Chapter 83

Lin Shuge walked into the lobby again and asked directly, "Sir, what happened? Why did you ask me to come here again?"

Magistrate Li looked embarrassed. He sighed and said, "Envoy Wei sent a letter saying that Yandu sent an imperial decree for you to serve as the magistrate of Qingquan County. There is another candidate for the position of magistrate of Ganzhou. It is... the Ding family."

Ding family?

Lin Shuge's heart sank suddenly. Did the Ding family really want to interfere in Ganzhou?

"What did Envoy Wei say?"

"My father was originally planning to appoint you as the magistrate of Ganzhou County, but the imperial edict from Yandu was sent to the county governor's office in advance, asking you to take office immediately without delay."

Lin Shuge turned around and saw that it was Wei Huan.

He stepped forward to greet him, but Wei Huan waved his hand and told him to do as he pleased.

"Lord Li's term of office is about to end. My father knows your ability, and Lord Li has recommended you. It was originally a sure thing, but unexpectedly, the Ding family showed up.

County Magistrate Li asked anxiously, "Why did the Ding family pay attention to the small Ganzhou?"

"I don't know where Ding Wenhong got to know about the situation in Ganzhou, but he also wanted to get a piece of the pie. My father and I guess he must have heard about it when he accompanied Lord Ruan to Weijun to provide disaster relief."

"Father also heard that the Ding family wrote to His Majesty, saying that you are extremely talented and want to transfer you to Yandu to serve as an official." Wei Huan said while looking at Lin Shuge.

Lin Shuge was shocked and his hands trembled slightly. Didn't the Ding family want him to be used by the Ding family? No, he couldn't go.

Wei Huan saw his face turn pale, and he felt sorry for him. He said quickly, "But you don't have to worry. The Censorate reported that the governors of two states actually accepted bribes and sold the list of nominees of each state and county to the local rich families. The public was furious for a while, and the Ding family was caught off guard. With the help of Lord Ruan and Marquis Jingyuan, His Majesty didn't want you to join the Ding family, so he compromised and appointed you as the magistrate of Qingquan County."

"But isn't it the case here in Ganzhou..." Lin Shuge suppressed his resentment and asked.

"County Magistrate Lin, you don't have to shoulder some things alone. No matter how bold and reckless Ding Wenhong is, Ganzhou County is under the jurisdiction of Dingyuan County, and he must be managed by his father. You have to consider whether you can do some things." Wei Huan reminded him with a cold look on his face.

"I see. Thank you, sir."

County Magistrate Li knew that he was born and raised in Ganzhou, and that he had put in a hundred times more effort than others for Ganzhou to become what it is today. But now he seemed to be kicked out. He felt sad just looking at it.

"Shuge, you..."

"Don't worry, sir. I'm fine. I'm just doing something for the people. It doesn't matter where I do it." Lin Shuge smiled calmly.

"Sir, since this is the case, the imperial edict has been issued. Please allow me a few days to pack my luggage and I will go back to prepare something." He said goodbye to the two of them in a loud voice.

After leaving the lobby, the warm sunlight outside shone on him, and he came to his senses and went back to the official residence first.

Before I even entered, I heard Zhou Du's loud voice, "Brother Huai Ting, what happened just now? Why do you look so bad?"

"Erlang, I may have to go to Qingquan County." Lin Shuge said with a wry smile.

"What did you say?" Zhou Du sat up from his chair.

"Just now, Master Wei brought news that the Ding family will come to Ganzhou."

"So the Ding family came to Ganzhou because they saw that Ganzhou was profitable. Your hard work was taken away by someone else." Zhou Du was so angry that he gritted his teeth and paced back and forth.

"Do you have any idea?" he stopped and asked.

Lin Shuge shook his head. "The Ding family is powerful, and even Envoy Wei can't do anything about it. The transfer order has been issued and cannot be changed. Erlang, if the Ding family has no one left after I leave, they may have to use you. Be careful." Lin Shuge patted him. "I'll go back first. If Ayuan and Axuan both go to Qingquan with me, they have to go to the academy. I have to make plans early."

"Hey, Brother Huaiting, wait for me, I'll go with you."

Lin Shuge walked very fast and Zhou Du couldn't catch up for a long time. It was getting close to evening and the street was very busy. A vendor recognized him and smiled as he stuffed a handful of vegetables into his hand. Lin Shuge held the vegetables in a daze, looking at the vendors and people who were hawking their wares. No, even if he had to leave, he couldn't let Ding Wenhong take advantage of him for nothing.

He walked and thought all the way to his home. He opened the door and saw Xie Chen sitting in the yard with something in his hand. When he heard his voice, he quickly put it away, "Brother, you're back?"

Lin Shuge nodded, "Have you finished the military affairs?"

"Brother, are you okay?" Xie Chen asked worriedly.

"Zhongxuan, do you know Qingquan County? The transfer order has been issued today. I will go there to be the county magistrate." Lin Shuge clenched his fists and then lowered them.

"I know. Qingquan is very close to the Zhonggu Tunnel and is often disturbed by the Huns. The people there are fierce and I heard that there are even bandits. If you go there, you have to solve the hidden danger of bandits first." Xie Chen gently pulled him over and said in a soft voice.

"You mean to use this incident to establish your authority when you get there?" Lin Shuge asked.

He thought about what Xie Chen said. Now that things have come to this, it would be better to solve the problem first.

"Besides, my brother will be the head of a county when he goes there, and I can live a good life with him." Xie Chen said with a smile.

Lin Shuge laughed out loud, "Yeah, it's good to be close to you."

When Xie Chen saw that he finally smiled, he calmed down and silently made a note of the Ding family in his heart.

"Zhongxuan, I boasted that I have a peaceful mind, but it turns out that I am just like this when I encounter things."

"Brother, what you said is wrong. Humans are not plants or trees. How can we remain indifferent? Besides, brother has done a good job. If it were me, I would cry for him for several days." Xie Chen consoled with a smile on his face.

"I am obsessed, but I am worried that the children of the Ding family will see that Ganzhou is advantageous and then kill the goose that lays the golden eggs and exploit the people. The people are innocent." Lin Shuge looked in the direction of the county with deep worry in his eyes.

Ganzhou was founded on papermaking, cashmere, and printing, and I'm afraid these may also be the cause of disaster.

"I wonder what kind of person Ding Wenhong is?" Lin Shuge said after thinking for a moment.

"He is just a spoiled brat. He is from the side branch of the Ding family and relies on the Ding family's power. I think he wants to please the Ding family and make profits for them." Xie Chen told Lin Shuge everything he knew.

"That being said, it is a headache when the playboys cause harm to others. But we can also use their strength to defeat them. Now the only thing left in Ganzhou that has not been spread is the printing technique. I will let Dingyuan know about this technique. The merchants should also send a message in advance so that they can pretend to be submissive." Lin Shuge knocked on the table and said slowly.

"But we can also test the merchants' minds. If anyone wants to choose a good tree to roost in, let Zhou Du pay attention to it as soon as possible."

"Brother, don't worry. The Ding Party is now fighting fiercely with the Di Party. Ding Wenhong is not worth the Ding family's trouble. If he really bullies the people in the village, it is better to get rid of him directly..." Xie Chen said in a deep voice.

"Zhongxuan, you are not allowed to do such a dangerous thing. I remember what you promised me when you risked your life. Don't put yourself in danger. Have you forgotten it now?" Lin Shuge looked at him closely.

Xie Chen saw that he had a slight anger on his face, but his eyes showed concern for him, so he couldn't help but smile, "I was just talking, brother, please forgive me this time."

Lin Shuge tapped his forehead. After talking with Xie Chen, he suddenly felt that it was just a matter of dealing with the situation as it came.

"Let's go, come with me to pick up Ayuan and Axuan. They have to follow me to Qingquan County." Lin Shuge said worriedly.

Xie Chen responded loudly.

As the two walked out, they happened to meet Lu Yuechuan who was about to knock on the door.

Seeing that Lin Shuge and Xie Chen looked like they were about to leave, Lu Yuechuan asked, "Where are you going?"

Lin Shuge smiled and said, "I went to pick up my sister-in-law. Do you want to see me for something?"

Lu Yuechuan, however, swept away the low spirits that Lin Shuge had shown when he met him that day, and said, "I will just say one thing, and then I will leave. I will not disturb you to pick someone up."

Lin Shuge and Xie Chen looked at each other and could only let Lu Yuechuan come in and talk first.

"What's so important?"

"Lin County Magistrate, I heard that you are going to Qingquan County to take up a post?" He looked at Lin Shuge's shocked eyes, "Don't worry about how I know this, I wonder if Lin County Magistrate is willing to let me be a minor official in the county government."

Lin Shuge was surprised and asked, "How did you think of going to Qingquan with me?"

Lu Yuechuan sighed, "I didn't want to enter the officialdom before, because I saw that the officialdom was corrupt, but this time in Wei County, I saw countless people starving to death in the wilderness but I was powerless to do anything. My father is a famous scholar in Dayan, but he is still at the mercy of the powerful."

"If you are worried about the transfer order, I will take care of it myself," he added.

After hearing what he said, Lin Shuge naturally agreed. After all, he was unfamiliar with Qingquan County, and taking Lu Yuechuan with him would also be a help.

"If you insist on going, I will naturally agree."

"It's settled then. Goodbye."

Xie Chen's expression changed slightly, and he asked, "Brother, do you really want to go with him?"

"Lu Yuechuan is knowledgeable and talented in writing. It would be a waste of his talent for him to follow me to Qingquan. However, since he has gained some insights and realizations from the affairs of Wei County, it would only be a piece of cake for me to help him. Besides, it will be beneficial for me to have him go to Qingquan," Lin Shuge explained.

It was the first time that Xie Chen saw him praising a stranger like that. He felt a little jealous, but he knew that this was not the time to be jealous, so he had to suppress his jealousy and go to Bitong Academy and Duheng Academy with him.

On the way, he met Zhou Du who was rushing over. "Brother Huai Ting, why are you walking so fast?" He was stopped by someone on the way to catch up with Lin Shuge and was delayed for a while. He just rushed over now.

"Sorry, I lost my composure just now." Lin Shuge apologized.

"What are you apologizing for? What's your relationship with me? I just saw Lu Yuechuan leaving your alley. Did he come to see you?"

Lin Shuge nodded, "He wants to go to Qingquan County with me."

"What? Hasn't he always been interested in the mountains? How could he have such an idea?"

"It's hard to explain right away. I'm going to pick up Ayuan and Axuan. Do you want to go?" Lin Shuge said with a smile.

"Go ahead. I came here just to worry about you...but seeing your expression now, I have nothing to worry about. To be honest, if my parents and brothers were not in Ganzhou, I would have followed you to Qingquan County. The people who came are from the Ding family, and who knows what kind of people they are. It is definitely not as good as having you become my boss." Zhou Du said sincerely with reluctance on his face.

"What nonsense are you talking about? How can this be possible? If you go, I will go too. Are we just kids playing house?" Lin Shuge scolded with a smile.

Not to mention that Zhou Du's family is in Ganzhou, he is now the chief clerk. If the Ding family had not come, he would definitely be promoted to a county magistrate. How could he just follow him to Qingquan County?

"You can stay in Ganzhou. If you have any questions, just write to me and let me know."

Zhou Du didn't joke with him like he used to, but nodded silently.