National Division

Chapter 9 The Three Giants of Guhe County
Guhe County, County Government Office
Shen Bin entered the flower hall with a gust of wind. Pei, the registrar who was sitting down, stood up, smiled, and bowed, saying, "Young Master Shen has arrived."

Within a county, the county magistrate is respectfully addressed as "Mingfu," the county assistant magistrate as "Zanfu," and the county lieutenant as "Shaofu." The so-called "left assistant magistrate" and "right lieutenant" reflect the fact that the Great Jing Dynasty valued civil affairs over military matters.

In a county, the county magistrate is the second-in-command.

Shen Bin returned the greeting with clasped hands: "Registration Officer Pei."

County Magistrate Liu took the initiative, looking at the burly man with a thick beard, and demanded an explanation: "County Lieutenant Shen is responsible for maintaining order in this county. Such a major case has occurred in the county, yet you are not in the yamen. I will definitely report this to the Magistrate and have you punished for dereliction of duty!"

Shen Bin frowned and said, "County Magistrate Liu, I was handling a case outside today. This matter has been recorded in the county clerk's records, and it was stamped by Registrar Pei."

If we're talking about dereliction of duty, the county magistrate has been absent for years, but you, County Magistrate Liu, haven't dared to utter a single word.
“Young Master Shen was out handling a case earlier,” Pei Renjing said with a smile, trying to smooth things over. “Young Master Shen, please sit down and we can talk. The Prefect was just in a hurry.”

Shen Bin nodded, and with the greeting of the three assistant officers—the Military Officer, the Legal Officer, and the Clerk—he lifted his robe and sat down in the third chair, picking up the teacup beside him without saying a word.

Seeing that neither of them spoke, Registrar Pei smiled and said, "Nowadays, murder cases are occurring one after another. If the higher-ups investigate, neither of us, as officials in the same yamen, can escape responsibility. The most urgent task is to work together to solve the case."

Then, looking at Magistrate Liu beside him, he said, "Prefect Liu, don't you agree?"

County Magistrate Liu didn't press the matter further and said, "This is another major case this year, causing widespread panic. If the higher-ups come to investigate, the entire Guhe County will lose face. Prefect Shen is highly skilled in martial arts and a brilliant judge of cases. Solving this kind of case within half a month shouldn't be a problem, right?"

Shen Bin put down his teacup and said in a deep voice, "I will lead people to investigate the incident tomorrow. I suspect that this matter may be related to demons and evil spirits."

Magistrate Liu said with a half-smile, "County Commandant Shen is incredibly capable; surely he can handle him?"

Shen Bin gave Liu, the county magistrate, a cold look: "Liu is a veteran official who has been in office for many years. These kinds of cases are always tricky. Evil spirits hide in the dark, while we are in the light. If we want to kill the evil spirits, we must first find them. And the means to trace their tracks can only be found by Taoist priests."

In the Great Jing Dynasty, there was a special group of people: Daoist officials. They were often scions of aristocratic families, carefully nurtured from childhood, well-versed in Daoist scriptures, possessing spiritual qualities, and granted Daoist ordination in the three religions. They received offerings from the imperial court, extensively cultivated land in the localities, and did not pay taxes.

Registrar Pei said, "Then only Your Excellency can exorcise the evil spirits."

“Don’t bother the magistrate with everything. The magistrate needs to cultivate himself. How can he deal with these mundane affairs?” Magistrate Liu was clearly dissatisfied. He said, “The magistrate has entrusted us with all the power in the county. We must take responsibility and share the burden for the magistrate.”

As the most trusted confidant of Magistrate Lu of Guhe County, Assistant Magistrate Liu dared not disturb Magistrate Lu's peaceful life for the sake of a few lowly commoners.

After thinking for a moment, Registrar Pei said, "Then let's not disturb the Prefect for the time being. Why don't we let Prefect Shen lead people to investigate first? Once we find the hiding place of the evil spirits, they will surely crumble under the siege of the court's official aura and the military's malevolent energy."

County Magistrate Liu nodded and said, "What Registrar Pei said is right. There is a law in the county, so it cannot ultimately affect the county. Even if there are some demons and monsters in the countryside and mountains, they are just country bumpkins and will not affect the overall situation."

Officials are protected by the aura of the imperial court, while those within the county town are protected by a network of fate and laws.

Logically, the countryside should also have this, but in the grand scheme of things—imperial power doesn't extend to the countryside.

Shen Bin said, "We are protected by the official aura of the imperial court and are not afraid of such evil spirits, but how can ordinary people resist? One murder case after another, do you mean to conceal these cases?"

If he is investigated in the future, he will still be held accountable.

County Magistrate Liu gave a forced smile and said, "This requires County Lieutenant Shen to take good care of things and find out the demon in the shadows as soon as possible, so that Guhe County can be restored to a bright and clear world."

Shen Bin nodded and said, "It is my duty, and I cannot shirk it. However, I am currently short of manpower and need to recruit soldiers. This requires a lot of money and food, which will need to be allocated by the Granary Officer."

Work is work, but the emperor won't starve his soldiers.

County Magistrate Liu's brow twitched; this was clearly an attempt to extort money.

This is actually the reason for the discord between the county magistrate and the county commandant of Guhe County. Magistrate Liu was in charge of the county's finances and expenditures, while the officers of the military, law, and civil service were responsible for consuming funds and provisions.

"Speaking of this matter, I must also mention you, County Magistrate Shen. This year's taxes have begun to be collected, so don't forget about it." County Magistrate Liu hesitated for a moment, then said, "As for the allocation of funds and grain, the county treasury is currently empty and cannot be allocated. Besides, a batch was already allocated in the first month of the year."

Shen Bin ignored Magistrate Liu's complaints and said, "Five thousand taels."

County Magistrate Liu looked like a cat whose tail had been stepped on: "Where would I need five thousand taels?"

Pei, the registrar, watched the two arguing and didn't know what to say, or perhaps he was simply used to such things.

Shen Bin's expression was solemn as he said, "This time I suspect that demons from the second realm are causing trouble. We might not encounter them even once every few years. I need help."

As a county magistrate, he had experienced many such demonic and evil incidents and was quite experienced. Based on the description of the case, he made some guesses.

County Magistrate Liu frowned, looked at Registrar Pei beside him, and said with dissatisfaction, "There are only two thousand taels in the treasury." "Four thousand taels, no less," Shen Bin said.

“Three thousand taels,” said Magistrate Liu, shaking his head.

Shen Bin said, "Three thousand five hundred taels. Otherwise, Magistrate Liu can find someone more capable. Your Excellency has been in seclusion for more than half a year. Magistrate Liu can go and invite him."

Upon hearing this, Magistrate Liu felt a headache coming on.

How could he dare to bother Magistrate Lu with such a matter?

Magistrate Liu gritted his teeth and said, "Three thousand five hundred taels. If you cannot dispel the demon, I will definitely report to the Magistrate and have you punished for dereliction of duty!"

Shen Bin said, "Prefect Liu will have someone allocate the money later."

Whether or not money is given, this scoundrel will still whisper in the magistrate's ear, and by asking for more money, at least the compensation and rewards for his men will be greater.

In the last two years, there have been more and more cases of demons in the second realm.

Seeing that the two had reached an agreement, Registrar Pei smiled and smoothed things over, saying, "All of this is for the peace and well-being of Guhe County."

The three major figures in the county have reached a temporary agreement that Shen Bin, the county constable, will continue to lead the investigation.

County Magistrate Liu rolled his eyes and said, "Since Prefect Shen is going to investigate the case during this period, the security of the county cannot be neglected. I propose that the Revenue Assistant temporarily take charge of the security of the county."

Shen Bin said, "If any more cases occur in the county today and the higher-ups blame us, Liu Zanfu is willing to act as guarantor, and we can entrust them to Chen Caozuo."

Upon hearing this, Magistrate Liu seemed to have been choked.

Where can he go to vouch for him?
Seeing that Magistrate Liu dared not refute further, Shen Bin asked, "Your Excellency did not handle the spring plowing this year, and you still do not intend to preside over the county examination this year?"

It is said that the county examinations would recommend candidates to the local Taoist academy every three years.

Generally, there are three candidates: the county magistrate can recommend one, and the remaining two are selected through a county examination.

This system was established by the two emperors of the Great Jing Dynasty. In order to prevent talented people from being overlooked in the countryside, the imperial examination was promoted. It can be regarded as a supplement to the recommendation system and reflects the court's struggle and compromise with aristocratic families and clans.

Of course, there were also some virtuous and upright county magistrates who recommended no one and gave all three of their spots to the county examination, often for which they were commended by imperial decree.

These two methods, recommendation and imperial examination, were the main ways for the Great Jing Dynasty to select officials to govern the country.

In particular, the Vermilion Bird Envoys, who are able to rival the Daoist officials, are all selected through the imperial examinations.

Of course, for aristocratic families that had produced officials, the way to enter officialdom in the secular world was basically through hereditary privilege or recommendation. Moreover, they mostly served as noble and respectable officials, and many of them held high positions at a young age.

County Magistrate Liu smiled and said, "This matter need not be of concern to County Lieutenant Shen. Your Excellency is indifferent to worldly affairs and has entrusted me with full authority to handle it, with Registrar Pei assisting from the side."

Shen Bin frowned, a sense of worry creeping into his heart.

I have a feeling that something fishy is going on here.

Registrar Pei said, "The Prefect sent someone to deliver a letter earlier, and that is indeed what he said."

Shen Bin's expression changed slightly, and he could only sigh inwardly.

If he could meet with the county magistrate, perhaps he could use his years of hard work and the influence of the Shen family of Lanxi to secure a place for his son.

Three years ago, Magistrate Liu did the same thing, sending his eldest son to the state school, just as Magistrate Lu had promised him.

County Magistrate Liu smiled, picked up the teacup beside him, and a sense of worry welled up in his heart.

This time, the prefect said that the recommendation quota for this year's imperial examination was given to the abbot of Qingyang Temple as a favor.

The remaining two spots require an exam, but with Yu'er's academic level, can she pass?
There is one spot available at the Qingyang Temple, but the chances are slim.

He needs to find a way to get one of the remaining two spots.

(End of this chapter)