Xie Quan: "Gongming’s strategic thinking is profound; I am no match for him."
Xu Qing chuckled lightly, "It’s nothing more than armchair strategizing. Whether or not the matter succeeds, we’ll have to see the actual results. Now that Teacher is aware that this matter is urgent, it seems time to start acting."
Xie Quan felt insulted; what does he mean by saying that he knows the matter is urgent?
Xu, you explain this to me!
He just grumbled in his mind, as his curiosity at this moment was more about how Xu Qing would resolve the matter. Xie Quan asked:
"How does Gongming plan to act, do you need my help?"
Xu Qing: "Early tomorrow morning, Teacher just needs to accompany me to the Government for a visit."
Xie Quan was extremely curious, "What does Gongming intend to do?"
Xu Qing: "To cure the disease, we must get to the root; the same goes for dealing with a seditious heart. Of course, it has to be solved from the ground up. Teacher need not ask further; you will understand tomorrow."
Jiangning Prefecture, Hu Family’s large courtyard.
The Old Master of the Hu Family retired last year from his position as Minister of Public Works among the Six Ministries in the capital. Among the nobles of Jiangning Prefecture today, the Hu Family owns the most land and has the largest gardens. With the Old Master still alive, his words naturally carry great weight.
The current Family Head of the Hu Family, Scholar Hu, studied for ten years at Songyang Academy, one of the top four academies in the world today, and has a profound network and background. Now at home, he is preparing for next year’s examination.
Not long ago, he also organized a literary social gathering that Xu Qing attended.
"Old Master, the Government has sent someone over, summoning the Family Heads of the prefecture to meet at the Government tomorrow."
"Don’t go, just say the Old Master is ill." Scholar Hu felt a sudden surge inside. At this time, with the autumn grain issues past, what good things could come from the Government summoning them local nobles?
"Erm, they said... Recently the Government has kept records of the Family Heads attending the literary social gatherings, as well as the comings and goings of doctors in the different families. They have also dispatched people to watch over these activities. If a Family Head finds excuses not to attend, it would be seen as despising the Court..."
"Damn it, Xu Gongming, you son of a bitch." The Family Head of Hu couldn’t help but burst into foul language. No wonder in these past days, Xu Qing attended various literary social gatherings without any refusal, behaving cordially, and even proactively invited the Government Officials from the Government and County Government to maintain order.
This was openly putting them under surveillance.
The Family Head of the Hu Family knew the character of the other Family Heads well. If he had informed them earlier, there might have been a chance to collude and refuse collectively.
Now, there would definitely be some who would attend.
If others go and you don’t, then you’re the fool.
Don’t think that nobles will stand united.
The reality is that other families can’t wait for strong families to fall so they can feast on their corpses.
How can the families behind rise if the ones in front don’t fall?
Similar occurrences were happening to all families in Jiangning Prefecture, and they had also noticed that outside their large courtyards, there were Government Officials, Embroidered Guards, and Inner Factory Ti Qi keeping watch.
"Can’t take the heat, can you?" Many Family Heads felt breached.
They had only spread rumors, but you, Xu, you take it seriously and play for real.
But they had no good solutions; in these past months, who among the people working for the Inner Factory, Embroidered Guard, and Government had not received benefits from Xu Jieyuan.
It’s not like they’re asking you to risk your life, just to pass a message or stand guard outside; there’s money in it, why not do it.
Moreover, Xu Qing’s amiable and courteous demeanor during the recent literary social gatherings had truly confused most of them.
They thought after Xu Qing became a Top Scorer, he would understand that the Government is the Court’s Government, but Jiangning Prefecture belongs to the nobles; Xu Qing is now part of the nobles too, so there’s no need for infighting.
Turns out they were all deceived.
So the next morning, all the prominent nobles and Family Heads of Jiangning Prefecture arrived at the Government, even those who were genuinely ill.
Some Family Heads who showed up felt quite let down in their hearts.
How come not one of them has the guts.