Chapter 177: Chapter 115: This Kid, Is He Really Only in His Early Twenties?? He’s Way Too Cunning!

Go ahead and arrest those writers.

They wrote the articles.

But if you really arrest them, you’d better think it through.

If the Shenling Daily is gone today...

...then the day after tomorrow, a Ling Shen Daily might suddenly pop up.

If the Ling Shen Daily is gone the day after tomorrow, then the day after that, a Future Ling Shen Report will appear.

You’d better be sure about this.

What’s more...

Lu Yuan took a sip of tea and grinned at the stunned Governor beside him.

"Besides, what crime has the newspaper committed?

They are merely reporting what they have seen and heard.

It’s like when the common people are wronged and go to the Government Office to beat the drum and proclaim their grievances, accusing so-and-so of breaking the law.

So let me ask you, when these people go to the Government Office to beat the drum and proclaim their grievances...

...has the person they’re accusing been convicted by the Government Office?

If not, then aren’t the people beating the drum and proclaiming their grievances also considered to be spreading malicious rumors?"

The Governor raised an eyebrow at Lu Yuan but said nothing.

Lu Yuan continued:

"If that’s not the case, then what crime has the newspaper committed?

Or does it say somewhere in our laws that discussing ministers is forbidden?

As the saying goes, ’Guarding the mouths of the people is more difficult than damming a river.’ Surely, Your Excellency is aware of this classic saying?

If Your Excellency believes we have done wrong, then please, feel free to report this matter to your superiors.

King Yan’s second son is also aware of this matter. He was eating and drinking at the Zhao Family’s estate for over half a month.

He just returned to Yandu a few days ago, so King Yan has likely been informed as well.

If you feel that’s still not enough, then by all means, ask King Yan to make a ruling."

’To be honest, in a workplace setting, Lu Yuan’s words were extremely foolish.’

’Why? Because the Zhao Family is in Qilu.’

’And the man before him was the Governor of Qilu.’

’In other words, he was essentially Lu Yuan’s direct superior.’

’It’s like bad-mouthing your manager to the general manager.’

’It’s called going over your boss’s head, tattling on them to their superior.’

’It’s the stupidest thing you can do in a professional environment.’

’Unless, of course, the general manager is a relative who can actually protect you.’

’Or if your manager has made a mistake big enough to get them fired.’

’Otherwise, you can just wait for them to make your life difficult.’

But in this situation, he had no choice.

Lu Yuan could only resort to using King Yan’s name.

And as soon as Lu Yuan said this, the Governor’s expression clearly darkened.

A moment ago, neither Lu Yuan’s disrespectful act of standing up without permission...

...nor the way he spoke while casually sipping his tea...

...had caused the Governor’s expression to change.

But the moment Lu Yuan mentioned this, the Governor’s face soured.

It was as if Lu Yuan was brandishing King Yan’s name as a threat.

’In reality, a simple investigation would reveal whether Lu Yuan had any connection to King Yan.’

’It was just that Lu Yuan was connected to King Yan’s second son.’

For Lu Yuan to use King Yan’s name to pressure him like this, of course his expression would change.

’However, if Lu Yuan only knew how to play hardball with the Governor, he’d be a fool.’

’What he’d said just now was only to let the Governor know one thing.’

’I have powerful people backing me.’

’I’m not a pushover you can bully as you please.’

’So don’t mess with me.’

’And now, it was time to soften his tone, to give the other party a way out.’

’Or rather...’

’...it was time to give *himself* a way out.’

’After all...’

’Lu Yuan knew that from the very beginning, the Governor had never truly intended to punish him.’

’He had merely seen Lu Yuan’s youth and wanted to intimidate him, to put him in his place right from the start.’

’Then, he either wanted Lu Yuan to dissolve the newspaper, or...’

’...to hand the newspaper over.’

’Of course, neither of those was an option.’

’So he had no choice but to take a hard stance.’

’But their relationship was too complicated for them to truly go head-to-head.’

’After all, their relationship was quite complex.’

’This was Song Chi’s father-in-law.’

’If I really cause a scene with him, it would put Song Chi in a difficult position.’

’Besides, the man really hadn’t intended to do anything to Lu Yuan in the first place.’

’If he really wanted to deal with Lu Yuan...’

’...he certainly wouldn’t have summoned him to a place like this.’

’Nor would he have spoken to him privately.’

’This meant he still wanted to negotiate with Lu Yuan.’

’Since that was the case, after making it clear as the junior that he would absolutely not hand over the newspaper...’

’...it was now natural for him to soften his stance and give them both a way to back down.’

Lu Yuan looked at the Governor’s ashen face, then immediately knelt again, cupped his hands, and said:

"Your Excellency, this junior understands your concerns.

You’re simply worried that someone might use the newspaper to slander an innocent person’s name out of thin air.

This junior understands Your Excellency’s perspective on this matter."

Lu Yuan’s sudden kneeling and placating words made the Governor, who had been about to lash out, pause in surprise.

At his side, Song Meiqin quickly knelt as well, a perfect display of a wife following her husband’s lead.

The Governor’s expression softened slightly, and just as he was about to say something...

...Lu Yuan spoke again:

"Please rest assured, Your Excellency. After I return, I will certainly regulate the newspaper.

I will tell those writers that their articles must not be based on baseless rumors; they must be factual.

When it comes to matters involving provincial officials, they must be extremely cautious.

Furthermore, I will bring the articles to Your Excellency for review first. Only if Your Excellency says they can be published, will they be published.

I will ensure we do not spread malicious rumors."

These words truly struck a chord with the Governor.

After all the trouble the Governor had gone to, this was his ultimate goal.

With something like a newspaper, one could ruin whomever they pleased.

The terrifying part about it was that...

...even an honest official, if smeared by a single bad headline...

...would suffer a huge blow to their reputation, even if they were later cleared of any wrongdoing.

’My god, that could affect a person’s entire career!’

As the saying goes: Spreading a rumor is as easy as opening your mouth, but refuting it will run you ragged.