Chapter 694 Where did it come from
After seeing County Magistrate Tang out of the house, Mr. Zhuang called his three disciples over and asked, "Do you know where County Magistrate Tang got those medicinal herbs?"
The three of them looked at each other and asked, "Didn't the county government buy it?"
"Without the imperial court allocating funds, how could the county government have so much money?" Mr. Zhuang said, "Huayang County is different from Luojiang County. In Luojiang County, Magistrate Yang is in charge. Even if he drains the family coffers, it's fine. The worst that can happen is that he can withhold a few months' salary from the officials and clerks, and then pay them when there's revenue. Who would sue their superiors over a few months' salary?"
"But Huayang County can't do that. It has a lot of income, but also a lot of expenses, and there are all kinds of complicated personal relationships. Even if County Magistrate Tang is powerful, he has three huge mountains above him, and there are limits to what he can do. How can he dare to spend so much money to buy medicinal herbs?"
Mr. Zhuang had worked as a legal advisor for quite a while and had lived in Yizhou City for many years. He wouldn't say he was completely familiar with these twists and turns, but he did have some idea of them.
Seeing that Bai Shan and Man Bao were already lost in thought, while Bai Erlang still looked confused, he explained in more detail, "For example, the flower street and Nuo opera during the Dragon Boat Festival were basically paid for by Huayang County. Even though it was just a simple platform, floats along the street, and Nuo opera performances, the cost was huge."
"That's only Huayang County. If it were Luojiang County, even if they emptied their coffers, they wouldn't be able to handle it. This is the difference in financial resources between upper and lower counties." Mr. Zhuang said, "But similarly, County Magistrate Yang dared to empty Luojiang County's coffers to do something, but County Magistrate Tang wouldn't."
Manbao scratched his head and asked, "So where did County Magistrate Tang get his medicinal herbs?"
Mr. Zhuang: "Donations from various drug dealers and drug stores."
Bai Shan was lost in thought. "Those newly discovered wastelands..."
Mr. Zhuang smiled faintly and said, "Didn't the Ying family send someone to deliver a generous gift to you two days ago?"
Bai Jilang: "Yes, sir, you let us take it."
"That's the money to keep the secret," Mr. Zhuang didn't say it at the time, but the three of them guessed it, so when Mr. Zhuang nodded, they accepted it openly to reassure the Ying family.
Mr. Zhuang said with a smile, "I've given you guys some money to keep your mouth shut, but what about the county government?"
The three of them widened their eyes.
Mr. Zhuang: "Besides, County Magistrate Tang's status is different, and the things he holds are also different. If he insists on investigating, the Ying family will probably be exposed to a huge scandal. Yizhou City will no longer be as peaceful as it is now."
"So those wastelands were given by the Ying family?"
Mr. Zhuang shook his head and said, "Not only that, I just asked Magistrate Tang, the Ying family, the Lu family, the Ji family, and even the Yizhou Palace have all given up some of the farmland they occupied, which is why there are so many 'wastelands'."
Manbao exclaimed, "County Magistrate Tang has offended so many people."
Mr. Zhuang smiled and said, "Not really. Besides the Ying and Lu families, the Ji family did voluntarily give up some wasteland. County Magistrate Tang said it was for the blessing of their young master. As for the Yizhou Palace, the princess acted biasedly this time and repeatedly sent people to interfere with County Magistrate Tang's investigation. To avoid being impeached by the censor, it's normal for them to give some benefits. Of these, the Ying and Lu families probably suffered the most, because it is said that much of the 'wasteland' designated by County Magistrate Tang was already planted with winter wheat."
Seeing that the three of them were listening attentively, Mr. Zhuang asked, "Do you know why I am telling you this?"
Bai Shan: "Let's learn from County Magistrate Tang?"
Mr. Zhuang smiled and shook his head.
Manbao said, "Sir, County Magistrate Tang is doing this for the people, right? Shouldn't we learn from him?"
Mr. Zhuang smiled and said, "You have met few officials, but you have also come into contact with three county magistrates: Fu, Yang, and Tang. Do you see any differences in their actions?"
Manbao said, "I like County Magistrate Yang the most."
Mr. Zhuang laughed heartily and said happily, "Is it because County Magistrate Yang is the most generous?"
Manbao smiled embarrassedly with his head down.
"All three county magistrates have actually done things for the people. Shanbao, your master hopes you can think carefully about these three men," Mr. Zhuang said. "There are many ways to serve the people. Look at how these three county magistrates handled things. Their methods are completely different. If it were you, how would you act?"
Bai Shan thought for a moment and said, "I think we have the arbitrariness of County Magistrate Yang, the decisiveness and strength of County Magistrate Tang, and the calculated actions of County Magistrate Fu."
Mr. Zhuang looked at him seriously and asked, "Do you think you can do it?"
Bai Shan carefully weighed the pros and cons before shaking his head. "I can't do that. I'm afraid I can't suppress the old officials in Luojiang County, nor can I resist the dominance of the Yizhou Palace. As for Magistrate Fu, I don't seem to have his patience, but I can keep him around."
"Your understanding is sufficient," Mr. Zhuang said. "County Magistrate Yang comes from a prominent family and is well-positioned, so he can naturally act with impunity in a small county like Luojiang. And County Magistrate Tang, whose father is the Left Censor-in-Chief, has no fear of criticism as long as he acts uprightly. Why did the Yizhou Palace retreat after the matter was settled? They weren't afraid of County Magistrate Tang, but of the Left Censor-in-Chief in the capital."
Bai Erlang asked, "Isn't this just a money-for-power exchange? Is County Magistrate Tang still considered a good official?"
Mr. Zhuang smiled and was about to speak, but when he caught sight of Manbao, he asked her, "What do you think?"
Man Bao said, "It's best if County Magistrate Tang doesn't say anything, but even if he doesn't, the Left Censor-in-Chief might find out through other means. County Magistrate Tang is doing his job well, and his father is doing his job well. What can the Yizhou Palace do?"
Mr. Zhuang laughed heartily, stroking his beard and saying approvingly, "That's right, that's exactly the truth."
Bai Erlang still didn't understand. "If that's the case, why would the Yizhou Palace bribe County Magistrate Tang? He's going to be impeached anyway."
Bai Shanlue thought about it and understood. "Of course they are different. County Magistrate Tang has evidence, but does the Left Censor-in-Chief have the same?"
Bai Shan said, "There's no evidence, and the impeachment is just a verbal battle. The most the Yizhou Palace has suffered is a loss of reputation, but that's not a big deal. The princess is just interceding for her nephew, showing favoritism. It's not a big deal, but it's not a small matter either. The Yizhou King should just submit a memorial to apologize."
Mr. Zhuang nodded, "Exactly."
Manbao: "So the evidence is now in the hands of the Yizhou Palace?"
Bai Shan thought for a moment and said, "They can give physical evidence like confessions, but they probably won't give witnesses, right? I always feel that the people in the Yizhou Palace are so cruel. What if they kill someone?"
As soon as these words were spoken, the three children shuddered at the same time.
Mr. Zhuang said, "Don't let your imagination run wild. Okay, that's all for tonight's class. Collect your things and go to bed."
The three of them bowed and left. Bai Erlang whispered to Bai Shan, "Is this the end of class? The teacher has become increasingly lazy. He used to tell a story before bed every night."
Manbao slapped him on the shoulder and whispered, "Keep your voice down."
Bai Shan glanced at the two of them and moved a little further away from them.
Mr. Zhuang: ...
The next update will be around 4:00 PM
(End of this chapter)
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