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墨書 Inktalez
Chongyang Night, admiring chrysanthemums under the moonlight.
The atmosphere at the banquet was lively, filled with the sounds of clinking cups and laughter. Melan and I were dressed in men's attire, attending to various tasks to ensure everything went smoothly. We were also quite curious about the reason behind this grand feast.
"Such delicious dishes, garnished with chrysanthemum petals, creating such an elegant ambiance. Only Lord Nie's residence could host something like this!"
We heard many compliments like this throughout the evening.
Amidst the festivities, I realized that Luo Dachun was truly a talented individual. He could make even the most mundane matters sound extravagant, skillfully following up on others' words with perfectly timed flattery. He hardly seemed like a rough-and-tumble Jianghu hero; instead, he resembled someone well-versed in the ways of officialdom.
As the wine flowed and camaraderie grew, Luo Dachun suddenly raised his cup and declared loudly:
"Everyone here is from Yichuan County's esteemed families; you are indeed the backbone of our Yichuan County. Since Qiu Yuan took office, he has received such generous support from all of you, and I am truly grateful. You have invested heavily in our Yichuan County's commerce and agriculture. As a local official, I thank you on behalf of the people!"
With that, Luo Dachun tilted his head back and downed his drink.
The guests were momentarily stunned because none of them had ever donated money to the common folk. Suddenly, it dawned on me why he accepted wealth so readily; it seemed he intended to redistribute it!
When someone offered money to an official, it was typically to ensure their future convenience in exploiting the populace without fear of repercussions. However, Luo Dachun had subtly made his stance clear: "I do not want your money; I will use it to support the common people instead. Do not think you can buy me!"
Watching the expressions of confusion turn to realization among the guests was utterly amusing to me. But I wondered if he had just offended all the wealthy patrons of Yichuan County.
Luo Dachun then stood up, picked up a jug of wine, and began to toast each guest individually.
"Liu Yuanwai, I've heard that your Tai Feng Tower is doing quite well; I must visit soon to experience it for myself. I've also heard that some unsavory characters frequent there for less than honorable dealings? If there's anything you need from me, just let me know!"
Later, I learned that Tai Feng Tower was indeed involved with gangsters, which explained its thriving business. They protected criminals, covered up evidence of murders, and laundered money for the gangs. If the official authorities decided to investigate seriously, they would uncover everything without fail.
"Mr. Chen, you look well. I've heard that the Third Young Master has settled in nicely recently, which must have saved you quite a bit of worry."
The implication from Luo Dachun was clear: he had figured out where the Third Young Master was hiding after his escape.
As the toasts continued, nearly everyone engaged in small talk, their faces adorned with smiles that seemed rather forced. Once again, I found myself reassessing Luo Dachun's intelligence; capturing the leader first and striking at the weak points—every skilled person has vulnerabilities, especially those who are not entirely clean in their dealings. Having only been in Yichuan for a short time, it was likely that these two brothers had already grasped the various powers and influences within Yichuan County.
As the meal progressed, beads of sweat began to form on everyone's brows, as if summer had returned from its brief absence. People raised their glasses to praise the County Magistrate's abilities, claiming that they had not contributed enough to the welfare of the people and promising to donate more in the future.
I felt a mix of amusement and irritation. It was amusing how they managed to handle a group of local tyrants and gentry so easily, catching them off guard with their boldness. Yet it was frustrating that, after all this effort, who could still enjoy the delicacies? We had put in so much effort to arrange this gathering, only to find ourselves caught up in their games!
I couldn't tell whose idea this was, but it was clear that these two were quite formidable partners. However, such tactics were only possible for us; others would likely fail. We had wealth, connections, martial skills, and intellect. We held a strong hand of cards; as long as we played carefully, the obstacles wouldn't be insurmountable—we could definitely handle Yichuan County.
I wondered why Nie Qiuyuan chose this path instead of retreating into obscurity. I believed he must have his reasons since it was evident he took his role as County Magistrate seriously. The next step was clear: how to develop and improve Yichuan County.
After sending off the guests and having the servants clean up, Nie Qiuyuan gathered us three for a meeting in the inner courtyard.
The meeting was led by Nie Qiuyuan and focused on discussing future decisions. Even Melan and I were invited to participate; they showed considerable respect for women.
"There will be quite a bit to do moving forward," he said. "So, Liuying and Melan, you'll need to dress as men in public from now on; some matters are simply not suitable for women to handle."
It seemed we truly had our roles to play, and I felt a thrill of excitement that mirrored Han Meilan's expression.
"We've investigated many issues and discovered that Yichuan County has numerous chronic problems. The previous County Magistrate Liu Jin likely left behind many issues that are now starting to surface."
The main problems in Yichuan County revolved around governance and people's livelihoods. Corruption ran rampant among officials; bribery had become commonplace. In every department, nothing could be accomplished without offering some sort of gift. The local gentry attending the banquet all carried titles of "Yuanwai."
"Yuanwai," as the name suggests, refers to officials outside of regular appointments. Although such positions could be bought freely after the Ming Dynasty based solely on wealth, theoretically this was not the case during the Tang Dynasty. The Tang inherited from the Sui system; Yuanwai Lang and Yuanwai should have been legitimate positions with proper ranks. However, it was evident that these gentry had purchased their titles.
Corruption among officials was rampant, and the people's lives were naturally filled with hardships. Yichuan County was situated at a higher elevation with fewer rivers, making it prone to droughts and poor harvests. To make matters worse, the taxes imposed in Yichuan County were among the highest in the surrounding areas, leaving the common folk in misery.
When the people suffered, they sought justice. However, the former county magistrate, Liu Jin, had arrested anyone who dared to beat drums at the county office, labeling them as "unreasonable troublemakers." Later, when some citizens attempted to bypass the magistrate and appeal to higher authorities, they were intercepted by county officials and thrown into prison. Thus, it was difficult to determine how many of those incarcerated in Yichuan County were truly guilty.
"I think that the County Vice Magistrate isn't too bad," Luo Dachun remarked. "After investigating his background, it turns out he has no significant issues."
I also had a favorable impression of Wang Jinzhi, based purely on instinct; there was a faint glimmer of something called "hope" in his gaze when he looked at us.
"Indeed, the current County Vice Magistrate possesses considerable shrewdness. He has managed to navigate this environment skillfully without getting trapped in any pitfalls. He is undoubtedly a pragmatic person who can endure," Nie Qiuyuan said with an unusual smile. "Entrusting him with the county's specific affairs poses no problem at all."
The plan commenced, and we each had our simple roles assigned.
As the County Magistrate, Luo Dachun was responsible for governance and commerce; Melan, being soft-hearted and good at communication, would handle disaster relief and comforting the populace; Nie Qiuyuan, as the County Constable, was tasked with investigating cases; yet my assignment was the most peculiar.
"Liuying," Nie Qiuyuan said calmly, "Yichuan County's terrain is unfavorable and prone to droughts, making it extremely difficult for the people to farm. You are responsible for solving this issue."
My mouth fell open in disbelief. Come on, you want me to solve the drought problem? Shouldn't this be something for the Dragon King to handle?
So this was it—I was essentially being sidelined?
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