The playboy county magistrate

A moment later, he turned to the end of the file on next year's spring planting arrangements presented by Jiangnan, and his fingertips suddenly paused.

The handwriting on the paper was neat and the entries were clear. It seemed to be without any errors or omissions. If an ordinary official were to review it, he would surely glance at it and stamp it to approve it.

However, Li Xuanzhi had been deeply involved in government affairs for many years and was very familiar with local regulations on people's livelihood, grain quotas, and the spring planting season.

This seemingly well-organized file conceals a very subtle, yet easily exploitable, oversight—

The reported quantities of grain seeds for spring planting in the three counties south of the Yangtze River deliberately blurred the lines between the old and new quotas. The old figures were mixed with the new figures, and the difference was so small that it was extremely difficult to detect.

Once approved, the grain seeds will be allocated by officials of the Ministry of Revenue and implemented in local prefectures and governments, which will cause confusion in the allocation of local grain seeds and delay the spring planting next year.

Upon reviewing the Ministry of Revenue's register, Shen Cong also found an oversight under the tax calculation item.

The discrepancies in the numbers are minor and go unnoticed without close inspection. However, over time, they can lead to discrepancies in the accounts.

In the Ministry of Works' files, Liao Wenyuan secretly modified two material delivery deadlines. Seemingly harmless, these changes would actually lead to a delay in the imperial city's repairs, while the required materials would not keep up, resulting in a complete waste of manpower.

All three flaws are hidden places that would be impossible to find without careful inspection.

The three were malicious. Once Li Xuanzhi approved and released the application, any subsequent problems would be attributed to his lax review and negligence.

His previous reputation for being incorruptible would be damaged. Criticism of being "strict with others but lenient with himself" would inevitably arise in the court.

They can be described as killing without shedding blood, insidious and cunning.

Li Xuanzhi's eyes were slightly cold, revealing neither joy nor anger.

He didn't immediately lash out, nor did he expose it in public. He simply picked up the vermilion brush with his fingertips and lightly touched and circled the three flaws. The strokes were precise and swift, without the slightest error.

He then closed the file and placed it on the table. He looked up at the three people who were still bowing respectfully, his tone calm, without a trace of anger.

"The three of you have certainly improved."

The group breathed a sigh of relief, assuming that the flaws had gone unnoticed and that Li Xuanzhi was indeed too busy to examine the matter closely. They immediately stepped forward, displaying even greater humility.

"It is all thanks to your excellent teaching that we subordinates dare not slack off. We only wish to do our best to fulfill our duties and make up for our previous mistakes."

Shen Cong and Liao Wenyuan exchanged a glance, quickly followed suit, and hurriedly echoed each other.

"We will certainly learn from this lesson, do our utmost for the public good, and live up to your trust."

Seeing the three men's flawless pretense and feigned sincerity, Li Xuanzhi slowly raised his finger and lightly tapped the files on the table.

His voice was not loud, but every word landed clearly in the ears of the three people, carrying an undeniable authority.

"If you are doing your job conscientiously, you should be realistic and investigate every detail."

As soon as he finished speaking, he threw out the three files one by one, which landed heavily in front of the three men.

"The grain quotas in Jiangnan are a mix of old and new, with discrepancies concealed. This deliberate obfuscation of accounts—is this the kind of 'repeated verification' you're referring to?"

"Is this where your sense of superiority as a long-time cabinet member comes from? I really doubt how you've managed to stay in the cabinet for so many years with your abilities!"

"Shen Cong, there's an oversight in the Ministry of Revenue's tax reconciliation. Although the discrepancy is extremely minor, if this continues, it will eventually become a huge, unresolved problem, a potential disaster. Is this the revised account you've prepared? Is this the result of your collaborative efforts with the entire Ministry of Revenue?"

"Liao Wenyuan, the deadlines for the Ministry of Works' supplies have been altered without authorization. Is this the well-prepared policy you've drafted? Who will be responsible if problems arise? You?"

The color drained from the faces of the three people instantly, turning them deathly pale.

Cold sweat instantly seeped down the backs of the three men, and their fingertips trembled. All their previous calculations and hopes shattered in an instant.

"My lord! We, your subordinates, absolutely did not do it on purpose! Perhaps we were exhausted from reviewing the files all night. An oversight occurred unintentionally!"

Li Xuanzhi gave a nonchalant "Oh?", then sneered:

"You mean you took confidential cabinet matters home to handle? Who gave you the audacity?!"

Li Xuanzhi raised his eyes, and a cold frost suddenly spread across his gaze, instantly enveloping the entire area with a sense of oppression.

"Three files, three minor oversights that would be easily missed if one wasn't paying attention. All three are located in the most difficult-to-detect places, and all three are interconnected major events that could shock the court. Is this what you call careless oversight, not intentional?"

Shen Cong's legs trembled violently, and he could no longer maintain his composure. He hurriedly bowed his head and begged for forgiveness:

"Your subordinate knows his mistake! It was due to my carelessness in checking; I had absolutely no intention of deceiving you, sir! Please forgive me!"

Liao Wenyuan was in complete disarray, his face turning pale and then ashen. He bowed his head, not daring to look up, filled with fear.

Only then did everyone realize that the three men's diligence and repentance were all a facade. They had brazenly used national affairs for their own selfish gain, secretly setting traps to test their superiors and deliberately causing trouble!

Li Xuanzhi sat upright, his cold gaze sweeping over the three men's flustered and terrified expressions. His voice was deep, resonant, and powerful, echoing throughout the entire cabinet office.

"Yesterday, I punished you for your negligence and dereliction of duty in accordance with regulations and in a fair and impartial manner."

"Instead of reflecting on your own actions and repenting, you harbor personal grudges. You feign obedience while secretly plotting against me, attempting to frame me for minor oversights. You disrupt official business and corrupt the court."

"You think your mistakes are so minor that no one will notice? You think I've been too busy these past few days to review them? You think you can bring me down with such underhanded tricks? Dream on!"

The three men hung their heads on the ground, their bodies ice-cold, unable to defend themselves.

All the pretense and scheming seemed so vulnerable in front of Li Xuanzhi.

Li Xuanzhi's gaze turned cold. "These three deliberately disrupted the government; their crimes are even more serious than their previous negligence and dereliction of duty! They are to be immediately dismissed from their posts, investigated, and permanently barred from employment. The case will be jointly investigated by the Censorate, the Ministry of Justice, and the Court of Judicial Review!"

"Your subordinate knows his mistake! Please, sir, have mercy!"

The three panicked instantly, kowtowing and begging for mercy, their previous scheming confidence completely gone.

Tolerating petty people is to corrupt the rules. To indulge in secrets is to disrupt the order of the court.

Li Xuanzhi held a high position and controlled the central government. He could tolerate people's ignorance and oversight, but he would never tolerate anyone's cunning or deliberate sabotage.

"Guards! Drag him away!"

The decision was made decisively and swiftly, leaving no room for argument.

Upon hearing the noise, the guards outside immediately entered and led the three men, who were in a state of panic and had pale faces, out of the inner chamber and handed them over to the Censorate.

Seeing this, the other officials felt even more awe.

Li Xuanzhi lowered his eyes again, picked up his vermilion pen, and continued working at his desk. It was as if the confrontation just now was nothing more than ordinary official business.

After this incident, no one else dared to harbor any illusions or harbor any disloyal thoughts. No one dared to band together and plot against each other for personal gain.