Transmigrated into a minor official in a county government, with children at home waiting for rice t

Feng Jian quickly stood up and cupped his hands in a respectful gesture towards Li Hang, saying, "Your Excellency is too kind."

Li Hang nodded: "Clerk Feng has served in the county government for over twenty years and has experienced more than most. In your opinion, how should we deal with the current situation?"

Feng Jian took half a step back, his face once again showing that fearful and apprehensive expression, and bowed even lower: "This humble official was in utter turmoil upon receiving this news."

"Seven or eight hundred bandits are hiding within the county's borders. This is an enormous matter. Even now, I am still in a state of panic and have no idea what to do. That's why I hurriedly reported this to Your Excellency and asked you to make a decision."

Li Hang glanced at him for a couple of breaths, his gaze neither warm nor cold: "Clerk Feng, there's no need to be modest. You've already done a great service by finding out where the bandits are hiding. As for other matters, I'll take care of them."

He paused, then asked, "Does Clerk Feng know why these bandits have suddenly gathered in Juancheng?"

Feng Jian shook his head, his brows furrowing as if he were worried for Li Hang: "I am also puzzled. However, I have a guess."

"This summer's tax revenue is substantial, up 10% from last year. In addition, the money and grain confiscated from the Chen Youde and Kong Youan families have not yet been fully transported to the prefectural government."

"The money and grain piled up in the county granary were probably leaked by someone with ulterior motives, which aroused the greed of the bandits. This humble official is just guessing, and it may not be reliable."

Li Hang's lips twitched slightly: "Officer Feng's guess is correct."

He turned his face away from Feng Jian and fixed his gaze on Sun Jizu: "County Commandant Sun."

Sun Jizu straightened up from the back of the chair, his left hand hanging at his side.

"Immediately dispatch your best archers to scout the abandoned docks west of the city, the former prison camp site to the north, and Wangjiazhuang. Do not alert the bandits; just observe from a distance. Confirm their numbers, equipment, and movements, and report back to me within two days."

Sun Jizu stood up and cupped his hands in a respectful gesture towards Li Hang: "This humble official will make the arrangements immediately."

"Wait." Li Hang picked up the brush on the table, dipped it in ink, and wrote a few lines on a blank sheet of paper. The brushstrokes were quick, and the ink wasn't completely dry yet.

He picked it up and handed it to Sun Jizu: "This is a directive from the county government. Go to the armory and check the long spears, crossbows, shields, and other military equipment. You need to know how much of the city's defense supplies are usable."

Sun Jizu took the letter, blew on it, folded it neatly, put it in his pocket, turned around, and strode out of the second hall.

Li Hang picked up another piece of paper, his pen falling and then rising again, and wrote a second handwritten comment.

He put down his pen, let the paper dry, and handed it to Gu Yansheng: "County Magistrate Gu, you and Zhang Yashi go to the treasury and take out one thousand strings of cash for future use. Copper coins will do, no need to exchange them for silver."

Gu Yansheng took the manuscript and glanced at it.

The ink on the paper wasn't completely dry when he nodded: "Your Excellency, what is the purpose of this money...?"

"Rewards, miscellaneous expenses, and pensions will all come from this money." Li Hang put the pen back on the pen holder. "If a fight breaks out, the two keys to the bank's safe might not be available together. You can take it out first, and withdraw it directly when needed."

The silver vault, also known as the treasury, had two keys. One key was kept by the county magistrate, and the other by the clerk of the household affairs office.

To open the safe, both keys must be present at the same time.

Gu Yansheng took the key off his waist and glanced at Zhang Sanlang.

Zhang Sanlang had already stood up and took out his key from his sleeve.

Gu Yansheng's gaze lingered on his face for a moment.

His gaze held a scrutinizing quality, and also an indescribable meaning.

The simultaneous appearance of two keys in one place signifies that the county government's treasury is wide open.

Seeing that Li Hang had no further instructions, Gu Yansheng turned and walked towards the door. Zhang Sanlang followed behind him, their footsteps gradually receding into the distance in the corridor.

Li Hang turned to Zhou Quan: "Zhou, the clerk."

Zhou Quan quickly stood up, his hands hanging at his sides.

"You are responsible for writing two notices. One is to reassure the people, saying that the county government is aware of the thieves and is mobilizing troops, so the people need not panic."

"A notice is issued to conscript able-bodied men in the city, aged sixteen to fifty, to bring their own rations, and to assemble in front of the county government office. Be clear and unambiguous. However, the date of the notice's issuance depends on my approval."

Zhou Quan responded with a nod, then turned and walked away quickly.

Li Hang glanced at Yan Shizhong, who was fidgeting, and said, "Yan Shizhong, the clerk."

Yan Shizhong tensed up, already waiting for his instructions.

"The city defense supplies in the county treasury—logs, ash bottles, kerosene, and barbed wire—are all prepared and ready for immediate use. Also, the arrows and crossbow bolts need to be inventoried. Do you have the key to the archers' arsenal?"

Yan Shizhong nodded quickly, his voice more steady than before: "Yes, Your Excellency. I will go and count them immediately."

He was no longer as steady as usual, and dashed out of the second hall in a flash.

Only Li Hang, Zhao Xie, and Feng Jian remained in the second hall.

Seeing that Li Hang had no further instructions, Feng Jian cupped his hands and said, "If Your Excellency has no other duties, I will return to my office. There are still some documents to attend to there."

Li Hang nodded: "Go ahead."

Feng Jian left the second hall. His steps were slow, and his back was still slightly bent as he crossed the threshold, displaying the proper posture of an experienced official. His pace quickened as he turned the corner of the corridor, and his back straightened.

Two hours later, in the east wing of the magistrate's residence.

Zhao Xie's gaze swept over the faces of the three people in the room. "I've thought about it for so long, but I still can't figure out why Feng Jian did this."

Sun Jizu sat on the edge of the bed, his one arm resting on his knee, without saying a word.

He usually didn't speak in situations that required him to think, so he just looked at Zhao Xie, then at Zhang Sanlang and Li Hang, waiting for others to continue.

Li Hang sat behind his desk, holding a freshly brewed cup of tea, his gaze fixed on Zhang Sanlang.

Zhang Sanlang sat on a stool inside the door, his back against the door panel, his hands resting on his knees.

He remained silent for a moment, and seeing the encouragement in Li Hang's eyes, he slowly spoke, "Feng Jian knew he had been exposed, so he used a calculated strategy."

Zhao Xie frowned: "Exposed?"

"That day, when I was checking the household registration documents of the Feng and Wang families, his spies in the household office had already passed on the information. Feng Jian knew that I could find out the background of the two families, and he thought we didn't know that the Wang family would rebel next autumn harvest."

Zhang Sanlang raised his eyelids and glanced at Zhao Xie: "How could he have imagined that a mere county clerk could alarm the Imperial City Guard?"

Sun Jizu frowned as well: "Then he didn't need to expose himself as a bandit! Making such a scene..."

Zhang Sanlang glanced at him and continued to explain, "He did this to ensure his invincibility. He exposed the eight hundred bandits in the open. The hundred archers of Juancheng, plus the able-bodied men in the city, might be enough to defend the city, but going out to fight would undoubtedly lead to defeat."

"If we report this to the prefectural government, the official road is probably already blocked by his men. The message can't get out, and the Imperial Guards can't come. Even if they could come, these bandits might not be a match for the Imperial Guards."

Zhao Xie tapped his fingers twice on the armrest of the chair: "You mean, he's using intimidation?"