latelenovela Chapter 984 Bai Qi helps Lin Wanzhi reorganize Qingyang County. The first female county magistrate r
Chapter 984 Bai Qi helps Lin Wanzhi reorganize Qingyang County. The first female county magistrate r
However, her gaze was unfocused, staring blankly at the banana leaves outside the window, wet with rain.
The letter sent to Pingzhou has been out for ten days, and there has been no news since.
During those ten days, she still found it difficult to move forward in her position as county magistrate.
County Magistrate Zhang Jing paid his respects to the county magistrate every day, reporting that everything was as usual.
The accounts of the registrar Qian Qian were always being sorted out;
The clerk, Sun Maoze, could always find various reasons to prove that the county's public security was excellent and that adults didn't need to worry about it.
She even tried to travel incognito, but soon after leaving the county government office, several constables would appear behind her, claiming to "protect the adults' safety," and would stay by her side, making it impossible for her to get any real information about the people.
This is a form of spiritual torture.
They didn't argue with her, nor did they contradict her orders; they simply acted as if it were for her own good... Her academic achievements and profound knowledge were completely useless to her.
Just as Lin Wanzhi was about to lose all her edge due to these endless setbacks, a series of hurried footsteps came from outside the courtyard.
It was her personal maid, Xiao Huan.
"Miss! Miss! There's...there's a message!"
Xiao Huan, panting heavily as she ran, lifted the hem of her skirt, holding a letter stamped with the urgent wax seal of Pingzhou Prefecture aloft.
Lin Wanzhi practically jumped up from her chair and quickly stepped forward to take the letter.
She quickly opened the letter, and Su Mingyue's neat yet strong handwriting came into view.
The letter first expressed understanding and sympathy for her situation, then changed its tone and wrote: "...Lady White Snake said that to resolve this predicament, swift and decisive measures are needed."
Trying to reason with someone is like casting pearls before swine.
Sister, do not worry, Lady White Snake has already sent a capable person to rush to your aid overnight.
This man, Bai Qi, was a Grand General appointed by the imperial court. The emperor granted him special permission to accompany the Marquis of Anguo in managing military affairs year-round.
He will go to Qingyang as a guest advisor to help his sister break the deadlock.
"Lady White said: When things get difficult, there's no need to say much; let General White explain the reasoning."
The Marquis's mansion will bear all the consequences...
General?
Bai Qi?
Lin Wanzhi stood there, holding the letter in her hand, stunned.
Her first reaction was disbelief.
How could a great general who shares the fate of the nation obey the orders of the Marquis of Anguo?
Why would she condescend to serve as a guest official in her lowly seventh-rank county government office?
This...this is simply unbelievable!
However, the letter was written by Su Mingyue herself, and Marquis Anguo Bailu was such a legendary figure who defied all logic.
Perhaps, this incredible thing is true.
"Miss, what does the letter say?"
Xiao Huan asked curiously.
Lin Wanzhi took a deep breath, suppressing the shock in her heart, and a glimmer of light returned to her face.
She didn't answer, but carefully folded the letter, her fighting spirit rekindled in her eyes.
"Xiao Huan, prepare tea."
"We are waiting for a distinguished guest."
She didn't know what General Bai Qi looked like, nor did she know how he could reason.
But the Marquis of Anguo's promise gave her hope!
Two days later, in the morning, the atmosphere in the signing room of the county government was as harmonious as ever.
Lin Wanzhi sat in the main seat, with County Magistrate Zhang Jing, Registrar Qian Qian, and Clerk Sun Mao standing on either side.
“County Magistrate Zhang,” Lin Wanzhi began, her voice calm, “I ordered you the day before yesterday to organize manpower to dredge the moat in the west of the city.”
With the rainy season approaching, there is a risk of flooding if the channels are not cleared in time.
I wonder how things are progressing on this matter?
Zhang Jing immediately bowed and replied sincerely, "Your Excellency, I was just about to report this matter to you."
However... alas, the weather has been uncooperative, with days of continuous rain, and many of the yamen runners have caught colds, making it impossible to gather enough manpower.
"I am also anxious, but I can't force my sick brothers to work in the rain, can I?"
"This... is against the principles of benevolence, sir."
The same rhetoric again.
Lin Wanzhi sneered inwardly, but remained outwardly calm.
She knew that the so-called cold was just an excuse; in reality, no one was listening to her orders.
Just as she was about to argue her point again, a calm, unwavering voice rang out from the doorway.
"I can cure colds."
Everyone looked at it.
A tall man stood at the door, dressed in a simple gray cloth robe. He had a handsome face but empty eyes, like a soulless wooden sculpture.
It was Bai Qi.
Lin Wanzhi introduced him to everyone as one of her guest advisors.
Zhang Jing and the others merely gave a perfunctory smile, not taking this guest of unknown origin seriously.
In their view, this was just another helper brought in by the female magistrate, who could not cause any trouble in Qingyang County.
"Who are you?"
"My surname is Bai."
Zhang Jing was taken aback for a moment, then put on a smile: "This... Mr. Bai is joking. You are not a doctor, how could you possibly cure him?"
Bai Qi ignored his words and walked straight up to Zhang Jing.
His movements weren't fast, but each step carried an invisible pressure, making the air in the signing room seem to freeze.
"You're saying the constables have all caught a cold?"
Bai Qi's voice remained completely flat.
"Yes...yes."
Zhang Jing felt a little uneasy under his gaze and subconsciously took a half step back.
"The root of the problem lies with you."
Bai Qi said calmly.
"What...what nonsense are you spouting!"
Zhang Jing's expression changed instantly.
Bai Qi stopped speaking.
He reached out, his movements as swift as lightning, and grabbed Zhang Jing's shirt collar.
Despite being over fifty years old, Zhang Jing was lifted off the ground as easily as a chick in his hands.
"What...what are you going to do!"
Someone come!
Someone is coming! "
Zhang Jing screamed in terror, kicking his legs wildly in the air.
The registrar Qian Qian and the clerk Sun Mao were so frightened that their faces turned ashen. They wanted to step forward but dared not.
Several constables at the gate peeked out, but were frightened by Bai Qi's cold gaze and shrank back, none of them daring to step forward.
Bai Qi carried Zhang Jing as if he were a tattered sack, walked to the center of the signing room, and then let go.
With a "thud," Magistrate Zhang fell heavily to the ground, letting out a groan of pain.
Before he could get up, Bai Qi raised his foot and stepped on his back.
The force of this kick was controlled with exquisite precision, causing Zhang Jing to almost faint from the pain without breaking any bones or tendons.
"what--!"
Zhang Jing let out a bloodcurdling scream like a pig being slaughtered.
"For wind-cold, the disease is on the surface, and sweating can be induced."
Bai Qi stepped on him and explained expressionlessly to the dumbfounded Lin Wanzhi, Qian Qian, and Sun Mao, "Right now, the cold energy in his body should be being expelled through shouting."
"This is called sound therapy."
Sound...sound therapy?
Qian Qian and Sun Mao's mouths twitched wildly as they looked at Zhang Jing, who was howling like a dead dog at Bai Qi's feet. They felt a chill run from the soles of their feet to the top of their heads.
What kind of guest is this?
This is clearly a living Yama sent from the Yama King's palace!
Lin Wanzhi's heart skipped a beat when she saw this.
She had anticipated drastic measures, but she never expected them to be so simple, brutal, and unreasonable!
But she had to admit that seeing the usually slick and cunning Magistrate Zhang in such a miserable state, she felt a strange sense of pleasure.
“Mr. Bai,” Lin Wanzhi composed herself and tried to keep her voice calm, “County Magistrate Zhang is already old. Such treatment may damage his health.”
Upon hearing this, Bai Qi loosened his stance slightly and looked down at Zhang Jing, who was still groaning, asking, "Is your cold better now?"
"Okay...okay!"
All healed!
"This humble official...this humble official will go right now!"
"Get people organized now!"
Dredging the riverbed!
Zhang Jing was in tears, his former dignity as a county magistrate completely gone, wishing he could disappear from the ground immediately.
Bai Qi then slowly lifted his foot and stepped aside expressionlessly, as if he hadn't been the one who had just committed the violence.
Zhang Jing scrambled to his feet, ignoring his disheveled clothes, the dust covering him, and the excruciating pain. He bowed deeply to Lin Wanzhi, his voice trembling, "My lady!"
I know I was wrong!
"I'll take care of it right away!"
"I guarantee... I guarantee the river will be dredged within three days!"
After saying that, he didn't dare to look at Bai Qi even once, and rushed out of the signing room as if he were fleeing.
The room was deathly silent.
Registrar Qian Qian and Clerk Sun Mao stood rooted to the spot, their backs soaked with cold sweat.
They looked at Bai Qi, who stood in the corner like a stone statue, their eyes filled with unprecedented fear!
They finally realized that the female magistrate had not invited a guest advisor, but a demon.
Faced with absolute, unruly violence, all their human relationships and hypocrisy become a laughable joke!
Lin Wanzhi slowly turned her gaze to Qian Qian, her tone still gentle.
"Registrar Qian, how is the county treasury account that I asked you to organize coming along?"
Qian Qian: "......"
"I'll go right away..."
After Magistrate Zhang's cold was cured, the administrative efficiency of Qingyang County Government Office saw a miraculous improvement.
The river dredging work was fully launched within a day, and there were enough people working hard.
Lin Wanzhi's other policies also encountered no further difficulties.
The next morning, Registrar Qian presented her with the meticulously organized county treasury ledgers, each item clearly marked, as if afraid of any oversight.
However, Lin Wanzhi knew that the resistance from within the county government was only the first layer.
The real tough nuts to crack are the three major families—Wang, Xie, and Li—who are entrenched in Qingyang County.
They are the real local tyrants of this land!
Sure enough, three days later, the heads of the three major families jointly sent a letter of invitation, inviting Magistrate Lin to a welcome banquet at Wangjianglou, the largest restaurant in the city.
This was a trap.
"Miss, we can't go to this banquet!"
The maid, Xiao Huan, said worriedly, "They definitely have ill intentions!"
Lin Wanzhi looked at the invitation card, but a cold smile appeared on her lips: "No, we absolutely must go to this banquet."
Some things need to be said face-to-face to be clear.
She turned to look at Bai Qi, who had been silently following behind her: "Mr. Bai, I'll have to trouble you to accompany me tonight."
Bai Qi simply nodded slightly, indicating that he understood.
That evening, Wangjiang Tower was brightly lit and filled with distinguished guests.
Almost all the prominent local gentry and wealthy merchants of Qingyang County were present.
The clan heads of the Wang, Xie, and Li families—Wang Dechang, Xie Anshi, and Li Yuanjing—three sprightly old men in their sixties, personally greeted them downstairs.
Upon seeing Lin Wanzhi's official sedan chair, the three immediately greeted her with beaming smiles.
"Oh, it is truly an honor for us to have Lord Lin grace us with his presence!"
Wang Dechang, the head of the Wang family, said with a smile, but his gaze lingered for a moment on the expressionless gray-clad man behind her, a hint of disdain flashing across his face.
"You're too kind, three clan leaders."
Lin Wanzhi stepped down from the sedan chair with composure and grace, saying, "As a newcomer to this place, I should learn more from the esteemed elders of this village."
After some insincere pleasantries, Lin Wanzhi was escorted by everyone to the main table on the second floor.
The banquet was extremely lavish, featuring delicacies from land and sea, and its extravagance secretly angered Lin Wanzhi.
This food is all made with the blood and sweat of the people of Qingyang County!
After three rounds of wine, five flavors of food.
Wang Dechang put down his wine glass, cleared his throat, and finally got to the point.
“Lord Lin,” he said with a smile, “you are a top scholar, and it is our good fortune that you have come to our Qingyang County.”
"However, governing a place is different from doing academic research."
"Qingyang County has its own rules. Although the laws of the imperial court are good, they are not suitable for the local conditions."
"...For example, the tax on the canal transport has always been paid by the three of us, for convenience and to save the government the trouble."
"If we were to investigate and confiscate ships one by one according to the new regulations of the imperial court, it would cause chaos and delay business, which would be counterproductive!"
His words were veiled in barbs, but the meaning was clear: the tax on the canal transport is up to us, so don't meddle.
The Xie family patriarch and the Li family patriarch echoed this sentiment:
"Yes, yes, what Brother Wang said makes sense."
We're doing this for the good of the county.
"Lord Lin is a wise man; he will surely understand our good intentions."
For a moment, all the local gentry turned their attention to Lin Wanzhi, to see how she would respond.
Lin Wanzhi picked up her teacup, took a small sip, put it down, and said seriously, "Clan Chief Wang is mistaken."
"The laws of the land are as clear as the heavens; how can there be any talk of being unsuited to the local environment?"
"The imperial tax system is the foundation of the nation, and paying taxes according to the regulations is the duty of every citizen of Dawu."
"The matter of the Grand Canal is of great importance. As an official appointed by the court, I should act in accordance with the law, investigate tax revenue, and establish regulations."
"There is no room for negotiation on this matter."
Her voice wasn't loud, but every word was clear and resonant.
The room fell silent instantly.
No one expected that this seemingly gentle female magistrate would be so tough, showing no respect for the three major families.
Wang Dechang's smile froze.
He didn't expect Lin Wanzhi to flip the table like that.
His face gradually darkened.
"Lord Lin," his tone turned cold, "it seems you're not going to get along well with us local gentry?"
Young man, don't be so hot-blooded!
"The waters of Qingyang County run deep; they've drowned more than one arrogant young official like you!"