The strategies they discussed were divided into three parts: superior, middle, and inferior.
The best course of action would be for Su Xing to marry Wei Huan. In time, both the Su family's assets and businesses would fall into the Wei family's hands.
The middle strategy is to cause a plague in Fukang County. If the Su family can agree to Su Xing marrying Wei Huan in time, the Wei family will step in to send medicine to Fukang County in time to "solve" the plague.
The worst-case scenario is the current situation: the Su family remains stubborn and unyielding, so they have no choice but to confirm Su Xing's crimes and bring down the entire Su family.
Although this approach wouldn't yield the Su family's wealth, it would allow them to seize most of the Su family's businesses.
Jia Ren and the Wei family had considered all three possibilities, but what Jia Ren hadn't expected was that Su Muxi would bring so many young masters from Jinzhou City to Fukang County, and that Wu Tai, who should have been dead, would actually come back to life...
Although Jia Ren did not directly admit his crimes, the meaning behind his words was quite clear.
Wu Tai's identification was correct. The plague in Fukang County was not a plague at all, but a conspiracy set up by Jia Ren and the Wei family!
Hearing the approaching footsteps and the dark mass of people running quickly towards them, Jia Ren's cold smile deepened.
The initial anxiety disappeared, replaced by a sense of confidence.
The constables who were previously unaware of the truth also understood the meaning behind Jia Ren's words and looked at him in disbelief.
Cao San, bearing the brunt of the attack, angrily pointed at Jia Ren, "Was what Commander Wu said before true? There was no plague in our city at all, it was all your doing!!"
However, as soon as he finished speaking, his hand, which was pointing at Jia Ren, was chopped off by a yamen runner with a knife.
"ah!…"
Cao San screamed in agony, and blood splattered all over the ground.
Upon seeing the blood, everyone gasped in shock, and the young masters of Jinzhou City were especially eager to flee.
But then Jia laughed, "Haha! Trying to run?! Too late! If you have anyone to blame, blame Su Muxi! If she hadn't been so aggressive, I wouldn't have been so ruthless! Since you all know everything, then stay here! I'll make sure you all get a proper burial!"
Unexpectedly, at that moment, a string of silvery laughter suddenly rang out, sounding exceptionally eerie in this night filled with strangeness and murder.
Although Su Muxi was smiling, she felt pathetic inside.
"Jia Ren, you don't actually think those people who came here are your soldiers from outside the city, do you?"
Upon hearing this, Jia Ren was startled and suspicious. He quickly squinted at the approaching group of people, but as they drew closer, a look of panic appeared on his face.
When the people who arrived surrounded them, Jia Ren's heart finally died.
But his face still showed disbelief.
"Impossible! Impossible! The city gates are closed, and there are so many soldiers guarding them. How did so many people get in?!"
Su Muxi scoffed, "Pshaw! Does that mean only Magistrate Jia in the whole world knows how to poison people?"
Jia Ren looked suddenly enlightened and turned to Su Muxi, "You poisoned all those soldiers?!"
"Hmph! I am not as ruthless as you! I simply let them get a good night's sleep. Whether they were coerced by you or colluded with you, I will investigate thoroughly and will not let anyone get away with it!"
As soon as Su Muxi finished speaking, all the officials of Fukang County knelt down.
"Your Highness, spare my life! I only obeyed Jia Ren to save my own life! I was forced by Jia Ren!"
"Yes, yes! I have elderly parents and young children to support, all of whom live in this Fukang County. If I dare to show the slightest reluctance, Jia Ren will surely kill my entire family! I am not afraid of death, but my family is innocent!"
…
Looking at their ugly faces, Jia Ren angrily shouted, "You opportunistic scoundrels, don't try to portray yourselves as innocent! If I hadn't promised you those high-ranking positions and generous salaries, would you be as obedient as dogs?!"
He realized that he had completely failed this time!
However, before he died, he wanted to take as many people as possible with him, otherwise he would be too lonely on the road to the underworld!
Cao San clutched his severed right wrist, trembling with pain, and walked with some difficulty to Jia Ren's side. "Why did you kill my whole family?! If you wanted me to work for you, I would have obeyed, but why did you kill my family?! What did they do wrong?!"
But Jia Ren laughed and said, "Who do you think you are? It's already a miracle that I can remember you, let alone remember who your family is."
"Your father, however, is far more astute than you. He noticed something was wrong with the water in that vat. But he's just a lowly clerk; I wouldn't waste my breath trying to recruit him. So I simply had him killed! Haha!"
Cao San lunged at Jia Ren like a madman, yelling, "You don't deserve to call yourself an official! You're not even as good as an animal!"
This time, none of Jia Ren's trusted subordinates stepped forward to protect him. However, the injured Cao San was no match for Jia Ren and was quickly defeated.
Cao San, who was lying on the ground trying to get up, saw that Su Muxi did not send anyone to help him, and turned his hateful gaze on Su Muxi.
"Why don't you hurry up and kill Jia Ren?! You only stood by and watched me get beaten up because I offended you before! Have you had enough of the show now?!"
Su Muxi looked coldly at Cao San and uttered only two words: "Mad dog."
Although Cao San's family members died and deserve sympathy, Cao San always recklessly and directly blamed others, making him no different from a mad dog that bites people indiscriminately.
Upon hearing this, Cao San's eyes burned with even greater hatred.
"Su Muxi! You claim to be acting on the Emperor's orders, but since you knew the truth and already had the antidote, why didn't you bring it out sooner?! Did you have to see all the people die and solidify Jia Ren and the Wei family's crimes before you would take action?!"
Upon hearing Cao San's words, Jia Ren's eyes flickered slightly, and he hurriedly continued in the same vein.
"That's right! Su Muxi, you say I harmed the people of an entire city and my crime is unforgivable, but aren't you no different!"
They could have just presented the prescription directly and exposed my crimes, but instead they went through all this trouble, bringing along so many young masters. Isn't that just to solidify the guilt of me and the Wei family?
So you are one of the culprits behind the deaths of so many people in Fukang County!
Unexpectedly, the seemingly most innocent prey turned out to be a ruthless hunter who had been plotting for a long time!
The Wei family has truly failed this time. Not only did they fail to swallow up the Su family, they are likely to be swallowed up by the Su family instead!
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