National Division

Chapter 46 Shen Xian: What a corrupt magistrate!

County government office, government office

Around noon, just as everyone in the county office was anxiously waiting, a minor official came in and reported, "Sir, the magistrate has arrived."

Upon hearing this, Magistrate Liu was startled and immediately stood up, almost running, to greet them outside the ceremonial gate.

As the man swayed his large body down the stone steps, he lost his balance and stumbled.

Pei Renjing also led the minor officials of his mansion to the ceremonial gate to welcome Magistrate Lu.

At that time, Magistrate Lu dismounted from the oxcart. He was not wearing an official robe, but a Jinliang hat on his head. His sleeves were wide, and he had a somewhat elegant and unrestrained air about him.

"We have met with Your Excellency." Led by County Magistrate Liu, followed closely by Registrar Pei, all the officials and clerks of the county bowed to Magistrate Lu.

Magistrate Lu nodded and said, "No need for formalities."

With that, he went into the government office first.

Officials of all ranks in Guhe County rose and entered the government hall.

Magistrate Lu sat down behind the table, and a junior official quickly served him fragrant tea.

"Speak, what is it that is so urgent?" Magistrate Lu picked up his teacup, stirred the tea foam with the lid, and said in a calm tone.

In previous years, Shen Bin had tried to mobilize the Tuanjie soldiers and the three shifts of yamen runners to wipe out the Jinlin Gang, but County Magistrate Liu alone could stop them, so why would he report to him that it was an emergency?
County Magistrate Liu said, "I am guilty for disturbing Your Excellency's peaceful life, but this Shen Bin is really audacious. He led his soldiers to arrest people indiscriminately, throwing some merchants who were operating legally into jail, causing unrest and chaos throughout Guhe County."

At this point, the Golden Scale Gang was not mentioned, since martial arts gangs are not respectable in the public eye.

Magistrate Lu took a sip of tea and said, "Registration Officer Pei, what do you think?"

Pei Renjing cupped his hands in greeting and replied, "Reporting to Your Excellency, I believe that County Lieutenant Shen's duties of maintaining order and apprehending thieves, including dispatching soldiers to suppress bandits, are routine official business and in accordance with regulations."

Based on his understanding of Shen Bin, he shouldn't be so reckless without having powerful backing.

Magistrate Lu remained noncommittal, put down his teacup, and asked, "Where is County Commandant Shen now?"

Pei Renjing said, "They should still be out on business at the moment."

County Magistrate Liu hurriedly said, "Your Honor, Shen Bin is truly reckless. Such a large-scale arrest of legally operating merchants in the county has disturbed the peace of the people and is tarnishing the reputation of Guhe County under Your Honor's rule!"

Magistrate Lu remained silent for a moment, then said, "Shen Bin's actions were indeed reckless, but did he mention the reason for mobilizing troops? Registrar Pei?"

Pei Renjing was taken aback for a moment, then said, "This humble official does not know."

Just then, a minor official reported, "Reporting to Your Excellency, Prefect Shen has returned."

Upon hearing this, Magistrate Liu was startled and quickly stood up to look at him.

Magistrate Lu remained calm and said, "Let him in."

Even now, Magistrate Lu still believes that this is no different from the usual county government meetings.

In a moment, Shen Bin will bow down and apologize after being reprimanded.

A short while later, Shen Bin entered the main hall of the government office, surrounded by Li Yan and a group of constables. Not far behind him, several constables were escorting Xu Lin and other criminals who were bound hand and foot. Because their mouths were stuffed with rags, Xu Lin and the others could only shake their heads and mumble incoherently.

Because Shen Bin had gone to arrest Xu Lin's sister, interrogating her and collecting evidence, which had taken a considerable amount of time, allowing Magistrate Lu to arrive first.

Meanwhile, Shen Xian and Xue Zhihua were also hiding in the shadows, observing the movements in the county government office.

Xue Zhihua said, "I have a jade mirror here, which was given to me by the Imperial Preceptor. It will come in handy today, and I can use it as evidence to report to the Empress Dowager."

As the beautiful woman spoke, she flipped her slender hand, revealing a jade mirror that shone with a clear, luminous blue light, both beautiful and dreamlike.

Upon seeing this, Shen Xian's expression turned strange. He thought to himself, "Isn't this just a video recorder?"
This can indeed be used as evidence.

I don't know why, but it reminded me of a photographer surnamed Chen.

“Miss Xue is very thoughtful, I admire her,” Shen Xian said.

"This was also inspired by you," Xue Zhihua said with a light laugh.

Shen Xian thought to himself that he had no idea such a treasure existed in this world. It seemed that he needed to further gather information about the immortals in this world.

As someone from a past life, maintaining the accuracy of decision-making largely depends on the level of information one has access to.

At this moment, Shen Bin had already entered the county government office. County Magistrate Liu preemptively challenged him, "Shen Bin, how dare you! Who gave you permission to recklessly allocate troops?"

Shen Bin said, "The Golden Scale Gang has colluded with evil spirits and intends to kill officials and rebel. As the county magistrate of Guhe County, I should naturally mobilize troops to suppress and quell the rebellion."

Upon hearing this, the expressions of the people in the county government office all changed.

Killing officials and rebelling? Colluding with evil spirits? Where does this all come from?
Upon hearing this, Magistrate Liu's heart skipped a beat, but he still stubbornly argued, "You are talking nonsense. Under the Empress's rule, the whole world is at peace. Who would dare to collude with evil spirits, kill officials, and rebel?"

Empress Dowager and Holy Empress are generally respectful terms used by officials of the Great Jing Dynasty to address the Empress Dowager. Of course, in private, she is also referred to as the Empress Dowager, or even derogatory terms such as "Demon Empress".

Shen Bin said coldly, "I am also puzzled by this matter. I am afraid there is a demon or accomplice in the county government."

Magistrate Lu frowned and said, "Shen Bin, you are also a member of the Shen family of Lanxi. Do you know the principle of not falsely accusing someone? It's just a small Jianghu gang. It's possible that they collude with evil spirits, but how can you talk about killing officials and rebelling?"

County Magistrate Liu said, "Yes, Your Excellency, Shen Bin is just making a mountain out of a molehill."

Pei, the registrar, watched Shen Bin arguing his case from a distance, lost in thought.

Magistrate Lu raised an eyebrow and asked, "County Lieutenant Shen, you just mentioned killing an official and rebelling. Which official was killed? And which family were you rebelling against?"

Shen Bin said, "The leader of the Golden Scale Gang colluded with evil spirits to murder me, and also colluded with County Magistrate Liu Jian to plot a rebellion!"

Upon hearing this, Magistrate Lu frowned and gave Assistant Magistrate Liu a cold look.

This fool, could he really be plotting to murder a high-ranking official?

County Magistrate Liu, however, reacted as if a cat had been stepped on, exclaiming in alarm, "You're spouting nonsense! When did I ever intend to harm you? When did I ever plot a rebellion?"

By the end, his voice had changed slightly.

Shen Bin sneered: "Xu Lin, the leader of the Golden Scale Gang, has already confessed to this matter. County Magistrate Liu, don't try to deny it!"

Magistrate Liu said urgently, "That was a false confession obtained through torture, and you're just making baseless accusations!"

As he spoke, he turned to Magistrate Lu, cupped his hands, and said, "Your Excellency, you must do me justice! This Shen Bin is always causing trouble and acting cruelly. I offered him a few words of advice, but instead of being grateful, he harbors resentment towards me. Therefore, he has gone to great lengths to frame me. I am a high-ranking official of the eighth rank, receiving a generous salary from the court. Why would I be so bored as to rebel?"

Shen Bin said, "Xu Lin has a younger sister who is your concubine, Magistrate Liu. Do you think others don't know that?"

When Magistrate Liu's affair was exposed, his fat face turned red and swollen.

Magistrate Lu frowned and interrupted, "Enough!"

Shen Bin glanced coldly at County Magistrate Liu and said nothing more.

Magistrate Lu carefully considered his words and said, "The famous minister of this dynasty, Lord Lu, once said, 'There is nothing wrong in the world, but fools trouble themselves.' The prosperity of all industries in the county is also due to my lenient and simple administration and non-interference. Shen Bin, your actions are so cruel that you have offended the Jianghu gangs. They are colluding with evil spirits to harm you. This is just a personal grudge. To say that you are killing an official and rebelling is just alarmist talk."

"Yes, Your Excellency." Magistrate Liu was deeply moved by these words and quickly echoed them.

Shen Xian, who was hidden in the shadows, frowned.

This Magistrate Lu is quite capable; he's trying to set the tone for the matter, turning a major issue into a minor one, and a minor one into nothing.

But it's just a matter of skill level... there's some.

Shen Bin said in a deep voice: "Magistrate Lu, they colluded with evil spirits to murder officials of the imperial court. There is the testimony of Xu Lin, the leader of the Golden Scale Gang, as well as the testimony of the evil spirits."

“That can’t be called killing an official or rebelling, County Lieutenant Shen. In my opinion, this matter is more of a personal vendetta,” said County Magistrate Lu.

Pei, the registrar, listened from the side and thought to himself, "Shen Bin is ultimately a martial artist. Who knew that these scions of noble families were so skilled in philosophical debates and their sharp tongues were so formidable?"

Xue Zhihua transmitted her voice and said, "This Magistrate Lu is very eloquent; we can't let him continue."

Shen Xian said, "Father, you are not good with words, let me do it."

As a senior lawyer in a later-generation law firm, his greatest skill was arguing in court.

Xue Zhihua chuckled softly, a strange light flashing in her eyes, and said, "You go, I'll cover for you."

I couldn't help but recall the incident the other day at Qingyang Temple, where a young man angrily wrote a poem mocking the Taoist He Shou.

Shen Xian steadied himself, revealed himself, clapped his hands, and then said loudly:

"What a corrupt and deceitful magistrate!"

(End of this chapter)