Once I enter the pass, great Confucian scholars will surely debate the classics for me.

Zhai Xingyuan has always been adept at forming cliques and vying for power and profit.

Zhuang Zheng was one of his people in the supervisory department and also a member of the Luo family faction.

Zhai Xingyuan wanted to control the Night Patrol Bureau and tried to win over Zhao Kuo, but Zhao Kuo was too shrewd and refused to join Zhai Xingyuan's scheme. So Zhai Xingyuan had to find a way to bring down Zhao Kuo and then let his own people in the Night Patrol Bureau take over smoothly.

Zhai Xingyuan rubbed his temples: "Zhou Silang, it's that guy again. He really has a long reach. He even secretly recruited Zhao Kuo. No wonder Zhao Kuo refused to join him. It turns out he had someone behind him all along."

Zhuang Zheng tentatively asked, "Old Zhai, since Zhou Silang is involved, are we still going to continue?"

Upon hearing this, Zhai Xingyuan pondered for a moment.

Currently, Zhou Qingfeng has assigned Xiao Hongyun to eliminate dissidents under the guise of investigating internal traitors.

The Luo family gang is in a very passive position, their decline is already evident, and they urgently need to launch a counterattack.

Meanwhile, Zhou Qingfeng sent Zhiqi to take over the major serial murder case of geisha, to correct wrongful convictions, hunt down the real culprit, and investigate the officials in charge. His real purpose was to take control of the situation.

At that time, with just a little manipulation during the review process, Zhao Kuo could safely get through this ordeal.

How could she let Zhou Silang have his way?

Since Zhao Kuo is Zhou Silang's man, he should be eliminated to cut off Zhou Silang's arm. It would be best to take the opportunity to knock out his weapon as well, which would make Zhou Qingfeng very uncomfortable.

Although this cannot reverse the overall trend, it is a strong and effective counterattack.

Zhai Xingyuan opened his eyes and coldly replied, "Do it, of course we'll do it. Zhou Silang and my Luo family gang are sworn enemies. Either he will be dismissed from his post, or we will be imprisoned. There is no room for negotiation."

Zhuang Zheng hesitated. He really didn't have the guts to go against Zhou Qingfeng, especially since Zhou Qingfeng had already sent someone to invite him to dinner and a chat once. If he didn't know what was good for him, the next time it wouldn't be as simple as just having dinner and a chat.

Although he was a member of the Luo family gang, he was hoping to benefit from the faction and gain a better future and resources, rather than aiming for dismissal and imprisonment.

Seeing that Zhuang Zheng's expression was strange, Zhai Xingyuan said, "Are you scared?"

Zhuang Zheng said helplessly, "Old Zhai, you're asking me to go against Zhou Silang, how can I not be afraid?"

Zhai Xingyuan played with the two dragon balls and chuckled: "Look at your cowardly appearance. As long as you follow the rules, no one can criticize you. We're not asking you to bend the law for personal gain. Just do your job well."

"Alright." Zhuang Zheng had no choice but to bite the bullet and continue. He had no choice but to stick to the Luo family gang's pirate ship. He couldn't do whatever he wanted anymore. He had to do it whether he wanted to or not.

Several days passed in the blink of an eye. In the study of the Zhou residence, Zhiqi was reporting on his work.

Zhou Qingfeng sat steadily behind his desk, with three containers in front of him: the Heart of a Child, the Ashes of Foolish Kindness, and the Cicada of Resonance. He only needed the final key ingredient, the Demon Spirit of Words, to cultivate the ancient secret technique.

Holding the weapon, facing Zhou Qingfeng, he clasped his hands in a salute: "Young Master, Zhuang Zheng is pestering us relentlessly. For several days in a row, he has invited Zhao Kuo to a place for tea, relentlessly pursuing the issue of Zhao Kuo's dereliction of duty. He is clearly trying to destroy Zhao Kuo."

Zhou Qingfeng held up a container and examined it, saying, "Didn't you talk to Zhuang Zheng?"

He responded with his weapon clasped in a fist and said, “We talked, but it was no use. He even invited me for tea and asked me a series of tricky questions. He asked me who instructed me to plead for Zhao Kuo and whether I had any secrets with Zhao Kuo. It seemed like he wanted to kill me too.”

The Five Plum Blossom Divisions wielded considerable power, but they were not lawless. At least one of them was the Supervisory Division, which was responsible for overseeing all officials. Even officials within the Five Plum Blossom Divisions who made mistakes were subject to supervision and questioning.

Zhou Qingfeng glanced at the weapon and said, "Is he not afraid of you?"

Zhiqi said, "Young Master, he is not only not afraid of me, he is not even afraid of you."

Zhou Qingfeng clicked his tongue: "Tsk, how can a mere deputy director of a supervisory department be so arrogant? What is his background? Who are his backers? Who gave him the courage? Has he been investigated?"

Upon hearing this, Zhiqi lowered his head and replied, "I have investigated. Zhuang Zheng used to serve as the Chief Clerk in the Fifth Division. He was honest and upright, never greedy or corrupt, and often accompanied Luo Bingyi, helping him with many matters. He was highly regarded by Luo Bingyi, and almost all the long-serving veterans in the Censorate knew that he was Luo Bingyi's favorite subordinate."

"Later, a deputy director position became vacant, so Zhuang Zheng was transferred to the department. He was promoted from a minor official to the deputy director of the department. Tsk, supervising all officials, how impressive."

The position of "Dushi" is essentially a clerical official position, which is basically the job of an assistant and secretary. Whether one has a future depends on who one works for. If one works for the top leader or the second-in-command, after a few years one becomes a confidant. When a confidant goes out to do business, he or she is the embodiment of the top leader or the second-in-command, and one can imagine how much power he or she wields.

Moreover, there's no need to worry about future promotions; as long as there's an opportunity, a bright future is guaranteed.

Take this Deputy Director Zhuang, for example. He wields considerable power. Despite being called "Deputy," he is a responsible official in charge of a whole range of matters and personnel. While he cannot make decisions on major issues, he can readily lead his subordinates to accomplish many minor tasks on a whim, without needing to report to or obtain approval from higher-level officials.

Zhou Qingfeng said calmly, "Luo Bingyi's old subordinate, no wonder he's so brave."

He held the implement and listened without saying a word, simply keeping his eyes closed and his mind focused, awaiting further instructions.

Zhou Qingfeng held the box containing the Resonating Cicada, examining it in silence.

Zhuang Zheng is an official belonging to the Luo family faction, so it's perfectly normal for him not to give me face. In fact, because I want to protect Zhao Kuo, Zhuang Zheng is even less likely to let Zhao Kuo off easily and will definitely try to kill him.

He sent his own servant to take over the case of the geisha serial murders so that he could keep the situation firmly under his control and, with a little internal maneuvering, ensure that Zhao Kuo could escape unscathed.

However, Zhuang Zheng persisted relentlessly, inviting Zhao Kuo for tea every day and impeaching him for dereliction of duty. Not only that, but even the weapon he was holding was implicated. At this point, it was impossible to turn a big problem into a small one and a small problem into nothing.

After all, Zhuang Zheng belongs to the Luo family faction, so it wouldn't work if I personally intervened. Zhuang Zheng might even seize on some of my weaknesses and impeach me for crimes such as protecting each other, forming cliques, and bending the law for personal gain, which would definitely backfire on me.

Throughout history, countless heroes and great men have weathered storms and waves, yet many have still capsized in the gutter. A single moment of carelessness can lead to disaster.

Zhao Kuo's official position was definitely out of reach, and I would absolutely not use my resources to protect Zhao Kuo's position at this critical juncture, because that would undoubtedly be giving others a handle to use against me and digging my own grave.

That said, why was Zhuang Zheng so determined to destroy Zhao Kuo?

First, the two had a personal grudge, and Zhuang Zheng would seize any opportunity to make a big fuss about it and bring down Zhao Kuo.

Second, the Luo family gang could profit from bringing down Zhao Kuo, and only by creating a vacancy could they arrange for their own people to take over.

Third, both of the above possibilities are included.

Zhou Qingfeng was silent for a moment, then slowly said, "Go and invite Zhao Kuo over now."

He held his weapon, clasped his hands in a salute, and said, "Yes, young master."

Not long after, Zhao Kuo rushed into the study of the Zhou residence, bowed and clasped his hands, saying, "This humble official greets Commander Zhou."

Zhou Qingfeng gestured for Zhao Kuo to sit down and poured him a cup of lychee black tea: "Have some tea to soothe your throat."

Zhao Kuo quickly accepted it, bowed his head and said, "Thank you, Commander."

Zhou Qingfeng said calmly, "Zhao Sifu, do you have any old grudges with Zhuang Zheng?"