I proved immortality through the imperial examination.

Chapter 75: A show of force

"I, I, am guilty!"

Zhao Fengju was completely convinced.

"Your Honor is wise; I, Su, confess!"

Although Su Shunqin was already guilty and could not escape punishment, he was truly convinced and shouted loudly when he saw that Xue Xiang had also exposed Zhao Fengju's treacherous thoughts.

The onlookers were stunned; it was the first time they had ever seen someone convicted, and they cheered the presiding judge for his wisdom.

"Suiyang Town is blessed. Lord Xue's divine power is like a prison, and we common people have someone to rely on."

"With the protection of the divine ruler, the people are blessed."

"........."

The people, who already firmly believed in ghosts and gods, bowed down in obeisance.

Xue Xiang entered the Literary Palace with his mind and saw streams of black energy surging in, which was the long-lost energy of vows.

"Cool!"

Xue Xiang was overjoyed. With his acting skills on full display, he went deep into the crowd, helping the elderly and children, and spoke heartfelt words to them. He moved a group of people to tears, and he also took the opportunity to gain a lot of good fortune.

At this point, Xue Xiang could not have been more satisfied with the results of his appointment as an official in Suiyang.

…………

The next day, at dawn, in front of the Lake and Sea Pavilion, white ducks, like birds, gracefully flew away.

Early in the morning, before Lake Sea Pavilion was even open, the elegant room on the top floor, Wanghaiju, was already open.

"I will not be a human being if I don't avenge this."

Tong Sheng groaned as he leaned on the railing. Even though five days had passed since he was beaten, he still couldn't sit down.

"What, still not convinced? You've encountered the mighty Lord Xue, so you can only endure it if you're not convinced."

The portly man in fine clothes who sat in the main seat, whose full name was Ding Chunxia, ​​was in his early forties and exuded an imposing aura. He was none other than the sect leader of Kaishan Sect.

"I'll put up with him my ass. If it weren't for Boss Tong's repeated instructions, I would have turned against that dog long ago. Do you really think I, Tong, have been wasting my time in Suiyang all these years?"

Tong Sheng said through gritted teeth.

"Boss Tong, give me some advice!"

Zhang Leng, the second squad leader to Tong Sheng's left, stared coldly at an old man with a pockmarked face. "After Xiao Xue established his authority at the First Bureau, his prestige has grown increasingly stronger. My squad leaders are already daring to obey Xue's orders without my knowledge."

If this continues, we'll really lose power.

"Brother Anshi, what do you think?"

The pockmarked old man looked at Wang Anshi, who was silently drinking tea.

Wang Anshi said, "Fighting back and forth is meaningless. The important thing is to set up the shops at the ferry crossing according to plan."

The transfer of shops at the ferry crossing also requires Director Xue's signature.

If relations completely break down, both sides will inevitably suffer losses.

"If it's a lose-lose situation, then it's a lose-lose situation. Xiao Xue is so assertive; he must not be willing to cooperate with us."

The third squad leader, Liu, who was shouting the message, was leaning against the lap of a beautiful actress in the corner.

"Old Tong, stop asking around. Everyone will listen to you. You make the decision."

Ding Chunxia said cheerfully, "In my opinion, it's best to finish this quickly; dragging it out will inevitably lead to unforeseen changes."

The pockmarked old man strolled to the secluded place, where he saw the clear lake and the vast emptiness. His heart swelled with pride, and he said loudly, "I've been idle for too long. It's time to get some exercise. I'll personally test this Lord Xue and see just how much he's worth."

…………

Evening, in the conference room.

After a thorough rain, the dampness and stuffiness in the air have dissipated considerably.

The meeting was originally scheduled for 3:15 PM, but Xue Xiang, seeing everyone around him reading, came over first.

The large meeting hall, where the original sets of desks and chairs were placed, has been cleared out and replaced with rows of benches placed close together.

This time, Xue Xiang convened a meeting of all staff in the Eleventh Office, which was attended by more than twenty clerks and more than one hundred police officers, except for those on duty.

The reason was that he keenly noticed that during this period, his words were being seriously disobeyed in the Eleventh Room.

Power is transmitted through secondary powers; if secondary powers get out of control, we must address the root cause.

The meeting was only a quarter of an hour away, and no one else had shown up except for him, which was abnormal in itself. Xue Xiang snorted and pulled a letter from his sleeve.

The letter had just been forwarded from Yunmeng. Upon unfolding it and reading only the beginning, Xue Xiang's face lit up with joy.

This letter was his reply to the Southern Tian Shu Pavilion Research Association.

The replyer, identifying himself as Mr. Xin, said he was very pleased to receive Xue Xiang's letter and asked if Xue Xiang had any questions, specifying that he would be paid for answering them.

He also hoped that Xue Xiang would include the payment in his letter when he sent his inquiry.

Xue Xiang was also worried that this Mr. Xin was providing services for free. He wasn't afraid of being charged, but he was afraid that the information he provided might be inaccurate.

At the hour of Shen (3-5 PM), the two chief clerks, Chen Jun and Gong Bei, arrived and bowed to Xue Xiang in accordance with proper etiquette.

After Xue returned the greeting, the two sat down.

At 1:15 PM.

In the council hall, three squad leaders, Tong Sheng, Zhang Leng, and Liu Xiao, along with nine platoon leaders and over 130 patrolmen, appeared as if by magic within twenty breaths.

Subsequently, Wang Anshi arrived and brought Tong Guonan's sick leave certificate.

Xue Xiang stood up and said loudly, "Everyone has arrived, very good..."

Xue Xiang had just started to speak when a series of alarm bells rang loudly.

A clerk came running in, panting, to report that the Second Public Office had come to report a fire.

Zhang Leng stood up abruptly, cupped his hands in a salute to Xue Xiang, and said, "The fire is of utmost importance; please forgive me, Director Xue."

With a wave of his hand, the more than thirty men of the Second Squadron dispersed.

A few breaths later, someone else reported that a fight had broken out between two villages in the jurisdiction of the First Office.

Tong Sheng glared at Xue Xiang defiantly and said in a deep voice, "In the event of a brawl, people often die. Chief Xue, do you think I should go deal with the case, or stay here for a discussion?"

Xue Xiang waved his hand, and Tong Sheng shook his head and limped away, leading the entire squadron away.

As expected, the three public offices also had cases, and Principal Liu led his men out of the room with an air of nonchalance.

In an instant, the crowded venue became empty.

"Chief Xue, what do you think..."

Chen Jun asked timidly.

Xue Xiang waved his hand, and he and Gong Bei left, taking a group of clerks with them.

In the huge meeting room, only Xue Xiang and Wang Anshi remained, seated on the dais.

The evening breeze blew in, making the door rattle loudly.

Wang Anshi got up, walked to the window, and opened it. The snow-white apricot blossoms were in full bloom.

Wang Anshi said in a low voice, "This apricot tree blooms and fades, fades and blooms again, always in front of this window, but the wind doesn't know that it is just passing by, and always comes to bother it."

Xue Xiangdao said, "The wind leaves a trace, and people leave a sound."

Even if the wind is just a passerby, doesn't it still leave behind a carpet of petals?
Chief Wang, tell Tong Guonan to ask for leave again and have him come to me himself.

Otherwise, it doesn't count.

…………

"It doesn't count? He's the one who decides?"

On the top floor of the Lake and Sea Pavilion, inside the Sea-Viewing Residence, Tong Guonan leaned against a beautiful woman's plump thighs, picking his ear. When he got angry, his pockmarked face trembled like rain.

"Even after all this, Xiao Xue still hasn't backed down. Looks like he's coming on strong."

Ding Chunxia, ​​a cigarette dangling from her lips, seemed lost in thought.

Tong Guonan snorted, "I know his background. He's backed by Xie Haiya and has become an enemy of the Su family."

The Su family is backed by Hong Zhangyin.

Furthermore, he was the one who orchestrated that "Cloud News" publication; just from that point alone, he's a restless fellow.

"I don't read newspapers or anything like that, and I'm too lazy to care."

Ding Chunxia said, "I'm afraid if we punish this kid too harshly, Master Xie will lose face. Let's find a way to force him to leave."

(End of this chapter)