Chapter 55

"Nothing but 'money and grain,'" Sima Qiu said after a moment's thought.

"Right, what if at this moment, Fuyang County bursts with a scandal of officials colluding with gentry to embezzle national taxes!" Wang Xian said solemnly, "How would the Yongle Emperor react?"

"Of course, he would be furious!" Just thinking about it, the fearsome reputation of the Yongle Emperor made Sima Qiu break out in a cold sweat, "When the Son of Heaven is angry, blood will flow and ditches will be filled with it! That's why I say we must not submit a memorial!"

"Are you a reincarnation of a bodhisattva?" Wang Xian shook his head and sighed, "No matter how many people die, it won't be your fault, so why are you so worried?"

"Do you think only Fuyang County has the problem of concealing households? Let me tell you, every county, every prefecture, every province has it, just to varying degrees," Sima Qiu sighed, "Do you think the court doesn't know? Everyone knows! But they are all covering it up, hiding it from the Yongle Emperor alone." He glared at Wang Xian and said, "If the magistrate becomes the one to expose it, there will be no place for him in our vast Ming Dynasty!"

"Mr. Sima, calm down," Wang Xian poured him another cup of tea, "The Art of War says, 'In war, the best policy is to take a state intact; to ruin it is inferior. To subdue the enemy without fighting is the acme of skill.'"

I didn't expect this kid to understand military strategy, Sima Qiu couldn't help but look at him with new eyes, "Then how do you 'subdue the enemy without fighting'?"

"Mencius said, 'A gentleman draws the bow but does not release the arrow, he leaps as if to shoot!'" Wang Xian said slowly.

"Oh..." Sima Qiu pondered for a moment, his old eyes gradually brightening, "I wish to hear more!"

"To defeat someone, you don't necessarily have to destroy them; you can make them submit out of fear. The most terrifying moment for a person is not when the axe is about to fall, but when you draw your bow and aim at them!" Wang Xian said solemnly, "This is called deterrence!"

"Deterrence?" Sima Qiu seemed to understand, "How do you achieve deterrence?"

"Three conditions: You must let the other side know that you have the ability and the determination to kill them!" Wang Xian explained, "If you lack the ability, it's just a bluff. If you lack the determination, the ability is useless. And if the other side doesn't know, no matter how great your ability and determination, they won't feel the deterrence." He paused, "If you have all three, you can subdue the enemy without fighting!"

"Is that so..." Listening to Wang Xian's analysis, it was hard to describe the shock in Sima Qiu's heart. He suddenly had a thought: This kid is no ordinary person!

But now wasn't the time to be distracted. In a flash, Sima Qiu continued along Wang Xian's line of thought, "The first ability, no problem. The second determination, no problem. So, as long as we make the gentry understand the magistrate's ability and determination, we can deter them, right?"

"This is just theory. To make it practical, we need to plan carefully," Wang Xian shook his head slightly, "Moreover, the landlords are the most stubborn; they won't be scared by empty words."

"Ha ha ha." Sima Qiu's mood relaxed, thinking that today he had gained a lot of knowledge. This 'deterrence' is a good thing; as long as it's not actually used, it can be effective for a long time. As long as it can maintain deterrence over the gentry during Magistrate Wei's term, all problems will be solved.

As for how to maintain the deterrence, he didn't need to worry about it. Sima Qiu looked at Wang Xian with a smile, irresponsibly saying, "With the bones, there won't be a lack of meat. You come up with the specific strategy, it will definitely work!"

"Cough, cough..." Wang Xian cleared his throat, "I can come up with the strategy, but Mr. Sima must ensure it is executed without compromise, otherwise, don't blame me if it fails."

"No problem!" Sima Qiu answered on behalf of Magistrate Wei.

Leaving the revenue office, Sima Qiu returned to the inner yamen. He reported the strategy to Magistrate Wei, who was dressed in a simple robe and had a scruffy beard. Magistrate Wei was pleasantly surprised, his eyes finally regaining their luster, and he slapped the table, "Mr. Sima, you are truly my Zifang!"

"Cough, cough." Sima Qiu hesitated for a moment but then spoke the truth, "This was thought of by Wang Xian; I just relayed it." Mr. Sima finally had a change of heart, as for the previous credit... Sima Qiu thought, let bygones be bygones, no need to be so nitpicky.

"Wang Xian..." Magistrate Wei was still a bit confused, "You mean the junior registrar in the revenue office?"

"Master Wei has a good memory," Sima Qiu thought, registrar is registrar, junior registrar, "It's the Wang Xian who helped us solve the case!"

"Is he that capable?" Magistrate Wei was first surprised, then uncertain, "Is this plan feasible?"

"Feasible!" Sima Qiu nodded emphatically, "The only concern is the attitude of the higher-ups!"

"Before making the decision, I reported to the prefect," Magistrate Wei recalled, "After listening, he only said, 'This is a good policy, how about the gentry?' At the time, I didn't take it seriously, but now I realize it was a golden word from an experienced official." He paused, "However, from the prefect's attitude, as long as we don't involve him, he should be happy to see it through."

"That's good." Sima Qiu stroked his sparse beard, "Another thing is the whereabouts of Zhou the Censor, we mustn't let it slip."

"Zhou the Censor is always unpredictable; who knows where he is on official business," Magistrate Wei smiled, "It's also normal for rumors to say he has come to our county."

"Then let's do it!" Sima Qiu nodded emphatically.

"Good, let's do it!" Magistrate Wei responded solemnly.

The next morning, all the officials in the county were speculating about how long the magistrate could hold on. Clearly, they thought Magistrate Wei would have to bow to the gentry. The officials were also discussing that if the magistrate gave in, he would definitely invite Li Sheng back, as he was the only one who could clean up the mess...

In this context, the officials looked at Wang Xian with some sympathy, of course, Chief Clerk Diao was gloating. In fact, these topics were also initiated by Chief Clerk Diao...

Listening to the discussions, Zhang Mazi was somewhat uneasy, starting to consider whether to secretly return the extorted money to Li Sheng. Cai the Registrar was a bit better, not as spineless as Zhang Mazi, but his face was still gloomy, and he was in a bad mood.

Wang Xian, however, remained as usual, smiling and listening to his superiors and seniors, looking as if it had nothing to do with him.

When the drum for the morning assembly sounded, the officials stopped chatting, realizing that the magistrate had not yet taken the bench... Just as they were about to go and ask, Magistrate Wei's attendant came out and said to everyone, "The magistrate is ill and needs rest. There will be no morning assembly for a few days, and all official business will be handled by the deputy magistrate."

'Why didn't you say so earlier?' the officials thought, if they had known earlier, they could have slept in. County Magistrate Jiang stood up and said, "Everyone go about your business." Then he said to Chief Clerk Diao and Registrar Ma, "Let's go visit the magistrate."

The two nodded and followed County Magistrate Jiang to the rear yamen. Since Magistrate Wei had not brought his family and had no concubines, the three of them entered the main room without announcing themselves. They saw the so-called 'ill' Magistrate Wei, dressed in white, with his long hair loose, sitting by a pond of withered lotus, playing a guqin with intense sorrow and anger!

Without even looking at his movements, just by listening to the angry and urgent, thunderous and stormy, and battle-like music, one could feel his deep sorrow and indignation.

The three stopped at the moon gate, County Magistrate Jiang changed his expression and called out in a low voice, "The Guangling San?!"

"Um." Chief Clerk Diao also nodded.

"Wasn't it said to be lost?" Registrar Ma, who came from a humble background, knew nothing about music.

"People once thought it was lost, but it was later found in the imperial palace of the Sui Dynasty. It has been passed down through the Tang and Song dynasties to our dynasty, where it was obtained by Prince Ning and became widely known." County Magistrate Jiang said slowly, "I once heard it played by a girl named Qincao in Hangzhou, never expecting the magistrate to be able to play it."

"Who plays it better?"

"In terms of skill, of course, it's Qincao. But she is frail and cannot play the heroic and passionate 'Nie Zheng's Assassination of the King of Han.'" The scholar's sentiment once aroused, could not be restrained, and Chief Clerk Diao could not help but comment, "Although Magistrate Wei's skill is not high, he excels in spirit. He can play the fearless spirit of 'a scholar dies for a true friend,' which is enough to make people applaud!"

"A scholar dies for a true friend?" County Magistrate Jiang shivered, "Is Magistrate Wei going to emulate Nie Zheng? Who is the Jia Lei (the target)?"

"..." Chief Clerk Diao's brows furrowed, hearing this intense music, he felt some unease.

At this moment, Magistrate Wei finally finished the piece, sighed deeply, as if to expel all the frustration in his chest!

This sigh reminded the three of their purpose, and they hurriedly walked over. County Magistrate Jiang clasped his hands and said, "I didn't expect the magistrate to be so skilled in playing the Guangling San."

Magistrate Wei turned his head, as if just noticing the three, "Just playing around, I've dirtied your ears."

"If this is just playing around, most of the qin players in the Ming Dynasty should jump into the river." Chief Clerk Diao smiled insincerely, "But since the magistrate is unwell, he should focus on resting and not overwork himself."

"I understand." Magistrate Wei nodded, "But I have no physical illness, only a mental one."

"Mental illness?" The three were taken aback; they didn't expect him to be so direct.

"Mental illness, though invisible and intangible, is just as real and painful as any other illness." Magistrate Wei said slowly, "Until I cure my mental illness, I cannot perform my duties..."

"Magistrate, the autumn grain has not been collected yet..." Chief Clerk Diao thought, if you want to rest, just rest, but hand this matter over to me.

"It's already past the deadline, so it doesn't matter now..." Magistrate Wei ignored him, saying angrily, "The top priority now is to send all the corrupt officials and tyrants who oppress the people to hell! For this, I am willing to risk my life!"

"..." The three thought he was talking nonsense, but seeing the serious expression on Magistrate Wei's face, and considering his current situation, they realized he was not joking. What is he planning to do? The three looked at each other in confusion.

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