"My lord, according to what Lord Zhao said, I'm afraid we're really going to run into trouble this time. Since these chieftains can control the lives and deaths of ordinary people, the people probably won't dare to disobey them. If they want to stop you from doing things, I think it will be very easy for them. We need to think of a plan."
"Yes, if that's the case, I'm afraid it's not wise for us to show off right away. We should keep a low profile and wait until we've thoroughly investigated the situation before making any further plans."
Xichun was not very clear about the power of those chieftains. In her own time, there were no more chieftains, and the local people had a deeper sense of national identity.
"Yes, I think this matter needs to be considered carefully. Let's not act rashly. Let's wait until we understand the local chronicles and clarify the local forces and their scope of power before making any plans."
If we take the initiative to do things, I'm afraid we won't only fail to gain anything, but we'll also give them an opportunity to exploit our weaknesses.
Yu Ping, if anyone comes looking for you or tries to find out anything during this time, just give them a vague answer. Tao Zi, if anyone tries to trick you, be careful. Also, don't act on your own during this period; you must have someone with you and not give them a chance.
Fu Changfeng thought for a moment before giving the instructions.
"Yes, we will definitely be careful," they both agreed.
"Don't worry, it's the same here. I plan to invite the wives and daughters of the local gentry over to sound them out and also to find out about the relationships between these ladies."
When Xichun saw him looking at her, she explained her plan.
“Very good, let’s do it this way. As long as we work together, I don’t believe they are so impregnable that we can find a weakness.”
Having made up their minds, everyone hurried on their journey and finally arrived at Shaoming County five days later. After observing the surrounding area, they found that it was also a place with steep terrain, and the fields were full of crops, which showed that the people there were all hardworking.
"Come on, your whole family has committed a crime. Come with me to see the chieftain. If you dare to disobey, you'll be beaten with sticks!" Just as they were secretly observing the reactions of these people, a group of people suddenly appeared in the distance, using whips to drive the tied-up family over.
Their accents were very strong, and some of the words were strung together by Xi Chun, so not everyone could understand them.
“We did nothing wrong. That’s all my land. What’s wrong with us farming it? You people are all lackeys of the chieftain, forcibly seizing my land. I’m going to complain to the chieftain about you!”
The family being held captive had flushed red faces; if they hadn't been bound by ropes, they probably would have fought back.
"Hmph, since you're unwilling, then let's go talk to the chieftain. Take him away, you disobedient brat, how dare you disobey the chieftain's orders!" Hearing this, the man swung his braid hard at the defiant man.
Seeing this, the people around did not dare to point or whisper, and quickly made way for them to pass first.
Fu Changfeng also gestured to his men, telling them to disperse and wait until these people left before inquiring about the news.
"Old man, who are these people? Why are they tied up? Are they from the government?" Xi Chun stepped forward, wanting to ask an old man nearby.
"What did you say? I don't understand. Are you a stranger here?" The old man listened to her for a long time but still couldn't understand. He looked at them with some wariness, so he picked up his things and left quickly.
“Auntie, we’re from out of town. Do you know what happened just now?” Xichun asked another auntie, still not giving up.
Fortunately, the old woman noticed that the person asking the question was a woman, and after listening carefully for a while, she said in a thick local accent, "Oh, they are all people who have offended the chieftain. It must be that the chieftain sold their land to that person, but they didn't agree, so they made a fuss."
After listening carefully, Xichun pieced together what she had said and finally understood the reason.
"Then why don't they go to the yamen? How could the chieftain sell his land to someone else?" Xichun wanted to continue asking, but the old woman either didn't understand or didn't dare to answer, and walked away.
“It seems these chieftains are more powerful than we thought. Let’s go to the county government office first and hand them over.” Fu Changfeng also frowned.
At the city gate, upon seeing the group arrive, the gatekeepers, sensing they weren't locals, asked them to show their travel permits for inspection. Upon hearing that Fu Changfeng and his group were there to assume their new posts, the gatekeepers hastily bowed in greeting.
"So it's the county magistrate. No wonder you seemed so amiable. I'll take you to the county government office right away. Everyone there is waiting for you."
The city guard was all smiles and flattery, which surprised them. They had thought that these people ignored even the county magistrate because of the chieftain.
"What's your name? Are you a local?" Fu Changfeng thought to himself, after hearing his somewhat broken Mandarin, "Finally, someone who can understand me."
"Your Honor, my name is Yang Guangcai. My family is from this county. We heard that a new county magistrate is coming, and the county magistrate has been telling us to wait at the city gate."
"Alright, let's go to the county government office now." Not knowing whose orders this city guard was taking, Fu Changfeng didn't dare to ask too many questions, lest the person behind him find out and become wary.
"Sir, the county government office is just ahead. I have to go back to guard the city gate, so I won't take you in."
"Alright, thank you very much, young man. Let's go in then." Fu Changfeng led the group to the gate of the county government office. At this time, the two yamen runners at the gate were dozing off, with mosquitoes swarming around them. They had to swat at the mosquitoes occasionally.
"Ahem." Taozi coughed when he saw this, and the two of them were instantly awakened. They were quite surprised to see them arrive.
"Who are you? Get out of here! Why are you disturbing my peaceful sleep at the county government office?" The yamen runner was still half asleep when he realized that these people had disturbed his sleep, and he couldn't help but get angry.
“We are here at the county government office to handle some business. May I ask why you gentlemen are dozing off here? People may come to this office at any time. Aren’t you damaging the dignity of the office by doing this?”
At Fu Changfeng's behest, Zhao Yuping asked the two men with a stern face.
"Go away, go away, a few outsiders trying to put on airs in front of us. If you have nothing to do, get out of here. The county government is not a place for people like you."
"If we can't come, then who can?"
"Hey, you guys look like decent people, so why are you talking so rudely? Go away, or I'm kicking you out."
"Oh, you're driving us away? You don't even ask who we are or if we have any grievances before you drive us away. If you do this, which commoner will dare to come and seek justice? Quickly call out your county magistrate, or you'll have a hard time explaining yourselves."
Fu Changfeng adopted a stance, and the two looked at each other, wondering if he was a relative of the county magistrate.
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