In the main hall, Du Ruhui was dressed in a long black robe and had an extraordinary bearing. Especially since he was wearing a down vest under his inner shirt and leg guards on his legs, Du Ruhui didn't feel cold even though it was cold at night.
He stood in the middle of the hall and waited quietly.
There was even more anticipation in his eyes.
Du Qi and Xu Youwen were on the move, and Du Ruhui had his own arrangements and plans. Du Ruhui hadn't taken any action recently because he was trying to figure out the situation. He knew the entire Daizhou officialdom like the back of his hand. While Du Ruhui was waiting, it wasn't long before he heard hurried footsteps coming from outside.
Du Ruhui turned around and saw Su Jiang enter. Du Ruhui smiled and stepped forward. "Major Su, please forgive me for disturbing you so late at night."
Su Jiang said, "Your visit brings light to my humble abode, Steward Du. There's no need to disturb me. Please take a seat, Steward Du! "
"Please!"
Du Ruhui replied with a smile.
The two of them sat opposite each other.
Su Jiang went straight to the point. "Steward Du, may I know why you're here so late at night?"
He was curious. Why was Du Ruhui here?
Especially at such a late hour.
Du Ruhui said sternly, "Su Sima, I came here tonight because of Zhou Yunhe's death."
Su Jiang's expression changed slightly.
Zhou Yunhe's murder had happened too suddenly. Even Su Jiang was caught off guard. Su Jiang even felt that this matter was somewhat frightening because Zhou Yunhe had been directly killed without even the slightest sign.
This was a time of peace and prosperity.
It wasn't a time of chaos.
It was taboo to kill an official in a time of peace and prosperity. It was almost impossible, but something like that had happened.
Su Jiang took a deep breath and said, "I'd like to hear the details!"
Du Ruhui said, "Zhou Yunhe had been working for the Wang family when he was Secretary Cao of Daizhou. Apart from that, Zhou Yunhe himself had also taken a lot of money from Daizhou.
"The Zhou family is very rich.
"In fact, I've checked the entire Daizhou officialdom. Other than Xu Youwen, everyone else is related to the Wang family. Among the people promoted by the Wang Clan, those with higher positions are like Sima Chang Sheng or you, Sima Su. "
"Apart from that, there are also the other Cao Army Officers."
"Most of the people promoted by the Wang family have business dealings with Zhou Yunhe, and have received money and benefits from Zhou Yunhe. Only Su Sima, although he belongs to the Wang Clan, he is an unsociable person and doesn't participate in financial transactions. "
Du Ruhui explained.
He talked about the situation in Daizhou and Sujiang.
Su Jiang raised his eyebrows in surprise. He did not expect that Du Ruhui had already investigated the situation. Su Jiang thought for a moment and said, "Chief Steward Du, we only received some help from the Wang family. It has little to do with the Wang Clan. "
Du Ruhui smiled, "Let's not beat around the bush. Su Sima's words seem a little fake. I know very well whether you belong to the Wang Clan or not. The fact that I was attacked by bandits in Linfen County of Jinzhou has long been proven. "
Su Jiang fell silent.
Du Ruhui continued, "Zhou Yunhe's death was his just desserts. If he didn't die, how would I answer to the court and the people of Daizhou? How would I live up to my conscience as an official? Therefore, Zhou Yunhe must be executed. "
Su Jiang's expression was also solemn. "Chief Steward Du, what do you mean by saying all this?"
Du Ruhui said, "This official is saying all this to make it clear that Zhou Yun He, Sima Chang Sheng, and the others are jackals of the same tribe. They are all people who disregard the common people for the sake of power. They are all people who kill without batting an eye. However, Su Sima is different. From beginning to end, you have never participated in this. You are upright and honest, and you have the people in your heart. "
Su Jiang completely understood after hearing this.
Du Ruhui wanted to instigate him to betray the Wang Clan.
Su Jiang smiled, "I'm afraid Chief Steward Du will be disappointed. I can't betray the Wang Clan. After all, I was supported by the Wang Clan, and I know how terrifying the Wang Clan's strength is. "
"Chief Steward Du is in power in Daizhou. Without the Wang Clan's help, it will be very difficult for you to hold the position. If Chief Steward Du is wholeheartedly devoted to the people, then you should avoid conflict with the Wang Clan. "
"You should know that even His Highness Li Daen of Dingxiang didn't dare to go against the Wang Clan. He needed their help."
Su Jiang said, "These are my heartfelt words."
"Hahaha …"
Du Ruhui heard this and laughed.
Su Jiang said, "Chief Steward Du, why are you laughing?"
Du Ruhui said, "The reason I'm laughing is very simple. You seem to think that the Wang Clan of Taiyuan, one of the Five Surnames and Seven Hopes, is untouchable and undefeatable. So you think that if I leave the Wang Clan as the Daizhou Chief Steward, everything can't go on and will fail, right? "
"Yes!"
Su Jiang replied directly.
He thought so. Because he came into contact with the Wang Clan's power and knew that everyone in Daizhou was from the Wang Clan, Su Jiang came to such a conclusion.
Du Ruhui said, "Su Sima, you're wrong. You think that the Wang Clan is undefeatable, but in fact, the Wang Clan of Taiyuan is not invincible. Su Sima, do you know the former patriarch of the Wang Clan, Wang Zongzhou? "
Su Jiang said, "Wang Zongzhou is the patriarch. How did he become the former patriarch? I know a lot of rumors about Wang Zongzhou, as well as the fact that he was cuckolded for decades. I just don't know that he became the former patriarch. "
Su Jiang didn't know about the changes in the Wang Clan.
Sima Changsheng and the others also didn't know. After all, the news was limited to Chang 'an. Moreover, the Wang Clan was also blocking the news, so not many people knew about Wang Zongzhou's death.
Du Ruhui said, "Wang Zongzhou and my son Du Qi had some conflicts. He came to Chang 'an personally to deal with my son. In the end, he was arrested and executed by the authorities because he tried to assassinate my son. The current patriarch of the Wang Clan is no longer Wang Zongzhou, but Wang Zongxi. "
"Hiss!"
Su Jiang sucked in a breath of cold air.
Wang Zongzhou was dead.
This was big news.
It was just that they were in Daizhou and didn't know about it. The Wang Clan only spread the news that they were going to deal with the Du Clan and destroy Du Ruhui's family.
Du Ruhui continued, "The current Wang Clan's reputation is ruined because of Wang Zongzhou.
"Think about it. The patriarch of a major clan was cuckolded for decades. What a disgrace. Of course, Wang Zongzhou died at my son's hands, and the Wang Clan also lost face because of my son. Therefore, the enmity between the Wang Clan and my Du Clan is difficult to resolve.
"That's exactly the case. His Majesty sent me to Daizhou to reorganize the city and weaken the Wang Clan.
"The Wang Clan is powerful, but can it compare to the imperial court?
"His Majesty stood on my side and gave me full authority to take charge of Daizhou's military. That's why I dared to order Xu Youwen to kill Zhou Yunhe. If I killed Zhou Yunhe at any other time, I would definitely be impeached, especially if I acted first and reported later.
"That won't happen this time," Du Ruhui said.
Du Ruhui said, "This official is in Daizhou. Even if I go on a killing spree, the imperial court will only turn a blind eye. As long as I don't incur the wrath of the heavens and the resentment of the people, His Majesty will support me.
"I'm invincible in Daizhou.
"Most importantly, Xu Youwen isn't a member of the Wang Clan. If Xu Youwen obeyed the Wang Clan's arrangements, things might be a bit more troublesome. But now that Xu Youwen has obeyed my orders, destroying the Wang Clan's power in Daizhou will be as easy as flipping my hand.
"I only killed Zhou Yunhe because I was worried that a massacre would cause unrest in Daizhou. That's why I've only killed Zhou Yunhe."
Du Ruhui explained his situation in detail.
Su Jiang was also aware of this situation. When he heard Du Ruhui's words, he agreed with him.
Su Jiang took a deep breath and said slowly, "Even so, Steward Du's situation isn't optimistic. Sima Changsheng's influence in Daizhou runs deep. Steward Du may not win. "
Du Ruhui said, "You're wrong."
Su Jiang said, "What do you mean?"
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