Chapter 114 Wei Shengxue: Shrimp and Pig Heart~
Qingsong County.
This was a small county town that not many people knew about. Even when the Qin Dynasty conquered the six kingdoms, it was just beaten for a while and no one even changed its name.
But not long ago, this obscurity was broken by an imperial examination cheating case that shocked the government and the public.
They colluded with the remnants of the six kingdoms, instigated the common people to commit treason, maliciously concealed the benevolent policies promoted by the court, embezzled taxes... one after another, with the arrival of the imperial envoy, like pulling out a radish and bringing out the mud, one after another.
I thought colluding with the rebel forces was the limit, but I turned around and found that the county magistrate was also in cahoots with the nearby mountain bandits. He would send a message and then suppress the bandits. Passersby and merchants would be skinned alive. The county magistrate and the county lieutenant were rich as a jackpot, and the officials under them were well fed. Only the common people at the bottom suffered the most, and under the guidance of the county magistrate, they hated the Qin Dynasty deeply.
This performance is truly surprising.
Lu Jia brought the heads of more than 500 bandits from three strongholds into the city, which quickly caused a huge sensation in the city. The news spread rapidly around the county town.
The county's garrison had suppressed bandits countless times, and the local people had funded the garrison to suppress bandits countless times, but it had never been effective, and it only made the bandits more arrogant. But today, they were all killed by the adults from Xianyang City!
Hundreds of the bandits' heads were made into a memorial stone and piled up at the city gate as a warning.
This should have been a terrifying scene, but it attracted countless people to watch and admire it every day.
"Son, the Qin people have avenged you! They have avenged you!" Xiaomi Shang in the city stood in front of the tablet of his only son and cried tears of joy.
Half a year ago, his son was kidnapped by bandits on the way to his wedding. Reporting the case to the police was fruitless. He emptied his family property to pay the ransom, but the son was sent back. He had been tortured to the point of insanity and died quietly one night.
Before he died, he couldn't even recognize people. He could only weakly cry out in pain every day, "It hurts so much."
Lao Shi from the east of the city brought a plate of osmanthus cake to the mountain that day and had a crazy crying and laughing in front of his daughter's grave.
His daughter had been beautiful since she was little, and the whole family had spoiled her and never let her suffer any injustice. They happily sent her off to get married, but when she got home, she received the sad news that her daughter had been robbed by bandits on the way.
With so many precedents in place, they didn't dare delay at all. They hurriedly collected eight strings of money from the husband's family and sent it over. However, when the woman was sent back, she had been tortured beyond recognition. As soon as she woke up, she hanged herself in the middle of the night.
It was a pity that he and his old wife had to bury their young son at an old age. His wife, who had been living in fear for a long time, could not bear it anymore and fell ill. She died within half a year.
"Revenge! Son, finally someone avenged you! Hahahaha, great! Well done! You don't know, those bandits' eyes were wide open, the flesh on their faces was chopped out, oh, there was one, his eyeballs were dug out, hahaha, good death, wonderful death, what a tiger and wolf army, that is a benevolent and righteous army! The Qin people did a great job! You can finally rest in peace!"
…
The raging fire burned the bandits' bodies to ashes, drawing loud cheers from the onlookers. The remaining ashes were grabbed by everyone and scattered in the wind.
Grinding bones and scattering ashes is the most severe and vicious punishment in the world.
But today, countless people were very happy.
"Sir, isn't this a bit too much?" The accompanying official whispered to Lu Jia that the other purpose of their trip was to win the hearts of the people.
Lu Jia looked straight ahead, still smiling as he watched the crowd grabbing the ashes and scattering them. "A bit too much? Do you think they think it's excessive?"
"Don't advise others to be kind until you've experienced their suffering. Be tough. This place has been plagued by bandits, and we are their benefactors who are helping them avenge their losses. This trip will not only not damage the image of the Qin Empire in their hearts, but will actually increase their favorability."
What's more, judging from the situation when they came, how could the Qin State have any image here?
"Cheer up, the big thing is coming next."
His gaze passed over the city wall and fell quietly on the county government office in the city.
Without the county magistrate's indulgence and protection, and without the county lieutenant's collusion, how could a bandit camp of only a few hundred people become so arrogant?
"Let's go and meet our county magistrate."
The palace guard watched him lead the transferred troops directly into the city and was horrified. "Sir, are we just going to rush in like this?!"
Lu Jia said, "A quick fight and a quick decision."
Compared to the upcoming college entrance examination results, this was just a small matter. Furthermore, this was his first assignment since being released, and if he didn't do it well, he'd have a hard time explaining it to His Majesty. After all, the fact that he wasn't beheaded on the spot for all the things he'd done was a sign of his magnanimity.
He is good at managing his reputation, and this time he is here to serve his profession. If he still can't do the job well, then no one's pleading will be of any use.
…
"You took all the good seeds given by the court, you refused to distribute the farm tools provided by the court, and you concealed the benevolent policies issued by the court. Tsk, you have the guts to be a small county magistrate? Why don't you rise up and let the people of the whole county support you?"
After reading the information he had collected, Lu Jia rolled up the thick stack of papers, slapped his palms lightly, and laughed in anger.
He came with great power and now has the support of the local people. Even if the county magistrate had all the means, he could not use them and could only glare at him with eyes blazing with anger.
He should have remained hidden for a while, pretending to be submissive, in order to obtain key evidence to prove his guilt and use his notoriety to highlight the glorious image of the Qin envoy. This would have been in line with Lu Jia's style of doing things.
"Alas, time is of the essence, so the key evidence can only be fabricated. County Magistrate, it would be an honor for you to let me, Lu, personally forge it."
The Qingsong County Magistrate was almost so angry that he vomited blood. His fat body, which was bound, squirmed, and he looked as if he wanted to rush over and kill him with a ferocious look.
"What a great Imperial Envoy from the Great Qin! I love the people like my own children and am deeply trusted by the local people. Where do you think they are now?"
This was the first time that Lu Jia had seen someone dare to confront him head-on in manipulating public opinion. Except for the time he pretended to be cool in front of an immortal and suffered a disastrous defeat a year ago, he had never met an opponent in this regard.
"Hey~ You still haven't given up? Let's go and take our 'much-loved' county magistrate out for a walk."
He squinted his eyes and curled his lips, his disdain evident in his words, "Who dares to follow the same path as me?"
Although he loves fame, he is supported by the whole nation in Dong County and what he does is truly beneficial to the people, unlike this stupid guy, haha.
Lu Jia ordered the gate to be opened. At least 100 civilians had gathered outside the gate, all glaring at him indignantly.
"You bastard! Give us back our food!"
"You bastard! You colluded with those bandits and killed my sister's entire family. Go to hell!"
"This son of a bitch is so fat and we're hungry every day. He must have eaten our immortal seed!"
"Kill him!"
"Hang him on the city wall!"
"Kill him!"
Listening to the angry and disgusted shouts of the common people, the county magistrate looked at Lu Jia with a look that seemed to be filled with poison: "Good, very good, the special envoy is really calculating!"
Lu Jia became famous by stepping on others, and there are many people who hate him. This glance is just like a breeze blowing on your face.
"Take him away."
He waved his hand, walked to the gate of the county government office and pressed down his hand. The people who had been noisy just now suddenly quieted down. This effortless method made the county magistrate, who had not yet had time to leave, jealous so much that his eyes turned red.
This is his territory!
This is his slave!
Actually listening to an outsider!
He was pushed away by the soldiers and could only listen to the man who had usurped his position trying to win over the people.
"...distributing immortal seeds...reopening the academy examinations...His Majesty is concerned about you..."
Ugh! Shameless!
The Qingsong County Magistrate struggled to turn around and curse, but as soon as he turned his head, his mouth was stuffed with a smelly rag and he was dragged away whimpering.
-----------
Meng Yi walked into the Zhangtai Palace with a report and presented it to Ying Zheng.
"Your Majesty, the matter has been resolved."
Ying Zheng spread it out and glanced at it, a faint smile on his face: "Although this person is greedy for fame, his methods are not bad."
"The person in charge of the publicity department proposed by the Immortal Master some time ago hasn't been decided yet."
Meng Yi replied, "Those who hold this position hold great power and influence, and are extremely important. Currently, several key positions are unfilled."
Ying Zheng tapped the report in his hand and said, "Lu Jia will temporarily take charge of the Propaganda Department. The vacant position should be filled as soon as possible. This person is unruly. Have the Minister of Justice send someone over."
Meng Yi bowed and accepted the order.
Lu Jia was the best at judging the situation. His rebelliousness was fake, but his real intention was to send someone to watch.
However, an excellent deputy must accurately understand the boss's intentions at such times. Obviously, Meng Yi did a good job in this regard.
…
"Punishment? Let me think about it."
Wei Shengxue held up her face and searched through her memory for any methods with higher lethality.
"Isn't it enough to strip him naked and parade him through the streets and put up a sign at his mansion at the entrance of the village?"
The eunuch who delivered the message smiled humbly and flatteringly: "Your Majesty means that you want those people to be disgraced and infamous."
"How far is Yang?"
"It would be best if the whole world knew their true faces."
Wei Shengxue said, "Then let's start a newspaper and have the novelists prepare as well."
…
"What does the Immortal want us to do?"
Because he was not involved in political affairs and had no outstanding opinions, the novelist had not been valued since his birth, and most of his disciples were in a semi-free state. It was thought that this would continue from generation to generation, but he did not expect that one day he would be noticed by an immortal.
The head novelist was ecstatic: This immense wealth is finally our turn!
Princess Yangzi, the immortal spokesperson, smiled slightly and said, "It's not difficult for you. I just want you to use your strengths and do your job well."
She signaled the palace servant to hand over a book full of words. The head novelist took it and glanced at it, his eyes almost glued to it.
"Who wrote this?" He held the book tightly, not wanting anyone to let go. "This person is the lord of my novel's revival!"
Princess Yangzi didn't answer, but just gave him a look that said "what do you think?"
The head novelist leaned over the tea table, his neck stretched out, his gaze eager. "Your Highness, could you introduce me to an immortal?" He raised his hand and swore, "From now on, the immortal is my adopted parent! If you tell me to go east, I will never go west. If you tell me to curse, I will never give you a single compliment!"
Princess Yangzi put down the teacup with a click that made his heart skip a beat. "Doctor, you're too kind. The immortal just wants his novelist disciple to come to a teahouse or restaurant to tell a story. There's no need for you to go through fire and water."
The storyteller will find out.
When the story spreads across the country, the "glorious" image of those people will surely become a symbol passed down through the ages.
I wonder if they like this kind of reputation.
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