The playboy county magistrate

"Please rest assured. What I have done is not for personal gain, but for the benefit of the people, to replenish the county treasury and stabilize the foundation of agriculture."

He spoke clearly and forcefully: "The mines belong to the government, not to private individuals. The iron benefits the people, not to private pockets. The technology is archived by the government, and all profits remain with the county. From beginning to end, there is not a trace of private hoarding or profiteering, nor is there any indication of plotting rebellion or defying the court."

"The original intention of the old laws was to prevent private mining from causing chaos in the local area, not to restrict people's livelihoods or hinder business development."

Upon hearing this, Magistrate Cao was greatly shaken, and his brows relaxed. He felt as if he had been enlightened, and everything became clear in an instant.

Yes, the essence of the law is to bring peace and security to the people, not to impoverish them!

This new policy is in line with the law, human sentiment, and public opinion; what crime has it committed?

But upon further reflection, new concerns arose within him, and he remained deeply worried:

"Your Excellency is insightful in understanding the law and your measures benefit the people, but the prefectural officials are traditionally conservative and rigid, bound by old rules, and may not be willing to be flexible and understanding. If the officials insist on pursuing accountability according to the law, disregarding the actual situation in the county..."

"So what if they are unwilling to adapt? I have my own ways to force them to adapt for the sake of the counties and the people's livelihood."

Li Xuanzhi knew in his heart that Diao Mao and his gang would never give up so easily.

Those letters listing his crimes and falsely accusing him of violating regulations and disrupting the government would surely reach the prefecture within three days.

The storm of accountability from the imperial court is already brewing; passively waiting will only leave us vulnerable to exploitation and lead to utter defeat.

Only by taking the initiative and presenting a reasoned and well-founded appeal can one turn the tide and break through the impasse to survive.

"Magistrate Cao, prepare the document immediately and organize the case files overnight!"

Li Xuanzhi turned and sat down, speaking rapidly and clearly, each sentence precise and accurate.

"Firstly, we retrieved the household registration and land records and grain production and tax records of Fuyu County for the past three years to accurately count the number of migrants and the area of ​​abandoned land in the county. We clearly listed the true situation of our county, which is characterized by poor land, backward agriculture, scarce iron tools, and difficult livelihoods of the people, and archived the data accordingly."

"Secondly, it meticulously transcribes the new iron smelting processes, furnace improvements, impurity removal and purification methods, and energy-saving and efficiency-enhancing techniques, and fully records the entire process of ore selection, smelting, forging, and warehousing in government-run workshops. It clearly marks the complete system of government control throughout the process, prohibiting private sales and strictly preventing outflow, proving that government mines are controllable, manageable, harmless, and purely beneficial to the people."

"Thirdly, it summarizes all the practical effects of the government-made ironware supplied at a fair price for spring plowing over the past ten days, improving farm tools, increasing agricultural output, resettling displaced people, and stabilizing the market, and includes records and signatures of the people's petitions and praises. It serves as evidence of the tangible achievements of the new policies in bringing peace to the people, stabilizing the county, and promoting industry."

He did not conceal the fact that he was mining and smelting iron; on the contrary, he faced it frankly. He did not shy away from the measures, but only discussed the advantages and disadvantages, listing all the merits.

The local gentry wanted to sue him for violating regulations, disrupting the government, and seeking personal gain.

He then proactively reported to the prefectural government and the imperial court, proving that he was not violating regulations or disrupting the government, but rather adapting to local conditions, breaking with the old and establishing the new, promoting good governance and ensuring the well-being of the people, and revitalizing the region!

Former officials and local bureaucrats, bound by their limited understanding and rigid adherence to established rules, only knew how to impose blanket bans on mining and private ironwork. They failed to realize that abandoned mountains could become treasure troves, and that even drawbacks could benefit the people.

Li Xuanzhi, on the other hand, was determined to be a wise minister who could transform isolation into prosperity and barrenness into abundance.

As long as we can get through to the higher-ups and clearly explain the pros and cons to people's livelihoods and the merits of the new policies.

This measure is not only innocent, but also a great achievement that benefits the county and stabilizes people's livelihoods!

With his plan in mind, Li Xuanzhi picked up his pen and sat down at his desk, his brushstrokes sharp and vigorous, quickly writing a long essay of a thousand words.

Memorial on the Development of Mines and the Safeguarding of the People in Fuyu.

The entire memorial is meticulously organized and every word is earnest. It directly addresses the common and persistent problems plaguing counties and prefectures across the country at that time:

Local tyrants and gentry, backed by powerful figures, monopolized iron resources and arbitrarily inflated prices to exploit the people.

Agricultural tools are scarce and outdated, resulting in low agricultural efficiency and abandoned fields.

The displaced people had no jobs and no means of livelihood, and the people in counties and prefectures suffered from poverty and stagnant development. The root causes all lay in the lack of resources, backward technology, and local monopolies.

He then elaborated on these points in his memorial, detailing the five core benefits of government-run mines and ironworks:

Increase agricultural productivity, ensure people's livelihood, curb the monopoly of powerful families, facilitate the lives of ordinary people, and consolidate local stability.

The entire text is frank and sincere, without mentioning personal achievements or seeking personal gain. Every word and sentence is for the stability of the county, the livelihood of the people, and the reform of the world.

This memorial was far more than just an attempt to defend himself and absolve himself of his sins.

It was also to break with the old and establish the new, to seek special permission from the imperial court, and to pave the way for new policies for the whole country!

As long as this memorial reaches the imperial court, it will surely gain the approval of the emperor and the central government.

At that time, a special permit will be issued. The government-run mines and ironworks in Fuyu County will then be completely free of the label of "violation of regulations." What was once a transgression of the prohibitions will be legitimately transformed into a new policy tacitly approved by the court and beneficial to the people!

At that time, all of Diao Mao's and his gang's false accusations, underhanded tactics, pressure through connections, and manipulation of rules will be rendered useless.

Even the charges they deliberately fabricated and their actions to secretly obstruct the new policies would become evidence of false accusations against the new policies, causing chaos in the local area, and hindering people's livelihoods!

Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

For the past three days, Fuyu County appeared calm and peaceful on the surface. However, beneath the surface, undercurrents were surging and murderous intent was lurking.

The furnaces in Guanfang, on the outskirts of the city, burned day and night, their crimson flames illuminating half the sky.

New ironware was produced in large quantities every day, continuously supplying the people of all the nearby counties and towns.

People from all directions came to work in the workshops, earning a living through their labor.

The bustling city life is becoming increasingly vibrant, and the livelihoods of the people are becoming more stable. Everywhere in Fuyu County, there is a thriving and prosperous atmosphere.

But beneath this seemingly prosperous and stable surface, countless hidden schemes and games are quietly brewing and waiting to erupt.

After the county magistrate bowed and accepted the order that day, Diao Mao and his fellow gentry truly behaved themselves and followed the rules, showing no trace of their former arrogance.

He arrived at his post on time to supervise and carry out his duties, reported to the county government on time every day, and was so diligent and obedient that not a single mistake could be found.

This extreme docility and meekness is precisely the final tranquility before the storm.

Li Xuanzhi knew perfectly well what was going on, but he remained calm and composed, letting them pretend to perform their duties while secretly lying in wait.

During these three days, Magistrate Cao worked day and night, personally reviewing all the case files and ledgers.

All the evidence, including household registration, land, taxes, resettlement of displaced people, workshop regulations, new iron smelting laws, petitions from the people, and increased production during spring plowing, was compiled, archived, and recorded in detail in the "Fuyu County Annals".

Every single point is verifiable and factual, serving as irrefutable evidence of the new policies' benefits to the people.

Li Xuanzhi's personally written memorial, "Memorial on Promoting Mining and Pacifying the People in Fuyu," had already been sealed and presented to the court, awaiting approval.

At noon on the fourth day, the sun hung high in the sky. Its scorching rays drenched the official road of Fuyu County.

At the end of the once peaceful and smooth official road, a cloud of yellow dust suddenly rose up, sweeping in with great force.

A series of neat, solemn, and powerful hoofbeats approached from afar, penetrating the hustle and bustle of the city and resounding throughout the long street.

"Da da da—"

The rapid, orderly sound of horses' hooves, carrying the unique, chilling pressure of those in power, instantly enveloped the entire county.