Thief Emperor

Chapter 95: The Upright Xue Song

It was not surprising that I could call out the names of the county magistrates when I first arrived in Xuanzhou.

But it is not so easy to know exactly who is who.

County Magistrate Xue raised his head and looked at the newly appointed young governor. Next to Cui Shao at this moment, there was a local official from Xuanzhou standing. He must be the one introducing these local officials of Xuanzhou to Cui Shao.

Magistrate Xue frowned slightly.

Calling someone by their first name is extremely disrespectful.

Although there was no big problem with a superior addressing his subordinates like this, because the magistrate Xue Song was relatively old and he passed the imperial examination at a relatively early age, most people addressed him by his courtesy name when they saw him.

Even Sima Cao Rong called him "Brother Yue Ji".

Whether it was Gu Wenchuan or Governor Tian, ​​they all addressed him in this way, except for the newly appointed Governor, who called him by his name.

However, the hierarchy of the officialdom is here. Although Magistrate Xue was unhappy, he still stepped forward and bowed to the new governor: "Your Excellency."

"May I ask how much grain the state is prepared to ask Qingyang to pay?"

Cui Shao frowned and said, "I am asking how much Qingyang can offer. Just answer it."

"You all need to report here so that I can make arrangements together."

Magistrate Xue was silent for a while, then he said, "Sir, according to Qingyang's report, Qingyang really has no money or grain to contribute."

Cui Shao's face turned pale: "What did you say?"

"Your subordinate said that Qingyang has no money or grain to give."

Master Xue was not afraid, but just said quietly: "Before the envoy came to Xuanzhou, he might have known that there was a civil uprising in Shidai last year."

"The civil unrest occurred because the imperial court imposed increased taxes, and last year, we in Qingyang also imposed increased taxes."

"It's just after the New Year, and the governor wants the counties below to supply money and food to the state. There are about two or three hundred strings of money left in the Qingyang County Office's warehouse, and the Qingyang Anti-Theft Team also has a few hundred strings of money left. But if this money is given to the state, how will the Qingyang County Office continue to operate?"

"Then we can only impose more taxes on the people, collect money and grain, and pass them on to the governor."

Master Xue said quietly: "If the envoy has ordered us to pay a certain amount of grain in Qingyang, then I will follow the order of the state and pay the state what I should pay. I will do my best to do it."

"And if the envoy is asking how much money and food Qingyang can voluntarily send up."

Magistrate Xue shook his head and said, "Qingyang has no money or food to send up."

After these words were spoken, Cui Shao's face became even uglier.

To put it bluntly, this is actually a question of responsibility allocation.

Most of the county magistrates present could think of this, but Cui Shao was a superior official and came from a prominent family. Even if they understood that Cui Shao wanted to shirk responsibility and gain favors and political achievements, they could not say it out loud.

The higher-ranking official is, the more powerful he is, and they can only bow their heads and obey.

At this time, Magistrate Xue no longer had much desire to be an official.

I don't want to make any progress, so I don't have anything to fear.

Cui Shao slammed the table and shouted angrily: "Xue Song, you care so much about your own reputation! Don't you consider the overall interests of the court at all?"

Master Xue smiled: "Envoy."

"I said something inappropriate."

"You are the new governor of Xuanzhou, so you should consider Xuanzhou instead of just thinking about Yuezhou."

"Yuezhou...is a prefecture in the East Road of Jiangnan, not even in our West Road of Jiangnan. The governor you mentioned is not the governor of Xuanzhou."

"If the imperial court wants Xuanzhou to provide financial support to the front, we local officials should collect this year's taxes in advance and send them to the front as soon as possible."

"If you, my Lord, also want to use taxes to support the front, I have nothing to say."

"But if it is an additional assessment."

Mr. Xue took a deep breath and said slowly: "Then this is another tax increase."

Governor Cui had an unpleasant expression on his face. He took a deep breath and slowly calmed down. He looked at Magistrate Xue and smiled, "Okay, okay, when I was in the capital, I heard that being a local official is not easy and complicated. Now I finally see it for myself."

"Xue Song, we don't need you to discuss matters here anymore. Please go back and wait for your turn."

Magistrate Xue bowed and said, "I'll take my leave."

He turned and left without hesitation. When he passed by Taiping County Magistrate Du Ying, Magistrate Du gave him a thumbs up.

The meaning is self-evident.

Awesome!
Governor Cui looked at the other officials and said in a deep voice, "Are there any others who are like Xue Song? If so, you can leave now. I don't mind reporting one more person."

More than ten county magistrates present dared not move.

Not everyone can see through the desire for power, and they cannot take off the black hat on their heads.

Only Taiping County Magistrate Du Ying gritted his teeth and bowed to Governor Cui, saying, "I will also go back and wait for your report."

After saying that, he turned and left.

Governor Cui's face looked extremely ugly, and then he slammed the table hard.

"Continue the discussion!"

………………Two days later.

A carriage stopped at the gate of Qingyang County Government Office. Mr. Xue, who looked tired, walked into the government office with his hands behind his back. The officials of the government office bowed their heads and called him "County Master".

Magistrate Xue nodded and responded one by one, then walked to the back hall with his hands behind his back. Before he reached the door of the study, he heard his daughter's voice coming from inside.

"You are not allowed to leave here!"

Then, Li Zhao's voice came, very happy: "Miss Lianzhuqi is not my opponent, let's change."

"What to change? You can't beat me at Go."

"Let's play tiger chess."

Li Dutou smiled and said, "I'll teach you how to play."

When Li Yun was about to set up the chessboard, the door was slowly pushed open. Master Xue looked expressionlessly at the young man and woman who were playing chess in his study.

Xue Yun was startled and stood up quickly, at a loss: "Dad, why are you back..."

Master Xue shook his head helplessly: "Why, Dad can't come back yet?"

Miss Xue blushed slightly, turned her head to look at Li Yun, then lowered her head to explain: "My daughter was looking for a book for him, and then she played chess when she was free..."

"OK OK."

Magistrate Xue sighed and said, "My dear daughter, go back first. I will have a few words with Li Zhao."

Miss Xue nodded quickly, saluted to Mr. Xue, and ran out quickly. When she reached the door of the study, she turned her head to look at Li Yun, who looked calm, and then jogged away.

After Miss Xue left, Master Xue glared at Li Yun and scolded, "I asked you to stay and protect Qingyang's safety, and this is how you protect it?"

Li Dutou grinned and said, "County Master, you have no conscience to say this. Isn't Qingyang fine? There is not a single rioter."

Mr. Xue sat in his main seat and sighed silently.

Li Yun stepped forward, poured him some tea, and then said with a smile: "Why does the county lord look unhappy? What happened?"

"That new governor is difficult to get along with?"

"It's more than just difficult to get along with."

Master Xue frowned and said, "He is so arrogant. Coming from a big family, he doesn't take us subordinates seriously at all. He is so arrogant because he has connections in the court!"

At this point, Master Xue snorted, "You are right, you are not as good as Governor Tian!"

Li Yun poured the tea, pushed it over, and said with a smile: "County Master, calm down. What happened?"

"I don't think I can stay as the county magistrate for too long."

Mr. Xue picked up the teacup, took a sip, and found it bitter. He put the teacup down, shook his head, and sighed.

In the past twenty years in the officialdom, he has never been promoted because of his straightforward personality.

But after all, he had spent half his life in officialdom, and now that he was about to say goodbye, he had a lot of thoughts in his mind.

After a long silence, he looked up at Li Zhao and said slowly: "When the time comes, you can return home with me. Although the Xue family is not considered a noble family in the local area, it is also a family of moderate size. When the time comes, I will find you a job in the local area. You can come with me, you can come with me..."

He didn't continue, but the meaning of his words was obvious.

This means that Li Yun and Miss Xue also have a livelihood.

Li Yun looked at Mr. Xue, who was frowning, and sat down with a smile, then said, "County Master, what happened? You have only been in the state for a few days, and you have offended your new boss?"

"The county magistrate doesn't seem to be such a fool."

"I offended him."

Speaking of Cui Shao, Master Xue couldn't help but frown and said in a muffled voice: "If it happens again, I will still offend him, this dog..."

He subconsciously lowered his voice.

"damn thing."

"He relied on his background and acted recklessly as soon as he arrived at the local government. He has been a Beijing official for so long that he doesn't even know what the local government is like, yet he dares to issue orders like this!"

After Master Xue cursed for a few times, he gritted his teeth and said, "What do you mean by the overall situation of the court? It's obvious that someone instructed him to get a share of the credit for suppressing the rebellion in Yuezhou. When the rebellion in Yuezhou is suppressed, he will be promoted for his merits and leave! How can he care about the mess in Xuanzhou!"

After hearing what Mr. Xue said, Li Yun roughly guessed what kind of person the new governor was.

He poured himself a cup of tea, took a sip, and said slowly: "Don't worry, County Master. Tell me in detail what happened."

"Maybe I can even settle this matter for you."

Mr. Xue couldn't help but give Li Yun a cold look.

"He is the son of a prime minister, a nobleman in the capital. Do you think he is a bandit?"

Li Dutou smiled slightly.

"Just tell me, my Lord. Just think of it as someone you want to complain to."

"What if I can do it?"

(End of this chapter)