White-robed Minister

0028 [The Vengeful Xu 3 Lang]

The shipping boats were pulled away by the towmen, but the officials who saw them off remained where they were, as a sign of their "respect" for the angels.

Those standing on the outermost edge of the procession even included low-ranking officials from the Qingyuan County Patrol Office. They actively reported and exposed their superiors, earning special favors from Wang Yuanbi, and some even received rewards.

"Judge Chen must be exhausted from hearing the case these past few days," Shen Zhi invited. "The officials and people of the county have prepared some wine and drinks; why don't you come to the county town to rest for a couple of days?"

Chen Congyi said, "No need. The case hasn't been concluded yet, and I'm going back to Guangzhou today."

Shen Zhi turned to look at Wang Houzhi, who also had a bitter expression on his face.

These past two days, they've been treating Chen Congyi like a father. One wanted to remove the "Regent" title, and the other wanted to be dismissed from the Ministry of Personnel; both required Chen Congyi's approval.

But Chen Congyi's attitude was ambiguous, as if he had already agreed to their request, yet also as if he hadn't said anything at all.

The two men didn't even dare to offer bribes rashly, because one of Chen Congyi's main jobs was to monitor whether Guangdong officials were offering or accepting bribes.

In his desperation, Shen Zhi tried anything, even giving Xu Lai a meaningful look.

Xu Lai doesn't have that much influence.

Pretend you didn't see it.

Chen Congyi smiled and said, "You should all do your jobs well. The transport commissioner will not overlook those who have made contributions."

Does this mean they're being promised a recommendation?

When it concerns oneself, things become chaotic. Wang Houzhi was both pleased and worried upon hearing this. He was pleased because there was hope for the matter, but worried because Chen Congyi had not made a firm commitment.

Xu Lai suddenly bowed and said, "Judge Chen, I want to report Deng Wenyu, the inspector of Qingyuan County! He is in the Shazhou camp and is responsible for issuing recruitment documents to able-bodied men. When I questioned him about why he didn't give me resettlement money, he threatened to give me a pension instead."

Chen Congyi asked, "Why didn't you report it the past two days?"

"I'm afraid it will delay your trials," Xu Lai replied.

Chen Congyi ordered, "Bring Deng Wenyu, the inspector general of Qingyuan County, here."

Before his subordinates could even make a move, someone outside the farewell procession shouted, "Injustice! Injustice... The angels have shown mercy, and I even received a reward. I have done nothing wrong..."

There's no need to spend any more time looking for anyone; just follow the sound and bring that guy here.

It was that same clerk who had threatened Xu Lai not to spread the word, or he would kill Xu Lai.

Xu Lai not only remembered the man's appearance, but also found out his name and position long ago!

Deng Wenyu was dragged before Chen Congyi, weeping and pleading, "Judge Chen, spare my life! I made a good report, and the angel even rewarded me! I... I want to make more reports, I want to make more reports..."

Xu Lai continued to sow discord: "This case is under the full jurisdiction of Judge Chen. The angel can only participate in supervision and cannot overstep his authority to pardon anyone."

Chen Congyi smiled and said, "Arrest him and bring him back to Guangzhou."

After saying this, Chen Congyi stepped onto the official boat and took the investigating officials and a group of important criminals back to Guangzhou.

The people on the shore all bowed and took their leave.

Deng Wenyu was dragged onto the boat, his body limp. He didn't even recognize Xu Lai, having completely forgotten what happened that day. Even after Xu Lai reported him, he couldn't remember threatening any of the strongmen.

Moreover, why did able-bodied men suddenly transform into scholars who could converse with high-ranking officials?

Deng Wenyu couldn't figure it out no matter how hard he tried.

Following the departure of the commercial vessels, official ships from Guangzhou also set sail and left the shore.

Only local officials, gentry, and landlords remained on the shore.

When everyone looked at Xu Lai again, their expressions had completely changed: this young man was not only highly regarded by Judge Chen and the angel, but he was also extremely vengeful and held grudges. They absolutely must not offend him in the future!

Shen Zhi said, "Xu Sanlang, you should go back to the village first. You must come on the day of the county examination."

Xu Lai bowed to the two officers in farewell, his attitude upright and polite, without a trace of arrogance. He seemed to still be that same boy from the mountain village.

But this time, Magistrate Shen and Registrar Wang dared not be negligent and both returned his greeting with clasped hands.

The two civil officials from Qingyuan County will be very busy in the next few days.

Yu Jing sent several military officers to temporarily take over the military affairs of the Qingyuan County Patrol Office. Magistrate Shen and Registrar Wang needed to contact those people to discuss the distribution of the previously allocated anti-bandit supplies.

Xu Lai left Yinsha Wharf and headed north alone.

They hadn't gone far when several people caught up with them.

"Scholar Xu, please wait!" the leading old man called out.

Xu Lai turned around and asked, "What brings you here, father-in-law?"

The old man, dressed in silk and extremely luxurious attire, smiled and cupped his hands, saying, "I am Chen Han, courtesy name Feibai. Today I am hosting a banquet and would like to invite Scholar Xu to join me for a chat."

Xu Lai was unsure of the other party's intentions, so he replied, "Thank you for your kind invitation, Father-in-law Chen. However, the county examination is approaching, and I need to go home to review my studies. We can discuss the banquet after the examination."

"In that case, I will not disturb you any longer." Chen Han did not insist, and smiled as he bowed and took his leave.

Only after Xu Lai had walked away did the group behind Chen Han begin to discuss and argue amongst themselves.

They were all first- or second-class households in Dafu Township, and it was these people who transferred their corvée labor to Qingxi Village every year!

Chen Han said to them, "I've already extended an invitation and done everything I could. The rest is up to you; don't disturb my peace any further!"

Chen Han is the richest man in Qingyuan County!

His ancestor was Chen Zhuo, a legendary qin player from the late Tang Dynasty.

Chen Zhu passed the imperial examination and served in Chang'an. Later, he was ordered to go on a mission to Lingnan, but stayed in Guangzhou for some reason and served as a drafter of imperial edicts for the emperor of the Southern Han Dynasty.

After Chen Zhuo's death, his descendants mainly settled in Lianzhou, while another branch moved to Qingyuan County.

At the beginning of the Song Dynasty, Chen Han's grandfather ran a silver mine in Qingyuan County. More than 30 years ago, Emperor Renzong of Song changed the mining policy and nationalized all silver mines. The Chen family then turned to the gold and silver shop and jewelry business.

The silver that was previously transported to Guangzhou came from the Chen family's ancestral mines, which are now state-run.

Even so, the supervisor of Dafu Silver Mine in Qingyuan County still had to cooperate obediently with the Chen family, because the Chen family had a great influence in the silver mining area.

"Master Chen, please help me again."

"Master Chen, that man holds a grudge. I heard his elder brother died last year while repairing the plank road..."

"I haven't served as an elder for several years, so the issue of transferring corvée labor has nothing to do with me."

"..."

Chen Han sneered: "You can deal with what you've done yourselves."

As the richest man in the county, Chen Han, who mainly runs a gold and silver shop and jewelry business, had long been "detached from worldly affairs".

He actually wanted to buy land in the countryside, but his Chen family ancestral home was in the mountains, upstream of the valley where Dafu Silver Shop was located. The land outside the mountains had long been occupied, and even with money, the Chen family couldn't buy fertile land; they could only pick up some remaining barren land.

Chen Han turned and left, no longer caring about the lives or deaths of those gentry.

The county magistrate and the registrar were showing signs of currying favor with Judge Chen, so Chen Han needed to quickly do something to gain their favor. For example, donating money to repair the streets outside the city would not only relieve the burden on his two superiors but also earn him a good reputation in the county.

The gentry were left standing there, looking at each other, unsure of what to do.

"There's no need to be so afraid, is there? The man surnamed Xu is just a sycophant who climbed up to the eunuch through scheming. That eunuch has already returned to the capital."

"Didn't you see that he could talk to Judge Chen?"

"Judge Chen is usually in Guangzhou; how could he possibly concern himself with matters in Qingyuan County?"

"But the county magistrate and the registrar also valued him."

"So what if he's the county magistrate or the registrar? The county government still relies on us to pay taxes and perform corvée labor. As long as we don't offend the two clerks in the county government, there's nothing to be afraid of with these visiting officials."

"How about we send someone with money, provisions, and gifts to pay a visit to the Xu family?"

"I'm not going. The case in Qingyuan County is closed. Those who want to return to Beijing can go back to Beijing, and those who want to return to Guangzhou can go back to Guangzhou. Dafu Township is still Dafu Township. At most, we won't transfer corvée labor to Qingxi Village anymore."

"You can't transfer even if you want to; the entire village is exempt from military service for three years."

"What if this Xu fellow manages to pass the imperial examination and become a Jinshi?"

"Haha, don't joke around. Last year's imperial examinations didn't produce a single Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest level of the imperial examinations). Do you really think becoming a Jinshi is that easy? That eunuch said he has the talent to be the top scholar, but does he really think he can become the top scholar?"

"Anyway, don't offend this man again, and don't offend the mountain people of Qingxi Village either. They dared to ambush salt bandits; if pushed too far, they might turn into bandits themselves!"

"..."

The local gentry of Dafu Township discussed the matter for a long time before dispersing.

They were frightened at the dock, but after discussing it for a while, they gradually calmed down and realized that Xu Lai posed no threat to them. They could simply transfer the corvée labor to other mountain villages later; after all, Qingxi Village wasn't the only place in the mountains.

Meanwhile, Chen Han, the richest man in Qingyuan County, went to Yinshabu to wait quietly.

Only after the county magistrate, the registrar, and the newly arrived acting inspector had finished communicating did Chen Han seek an opportunity to pay his respects and express his willingness to donate 300 strings of cash to help the government rebuild the burned-down streets.

Of course, he also wanted to buy a piece of land and build a restaurant on the ruins.

Shen Zhi and Wang Houzhi were overjoyed upon hearing this and immediately took Chen Han back to the county town for a drink.

……

Xu Lai set off alone on his way home, picking up a stick to startle the snake.

Whether it's Yu Jing or Wang Yuanbi, whether it's Shen Zhi or Wang Houzhi, he can only temporarily take advantage of their power.

Xu Lai wasn't blinded by his emotions. He knew very well that he had to rely on himself to move forward. Even if he entered the state school in the future, if he didn't perform well, Yu Jing would gradually lose interest in him.

The most urgent task is to thoroughly understand the Analects with Commentary.

Next are the "Zuo Zhuan Commentary on the Spring and Autumn Annals" and the "Li Ji Commentary".

These three books formed the core foundation for the imperial examinations in the Northern Song Dynasty. If one did not study them well, the probability of passing the examinations was almost zero!

The mountain path was difficult to traverse, and covered with thorns.

Xu Lai tapped the grass with a stick, step by step crossing the stream and the ravine, and finally saw smoke rising in the distance.

"Woof woof woof!"

A boy came running up with a guard dog: "Brother Xu, you're finally back in the village!"

Xu Lai asked, "Are you on lookout duty?"

The boy nodded: "Uncle Zhang has arranged for people to stand guard on the hills outside the village, saying that he is afraid that government troops will come in and cause trouble."

"Is Yang Peng's illness cured?" Xu Lai asked again.

The boy replied, "He died. He fell ill and died the day after he returned home."

Xu Lai remained silent, gazing up at the setting sun.

The sunset in the depths of winter wasn't beautiful, but it was finally about to disappear from the sky, and tomorrow's sunrise should be magnificent.