Chapter 93: Mass Arrest! Pear Blossom Hall Comes Out in Full Force

How to gain a foothold in the imperial court, which is known as the "Hall of Yama"?

Zhao Duan killed the monkey to scare the chickens, stepped on the royal family members as a stepping stone, and initially established his authority in Lihua Hall.

But this residual power was obviously not enough to terrify the other eight detectives.

Especially the ones at the top of the rankings, they didn't give any face at all.

Even if it is a more euphemistic way of speaking, the attitude it conveys is actually the same word:

roll.

How could you spit out something you have swallowed just because of Zhao Duan's words?

"Sir, please don't be impulsive!"

When the four heard Zhao Duan's smiling words, they felt a chill down their spines. The newly appointed secretary Qian Kerou's heart skipped a beat and she said hurriedly.

I was afraid that my boss would get impulsive and go to the eight gangs with a knife to chop people.

This is very much like something Zhao Duan could do.

Zhao Duan glanced at the female secretary and said helplessly:

"Do I look like that kind of reckless person?"

The four of them didn't say anything, but the word "like" was written in their eyes.

Zhao Duan sighed. The world had misunderstood him too deeply. He thought for a moment and suddenly asked:

"Did the various police departments meet yesterday?"

Yesterday, Mo Chou stood up for him, making it clear that the Empress was behind him.

According to common sense, for the sake of their own interests, the eight gangs would cut off some meat and feed it to him in order to avoid offending others, even if they were unwilling to do so.

The first few halls have the confidence to refuse, but what about the last few?

Is there no one who is willing to make friends with him?

But today they all rejected it in such a tacit and unanimous manner, which is unreasonable.

He suspected that the eight people had discussed the matter privately.

Qian Kerou shook her head: "Probably not. If we talk about gatherings, it's only the one convened by the Governor."

Zhao Duan raised his eyebrows: "I didn't participate in the meeting, but I should have been notified."

Qian Kerou thought for a moment, then suddenly pulled out a piece of paperwork from the stack in her hand and said:

"Yes, the Governor issued an official letter last night stating that this quarter's evaluation has begun, and the performance of each hall will be calculated at the end of the month, which will affect the allocation of funds."

It's not that she forgot, but she habitually felt that the document was not important.

After all, this assessment has nothing to do with Lihuatang...

Zhao Duan pondered for a moment, then suddenly exhaled, his face showing a look of realization:

"I see."

The four of them looked at each other, what did they understand?

Zhao Duan was at a loss for words.

Ma Yan's introduction of assessment at this point undoubtedly greatly accelerated the degree of internal competition in various halls.

Originally, they might have cut flesh and bleed to give it to Zhao Duan's gang, but in order to ensure their own evaluation results, they would hold on to the case in their hands tightly and not let go.

This is the reason why the eight halls united as a front and sternly rejected it.

But why did Ma Yan do this? The chief eunuch must have known that Zhao Duan entered the Pear Blossom Hall to help him solve his problems.

The two should be on the same side, there is no reason to trick him.

"So there's only one truth, and that's that cheap senior brother was assisting from the side. He knew very well that even if he didn't push, the Eighth Hall would at most give me some soup, which would be of no use..."

"After pushing for the assessment, I was forced to reject the Eighth Hall and isolate me. On the surface, I felt betrayed. But on the other hand, when Ewha Hall was collectively isolated and hostile, it also forced the internal unity and generated centripetal force."

Zhao Duan summarized three experiences from his work in his previous life.

Q: How to resolve internal conflicts?

Answer: Rapid growth

Q: How to cover up internal conflicts?

A: Solve the problem

Question: How to transfer internal conflicts?

A: Build a powerful external enemy

"When the entire Lihua Hall is ostracized and isolated, these Jinyi will turn their hostility towards me into hostility towards the outside world, and thus regard me as one of their own. This can greatly improve the group's cohesion."

Zhao Duan admired that his cheap senior brother was a master at shifting conflicts.

Of course, this method also has its drawbacks. Once Zhao Duan loses in this struggle, it will disappoint all his subordinates.

Loss of the possibility of building prestige.

But on the contrary, as long as he can win and break through the "sanctions" of the eight halls, he will be truly admired by his subordinates.

It’s easy to conquer a group of men, as long as you are strong enough to make them submit to you.

"Cheap Senior Brother, you really think highly of me. Aren't you worried that I won't be able to handle the pressure, won't be able to turn the tables, and will collapse?"

Zhao Duan muttered in his heart, but his eyes were full of excitement.

"Sir, you should go see the governor and ask him to help transfer some cases from other gangs." Qian Kerou suggested.

Hou Ren folded his arms, curled his lips, and said:

"I think if they don't give us face, then we adults don't need to give them face either. It's simpler and more direct to knock on their doors one by one."

Are you looking for trouble? Do you think you are not dying quickly enough?

Chen Juan stopped him and said with a playful smile:

"Don't listen to him, sir. I think that since the assessment is this month, the tasks will inevitably be reassigned after the assessment is over. We should just wait."

Old man Zheng, who was short and had half-white hair, said nothing and pretended to be invisible.

Zhao Duan's face was expressionless: "I have made a decision."

All of these methods were effective, but he was not satisfied with any of them.

"Sir, you want to..." The four of them were suspicious.

Zhao Duan suddenly smiled and said:

"There's an even simpler way. We don't lack big cases, do we?"

He said slowly:

"For example...hunting for the rebels."

Rebellious?

Everyone looked at each other in bewilderment. This was indeed a major case.

But the problem is that they have no clues at all.

Zhao Duan was too lazy to explain, but took out a small red-covered notebook from his pocket, threw it on the table, and said:

"Pass the order, everyone in Lihua Hall, mobilize. I want you to arrest everyone recorded between pages 5 and 18 of this notebook within one day and throw them into the Imperial Prison for investigation."

Qian Kerou picked it up doubtfully and opened it. The other three stretched their necks to look at it and were then stunned.

I saw that the small notebook was filled with densely written names, spread across all the government offices of the Dayu court.

The range mentioned by Zhao Duan are all officials below the fifth rank.

These were the names of officials he knew about, who had written letters to impeach him in the Zhuang Xiaocheng case.

Yes, Zhao Duan wrote down in a small notebook the names of all the people who were clearly his enemies during this period.

A few of them were crossed out, such as Lu Liang and Pei Kaizhi.

But there are more.

Unfortunately, his authority as an inspector general only allowed him to sign arrest warrants for officials below the fifth rank.

For those above the fifth rank, the arrest warrant must be signed by Ma Yan himself.

Even so, the number of officials he requested to be arrested reached a terrifying fifty-eight.

"Sir...you are going to..."

Qian Kerou opened her mouth, and her hands holding the small notebook trembled slightly.

The arrest of fifty-eight officials at once was a major event that was enough to shock the entire court.

Crazy... Absolutely crazy...

"Sir, please don't tell us that these fifty-eight people are related to the rebels."

Chen Juan also stopped being so nonchalant and became serious, which was unusual for him.

Zhao Duan's expression remained normal, and he said calmly:

"Don't ask questions you shouldn't ask. Since I dare to order you to arrest someone, I must have a reason. Just do your job. If there is any trouble, I will take full responsibility."

Hou Ren suddenly narrowed his eyes and looked his boss in the eye for the first time.

Even with his madness, he was shocked by his boss's handwriting.

What followed was an indescribable excitement.

As the former troublemaker of Mudan Hall, his knife had been hidden in Lihua Hall for too long and was almost rusted.

Hearing this, his eyes flashed with ferocity:

"Seriously, sir? What if those people resist arrest?"

Zhao Duan said calmly:

"That's your business. I just want the person alive. If you can't bring him back, don't come back either."

Hou Renmeng laughed loudly, raised his hand and tore off five pages of paper, clasped his fists and said:

"I will do it right away! I will not fail you!"

After saying this, the dark and unruly man left with murderous intent.

"This..." Qian Kerou was confused, but she saw Chen Juan, who always lay down and punched in on time and never worked overtime, suddenly smiled and gently tore off five pages of paper:

"The master has given an order. How dare a subordinate disobey it?"

As he said this, he turned around and walked out of the hall, licking his lips lightly with the corner of his mouth, revealing a fierce edge that had never been seen before.

Qian Kerou was stunned, and suddenly realized that she seemed to have never really understood Chen Juan.

"Ahem... I'm an old man, half retired, and can't compare to the young people."

Old man Zheng, who was pretending to be invisible, suddenly smiled.

Qian Kerou was delighted, thinking that finally there was a normal person.

The next second, old man Zheng, who used to only drink tea and read newspapers in the yamen and liked to tinker with wood carvings in his spare time and had excellent carving skills, also came forward.

Gently tearing off three pages, he smiled:

"But since you are so bold, I, Old Zheng, can't spoil your fun, right?"

Qian Kerou's eyes were blank as she watched Old Man Zheng walk out of the hall and summon his attendants, who were wearing armor and holding sharp weapons.

She looked at the only piece of paper left, her expression changing.

Finally, he gritted his teeth, tore it off, held it in his hand, and muttered:

"Let's go crazy together..."

Then he ran out without saying anything.

Only Zhao Duan was left sitting alone in the lobby. He closed his eyes and began to doze off.

On the table in front of him lay a small notebook with fourteen pages of his name torn out.

The wind blew, and the names of Li Yanfu and Zhuang Xiaocheng were vaguely revealed on the first two pages of the notebook.

…

…

On this day, the people in the imperial court were surprised to see a strange sight.

Suddenly, a large number of officials swarmed out of the Lihua Hall, which had been idle and peaceful in the past.

The four Jinyi captains each led a group of attendants, drew their swords and rode their horses, rushed out of the yamen with murderous intent, and headed in different directions towards the capital.

On a certain street.

The marquis rode on his horse, spurring it on and waving the whip, parading through the streets.

The team led by Chen Juan temporarily joined him on the same road, and the two rode side by side.

The second generation with dark circles under his eyes suddenly used his energy to convey words into Hou Renmeng's ears:

"Old Hou, do you think Zhao can handle this? Will he just walk away and leave us to take the blame?

Fifty-eight officials were arrested in one go. Even though they were all minor officials below the fifth rank, without an explanation, it would be fatal."

Hou Ren gripped the hilt of his knife fiercely and glanced at him:

"If you're scared, then get lost and give me the list you got. I'm not afraid. Whatever Zhao says, I'll do. If he runs away, I'll chop him up like a coward and then commit suicide."

Chen Juan rode away cursing, thinking they were all a bunch of lunatics.

But, isn't it the same for me?

If you want to make a big fuss, then make a huge fuss.

…

Today I present you 8,000 words

(End of this chapter)