Like Jinxi, Ruzhou City was relatively isolated from information, but only ordinary people were isolated from it.
Yu Li was able to thrive in Ruzhou because he was able to accurately understand the various current events and major affairs in the Anguo court.
His source of information was naturally his elder brother. He and Yu Sheng would exchange letters several times a month, so he could know immediately whatever happened in the court.
Since last year, one name has frequently appeared in his elder brother's letters: Jing Zhe.
At first, he didn't take it seriously, assuming that he was the son of Jing Wenmao, the former Minister of Personnel. His elder brother valued him because of their past relationship. However, he didn't think highly of Jing Zhe either, because he knew that the Jing family and the Prince of Jin were enemies! He was well aware of how much influence the Prince of Jin had in Jinxi!
At the beginning, Jing Zhe was just a minor official of the fifth rank—compared to his elder brother or himself, the fifth rank was indeed a minor official.
However, as an official, Yu Li's political acumen was unmatched by ordinary people. He was very clear about how powerful an official who controlled the political mouthpiece and was only responsible to Emperor An was!
Most importantly, Jing Zhe was also highly valued by Emperor An. In his elder brother's letter, the first-rank official, Grand Tutor Bai, was so angry with Jing Zhe that he fainted countless times, but Emperor An always dismissed him with a single sentence.
Wu Xianyong, the Vice Minister of War, had his entire family wiped out because his grandson offended Jing Zhe.
Even the King of Jin, the enemy of the Jing family, was not spared. The heir of the King of Jin was detained in Jingzhou for a month, but Jing Zhe went to Jinxi and managed to escape unscathed! By the time he left Jinxi, he was already the leader of the martial arts alliance!
So, like his elder brother, Yu Li also began to have high hopes for Jing Zhe. Sure enough, Jing Zhe's rise to prominence exceeded his expectations.
In just six months, Jing Zhe had already built his own network of relationships, and his network was incredibly complex. Among the first-rank officials closely associated with him were the Prime Minister, the Grand Tutor, and his elder brother, the Duke of Protectorate!
The key point is that his sisters are also quite capable, including Zhu Xinning, a secretary in the Imperial Secretariat; Liu Jinghong, the General of the Astounding Swan; Qingqiu of the Qingyun Sect; and Pei Yunxi of Kunlun County…
Just before the Lunar New Year, Jing Zhe himself became a high-ranking official of the second rank…
Now, Yu Li, like his elder brother, has joined the ranks of those who admire Jing Zhe. Moreover, according to information provided by his elder brother, it won't be long before Jing Zhe becomes the son-in-law of the Yu family. The Yu family will also be able to establish a connection with the royal family because Princess Mo Chen will be marrying into the Jing family...
So when Yu Li learned that his good-for-nothing son, Yu Haixing, had a conflict with Jing Zhe, he immediately locked him up in a cell.
Early this morning, the Crown Prince of Yu went to the Yu family, saying he had something to discuss with Yu Haixing.
Yu Li also adopted a neutral stance towards Yu Wang's heir, and since he had already imprisoned Yu Haixing for so long, Yu Li decided to give Yu Wang's heir some face and agreed to let Yu Haixing leave the Yu family with him.
However, Yu Haixing rushed back not long after he went out, muttering curses under his breath. This would never have happened before, because Yu Haixing would have gone out and played until dark before coming back.
Something unusual must be going on, so Yu Li called Yu Haixing into the house and asked him what he had been doing outside.
At first, Yu Haixing hesitated and stammered, but after being slapped by Yu Li, he finally told the truth. Because he dared not scold the Crown Prince of Yu, he could only vent all his anger on Manager Hu.
"You mean, Jing Zhe has come to Ruzhou?"
Yu Li frowned and asked.
He received a letter from his elder brother Yu Sheng a few days ago. Yu Sheng also told him about Jing Zhe leaving Jingzhou to open a branch of the newspaper. However, Yu Sheng guessed in the letter that Jing Zhe's first stop was Jiangling. So Yu Li was very surprised when he heard that Jing Zhe had come to Ruzhou.
"I just saw him at Juxianlou! That Hu Yitong is out of his mind, daring to ask me to frame that kid surnamed Jing! Luckily I'm smart, I ran away as soon as I saw him!"
At this point, Yu Haixing was quite proud of his own cleverness.
"Smack!"
Yu Li slapped Yu Haixing on the head.
"What's wrong, Dad? I didn't cause any trouble this time!"
Yu Haixing usually got beaten up by Yu Li quite often, but today he didn't cause any trouble, so he stood up straighter.
"How many times have I told you? When you see him, you should call him Brother Jing. Have you forgotten?"
"I…"
Yu Haixing felt wronged. He had been bullied by Jing Zhe so many times, and because of him, he had been kicked out of Wuxian Pavilion after finally getting into it. Not only did his father not stand up for him, but he also helped Jing Zhe to teach him a lesson!
Yu Haixing grew angrier the more he thought about it. Before he could think of a way to refute his father, he saw Yu Li take off his civilian clothes and quickly put on his official robes.
"Father, where are you going?"
"Where are you going?"
Yu Li glanced at him and said coldly, "Isn't it to clean up your mess and improve your image in President Jing's eyes?"
"..."
After saying this, Yu Li summoned his deputy and led the troops out, leaving Yu Haixing standing alone at the door, looking bewildered.
...
Yu Li arrived with a large contingent of armed soldiers, and the local people spontaneously made way for him.
Both Prefect Liu and his constables were extremely excited when they saw Yu Li arrive.
You should know that Jing Zhe now has thirty or forty people around him, and half of them look burly and strong. The waiters who came from Wenxiangju are all laborers with strong physiques. It would be very difficult for these constables to handle it alone.
The officers and soldiers are different. Compared to them, the constables are at best a ragtag army, and their combat effectiveness is incomparable. Now that the officers and soldiers have arrived, they no longer need to take action to arrest people.
Prefect Liu thought the same thing and immediately went to greet him.
"So it's Governor Yu who's arrived!"
After exchanging greetings with clasped hands, Prefect Liu pointed at Jing Zhe and Chen Jiannan and the others surrounding him, and said coldly, "Governor Yu has arrived just in time! These outsiders are causing trouble at Juxianlou and are not obedient. Governor Yu, arrest them all!"
Yu Li glanced at Prefect Liu, a cold smile creeping across his face.
You probably still don't understand the situation, do you?
Now I'll make it clear to you!
"Someone come here!"
"exist!"
At Yu Li's command, a row of soldiers immediately came out with their swords.
"Take them down!"
"yes!"
Then, the atmosphere in the hall suddenly changed!
The officers and soldiers arrested all the constables, led by Prefect Liu, and the hall fell silent instantly.
Prefect Liu, with a knife pressed against his neck by the soldiers, was completely bewildered. After a long pause, he asked with a mournful face, "Governor Yu, are you mistaken? Why are we arresting our own people?"
"..."
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