Kangxi and Youqing sat there waiting, and half an hour later the county magistrate finally came running over with a pale face.
It was extremely difficult for the people sent by Emperor Kangxi to find the county magistrate.
The gate to the magistrate's mansion was not easy to enter; otherwise, it would have been easier to find the magistrate's guards, who were quite clever. Even though they couldn't get into the magistrate's mansion, it still took up a lot of time.
Upon entering the magistrate's house, we learned that the magistrate had been informed beforehand, but was still asleep. By the time we finally met him, more than half an hour had passed.
When the guards saw the magistrate, they immediately showed him their official badges. These badges were reserved for provincial governors. Emperor Kangxi did not reveal his own name directly, but even so, it terrified the magistrate. He knew very well what kind of situation the county government under his jurisdiction was. Hearing that the provincial governor was already waiting at the county government, he hurried over.
He tried to get information from the guards along the way, but they just ignored him with cold faces.
Naturally, you won't find out anything.
The county magistrate's name is Cao Yuxian. He has been serving as the magistrate here for several years, but he hasn't made any progress. Instead, he seems to want to retire here.
Cao Yuxian arrived at the county government office and, seeing the people sitting in the main hall, quickly stepped forward: "Greetings, Your Excellency the Governor?"
Kangxi glanced at him but did not tell him to get up.
"You are Cao Yuxian, Magistrate Cao?"
"Yes, sir, it is...it is your humble servant."
"I have sent people to knock on the door of this county government office, but they have been unable to answer for a long time. This county government office should be open every day. What is the meaning of keeping it closed?"
"It is my fault for failing to supervise properly. My mother was ill at home today, and I was in a hurry to go back. I didn't even know that the county government office door was closed by such a lazy person. I will definitely investigate and punish him severely."
Emperor Kangxi did not believe this.
"Liang Jiugong, send someone to find a doctor to examine Lord Cao's mother, just in case something really happens."
"yes"
Upon hearing this, Cao Yuxian quickly stopped him, saying, "My lord, you don't like such trouble. My mother is fine now, she's just getting old. My wife is making a fuss over nothing, that's why she sent someone to call me back."
Just then, a man came over and said, "Sir, I just sent someone to check the inside of the county government office and found that a lot of people were gambling in the backyard."
Kangxi's eyes turned cold.
These people are incredibly audacious. He explicitly forbade gambling among court officials, yet these people dared to gather and gamble in the county government office. They really have some nerve.
Cao Yuxian was startled: "My lord, I'm innocent! I had no knowledge of this."
Emperor Kangxi said sternly, "You are unaware of the situation? You are the county magistrate, the head of the county, the official in charge of the people's welfare. Yet, your yamen runners were found gambling in the county office. His Majesty has long since issued an order prohibiting gambling. How do you manage your subordinates? If all the officials in the country were as negligent in their duties as you, wouldn't the world be in chaos?"
Emperor Kangxi didn't know much about Cao Yuxian, but judging from his attitude, even if he wasn't corrupt, he wouldn't be a good official. He was habitually lax with his subordinates, and everyone in the county government was incredibly lazy.
"I know I was wrong, and I will certainly discipline my subordinates properly."
“Restraint? How can you restrain your subordinates like this? The county government office can be closed in broad daylight. How can I trust you, and how can the people trust you?”
"I will certainly correct it."
"Change it? Why didn't you do that earlier? Men, take off Lord Cao's official hat for me."
"Your Honor, you've been wronged! You can't do this!"
"Do you think I can do it?"
Cao Yuxian's official hat was immediately removed.
Kangxi then said, "There are plenty of people with ambition in the world. If you are not sincere to the people, there will naturally be sincere people to replace you."
Emperor Kangxi had no desire to keep such a person; he was too much of a headache. It seemed that the Ministry of Personnel should change its policies, as the fate of local officials had a significant impact on the people.
The capital city has developed better and better in recent years, but there are still some places in the localities that have not been taken care of. This is not acceptable. It is said that all land under heaven belongs to the king, but the people within the king's land are the foundation of the country.
Emperor Kangxi was well aware of this, which is why he was even more cautious.
Then Kangxi temporarily took over this small county and began to investigate it.
As for the Yuan family's affairs, Kangxi has already ordered an investigation. After the county government's affairs are resolved, he will use them to establish authority for the next county magistrate.
It took Kangxi about two or three days to finally get to know this small county town thoroughly. It was only because there wasn't enough manpower that it took so long.
Even Kangxi, who had a thorough understanding of the situation, knew that the relationships in such a small county town were quite complicated.
There are three major business families in the county: the Yuan family, the Luo family, and the Qi family. These three families are wealthy merchants in the county and are engaged in the most profitable businesses.
Relying on their wealth and influence, the Yuan, Luo, and Qi families could practically do whatever they wanted in the county town. It wasn't that no one wanted to deal with them; the previous magistrate was willing but powerless and eventually found a way to transfer them away.
Besides these three county government offices, there are also factions, mainly the county magistrate and the assistant county magistrate. The county magistrate is theoretically one rank higher than the assistant county magistrate, but that is not the case in this small county.
This county magistrate is a local, and it is because of the three wealthy merchants, Yuan, Luo, and Qi, that he dares to be so fearless.
With the support of money, the county magistrate naturally couldn't compete with the assistant magistrate.
In addition, Cao Yuxian was originally incompetent and timid, so he just let things go. After a few years, although he did not go so far as to collude with the corrupt, he did not accomplish anything at all.
Even now, they basically just appoint a hands-off manager.
The day Emperor Kangxi came to the county government office, Cao Yuxian was still asleep at home!
In retrospect, it wasn't a bad thing for Kangxi to remove Cao Yuxian's official hat, since he had indeed failed to fulfill his duties.
Looking at the chaotic state of the county, Emperor Kangxi felt his head spinning. He was eating the grain paid by the people from the national treasury, and what kind of things were they doing?
The investigation in this small county revealed a complex network of relationships, almost comparable to those of the royal family. However, while the royal family still has some dignity, these people don't even bother to conceal their connections. A simple inquiry with the locals would reveal the true nature of the officials here.
Cao Yuxian's crime doesn't warrant death, but he can't escape the charge of dereliction of duty. As for that county magistrate, he naturally deserves to die, and should be sentenced as appropriate. As for the money he embezzled, it will naturally be confiscated.
Kangxi originally planned to find someone to take over the place after dealing with the magistrate, but after this arrangement, there was really no one suitable, so he had to send someone else.
Within just a few days, everyone in the county government was on edge. People were being arrested and questioned every day, and most of them never came out. In four or five days, the entire county knew that a powerful governor had come to their county to deal with corrupt officials.
While Emperor Kangxi was waiting for the newly appointed magistrate, the heads of the Yuan, Luo, and Qi families gathered together to discuss their situation.
Their backer was County Magistrate Cheng, but now that his head has rolled, they're all afraid! After all, none of them are exactly clean.
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