The playboy county magistrate

"We humbly request that Your Excellency lift the mountain closure order!"

"These barren mountains are our livelihood; the government can't just close them off like that!"

"Sir, if you recklessly disturb the mountains and tombs, be careful to bring about a year of disaster and bring calamity to the entire county!"

The shouts rose and fell, making the county government's plaque rattle slightly.

Among the crowd, several men dressed in ordinary clothes mingled together, deliberately leading the shouting and incitement, constantly escalating the emotions of the people.

When County Lieutenant Feng returned from outside and saw this scene, his face turned pale and his heart sank.

Magistrate Cao sighed in the yamen, his worst fears had come true.

Although it is clear to anyone with discerning eyes that most of the people in this group were deliberately incited to their emotions.

However, the decision to close the mountain was indeed made without any justification, so it's no wonder the people protested.

Upon seeing Li Xuanzhi slowly climbing down the ladder from the roof, Magistrate Cao rushed over, his voice trembling as he spoke:

"My lord! Something terrible has happened! The people have surrounded the county government office, demanding the lifting of the mountain closure order. Rumors are spreading everywhere, and if this continues, it could lead to chaos!"

The panic and anxiety that had been expected did not appear in Li Xuanzhi.

"I saw it. I could see it clearly from the rooftop." Li Xuanzhi glanced indifferently at Magistrate Cao, his tone remaining calm. "It's just someone using the people's voices to pursue their own selfish interests. What's the panic?"

Overnight, public resentment boiled over. What appeared to be a spontaneous petition by the people was actually full of flaws.

Such an orderly petition with consistent slogans must have been organized and instigated by someone behind the scenes.

Without a doubt, it was the work of the local gentry led by Diao Mao yesterday.

Even if they have powerful backers, they wouldn't dare to openly confront the government. They can only resort to these underhanded tactics, coercing ordinary people and trying to force them to back down by exploiting public resentment.

County Magistrate Cao understood the meaning behind Li Xuanzhi's words, but he was still extremely anxious.

"My lord! If this matter escalates, and the higher-ups send people to investigate, you'll have no way to defend yourself! It would be better to temporarily lift the mountain closure order and proceed cautiously!"

Fuyu County was extremely poor, and the people were on the verge of starvation, yet no one from the prefectural government came to provide relief.

But if something goes wrong, that group of people will run faster than anyone else. They'd love to find fault with any disloyal officials under their command so they can replace them with someone more obedient.

Fuyu County has had opportunities to develop over the years, but some officials in the prefecture have been greedy for government funding and have never actually disbursed the money after obtaining it.

Perhaps it's not that the imperial court doesn't care about Fuyu County, but rather that the officials in the prefecture don't want to lose income, so they deliberately let Fuyu County get worse and worse.

"The ban has been issued and there is no reason to withdraw it."

"If I back down today, these local gentry and their backers will relentlessly pressure me and hinder me in everything I do. All my decrees in Fuyu County will be rendered meaningless!"

Li Xuanzhi knew very well that if it weren't for his status as the second son of the Chengen Earl's family, his stubbornness would have likely led the higher-ups in the prefecture to find a way to get rid of him.

Even if Li Xuanjing wanted to lend a hand, it would only put pressure on himself. He could simply ask around, and someone would naturally run the errands for him.

But people who manage to become rich and powerful are not complete idiots.

They can fan the flames, they can add fuel to the fire. But naturally, none of them would be willing to be the ones wielding the knife.

These days, they only know how to use these disgusting tricks; if they were to actually do something serious, no one would dare to do it.

Such a major undertaking as land reclamation and mining cannot be abandoned halfway because of a few rumors and a petition.

"Open the main gate wide, I will personally go out to give an answer."

Li Xuanzhi took a few steps forward and suddenly turned his head to look at Cao, the county magistrate, who was following closely beside him.

"Have someone secretly keep an eye on the troublemakers in the crowd and memorize their appearances and identities."

A moment later, the main gate of the county government office slowly opened.

Li Xuanzhi, dressed in official robes, stood tall and straight as he stepped out of the hall.

The sunlight fell on him, stripping away yesterday's gentle and casual demeanor and giving him a more imposing and dignified air of someone in charge.

The noisy crowd outside the door fell silent for a moment the instant he stepped out.

Diao Mao, who had deliberately come to join the fun, mingled at the back of the crowd, coldly observing the scene before him, a confident smile on his lips.

He wanted to see how this young, spoiled magistrate would clean up this mess.

Will they bow down and rescind the ban, losing all face? Or will they resort to a hardline crackdown, escalating public anger and ruining their future?

No matter what choice you make, the outcome is already predetermined.

Li Xuanzhi glanced around the room and naturally noticed Diao Mao, whose "area" was slightly larger.

However, Li Xuanzhi's gaze didn't linger, as if he hadn't even noticed him. A clear and powerful voice suddenly resounded throughout the entire venue, drowning out all the chaotic noise.

"Fellow villagers, you've gathered here again in front of the yamen today. Do you really think that my closing the mountain is to cut off your livelihood?"

The direct question instantly silenced the noisy crowd.

Those people who had been swayed by the rumors looked at the dignified and upright young county magistrate and for a moment, none of them dared to speak up.

For some reason, I suddenly remembered the scene when Li Xuanzhi was surrounded by them at the entrance of the county government office on his first day in Fuyu County.

They also remembered everything Li Xuanzhi had done for them after arriving in Fuyu County.

Many people blushed instantly and lowered their heads in shame.

Only a few people mixed in with the crowd were still shouting at the top of their lungs:

"Exactly! Your Excellency has sealed off this desolate mountain, cutting off our means of survival! We beg you to rescind the order immediately, or we will never give up!"

Li Xuanzhi's gaze suddenly locked onto those people, his eyes as cold as frost.

"Cut off your way out?"

"Let me ask you, how much do you earn in a year when you go into the mountains to chop firewood all year round? How many people die or are injured when you encounter storms or wild animals? In these barren mountains where not a blade of grass grows, is it really a way to survive by relying on scraps of wild vegetables and withered branches?"

The three questions were delivered with resounding force.

The previously restless crowd fell completely silent. The few people who were asked the question looked at each other, speechless for a moment.

Several people were a little flustered, because the steward of the Diao family had not said what to do in this situation!

Besides, wasn't the job just to incite others? How did he end up directly confronting the magistrate before even saying a few words?

"I'll ask you again."

"Before this county closed its mountains, the gentry and wealthy families in the surrounding counties, led by the Diao family, not only occupied the denser forests in their respective counties, but also came to our Fuyu County to drive away ordinary people. Who among you here hasn't witnessed this, and whose family hasn't experienced it?"

The moment those words were spoken, the crowd erupted in uproar.

Hiding behind the crowd, Diao Mao's expression suddenly changed, and a bad premonition rose in his heart.

Li Xuanzhi's voice rang out again—

"I have confirmed that there are mineral veins hidden in the mountains."

"In the future, when opening up the mountains and mining, we will not hire merchants from other places, nor will we employ local gentry or private laborers. We will give priority to hiring local people. The government will pay wages, provide food and lodging, and pay according to their work, without deceiving the young or old!"