsciously played with the Dragon Pattern Iron Ball in his hand. He said indifferently, "But the crux of the problem is, why should I believe in your loyalty?"
Chu Xiu lowered his head and said in a low voice, "The other inspectors all have a foundation in the Guanzhong torture room. I'm afraid they are all waiting for Lord Wei to retire so that they can have a chance to take over, or to cozy up to the new Disciplinary Officer.
In the entire Guanxi branch, only I, Chu Xiu, have no foundation at all. I need Lord Wei's support to have a foothold in the Guanxi region. Without Lord Wei, I'm nothing. Even if you've retired, I still need Lord Wei's connections and prestige in the Guanxi region.
So, you don't have to worry about whether I'm loyal to you or not. As long as I have any intention of disobeying you, Lord Wei, you can take everything away from me at any time. "
Wei Jiuduan looked at Chu Xiu in surprise. He had been in the Guanzhong torture room for so many years, and he had seen Wei Jiuduan fawning over him. He had also seen Wei Jiuduan who feared him or expressed loyalty to him.
The only person he had never seen before was someone like Chu Xiu. To show his loyalty, Chu Xiu would directly hand over his own weaknesses to him.
However, this feeling was very good. Just as Chu Xiu had said, he had no foundation in the Guanxi region. Just like today's matter, Wei Jiuduan could deal with him or not. It all depended on his mood and attitude.
Now that the other inspectors were fully fledged and had their own foundations, they were no longer someone an old man like him who was about to retire could casually deal with. So, as long as he accepted Chu Xiu's loyalty, it was equivalent to him gaining a inspector who was completely under his control.
Wei Jiuduan put his Dragon Pattern Iron Ball on the table and said in a deep voice, "It's very simple for you to pledge loyalty to me, and it's also very simple for me to accept your loyalty. However, the crux of the problem is, what can I get from you, and what can you get from me?"
Chu Xiu said in a low voice, "What I want is only to obtain Milord's trust. Just like this time, as long as Milord can help me deal with the matters within the rules, then I will definitely bring Milord even more benefits. Half of the Jiang family's assets is just the beginning."
Wei Jiuduan looked deeply at Chu Xiu and was silent for a long time. Finally, he said, "I hope my choice is not wrong, and you'd better not disappoint me."
"Please rest assured, Lord. I will definitely not disappoint you."
Chu Xiu lowered his head, a faint smile appearing at the corners of his mouth.
He knew that Wei Jiuduan would definitely agree in the end, because compared to what he needed Wei Jiuduan, Wei Jiuduan needed him more.
For a Torture Master who was about to retire and lose some power, Wei Jiuduan had already given up on all the rules of the Guanzhong Torture Room. As long as it could bring him benefits, he would greedily swallow it up.
Now that Chu Xiu could bring him benefits, he could not and would not refuse.
At this time, outside the meeting hall, Wei Hanshan was already a little anxious. Only the heavens knew what Chu Xiu had said to Wei Jiuduan and why the two of them had not come out after so long.
At this time, Wei Jiuduan and Chu Xiu walked back into the meeting hall. Chu Xiu's face was expressionless, but Wei Hanshan was already a little anxious.
The calmer Chu Xiu was, the more it showed that this matter would not develop in the direction he expected.
As expected, Wei Jiuduan directly said to the crowd, "Chu Xiu, I have already asked about this matter. The Jiang Family secretly smuggled contraband and violated the rules of the Guanzhong Torture Room. Furthermore, they used my name to commit crimes outside. They should be killed! Chu Xiu, a newly appointed Patrol Inspector, was able to dig out this cancer of the Jiang Family. Not only should he not be punished for this matter, he should be rewarded instead. "
When they heard this, everyone's expression suddenly changed. What did Chu Xiu say to Wei Jiuduan to actually make Wei Jiuduan stand on his side so clearly?
Wei Hanshan even stood up and said with an expression of dissatisfaction, "Lord, this Chu Xiu does not follow the rules when he does things. He has already brazenly done it. Is this still not a problem?"
Wei Jiuduan's expression immediately darkened. He looked coldly at Wei Hanshan and said, "Are you teaching me how to do things? Do you need me to go talk to Master Guan and give up my position as Torture Officer to you right now? "
When he heard this, Wei Hanshan could only sullenly sit back down and said in a muffled voice, "This subordinate does not dare."
Wei Hanshan's connections in the Guanxi region could be said to be deep-rooted. Other than the Guanzhong Torture Room, he even had connections in the Guanzhong martial world.
However, no matter how strong his connections were, Wei Jiuduan was still the Guanxi Torture Officer. He was someone who held great power. If he said something was right, even if it was wrong, it was still right.
At least before Wei Jiuduan officially retired and relinquished his power, Wei Hanshan did not dare to directly confront Wei Jiuduan.
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