Super Cultivation System of the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 520: Money Requires Life
When County Magistrate Meng and others saw Qian Li coming in, they immediately put on smiles and took the initiative to greet him.

"Your Excellency Qian, we are sorry for not welcoming you from afar. Please forgive us! Your Excellency has come to help with the disaster relief. How can we not welcome you?"

"Is it?"

Qian Li's eyes bypassed them and saw the wine and meat on the tables on both sides. The anger in his eyes almost burst out.

"You guys are in a good mood."

When County Magistrate Meng and others heard his mocking voice, they realized that something was wrong.

"This... Governor Qian, please listen to my explanation. This matter is not what you think."

Qian Li frowned and sneered, "Explain? Then why don't you tell me, what is the purpose of this banquet?"

The dozen or so people all looked to County Magistrate Meng for help.

Magistrate Meng's eyes also moved rapidly.

"Oh, yes, this is because we know that Governor Qian cares about the people and will come here in person after learning that the dike has breached. Therefore, we have prepared a banquet early and are waiting for the Governor to come."

The others all echoed in unison.

"Very good, very good. We are waiting for the arrival of Governor Qian and are here to welcome him."

"Really?"

Qian Li glanced at everyone's faces, and everyone lowered their heads guiltily.

Unexpectedly, Qian Li's tone suddenly relaxed.

"If that's the case, then my colleagues are very thoughtful. I would like to thank you."

When everyone heard this, they felt as if they had been pardoned.

"You are too polite, Governor Qian. This disaster is rare in a century. Governor Qian has been running around and is extremely tired. Please take your seat."

Qian Li waved his hand.

"No need to take a seat. The disaster is urgent and I am pressed for time. I came here to check the disaster situation. The money and food mobilized by various counties, as well as the relief supplies allocated by the general, will arrive in Xihe County soon. After the disaster situation in various places is investigated, I can distribute it as appropriate."

County Magistrate Meng and others were overjoyed. Wasn't this what they had been working for for so long?

County Magistrate Meng said, "The General and Governor Qian acted so quickly. It is truly a blessing for the people."

"No need to be polite. By the way, why are the two county magistrates of Yuanyang and Yuanyin, as well as the county magistrates of several other counties here?"

Qian Li recognized these dozen people. Without exception, all of them were county magistrates of Bingzhou. He felt something was wrong.

Magistrate Meng smiled and said, "These 17 fellow county magistrates, like the governor, have come to our county in person to discuss disaster relief. I am grateful to them and Governor Qian."

Everyone came to their senses and said in unison: "Yes, yes, this time the Yellow River burst its banks and the disaster is so serious that we should join hands and advance and retreat together."

"Oh I got it."

Qian Li looked as if he had suddenly realized something: "You have all done your duty so diligently. I will report this to the court and commend your achievements."

"No, no, Lord Qian, you are flattering me."

County Magistrate Meng said sternly, "I wonder how much disaster relief supplies there are this time?"

Qian Li answered without hesitation: "The total amount of grain collected from various places and allocated by the court is no less than 3 million dan, and the money is no less than 300 million, and there is also a large amount of medicinal herbs."

When they heard this, their faces, which were already red from drinking, now looked even brighter.

County Magistrate Meng's voice couldn't help but tremble.

"Then I wonder... I wonder how much supplies Lin County can get?"

Qian Li lowered his head and thought for a moment: "Please tell me the details of the disaster first, and I will make the final decision."

County Magistrate Meng shouted impatiently, "Okay, please take a seat quickly, and I will explain in detail!"

Each of the eighteen county magistrates, including him, seemed somewhat excited.

"This time, our county..."

"Wait a minute!"

Qian Li suddenly interrupted Magistrate Meng.

Everyone looked at him in confusion, but Qian Li also looked at them. "On the way here, the official road was destroyed by a flood, so I had to take the mountain road. On the way, I passed a village and found some information. I would like to ask you for confirmation."

The eighteen county magistrates looked nervous, and many of them broke out in cold sweats.

The corners of County Magistrate Meng's mouth twitched and his eyelids twitched.

"Your Excellency Qian, please feel free to speak your mind. I will tell you everything I know."

"It couldn't be better."

Qian Li said slowly, "I saw hundreds of corpses floating on the floodwaters, drifting everywhere. These corpses were not yet swollen, and they were obviously the people who were drowned after the dam burst. Therefore, I am very curious. The dam burst in Lin County was a few days later than the other 16 dams. Why did this place seem to be defenseless, and so many innocent people were harmed? I would like to ask the county magistrate to explain."

His voice was not loud, and his tone was neither hurried nor slow, without any hint of scolding or intimidation. But despite this, in everyone's ears, it still sounded like a death warrant.

"This……"

County Magistrate Meng repeatedly wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, mumbling incoherently, unable to utter a word for a long time.

Qian Liyi was not in a hurry and did not urge him. He just waited quietly.

But this seemingly peaceful atmosphere made everyone feel uneasy and restless.

They were not stupid. They understood at this time that Qian Li was asking questions on the surface, but in fact he was clearly here to blame them. Regarding the previous question about the banquet, they just made up an excuse of a welcoming banquet, and Qian Li actually did not accept it at all. He just wanted to stay and get angry about this matter.

"Taishu Qian, this matter..."

Qian Li looked at Governor Meng and asked, "How is this? Have you come up with a reason?"

County Magistrate Meng's tone paused, his expression changed for a moment, and then quickly turned cold.

"What does Governor Qian mean by this?"

His tone changed, and the expressions of the other seventeen county magistrates also turned unfriendly.

"Yes, we have personally seen Magistrate Meng running around for days and unable to sleep at night. It is really chilling that Magistrate Qian is so suspicious and even blames him for a little bit of information."

"Who can prevent such a devastating flood? It is inevitable that a few people will be killed or injured. Why should we regret it?"

Qian Li glanced at them coldly.

"It's inevitable for a few common people. County Magistrate Li is so arrogant."

Qian Li suddenly stood up, his eyes as sharp as knives, staring fiercely at Magistrate Li, and walked towards him step by step.

"You guys can't come up with an explanation? Then let me come up with one for you."

"You deliberately tricked a group of people into this village in order to create the impression that Lin County was hit hard by the disaster. Although this village is in the east of the city and the Yellow River is in the west, the terrain here is low-lying. Once the dam breaks, the flood will surge in and this place will inevitably suffer, and these people will definitely not be spared."

"Then, you, the county magistrate, used this opportunity to ask the imperial court for more relief money and grain. After you got the money and grain, you left the people affected by the disaster behind and pocketed the money and grain. As for the seventeen county magistrates, I'm afraid you are also in cahoots with them, trying to take advantage of this opportunity to make a fortune from the national disaster."

He turned his head and stared closely at Magistrate Meng, saying word by word: "How is it? Is my guess wrong?"

The County Magistrate Li who had been there before turned pale and couldn't help but step back.

"You...how do you know..."

"Cough cough..."

Magistrate Meng suddenly coughed loudly, interrupting Magistrate Li's words.

County Magistrate Meng also stood up and looked at Qian Li with a grim face.

"We are devoted to serving the country and providing relief to the people. Governor Qian only made such a false accusation based on his own speculation and accused the court officials. I want to ask, what is your intention?"

With his lead, the others all stood up and quickly surrounded the money.

"Tai Shou Qian, please apologize to Magistrate Meng."

"Yes, we have a clear conscience towards the court and the people. If you don't apologize, please forgive us for not being able to take on this job."

"My old illness has relapsed and I need to take a few days off. As for the disaster relief in Yuanyang County, Governor Qian should figure out a way on his own."

"The same goes for this county magistrate. It has been raining for days and my leg disease has relapsed. I'm sorry I can't accompany you."

The people who were frightened and trembling just now were now all aggressive and glared at Qian Li as if they wanted to eat him alive.

(End of this chapter)