Be a small county magistrate in ancient times

Chapter 533: Always Weak and Sick

Liu Dexiang sneered twice.

Meng Changqing just noticed that Sun Xiang was not among the crowd coming out to greet them, and wondered what Sun Xiang's physical condition was like.

She pretended to look at the people behind Liu Dexiang and said, "The entourage of the Lord must have been carefully selected. But the rules of the Lord's selection are puzzling to others. Why are the officials of the government office who should be here not here, but Mr. Mao from Yangmen County has been added instead?"

Mao Chunfang was about to speak, but Meng Changqing didn't give him a chance and said quickly, "Could it be that the merchants from Yangmen County and my Beishan County are on the same route? I misunderstood Lord Mao. I'm sorry."

Liu Dexiang got off his horse and took the opportunity when Meng Changqing stepped back to say, "Lord Meng is chattering like a woman."

Meng Changqing laughed when he heard this, "It is an honor for me to be somewhat like your mother."

Liu Dexiang suddenly pointed at Meng Changqing, "What did you say!"

Meng Changqing pretended to be innocent, "Didn't you hear clearly, sir?"

"Meng Changqing, this is the first time I've seen such an uneducated person like you." Liu Dexiang felt even more disgusted with Meng Changqing. He had been in officialdom for many years, but had never met such a scoundrel. He really didn't know etiquette, and it was unlucky to say a few more words to him.

He turned his head and ignored Meng Changqing.

Meng Changqing didn't necessarily need his attention.

After waiting for a while, someone came back with a quick horse to report, "Sir, Lord Feng is almost here."

Liu Dexiang said, "Hurry up and arrange it." The servant behind him immediately led the yamen runners to move the carpet out of the room where the soldiers were on duty and quickly spread it on the ground.

Meng Changqing also found this scene strange.

Liu Dexiang walked to the front and stood on tiptoe to look forward.

Finally he saw the group of people he was waiting for.

There were four carriages, the three in the front were carrying people, and the one in the back was carrying luggage. There were at least a few yamen runners guarding the carriages in front, behind, and on both sides.

After all, they came from the capital, and the clothes of the yamen runners were much newer than those of the yamen runners in Liangzhou City.

When the carriages and horses were at a certain distance, Liu Dexiang led everyone to pose to welcome the officials from the capital.

Meng Changqing found a seat for himself and stood next to Mao Chunfang.

Mao Chunfang whispered to Meng Changqing, "Has he gone mad? Why did he offend his superiors so much?"

Meng Changqing muttered back, "Thank you for your concern, I am not crazy yet."

In front, Liu Dexiang met Feng Zhongan and others who got off the carriage.

Mao Chunfang hid behind some people and wanted to warn Meng Changqing, but before he could open his mouth he heard Liu Dexiang calling him from the front, so he had to hurry forward.

"Sir." After Mao Chunfang called out to Liu Dexiang, he immediately bowed to the people from the capital and said, "Greetings to the lords."

Meng Changqing quietly looked up from behind the crowd and saw Feng Zhongan, the leader of the opposite group, looking at Mao Chunfang with a somewhat weird look.

"Chunfang." Feng Zhongan said cheerfully, "It's been a long time."

A man standing to the left of Feng Zhongan asked, "Does Lord Feng recognize him?"

Meng Changqing speculated that the person who spoke should be Xu Xiaoyun, a doctor in the Ministry of Revenue.

Because she knew the man on the right rear side. She had met him when she was recalled to the capital and reprimanded. He was the chief clerk of the Ministry of Personnel. She didn't know his specific name, but she remembered that his surname was Li.

"I and Chunfang are both successful candidates in the same imperial examination. How could I not recognize her?" Feng Zhongan also intended to make clear his relationship with Mao Chunfang.

Xu Xiaoyun said, "Sir Feng, we are ordered by the emperor to thoroughly investigate the taxes in Liangzhou. No matter how close you are to this lord, you must not be partial to him." Feng Zhongan seemed to have expected this and smiled, "Of course."

After saying this, Feng Zhongan said, "Then don't waste time, go back to the mansion and check the accounts immediately."

"Yes, yes, yes." Liu Dexiang was extremely humble in front of Feng Zhongan. He personally helped the man onto the carriage. After the carriage passed through the city gate, he waved for someone to bring his horse over.

Meng Changqing saw him being helped onto the horse, with the reins held by a servant and a horse trainer following closely behind him. He himself sat on the horse and did not dare to move at all.

If you want to climb up, you have to be a risk-taker.

When we arrived at the gate of Liangzhou Prefecture Government Office, there was another group of people waiting there.

They are the magistrates of various counties under Liangzhou. Except for Meng Changqing and Mao Chunfang who are waiting at the city gate, all the others are here.

After all, every county has businessmen working outside, so it is normal to learn about their whereabouts by chance.

However, the prefect did not inform them, so they could only step back and wait at the gate of the government office.

"My Lords," Feng Zhongan spoke as a representative, "Instead of waiting here, we should go back and prepare the account books. We have come to Liangzhou to investigate the tax collection situation under the order of His Majesty. We must find out the situation early and return to Beijing as soon as possible.

Adults don’t need to waste their time here.”

After Feng Zhongan finished speaking, he took the lead and walked into the government office, asking Liu Dexiang to take out the account book as he walked.

Liu Dexiang was obviously not used to this way of doing things, and he still said in the old way that the mansion had prepared a welcoming wine and asked the three adults to enjoy it before dealing with official business.

Feng Zhongan's next words were a reason that could not be refused by the other party, "I dare not delay the important affairs of the court, and I hope that Governor Liu will cooperate."

Liu Dexiang smiled awkwardly, turned around and winked at Mao Chunfang.

Mao Chunfang walked forward, and before she could say anything, Feng Zhongan said, "Chunfang, why don't you go back?"

Liu Dexiang was surprised by the lack of mercy shown.

Several county magistrates outside the door watched them enter the mansion, not knowing whether there was a welcoming drink or an account book on the table.

Cao Hongxing was the first to leave. Meng Changqing wanted to follow his pace, but was stopped by Zeng Jing.

"Lord Meng," Zeng Jing begged, "Please speak up for me, please!"

Meng Changqing said: "I can only do my best."

"I feel relieved when you say this." Zeng Jing said this, but he obviously didn't think so in his heart. When he saw Meng Changqing agreed, he found Hua Rujin again and said the same thing.

Inside the government office.

Liu Dexiang didn't dare to attend the welcoming banquet, so he had to follow Feng Zhongan's instructions and ask someone to bring out the account books of those years.

After the three of them quickly flipped through a few books, Li Daolang, the chief clerk of the Ministry of Personnel, was the first to ask, "Prefect Liu, are you missing someone?"

Liu Dexiang smiled and said, "I will call a few clerks from the Household Department over here."

Xu Xiaoyun raised his hand and said, "Prefect Liu, Li Zhubu is not looking for a minor official in your government office. Why can't he see the Tongpan?"

"Please forgive me, gentlemen." Liu Dexiang said, "President Sun is not feeling well and is recuperating at home."

"What's wrong?" Xu Xiaoyun asked seriously, "Are you so sick that you can't get up?"

Liu Dexiang sighed and said, "This is a long story. It was only after I arrived in Liangzhou that I learned that Sun Tongpan was weak and sickly and always asked for leave. Unfortunately, I had just arrived in Liangzhou and many things depended on Sun Tongpan. I dared not say a word, so I could only grant him leave and let him find a doctor to treat his illness."

"How ridiculous!" Xu Xiaoyun said angrily, "Call him over here. If he really can't get up, we'll have to carry him over!"