Chapter 555: Chapter 311 Righteous Son of the Supervisor
“Don’t be polite, you are my own brother after all!”
Zhou Yi was very affectionate towards him, as if he truly considered Zhou Xiong his elder brother.
In actuality, relatives such as parents and siblings ant little to Zhou Yi. He had personally killed several of his adopted sons and had long since developed the disposition of preferring to let down the whole world rather than himself.
Getting close to family mbers now was also just for utilitarian purposes.
After all, an orphan without parents or children was soone the emperor dared not employ extensively, such a minister without vulnerabilities acted most recklessly and was also very difficult to control.
Hence, one might care little for the family, but must pretend to care!
...
“That is very good.”
Zhou Xiong nodded repeatedly, his anxious thoughts sowhat relieved.
Having been in charge of the heavenly prison for just a year, the Inspectorate had sent in dozens of officials, both from the capital and from the provinces. The commonality was that they all had suffered torture, each one was beyond recognition.
Hearing the prisoners recount the brutality of the head of the Eastern Depot, even as his own brother, Zhou Xiong felt a chill in his heart.
“My lord, your subordinate has another matter to report.”
Zhou Yi circulated his Inner Qi and probed into Ji Yue’s body, leaving a hidden marker in his chest that would explode the day after tomorrow, causing his organs to shatter and leading to his death.
One must never be soft on enemies, should kill when necessary to prevent them from turning the tables in a desperate situation.
“Speak.”
“In recent days, many refugees have co to the capital, and our household has set up porridge stalls to provide relief. My father saw a child among them, bright and clever, so he went to the governnt office to register the child and changed his surna to Zhou.”
Zhou Xiong raised his eyes to look at Zhou Yi, who had a smile on his face, before continuing.
“Father has listed this child under my lord as his son, so that he may continue the incense offering in the future. If my lord agrees, please choose a na for him.”
“As for the na…”
Zhou Yi pondered for a mont before saying, “Let’s call him Ping’an, not seeking glory or riches, but only hoping for peace and safety.”
A look of delight flashed in Zhou Xiong’s eyes as he quickly bowed.
“Your subordinate will imdiately add the nephew to the family registry.”
“Go ahead, I’ll take a look around this heavenly prison.”
Zhou Yi waved his hand, signaling Zhou Xiong to leave, and walked alone through the heavenly prison. He no longer felt that inexplicable sense of familiarity; instead, he learned a few novel thods of torture through conversing with the jailers.
“I’ll try them out on the prisoners in the dungeon later!”
…
Orthodox Year Four.
September.
The first confrontation between the two Depots ended with a comprehensive victory for the Eastern Depot.
Commander Ji Yue was eliminated along with his entire family, implicating dozens of local officials at the level of thousand-household and hundred-household officers, marking this as the first large-scale punishnt of regional military governors’ officials since the founding of Daqing.
Lu Wei, who was acting in a supervisory role, reported tily rit and was promoted to Commander.
With a new official lighting three fires, Lu Wei’s first fire burned up to the Eastern Depot, and six eunuchs who were managing affairs were captured in quick succession.
The head of the Eastern Depot was infuriated, cursing Lu Wei as a treacherous and ungrateful villain, and, leading hundreds of black-clad n, charged towards the regional military governors’ offices with great montum.
Passing through the Palace Gate.
Eunuch Yuan had been waiting for a long ti, smiling as he said, “Head of the Depot, please wait, His Majesty has a verbal command.”
“Long live my emperor…”
Zhou Yi quickly knelt down, shouting long live three tis.
Eunuch Yuan said, “His Majesty has heard that many refugees have arrived from the north, and the local officials have not reported the disaster. The regional military governors’ offices are currently empty. This matter is to be investigated by the head of the Depot.”
“Please rest assured, Your Majesty, I will surely investigate thoroughly.”
Zhou Yi prostrated to receive the decree and slipped a stack of silver notes out of his sleeve, handing them over to Eunuch Yuan, “How has His Majesty been feeling lately?”
“Quite well.”
Eunuch Yuan said, “Just yesterday, His Majesty praised Commander Lu for his loyalty and reliable work!”
Zhou Yi cupped his fists, saying, “Thank you, Eunuch Yuan.”
With the regional military governors’ offices severely damaged, and Lu Wei taking charge amid crisis, it was hard for him to compete with the Eastern Depot in the short term. Thus, the emperor stepped in to divert Zhou Yi, allowing the Western Depot ti to recover.
Of course, investigating the refugees coming from the north was also very important.
Eunuch Yuan glanced around and said in a low voice, “There are so things the head of the Depot should understand, with both Depots standing, both exist; if one perishes, both perish!”
“Eunuch Yuan’s insight is profound!”
Zhou Yi, accompanied by his black-clad n, turned back to the Inspectorate and summoned the Eunuch Lin in charge of communications.
“What kind of disaster has occurred in the north to cause so many refugees?”
“Replying to my lord, the eunuch managers of the three northern jurisdictions sent back carrier pigeons at the beginning of the month stating there was nothing major.”
Eunuch Lin bowed and said, “I had my doubts, so I dispatched n to investigate a few days ago. More than ten days have passed without any news.”
“Heh heh heh…”
Zhou Yi did not get angry upon hearing this but instead let out a string of strange laughs, “Well, well, the Inspectorate has been established for just a year, and local eunuchs have already been bribed by others, truly remarkable!”
The adopted sons attending at his side and the officials awaiting orders all knelt down one after another.
Zhou Yi turned his head to look at one of his adopted sons, “I ask you, who in the north has such great ability to bribe de-rooted eunuchs with no descendants?”
The adopted son replied in fear, “Godfather, your son doesn’t know.”
“Do you not know, or dare not say?”
Zhou Yi waved his hand, drawing the adopted son closer, grabbing his neck, and spoke coldly, “Last night, a man with a northern accent visited your residence in the capital. I have looked into your ancestry for eight generations, and you have no relatives who went north to make a living.”
The adopted son dared not hide anything and scread in terror.
“Godfather, spare my life, in a mont of confusion, I took silver from the King of the Northern Defense…”
“Taking silver is no big deal, I’ve taken much more. But you must know, there are so people’s silver you must not touch!”
As Zhou Yi spoke, his grip slowly tightened, and as the last word fell, the sound of a neck bone snapping was heard.
The head lost support and hung limply onto the chest.
After throwing the adopted son into the corner with a wave of his hand, eunuchs were there to take care of the body. Zhou Yi coldly swept over all the adopted sons and officials with his eyes, warning, “Whoever dares to take silver from the north in the future, it won’t be so easy to die!”
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