Be a small county magistrate in ancient times

Chapter 275 Others Flatter Me

"So it's about this." Xi Bei shouted around: "Okay, all of you stop arguing and listen to me."

"This is what Lord Meng meant by distributing seeds." Xi Bei took the booklet from the yamen runner and said, "Let's see what's written on it."

He opened the booklet and showed it to the group of people, but there were some illiterate people in the crowd who couldn't read and couldn't understand it.

Xi Bei said: "This is a booklet written by Lord Meng himself. Lord Meng calculated the yield of the fields last year for each household and how to distribute the seeds to the families of you.

Those who work hard on their fields and produce high yields will naturally get more. What do you have to say?"

After hearing that it was Lord Meng's intention, these people no longer dared to make trouble. They all lowered their heads and dared not speak.

But Xi Bei still had something to say, "Don't you want fairness? This is fairness!
Why should those of you who are lazy and just get by get the same amount of seeds as the hardworking people?
Besides, the seeds that the government promised to give you have already been distributed. The seeds that are distributed now are all transported from the capital by Lord Meng himself. After all, this is Lord Meng’s private property, and he can give it to whoever he wants. "

Someone in the crowd explained aggrievedly, "We didn't know it was Lord Meng's private property. The government didn't say so."

"You guys just arrived in Beishan County, and you've known Lord Meng for more than a day or two. Don't you know Lord Meng's temper? Is he the kind of person who would just tell everyone about something he has?"

Xi Bei was so imposing that the people around her didn't dare to look up. "Let me tell you, Master Meng sees everything you do and how you do it every day.

I think you also know that this year the government hired four people to cultivate seedlings, and they were paid and provided with three meals. How were these four people selected? They were the ones among you who are the best and most careful in farming.

If you want to get more things from the government, you'd better work hard instead of making a fuss here.

It's all gone. "

Xi Bei was a tall and strong man, and his voice was so loud that it hurt the ears of those nearby. What he said convinced these people both logically and physiologically.

The crowd dispersed, and the yamen runner who had been surrounded just now followed behind Xi Bei. Looking at the booklet handed over by the other party, he asked: "Master, wasn't this booklet copied by Lord Qi?"

Xi Bei waved her hand, "I just said it casually, can you believe what I said?"

After Meng Changqing and others left Luojiang County, Ding Aixue still finished the official business that came to him that day before returning to the back court.

His wife wrung out a handkerchief to wipe his face, "Why did you come back so late today? I heard that you accepted an apprentice?"

The lady said with a smile: "How could someone be willing to take you as their teacher? What do they want to learn from you? How to write a letter of apology?"

"Madam is well-informed. Do you know the identity of my disciple?"

"Isn't he the magistrate of Beishan? You told me before that this man has a powerful background and the emperor is concerned about him." The lady had dinner in her hands and did not stop working while talking. "You are not the kind of person who likes flattery and party struggles. Why would you deal with him?"

"Changqing is different from those people." Ding Aixiu said firmly, "From what he did in Beishan County, I know he is a man who dares to do practical things.

For two consecutive years, he came to borrow cattle from me, and he came in person, smiling and giving gifts. He did not rely on the merits of his father and brother or the respect of the royal family to look down on others. "

The lady was surprised and asked, "You actually like him so much?"

"Who wouldn't like a young man who is capable and has good character?" Ding Aixiu said, "Although I don't like flattery, being someone's master means that they flatter me, so why shouldn't I like it?"

In the second half of the night, Meng Changqing and others returned to the yamen.

When Xi Bei heard the news, she immediately hurried to find Meng Changqing. Regardless of what the other party was doing, she told him what had happened to her today.

"Master, you did a great job. I knew that with you here, the county would be stable." Meng Changqing squatted in the toilet, grabbing the paper, "But can we talk about it later? I'm just going to use the toilet now!"

"What's the big deal? There's a door between us." Xi Bei said loudly, "I told you about this. Now that you're back, I'll go to sleep." "Thank you for your hard work, Master. Go and have a rest."

Meng Changqing was pulling up her pants when the door to the toilet was knocked again. She said helplessly, "Master, is there anything else?"

"It's me." Bafang held a basket in his hand, "Master, hurry up, I brought dinner."

"understood."

Most of the night was already past.

Meng Changqing adhered to the principle that nothing was more important than his own life, so after dinner, he simply washed up and went to bed. However, Qi Renli, who was far away in Dazhou, could not fall asleep.

On the table in front of him was a complaint with several people's fingerprints at the end.

These red handprints stung his conscience. He originally wanted to avoid it, but after seeing the handprints left by the old men, he couldn't bring himself to say it.

Qi Renli was in a state of unrest and naturally had no desire to sleep.

Just as he was sighing and thinking about what he would say to the prefect of Dazhou when he entered the government office tomorrow, there was a knock on the door.

"Who?" Qi Renli asked vigilantly.

"It's me, Yang Zheng."

Qi Renli felt relieved when he heard the familiar voice outside, but Captain Yang came over at this time, obviously something went wrong.

These noises woke up Qi Xiang, who was already half asleep. After seeing Qi Renli's expression, he immediately got up from the couch and went to open the door.

"Captain Yang."

Yang Zheng nodded to Qi Xiang, entered the room, and quickly closed the door.

Seeing that he was dressed neatly and had a knife on his waist, Qi Renli asked, "Brother Yang, are you still awake?"

"You haven't slept either." Yang Zheng said as he quickly walked to the window and stared at the edge of the window to see if there were any signs of prying the window.

"What's wrong?" Qi Renli asked.

Yang Zheng walked back to the table and said to Qi Renli, "My window was pried open. Fortunately, I discovered it early, but I rashly made a noise and alerted the thief. I was unable to catch him, so I don't know what he wanted to do.

I was worried that something might happen to you, so I came here quickly."

"Who dares to pry open your window?" Qi Renli said angrily, "Your clothes show that you are government officials, and someone actually dares to attack government officials!"

"Keep your voice down." Yang Zheng said, "After all, we are in someone else's territory and we are in the open. If the other party wants to use dirty tricks against us, it will be easy.

We must be careful before meeting the governor of Dazhou.

I'd better sleep in your room today. I'm worried about Qi Xiang being the only one watching over you."

"Thank you, Brother Yang."

Qi Renli couldn't sleep to begin with, and after hearing what Yang Zheng said, he was so angry that he stayed up until dawn.

Early the next morning, with two dark circles under his eyes, he went to the Dazhou government office with a group of yamen runners in a threatening manner.