Xie Ze's face darkened again at the thought of the shipyard.
"And those powerful clans! They used to fawn over Cui Boyong, but now that he's dead, they're all running to cling to Helian Jue and Xie Yuan!"
Xie Ze thought bitterly.
He was clearly the official in charge of He County, a proper county magistrate appointed by the imperial court.
As a result, from powerful families to ordinary people, no one took him seriously.
The powerful clan: ...We don't even have private soldiers, let alone the Yuezhou camp, what are we afraid of you for?
Just because your surname is Xie? Just because you know how to bang a gavel?
The people said: "...The Yue Prince's Mansion is the most impartial. His Highness and His Majesty love the people like their own children. If you have any grievances, you can always go to the Yue Prince's Mansion!"
And what about the magistrate of He County?
Haha, even the governor was beheaded for corruption and treason.
All crows are black, and the magistrate of He County must not be a good official either.
Besides, the people all saw the scene a few days ago when Cui and Xie Rou knelt down to beg at the Prince of Yue's mansion.
Most people had simple and honest thoughts: the Queen Consort of Yue was a good person, and anyone who came to make things difficult for her must be a bad person.
Although the troublemakers were two women, Xie Ze allowed his wife and daughter to cause trouble. He was either a good-for-nothing who couldn't control his family, or he was just as bad as his wife and daughter.
A smaller portion of the population thinks more deeply and is more driven by self-interest.
The female relatives of the dignified county magistrate were forced to kneel humbly in the Prince of Yue's mansion.
Tsk tsk, this county magistrate's family is truly spineless and incompetent.
The moment Cui and Xie Rou knelt down, Xie Ze's dignity and authority as the county magistrate were completely shattered.
If he wants to rebuild his authority in He County, he has no choice but to "make an example of someone."
Xie Ze wasn't stupid; he was just flustered by the series of setbacks.
That's why they keep making foolish decisions.
When he calmed down and began to think carefully and repeatedly examine his situation over the past two years, he slowly came to his senses.
"Perhaps this is an opportunity!"
Xie Ze paced around the study a few times, then plopped down on the floor.
The secret of the treasure ship, whether the Yue King's Mansion is plotting a rebellion, and several powerful clans involved...
Xie Ze connected all these points in his mind.
He decided to give it a try.
Firstly, he needed to establish his authority.
Secondly, he wanted to prove to the sage that he was not only good at complaining, but also had some usefulness.
Thirdly, he also wanted to take revenge on the Yue King's Mansion and the powerful clans.
"Someone, bring Cui Yong here!"
In Xie Ze's mind, a plan began to take shape.
He finally made up his mind and raised his voice to give the order.
"Yes, sir!"
The servant waiting outside the door quickly agreed.
Cui Yong was one of Cui Boyong's confidants.
In the spring, Xie Yuan took advantage of a popular uprising to bring down Cui Boyong.
Helian Jue, who returned with a large army, used swift and decisive measures to raid Cui Boyong's home and eradicate the Cui family's power.
However, the Cui family had been operating in Lingnan for several years and had some foundation.
Cui Yong and his followers were the ones who escaped the net.
Having witnessed their master being beheaded in public and his family being conscripted into the army, Cui Yong and his men were filled with rage and hatred.
Instead of fleeing Yuezhou, they hid in the mountains and forests.
There was nothing they could do; they were servants of the Cui family, their ancestors having been slaves of the Cui family for generations.
His own father, grandfather, brothers, and even children are still working in the ancestral land of the Cui family.
If they become runaway slaves, their entire family will be implicated.
Moreover, Cui Yong was still somewhat loyal to Cui Boyong.
He wanted to avenge the governor.
He gathered up the remaining forces and connected with the Wuyuan tribe in the mountains.
Cui Yong secretly devised and fueled the Wuyuan tribe's plan to use the "divine ointment" to corrupt the Li tribe and other indigenous tribes.
Unfortunately, Queen Wuyuan was also killed by Helian Jue.
Cui Yong also took the opportunity to gather some of the fleeing warriors from the Wuyuan tribe.
And Yongzhou...
Cui Yong made connections everywhere and stirred up trouble, actually making quite a splash.
In the process, he also accumulated some money and manpower.
They may have all been a motley crew, but after nearly a year of development, Cui Yong now had over a thousand men under his command.
With over a thousand people, trying to overthrow the Yue King's Palace is nothing short of a pipe dream.
However, it wouldn't be a problem to disguise oneself as a bandit, rob a powerful clan, or uncover some secrets.
After Xie Ze suffered repeated setbacks at the Yue Prince's residence, Cui Yong learned of this and took the initiative to contact Xie Ze.
Xie Ze somewhat despised Cui Yong for being a lowly servant, but he lacked capable men at his disposal.
Xie Ze was reluctant to expend any more of his own troops, which numbered only a little over a hundred.
The ragtag army that Cui Yong had cobbled together could be put to some use.
Cui Yong: ...Hehe, it's still uncertain who's using whom.
Xie Ze had his eye on Cui Yong's small fry, while Cui Yong wanted to use Xie Ze's position as county magistrate.
Regardless, Xie Ze was the only officially appointed official of the imperial court in He County.
Cui Yong wanted to obtain a "legitimate" identity, and he also needed Xie Ze to help him cover it up.
Two people, each with their own ulterior motives, came together.
They weren't without a common goal—their enemies were all the Prince of Yue's mansion.
"Actually, there are also those powerful clans!"
“Guard Cui, just think about how respectful they were to Governor Cui back then, and now they’re all running off to curry favor with Helian Jue and his wife!”
"I have reason to suspect that they have slandered Governor Cui in an effort to curry favor with that couple!"
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