After Lord Qiu had the people under control, he went to the county to start searching through things, wanting to find evidence of the county magistrate’s crimes. But after searching for a long time, he found nothing useful at all.
Soon his subordinate came over.
Lord Qiu said: “Are those people all behaving?” He had given deadly orders. If the runners made any moves, they could directly kill them!
His subordinate said: “Very well-behaved. The doctor took a look and went out to brew medicine. I was there the whole time.”
Lord Qiu snorted coldly: “Good that they know what’s good for them. Continue watching them.”
“Yes.” The subordinate agreed quickly and then left.
Lord Qiu’s confidant said: “My lord, we haven’t found anything useful.” This was the first time he’d seen such a clean county magistrate. From the moment they entered the city, he noticed it was different here. The roads were clean, smoke was coming from all the chimneys around, and there wasn’t a single corpse on the streets.
Compared to other counties, this place was simply like a paradise. The confidant felt it was a pity – how many years would it take to produce such a grassroots official with a pure heart? Unfortunately, he wasn’t one of their own people.
Lord Qiu said: “Think of a solution for me tonight!” He wanted to quickly convict the man and execute him immediately. Then he would directly supervise this place. All the achievements here would belong to him – perhaps instead of being demoted, he might even be promoted.
The confidant had followed Lord Qiu for many years. Seeing Lord Qiu’s expression, he knew what he was thinking. He said: “Then let me first congratulate my lord on achieving your heart’s desire!”
Lord Qiu’s face showed some relief.
The confidant continued: “What about these runners?” Those who could work beside such a county magistrate who accomplished real things were all talents. They could start working immediately without training – very rare indeed.
But Lord Qiu said: “A new emperor brings new ministers. You’re also an old hand at doing things – do I need to teach you about this matter?”
The confidant didn’t dare and repeatedly apologized. He already understood Lord Qiu’s meaning.
For Lord Qiu, he didn’t care about these small fry. Whether they lived or died had no impact on him. However, Lord Qiu also knew how serious the crime of killing a county magistrate was. This matter required leaving no witnesses alive. If even a little leaked out and was later used by political enemies, the unlucky one would become him. He wouldn’t let such a thing happen.
Lord Qiu pulled out a packet of red-crowned crane poison from his pocket. This was deadly poison – just putting it in food would guarantee that one packet could kill them all!
Lord Qiu handed this packet of poison to his confidant.
The confidant felt reluctant in his heart but still took the poison and said: “What about the young master from the Xie family? Should we let him go back? I estimate this person is timid as a mouse and definitely won’t ruin your great plan.”
The Xie family was a major merchant household in the county. If he got implicated, the reaction would be bigger than others.
Lord Qiu snorted coldly: “Just a merchant household in a small county town. Do I, this official, have to yield to them everywhere? If they dare cause trouble, I’ll deal with them together!” After speaking, he was still somewhat angry: “Really, a small temple with big demons.”
The confidant frowned. A thousand-li dike could be destroyed by ant holes. This place was well-managed, and everyone’s hearts were united. It wouldn’t be as simple to control as other counties.
But Lord Qiu had always been arrogant. He didn’t dare speak the words hidden in his heart.
The confidant went down to poison them. But as soon as he went out, he heard a commotion outside. His heart jumped. He didn’t know why, but since coming to this county town, although everything had gone smoothly, he just felt uneasy.
Hearing the noise outside, he quickly called subordinates to go inquire.
The voices outside grew louder. Even Lord Qiu inside the room heard and came out dissatisfied, saying: “What’s all this noise about?”
The confidant understood the situation and said: “The government-run workshop managers outside want to see the county magistrate.”
Lord Qiu was somewhat dissatisfied and said: “Just send them away.”
The confidant said: “It’s not easy to handle. There are about ten or more people. They insist on coming in to see him, and if we don’t let them, they want to force their way in.”
Lord Qiu angrily said: “I’ve never seen such ill-mannered people!” He also had a bad feeling in his heart – the other side was looking to cause trouble.
Lord Qiu heard the noisy voices getting closer, so he simply went out directly. Looking around, no wonder his subordinates couldn’t stop them – there were more than ten strong men.
They had some people guarding the county magistrate and others, some people searching through materials, and only four people managing the county yamen. Facing so many people, they naturally retreated step by step.
Lord Qiu said: “I am his superior. The county yamen is not a marketplace where you can make noise at will. Considering you are first-time offenders, I’ll spare you this time. If you dare make noise again, I’ll definitely have you beaten with boards.” Lord Qiu’s official authority was great.
Outside, it was very intimidating. But the law doesn’t punish the masses – with so many people coming, the common people weren’t afraid at all.
These managers were all promoted from among the common people. The county magistrate was their parent official. This person in front of them, acting so arrogantly, clearly didn’t look like a good person.
Lord Qiu had always been successful once he revealed his identity, but who would have thought he’d miscalculate this time. These managers came from humble backgrounds with limited knowledge and didn’t show him respectful deference. Instead, they keenly asked: “Where is our county magistrate?”
“Right, where did you hide our county magistrate?”
“Where is he? Hand him over.”
Lord Qiu saw this group of country bumpkins actually pressing him step by step. He casually said some intimidating words.
But these people weren’t scared easily and insisted he hand over the person.
After Lord Qiu came here, he had controlled the important figures but was now cornered by a few common people. Although he had brought some men, those men all had their duties. The people currently beside him were really limited.
He couldn’t resist so many people. These ruffians all had arms thick as bowls – if they fought desperately, he definitely wouldn’t gain any advantage.
The managers spoke all at once: “Did you arrest our lord?”
“Why haven’t we seen a single runner since coming here!”
“Right, where did you take the people?” A clever person ran out and started shouting in the street: “Some corrupt official has arrested our lord.”
When the county people heard this, how could this be allowed? They immediately ran out from their homes to support this matter.
Soon, more people continuously came to the county. Now it was complete chaos.
No matter what Lord Qiu said, it was drowned out by the other side. They had only one thought – demand that Lord Qiu hand over the person.
Outside the county, horse carriages passed by this place. If He Zifeng had been present, he would definitely have recognized that one person on the carriage was Master Dian, who had come with the old village chief when he divided the family. The other person wore light gray clothing. Although this clothing looked ordinary, looking carefully, the clothes had faint silver threads.
The noble young master didn’t need to speak to naturally carry an incomparable aura: “This is the small county town you mentioned.”
Master Dian said: “Yes.” He still remembered the soybean pig’s feet he had been given back then. It’s just that this study tour had taken too long, and they had encountered snow disasters on the road. As they walked toward the capital, when they passed this small county town, they remembered it.
They wanted to visit old friends, but who knew the city gates here were actually open.
As soon as the noble young master entered, he felt this place was different from other places. The city walls here were all newly built and could resist wind and snow. But these city gates were wide open, with not even a single guard around.
The noble young master’s heart tightened – could it be that this city had been breached and everyone inside was dead?
During disaster years, incidents easily occurred. Many refugees who couldn’t survive would become bandits, burning, killing, and looting.
Just as they both felt tense, they saw quite a few people running from their homes in one direction.
Looking at their clothes, they were actually wearing uniform-style cotton jackets that looked quite warm.
They quickly had their accompanying people stop one person to ask what was happening.
After a while, the servant came back and said: “They say a corrupt official has arrested the county magistrate. They’re going to rescue the county magistrate!”
The noble young master was stunned to hear this. He hadn’t expected to encounter such excitement, and said: “Let’s go take a look.”
Master Dian loved watching excitement and said: “Hey, who is the official here?”
The noble young master thought for a moment and said: “Qiu Shu’en.” This person was said to be the Chief Minister’s man. He wasn’t good at other things, but had some ability at making money. He offered quite a lot in tribute every year.
The noble young master came from the capital and had carefully investigated the subordinates of important officials.
Master Dian said: “Lord Qiu has been severely impeached this time.” He still had the leisure to come to the county to abuse his power – Lord Qiu’s heart was quite big.
When they arrived, the area around the county was already packed with people, and common people were still continuously gathering here.
These two young masters mixed in the very back of the crowd, completely inconspicuous.
Everyone was shouting slogans, demanding that Lord Qiu release the people.
Lord Qiu was so angry his face turned pale. He had still thought too simply, thinking he could easily control this place and write out confession letters within a day. Who would have thought the common people here were so united? They somehow got wind of it and all came to demand the person.
If Lord Qiu had been controlled by a superior, that would be one thing, but being threatened by common people was truly a great humiliation.
At this moment, caught between advancing and retreating, he could only say: “Everyone be quiet. Your county magistrate has committed crimes. Don’t make trouble, or you’ll be arrested and won’t have a good outcome!”
The people below heard this and quickly asked: “What crime did our county magistrate commit?”
Lord Qiu said: “He misappropriated account funds. Now there’s a deficit of five thousand taels.” Then he said: “He’s simply scum among officials, scraping the people’s fat and blood, unfit to be an official.” He knew what kind of officials the common people hated most.
Who knew the common people wouldn’t buy it. Five thousand taels was an astronomical figure to everyone, but they said: “As long as he lacks silver, we’ll pool it together for him.”
“Right, release the person.”
Then a woman pulled the silver hairpin from her head and threw it inside. Now other people, as if receiving a signal, threw necklaces, earrings, copper coins, broken silver – everything.
People who came later didn’t understand what was happening and asked those in front, who repeated it once.
Then they heard an old woman behind say: “The corrupt official says the county magistrate embezzled?” Then she quickly said to her son beside her: “Go to mother’s dowry and bring out the small box!”
“Mother, that’s your dowry. You haven’t touched it all these years.” Her son disagreed.
The old woman said: “If it weren’t for the county magistrate, our whole family would have starved to death. When people are dead, what use is silver? Go quickly.”
Her son was clearly very filial. Although he disagreed with his mother’s action, he still went back.
Other people also generously contributed, passing silver inside. Some gave more, some less.
The noble young master nearby was stunned watching. He said: “Is the county magistrate really worth this to you all?” He could see that these people were just ordinary common folk wearing coarse cloth and hemp clothes.
Common people had difficulty earning money – every tael was blood and sweat money.
The person who was stopped said: “Our county magistrate reduced charcoal costs, didn’t let merchants raise prices, and found work for us poor people. We can get thick cotton jackets and poor people can afford two-wen tofu. The good deeds our county magistrate has done couldn’t be told in three days and nights.”
If other people committed crimes, the common people would curse them after hearing about it. But mentioning the county magistrate and the runners below, who didn’t give a thumbs up? Even those sixty or seventy-year-old elders said when talking that at their great age, they’d never seen such good officials.
Then they saw horse carriages coming: “Oh, it’s the Xie family.”
After a while, the Xie family’s people had their steward present five hundred taels of silver, all brand new, donated to the county. Most of what the common people gave were copper coins – one thousand wen made one tael of silver. How long would it take to save up five thousand taels?
Speaking of the wealthy in the city, it had to be the big merchant households.
Seeing this, the common people spontaneously applauded.
“The Xie family shows great righteousness.”
“Nothing more to say – tomorrow I’ll go to the Xie family general store to buy oil.”
“Me too.”
Other common people who had gone to get money also came. There was even a rough man who brought his family’s money box and threw handfuls.
They heard the clattering sound of falling money in front, stimulating even the noble young master to feel his blood boiling.
After a while: “People from the matchmaking agency came.”
“My master ordered me to present five hundred taels of silver. The matchmaking agency stands with everyone in solidarity to overcome difficulties together.” The servant spoke, then opened the money box, showing neatly arranged rows of silver ingots.
Then came the chamber of commerce president, various merchants, and escort agency people. Others gave two hundred taels, and some small shops gave fifty taels.
Everyone kept waiting for the Gong family. The Gong family merchant house was equally famous as the Xie family. Now with such a big commotion, they definitely got the news, but they never came.
Soon the front had piled up into a mountain of silver, and common people were still bringing silver from behind.
Everyone confronted Lord Qiu – they’d provide money if he wanted money, but the person must be released.
Lord Qiu hadn’t expected these people to be so popular with the people. Instead, he couldn’t release them. Since they’d already made enemies, he might as well go all the way. He said: “Everyone should take this silver back. Breaking court law – can having money allow one to get away scot-free? If everyone did this, wouldn’t having money exempt one from everything?”
The common people said: “What do you want?”
Lord Qiu said sanctimoniously: “He must bear responsibility for the crimes he committed.”
Just at this moment, He Zifeng and Head Constable Zhu appeared with the county magistrate, followed by dozens of county runners. Seeing the mountain of money piled in front of Lord Qiu.
Lord Qiu saw them and his eyes showed anger: “How did you get out?”
He Zifeng had always been good at fighting. Seeing the commotion outside, he knew help had come. How could he sit and wait for death? He immediately took advantage of the chaos to break out, knocked down one person, and others rushed over.
The runners in the other room, hearing the commotion, all ran out too. Two or three people dealing with one – after Lord Qiu’s subordinates were all knocked down, they were tied up.
The county magistrate said: “Thank you, fellow villagers and townspeople. What I did was what a county magistrate should do. That you could come moves me deeply.” After speaking, he actually bowed to all the common people present.
The other common people immediately knelt down and said: “My lord.”
With people leading in front, others also knelt down in succession, creating an overwhelming momentum.
The county magistrate said: “I have a clear conscience and haven’t embezzled a single wen. I also warned other county towns early about the possible snow disaster. The deficit in the county accounts is because of building city walls and the winter clothes everyone wears, plus the silver for various workshops – all have traceable records. Lord Qiu came up with a series of accusations. I don’t know for what reason?”
Lord Qiu said: “Smooth talker. The county’s silver belongs to the state. Who gave you the right to spend it without permission? I am the superior. Men, arrest him. If he resists, kill without mercy!”
“Who dares?” A voice from the crowd – the noble young master spoke up.
Everyone looked over and discovered it was a young man. Not one person present recognized him.
Lord Qiu was furious. First threatened by common people, then confronted by subordinates, and now even a young man dared to give him attitude. Lord Qiu was eager to make an example. Seeing the noble young master speak up, he sneered: “Such audacity! Go, arrest this person. I want to personally execute him!”
