Bab 24: Chapter 22 Rules_1
In fact, if Gu Chen, as an official of the Jing Tian Department, forcefully demanded their cooperation, Sun Li and the others indeed wouldn't have much of a choice.
But that would be the last resort because, if he did so, Sun Li and the others would undoubtedly harbor dissatisfaction. They would pretend to cooperate on the surface, but it's very likely they would drag their feet in private, slowing down the progress.
What's more, like Sun Li, some may even sabotage the efforts in secret.
Moreover, with over a hundred thousand inhabitants in Ning City and a severe shortage of manpower in the county yamen, Gu Chen must have the cooperation of several major families in the city to conduct a thorough search of the entire city.
This was also the purpose of Gu Chen's meeting with them today.
But obviously, Sun Li saw through this point and didn't want Gu Chen to have it his way, therefore he kept obstructing Gu Chen.
Upon hearing what Gu Chen had just said, Sun Li remained silent, but Sun Changzhi, standing beside him, rose to his feet, his brows furrowed, and said to Gu Chen, "What does Lord Gu mean by his words just now?"
"It means just what it literally says," Gu Chen replied indifferently.
Sun Changzhi said, "Is Lord Gu preparing to forcefully demand our cooperation?"
Gu Chen, with a calm expression, neither affirming nor denying, said, "What if I am?"
Sun Changzhi's expression darkened as he said, "Lord Gu's actions, how are they different from those of a bandit? Using the power in his hand to do as he pleases. If Lord Gu really intends to force a city-wide search like this, even if my Sun family endures it, we will absolutely not accept it. I believe the other major families feel the same."
The other family heads nodded in agreement upon hearing this, expressing their stance.
The seven great families of Ning City were as close as branches on a tree, and Gu Chen was, after all, an outsider. Once their interests were infringed upon, naturally, they would join forces to stand united against the adversary.
With the support of the Zhao family head and others, Sun Li and Sun Changzhi's confidence grew stronger. Sun Changzhi continued, "Searching the entire city isn't something that can be completed overnight. Who knows how much manpower and time will be wasted. Moreover, it could easily cause panic throughout the city. If Lord Gu cannot provide a satisfactory explanation, I expect that the hundreds of thousands of citizens in Ning City won't agree either."
Sun Li glanced at his son with satisfaction and nodded in approval. He thought these words were enough to make Gu Chen unable to step down.
Although Gu Chen came from the Jing Tian Department in Tiandu and indeed held great power, if he forcefully commanded them, they would have no choice but to obey.
However, after all, the seven great families had deep roots in Ning City for many years. They were the local powerhouses and could easily stir up the populace and create public opinion.
The families indeed had no way to deal with Gu Chen, but once the public was angered, if the hundred thousand citizens of Ning City all criticized Gu Chen, even if he came from the Jing Tian Department and was an official, he would still be in big trouble and would be punished by Tiandu.
As expected, Sun Changzhi then said loudly, "If Lord Gu still insists on this approach, then we, the seven great families, have nothing more to say. We will naturally execute Lord Gu's orders, but once this matter is settled, we will jointly report to Tiandu, informing them in detail about all the incidents that have happened in Ning City recently. I believe the princes and ministers in Tiandu will certainly give us justice."
At that moment, Fang Zhen, who had been sitting and had not expressed any opinion, heard these words and couldn't help but glance at Sun Changzhi.
Seeing Fang Zhen's gaze, Sun Changzhi's face broke into a smile as he nodded in goodwill.
Fang Zhen hurriedly looked away and internally shook his head in disapproval.
"Are you threatening me?" Gu Chen's eyes shifted as he looked at Sun Changzhi.
"I wouldn't dare," Sun Changzhi said with a fist-and-palm salute. "I am simply speaking to the matter at hand. After all, it concerns the safety of the hundreds of thousands of citizens in Ning City. I still hope that Lord Gu will think thrice before acting."
A hint of a smile appeared at the corner of Gu Chen's mouth. He looked deeply at Sun Changzhi and asked, "Are you the son of the Sun family head?"
"Indeed," Sun Changzhi replied with a smile and a nod.
"If so," Gu Chen looked at Sun Changzhi, the smile gradually fading from his face as his expression turned somewhat stern, and said, "then you should also polish your eyes and take a good look around. Among all the people here, aside from the heads of each family, there is only me, a civil official. Where is your place to speak?"
"Today, I'll teach you on behalf of the Sun family head what it means to have a sense of propriety and order, to think before speaking, and to discern the situation. In today's setting, is it a place where you can just rudely interject?"
"You!"
Upon hearing these words, Sun Changzhi suddenly stood up from his seat with a furious gaze fixed on Gu Chen, who sat at the head of the table. Being reprimanded by someone more than twenty years his junior, Sun Changzhi's face flushed red with rage, unable to save face.
The other family heads, upon hearing this, also secretly snickered. Putting themselves in his shoes, they thought that if they were Sun Changzhi, they might feel like they were better off dead at this moment.
"Lord Gu, aren't your words a bit too much? Certainly, Lord Gu called us here today hoping that we can all discuss and reach a suitable outcome and plan. Besides, the words that Changzhi spoke earlier were on my behalf. Were your previous remarks not a bit inappropriate?" Sun Li could not sit idly by, especially since his own son, who was well into his forties, was being taught a lesson by a mere youngster.
"You are wrong there, Patriarch Sun," Gu Chen shook his head.
Sun Li frowned and asked, puzzled, "Which statement is wrong?"
Gu Chen gave a faint smile and replied, "When I discipline him, he can only listen. Never mind your son, even if I wanted to discipline you, you would be just like your son, sitting below me, bearing it quietly."
"Gu Chen!"
At that moment, Sun Li could no longer remain seated. He never imagined Gu Chen would be so disrespectful. He stood up abruptly, his face as gloomy as if it could drip water.
The Sun family had not gained prominence through honorable means. Before, the largest underground gang in Ning City was the Sun family, or rather, the Sun family used to be the underworld boss of Ning City. Over the years, however, the Sun family gradually moved from the shadows into the light, stepping from behind the scenes to center stage.
In his youth, Sun Li was known for being brave and fierce. The reason he lost an eye was due to a fight over gang territory in his younger days.
Now, staring at Gu Chen, Sun Li's heart burned with rage. If not for a sliver of rationality that remained and the worry about the Jing Tian Department behind Gu Chen, he might have already ordered an attack.
"Patriarch Sun can't bear this?" Gu Chen sat at the head of the table, his expression cold as he looked at Sun Li. "There is something you still haven't understood. The words I said before were not seeking your opinions, but giving you orders. This is something all the family heads should clear up."
Upon hearing this, Sun Li's face turned ashen. He glared at Gu Chen and roared, "You insolent brat, barely grown, dare to order us around? Do you really think that because you have the Jing Tian Department behind you, you can do as you please, act recklessly in Ning City?!"
Gu Chen looked at Sun Li with an amused smirk and said, "Indeed, I am relying on the Jing Tian Department. What can you do about it?"
"You!"
Sun Li was instantly enraged, his violent temper flaring up as he trembled in anger, eyes nearly bursting. He stared at Gu Chen and exclaimed, "Gu Chen, you disregard evidence and say that we should search the entire city with you—this is simply ridiculous! You have no respect for the law, you don't follow the rules, you ignore Da Xia's laws and regulations. Just wait, I will certainly report you in Tiandu!"
He bellowed out that last sentence in a fit of rage.
At this point, Gu Chen slowly rose to his feet, his gaze becoming piercingly sharp, his entire being like an unsheathed sword, radiating danger. "The law? Rules? I'll say it once more—in this place, my word is proof, and my rules are the rules!" he declared.
"You—" Sun Li roared, nearly exploding with anger.
"Gu Chen, you overbearing brat, you've gone too far!" Sun Changzhi, too, was unable to contain his rage, standing there pointing a finger at Gu Chen's nose and cursing.
"Gone too far?" Gu Chen's face remained expressionless as he said, "Very well, today, I shall enlighten you to what's truly excessive!"
No sooner had the words left his mouth than with a whoosh, Gu Chen, who sat at the head of the table, turned into a blur, his speed astonishing as he dashed toward Sun Changzhi. His deep inner strength surged as he thrust a palm directly into Sun Changzhi's chest.
"Pu!"
Sun Changzhi had no time to react and was struck by Gu Chen's palm. He spat out a mouthful of blood and was sent flying like a broken sack, crashing against the wall. After hitting the wall, his body slid down slowly and fell to the floor, his condition unknown.
Everything happened in the blink of an eye, changing too swiftly for anyone to react, not least Sun Changzhi. Everyone's minds were dazed, and the whole room was stunned into silence.
"Changzhi!"
The first to snap out of it was naturally Sun Li. Seeing his son bleeding from the seven orifices, lying on the ground possibly dead, Sun Li panicked.
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