Chapter 334 With All People in Mind
It's past midnight.
The prefect's residence was pitch black, with only lanterns emitting a faint, warm glow.
The study was also lit up. The prefect was sitting in a chair, while Magistrate Shen stood with his hands clasped under the desk.
"Honeycomb briquettes?" The prefect stared at the blueprints in disbelief. "You mean, burning coal in this way will increase the combustion rate, reduce toxins, and prevent poisoning?"
Magistrate Shen didn't know if it was true or not, but that's what Lady Sui wrote in her letter, and he believed every word she said.
He began, “During this snow disaster, Dahe Village survived the crisis thanks to the coal mine. Not a single person in the village was poisoned, all thanks to this method. There are many coal mines in the north, used by the imperial court for smelting iron and steel utensils. For the common people, this stuff burns for a long time, but it is poisonous. Almost every year, people in the north die from poisoning due to improper coal burning. Gradually, people have become less and less willing to use it. If honeycomb briquettes can be promoted, it will be a powerful tool for the country and a treasure for the people. It will also be a great deed for the prefect.”
The prefect's breathing became rapid.
Although a fourth-rank official is already a very high rank, he has been in that position for quite some years. Who wouldn't want to be promoted?
Last year's performance was good, but he was still a little short of being promoted.
If these honeycomb briquettes can truly improve the combustion rate of coal and reduce the risk of poisoning among the general public, then their use should be widely promoted; this would be a great merit.
“Since we have the production method and blueprints, we’ll have some made tomorrow,” the prefect said. “I’ll have someone present this to His Majesty. If His Majesty permits, all the coal mines in the north can produce large quantities of honeycomb briquettes on-site. The people will be blessed.”
"Your Excellency, the blueprints are stained..." Magistrate Shen sighed. "This is Lady Sui's painstaking work. After she finished drawing it, Lady Sui couldn't hold on any longer and spat blood onto the blueprints, then fainted. We don't know when she will wake up..."
"Your Excellency, I've told you the truth," said Clerk Yuan, kneeling on the ground, weeping bitterly. "After the coal mine was discovered in Dahe Village, the imperial court sent Lord He to govern it. But this Lord He, relying on his status as a sixth-rank official in the capital and the support of the He family in Beijing, has been bullying and oppressing people in Dahe Village. In just three to five days, Dahe Village, a peaceful and tranquil village, has been turned into a living hell. Even Lady Sui, a ninth-rank official personally appointed by the Emperor, was beaten until she vomited blood and was critically ill, not to mention the unarmed common people... Some have been displaced, some have lost their babies, and some have lost their innocence... Your Excellency, you must do justice for the people of Dahe Village!"
"Such a thing has happened within my jurisdiction?" The prefect's face turned furious. "I have shown him special courtesy only because of Scholar He behind him. Instead of bringing honor to the He family, he has committed such a disgraceful act. Guards, grind the ink! I must submit this report!"
Discovering the coal mine was an achievement, as was promoting honeycomb briquettes, but condoning the abuse of the people by officials of the imperial court could completely erase the merits of the former two.
Regardless of whether the imperial court would intervene in this matter, he had to report it.
The memorial was quickly written, and the prefect ordered it to be sent to the capital overnight. From Huzhou to the capital and back, even at the fastest horse, it would take four or five days.
Magistrate Shen breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Your Excellency, I wish to return to Ping'an County to protect those innocent people."
“No.” The prefect shook his head. “Before the imperial court’s order is issued, neither of us knows the emperor’s intentions. If the court wants to protect the He family, you will definitely suffer if you go against He Yan. You should stay in Huzhou and observe the situation.”
Magistrate Shen lifted his robes and knelt down: "I am the magistrate of Ping'an County. All the people of Ping'an County are my children. When children suffer, how can parents not protect them? I will bear all the consequences myself. I beg Your Excellency to show leniency."
Let's set off again tomorrow morning.
The prefect waved his hand and gave in.
This is why he admires Lao Shen; despite being just a low-ranking official, he has the common people in his heart.
Magistrate Shen wasn't in a hurry to leave. He needed to find several highly skilled doctors in Huzhou the next morning to take back to treat Madam Sui...
He Xiao rushed back to Dahe Village overnight.
By the time we arrived at the village, it was almost dawn, and a faint white light was beginning to appear on the horizon. In another hour, the sun would rise.
Cheng Wanwan didn't sleep a wink all night.
She took a risky move, not because she was 100% sure, and she still had some concerns.
"Mother, Master is back."
Zhao Sidan had been squatting in a horse stance in the courtyard. When he saw He Xiao riding back on horseback, he immediately ran in to report.
Cheng Wanwan came out of the house: "Have a cup of ginger tea first to get rid of the cold."
He Xiao took the cup and slowly drank the ginger tea.
“Cousin, the prefect has sent a memorial to the capital. We should have news within four or five days,” he said. “Originally, the county magistrate was supposed to come back with us, but he needs to call a doctor, so he can only come to Dahe Village tomorrow.”
Cheng Wanwan said apologetically, "It was really too much to keep the magistrate in the dark this time. I will apologize to him in person tomorrow."
“If my father knew the truth, he would definitely slip up.” Shen Zheng yawned as he walked out. “My father is just too straightforward. He can’t act well, so it’s actually a good thing that he’s kept in the dark. That’s why the prefect believed him so readily when my father got emotional. Otherwise, why would he have sent a memorial to the capital overnight?”
The group was talking in the courtyard when they suddenly heard the howling of wolves.
Zhao Sidan was slightly surprised: "Wolves usually howl around midnight, but it's almost dawn now. Why are they suddenly howling? Has something happened?"
"Something terrible has happened!" Wang Yongcheng ran over breathlessly. "Lord He has led more than twenty officials up the mountain, saying he's going to capture the wild wolves alive!"
Aunt Wang followed them in: "I heard those officials say that wolves always roam around the houses after dark. They think the wolves are taking revenge and they're afraid of being eaten without anyone knowing, so they decided to strike first. With so many people carrying torches up the mountain, the wolves are no match for them, right?"
Many villagers were awakened and gathered at the entrance of Cheng Wanwan's courtyard.
When someone came, Cheng Wanwan had already returned to her bedroom. She was a patient, so it was better for her to stay out of sight.
However, He Yan is too audacious. He actually led people up the mountain to catch wolves. Does he really think that Xiao Dian's family is so easy to deal with?
The villagers all looked anxious.
"Last time bandits came to our village, it was Wild Wolf who caught them. We all remember how good Wild Wolf was to our Dahe Village."
"These officials are utterly despicable. It's one thing to harm livestock, but how can they go up the mountain and harm the wolves? What a terrible thing to do."
"The village has been almost completely ransacked. God, please open your eyes and take a look!"
"..."
It was already almost dawn, and the villagers had gotten up early. At this moment, hundreds of villagers stood at the foot of the mountain, each with a sorrowful expression.
"Get out of the way!" A stern rebuke came from behind. "Lord He is going up the mountain, you bunch of unruly commoners, don't block his way!"
Several officials, carrying torches, escorted He Yan up the mountain.
He Yan had never seen a wolf captured alive before. He just wanted to go and see the excitement so that he could show off among the young masters of the capital when he returned.
His gaze swept across the crowd, then suddenly stopped. He pointed at a little girl in the crowd and said, "You, come here."
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