When Jiang Wenyuan heard this, his eyebrows twisted: “What did you say, it has been conscripted three times?” According to the court's regulations, each county can conscript a certain number of corvée labor each year based on the actual situation.
Before he came to Su Prefecture, he had done detailed homework on the situation in Su Prefecture. He clearly remembered that the number of corvée labor Zengping County reported to be conscripted this year was zero.
But the old man said that it had actually been conscripted three times, and it seemed that the number was not small.
"Which village?" Jiang Wenyuan asked.
The old man said, "Ha, what else could it be but the village that the county magistrate built south of the city. A few days ago, several more were pulled out from there, and they were all worked to death. If this continues, we people will have no way to live. We will either starve to death or be worked to death alive."
Jiang Wenyuan was both shocked and angry. He immediately sent people in two routes to investigate, one route to the village the old corvée labor mentioned, and one route to the county government.
The Imperial Guard who was sent to the county government returned indignantly: "Your subordinate went to urge Zengping County to send more people. That county magistrate didn't even show his face, only a teacher came to deal with your subordinate. That teacher quite arrogantly said that was all the people he had. If it was not enough, go find people yourself to repair it with your own money."
After half a day, the other group that went to the village also came back. They said that the county magistrate Sun He was personally supervising the construction on site. At least over 300 corvée labors were conscripted for that village. Moreover, it was less of a village and more of a luxurious manor gambling house and brothel.
On one hand, the county magistrate abused his power for personal gain, privately conscripting commoners to build himself a luxurious manor. On the other hand, he even privately set up gambling houses and brothels. It was simply unforgivable.
When Jiang Wenyuan heard this, his anger flared up in an instant. "Let's go, let's go meet this Zengping county magistrate and see if he is human or ghost!"
Jiang Wenyuan took a team of thirty Imperial Guards and went swaggeringly to the Zengping county government. County Magistrate Sun He was not at the government office, only a teacher was there.
Seeing so many people bursting aggressively into the county government, especially the one leading them whose aura made him seem no ordinary person, that teacher's heart thumped. He quickly and carefully came up to them and bowed: "I don't know why you have come, what business do you have?"
Jiang Wenyuan expressionlessly said: "Where is Sun He?"
When the teacher heard this person directly call out the county magistrate's given name, his heart beat even more violently. He said, "Our county magistrate went to the countryside for inspection, he is not in the county government. May I know who you are...?"
"Jiang Wenyuan, Prefect of Su Prefecture," he replied.
Upon hearing this, the teacher quickly kneeled down and kowtowed: "I didn't recognize Mount Tai, please forgive me!"
Jiang Wenyuan coldly laughed: "Forgive you, forgive what crimes. Do your crimes need my forgiveness?"
"Going to the countryside for inspection - did he go inspect his money-making hut?!
Come, go surround that village for me immediately. Before the situation is investigated clearly, not a single person is allowed to leave. Bring Sun He back to me!"
Cold sweat rolled down the teacher as he knelt there, trembling like chaff.
It's over!
When Sun He was caught by the Imperial Guards, he had his arms around a scantily clad woman whispering sweet nothings.
When he was caught, he was still arrogantly throwing his authority around, saying what kind of peasant rebels dared to defy authority.
The small leader of the Imperial Guards escort flashed their insignia. Sun He's face immediately turned ghastly white.
No matter how muddled he was, as a jinshi degree holder, he could still recognize the insignia of the Imperial Guards.
Furthermore, when he heard that the newly arrived Prefect, Marquis Jiang Wenyuan of Qingzhou, was already seated in his Grand Hall, Sun He's eyes rolled back and he nearly fainted. The people holding him had to shake him forcefully awake.
The aftermath was simple to handle.
Jiang Wenyuan gathered manpower and swiftly launched raids on that manor as well as Sun He’s residence in the county government, all in a blitzkrieg fashion.
Just in silver alone, over 70,000 taels were seized, along with other jewels, calligraphy, paintings, deeds etc. In addition, aside from the gambling house, over 20 women were being kept in his manor. What these women were used for could be easily guessed.
In his backyard residence in the county government, aside from his legal wife were 7 concubines and 12 children, all dressed lavishly in gold and silver finery, living in luxury.
The Imperial Guards also found a secret chamber in his bedroom. Inside were several account books, detailing records of him embezzling and exploiting the commoners over the years.
After looking through them, Jiang Wenyuan’s hands shook from anger as he指着孙和破口大骂, even cussing as he scolded: "Damn you! Zengping County doesn’t even have that large a population. As a jinshi from a humble background, in just 5 short years you’ve amassed such massive wealth, skinning the land bare by 3 chi.
Go take a look, take a look at the commoners outside, in tattered clothes and starving bellies. Meanwhile you get to live decadently every day, exploiting your neighbors. Did dogs eat your conscience?!"
Su Prefecture was bitterly poor. Anyone with a bit of connections did not want to come here to be an official. This Sun He also came from an impoverished background and had mediocre abilities.
After arriving at Su Prefecture, having neither outstanding political achievements nor backers, knowing that he had no hope of being transferred out, he simply colluded with the local rich idlers and rascals.
Engaging in massive corruption and bribery, forcibly seizing commoners’ daughters and land, even privately conscripting corvée labor to build himself a luxurious manor and privately setting up gambling houses and brothels. He was practically a local emperor.
A rhyme was widely spread among locals: "Yamen’s eight characters open on both sides, no money no justice come inside." This was the true depiction of his corruption.
It was not until the rains damaged the roads did Jiang Wenyuan overhear by coincidence the corvée laborers complaining while repairing roads. Feeling something was amiss, he looked into the matter and this incident exploded.
After investigating clearly, Jiang Wenyuan took out the imperial sword bestowed by the Emperor and beheaded Sun He’s official hat on site. Due to his heinous crimes, he was sentenced to death by dismemberment. His family property was entirely confiscated. His family members were exiled to the southwest border.
The rest of the people involved were also dealt with accordingly. The ones to be killed were killed, the ones to be exiled were exiled. After handling these matters, Jiang Wenyuan wrote a detailed memorial and urgently rushed it overnight to the capital!
Hearing that the despotic official Sun He was sentenced to death by dismemberment by the newly arrived Prefect, the commoners of Zengping were overjoyed, with many families even setting off firecrackers in the city.
As Sun He and several chief culprits were escorted out of the city for execution, upon receiving the news commoners rushed over, pelting the convicts with clods of earth, rocks, rotten vegetable leaves, even cow dung, cursing them as “evil officials”, “go die”, “you also have today”.
Even the Imperial Guards escorting them got hit several times. They felt this was thought-provoking. In contrast, when Prefect Jiang was leaving Qingzhou, the commoners there escorted him 10 li as they knelt and pleaded for him to stay.
This Sun He provoked the raging grievances of the Zengping commoners. They hated that he did not die sooner. This showed the people had their own sense of justice in their hearts.
How could there be such a huge difference between officials? If only there were a few more good officials in the world like Prefect Jiang.
Beyond the city gates, at the pile of rubble, with the executioner’s sparkling blade falling, the despotic Sun He and his ilk finally met their end, concluding their sinful lives.
No one went to collect their corpses. The Eternal Bliss Welfare Society people came to wrap them in some straw mats and threw them into a mass grave outside the city walls, matter finished.
A county can’t be without someone in charge. Jiang Wenyuan also couldn’t stay at Zengping long-term. After careful consideration, he appointed a man named “Wu Zuoshan” as teacher, temporarily handling the assorted big and small matters of the county government.
This Wu Zuoshan was originally a teacher at the Zengping county government. Because he could not stand Sun He and his gang’s actions and refused to wallow in the mud with them, they ostracized him at every turn.
With nowhere to appeal for justice, he angrily resigned these two years and just taught for a living.
After Jiang Wenyuan had people invite him over, this righteous middle-aged man cried till his tears flowed ceaselessly: “Sir, why did you not come two years earlier? Otherwise the commoners of Zengping would not have suffered so bitterly.”
Jiang Wenyeun patted his shoulder to comfort him: “Your hard work is appreciated. I guarantee that as long as I am in Su Prefecture for one day, this kind of thing will never happen again.”
After beheading Sun He, Jiang Wenyuan took out the registry and compensated the corvée laborers conscripted excessively by Sun He with 50 wen per day, as fast as possible. Those who unfortunately worked themselves to death also received doubled death benefits.
He was still willing to pay money to invite them to go repair the roads damaged by the rainstorms.
Holding the silver, the corvée laborers knelt on the ground yelling loudly: “You are truly our living Buddha!” Afterwards they happily ran to repair the official roads.
By now, everyone also knew that this extremely reasonable and polite gentleman was their Su Prefecture’s newly arrived Prefect, the famous nation-wide high yielding grain breeder Marquis Jiang Wenyuan of Qingzhou. The commoners were instantly encouraged and spread word.
Three days later when the roads were repaired and passable again, the caravans could continue their journey. At this time there were still over 400 li from the Su Prefecture capital city.
Another two days passed. After bumping on the road for fifty-one days, Jiang Wenyuan's group finally arrived at Su Prefecture on the fifth day of September.
Upon entering the government office, Jiang Yuqing threw herself on the tidy and clean big bed, not wanting to move for quite a while. She hadn't sat in a carriage for so long in her eight lifetimes. Her heart was too tired.
On the second day after arriving in Su Prefecture, Jiang Wenyuan started getting busy. All kinds of affairs and endless matters needed to be sorted out one by one.
Lu was also busy tidying up the back office and buying missing supplies, along with ordering the crude servants around.
Only Jiang Yuqing was the most free. Every day she wandered around the government office with Bai Xiaoshi, exploring around. As for Bai Xiaojiu, it wasn't time to let it out yet. An opportunity had to be found.
More than ten days after Jiang Wenyuan took office.
The urgent memorial he sent to the capital from Zengping was also placed on the imperial desk.
After Emperor Xia Jing read it, he was first furious at the actions of Sun He and others, bluntly saying it was good they were killed. Upon reading the next few lines, he couldn't help but burst into loud laughter: "This Jiang Wenyuan is still blunt as always."
It turned out the last part of the memorial said: "Zengping cannot be without an official. I would like to recommend someone to Your Majesty.
This person is called Lu Pingzhang. He is the Grain Intendant of Qingzhou. His character is upright and his ability and skills are also not bad. Perhaps he can serve as the Magistrate of Zengping.
The only downside is he only has the scholarly honor. And worst of all, he is my uncle. But recommending talent regardless of kinship, I still want to mention him."
Emperor Xia Jing remembered that Qin Jue had also been a county magistrate in Qingzhou for a few years, so he called Qin Jue over to ask. When Qin Jue heard that Jiang Wenyuan had recommended Lu Pingzhang to be the magistrate of Zengping, he was delighted.
He said to Emperor Xia Jing: "Lu Pingzhang is indeed a good man with ability. His father opened a school in the local area and taught and educated people for more than twenty years. His reputation and family virtues are extremely good."
So Emperor Xia Jing already had a sense. The next day, the Ministry of Personnel issued an appointment order and rushed it to Qingzhou via urgent horse relay.
Some time later, when Lu Pingzhang received the appointment order, his head was dizzy.
Before his brother-in-law went to the capital, he had discussed with him in detail. He said that if His Majesty sent him to serve in another place, would he be willing to follow along. Of course he was willing to go.
Aside from Jiang Wenyuan being his relative, Lu Pingzhang was capable and competent. He had a good temper, did not embezzle or take bribes, and worked with such a person. It would be extremely pleasant and relaxing, almost the dream of all subordinates.
Later, when he heard that his brother-in-law had been promoted five ranks and appointed Prefect of Su Prefecture, he was delighted. He also prepared himself to go to Su Prefecture at any time.
But he didn't expect that rather than being a subordinate official, he would become a county magistrate. It was like manna from heaven.
Lu Pingzhang returned home in a daze. He sat down to eat dinner in a daze. He picked up the porridge on the table and took a big mouthful. Unexpectedly, it scalded him badly and he suddenly spit it out. At last his soul returned to his body.
Chen wondered: "What's the matter with you today? Why are you so absent-minded that even drinking porridge can scald you?"
Lu Pingzhang said: "Wife, I've become an official."
Chen glanced at him: "You're a Intendant. That can barely be considered an official already right?"
Lu Pingzhang said: "Not a Intendant. A seventh-grade County Magistrate, of Zengping County in Su Prefecture. It was arranged by my brother-in-law. I have to leave in a couple days."
Chen's eyes widened in surprise and delight: "Really? That's so great!"
Lu Pingzhang also smiled: "I was only prepared to go to Su Prefecture to serve as a subordinate for my brother-in-law. I didn't expect he had gotten me an official position as county magistrate. I'm really too surprised."
Chen said joyfully: "We ought to properly thank him."
That night, the couple went back to Xiu Shui Bay tell their family the good news.
After Old Scholar Lu rejoiced, he spoke earnestly exhorted his son:"Your brother-in-law has a conscience and always thinks of our family when something good comes up. When you go over there, you must uphold the responsibilities of a parent official to the commoners. Put the matters of the populace close to your heart. What needs to be done must be done properly; what shouldn't be taken must absolutely not be taken.
Father is not asking you to accomplish anything impressive. At the very least, live up to His Majesty's trust. Also, don't smear your brother-in-law's reputation."
"Yes father, I will remember that," said Lu Pingzhang.
