Twenty-two, willing to go to the wilderness to eliminate the root of the disease

  The Grand Councilor of the Ming Dynasty was equivalent to the Prime Minister during the Tang and Song Dynasties!

  The officials under the prime minister are of the seventh rank. These powerful slaves actually belong to the Grand Councilor's household, don't they all have a rank of seven?

  Yu Guozhen saw that the faces of the young men were somewhat pale, and he knew in his heart that although he had been subtly indoctrinating them with some ideas of loyalty to himself over the past two months, it was still too short a time compared to the long-standing "people do not fight against officials".

  There were only two brothers in the Gao family, still carefree and nonchalant. Gao Dazhu even spat on the ground.

  "You little beast, I'll skin you alive and cut you into a thousand pieces..." Zhou brother shouted at Yu Guozhen while crawling up.

  "Isn't it Zhou Daodeng? A retired official, still indulging his nephews to run amok in a foreign land?" Yu Guozhen stepped forward, kicking him in the mouth, and kicked back his shouting: "This is Wujiang, Suzhou Prefecture, not a place where a retired official's nephew can be arrogant!"

  "You..." Zhou Brother never thought that the other party would know his identity and still be so arrogant. What he relied on was, on the one hand, his retired uncle, and on the other hand, more than a dozen powerful slaves who followed him. Now neither of these two could be relied upon, and Yu Guozhen kicked and trampled him, causing him to wail and howl instantly.

  After the fight, Yu Guozhen clapped his hands: "The old man's nephew is still crying and begging for mercy, kneeling on the ground. Zhou, you tell me what you're doing here this time!"

  Although the young men were somewhat intimidated by the retired official surnamed Zhou, when they saw Yu Guozhen's nonchalant demeanor, their courage naturally grew, and under the leadership of the Gao brothers, they tied up these arrogant slaves.

  The man surnamed Zhou also fell to the ground and was tied up, at this time he had completely lost his momentum from before. A good man doesn't take advantage of someone in a vulnerable position, no matter what he's thinking about going back to get revenge, for now he has to admit defeat.

  "My name is Zhou Tonggui, I was called by Yu Yijin, I met him in Suzhou, he said he wanted to entrust our family property to my uncle, so my uncle asked me to come and take a look... it's none of my business, I'm just here to take a look..."

  "Huh? That's it?" Yu Guozhen sneered: "It seems you can't even remember the second column... This guy is yours, break three of his legs."

  "Little official, where did he get those three legs?" Er Zhu asked strangely.

  "In the middle, there is also a small leg, although it's a bit short, I think it doesn't have much use." Yu Guozhen burst out laughing: "After breaking off, their family will not only produce a Grand Councilor, but also a nameless white, if they're lucky, who knows, maybe even become an eunuch in the palace."

  At this time, those who castrated themselves were called Wu Ming Bai. This kind of person was the most discriminated against. Zhou Tong heard it and panicked: "You dare, you dare!"

  "Got it!" The two men suddenly enlightened, came over and immediately wanted to pull down Zhou Tonggui's pants.

  He moved quickly, and Zhou Tonggui soon felt a chill in his buttocks. The curses and threats in his mouth immediately turned into pleas for mercy: "Master, spare me, Master, spare me! It was I who had greedy intentions, wanting to take advantage of Uncle's name to make money. Yu Yiqin promised me benefits, that's why I acted this way!"

  At this time, Zhou Tonggui hated Yu Guizhen the most, and next was Yu Yijin. Therefore, in his confession, on the one hand he tried to clear himself, and on the other hand he also pulled down Yu Yijin.

  Yu Yi is now completely at a loss, and after being stunned for a while, he wanted to run away. Yu Guozhen gave Ye Wuyue a signal, and Ye Wuyue, who had been robbed of the opportunity by Luo Jiuhe, suddenly jumped out and tripped Yu Yi to the ground with his leg.

  "Colluding with outsiders and plotting against one's own family, with Second Uncle as the head of the clan, it should be up to Second Uncle to decide how to handle this." Yu Guozhen looked at Yu Yiqin.

  Yu Yiqin nodded, although Yu Guozhen's words had already determined the guilt of Yu Yiqin, but after all, he still respected his authority as the head of the clan. In his heart, he had long regarded Yu Guozhen as a pillar of the Yu family, even surpassing Yu Yixuan who had made a name for himself.

  "Second brother, second brother, I was wrong! I was wrong!" At this time, Yu Yijin knew that something was amiss and shouted loudly.

  "Lao Liu, I won't say anything to you now. This afternoon, the clan meeting will be held, and some things need to be settled." Yu Yiqin sneered: "When you came this morning, you relied on outsiders to be fierce and didn't put me, your second brother and the clan leader, in your eyes. Now you're begging for mercy? It's too late!"

  "These slaves were first tied up and thrown out of the courtyard, let them kneel for a day, and tomorrow they will be sent to the officials." Yu Guozhen understood Yu Yiqin's meaning: "As for Zhou Tonggui, drag him to the woodshed, get pen and ink for him, I want his confession."

  After those slaves were dragged out, Yu Yiqin lowered his voice and said: "He made a confession here, but he can deny it once he goes out..."

  "Don't worry, Second Uncle, I made him confess to things he wouldn't dare retract." Yu Guozhen sneered.

  "But after all, he is a retired Grand Councilor. If we press charges too hard... As long as the disciples and former officials of that Grand Councilor make things difficult for our Yu family, it will be troublesome."

  "Second Uncle can rest assured, I came for this very reason." Yu Guozhen smiled: "Fifth Uncle has mentioned this Zhou Gonglao before, but it was just a joke, Second Uncle should still remember, right?"

  "Black-toothed gentleman, dignified and venerable in appearance?"

  This is a famous anecdote about Zhou Daodeng, who became a high-ranking official purely due to luck. He lacked knowledge and talent. Once, when Emperor Chongzhen asked him the meaning of "black teeth", he replied that it meant "teeth are black". Another time, when Emperor Chongzhen asked him the meaning of "face and favor", he answered that it meant "favorable face". This person was incompetent, and it went this far.

  "It was he who was dismissed by the Emperor for his incompetence and retreated to the countryside, what else can he do?" Yu Guozhen smiled coldly: "These people are all officials, Second Brother sends some silver to the government office, letting them drag it out first. I'll go to Suzhou Prefecture and eliminate future troubles!"

  Yu Guozhen mentioned "settle" at the time, Yu Yiqin's heart suddenly jumped, because he felt that he seemed to have heard the sound of killing again!

  For such a thing, go kill a retired official?

  "Guo Zhen, don't be rash, you mustn't be rash!" Yu Yiqin was somewhat flustered, and pulled Yu Guozhen into the house, saying in a low voice: "Killing some water bandits is no big deal, but officials appointed by the imperial court, even if they are retired or resigned, are not people we can touch!"

  "Second Uncle, do you think I'm someone who doesn't know what's important and what's not?" Yu Guozhen smiled.

  Looking at his nephew's smile, Yu Yiqin's heart still couldn't put it down: "You're a person who knows what's important, but your actions... are too reliant on brute force. Sometimes, Guo Zhen, I really don't feel at ease."

  This was a heartfelt and sincere advice, Yu Guozhen of course knew what was good or bad, he thought for a moment, felt that telling Erbo about his own plan didn't matter much, so he spoke in a low voice.

  When Yu Yi-qin first heard him, he was still shaking his head non-stop. Then, after listening to Yu Guo-zhen's analysis of the character of the current cabinet members and officials, as well as that of the emperor himself, and finally concluding with the age of the retired official Zhou Dao-deng, he revealed an expression of extreme shock on his face. As he looked at Yu Guo-zhen, apart from admiration, there was also a kind of inexplicable fear.

  For Yu Yiqin, these were all big shots, and the Emperor was even more of an extraordinary figure. Yu Guozhen actually took Zhou Tonggui, a small-time character, as an opportunity to include all these extraordinary figures... This kind of thinking is also too frightening!

  "Second Uncle can rest assured, even if there's no need for Zhou Da to go, I must make a trip to Nanjing and Suzhou. Firstly, with Sixth Uncle in this state, the Yu family's shop in Nanjing obviously cannot be managed by him anymore. This shop is our Yu family's foothold in Nanjing; if things become inconvenient in the countryside, we can still move the whole clan to Nanjing. Secondly, it's related to our previous plan; the people Fifth Uncle brought back need to be arranged with work, and my trip to Suzhou is also preparation for their livelihood."

  Yu Yiqin listened and nodded slowly after a while: "Guo Zhen, now that our entire clan is led by you, whatever you say goes. Second uncle may not have much experience, but he's older and has been through more things. There's just one thing... you must consider the well-being of the clan in everything you do. What you're carrying on your back isn't just your own life!"

  This is his limitation, and Yu Guozhen also did not intend to let him change his own point of view. Since he supported it, the next thing would be easy to handle.

  "I know, Second Uncle. Time is of the essence. Before news from this side reaches them, I'll immediately head to Nanjing and then go to Suzhou!"

  "How many people are you bringing?"

  "This time, there's no need to bring many people. I'll only bring Gao Bu Pang and Er Zhu. However, the shop in Nanjing needs a new manager. Who do you think is more suitable?"

  Yu Yiqin hesitated for a moment, as the shop had been managed by his cousins for a long time. Now that the two brothers from the fourth house had completely fallen out with the family, it was difficult to arrange suitable personnel.

  "This... clan seems to be a bit short-handed, does Guo Zhen have any suggestions?"

  "Big Brother is fine, he has been helping Big Uncle in the pawnshop for several years and there's no problem with his behavior." said Yu Guozhen.

  The "big brother" he recommended is Yu Guoxiong, the eldest son of Yu Yijian. Now that Yu Yijian is old and usually a good master, he doesn't ask about family matters. Although Yu Guoxiong didn't show any special talent, managing a grocery store wasn't a big problem.

  Anyway, there were originally two shopkeepers and an accountant in the grocery store, he just needed to take care of the accounts.

  "Guo Xiong... is a good candidate." Yu Yiqin was slightly disappointed, actually he had hoped that Yu Guozhen would propose his eldest son Yu Guowei, but he also knew that in terms of handling things smoothly and steadily, Guowei was slightly inferior to Guoxiong.

  It's even more impossible to compare with Guo Zhen, this nephew, who is only fifteen years old and will be sixteen by the end of the year. He can do things that people in their thirties and forties cannot match!

  "Also, let Third Brother and Fourth Brother follow us to gain some experience. When Fifth Brother returns, those new family members might need to be managed by Third Brother and Fourth Brother." As if knowing what was on his mind, Yu Guozhen added: "However, Third Brother and Fourth Brother are a bit frivolous, so if they get taught a lesson by their nephew, Second Uncle please don't take offense."

  "That's natural, you taught them, it's their good fortune!" Upon hearing this, Yu Yiqin was overjoyed.

  (PS: However, Yu Guozhen's face showed a look of difficulty, and Yu Yiqin smiled and said, "Isn't Guozhen solving all the troubles? Why are you still so depressed?)

  Yu Guozhen sighed: "There's another big trouble, my nephew is at his wit's end."

  "Oh, is it worrying about the Eastern Turks?"

  "The Eastern Barbarians have nothing to worry about, they are just a pack of wolves and jackals feeding on carrion. As long as one hero emerges from among us Han people, it will be easy to sweep them away!"

  "Is that a river bandit?"

  "The bandits are nothing to worry about, as long as there is grain and land, what's to fear that the bandits won't be eliminated?"

  "What else could make you so unhappy, nephew?"

  "It's a matter of rushing to the top, this week is said to be the key to rushing to the top by Minghui, if it can't get on the list this week, then the book will show its true colors." Yu Guozhen sighed: "I've been thinking about it too, and I think it's extremely difficult!"

  "Guo Zhen, nephew, this is where you're wrong. As the saying goes, 'one person's plan is short-sighted, but many people's plans are far-reaching.' You think it's difficult to top the list on your own, why not ask others for help? Fortunately, there are still some officials and readers reading your story now, please let these officials and readers sympathize with you because of the difficulties in your future journey, and lend a helping hand. What's the big deal about topping the list?"

  After hearing the words of the second uncle, it was indeed a wake-up call for someone who was dreaming. Yu Guozhen immediately bowed with his fists and said: "Honorable judges, with just one person's strength, it is absolutely impossible to top the list. Please, honorable judges, lend a hand and collect your clicks and recommendations. Thank you very much!