newbobooks Chapter 1165 "The higher-ups take this war very seriously!"
Chapter 1165 "The higher-ups take this war very seriously!"
Such scenes continued to unfold in various places in the imperial capital.
The four major families have deep roots and basically have people in every department.
Now that the two sides have gone to war, these officials who are affiliated with the four major families have not stopped and have started arresting people based on evidence.
For them, this is simply an achievement that comes right to their doorstep, and they would rather take it.
It’s so easy that they don’t even need to search for evidence, the four major families will give it to them.
For a time, the Economic Investigation Bureau, the Tax Bureau, the Criminal Investigation Department, and the police department, every department was extremely busy.
That night.
Inside Donghua Manor.
Li Zhengguo's family of three and Lu Feng were eating hot pot meat around the dining table.
The charcoal fire in the copper pot is burning brightly, the clear soup in the pot is covered with fine foam, and a few pieces of green onion and ginger slices are gently rolling in the boiling water.
The lamb slices arranged next to it are a fresh pink, and the texture is like naturally carved silver threads. They are so thin that they can reflect the silhouette of a person under the light. You can tell at a glance that they are lambs airlifted from Meng Province, and only the most essential parts are taken.
After being put into the pot and slightly heated, it curls into a beautiful arc. The red and white texture becomes more distinct in the boiling soup. When it is picked up, it is covered with crystal water droplets. It is coated with sesame paste and put into the mouth. It is so tender that it almost does not need to be chewed.
The sesame sauce is also prepared by the master chef using Erba sauce. The ratio of fermented bean curd and chives is just right. Add a few drops of freshly fried chili oil and the aroma spreads instantly.
Su Yao's hands holding the chopsticks were well-maintained, with her nails trimmed neatly and smooth, with a light pink tint.
She raised the corners of her eyes slightly, her gaze fixed on the boiling pot, and accurately picked up a piece of mutton that was cooked just right, and gently placed it into Lu Feng's bowl. Her movements were so gentle as if she was afraid of disturbing anything.
"Eat quickly, the meat here is tender and won't taste good if it gets cold."
Her voice was gentle, with the softness unique to Jiangnan women, and there was a loving smile between her eyebrows. That smile was not deliberate, but came naturally from her eyes, as if she was looking at her own child.
His every gesture and movement exudes the grace and elegance of someone who has long held a high position, yet he appears particularly amiable in this love.
"Mom! You are too biased!"
Li Luoning looked at this scene, pouted immediately, and looked at Su Yao with pretended dissatisfaction, "Just give it to Xiaofeng, where is mine? You favor boys over girls!"
Li Zhengguo put down his chopsticks and laughed heartily. The fine lines at the corners of his eyes smoothed out, and he looked cheerful.
"You're so old, and you're still jealous of Xiaofeng? Come, let dad get some for you!" As he said that, he picked up a piece of meat with chopsticks and put it into Li Luoning's bowl.
Li Luoning snorted and used her chopsticks to pick at the meat in the bowl, but her face no longer showed any real anger. "He's just a little younger than me, not really my brother."
Seeing this, Su Yao smiled helplessly, picked up another large piece of meat and put it into Li Luoning's bowl, and said in a coaxing tone:
"Alright, alright, I'll give it to you. Our eldest daughter won't be wronged."
Seeing this, Li Luoning smiled secretly, and her anger seemed to have calmed down.
The atmosphere at the table was warm and harmonious, with occasional laughter and chatter dispelling the tension and gloom of the day.
After about a quarter of an hour, Li Luoning put down her chopsticks first: "Mom, I'm full. If I eat any more, I'll gain weight."
Su Yao also stood up: "I'm almost done, you two can eat slowly."
After saying that, the mother and daughter walked to the living room together, leaving Lu Feng and Li Zhengguo at the dining table.
Lu Feng watched their backs as they left, then picked up a large piece of mutton with chopsticks, dipped it in sesame sauce, stuffed it into his mouth and started chewing, then picked up the small wine cup in front of him and drank it all in one gulp.
The rich aroma of wine mixed with the aroma of meat filled his mouth. He sighed comfortably, and a hint of relaxation appeared between his brows.
At this moment, Li Zhengguo put down his chopsticks, tapped the table lightly with his fingertips, and spoke in a calm tone:
"Xiaofeng, do you know that since the war broke out, twelve people from the Ye family have been arrested, and seven people from the Shen family and the Li family have also been arrested. The impact caused is quite significant."
Hearing this, Lu Feng stopped what he was doing, picked up a pickled garlic from the small plate next to him, peeled off the thin skin, put it in his mouth and chewed it slowly. The sweet and sour taste instantly relieved the greasiness in his mouth.
He looked up at Li Zhengguo and said slowly, "I know this. Even in a war without the smoke of gunpowder, there will still be casualties. I believe you and your two uncles have already anticipated this."
Li Zhengguo nodded, obviously agreeing with Lu Feng's statement. He was silent for a moment, then changed the subject:
"The matter about Ye Tian was caused by you, right? You have now completely controlled his whereabouts, right?"
Lu Feng did not deny it, nodded, and a faint smile appeared on the corner of his mouth:
"Yes, I was the one who spread it. It just happened to add fuel to the fire for the Ye family, making them unable to take care of themselves."
Seeing him admit it, Li Zhengguo leaned forward slightly, and through the rising steam, his voice lowered even lower, with the power to penetrate people's hearts:
"You want to completely split the two brothers of the Ye family by doing this," he shook his head slightly, his eyes as deep as a pool, "The resistance in this is not small."
"We've been brothers for over twenty years, and even if our bones are broken, the tendons are still connected. As long as Old Master Ye is still around, this flag will not fall. It would be extremely difficult to get them to completely break off ties."
Lu Feng put down his chopsticks and folded his hands on the edge of the table, his knuckles clearly visible. He met Li Zhengguo's scrutinizing gaze and spoke calmly:
"I know it's difficult. But uncle, given the current situation, this is the best solution."
"Only by completely alienating Ye Wenwu and Ye Wenyuan and tearing the Ye family apart from within can we maximize profits at the lowest cost."
His voice was not loud, but every word was clear, like cold beads falling on a jade plate.
"There's already been a rift between the two of them. All it takes is a big enough fuse and a precise explosion point. Ye Tian is the best chess piece."
Li Zhengguo was silent.
He picked up the chopsticks and fiddled with the pot, which only had clear soup and a few slices of green onion and ginger, as if he was fiddling with the intricate chess game of the imperial capital.
After a moment, he raised his head, the relaxed smile on his face had long since disappeared, replaced by a rare solemnity:
"This matter, that person," he raised his chin slightly, a silent but weighty gesture, "is very important to me."
"The Ye family is a tough nut to crack, but the bones of the imperial capital can't withstand such violent shocks."
"You need to control the range and rhythm, the timing and the strength."
"Remember, what the imperial court needs is 'stability', not 'chaos'. The situation can be intense, but it must not get out of control. You must strike a balance."
Lu Feng picked up the wine glass, but did not drink it immediately.
He looked at the clear liquid in the cup, which reflected the warm yellow light from the ceiling and his own calm eyes. He nodded slowly, his voice steady and powerful:
"Uncle, don't worry, I know. This fire will only burn in the Ye family's yard and won't spread anywhere else. I have the final say."
As soon as the words fell, the only sound in the restaurant was the subtle crackling of the charcoal fire in the copper pot.