The playboy county magistrate

The accompanying prefectural clerk verified the records one by one, and after a moment bowed and reported back:

"My lord, the workshop has strict regulations, clear accounts, no private storage, private sales, or private procurement, the refugees are properly settled, and the artisans are orderly, which is completely consistent with the records in the county government's files."

At this point, all on-site verifications have been completed.

The last trace of doubt in Feng Chongshan's heart completely vanished.

Looking at the bustling workshop before him, a thoughtful look flashed in Feng Chongshan's eyes, and he slowly spoke:

"Upon returning to my prefecture, I immediately joined forces with the governor to submit a two-pronged memorial to the capital. The first memorial detailed the achievements of the new policies in Fuyu County and earnestly requested the court to make an exception and designate Fuyu County as the first pilot area for the new mining and metallurgical policies in the country. The second memorial dismantled the drawbacks of the old laws one by one and earnestly requested the central government to make appropriate adjustments and relax the regulations on government-run mining and metallurgical projects in prefectures and counties that benefit the people and promote industry."

At this point, he looked at Li Xuanzhi, his tone becoming increasingly serious.

"If the new policy is approved, you will be the person who has made the greatest contribution to the reform of the country, and your future will be limitless."

Li Xuanzhi bowed calmly, his expression indifferent:

"I only wish that the new policies will be implemented, that all people will benefit, and that all the poor and impoverished counties in the country can follow suit and escape poverty. I have never sought personal gain or disgrace in my official career."

His words revealed his strategic vision.

Even Feng Chongshan had to admit in his heart that Li Xuan had a good eye for talent and would surely achieve great things in the future.

The prefectural government team completed its inspection and did not linger in Fuyu County.

Feng Chongshan acted decisively. After verifying the facts and making a decision, he led the registrar and the cavalry back to the prefectural capital to prepare a joint memorial with the governor, which would be sent to the capital via two channels.

Before leaving, he didn't forget to specifically remind Li Xuanzhi:

"We must safeguard Fuyu County, consolidate the new policies, await approval from the central government, and never let our guard down."

In the backyard of the county government office, the evening breeze blew through the corridors, and the lamplight flickered.

County Lieutenant Feng, holding the latest urban survey booklet, strode into the house, his expression still showing a hint of cautious tension.

The turmoil and back-and-forth of the past few days had instilled in this veteran official a cautious nature, and he dared not relax his vigilance in the slightest despite the current advantage.

"Sir, the group of gentry who left during the day have been unusually quiet and have stayed indoors since returning home."

"Our informants in the market reported that people continued to come and go from the Diao family mansion after nightfall. They were all unfamiliar faces from out of town, not former servants of the Diao family. Their movements were secretive, and they were deliberately trying to avoid being seen."

Li Xuanzhi stood with his hands behind his back by the window, gazing at the deep night outside, his expression calm and undisturbed.

Surprised?

Not surprising at all.

Diao Mao and his associates had been entrenched in the surrounding counties for generations, with deep roots, extensive connections, and shrewd methods. They were by no means mediocre people who could simply surrender and wait for death once they were defeated.

He will lie low and endure defeat in broad daylight, but he will never willingly accept his demise.

The more desperate the situation, the more ruthless and deadly their counterattacks become.

"Keeping oneself indoors is not an admission of guilt and acceptance of punishment, but a way to gather strength and observe the situation."

Li Xuanzhi spoke slowly, directly pointing out the intricacies of the matter.

"He knew very well that Feng Chongshan's recommendation was just paving the way. What would truly determine his fate was a single official approval from the capital."

The new policies of Fuyu seemed to benefit the people and bring peace, but in reality, they threatened the interests of the gentry and local elites at the bottom of society.

Once fully implemented, the powerful and wealthy families who monopolized minerals and ironware in various regions will have their sources of income cut off and their privileges stripped away.

A joint memorial from a mere prefectural governor and a prefectural governor was far from sufficient in the face of the powerful old forces in the imperial court.

No matter what, Diao Mao has connections and influence in the capital, which is Li Xuanzhi's biggest weakness at present.

County Magistrate Feng frowned and asked in a low voice:

"My lord, shall I immediately increase manpower to closely monitor the Diao family's movements? If there is any unusual activity, arrest and interrogate them immediately?"

"No need," Li Xuanzhi shook his head slightly. "To act now would be a poor strategy."

"Everyone knows that Diao Mao is now in a weak position, and the local gentry are demoralized. This is the time when he is most cautious and fearful. If we rashly arrest people and deliberately search for evidence, he will only seize the opportunity to accuse us of abusing our power to oppress the local gentry and deliberately framing the old clans, which will only increase the criticism in the court."

County Magistrate Feng suddenly realized what had happened and quickly nodded, "This humble official was foolish and almost ruined a great undertaking."

"Just observe and see how things develop." Li Xuanzhi's tone was calm, yet every word was firm.

"His frequent contact with outsiders tonight is nothing more than a desperate struggle. He urgently sent a message to the Marquis's mansion in the capital, asking powerful figures to intervene and obstruct the approval of the new policy, or even fabricate new charges in an attempt to overturn the situation in the court."

This is Diao Mao's only chance to turn things around.

If they could persuade the Jingzhong Earl's Office to join forces with conservative ministers to launch an attack, impeaching and pressuring Li Xuanzhi on the grounds of "disrupting ancestral systems, creating the source of disaster, and instigating chaos in the mining industry," they could suppress the state government's memorial, reject the new policies of Fuyu, and even hold Li Xuanzhi accountable for arbitrarily changing old systems and misleading the people.

No matter how impressive the local achievements are, they can't withstand the power struggles at the imperial court.

County Magistrate Feng's heart sank, his face filled with worry: "Sir, if the old faction in the capital really launches a collective attack, and the prefectural government's memorials are suppressed, then the foundation of our hard-won new policies..."

"It won't be abolished." Li Xuanzhi turned around. "The foundation is rooted in the hearts of the people, and the achievements are evident in the county. It cannot be erased by a few criticisms from the court. At most, the approval will be temporarily suspended."

Li Xuanzhi paused, then smiled and said, "But we can't just wait passively."

He strode to the desk, spread out a blank sheet of Xuan paper, picked up his brush, dipped it in ink, and moved with unhurried ease.

No matter how impressive the local achievements are, they cannot withstand the infighting among factions in the imperial court.

Without the support of high-level officials, even the best new policies will only become victims of power struggles among the elite.

Li Xuanzhi put down his brush, blew the ink dry, and gently stroked the paper with his fingertips, his eyes deep and calm:

"You can suppress memorials, but you can't suppress the general trend. You can delay the approval process, but you can't delay the current situation."

"The court's delays are merely an attempt to deplete the workshops' resources and erode public morale."

Li Xuanzhi slightly curled the corners of his mouth, "But the new policies that are suspended in the air are never the ones that can afford the most, not the county government, but the gentry of the whole country."

For a century, the old system fostered a wealth of nobles throughout the world through its monopoly on ore and iron and control over resources.

As long as the new policies of Fuyu remain uncertain, the forces lying dormant in various regions will continue to live in fear.

While some cling to old interests and desperately obstruct reforms, others eye the benefits of new policies, waiting for an opportunity to align themselves with the reform movement.

A crossroads of interests is always the beginning of a split between factions.

"Compile a concise booklet on the new furnace body and simplified iron smelting process, without focusing on the core essence, only recording the basic improvement methods. Tomorrow, post it publicly outside the county government office, allowing all the people of the county and craftsmen from all walks of life to view and copy it."

Upon hearing this, County Magistrate Feng's expression changed drastically: "My lord! You mustn't!"

"The new iron smelting method is the core of the new policy and the foundation of our existence! Once it is made public, craftsmen from surrounding counties and merchants from other places will all follow suit. The technology we have painstakingly developed will spread throughout the world in the blink of an eye, and we will no longer have any unique advantage!"

Holding onto proprietary technology is the tacitly accepted way to protect oneself. Revealing it publicly is tantamount to cutting off one's own trump card.

Li Xuanzhi shook his head slightly, his eyes revealing a far-sighted plan far beyond that of ordinary people.

"Holding the trump card in one's hand is an advantage for a county. Opening up and sharing it is the trend of the whole country."

"Once the new iron smelting method spreads, all the barren lands in the surrounding prefectures and counties will be inspired to develop mining and industry. At that time, the powerful and wealthy people in the capital who want to stick to the old system and block the new policies will no longer be facing me, a mere seventh-rank county magistrate, but countless county officials, artisans at the bottom of the country, and poor people who want to get out of poverty and become rich."

"One person's reform is presumptuous, but reform by ten thousand people is the inevitable trend."

Oh, and find a few more people who are good with words. Male or female, it doesn't matter, I need them now.