Confucian and Taoist scholar

Chapter 251 Mid-Autumn Festival Eve
Tai'an City, the Royal Palace.

An Taixuan flipped through the memorial that was sent to him urgently, and his eyes moved slightly.

"This kid is really... Come to think of it, why did the ancestor bestow the literary energy on him?"

An Taixuan felt puzzled. If no one had told him, he would not have known that his ancestor had bestowed energy on Lu Zhengwen.

However, it was not convenient for him to ask the ancestor who was in seclusion about such a small matter.

As soon as Lu Zhenggang received the divine gift, he caused all kinds of trouble in Hongzhou City to suppress those wealthy and powerful families.

If you don’t know, you might think it’s a sign from their royal family.

As the emperor of a country, how could An Taixuan not know the virtues of those aristocratic families?
But many times, it is not easy for me to show up.

As long as the offense is not serious, he will turn a blind eye and pretend not to see it.

Of course, An Taixuan was happy when someone stood up to target those wealthy and powerful families.

In any case, he quite supports Lu Zheng's behavior.

"At such a young age, he dares to take the lead and can be a great talent for the country."

"Even some of Wu's pawns have been exposed. It seems that even the Wu people think he is important? They are willing to pay such a high price..."

An Taixuan tapped his fingers on the table, deep in thought. "An Jing has passed away, and Ding Yuan has also become the governor. He seems to be doing a good job and even remembers to send me memorials. I don't need to worry too much."

At this time, an eunuch came in from outside and said in a low and respectful voice: "Your Majesty, from the Imperial Academy, Master Gao requests to see you."

An Taixuan narrowed his eyes and asked, "Is there anything important happening in the Imperial College recently?"

A eunuch beside him whispered, "Your Majesty, I haven't heard what happened in the Imperial College."

"Then let him wait for now. I have an important memorial to approve." An Taixuan said in a light tone.

"Yes."

The eunuch who came over quickly agreed and quietly left the hall.

……

An Dingyuan was in the provincial government office, handling some official business with Su Ming.

Su Ming flipped through the files and said, "Some families are involved in too many cases. I'm afraid they won't be closed before Mid-Autumn Festival."

An Dingyuan frowned upon hearing this and couldn't help but say, "Since that's the case, I guess it can't be released. Arrest the relevant people and try them slowly. Close the cases that can be closed first, and release some of the less important people to stabilize those big families."

"For those who cannot be released, we first convict them of some crimes so they can serve their sentences, and then gradually add more charges later."

The longer so many people from wealthy families are locked up, the more disadvantageous it will be for the state government.

In order to avoid further complications, some people have to be convicted as soon as possible.

Su Ming thought about it and nodded, thinking it made sense.

A soldier came in from outside and said, "Sir, Mr. Lu has come to the provincial government office. He has also brought some victims and criminals."

Ever since their master changed his address to Lu Zheng, they, the subordinates, also changed their respectful address to Lu Zheng.

"Ok?"

Upon hearing this, An Dingyuan quickly put down the documents in his hand and said, "Take me there."

An Dingyuan excitedly walked out of the room and met Lu Zheng in a yard.

There were also officials who were settling the civilians and prisoners who were sent there.

"Governor An." Lu Zheng greeted him.

An Dingyuan quickly stepped forward and said with a smile, "Sir, I've been worried about you for a few days... Where have you been? Why did you bring so many people back? Send someone to notify me and I'll have my subordinates pick you up."

Lu Zheng briefly talked about his experience of going out.

An Dingyuan was so excited after hearing this that he couldn't help but want to go out and get rid of the harm.

Lu Zheng took out a storage bag and handed it to an official next to him, "This is some of the confiscated property."

Seeing this, the official could not help but say: "Mr. Lu is not an official. The money he gets from killing the demons can be kept by himself and does not need to be handed over to the government."

According to the Anguo Law, if a person is a demon or evildoer on the bounty list, not only will all the property he obtains belong to him, but he can also come to the government to collect the reward.

Lu Zheng smiled and said, "I've already taken some of it. I can't spend all the money even if I have more. I'll let you distribute it to the victims. They need it more."

An Dingyuan said: "Sir, this is righteousness! Let's register them and settle these people!"

Upon hearing this, the official hurriedly took the storage bag and did as instructed.

An Dingyuan invited Lu Zheng to sit inside again.

Lu Zheng asked as he walked, "I just saw the Patriarch of the Zheng family outside. Have any of the cases in the state government been closed?"

An Dingyuan nodded and said, "Yes, we have released some people, but there are still many cases. There are too many to handle. I am preparing to..."

An Dingyuan expressed his plan.

Lu Zheng said: "That's a solution."

An Dingyuan sighed, "I thought being a governor would be easy, but there are so many things to deal with as soon as I take office. But I guess Hongzhou City will be quiet in the next few years." After suppressing so many families at once, An Dingyuan felt that his future life would be much more stable.

Lu Zheng smiled and said, "You are the governor of Hongzhou, not just the governor of Hongzhou City."

"Uh."

When An Dingyuan heard this, his scalp suddenly tightened, and he felt that there would be a lot of things to do in the future.

He couldn't help but straighten his face and said, "Sir, you are right. I have just taken office, how can I slack off? But please give me some advice, sir, on what I should do?"

Lu Zhengdao: "First, do the things at hand. As for the future, I think you will know."

"Okay." An Dingyuan nodded. "By the way, the day after tomorrow is Mid-Autumn Festival. I plan to give the state government half a day off so that we can have fun with the people in the evening and let everyone relax. What do you think, sir?"

Lu Zhengdao said, "If there are too many cases to deal with, we can put them aside for a while and hold the Mid-Autumn Festival just like in previous years. This will also reassure the people... Let them know that even without those wealthy families, Hongzhou City will still be prosperous, and even better."

At this time of year in previous years, Hongzhou City had already decorated itself with lights and begun preparations for the festival. Even invitations to some Mid-Autumn Festival gatherings had been sent to many people.

But the recent incidents have completely ruined the festive atmosphere.

I'm afraid that few people will attend the Mid-Autumn Festival Literary Festival originally organized by the government.

An Dingyuan agreed with what he said. "Sir, you are indeed a gentleman. You think more than I thought! This year's Mid-Autumn Festival should be even more lively than before. I will pay for it myself and make Hongzhou City lively."

Su Ming heard the two people's discussion, "Mid-Autumn Festival, it really needs to be celebrated well..."

The three of them couldn't help but have a good discussion about this matter, and finally decided on a rough plan.

Afterwards, Su Ming sent officials who were familiar with the situation in Hongzhou City to handle related matters.

Lu Zheng learned some information in the provincial government office, so he did not disturb other people from working and went to an inn.

In the lobby of the inn, Yun Xiao was eating melon seeds leisurely.

He turned his gaze and saw Lu Zheng coming over. He said with a smile: "Hey, busy man, I haven't seen you for a few days. It seems that your luck has become stronger again."

Upon hearing this, Lu Zheng sat down next to Yun Xiao and asked curiously, "Master, if I use your Qi-gazing technique too much, won't it have an impact on me?"

"Of course, spells like Qi-gazing shouldn't be used too often, as they'll only harm you." Yun Xiao paused, then added, "But looking at you, you don't look like you need Qi-gazing spells. You don't look like you're going to be unlucky!"

It’s nothing important, Yun Xiao won’t use the Qi-gazing technique.

With his many years of experience, he can see some clues with just his eyes.

"I see." Lu Zheng smiled slightly and said, "I thought that when the Taoist priest opened his eyes, everyone he saw would have luck floating above their heads."

"Hey, how could I possibly have that kind of ability?" Yun Xiao said with a smile, "If I had that kind of ability, I'd probably have already achieved immortality."

Yun Xiao poured Lu Zheng a cup of tea and said with a smile: "It seems that you came to see me. Do you want to buy something? What do you want?"

"I want to sell something to the Taoist priest." Lu Zheng said while holding a teacup.

"Uh..." Yun Xiao's expression froze for a moment, then turned to a hint of curiosity. "What treasure? Let me take a look?"

Lu Zheng raised his hand and took out a long wooden box.

Yun Xiao curiously opened it and took a look. "It's just one... Hey, wait..."

Yun Xiao took the demon vine in his hand and examined it carefully.

His eyes flickered slightly, and he asked in surprise, "This thing is actually a fourth-level spiritual material. It looks very old, at least five hundred years old. Strange, where did you get it?"

Lu Zhengdao said, "I killed a monster. The remaining essence is from a monster in the middle stage of the fourth realm, with about two to three hundred years of cultivation."

Yun Xiao asked in surprise, "Two or three hundred years of cultivation, are you talking about two hundred or three hundred?"

Lu Zheng shook his head and said, "I'm not sure. I don't often encounter monsters like this, so I can only have a general feeling. It didn't say... Anyway, it's been the same for two or three hundred years. I killed it."

"Tsk, why are your abilities becoming more and more outrageous?" Yun Xiao exclaimed in amazement.

"I thought this wasn't a rare herb, so how come it's of such high quality? It must be a relic of a great demon." He took the demon vine and examined it again, judging, "It must have been a great demon with nearly three hundred years of cultivation, but it must have lived for five hundred. This medicinal herb is quite good. How many spirit stones do you want to sell it for? Oh, no, what do you want to exchange it for? I don't have any spirit stones to buy it."

He was reluctant to give out hard currency like spirit stones, and at most he would give Lu Zheng some martial arts secrets or something.

Lu Zheng said, "Five Thunders Righteous Method?"

Yun Xiao had a blank expression on his face as he threw the demon vine into the wooden box. "You might as well go and rob it, kid. Can you give me a fair price?"

Lu Zheng smiled and said, "Just kidding. This kind of demon vine is useless to me. If you need it, just take it."

Yun Xiao couldn't help but lean back, feeling confused and uncertain, "Boy, you don't have any evil intentions, do you?"

He had done several transactions with Lu Zheng before, and he didn't think Lu Zheng would be so kind. He must have some ulterior motive.

Lu Zheng couldn't help but ask: "Why do you say that, Taoist priest? Didn't you give me a bottle of elixir before?"

"Yeah, it seems so..." Yun Xiao blinked, "But I think you must have something wrong. If you have something wrong, just say it directly. Don't try to beat around the bush and trick me!"

Lu Zheng couldn't help but ask, "It seems like the Taoist priest has always wanted to trick me, right?"

"Ahem, that's not true," Yun Xiao said seriously, "If you really don't have anything else to do, then I'll really take it!"

(End of this chapter)