Guangzong Yaoming

Chapter 164 The Magistrate Does Not Accept Gifts

The county government office in Leping County is unusually busy today.

Only three people wore official robes, one blue and two green.

There were also several people, such as the county school instructor, who also wore green official robes and official hats, but there were no embroidered patches on their clothes.

Next in line are the local elders, gentry and wealthy families in Leping.

Today, Meng Xikong did not go to the elegant garden specially arranged by the Cheng family, but met them in the courtyard between the main hall and the second hall of the county government.

The Leping County Yamen also has a layout of five courtyards in front and back.

The first large courtyard after entering the gate is dotted with prisons, three shifts, dining halls, Yin Hotel, etc. After entering from the ceremonial gate, there are six rooms in two rows on the left and right, as well as official residences and the Dianli Yamen. In the center of the front is the county government lobby, with the Chengfa Room and Jiageku distributed on the left and right of the lobby.

Further behind the main hall is the second hall lined up in a row and the county magistrate's office and chief clerk's office on its left and right.

The two assistant officials usually had their own halls and courtyards. Behind their halls were the silver bureau and the tax treasury, and on the left and right were the criminal and money masters' courtyards outside the inner gate. If the county magistrate had criminal and money masters, they would live here.

Behind the inner gate is the magistrate's residence with three halls as its core.

The layout of the county government office was also customized.

The magistrate lived deep inside the county government office, with assistant officials, clerks, and subordinates guarding him in front. If the magistrate had skills, the subordinates would obey his orders and give him instructions promptly; if the magistrate was incompetent, he would be surrounded.

Meng Xikong is now alone, facing more pairs of eyes that are secretly looking at him.

In such occasions, the elders have the highest status besides officials.

Before the emperor ascends the throne, three elders must come together to persuade him.

The so-called elders are people who are old and highly respected. In the local area, ordinary people are old, and if there are people who are highly respected, they are naturally the old guys among the gentry.

Cheng Wenming, the patriarch of the Cheng family, is such an elder.

He is not the head of the Leping Cheng family, but an elder of the entire Leping Cheng family, and he is a student.

Five large tables were set up in the courtyard. At the main table, Meng Xikong, Lu Xinyi and Wen Ping were present. The other six people were the elders of the six famous families of Leping, namely Xu, Cheng, Hong, Ma, Wang and Wang.

"I am lucky to have passed the imperial examination, but I am young. I am honored to be appointed to Leping. From now on, I will rely on you elders for our cooperation."

Meng Xikong no longer called himself "this official" because the occasion was different.

"The county magistrate is extremely talented and well-educated. Is it just luck that he got admitted to Lianjie High School and was listed on the imperial examination?"

When Meng Xikong emphasized that he was from Lianjie High School, they naturally praised him, but they did not show any modesty when asked about the words "relying on" that followed.

This was certainly not contempt, but a way of looking at the reaction of the young magistrate.

When you are older and a little confused, you should still be respected. It's the same if you save the second half of the sentence for later when you come to your senses.

Meng Xikong said to the elder of the Xu family, "I heard that the Loyal Minister Temple was built in Leping, the hometown of Gaoyang County Marquis, in the 35th year of Jiajing, and a statue was built in the 11th year of Wanli. In a few days, I will also go to the autumn sacrifice in person."

"Thank you, Your Excellency."

Xu Yuan was a founding hero who followed Zhu Yuanzhang. Xu Yuan, who was the prefect of Taiping, was defeated when Chen Youliang came and fought with Hua Yun and others. He was captured and killed. Later, he was posthumously named Marquis of Gaoyang County.

"The descendants of Gaoyang County Marquis are all here now?"

"My Lord, the son of the Marquis of Gaoyang County was appointed to a post in Xinhui, Guangdong, and later on, he started to have many children there."

Meng Xikong nodded. The Leping Xu family could be considered the main branch of the descendants of Xu Yuan, Marquis of Gaoyang County.

The other families, such as Hong, Ma, Wang, and Wang, also produced some outstanding people and gradually became famous and prominent families in Leping.

"I heard that the county lord came here alone to take up the post, so how could he not have someone to take care of him?" They continued to test him, "If the county lord doesn't mind, we are all willing to help him."

"That's not necessary. Just wait for me to go to the capital, and my wife will come to reunite with us in a few months. You don't have to worry about the servants and maids." Meng Xikong smiled, "Let's not talk about this today. I'll just meet with you first, and I also want to ask about the people of Leping."

Seeing that the magistrate was so unkind, although everyone had some concerns, they would not show them now.

In any case, it’s just the beginning, and we need to learn more slowly.

After knowing the name of the new county magistrate, they naturally made every effort to find out.

But such a big thing had just happened to the Cheng family in Leping. Maybe because the reply had not arrived yet or many people were afraid of being involved, they knew very little about Meng Xikong.

While Meng Xikong was chatting and drinking with other people at other tables, the elder of the Cheng family couldn't help but turn sideways and ask Lu Xinyi in a low voice: "County clerk, why is the county magistrate..."

Lu Xinyi just shook his head slightly and said loudly: "Come, let me pay my respects to all the elders. The county lord was invited by His Majesty to come south to take up his post. He is the first student of the Emperor in the Taichang Dynasty. With such a parent official who is in the heart of the Emperor, Leping will surely get better and better!"

Meng Xikong had a smile on his face, but he was also more alert. Yesterday, Lu Xinyi and Wen Ping hinted at a lot of things, including concubines, asking him about his preferences, and how to pay the land tax in certain places...

It is not easy to be a county magistrate who refuses to accept gifts, but it is not impossible.

Although Meng Xikong's family was poor, his father-in-law was rich and his wife had a generous dowry!
Now he remembered both his father-in-law's teachings and what the emperor said at that time.

If you get entangled with them right away, how can you loosen the soil, weed and prune branches later?
After the "meeting with the county magistrate" ended, he returned behind the door of the inner house, saying that he could not hold his liquor.

The elders, gentry, and wealthy families who came specially for the event looked at Wen Ping with complicated expressions.

"The county lord has ordered that he will host a banquet for you all today. These gifts cannot be accepted without merit." Wen Ping sighed, "Take them all back."

Since Meng Xikong was not around, they didn't try to hide their expressions.

He doesn't want slaves, he doesn't want clerks or wages, and he doesn't want gifts for social interactions. So how can we talk about making friends?
Even the clerks in the county government were worried.

Is this new county lord trying to be aloof to the end? Then they will probably be in trouble in the future.

Lu Xinyi was also very worried. The county was most afraid of this kind of young man!
At this time, a middle-aged scholar took two young people and finally traveled around the mountains, rivers and several small towns of Leping.

After entering the county town, they walked around several streets and alleys before arriving in front of the county government office.

"Hey, stop! Don't you see this is the county government office? Are you rushing in?" The servants guarding the gate stopped them and asked, "Who are you? How come I haven't seen you before?"

"…I haven't even entered yet. I've only taken two steps." The middle-aged scholar actually looked him up and down, "You are really loyal to your duty."

"...No one is allowed to approach. The second master ordered me to do so!" The man felt uncomfortable when he looked at him. "If there is anything, please inform me first!"

"Then let the message go." The middle-aged scholar smiled, "but don't let the second master know. Please let the county lord know that Weng Chengjun has arrived."

"...What can I do for you, sir?" The servant calmed down a little and smiled. "I'll pass it on. The concierge will also ask."

"That's good. We will have many dealings in the future." Weng Chengjun was still smiling. "I am favored by the county lord. I have been hired as a criminal tax officer. I just came from Nanjing today."

The servant was startled and said solemnly: "It turns out that Mr. Weng is the legal advisor hired by the county lord. I will go and inform him right away! Mr. Weng, please move first..."

Seeing that he was rude at first but then became respectful, and now spoke in a somewhat literary manner, Weng Chengjun smiled knowingly.

To ordinary people, the county government is a mysterious place. From the county magistrate to the yamen runners and clerks, each of them is a local figure who is not easy to mess with.

But for people like Weng Chengjun, he knows better how the local authorities run the county government into everyone's county government by stuffing people in.

And every new magistrate who walked into the county government had to rely on the people he brought with him to make progress, or directly take this opportunity to get entangled with the local people.

Of course it is impossible for Meng Xikong to take up the post alone.

As soon as Weng Chengjun walked into the county government office, another gatekeeper spread the news.

The county lord's legal advisor has arrived. I heard his surname is Weng. He is a smiling middle-aged scholar, and he is accompanied by two strong men.

Lu Xinyi rushed over after hearing the news, and was stunned when he saw Weng Chengjun: "Brother Weng?"

Weng Chengjun still smiled and bowed: "Brother Lu, we meet again. It has been six days since we last met, Hong Yan. I miss you very much."

"...Master Weng has kept it a secret from me, which has been very hard for me." Lu Xinyi said with a complicated tone.

Wen Ping on the other side showed a puzzled expression.

Meng Xikong rushed out from the inner house at this time: "Brother Weng, you are finally here."

After that, he formally introduced Weng Chengjun to Lu Wen and the others, and then invited him and his two followers to the inner house.

Only then did Lu Xinyi look solemn.

"What on earth is this..."

"He is said to be a traveling scholar. He has been in Leping for more than half a month. A few days ago, I went to Hongyan to enjoy the autumn and met him at Wang's mountain residence."

Lu Xinyi looked towards the inner house, and all he saw was the words "here comes with ill intentions".

The county magistrate has not arrived yet, so the legal advisor has gone ahead.

Lu Xinyi had witnessed his talent, conversation and knowledge at the wine table at Wangjiashanju.

Everyone in the small Leping County knew about this within one day. The county magistrate's legal advisor had been wandering around Leping early in the morning.

But is he really just wandering around?

(End of this chapter)