Chapter 61: Sects and Families, the Super-Rich Jia

In the reception hall of Juhe County Yamen.

Cui Heng sat on a chair, and Xu Fengan stood behind him like an attendant.

Liu Litao came here with Qian Cang, took a look at Xu Fengan, and felt that he looked familiar, but he couldn't remember where he had seen him.

Afterwards, his attention was focused on Cui Heng.

The Juhe County Magistrate didn't seem to stand up to salute.

However, as the county governor, Liu Litao didn't feel dissatisfied.

He found an empty seat and sat down at random. He took the initiative to start a conversation and said with a smile full of admiration: "County Magistrate Cui is young and promising. He has only been in office for a few days, but he has managed Juhe County in an orderly manner and the people live in peace and security."

"Just do your job well." Cui Heng smiled and did not continue to beat around the bush. He asked directly, "Prefect Liu, I wonder what brings you here?"

"Ahem!" Liu Litao obviously did not expect Cui Heng to speak so directly. After coughing a few times, he said, "Since County Magistrate Cui said so, I will not keep you in suspense.

"To be honest with County Magistrate Cui, I caught a cold some time ago and have been feeling unwell ever since. It has been difficult for me to handle the affairs of the county. I can no longer serve as the county magistrate.

"At this time, I just heard that you, County Governor Cui, repelled the Yan bandit army and restored the livelihood of Juhe County, which had been impoverished for a long time. So I had some thoughts and wanted to ask County Governor Cui if you want to serve as the prefect of Lu County."

As he said that, he asked Qian Cang beside him to open the bundle and take out the three things inside.

"Haha, the prefect is really well prepared." Cui Heng laughed as soon as he saw it, "Even the letter of recommendation is ready."

The three things Liu Litao brought were the seal of the prefect of Lu County, the official uniform of the prefect, and a letter of recommendation.

The first two are necessary for serving as a county governor.

The letter of recommendation is the procedure for transferring the position of prefect.

In fact, the procedure for transferring the post of prefect is not simple.

According to the official system of Dajin, if a prefect wants to give up his post, he can recommend a non-relative candidate to take over the position of prefect by submitting a recommendation to the court.

After receiving the recommendation, the court will send officials to investigate the recommended person. After receiving

the results of the investigation, the court will convene all the officials to discuss and finally approve the appointment. The appointment letter will be sent back to the county, and the recommended person can actually take office.

However, this is a policy that can only be fully implemented in the era when the court has strong control over the local areas.

Starting a hundred years ago, the national strength of Dajin has been declining, and its control over the local areas has become weaker and weaker. Gradually, it has developed into a new prefect who only needs to send the recommendation to the imperial city to take office.

This is because the officials sent by the court to inspect the area could not reach the local area at all. They would always be killed by bandits on the way for no apparent reason. Later, the court simply gave up this step.

Nowadays, the world is in chaos, and it is difficult for government orders to be issued outside Zhongzhou. The prefectures and counties are more free. Although the recommendation letter still exists, it has become a face-saving project.

Even the step of sending it to the imperial city is saved.

You only need to set up an altar, burn the recommendation letter in the direction of Zhongzhou Imperial City, and then bow, and the recommendation is completed.

The new county magistrate can take office directly.

Void recommended it.

Now Liu Litao has even prepared the letter of recommendation, which means that as long as he burns the letter of recommendation on the spot and bows in the direction of Zhongzhou, Cui Heng will become the prefect of Lu County in name and in right.

Cui Heng originally planned to take the position of prefect of Lu County, but he did not expect that the prefect of Lu County would take the initiative to come to him, which made him feel a little surprised.

However, he did not agree directly, but shook his head and said with a smile: "The prefect really just caught a cold, felt unwell, and was unable to continue to handle government affairs, so he had to give up his post?"

If it were before, he would not care about the reason why Liu Litao gave up the position of prefect.

But after listening to Xu Fengan's words, he felt it necessary to let this prefect Liu tell the truth.

"This..." Liu Litao was speechless for a moment.

At the same time, he looked at Qian Cang beside him in confusion, as if asking, "Didn't you say that the county magistrate is determined to get the position of prefect? ​​Why are you asking so many questions?"

Qian Cang was also confused. Why is his attitude different from before?

Did he make a mistake in "guessing the superior's intention"?

However, Liu Litao was a sharp-minded person after all.

After a brief surprise, he realized that Cui Heng should know something, so he turned to Qian Cang and said, "You go out first, I have something to say to County Magistrate Cui."

"Yes." Qian Cang hurriedly took his leave and left in a hurry.

He now deeply realized that as a small follower, he should have the consciousness of a small follower, and should not get involved in too many things between big men.

"It seems that the governor really has something to say." Cui Heng smiled.

"I'm sorry to make Cui County Magistrate laugh." Liu Litao smiled bitterly, looked at Xu Fengan behind Cui Heng, and hesitated to say, "Who is..."

"This is Xu Fengan, the supreme elder of Yuhua Sword Pavilion." Cui Heng briefly introduced him and smiled, "Governor Liu, just say whatever you want to say."

"Xu Fengan! The interior of Yuhua Sword Pavilion is unparalleled, the number one master in Lu County, and the White Jade Sword God, one of the nine swords in the world?!" Liu Litao couldn't help but exclaimed, staring at Xu Fengan with wide eyes in shock.

No wonder he looked familiar. It was him. He had only seen him from a distance at a conference three years ago.

He was a big shot who could stand on equal footing with the governor of Fengzhou. He had no chance to meet him on weekdays. How could he be here?

And he was standing behind County Magistrate Cui like a follower!

From this point of view, even if the rumor of being able to call the wind and rain was a little distorted, County Magistrate Cui was probably a genuine god-like figure.

Far above the top of the world.

Liu Litao was still skeptical about the news that the County Magistrate of Juhe could call the wind and rain and destroy an army of 50,000 in a blink of an eye. He

dared not be completely sure.

After all, this kind of thing was too bizarre and completely challenged people's common sense.

If the major sects had not pressed him too hard, and if Fengzhou Governor Cao Quan had not been assassinated, he would have definitely made further detailed investigations and confirmations before making a decision.

But now seeing Xu Fengan standing behind Cui Heng respectfully like a follower, he believed the news about Cui Heng 70%.

To be so respectful to a big man standing at the top of the world, he must be respected as a god.

After hearing the series of titles revealed by Liu Litao, Cui Heng looked at Xu Fengan in surprise. He didn't expect that this old guy had such a long list of titles.

"Sorry to make you laugh, but they are just some false titles in the world." Xu Fengan said a little unhappily.

Before Liu Litao came in, Cui Heng had already agreed with him not to reveal his identity and just call him the county lord.

"If you have anything to say, Governor Liu, just say it directly." Cui Heng looked at Liu Litao again.

“Yes, Your Excellency.” Liu Litao changed his address subconsciously, he organized his words, took a deep breath and said: “Since Elder Xu is also here, Your Excellency must have known about the hundred-year period.

“Now that the hundred-year period is approaching, these martial arts sects that are not the best in the martial arts world have begun to covet the position of governor, wanting to get a piece of the pie. I’m afraid that Lord Cao, the governor of Fengzhou, was killed because of this.

“In fact, before the position of governor of Fengzhou became vacant, the external affairs stewards of the Tai Chong Sect, Tian Jian Sect, Pingchuan He Family, Fashan Temple, and Qingyu Temple all came to me, wanting to push me to the position of governor.

“Originally, I thought they were just exaggerating and talking big, and didn’t take it seriously, but after Lord Cao was assassinated, I found that they were very likely to really think so.

"As long as they push me, a person who is easy to control, to be a puppet, they can divide the spoils wantonly and don't need to care about my thoughts at all..."

"Even if they want to divide the spoils, haven't you, Lord Liu, sat on the position of governor?" Cui Heng smiled, "This is the best of both worlds, why not do it?"

"Your Excellency County Master is joking." Liu Litao said with a bitter face, "There are not only these sects in the whole Fengzhou that are not top-notch, and even the top forces may not give up the fight for the position of governor.

"This is the cusp of a storm. If you are not careful, you may lose your life. Lord Cao has learned from the previous experience. I dare not not be afraid, so I thought, I should give up the position of prefect to..."

Having said this, he couldn't go on, and didn't dare to say anything more.

"Such a dangerous position, why not let me be the scapegoat?" Cui Heng pretended to sneer, "Isn't it?"

"Dare not! I absolutely dare not think so!" Liu Litao rolled off the chair in fear, and lay on the ground and explained to Cui Heng in panic, "I, I just think that Your Excellency County Venerable is a god-like figure, with the ability to call the wind and rain, and you must not be afraid of these sects, nor afraid of being assassinated, so I, I have this last resort. If Your Excellency County Venerable is unwilling, I will never mention this matter again, please forgive me!"

"How are those sects and families going to control you? Are they going to use force directly?" Cui Heng did not explain whether he would accept the position of Lu County Governor, but asked another question.

"It would be great if they use force. "Liu Litao said with a bitter face, "You don't know, County Lord, these big sects and big families are not just people in the martial arts world, but also extremely wealthy and powerful people, who control the lifeblood of the people of a county or even several counties.

"For example, the Tai Chong sect has been established for hundreds of years and has been deeply involved in the grain trading industry for hundreds of years. At the beginning of the founding of the Jin Dynasty, in order to maintain stability, the Tai Chong sect was given part of the

grain transportation rights in Fengzhou. "To this day, the Tai Chong sect can make the clouds and rain with a wave of its hands. With a single order, it is possible for the food in Lu County to be cut off.

"There is also the Tianjian Sect, which is also a major sect that has been passed down for hundreds of years. Its main business is minerals and coal. If they are displeased, the people will have no charcoal to burn in the winter, and then there will be wars everywhere.

"And there is the Qingyu Sect... the He family in Pingchuan..."

As Liu Litao described, Cui Heng's expression became more and more strange. With the economic lifeline of the Jin Dynasty, all kinds of people's livelihood have long been controlled by various major sects and families.

It is outrageous that this ghost country can still hold on for two hundred years.

"There is one more thing I want to report to you, Your Majesty." Liu Litao seemed to think that since he had said so much, he might as well just go for it, "I don't think I can hide the fact that I left Lu County City from these major sects and families.

"They probably guessed that I wanted to give up the position of governor. In order to show the new governor's power, these sects and families have probably begun to restrict the livelihood of the people in Lu County.

"If you take over the position of governor of Lu County, you will probably face a city full of people who are oppressed by these sects and families, and whose livelihoods are in turmoil. "

"Oh?" Cui Heng narrowed his eyes slightly when he heard it.

There is such a good thing?

(End of this chapter)