Fearing being killed for his overwhelming merits, the empress decided to marry him.

"Zheng Bisheng, I'm so disgusting!"

The next morning, as soon as the gates of the Governor's Office were opened, a large group of officials who had been made scapegoats rushed in.

Without saying a word, an official surnamed Ma rushed into the hall and immediately launched into a tirade of traditional Chinese culture upon seeing Zheng Bisheng.

"You surnamed Zheng, you think you can just hand over my life with a letter and then take over my family's ancestral property?"

"Do you remember back then, when I was still your page, we went to Yuhang to pay respects to our ancestors. On the way, we encountered bandits. When they pulled out their knives, you were so scared that you peed yourself three feet high."

“It was me, Ma Guocheng! I carried you, with tears and snot streaming down your face, for over a hundred miles to escape the bandits and get you back to Suzhou.”

"Now look what's happened! Not only do you not remember our past kindness, but you also want me to take the blame? Are you even human?"

"Let me tell you, you want my life? I paid you back the day I took that knife from you!"

"You still dare to mess with me? You want me dead, huh! Hmph, come and try if you dare!"

As he spoke, Ma Guocheng abruptly ripped off his official robe.

In an instant, her plump, pale figure was laid bare before everyone's eyes.

The other officials, seeing this, immediately cheered.

"What a hero! Well said!"

"I knew Guocheng was a real man; how could he just throw himself away for nothing!"

"See that? That's a real man! No wonder he's so energetic and doesn't look bad at all!"

Seeing Ma Guocheng's arrogant and domineering look, as if he were a dead pig unafraid of boiling water and clearly ready to fight to the death, Zheng Bisheng's eyes began to twitch uncontrollably.

He said nothing, trying to suppress his inner anxiety, and slowly sat down in the main seat.

"What are you doing? What are you doing? Are you trying to rebel?!"

Suddenly, Zheng Xiaoru's voice rang out in the hall.

"Howling like ghosts and wolves so early in the morning, are they all planning a rebellion?!"

Zheng Xiaoru was used to being arrogant and domineering. Relying on his powerful father, he looked down on all the officials in Suzhou and often scolded them like dogs in a superior tone.

This approach usually works quite well, but right now, it's clear that it's not handling interpersonal relationships and social interactions well...

"You son of a bitch, Zheng Xiaoru, watch your mouth!"

Ma Guocheng tossed his official robe aside and then put it back on.

“In the past, I wouldn’t bother with you, a junior, because of your father’s influence. But you’ve taken my politeness for granted and are now getting too big for your britches, haven’t you?”

He rolled up his sleeves and grabbed Zheng Xiaoru by the collar in one swift motion.

"What are you doing? What are you trying to do?!"

"What are you doing? Today I'm going to teach you a lesson on behalf of your father, so you won't cause trouble when you go out and end up losing your family line!"

After finishing his rant, Ma Guocheng swung his hand and delivered two crisp slaps to Zheng Xiaoru's face.

"Good! Well done, Guocheng!"

"I told you Guocheng is a real man, didn't I?"

"Those two slaps really hit me where it hurt; it should have happened a long time ago!"

The surrounding officials cheered loudly upon seeing this scene.

Zheng Xiaoru was also stunned by the beating.

Feeling the burning pain on my face, I finally became certain of one thing.

I got slapped!

Instantly, anger surged from the soles of his feet to his head.

"You dare hit me? You dare hit me!"

"From childhood to adulthood, no one except my father has ever dared to slap me in the face like this!"

"Ma Guocheng, I'm going to fucking cripple you today! Yay!"

Taking advantage of his weight, Zheng Xiaoru pinned Ma Guocheng down.

The two quickly began to wrestle, and cheers and applause erupted all around them once again.

The Zheng family servants outside the hall kept peering into the house.

Unfortunately, without Zheng Bisheng's permission, they didn't dare to barge in; it wouldn't be worth getting beaten up for helping someone.

"enough!"

Finally, Zheng Bisheng slammed his fist on the table and roared.

Instantly, the noisy scene fell silent.

Zheng Bisheng glanced around and then said, "What exactly do you want from this whole Qing Dynasty causing such a fuss?"

Yuan Shouchang immediately said, "Your Excellency, we just want an explanation. Why are you handing us over to take the blame?"

Zheng Bisheng: "Didn't I make it very clear to you? We have to give an explanation to the imperial court, otherwise everyone in Suzhou will be finished."

"If I had a better solution, why would I have handed you over? This was the only option available; it was a sacrifice of the individual for the greater good."

Yuan Shouchang laughed: "Your Excellency makes it sound so easy. If you're going to hand people over, why hand us over specifically?"

Regarding the embezzlement of salt taxes, not to mention other prefectures and counties, in Suzhou Prefecture alone, 90% of the officials were involved. Many were far more corrupt than we were, and some were even more ruthless in their corruption.

Why should we be the ones to take the blame? We are not satisfied with this arrangement!

"Yes, I disagree!"

The other officials echoed the call.

Zheng Bisheng's expression changed instantly, and his rat-like eyes narrowed slightly.

"Then what do you want?"

"How about it?" Yuan Shouchang simply found a stool and sat down. "We all understand the principle of asking us to risk our lives to protect the thousands of official families in Suzhou!"

But to ask us to lose our lives so easily based on just a few words is far too frivolous!

Your Excellency, I am not an unreasonable person. Now that the case has blown up and someone needs to take the blame, I can understand that.

But a clan assembly must be held to unanimously decide who should take the blame!

Zheng Bisheng: "You mean to summon all the Suzhou officials and decide together who should take the blame?"

"That's the point. Whoever is chosen is chosen, and that way no one will have any objections."

"What if I don't agree?"

Upon hearing this, Yuan Shouchang smiled.

"This humble official knows that Your Excellency comes from a powerful and influential family, and has connections within the imperial court and palace."

But we've been in Suzhou for so many years, we're not pushovers. If you push us too far, we'll fight to the death, and nobody will get away with it!

Zheng Bisheng lowered his head and fell into deep thought, occasionally glancing up at the expressions of the other officials in the hall.

After a long silence, he finally relented: "I have thought about it carefully, and my previous actions were indeed very inappropriate. Since that is the case, I will grant your wish."

"Therefore, I hereby order all the prominent families of Suzhou to attend a meeting at the Governor's Mansion to decide who will take the blame."

Yuan Shouchang: "Alright, in that case, we'll wait here for the meeting to begin!"

Zheng Bisheng sneered inwardly: "You're still too green to fight me."

Once Yang Shuang's army arrives at the Mingzhou camp, the fate of Suzhou will be in my hands, Zheng Bisheng's."

……

At noon, officials of the seventh rank and above from all over Suzhou gathered at the Governor's Mansion to begin a meeting to "take the blame."

Shen Lang stood on the second floor of a restaurant, watching the bustling crowds on the street, trying hard not to laugh.

It's finally time to close the net.

"Lord Zhenguo, does the imperial court truly intend to rectify the officialdom in Jiangnan?"

Beside him, Liu Wu, covered in wounds, still stood tall and upright, exuding an image of integrity and uprightness.

Shen Lang deeply respected Liu Wu, an honest official who was wholeheartedly devoted to the country and its people.

Compared to those self-proclaimed intellectuals who only engage in empty talk and pointless complaints, Liu Wu at least genuinely gets things done.

"Inspector Liu, I'm sorry to have troubled you these past few days."

"My grievances are nothing; I only want to know..."

Is the imperial court truly planning to reform the officialdom in Jiangnan?

"Will you bring a bright and clear sky to the people of Jiangnan who are exploited by powerful families?"

Liu Wu had a serious expression, and his bright eyes contrasted sharply with his slightly thin body.

Shen Lang smiled faintly: "Lord Liu, please wait and see. Before returning to the capital to report back..."

I will thoroughly eradicate the corrupt practices and evils within the entire Jiangnan officialdom!

Upon hearing this, Liu Wu bowed and cupped his hands to Shen Lang, saying, "This is a blessing for all people under heaven."

At this moment, Wang Rui appeared behind Shen Lang: "Duke Zhenguo, the troops in the Suzhou camp have completed their reorganization."

They have secretly taken control of all the major city gates of Suzhou Prefecture and are ready to be deployed at any time.

"Order Zhang Dayong to proceed according to plan and swiftly take control of the major aristocratic families' mansions and local government offices!"

"Yes!"