The Empress's No.1 Lackey
Chapter 687 - 458, Jianning 45 Days (7,000-Character Long - )_2

Chapter 687: 458, Jianning 45 Days (7,000-Character Long Chapter)_2

"The Shen family has deep roots, with industries spread throughout Jiancheng Road and even to Huai River Road. Likewise, there are many members of the Shen family, each with their own calculations and interests."

Governor Ning excitedly stood up and interjected:

"Therefore, as long as we unite more people to divide and encircle, those members of the Shen family whose interests are harmed will turn around and pressure the Grand Dowager Shen. In such a large family, unity of minds is most important; once minds are scattered, it collapses!

The Shen family is indeed unafraid of fighting a financial war with us, but they will fear our psychological warfare!

Moreover, the Grand Dowager must not only draw in allies and maintain continuous obstruction against the court, but also constantly offer benefits to compensate the losses of the clan members... she won’t last long!"

Zhao Douan smiled while drafting the second letter, which was addressed to "Feng Ju" stationed at Hu Ting:

"Don’t forget, our allies aren’t just the government offices, but also the Imperial Merchants raised by the New Policy, big and small families.

Doctor Feng, who presides over the New Policy in Hu Ting, and I have past ties. With one letter from me, he can assemble those Imperial Merchants to join the hunt."

Zhao Douan then took out the third letter and simply addressed it to Prince Huaian!

Prince Huaian, a fence-sitter, showed a tendency to lean towards the court during the opening of the market in Hu Ting, so Zhao Douan straightforwardly extended an invitation this time.

Whether there’s a hit or miss, let’s give it a try.

His fourth letter was written to the Magistrate Luan Cheng of the Coastal Road, with a simple request: swallow up the Shen family’s accumulations in the Coastal Road.

The fifth letter...

The sixth letter...

Zhao Douan, in one go, wrote a thick stack of letters, but considering this consumption war with the Shen family must be concluded before the Empress’s Sealing.

Also considering the communication distance of this era, he contacted only nearby "allies."

Unknowingly, Zhao Douan’s connection network was no longer limited to just the Capital, but now extended to the Nine Roads and Eighteen Prefectures.

Finally, he summoned Tributor Song Jinxi, instructing:

"Send these letters out; let the Tributor of the Martial Arts Hall run this errand. I need it to be fast enough and safe, to avoid interception."

"Yes." Song Jinxi nodded, taking the letters and hesitantly asked:

"Sir, should we disperse and protect our officials here? If those assassins change targets and attack the officials beneath us..."

However, Governor Ning shook his head and said: "No! Neither the Shen family nor Prince Jing Mansion would do such unruly things."

He spoke with certainty.

The logic is simple; if Prince Jing turns and starts killing the officials below, then Zhao Douan can also send his subordinates to hunt the people of Prince Jing Mansion...

And considering Zhao Douan’s subordinates include five experts from the Worldly Realm, a large group of Imperial Family tributes, and Lihua Hall elites... If both sides disregard rules and start assassinating covertly.

Both will suffer greatly, and it would be utterly meaningless.

"Governor Ning is right, there may still be assassinations, but they will mainly target Governor Ning and me, so during this period, I’ll also reside in the Governor Mansion,"

Zhao Douan pondered, then suddenly had a thought, smiling:

"However, although there’s no need for mutual assassinations, it doesn’t mean we can only play defensive.

I dare to bet that Prince Jing Mansion’s secret spies are surely observing our every move in the shadows, so we can deliberately throw out some bait to lure their spies to seize it, and then you can counter-kill them...

The city’s Shadow Guards can cooperate with you, providing intelligence.

Ha, I’ve repeatedly witnessed the methods of the Mansion’s secret spies in the Capital; this time, let’s test their capabilities."

Song Jinxi grinned upon hearing this and exited the room in response.

The Inner Palace Experts of the Martial Arts Hall had long been confined to the palace, and now a collective outing was a rare opportunity; hunting the Mansion’s secret spies was just the amusement they needed.

...

...

The two sides have completely gone to war!

This is a fact gradually recognized by the big and small figures within Jianning Prefecture.

From the time the Shen family and the Governor Mansion began wrestling both openly and secretly.

The notable figures who once attended the "Jing Garden" night banquet started betting, speculating on who would first cease actions and surrender.

And how long it would last.

Initially, almost everyone thought this confrontation would achieve a turning point in a few days, but as days passed, this smoke-free skirmish not only showed no sign of "ceasefire" but instead escalated.

What drew people’s attention especially was that in this drama of local officialdom, centered around the Cao Transport Office, pitted against the foremost local family of this dynasty, the Prince Jing Mansion, which should ostensibly intervene, remained nearly silent to the point of non-existence.

On the tenth day of the war.

There was a surge of chaos in civil cases, with dozens occurring in a day, leaving each county government in chaos.

The Magistrate of Jianning Prefecture couldn’t withstand it and went to the Cao Transport Office to plead for a ceasefire, only to be courteously "invited" out by Zhao Douan.

On the twentieth day of the war.

Letters sent by fast horses from Jiancheng, Huai River, and Marine Roads began arriving at the Shen family’s residence.

On that day, the Shen family convened a clan meeting, with a majority of the clan members attending—what happened remained unknown; it was only known that afterwards, the Shen family amputated its limbs, willingly abandoning its external industries, fully retracting its strength.

A full month into the war.

This season, the collection of Cao Yun grain met with obstacles; Zhao Douan entered the prison late at night to talk with His Excellency He Xiaolou, who was imprisoned there.

Next day, He Xiaolou and twenty powerful individuals beside Zhao Douan disappeared and within just two days, the Grand Canal had over fifty additional corpses.

Cao Yun ships set sail on time, unaffected.

...

On the forty-ninth day of the war.

In the overcast, from dawn, drizzles began falling over Jianning Prefecture.