Chapter 83

In the scorching May sun, which slowly moved across the clear blue sky, baking the earth, not a breath of wind stirred, and waves of heat hit Lan Chongwen, but he remained completely unaware.

Just as he was deep in thought, the gates of the yamen opened, and He Qi and Lu Ming came out to greet him, with a large group of bailiffs standing neatly on either side.

"Lord Lan, why stand in the sun? You might get heatstroke. On a day like this, why bother with formalities? Just come into the yamen," He Qi said, waving his hand.

Lan Chongwen quickly stepped back and performed the court salute: "I dare not. This is the court's rule. I, a lowly official, pay my respects to Lord He and Lord Lu!"

Normally, a 9th-rank official would not need to bow to a 7th-rank official, but since this was their first meeting, he performed the full ceremony.

After he stood up, Lu Ming warmly took his hand, and Lan Chongwen said no more. Together, they entered the yamen's hall, where the Ministry of Personnel's appointment decree was already waiting.

As soon as they entered, someone said, "Everyone is here. Please announce the decree."

The three immediately knelt down, and the person began to read the Ministry of Personnel's decree. This was not usually such a grand ceremony, but with the emperor's approval, they knelt.

The content was very simple: He Qi was promoted to a 6th-rank Chengzhi Lang, effectively entering the ranks of those about to retire. By custom, he would officially retire after three years.

Lu Ming was promoted to a 7th-rank, becoming the magistrate of Pingshou County.

Lan Chongwen was transferred to the same rank, becoming the vice-magistrate of Pingshou County.

After they stood up, He Qi's gaunt face showed no emotion. He stroked his gray beard, his cheeks twitched, and he sighed, "Bring the seals and credentials."

Someone brought a golden tray with a set of magistrate's robes and a golden seal on top. Seeing He Qi, they presented it to Lu Ming.

Lu Ming bowed deeply, accepted it, and said, "Pass the seals and credentials."

Another person brought a golden tray with a set of vice-magistrate's robes and a golden seal on top, presenting it to Lan Chongwen.

The entire process was so quiet that not even a cough could be heard. Once the transfer was complete, the three bowed to the north again. When they stood up, the ceremony was complete.

"Putting down this burden, it feels much cooler," He Qi straightened his body, his slightly swollen eyelids twitched, and he looked tired. He sighed and said, "Since the ceremony is complete, the local gentry have all come to congratulate us. Let's meet them together!"

This was a custom, to have the local gentry witness the transfer. The gentry, in reality, were those with a degree of xiucai or higher. They exchanged glances, and He Qi led them into the hall, where they felt a coolness.

On the ice troughs in the hall, blocks of ice were placed, a privilege only available to magistrates and above.

Inside, there were two rows of tables, each for a single person. There were about thirty tables on the right, which was the number of xiucai in the county.

On the left were the county officials. When the three entered, they all bowed. For the first time, officials had to bow, but xiucai only needed to bow deeply.

After the bows, although He Qi was a 6th-rank official, he did not take the main seat in this setting. He invited Lu Ming to sit there, which was the custom. Lu Ming modestly declined and then sat down, while Lan Chongwen sat on the right. Seeing Yuan Shiwen not far away, he couldn't help but smile.

He Qi glanced at Lu Ming, saw him nod slightly, and said, "Everyone knows Lord Lu, who has a jinshi degree. Now he has finally become the county magistrate, which is a great joy..."

He Qi spoke at length, but the "principles" he expounded were so familiar that the audience's ears were calloused. They still tried to listen attentively, suppressing their impatience.

The former magistrate seemed somewhat reluctant to let go. He spoke for a while before finally stopping to sip his tea.

Lu Ming, unhurried, scanned the room and chuckled, "I have not been a vice-magistrate for long and am still not very familiar with the county. I only received the appointment yesterday."

"My administration will focus on a few key tasks. First, controlling the exchange rate of silver and copper. Fluctuations are normal, but one tael of silver for only eight hundred copper coins is not. This is the responsibility of the money changers, tax collectors, and merchants."

"Second, repairing the roads. Third, overhauling the criminal gangs."

The term "criminal gangs" referred to bandits and organized crime. Lu Ming spoke calmly, but his words were chilling, and the audience exchanged glances.

After speaking, Lu Ming looked at Lan Chongwen, "Lord Lan, do you have anything to add?"

Lan Chongwen had already made up his mind and said with a smile, "I am a scribe and not very familiar with county affairs. I will follow the magistrate's orders."

With that, he fell silent. Lu Ming smiled, "That's right. I will rely on all of you in the future. Now, let's start the banquet. Bring the food!"

At his command, the banquet began, and after the third toast, the atmosphere became lively.

Ye Qing looked up and saw Lu Ming sitting in the center, his round, plump face usually looked warm, but now it exuded a cold and stern authority.

"Being a magistrate is indeed different," Ye Qing sighed.

He observed others, and others observed him. Yuan Shiwen, accompanied by a middle-aged man, sat to the side and looked over, staring at Ye Qing.

After a moment, Yuan Shiwen casually left under the pretext of needing to relieve himself. When he reached the steps of the courtyard, the middle-aged man hurried over.

Yuan Shiwen walked to a corner where wisteria climbed the wall, its flowers hanging down, and the buds were a light purple. He leaned in to smell them and asked, "Mr. Ma, how is it?"

Mr. Ma, with his hands hanging, sighed, "At first glance, he has a genuine light red birthmark, indicating a xiucai rank, with no flaws."

Yuan Shiwen frowned, "Although I am not an expert in this art, by common sense, this son of a branch family would need at least half a year to achieve such a birthmark without any flaws."

"From a commoner to a xiucai, it takes half a year to a year. For higher ranks, it takes three years, which is why the court has a three-year promotion system."

"But extraordinary people have extraordinary destinies. Some can adapt in three months, or even three days. This is a sign of a noble birth."

Yuan Shiwen strolled slowly, and Mr. Ma followed. The courtyard was large, with elegant gardens and two rows of side rooms, where people still lived, and faint voices could be heard.

Yuan Shiwen bent down to pick a branch and sniffed it, then asked, "What kind of noble birth does he have?"

"I can't tell, not just him, but other nobles as well... You should know about the heavenly decree." Mr. Ma said with a worried tone.

Originally, one could glimpse the future, but this was gradually banned 300,000 years ago. Qi-reading could only see the surface, not delve deeper, supposedly to maintain the stability of human affairs.

"Knowing this much is enough. It seems he is not someone with talent but no destiny," Yuan Shiwen smiled. "I will observe him for a while and then report back."

"When will you return, sir?"

"In August, when the provincial exams determine the winners."

If he could pass the provincial exams and become a juren, even the Sixth Prince would take notice, not to mention a grand scholar.

Returning to the banquet, he heard Magistrate Lu laugh and say, "Xiucai Ye, I've heard your poetry is excellent. Why not recite a poem today?"

At this, everyone immediately looked over. This young man, who had passed the xiucai exam and was praised by the Dragon Lord as a "jinshi," was already famous in Yingzhou.

Ye Qing was taken aback but did not hesitate. He naturally had appropriate poems, the most famous being "Ode to Wine," but this poem was meant for the capital, not a small county banquet. However, since Magistrate Lu had just taken office, he couldn't refuse. After some thought, he said, "Sir, I have had several drinks. How can I compose a poem? However, on my way to the prefecture for the exam, I stayed in a village and wrote a poem. Please, sirs, judge it."

With that, he stood up and, with a slight drunkenness, recited:

Do not mock the turbid wine of the peasant,

In a bountiful year, the host has enough chicken and pork.

Mountains and rivers seem to have no path,

But beyond the dark willows and bright flowers, there is another village.

Flutes and drums follow the spring festival,

Simple clothes and hats preserve the ancient customs.

If I am allowed to wander under the moon,

I will knock on the door with my staff at any time.

When the poem was finished, everyone was entranced. After a long moment, Lu Ming sighed, "What a wonderful poem, especially the lines 'Mountains and rivers seem to have no path, but beyond the dark willows and bright flowers, there is another village.' It is truly a timeless masterpiece."

"Encountering the simplicity of the countryside, one forgets one's worries. Unfortunately, our county, located in the Beimang Mountains, has a troublesome neighbor. There are those who steal, cheat, and commit crimes, relying on the 800-mile Beimang Mountains and the connection to the Northern Wei. When the government tries to suppress them, they flee far away, and when the situation calms, they return."

"I have said that I will focus on a few key tasks: first, stabilizing the exchange rate of silver and copper, second, repairing the roads, and third, overhauling the criminal gangs."

"We must make Pingshou County as peaceful as described in this poem."

Everyone, with different thoughts, raised their cups in agreement, and the atmosphere became even more lively. The banquet continued until the afternoon, and they left the yamen.

Getting into the ox cart, Ye Qing, slightly tipsy, fell into deep thought, focusing on the magistrate.

In his previous life, he remembered that Lu Ming had accomplished some practical things. Stabilizing the exchange rate of silver and copper was largely achieved, restoring it to 950 copper coins per tael.

The road repairs were also completed, connecting several official roads and boosting trade. However, overhauling the criminal gangs was not completed and even led to a setback. A bandit group, under heavy pressure, had no choice but to launch a massacre against the major families in the county.

Seven major families were bloodbathed, with 170 people killed. This case caused a major uproar, and the court, in its anger, eliminated the bandit group in the Beimang Mountains within three days. Two hundred and eleven people associated with the bandits were either executed or exiled, demonstrating the court's control.

Although Lu Ming had achievements and had connections, he was still transferred to a less important position, maintaining his rank but not being promoted. His years of hard work were in vain.

However, this opportunity created vacancies in the county, allowing the Ye family to rise to power, providing them with a few more years of survival during the great calamity.

Thinking of this, Ye Qing narrowed his eyes, a cold light flashing in them.

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