Chapter 88: Li Zhongling, Mr. Xie
At midnight that night, a major event occurred in Zhongling County.
Nearly a hundred well-equipped "bandits" rushed to the city and broke into the city for the first time after a fierce battle with the officers and soldiers. They then started to smash, loot and burn.
Almost all the wealthy merchants in the city were attacked. Although they resisted, ordinary servants and guards were no match for this group of bandits. In the end, every household suffered heavy losses, and some even had their heads killed.
This sudden catastrophe did not last long. In less than an hour, the bandits left the county town shouting and screaming, threatening to come back when they ran out of money.
There was a chorus of crying and cursing, and the entire Zhongling City remained awake all night.
It was not until the early morning of the next day that these wealthy businessmen who had suffered losses managed to clean up the mess at home and collectively ran to the gate of the county government to seek an explanation.
"My son! You died such a tragic death! Your father will kill that bandit with his own hands to avenge you!!"
"Where's County Magistrate Wang?! We want to see him!!"
"What are the soldiers doing for?! They can't even handle a few dozen bandits?!"
"Master, don't worry! I will never let you die in such an aggrieved way!"
"Woo woo, my property..."
"Boom boom boom! Boom boom boom!"
The drum at the gate of the county government office was about to be broken, and more and more people gathered in the open space outside the gate.
However, if someone is paying attention, it is not difficult to see that those who come to sue the officials and seek justice are all wealthy families in the city, and there is not a single ordinary citizen.
Of course, this is also reasonable. After all, it is "not easy" for bandits to enter the city to rob, and they will definitely not waste their time on small families with little profit.
"Squeak~"
Amid the earth-shaking wails of the crowd, the gate of the county government office was finally pushed open by two bruised-faced yamen runners. However, the person standing behind the door was not the county magistrate, but a white-haired old man.
"Master! Where is County Magistrate Wang?"
Someone immediately asked loudly, "Bandits have entered the city! Don't tell us he doesn't know!"
"Let Lord Wang come out! We need to ask for an explanation from him in person!"
"Is he trying to be a coward? If this matter cannot be resolved, we will file a complaint with the provincial government!"
"Everyone! Everyone! Listen to me first!"
Facing a crowd of doubters, the white-haired old man shouted in a deep voice with a face full of "sorrow": "Lord Wang personally led his troops to fight the bandits last night, but unfortunately he was injured by a palm strike from the bandits. He can't even get out of bed now!"
"Just tell me what you have to say!"
"What's the matter? Do you even need to ask?!"
Someone shouted sternly, "Of course we need the government to compensate us for our losses last night! We also need to send troops to arrest all the criminals who committed the crime!"
"right!"
“That’s right!”
This person's statement immediately received a response, and the white-haired master was in no hurry to speak. He waited until everyone was tired of shouting before he smiled bitterly and said:
"Everyone, you are all from Zhongling County and should be most familiar with the situation in this county."
"The bandit problem has continued for years. If the government could really suppress it, why would it have waited until today?"
"In fact, the bandits have never entered the city before not because they are afraid of the government, but we are just lucky!"
"But now all the villages around the county have been plundered by them. I'm afraid that this county will be frequently invaded by bandits in the future..."
The master's words were a complaint, but also conveyed a very clear message -
The government can no longer control this bandit problem, so let them do whatever they want.
Of course, no one could agree to such an irresponsible attitude, and for a moment the angry rebukes were even louder than before.
"What?! This is what the government told us?!"
"Lord Wang is the chief official of Zhongling. How can you put the people in such a desperate situation? This is the biggest absurdity in the world!"
"Humph! Fellow villagers! Since Lord Wang doesn't care, the worst that can happen is that we go to the state government to file a complaint!"
“…”
Listening to the threatening words, the white-haired master shook his head helplessly, and sighed in his heart that a kind man is often bullied, and a kind horse is often ridden.
It's not uncommon for citizens to sue officials in other places, but at least they are done secretly. There is no such thing as a situation like this where people dare to threaten openly.
But I can't blame anyone else. If I have to blame someone, I can only blame my own parents for being too weak and always thinking too much about the people...
Keeping Wei Changtian's instructions in mind, the master waited for a while, and when he felt the time was right, he bowed to everyone and said helplessly:
"Everyone, I won't hide anything from you now."
"In fact, you don't need to sue. The county magistrate feels that he has let down the people of Zhongling and is ready to resign and return home."
"Once Lord Wang leaves, it will take at least a year or so for the next county magistrate to arrive. And even if the new magistrate arrives, will he be able to suppress the bandits?"
"Everyone, listen to my advice."
"I'm afraid there will be no peace in Zhongling County from now on. You... should pack up and leave as soon as possible!"
“…”
This time, there was no noise, no anger, no dissatisfaction.
After the master said these words, all the people blocking the door were dumbfounded.
They never thought that the tall and thin county magistrate who never lost his temper would resign just like that! They didn't need to file a complaint with the provincial government, he just quit on his own! But the county magistrate could leave, but they couldn't! All of these people's businesses were in Zhongling, who would be willing to give up their good life and go to a new place where they were unfamiliar with to start over? But if they didn't leave... would they have to wait here for the bandits to rob and kill them again and again?
"Master County Magistrate, you can't leave! I, I am willing to donate money to suppress the bandits!"
I don't know who suddenly shouted, and after a brief silence, a chorus of responses suddenly rang out.
"Yes, yes, yes! Lord Wang cannot resign! My Liu family is also willing to donate silver!"
"Didn't the county magistrate say before that as long as we have money, we can ask the state government to send troops to suppress the bandits? Let's collect the money! We can't give Zhongling County to the bandits!"
"That's right! It's hard to find a good official like County Magistrate Wang in the world! My Jia family is also willing to take the money!"
"Wanchang Rice Shop is willing too!"
"For my dead son! I will donate too!"
"Let's all donate! Let's all donate..."
“…”
The scene in front of the county government office suddenly changed. The group of people who had just been filled with righteous indignation and wanted to seek justice instantly turned into good citizens with a strong sense of social responsibility, and they all rushed to donate money to suppress the bandits.
The master watched all this, marveling in his heart at the master Wei's brilliant foresight, but a look of embarrassment appeared on his face.
"Everyone, you are just... that's it! Then I will inform the county magistrate about this matter and let him decide..."
"Master! You must persuade the county magistrate not to resign!"
"Yes! Money can be discussed! But I cannot resign from this position!"
"It was our fault that we were unwilling to donate money to suppress the bandits before! Please tell the county magistrate that we have realized our mistake..."
"Okay, okay, I will tell you the truth..."
The white-haired lawyer was dealing with everyone while waving to the yamen runners beside him.
Upon seeing this, the latter immediately retreated quietly, and soon a rider came out from the back door of the county government office and headed straight for the south of the city.
…
A quarter of an hour later.
More than a hundred soldiers in green armor stood majestically on the official road in the south of the city, and the thin county magistrate knelt down in front of Liang Zhen and Wei Changtian with snot and tears. In the end, it took several people to help him up.
"Master Liang! Young Master..."
"I really don't know what to say. The people of Zhongling will definitely remember your kindness..."
"Hahaha, Lord Wang, you don't have to be polite. It's just a small favor."
Liang Zhen laughed twice, and it was obvious that he was in a very good mood: "Since those wealthy businessmen are willing to donate money, then we should set off. Lord Wang, there is no need to see us off. We will meet again in the future if we are lucky enough."
"Master Liang... I have another request."
The thin county magistrate looked at Wei Changtian and asked very seriously: "Excuse me for being so presumptuous, but may I ask your name, sir?"
“…”
Wei Changtian was slightly stunned, and then he introduced himself generously: "The Wei family in Beijing, Wei Changtian."
"Master Wei, thank you so much...what!"
The thin county magistrate's whole body suddenly trembled violently, and he stood there in a daze for a moment.
"You, you are the one..."
"yes."
Wei Changtian was not surprised by the thin county magistrate's reaction. He smiled, looked at Liang Zhen, and prepared to get in the car and leave.
However, after taking a few steps, he suddenly turned back and asked loudly: "Sir Wang, I know you are an honest official, but I don't know whether you serve as an official for the people or for your own reputation?"
"Of course it's because..."
The thin county magistrate came to his senses and subconsciously wanted to answer, but he never said the second half of the sentence.
The rapid sound of horse hooves rang out, announcing the end of an episode in which Wei Changtian and others were heading south to Shuzhou.
The thin county magistrate stood there for a long time, then suddenly straightened his hunched body and brushed off the dust on his tattered official uniform.
He stretched out his arms as if holding a ring, raised his hands to his forehead, and bowed deeply towards the rising road dust.
"Thank you, sir."
(End of this chapter)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
