Chapter 59

On the afternoon of that day, around noon, the warm winter sunlight shone upon the reception hall at the back of Fuyang County's government compound. County Magistrate Wei Yuan warmly met with several respected elders of the county and engaged in a friendly and cordial conversation...

Magistrate Wei first extended warm greetings and good wishes to the elders. The elders expressed their gratitude and reciprocated with warm greetings and good wishes for Magistrate Wei.

Subsequently, both sides, with sincere and friendly attitudes, had a friendly and constructive conversation.

Magistrate Wei first highly affirmed the significant support the elders had provided to the county's work. He said that without their support, the county would not have achieved such remarkable results. The current favorable situation in the county was inseparable from the effective work of the elders.

The elders highly praised Magistrate Wei's leadership over the past year. They humbly stated that although they were enthusiastic about the county's development, their lack of learning and outdated ideas had led to some parochial thinking, and they had not made the necessary contributions to the county's united development. They expressed their determination to further improve their understanding, liberate their minds, avoid arrogance and impatience, and remain modest and cautious, not to seek special treatment or form cliques, but to closely unite around the magistrate and contribute to the county's construction.

Magistrate Wei happily stated that the elders were highly respected and had a clear and far-sighted understanding of the county's work. He placed great importance on their opinions and believed that both sides would achieve a high degree of consensus on major county affairs, working together sincerely and wholeheartedly for the further development of the county.

The elders were moved, expressing their excitement that the people of Fuyang had such a leader who understood the big picture and considered the overall situation. Under the leadership of the magistrate, the county would surely have smooth governance and a bright future!

Afterward, both sides exchanged opinions and views on the establishment of the Yellow Register steles in each township. The elders stated that this was a project that would benefit future generations and the present, and they would fully support its completion to perfection, without any regrets, and were willing to bear the related costs to contribute to this cause.

Magistrate Wei highly praised the elders' active support for the county's work. He said that this was a very sensitive project; if done well, it would benefit future generations, but if done poorly, it could cause problems in the present. Therefore, it must be handled with great caution, and the opinions of the elders must be fully considered.

He pointed out that the county had two plans: one was to engrave the Yellow Registers from the 30th year of Hongwu and the 8th year of Yongle, which could be completed soon. However, the next year was the year for the re-registration of the Yellow Registers. Therefore, the other plan was to first erect the stele for the 30th year of Hongwu and, after the re-registration next year, to erect the stele for the 10th year of Yongle. He asked for the elders' opinions on this.

Both sides had a lively and friendly discussion, and the elders unanimously agreed that it was better to take more time to ensure perfection, making the second plan more appropriate.

Magistrate Wei carefully listened to the elders' suggestions and expressed that he would consider them seriously, acting prudently to live up to the expectations of the elders and the people of the county, making the Yellow Register steles a cornerstone of Fuyang's prosperity and strength. The elders also expressed their willingness to fully support the re-registration work next year, ensuring that no household was overlooked and that all people were registered, creating the most accurate and detailed Yellow Register in the county's history.

Both sides also exchanged opinions on the punishment of the students who caused a disturbance in the hall. The elders stated that the students were bold and disrespectful, and indeed needed strict discipline, but they were still young, and their intentions were good, practicing the "benevolence" taught by the great sage Confucius. They requested that the county consider their suggestions, showing leniency and aiming to correct and educate them, rather than imposing severe penalties.

The elders also expressed their willingness to donate 1,000 acres of land for the county school to subsidize poor students.

Magistrate Wei highly praised the elders' benevolent actions and thanked them on behalf of the students who would receive the aid. He said that young people make mistakes, and even the founding emperor would forgive them. Moreover, students like Li Yu, who were warm-hearted and helpful, were exactly the kind of talent the country needed. The purpose of punishment was to warn them; if they corrected their attitudes, admitted their mistakes, and promised to reform and never repeat them, they could be considered for leniency or even exemption from punishment.

The elders were deeply moved by Magistrate Wei's care for talent and his fairness, and promised to donate 100 acres of land each to the orphanage and the relief institute. Magistrate Wei expressed his appreciation again.

The meeting lasted for an hour, with a friendly and enthusiastic atmosphere. Both sides expressed that such open and frank discussions were very helpful in eliminating misunderstandings, enhancing feelings, strengthening communication, and promoting cooperation, and agreed to establish a long-term mechanism for regular meetings.

Also present at the meeting were the county's vice-magistrate, the chief clerk, Magistrate Wei's personal advisor, and the district grain heads and relevant personnel from the household department.

After the meeting, Magistrate Wei personally escorted the elders out of the government compound. The setting sun cast a golden glow over the halls and houses of the compound, symbolizing a bright future for Fuyang County!

The county's household department clerk, Wang Xian, who was temporarily in charge of the household department, reported on the scene.

Back in his office, Magistrate Wei was very excited and lavished praise on Wang Xian, who had played a crucial role. He knew that without Wang Xian's meticulous planning and constant encouragement, he would never have been able to defeat those powerful and cunning old foxes!

"It was really too dangerous!" Recalling the entire process, Magistrate Wei was still agitated: "Even when I had done 80%, 90%, or even 95%, they still wouldn't budge. To be honest, I had almost given up hope, but I just wanted to stand my ground!" He clenched his fists, not without relief: "Finally, at the last moment, they gave in!"

"Ha ha..." Sima Qiu laughed: "I was scared to death, especially at the end, when my soul almost left my body." He scolded Wang Xian with a glare: "No more such dangerous plans in the future. If you don't kill me, you'll scare me to death!"

"This was unavoidable..." Wang Xian smiled bitterly: "The enemy was strong, and we were weak, so we had to take a risky approach. If our strength was comparable, we wouldn't have had to put ourselves in such a desperate situation."

"Indeed." Magistrate Wei said resentfully: "Otherwise, how could I have let those scholars off?"

Wang Xian noticed that Magistrate Wei held grudges. The personal attendant who had leaked information was ordered to be beaten with 60 strokes. The penal department, to show loyalty to the magistrate, used a method that was light on the outside but heavy on the inside, so the man's bones were broken, even though his skin showed no signs of injury...

The scholars who had caused a disturbance in the hall and surrounded the county magistrate had made Magistrate Wei lose face, and he was still in pain whenever he thought about it. Could he not hate them?

But most of them were from prominent families, and if Magistrate Wei revoked their titles and ruined their futures, the old men would surely not let it go. Moreover, although the "Great Proclamation" was an ancestral rule, it was no longer cited, and using it as a basis for punishment would not stand up to scrutiny, and would leave him with a bad reputation for being vengeful and not caring for the education of the young, which would be unwise.

"Unfortunately, we couldn't save Zhang Hua and Xun Sancai." Sima Qiu sighed: "They did their best, but it was in vain."

"There was no way..." Magistrate Wei also sighed: "They pushed the case to the circuit inspectorate, and with sufficient evidence, they couldn't escape punishment."

In fact, Zhang Hua and Xun Sancai's greed was not excessive, but they had committed a major taboo—according to the Ming dynasty's ancestral system, the grain heads were responsible for tax collection, and officials were not allowed to collect taxes directly. However, due to the urgency of the county's demands and their desire to outdo each other in the magistrate's eyes, they both ignored the taboo and ordered their subordinates to collect taxes door-to-door, which was caught and reported to the circuit inspectorate.

The original circuit inspector, He Guan, had been demoted four ranks for using torture to extract confessions and causing wrongful convictions, and was now a county magistrate... The current acting circuit inspector, Deputy Inspector General Ji, who had always been a friend of He Guan, was still resentful about his demotion and would not give Magistrate Wei any face.

Magistrate Wei was unhappy about not being able to save his subordinates, but he had to look forward. Besides, gaining Wang Xian as a good helper was more valuable than saving Zhang Hua and Xun Sancai combined.

As they were talking, a personal attendant knocked on the door. After being called in, the attendant presented a visiting card. Magistrate Wei glanced at it and immediately changed his expression: "Where is that person?"

"He is waiting at the entrance of the government compound," the attendant reported.

"Quickly, invite him in." Magistrate Wei became restless.

"Who could make the master so nervous?" After the attendant left, Sima Qiu looked at the visiting card and saw "Zhou Xin pays respects" written on it, exclaiming: "Oh no, the circuit inspector is really in our county!"

"Oh..." Wang Xian was also shocked. Previously, it was rumored that Zhou Xin was secretly visiting the county, but it was a fabrication to pressure the prominent families. Now that Zhou Xin had actually appeared, he didn't know how to handle the situation...

"What should we do?" Magistrate Wei quickly put on his official hat and prepared to go out to welcome him. Since the circuit inspector was visiting incognito, it was inappropriate to open the main gate, but he should at least wait at the front of the back yard.

"Sir, don't be nervous." Wang Xian calmed down and said: "Zhou Xin's visit at this time is unlikely to be a coincidence. He probably already knows the situation, so it's best to report honestly!"

"Ah." There was no time to think further, and Magistrate Wei sighed: "What a mess..."

Magistrate Wei came to the moon gate and waited anxiously for a moment. Then he saw a middle-aged man in a blue robe, accompanied by two attendants, appear at the end of the path.

Upon closer inspection, it was none other than Zhou Xin. He quickly walked forward and bowed deeply: "I failed to welcome you from afar, please forgive me!"

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