The playboy county magistrate

Vendors and ordinary people alike panicked and gave way, stopping and staring in fear. The once bustling market instantly fell silent.

A troop of mounted guards, dressed in standard state-issue armor, galloped in formation. Their armor gleamed, and their imposing presence was awe-inspiring.

At the very center of the procession stood a heavy, solemn, black ebony official carriage.

The carriage was enclosed, with curtains drawn, exuding an imposing and dignified air, far exceeding the standards of ordinary county-level official vehicles.

On both sides of the carriage, brightly colored official tokens of the state inspectors were hung high, conspicuous and dazzling in the sunlight.

The special envoy of the prefectural government has personally visited Fuyu County!

The news spread like wildfire, sweeping across the entire city in an instant, and everyone on the streets knew about it.

"The prefectural government has sent someone! It's the special envoy of the imperial inspection team! He must be here to discuss the new policies of the county government!"

"Oh no! The rumors were true! Opening mines and manufacturing ironware illegally are major violations and taboos. This time, sir, it seems we are doomed!"

Rumors spread and people were filled with anxiety; an invisible panic quietly spread throughout the county.

The faces of the people turned pale. The peace and joy they had enjoyed in recent days as they benefited from the new policies had vanished, and a heavy weight was once again hanging over their hearts.

They don't understand the intricacies of court laws; they only know that a higher-ranking official can crush a lower one.

No matter how good a county magistrate is, or how beneficial a new policy is to the people, he is still just a lowly seventh-rank official.

The arrival of the special envoy from the prefecture brought with him a ruthless and intimidating air, one that sought to hold those responsible accountable!

Inside the courtyard of the Diao residence.

Upon learning of the special envoy's arrival, Diao Mao strode out of his study. His tense and gloomy face, which had been tense for days, finally relaxed. The gloom, resentment, and ecstasy that had been suppressed in his eyes for many days burst forth, and his whole spirit suddenly became sharp.

"They're here."

He muttered to himself, his tone fluent and confident, brimming with assurance of victory.

All the frustration of bowing and admitting mistakes for days, the resentment of losing money and donating goods, the unwillingness to be controlled and manipulated, and the glaring sight of Li Xuanzhi's prosperous county all vanished at this moment.

The steward beside him bowed and stepped forward, his face full of obsequious joy, and whispered, "Your Excellency is wise! The sudden arrival of the special envoy from the prefecture must be due to the miraculous effect of your letter! Li Xuanzhi has recklessly reformed, illegally opened mines, and violated regulations, committing a grave offense against the court. Today is his death day. Let's see how he can cause trouble afterward!"

Diao Mao nodded slightly, a cold and sinister smile curling at the corner of his mouth, his eyes filled with ruthless calculation.

He spoke calmly, his tone carrying an air of superior confidence: "You think I only filed a lawsuit?"

The official who came today was not an ordinary inspector, but Feng Chongshan, the second-in-command of the Beidi Prefecture.

This man comes from a prestigious family, is conservative and stubborn, and values ​​laws and regulations above all else. He has always despised local officials who arbitrarily make reforms.

"Li Xuanzhi, Li Xuanzhi." Diao Mao stood with his hands behind his back, his eyes filled with ruthlessness.

"You really think you can break the deadlock by binding us and having us plead your case? How naive! Faced with absolute power and connections, your supposedly beneficial policies are nothing but evidence of treason and violation of the law!"

"Today, I'll let you watch as everything you've painstakingly built crumbles before your very eyes! Let's see how you dare point fingers at me, Diao!"

As the cavalry entered the city, the other local gentry excitedly rushed to the vicinity of Fuyu County to watch the spectacle, but they only dared to observe secretly.

After lying low for many days, the moment to turn the tide has finally arrived.

As long as Li Xuanzhi is convicted, dismissed from his post, and investigated, Fuyu County will return to its former state.

They could then regain their lost monopoly on ironware.

Perhaps, they can even take this opportunity to share in all the benefits brought about by the implementation of the new policy.

Inside the county government office, Magistrate Cao watched the iron cavalry rushing towards them from outside the city. His palms instantly broke out in a cold sweat, and his face tightened.

"My lord, the special envoy from the prefecture has arrived in person, with a menacing presence. Judging from his appearance, he has come to demand an explanation!"

Having spent half his life in officialdom, he knew this kind of situation all too well.

The patrol cavalry entered the city in formation, accompanied by armored soldiers. This was not a routine patrol or appeasement; it was the protocol for investigating and prosecuting.

Once the special envoy issues a final ruling, Li Xuanzhi's career, which had lasted for several years, will be ruined, and he may even be imprisoned.

County Magistrate Cao, County Lieutenant Feng, and the two constables all held their breath, extremely tense.

Only Li Xuanzhi sat upright at the table, his expression calm and unwavering from beginning to end.

He slowly put down his pen and looked up at the cavalry outside the window. There was no panic in his eyes, only a calm and composed confidence.

He's been waiting for so long!

This upheaval in the state capital has finally arrived.

Without oversight from higher authorities and suppression from powerful figures, his new policies will forever remain merely county-level measures, unapproved by anyone.

Only by taking advantage of this accountability crisis to publicly refute the claims and present the facts can the millennia-old shackles of prioritizing agriculture over mining be completely broken, allowing the new policy to become a model for the entire prefecture, and subsequently promoted as a precedent by the imperial court!

"It's good that you're here."

Li Xuanzhi slowly rose to his feet, his eyes concealing their sharpness, his demeanor dignified.

"Magistrate Cao, prepare the case files, bring out the records of the new policies, and prepare the petition signed by the people."

"Follow me, open the central gate, and welcome the special envoy!"

His voice was steady and powerful, each word ringing out, piercing through the oppressive atmosphere of the hall and instantly calming everyone's minds.

The main gate of the county government office was wide open, and Li Xuanzhi stepped out, standing in the center of the steps. His expression was calm and composed, neither humble nor arrogant.

A moment later, the cavalry arrived in front of the county government office. The black official carriage landed smoothly, and the curtain was lifted by a servant.

A figure dressed in a scarlet official robe stepped out slowly. He had a middle-aged face, cold and hard eyebrows and eyes, a rigid expression, and exuded the pressure of someone who had been in a high position for a long time and an inhumanly harsh demeanor.

Feng Chongshan glanced at the plaque of the county government office, his gaze sweeping over Li Xuanzhi on the steps, his eyes filled with undisguised scrutiny.

This mere seventh-rank official, who dared to arbitrarily alter regulations and illegally open mines and metallurgical plants within his jurisdiction.

That's utterly arrogant, ignorant, and audacious!

Feng Chongshan landed and stood still without speaking. Instead, the registrar behind him stepped forward and loudly proclaimed:

"Prefectural Governor Feng is inspecting Fuyu County and has come to investigate Magistrate Li Xuanzhi for unauthorized reclamation of wasteland and illegal mining, constituting a violation of regulations and misconduct. All unauthorized personnel are to immediately withdraw!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the atmosphere became even more tense.

The people who were watching from a distance at the street corner felt a tightness in their chests, and they even subconsciously held their breath.

This isn't an inspection; it's clearly a direct and incisive interrogation!

At the back of the crowd, Diao Mao had successfully reunited with a group of local gentry. He watched coldly, a barely suppressed smile playing on his lips.

With the game set as a violation of the rules from the very beginning, Li Xuanzhi has no chance of turning things around today!

On the steps, Li Xuanzhi remained calm, bowing slightly with proper etiquette, neither humble nor arrogant.

"Your humble servant Li Xuanzhi greets Lord Feng. You have come from afar; you must be tired from your journey."

Feng Chongshan nodded slightly, his gaze sharp as a knife, completely ignoring Li Xuanzhi's pleasantries, and immediately began to question:

"Magistrate Li, I have a question for you. The law strictly prohibits the private opening of mines and the manufacture of ironware in local areas, in order to prevent the accumulation of weapons by the people and the resulting chaos. As the magistrate of Fuyu County, instead of being law-abiding, why have you dared to act so recklessly, privately sealing off a public mountain, arbitrarily starting iron smelting, gathering craftsmen, and altering the old laws?"

"Do you know your crime for such an outrageous and reckless act?"

The phrase "you know you are guilty" weighed heavily on everyone present, like a stone falling to the ground.

Cao, the county magistrate, had sweaty palms and subconsciously took half a step forward to speak in his defense, but Li Xuanzhi gently stopped him with a raised hand.

Li Xuanzhi looked up and stared directly at Feng Chongshan without the slightest fear. When he replied, he was even more composed and forceful than Feng Chongshan, the superior who was holding him accountable.