The Empress's No.1 Lackey
Chapter 686 - 458, Jianning 45 Days (7,000-Character Long - )

Chapter 686: 458, Jianning 45 Days (7,000-Character Long Chapter)

On this day, Jianning Prefecture was "bustling with excitement," as the campaign against the Shen family, led by Zhao Douan, had just begun, drawing everyone’s attention.

The well-informed figures in the city quickly discovered the course of events.

Upon learning that both Lord Zhao and Governor Ning had faced assassination attempts last night, they were all astonished, immediately raising suspicions and speculating whether these "assassinations" truly occurred or were orchestrated by "Yama Zhao."

In the eyes of many, although the Shen family’s roots run deep, they shouldn’t have the guts to assassinate second or third-rank officials.

However, soon the authenticity of the assassination became irrelevant, because as the Cao Soldiers sealed off the shops, the Shen family also began their counterattack.

What was not expected, and did not happen, was the Shen family surrendering and voluntarily going to the Cao Transport Office to plead for reconciliation.

In the following days, the officials in various government offices in Jianning Prefecture were all shocked to discover that their political directives were being obstructed.

Yes, the directives were impeded!

The court had set up numerous government offices in Jianning Prefecture, ranging from larger ones like the Cao Transport and government office to various smaller offices concerning different domains.

Ultimately, the court’s laws, when detailed down to the final level, require countless clerks to implement them onto the local populace.

And almost overnight, this system was paralyzed by more than half.

"The Shen family has decided to retaliate."

Cao Transport Office.

Inside Ning Zechen’s "office."

Zhao Douan stood with his hands behind his back, next to an antique shelf, and the desk was cluttered with documents densely packed, delivered by Mr. Wen.

These documents were from various government offices, covering all aspects.

Zhao Douan showed no surprise on his face:

"It is as I anticipated. The Shen family has indeed decided to retaliate, using the methods that aristocratic families excel at.

These clans will not choose to confront us directly, because they have no soldiers in their hands, no authority to interpret the law, and most importantly, no legitimacy.

So if they defy the court, even stacking several Shen families together, they will turn to dust."

Governor Ning, sitting by the wide desk, looked at him and said:

"But the Shen family has managed this region for too many years. Their influence permeates every piece of land, every alley. In terms of military force, the court prevails, but in terms of local infiltration and control, these locals prevail.

All they need to do is send a message, and many locals will refuse to cooperate with the government... no, it’s even simpler, because many of the grassroots clerks are just the Shen family’s lapdogs."

Zhao Douan sighed and said:

"Yes, officials rank higher than clerks, but how can work be done relying solely on officials? When clerks at various government offices feign compliance while actually defying, court orders get obstructed and can’t advance."

Governor Ning gave a bitter smile:

"I had felt this was challenging before, hence my repeated requests to appoint new officials, but now it seems that those aristocratic families never exerted their full strength. When they operate at full capacity, we officials become nothing but figureheads."

Did you just realize, or was it that you didn’t want to believe it before?

Why have dynasties throughout history allied with the gentry and clans?

If the Royal control is strong enough, what role do the aristocratic families have...

Zhao Douan muttered to himself, but he was not disheartened.

He stepped to the desk, overlooking the "map" laid flat on it.

On it were many areas marked densely with red and blue ink, as if two armies were clashing.

There was no overt conflict between them, but while the court targeted the Shen family’s assets, the Shen family also gradually paralyzed the court’s machinery.

"It seems I underestimated the aristocratic families of this era." Zhao Douan murmured.

"What?" Governor Ning didn’t catch it, and then he saw Zhao Douan picking up the pen to write a letter: "Lord, what are you doing?"

"Gathering more people to join this feast." Zhao Douan explained while writing, not lifting his head:

"Governor, do you believe it, the Shen family has surely begun to draw in other families, even promising them benefits, trying to amass more allies to trip up the court?"

"With the emperor about to perform the Sealing, what do you suppose will happen if he arrives and finds all major government bodies in chaos, court orders almost paralyzed?"

Governor Ning’s face slightly changed, suddenly realizing:

"You mean to say the Shen family’s plan is to delay? To drag this resistance on continuously, they’re betting that you and I can’t afford the delay."

Zhao Douan nodded, speaking quickly:

"Now, we and the Shen family are like engaging in a warfare without smoke, just to see who can’t bear it first.

If calculated ordinarily, surely we would falter first, because even if we cut off all the Shen family’s shops and caravans, the family’s heritage and stored Silver Coin are enough for them to survive comfortably for a long time...

Yet we can’t let the government offices be paralyzed for long..."

"However, they miscalculated me. Huh, if it were just you, Governor, surely you wouldn’t hold, but I can."

As he spoke, Zhao Douan had already quickly finished writing the first letter to the local military mansion, and pulled out a seal, breathing on it before stamping it in scarlet on the stationery!

He smiled at Ning Zechen, saying:

"The emperor gave me the position of a Sealing envoy, allowing me to coordinate all court institutions in Jiangnan in the name of Sealing, even seemingly unreasonable commands can be pushed forward as long as they’re justified by ’Sealing.’

Governor Ning had a moment of epiphany, realizing:

"So, you want to write to other government offices asking them to join in dividing the Shen family’s assets?"

"Smart!" Zhao Douan smiled and said: