Chapter 31

As night fell and the third watch of the evening passed, a single evening drumbeat echoed through the air. The county office of Houguan closed its doors, and officials with their subordinates began to patrol and secure the warehouses and prisons.

Servants climbed ladders to light lamps, and the light gradually spread from the high and low houses and long corridors, moving from far to near.

The outer office was already closed, which included the main hall and side rooms. The main hall was where cases were heard during the day, and the side rooms were where the registrar, treasury, and six offices of clerks worked. At this moment, these clerks were gathered in small groups, returning to their official quarters to rest.

The inner and outer offices were clearly separated, with the inner office locked and the outer office closed. When the evening drumbeat sounded, the registrar, clerks, and subordinates needed to be announced at the gate before they could enter the inner office. Inside the inner office were only the county magistrate, his secretary, attendants, and family.

In the most important room of the inner office, the signing room, which was located next to the rear hall, the lights were brightly lit. The signing room was divided into an outer and inner room. In the outer room, the seal keeper and the signing officer sat silently at their desks, with a tea server attending to them.

In the inner room of the signing room, County Magistrate Zhou sat on a couch with a grim face, the flickering oil lamp casting an uncertain light on his face.

Shen Shiyi, who was usually highly regarded, was not in the signing room. Only Xu Shiyi, who was from Nanhai, Guangzhou, and had read several volumes of "Qian Gu Bei Yao" and "Xing Qian Bi Lan," was present. He served as the financial secretary due to his hometown connection. Shen Shiyi, on the other hand, was hired by County Magistrate Zhou from Shaoxing with a high salary, specializing in criminal law.

Three people were kneeling on the floor, all of whom were attendants of County Magistrate Zhou.

Xu Shiyi handed a cup of tea to County Magistrate Zhou and said, "Sir, they are just inexperienced. We can teach them slowly. Don't get angry."

County Magistrate Zhou raised the tea cup and then put it down, his face twitching. He seemed to have remembered something and pointed at the middle person, scolding, "Are you a good-for-nothing? I told you to curry favor with Secretary Chen, who is close to Magistrate He, and to spend money to invite him to dinner. But what did you do? You went to the brothel on Tanwei Street. Are you my attendant or a pimp for the brothel? If you want to prostitute, use the money others give you. You used my money. Do you think I'm a fool?"

The man replied with a grievance, "Sir, didn't I find out from the Min County office that Secretary Zhou likes that? I just catered to his taste."

"Did Secretary Zhou agree to help you?"

"He said he would give me a reply!"

County Magistrate Zhou directly grabbed the teacup and threw it at the attendant's head. The broken porcelain scattered on the ground, mixing with tea and blood. The attendant wailed in pain.

"Since you wasted several dozen taels of silver, I'll record it in your account. Get out!"

The attendant's head hurt, but his heart hurt even more. He had to pay for the silver himself, and he had worked in the office for a year for nothing.

Xu Shiyi advised, "Sir, there's no point in getting angry with such people."

County Magistrate Zhou asked the other attendant, "What did the prefectural office say?"

The other attendant was a long-term attendant assigned to the prefectural office to gather information. Because he had been stationed there for a long time, he was called a "sitting attendant." There were also attendants stationed at the provincial office, called "provincial sitting attendants," similar to modern provincial offices.

This attendant usually handled the gifts given to the prefect by County Magistrate Zhou on the three major festivals and two birthdays. For important events at the prefectural office, he would take care of the attendants around the prefect, providing people, money, and goods, and handling all matters with the prefectural office. He was a capable person.

The attendant said, "Sir, the attitude of the prefect is very ambiguous. I heard that Magistrate He has also been lobbying the prefect. I spent half a day trying to get through, but the prefectural office replied that the grain in the Changfeng warehouse is reserved for defense against pirates and cannot be moved. If Magistrate He is to agree to lend us grain, you will have to find a way yourself. The prefect does not want to show favoritism."

County Magistrate Zhou said with hatred, "There's no need to beg. I've already seen that Magistrate He and the prefectural office are in cahoots!"

The attendant said, "This He Nanru, a Jinshi from the second year of Longqing, always tries to outdo you. This time, he deliberately held back the grain to make things difficult for us. I heard that He has already said that you will lose your position within three months."

County Magistrate Zhou laughed coldly, "He can only help if he can. Once I turn the tide, He Nanru will have no place to hide."

Xu Shiyi said, "Sir, now that the Min County office and the prefectural office are out of the question, the only hope left is the provincial office. If Secretary Shen can persuade Inspector Hu to speak to the provincial governor, then we might have a chance."

County Magistrate Zhou shook his head, "It's difficult."

Xu Shiyi said, "He and Inspector Hu are from the same hometown in Huguang. If Inspector Hu can persuade the governor, would He Nanru dare to refuse?"

County Magistrate Zhou sipped a new cup of tea and said, "Not to mention whether Inspector Hu will agree, the governor is new and has not yet established his authority, so it's hard for him to intervene."

As he spoke, footsteps were heard from the outer room.

The curtain was lifted, and Secretary Shen walked in.

County Magistrate Zhou, upon seeing Secretary Shen, stood up and asked, "Mr. Shen, did Inspector Hu agree to speak to the governor?"

Secretary Shen shook his head and smiled, "Sir, good news, good news!"

County Magistrate Zhou, knowing that Secretary Shen would not speak without reason, said, "Mr. Shen, just tell me directly."

Secretary Shen smiled and handed a piece of paper to County Magistrate Zhou.

County Magistrate Zhou took the paper and read it, with Xu Shiyi looking over his shoulder.

Snap!

County Magistrate Zhou tapped the paper and said, as if he had read a good article, "Excellent writing!"

Xu Shiyi, after reading it, bowed deeply to Secretary Shen and said, "Even if the best clerks in the office had decades of experience, they would not have such insight. Mr. Shen, you are truly talented!"

Secretary Shen blushed and said, "I dare not accept such praise. It's just a bit of clerical work."

Xu Shiyi said, "Even the best clerks in the office for decades would not have such insight. Mr. Shen, you don't need to be so modest."

County Magistrate Zhou nodded slightly, "You deserve it."

Xu Shiyi said, "Sir, we shouldn't delay. I will immediately draft a document in the name of the office and send it to the Min County office to see how He Nanru will react! The line 'The current emperor is the ruler of the world, how can he bear to close the grain market in Min County and let Houguan suffer from hunger?' is enough to scare He Nanru. Ha, ha, what a relief!"

After saying this, Xu Shiyi left in large strides, and the other attendants also congratulated County Magistrate Zhou.

County Magistrate Zhou said with a frown, "What's there to congratulate? I've never been afraid."

The others knew that the county magistrate was unpredictable and had no choice but to blame themselves for having such a superior. They all withdrew.

Secretary Shen followed County Magistrate Zhou, hesitating whether to keep the matter involving Lin Yanzhao a secret and claim the credit for himself. But considering that Inspector Hu was behind Lin, he thought it might not be possible to keep it a secret and could become a laughingstock in the official circles.

So, Secretary Shen said, "Sir, this strategy was not thought of by me."

County Magistrate Zhou looked at Secretary Shen and said, "I guessed as much. If you had thought of it, you wouldn't have mentioned it as soon as Inspector Hu's people arrived. I underestimated Inspector Hu, thinking he was just a scholar. But..."

County Magistrate Zhou frowned, "We owe Inspector Hu a great favor, which will be hard to repay. Should we send some attendants to Huguang to collect some land and houses, and then buy some boat girls in Yangzhou and Hangzhou?"

Secretary Shen quickly said, "Sir, you misunderstood. The person who came up with this strategy is not Inspector Hu."

"Who is it?"

Secretary Shen whispered, "Sir, do you remember the young man who filed a complaint today?"

County Magistrate Zhou was taken aback, "How could it be him? It's a joke. Only someone with long experience in the official world could understand the intricacies. Even after twenty years of handling criminal cases in the office, you found it impossible. How could a child come up with such an idea?"

"Sir, I also found it hard to believe, but it's true. This young man is truly intelligent. The community school in Hongtang is one thing, but today in the county office, I felt that he is not an ordinary person. Now..."

County Magistrate Zhou frowned and asked, "Where is this young man now?"

"He is staying at the Yin Guesthouse."

The surprised look on County Magistrate Zhou's face had passed, and he stroked his beard, "I don't think it's anything special. It's just a stroke of luck. Besides, there are many people who show promise as children but fail to live up to it as adults."

Secretary Shen didn't know what to say, knowing County Magistrate Zhou's temper.

Secretary Shen could only agree, "Sir, you are right."

County Magistrate Zhou took a few steps and said, "Let's give this young man five taels of silver and send him away."

Secretary Shen's face changed, and he stepped forward, "Sir, that's too little."

"A scholar has no place to spend money. Five taels of silver is not little."

Secretary Shen said, "It's just a young man, but he was recommended by Mr. Xu and is a student of Inspector Hu."

"Then tell him not to reveal this matter."

"That might be..."

County Magistrate Zhou said with a frown, "A child, worrying about this and that. I understand your concern. You and Mr. Xu are from Shaoxing, and this matter involved a lot of connections. Once the matter is settled, I will see him personally. This way, you won't be disappointed."

"As for the young man's reward, it depends on how much he dares to ask for." County Magistrate Zhou smiled coldly.