He Zifeng knew that the advisor's extensive network of connections in the county was inextricably linked to the Gong family, Wan Hai's biological father.
He used money from the Gong family to win people's hearts, and once he had them under his control, he used his power to subdue them. This combination of threats and rewards became his infallible method of managing his subordinates.
However, the clerk had been living a comfortable life for too long and was no longer content with just being a clerk. He colluded with his superiors, hoping to advance his career. As long as he could become a county magistrate, his life would be comfortable; he would have power and money, no different from a local tyrant.
But he made a fatal mistake. Despite having everything arranged, his superiors directly appointed him as a county magistrate, which he was unwilling to accept.
The advisor usually sported a goatee and had an air of otherworldly wisdom. Coupled with his deep-seated nature and rarity in revealing his true feelings, most people had no idea what the advisor's preferences were.
But He Zifeng knew that the advisor only liked two things: privilege and money.
When the county magistrate first arrived, his advisor was all-powerful and completely disregarded his orders. Although just an advisor, the magistrate was often unaware of many matters concerning cases and affairs. Fortunately, the magistrate used his authority to gain some support, otherwise he would have been sidelined by the advisor. Now, the two each held half the power, making them somewhat irreconcilable. The magistrate usually didn't argue with the advisor, but the advisor was always eager to challenge him.
He Zifeng thought for a moment, then left the house. He neither returned to the shop nor went to the government office. Instead, he went to the outskirts of the city, where the landscape grew increasingly desolate. It was hard to imagine that such a place existed even in the county.
There was hardly anyone around.
He knocked on a door, and an old man opened it. He was only forty years old, but his hair was completely white; anyone who didn't know him would think he was sixty. He Zifeng asked, "Do you wish to sue the clerk?"
As soon as he finished speaking, the old man's expression changed. He told He Zifeng to come in and talk.
The old man was a bamboo craftsman. Although he was poor, he managed to get by. It was just a pity that he had a beautiful daughter.
A family with a daughter is sought after by many, but for a poor family to have such a beautiful girl only brings more trouble.
His daughter was spotted on the street by the third son of the Gong family, who then abducted her. Wealthy families like this often prey on innocent, respectable women. After the incident, his daughter couldn't bear it and attempted suicide, but was rescued and left half-mad. Such a beautiful girl was so cruelly violated; her own mother cried until she went blind.
The old man, despite his injuries, went to sue the Gong family, but was stopped by the clerk and even punished for causing trouble, resulting in a broken leg. The old man later learned that the clerk and the Gong family were in cahoots. He then wanted to sue the clerk himself, even beating the drum to appeal for justice, but was persuaded to leave by the bailiff, Brother Xiong.
Suing the clerk at the yamen is like courting death.
The old man was eventually persuaded to leave, but what if it didn't work? What would happen to his family if he died?
But he was truly resentful. It was because of a black sheep like the advisor that the Gong family acted so recklessly.
He's constantly sulking, and he feels like his health is about to deteriorate.
He Zifeng asked him if he wanted to sue the clerk. Of course he did! He'd even scouted the place, prepared to risk his life to avoid dying with him. Unfortunately, the clerk's entourage was too imposing, surrounded by followers. While others rode horses, he rode in a sedan chair. There were four men carrying the chair, one in front and one behind. Add to that his henchmen, and there were six or seven in total. The lame old man couldn't get close at all.
The old man is almost driven to death by worries. He'll do anything as long as he can get rid of the advisor.
He Zifeng said a few words briefly, and then left.
The next day, the yamen runners went to work early to build the city wall. They needed to organize the people who hadn't paid taxes. The brick kilns used for building the city wall were specially made; each brick weighed over a hundred catties and was quite large. Each brick cost three hundred copper coins, not including the yellow mud and glutinous rice juice used for plastering the wall.
It's said that the county magistrate will also be coming to see. Chief Constable Zhu has given a strict order: no one, regardless of who they are, is allowed to ask for leave.
Everyone went to work early, with only a few people assigned to the county government office. Two others patrolled the streets.
The construction of the city wall here not only required these poor, untaxed villagers but also some strong men. A notice was posted offering fifty coins a day for their labor. Although everyone knew that building the city wall was hard work, the price of fifty coins a day was still very attractive to the poor.
Half the number of people going to He Zifeng's porridge shop for breakfast this morning has disappeared, and the business is bustling with activity here.
Sure enough, the county magistrate arrived shortly afterward. It was unclear where he had found the old craftsman, who was said to have experience repairing city walls. He declared, "Aesthetics aside, it must be built sturdily."
The craftsmen received their orders and began directing everyone to work.
The county magistrate did not leave.
All the yamen runners were eager to impress the county magistrate, and the scene was bustling with activity.
A short while later, the clerk arrived in a sedan chair.
The county magistrate arrived on foot, but the clerk carried himself even more weighty than the magistrate. Those at the yamen knew the situation in the county, but the local people didn't. For such a major event as the construction of the city wall, many people came to watch the spectacle. When they saw the clerk, they started whispering amongst themselves.
The clerk, however, was completely oblivious. His expression shifted between anger and rage. Although he had heard from He Zifeng yesterday about the magistrate's sudden decision to send people to repair the city wall, he hadn't taken it to heart. But this morning, he found the county office deserted; most of the people had been sent away to repair the wall.
Repairing the city wall was no small expense; it would likely cost well over three thousand taels of silver. Shouldn't he have informed the other party beforehand about such a large sum? But the other party completely ignored him. The clerk felt insulted and was so angry his beard almost bristled.
He arrived before the county magistrate, forgetting even to pay his respects. He said, "Sir, are you trying to emulate those incompetent and corrupt officials? The county is broke; your actions are a waste of resources and a burden on the people!" He was furious. Since the county magistrate wouldn't even consult him on such a major matter as building the city gate, he wouldn't hold back!
He championed the idea of wasting resources and manpower. Even if his superiors were present, he would dare to accuse them of acting out of greed for personal gain.
Although the county magistrate usually tolerated his clerk, he wasn't exactly known for his good temper. Enraged by this outburst, he retorted, "Nonsense! I'm doing this for the good of the county government. Besides, the city wall can no longer withstand the wind and sand; it's like shoddy tofu. If we don't repair it now, can you bear the responsibility if something goes wrong?"
The clerk had no friends in the Imperial Observatory, so he had no idea of the magistrate's worries and simply thought he was being stubborn. He said sarcastically, "This is a serious act of selfishness on your part. You're saying all this just to add a line to your record of achievements, but you're paying for it with the lives of ordinary people." Since ancient times, it's not uncommon for a few people to die while building city walls.
The county magistrate said, "How dare you! Who gave you permission to disobey your superiors?"
As soon as He Zifeng saw that an argument had broken out, he hid far away.
Officer Zhu had no choice but to step forward and mediate the fight for the sake of the bigger picture.
The yamen runners quickly dispersed the onlookers! But the news of the magistrate arguing with his clerk spread like wildfire.
Just then, a junior constable ran over. He wanted to secretly report the matter to Constable Zhu. But when he got there, he was dumbfounded. Constable Zhu was with the county magistrate and his clerk.
But when he turned around, he couldn't find anyone else who could take charge, so he had no choice but to go over there.
The two county officials were already furious, and even Constable Zhu was terrified. Just then, a junior constable stepped forward, and Constable Zhu immediately became enraged. All the constables were under his command. Where did this clueless, hot-headed brat come from? Didn't he see everyone was angry? He wanted to kick the junior constable in the backside.
But we can't do that in front of the two leaders!
The county magistrate saw the newcomer and asked, "What is it?" Almost everyone from the county government was at the city gate. "You must have something to say to come up here at this time."
The young constable opened his mouth, but didn't know how to start. The words were like hot paper, difficult to say.
The clerk got angry at his indecisiveness and said, "Speak quickly!"
When Constable Zhu saw that his subordinates had already displeased the two men, he hurriedly urged them on.
This young yamen runner had no one to teach him how to speak. Now, being pressed so hard, he had no choice but to tell the truth: "Reporting to Your Excellency, we discovered some scholars causing trouble while we were patrolling the streets."
The county magistrate frowned: "Hmm?"
The clerk was pleased to see the county magistrate in distress, guessing that the scholars had learned about the money spent on building the city wall.
If a scholar has any grievances and criticizes others verbally or in writing, it will negatively impact public opinion and could easily lead to trouble.
The county magistrate asked, "What's this scholar doing?"
The young yamen runner secretly glanced at the clerk.
The clerk noticed this look and felt a little uneasy. Before he could urge the junior clerk to explain, he said, "The scholars say they want to sue you, sir, for taking money from the Gong family and protecting Master Gong the Third, who was forcibly taking a woman in the street! Is this county town solely under the Gong family's control?"
And there's something even more outrageous. They issued a proclamation denouncing the advisor, accusing him of being a lackey of the Gong family.
Taking advantage of the low population density today, they caused a disturbance before being discovered. By then, the scholar had already reached the county town. There wasn't a single official at the yamen (government office) to handle the situation, so they immediately sent someone to deliver a message.
The clerk's face went from red to green and then to black in an instant; he had just been gloating. Who would have thought that the situation would turn so drastically in the blink of an eye?
The advisor said, "Nonsense! These scholars have heard all this from who-knows-where. Instead of studying the classics, they spout nonsense and slander the court. Guards, arrest all these scholars!"
The magistrate had always disliked his advisor. With the advisor constantly interfering, he now saw the advisor being punished. This was the perfect opportunity to kick him while he was down.
The magistrate said, "Officer Zhu, He Zifeng, and the clerk, come back with me to take a look." He then summoned Old Xing to oversee the city wall repairs. They needed to return to the yamen first. They couldn't let the scholars take over their stronghold. They had to quickly bring the situation under control.
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