The playboy county magistrate

Li Xuanzhi nodded slightly.

If Tang Zheng could spot something fishy, ​​how could this group of people not notice?

Do they really think that they're safe and sound because someone in the court is protecting them?

Li Xuanzhi paused for a moment, then picked up a barely legible notebook. His fingertips traced the grain of the pages as he spoke softly:

"Since the case files are damaged, I will not look at the records."

Upon hearing this, Gao Huai'an felt relieved, and a smile immediately appeared on his face: "Your Excellency is wise; there is indeed no way to investigate..."

Before he could finish speaking, Li Xuanzhi interrupted him coldly.

"Documents can be destroyed, but people's hearts, people's affairs, and old traces can never be destroyed."

He looked up at Gao Huai'an, his gaze clear and sharp.

"By order of this official, starting today, all foremen, registered clerks, and purchasing managers who participated in the repair of the Linghe River two years ago shall be summoned. They shall be questioned in batches without delay. Anyone who dares to delay is considered uncooperative and has treasonous intentions. This censor has come to investigate the case by imperial decree and has the authority to execute first and report later."

If they don't use the emperor's name to boost their own prestige now, when will they ever get another chance?

When you're traveling, you have to create an identity if you don't have one. Besides, now that you have a perfectly legitimate shield, why not take advantage of it?

Gao Huai'an's face stiffened again, and he hastily managed to reply, "Yes, Your Excellency will arrange it immediately."

He responded with respect, but a shadow of malice flickered in his eyes.

Li Xuanzhi saw things clearly and stopped arguing, striding out of the warehouse.

Li Xuanzhi neither stayed at the Grand Canal Office to await a reply nor returned to the post station to rest. He left the office and went straight to the alleyways, changed into plain clothes, and mingled with the crowds of ordinary people.

Tang Zheng, who had also changed into a set of seemingly ordinary clothes, followed closely behind and asked in a low voice, "Young Master, where are you headed?"

"Let's go to the riverbank." Li Xuanzhi looked ahead at the streets and alleys. "Officials from top to bottom are all in cahoots. Official records can be altered, and accounts can be erased. Only the common people who have done hard labor and shed blood and sweat will know the truth, and they are the ones who can get the most information out of them."

Those in positions of power rarely empathize with those in lower positions, nor do they waste manpower keeping a close eye on the poor.

To uncover the truth and find evidence by peeling back the layers, this is the only method Li Xuanzhi can think of at the moment.

The two avoided the wide official roads and took narrow alleys and paths, heading towards the old embankment downstream of the Ling River.

The surrounding area consists of low thatched huts along the water, which were the dwelling place of river workers, boatmen and fishermen in the early years.

The houses were simple and the walls were mottled, a stark contrast to the bustling streets and alleys of the city.

It was nearing noon, and many strong men had just finished their work. They sat in twos and threes on the stone steps by the embankment, enjoying the cool air and chatting. Their clothes were made of coarse cloth and patched up, and their hands were calloused from years of labor.

Li Xuanzhi slowed his pace, his expression relaxed, looking no different from any other passerby.

He found a clean stone step and sat down, listening quietly to the conversation around him, not in a hurry to ask questions.

All I could hear were snippets of everyday conversation, nothing more than prices, harvests, and river levels. Mundane and mundane, yet utterly authentic.

After a long while, two elderly river workers sat not far away, fanning themselves with worn-out palm-leaf fans, and began to recount an old story that Li Xuanzhi was most interested in.

"Two years have passed in the blink of an eye. I don't know how many people died when the Linghe River was repaired. I barely survived, working myself to the bone for more than half a year, and in the end, most of my wages were deducted."

"Who says otherwise! The government announces a monthly salary of two hundred coins per person, but in reality, we don't even get one hundred and twenty. After being skimmed off layer by layer, it's all those of us who do the hard work who suffer the most."

Another person, filled with resentment, dared not raise their voice but instead approached the two of them and lowered their voice.

However, perhaps due to old age, he became hard of hearing and assumed that other people's hearing must also be bad. He didn't lower his voice much at all, and Li Xuanzhi still heard it clearly.

"What's most hateful is that the stone and timber delivered back then were all substandard, hollow rotten wood and broken stones, hastily piled up. The imperial court allocated a huge sum of money for top-quality building materials, but all that ended up on the riverbank were defective and waste materials. And who knows where the extra money went?"

"Who dares to say that? A while ago, a young man was dissatisfied and went to the government office to file a complaint. That very night, people came to his door and beat him up. All the farm tools in his house were smashed, and he was driven out of Nanjing. It is still unknown whether he is still alive."

Li Xuanzhi remained expressionless for a moment, then slowly rose and walked to the group, speaking in a humble tone, "Did you two gentlemen repair the Linghe River embankment two years ago?"

The two elderly river workers looked up at the sound and saw that he was neatly dressed and had an impressive air about him. Their eyes immediately became more wary, and they quickly composed themselves and waved their hands dismissively.

"I can't remember, it's been too long, I've long forgotten."

Having experienced hardship and seen too many elderly people, I am too adept at reading people's expressions and at seeking advantages and avoiding disadvantages.

They no longer dared to discuss official matters, fearing that their words would bring trouble.

Seeing this, Li Xuanzhi did not press the matter, but instead sat down next to the two of them.

"Gentlemen, please do not worry. I am not a member of the local government. I am just passing through this area and heard that there are doubts about the repair of the river embankment back then. I am willing to investigate the facts and give the people justice."

He took out a few pieces of silver from his pocket and gently placed them on the stone steps.

"These are merely tokens of gratitude for the casual conversation during our inquiry."

The two old river workers exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with longing for the loose silver.

These pieces of silver could be enough for a large family to eat for half a year and wear clothes for all four seasons.

But hesitation and unease remained in their eyes, and they remained silent, not daring to say more.

Li Xuanzhi didn't urge him, but sat quietly, gazing at the slowly flowing river in front of him.

"Back then, the imperial court allocated 370,000 taels of silver, all of which was used for the repair of the Ling River. If the funds had been used specifically for this purpose, the river embankment would certainly be strong and reliable. But now, the Ling River is still in danger every flood season, leaking and needing repairs every year."

"You have lived by the water for generations and know best the condition of the Linghe River embankment. If no one dares to speak out today, the risk of flooding will not diminish every year during the flood season. In the end, it will be the people along the river who suffer."

"The victims will be your descendants, your relatives and friends, and your neighbors."

Her voice was soft, yet every word pierced the heart.

The hesitation on the faces of the two old river workers gradually faded, and their eyes welled up with years of resentment and helplessness.

After years of forbearance, witnessing officials indulging in pleasure while countless ordinary people like them suffer, the resentment in their hearts had long since accumulated to a deep level.

After a long while, one of the white-haired old men sighed heavily, put down his palm-leaf fan, and lowered his voice to a very low tone.

"If you, sir, can truly make the decision and redress the grievances for the people, then this old man... will risk everything and speak out once."

He looked up at Li Xuanzhi, his eyes full of earnestness.

"Back then, all the supplies were purchased by merchants designated by the Grand Canal Transport Office. Behind those merchants were the relatives of Master Gao!"

"They charged exorbitant prices, used substandard materials, and pocketed the difference. Not only that, but the wages of tens of thousands of laborers were all handled and distributed by that merchant. They skimmed off every last penny!"

Another person quickly added, "The money earmarked for river dredging was also embezzled. The river should have been dredged deeper to improve water flow. In the end, they just hastily swept away the surface silt to make a show of it for the inspection!"