gnovel Chapter 67 Back and Forth
Chapter 67 Back and Forth
When asking for help, one should have the right attitude. Shen Ce stated his thoughts concisely and clearly.
While it's possible to succeed without the help of others, the process is always more complicated and takes longer.
Shen Ce lowered his voice and rubbed his hands together: "I've heard that many of my old brothers in the army, having accumulated enough merit, have been transferred to serve in Chang'an County. Could you, Lord Cheng, perhaps make an introduction to one of them?"
Cheng Zhijie looked down at Shen Ce's hands and asked with a smile, "You came empty-handed, kid?"
Shen Ce pulled a name card from his pocket.
Cheng Zhijie also took out a short stick from his sleeve.
Hey, I've been taking care of your son for four thousand miles, and the wooden stick I used to beat him has shrunk a size. And you still want me to come up with a gift list for this little thing?
Seeing that the mood was about right, Cheng Zhijie stopped joking and said seriously, "Old Niu does have a captain under his command who entered Chang'an County in his early years, but four or five years have passed, and it's unclear whether he still recognizes his old master."
Upon hearing this, Shen Ce's eyes lit up, and he quickly cast a longing glance his way.
Cheng Zhijie took out the token from his pocket, threw it on the table, and said with dissatisfaction, "At your age, you still have to worry about the younger generation."
"It's not just for me. If we take down Pei Ji and his cronies sooner, His Majesty will have an easier time with his work," Shen Ce said cautiously to his subordinate.
Magistrate Li, who has served as a people-friendly official in Chang'an for so many years, is no pushover. Cheng Zhijie tapped Shen Ce's head and laughed, "Be careful, don't let him sideline you."
If he were to say he was isolated and helpless, he felt he might not be able to handle these seasoned officials.
I already have an inside man, what am I afraid of?
He immediately signed a pledge, saying that he would accept punishment if the magistrate, Li, was not removed.
He discovered that the higher the official's rank, the worse their temper. They always liked to send people away before they finished speaking. Li Er was like that, as were Cheng Gong and his teacher!
Just after being kicked out, he bumped into Cheng Chumo wandering around aimlessly with a stone lock in his hand.
Shen Ce was a little curious. The lessons Wei Gong had given him on the way were not something that could be completed in a day or two. How did he have time to go out and wander around now?
Shen Ce immediately cleared his throat and asked loudly, "Chu Mo, what about the homework Lord Wei assigned you? You actually finished it?"
Cheng Zhijie, who had been resting inside, strode out and asked, "Who did you say left this? What kind of homework is it?"
Cheng Chumo threw down the stone block and ran away, but he was captured by his family guards who had rushed over after only a few steps.
Anyway, it was a cloudy day, and he had nothing better to do than beat the child. So, accompanied by Cheng Chumo's wailing, Shen Ce left the mansion.
I had originally planned to visit my master's residence again, but then I remembered that I hadn't finished my studies yet, so I decided against it.
Otherwise, the teacher would have a stick even thicker than a thumb joint...
Inside the county government office, Magistrate Li sat upright in the back hall, while two registrars diligently poured him water and served him tea.
"What time is it? What I want is your tea, and a solution!" The impatient Magistrate Li slammed his fist on the table and roared, "If you can't come up with a solution, all the duties of the six ministries will be handed over to this Assistant Magistrate Shen. Do you think you'll have any good days left?"
Upon hearing the knocking sound on the table, Clerk Liu shuddered violently, spilling scalding tea onto his hand. He winced in pain, dropped the teacup, and it crashed to the ground. Magistrate Li, standing nearby, looked even more displeased.
Standing behind Magistrate Li, Registrar Yan, his eyes darting around as if he had figured something out, quickly stepped forward, kicked aside the broken porcelain shards on the ground, and bowed, saying:
"Your Excellency, has the Ministry of Personnel issued a clear reply stating that they will not be appointing a second county magistrate to our county?"
Magistrate Li remained silent, took out the documents that the Ministry of Personnel had sent that morning from his sleeve, and threw them on the table: "Read them yourself."
Registrar Yan bowed and took the document from the table, unfolding it to read: "His Majesty intends to reduce redundant officials. Chang'an County will not appoint or dismiss a second county magistrate for the time being. All matters will be handled by the current county magistrate."
Clerk Yan closed the document and said in a low voice, "I asked someone to inquire about Magistrate Shen's resume. He originally came from His Majesty's former residence when he was a prince, where he served as a squad leader, and later as the Clerk of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices for some time."
Later he went to Shandong and other places, but he never served a single day as a people's official.
Magistrate Li glanced at Registrar Yan and said with delight, "You want to discourage him?"
"That's right. Right now is the end of the autumn harvest season, which is the most important task of the year."
"The villages to the south, near the mountains, suffered from water shortages and poor harvests. They only managed to deliver exactly 40% of their produce. The village head has been urging them for a long time, but they haven't even been able to hand over half of it. It's a dead end..."
Clerk Liu chimed in with a fawning smile, "Why don't you, Your Excellency, take a long trip and pass this hot potato to Magistrate Shen? If things aren't handled properly, it could cause a huge uproar..."
Whether it's handled well or not isn't up to the county magistrate to decide; a few minor officials under his command can easily incite the villagers with just a few words...
"Even after the autumn tax is paid, there is still the grain tax to pay and the mid-year exam. There will always be hurdles he can't overcome."
The two clerks vividly described to Magistrate Li what might happen in the future in just a few words.
The next morning, Shen Ce went to the Chang'an County Government Office as usual. After passing through the main hall, before he even reached the county magistrate's office, he was bumped into by the county magistrate who was rushing out of the office.
The magistrate seemed preoccupied. When he looked up and saw Shen Ce, he waved his hand repeatedly and said in a hurried tone, "County Magistrate Shen, I have received the reply from the Ministry of Personnel. There will indeed be no second County Magistrate."
"I can entrust you with all the responsibilities of managing the six departments." Before he finished speaking, he started searching his body.
He pulled a document from his sleeve: "Sign it now. I have important business to attend to in the countryside and cannot afford to delay."
Shen Ce was a little confused as he listened to the county magistrate's rapid-fire speech, but he could see that the documents entrusting him with the management of the six departments were genuine, which was exactly what he wanted.
He carefully examined the document and made sure there were no hidden meanings before signing it.
Whatever the reason that Magistrate Li changed his mind, now that the task has been handed over to me, the rest is his own responsibility; whether he does it well or not is entirely up to him.
He cupped his hands and said, "Thank you, Your Excellency."
After receiving the documents, Magistrate Li's smile faded, and he said in a calm tone, "I have been away from the government office these past few days, and all important matters such as tax collection and grain delivery have been handled by Assistant Magistrate Shen."
Before Shen Ce could reply, Magistrate Li, surrounded by a group of people, quickly left the county office.
Shen Ce, upon returning to the official residence, reflected on his current predicament.
Although he had caught Li Er's eye, who knew how many people like him, heroes who had followed him in conquering the world, were hidden among Li Er's followers? How many of them had vanished without a trace? Who knew where they had all gone?
You still have to rely on yourself and make real achievements to silence any criticism from others.
As for those technological advancements in my mind, let's leave them for now. If we don't reach that level, we'll just have to swallow them whole.
He took out the token given to him by Cheng Zhijie from his pocket. He needed to contact him first. He felt that there was something fishy about Magistrate Li's quick agreement today.