Chapter 96 Li Bai VS Du Fu, how is she supposed to choose?
The moment the words were spoken, the atmosphere in the entire hall froze.
Huo Qubing's right hand was already on the hilt of his sword, his knuckles white. He slightly bent his knees, his body like a fully drawn bow, ready to strike at any moment. His sharp eyes were fixed on Liu Xun, like a beast eyeing its prey.
The yamen runners below the hall appeared to be standing with their heads bowed in solemn silence, but in reality, every muscle was tense. They were all waiting for this moment, waiting for a just cause, waiting for a clown to voluntarily step onto the stage.
The air was thick with a suffocating sense of oppression.
Django sat steadily behind the desk, a respectful smile still on his face, but the smile didn't reach his eyes.
All eyes were on Liu Xun, awaiting his next move. This eerie silence lasted for a full quarter of an hour, even the noisy chirping of cicadas outside the window seemed particularly jarring.
Even a hint of murderous intent in the eyes of a general in a room full of fierce warriors was unbearable for Liu Xun.
No wonder the eldest prince wanted these fierce generals.
If we had such fierce generals at our disposal, why would we worry about unrest in the world?
Finally, Liu Xun's shoulders suddenly slumped. He raised his hand to wipe the cold sweat from his forehead, his previous arrogant demeanor completely gone.
"Take...take me to see the situation of the refugees." His voice was dry and hoarse, as if it were being forced out of his throat.
A fleeting hint of disappointment crossed Jiang Ge's eyes, but he quickly put on a smile again: "Your Excellency is considerate of the people's plight. I will make the arrangements immediately." He then gave Huo Qubing a wink.
Huo Qubing slowly loosened his grip on the hilt of his sword, but his hawk-like gaze remained firmly fixed on Liu Xun, as if trying to see through the very heart of this imperial envoy.
Why don't you stop showing off your power?
Liu Xun followed Magistrate Jiang and his entourage to the west of the city. From afar, they could hear the clanging and banging of hammers and the sounds of shouts. Upon closer inspection, they saw dozens of able-bodied young refugees repairing the long-neglected drainage ditches in Songyang County.
Wang Dazhu, shirtless and with his bronze skin glistening with oil, was swinging a pickaxe to clear a clogged ditch. Each strike was precise, sending shards of rock flying. Several young men beside him worked alongside him, clearing away the mud with shovels, their movements as swift and efficient as if they were working on their own land.
"Be careful!" shouted an elderly man with gray hair and beard. "The section at the east end needs to be widened by three inches, otherwise it will be congested again when the rainy season comes!"
Having learned from this flood experience, the old man was extremely cautious about the irrigation canals.
"Don't worry, Uncle Li!" Wang Dazhu wiped his sweat and grinned. "I've done water conservancy work back in my hometown, so I'm very familiar with this kind of job!"
Liu Xun noticed that although these refugees were dressed in tattered clothes, they were full of energy. What surprised him even more was that they were humming tunes while working, unlike the lifeless refugees in other places.
“They adapted quickly,” Liu Xun said meaningfully.
Could they be using local residents to impersonate refugees?
Jiang Ge pointed to the shaded shed erected beside the ditch: "We start work at dawn every day, and rest for an hour at noon. Each person is provided with two meals a day, and half a string of cash is paid after ten days of work." As he spoke, he took out an account book from his sleeve. "This is the work record book. Would you like to take a look, sir?"
Just as Liu Xun was about to reach out, he suddenly heard a "splash" of water. Turning around, he saw that a newly repaired ditch had been filled with water, and the clear water was rushing forward merrily. Several teenagers excitedly chased after the water, not caring at all about the mud splattered all over their faces.
"Daddy! The water has reached the edge of the field!" A little girl with pigtails came skipping over and grabbed Wang Dazhu's trouser leg.
"Good girl!" Wang Dazhu picked up the child and pointed to the newly built ditch, saying, "Once this work is finished, the county magistrate said we'll be allocated two mu of land!"
Liu Xun's pupils contracted slightly. He noticed that a large area of furrows had been prepared not far away, with wooden signs bearing surnames stuck in the ground. Several women were bending over and sowing seeds, their movements as practiced as if they were cultivating their own ancestral land.
Zhuge Liang suddenly spoke up: "Magistrate Jiang has allocated all the idle official land in the county to each household. Strong men are repairing canals, women are weaving cloth, and the elderly and children can also help dry grain and pick seeds." He paused, "Compared to begging and waiting to die elsewhere, they are more willing to sweat and earn a living here."
As the sun set, the sound of the clapper signaling the end of the workday rang out. The refugees, in twos and threes, headed towards the makeshift thatched huts erected for the county government office, some carrying their newly received rice and salted fish. Wisps of smoke rose from the chimneys, giving the place a touch of ordinary village life.
Liu Xun watched all this, his expression shifting between anger and uncertainty. He suddenly realized that in the eyes of these refugees looking at Magistrate Jiang, there was not only gratitude, but also loyalty.
What kind of people need the loyalty of the people?
General or Emperor?
At first, he thought that the Crown Prince's dislike of this minor county magistrate was just like an elephant's disdain for an ant, and that he would simply crush the ant and be done with it.
But unexpectedly, Magistrate Jiang caused the Crown Prince to suffer a setback.
Liu Xun's eyes darted around a few times, and a sinister smile appeared on his lips.
He suddenly remembered—there was one more person.
A person who was personally imprisoned by Django.
Jiang Yuanshan.
Deep inside the county government prison, the damp, musty smell mixed with the stench of rotting straw seeped into every crack between the bricks.
Kui Shun stood like an iron tower in front of the prison door, arms crossed, his gaze cold and indifferent. He was already used to Jiang Yuanshan's nagging and cursing. No matter how the other party shouted, he remained silent like a stone, without even frowning.
"Let me out!" Jiang Yuanshan's voice was hoarse, as if he had sand stuck in his throat. "I'm her biological father! That unfilial son dares to lock me up? Isn't he afraid of being struck by lightning?!"
He kicked the cell door hard, the chains rattled, but not even a crack appeared.
Kui Shun remained unmoved, not even lifting an eyelid.
Jiang Yuanshan finally gave up, slumping against the wall, still muttering resentfully, "Just wait... when I get out, I'll make that unfilial son kneel down and beg for forgiveness..."
Just then, footsteps approached from afar.
Jiang Yuanshan suddenly looked up, a glimmer of hope flashing in his cloudy eyes: "Jiang Ge? Is it Jiang Ge who's here?"
However, what appeared outside the prison door was an unfamiliar face.
Liu Xun stood with his hands behind his back, looking down at Jiang Yuanshan in the cell, a meaningful smile playing on his lips.
"This must be Mr. Jiang?" Liu Xun asked, bowing respectfully, but his tone was somewhat dismissive.
Jiang Yuanshan narrowed his eyes, staring at him warily: "Who are you?"
He had never met Liu Xun, and he did not spend much time with the eldest prince.
"I am an inspector, sent by the imperial court to investigate the resettlement of displaced people in Songyang County." Liu Xun smiled slightly. "I've heard that Mr. Jiang... has some unresolved family matters with Magistrate Jiang?"
Jiang Yuanshan snorted coldly: "Family matters? That unfilial son is extremely rebellious, daring to imprison his own father! This is a family matter? This is disobedience! This is murder of one's father!"
This is extremely unfilial!
Liu Xun feigned surprise: "Oh? Is that so?"
He turned to look at Wei Shun, a half-smile on his face: "Brave warrior, is Magistrate Jiang truly so unfilial?"
Kui Shun remained expressionless and coldly replied, "Your Excellency will make a fair judgment."
Liu Xun nodded, then looked at Jiang Yuanshan and said in a low voice, "Mr. Jiang, if you are willing... I might be able to help you get justice."
A glint of light flashed in Jiang Yuanshan's eyes: "You can let me out?"
Liu Xun smiled without saying a word, but took out a document from his sleeve and gently unfolded it: "This is an order from the imperial court. If Magistrate Jiang has indeed committed dereliction of duty and abuse of power, I have the right to temporarily take over his duties and thoroughly investigate this case."
Jiang Yuanshan stared at the document, his breathing gradually becoming rapid.
"That unfilial son Jiang Ge, just because he's become the county magistrate, he doesn't respect me at all!" Jiang Yuanshan gritted his teeth. "I didn't do anything. It was all those bandits who did it."
What does this have to do with him?
Liu Xun feigned a sigh: "Alas, Magistrate Jiang's actions are indeed contrary to filial piety."
Jiang Yuanshan became more and more agitated as he spoke: "Her mother died young, and I raised her! Now that she's all grown up, she dares to lock me up?" He suddenly grabbed the cell door, his knuckles turning white. "Lord Liu, as long as you let me out, I will make sure she is utterly disgraced!"
A triumphant smile flashed in Liu Xun's eyes, but he feigned hesitation: "This... I'm afraid it's inappropriate, isn't it? After all, Magistrate Jiang is an official appointed by the imperial court..."
Jiang Yuanshan sneered, "What kind of official is she? I bought her this county magistrate position with my own money. She even dared to imprison her own father, what else wouldn't she dare to do? Lord Liu, as long as you release me, I have my own ways to make her confess!"
...
Liu Xun pondered for a moment, then finally nodded: "Alright, since Lord Jiang says so, I will make an exception this time."
He turned to Wei Shun, his tone suddenly turning cold: "Open the door."
Kui Shun frowned: "Sir, this is a serious criminal in the county government. Without the magistrate's order, he cannot be released."
Liu Xun sneered: "What, is my word less important than that of a county magistrate?"
Kui Shun remained silent for a moment, then opened the door.
Although he didn't understand, it was what Magistrate Jiang had instructed him to do, so if Liu Xun asked him to release Jiang Yuanshan, then he would let him release him.
Seeing that Jiang Yuanshan had been released, Wang Laohu waved his hands and said, "My lord, my lord, I'm here too."
They were afraid he would be forgotten.
Jiang Yuanshan had never met Liu Xun, but Wang Laohu had. The gold and silver treasures that the Black Wind Stronghold robbed were first given to Lord Liu, and then finally to the Crown Prince.
How could I forget such a good relationship?
It really is.
Liu Xun seemed not to hear Wang Laohu's shouts and continued walking forward on his own.
——-
Meanwhile, Django was looking at the job postings with a headache.
This...this...
The quality is just too good.
A quick glance.
Li Bai
Dynasty: Tang
Position: Hanlin Academician.
This is Li Bai!
Django's eyes widened. Having memorized so many of Li Bai's poems, who wouldn't want to meet Li Bai, who laughed heartily as he stepped out the door, declaring, "How can we, a man of such talent, be mere commoners?"
While his eyes widened, he didn't forget to glance down again.
Du Fu
Dynasty: Tang
Position: Military Advisor.
She just wanted to hire someone to write records for the county government, to record all the major and minor cases that happened, but today's list is like stirring up a hornet's nest in the Tang Dynasty poetry world.
Li Bai vs. Du Fu, how should she choose?
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Author's Note: This is my first novel, and I didn't originally intend to write it too long [crying emoji]. But don't worry, it won't have a bad ending. I've finished the outline for the later parts [sunglasses emoji]. Don't worry, it might not be finished next month. I can only say that I'll try my best to finish it as soon as possible in the next two months. Please click on the pre-order button, and I will also start a new novel as soon as possible.
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