The playboy county magistrate

"Tomorrow morning, all these accounts will be copied and posted throughout the city."

Li Xuanzhi's fingertips brushed across the ledger as he issued orders with clear and logical reasoning.

"Every income and expenditure, every profit and loss, will be made public. This will allow the people of Fuyu County, and all those watching from the sidelines, to see the true nature of the new government."

"Yes." Gu Pan'er responded, her gaze falling on the stack of workshop anomaly records on the table. She frowned slightly and gently reminded them.

"Sir, there have been unusual occurrences at the workshop tonight. Several migrant workers have been colluding with others to deliberately incite disputes among the craftsmen. When I checked the work roster, I discovered that these people were all recent temporary workers. They have no fixed place of origin, no guarantors, and their behavior is highly suspicious."

"I have compiled a separate list, noting their entry date and movement history, for adults to check."

After she finished speaking, she handed over a separately transcribed list, with neat handwriting and clear clues.

Li Xuanzhi took it and looked at it; a glint of light gradually gathered in his eyes.

Gu Pan'er not only sorted out the accounts, but also carefully noticed the personnel changes in the workshop, and silently helped him sort out the clues of the troublemakers. Her meticulousness made up for the oversight of Magistrate Cao and Lieutenant Feng during their inspection.

"You've observed very carefully." Li Xuanzhi looked up at her, his tone warmer.

"These people are pawns planted by the other side to disrupt things."

Gu Pan'er said softly, "This humble woman doesn't understand the power struggles in the court, nor does she understand the scheming of the local gentry. But this humble woman knows that Your Excellency is wholeheartedly devoted to the people, and your new policies bring benefits to every household. We must not let these despicable people ruin them."

Her words were simple, yet every word came from the heart.

Watching the young magistrate calmly arranging the layout under the lamplight, Gu Pan'er's feelings grew stronger, but she could only keep them deep in her heart.

Knowing the vast difference in their social status, she dared not harbor any unrealistic ambitions. She only wished to remain by his side, offering silent assistance, which would bring her peace of mind.

Li Xuanzhi naturally noticed the sincerity and hidden tenderness in her eyes, but he didn't point it out, only gently instructing her:

"It's late and the dew is heavy. You've been working hard for days on end, so please get some rest. Tomorrow, the accounts will be published, and I'll need you to oversee the process and check everything to prevent anyone from deliberately altering or copying them."

"This humble woman obeys."

Gu Pan'er curtsied slightly and slowly withdrew. As she left the study, she couldn't help but glance back at the ever-burning lamp.

The figure under the lamplight was tall and serene, remaining unmoved even amidst the surrounding wind and rain.

She sighed softly in her heart, all her admiration turning into a silent certainty.

As long as he is safe and well, she will do anything for him willingly.

……

A night passes in the blink of an eye.

As dawn broke.

In the early morning, before Fuyu County had fully awakened, the city gates were already bustling with activity.

The notices, hastily prepared overnight by the county yamen runners, were all posted on the walls, the white sheets of paper covering the entire surface. The densely packed account entries were clear, straightforward, and easy to read.

In previous years, government announcements were always vague and general, and the common people never understood them.

But today is different. Gu Pan'er has carefully sorted out the accounts, abandoning all the official and obscure language. The entries are simple and the numbers are clear, making the income and expenditure and profit and loss clear at a glance.

The amount invested in land reclamation, the output of ironware, the wages of craftsmen, the surplus of the county treasury, and the amount of benefits and concessions to the people were all made public without any concealment.

People who came to the market early in the morning, as well as vendors and people from all over who had come here recently to study and make a living, all stopped to watch.

"I understand now! The workshop not only didn't deficit the county treasury, but it actually has a surplus every month!"

"It turns out the rumors were all false! The government not only didn't spend any money or grain, but also saved up funds for disaster relief and helping displaced people!"

"The claim of increased taxes after the autumn harvest is pure fabrication! Look at this account; every item is designed to benefit the people!"

After the public uproar, complete clarity followed.

The rumors that had been circulating in secret for days were instantly refuted by the written evidence.

At the same time, the new joint guarantee system was fully implemented within the workshop.

All suspicious outsiders were registered and kept under individual supervision. There were no arrests, convictions, or punishments. Only detailed records were kept, and all traces of disputes, disturbances, and instigations were recorded.

All the pawns that Diao Mao had painstakingly planted were locked away in the evidence overnight.

They wanted to create chaos and leave room for doubt, but instead they helped Li Xuanzhi solidify the ironclad evidence that the new policies were strictly regulated and that all the troubles were deliberately caused by external forces.

Inside the Diao family mansion, a trusted confidant who had been gathering information that morning hurriedly returned, his face pale, and staggered inside.

"Master! It's bad! The county government has made all the accounts public, and the rumors have been completely debunked! The workshop regulations have been rectified overnight, and all the people we planted are now under surveillance. There's not even a single loophole left for them to cause trouble!"

Diao Maogang had just finished washing up when he heard this. The towel in his hand suddenly fell to the ground, and his face turned ashen.

After planning for several days and following instructions from the capital, he had exhausted all his resources to create a chaotic situation that he thought was an unsolvable, insidious trap, but Li Xuanzhi quietly resolved it overnight.

The minor disturbances did not escalate, and public criticism did not arise. Instead, they provided the other side with an excellent opportunity to build momentum through concrete evidence.

"Overnight...stabilizing accounts, stabilizing employment, stabilizing public sentiment..."

Diao Mao gritted his teeth, his eyes filled with fear and helplessness.

Just how meticulous are this person's methods?

He thought he had found a loophole in the rules and grasped the weakness of the new policy. In the end, he realized that every step of his calculations had been anticipated by the other party.

The covert maneuver failed once again.

In the county government office study, sunlight streamed through the windows, illuminating the neatly arranged account books on the desk.

Li Xuanzhi gazed at the growing clamor of voices outside the city, his expression calm and undisturbed.

This is just the first wave of covert struggle that has broken the deadlock.

The old guard in the capital, forced into a corner, will never give up.

If one attempt to disrupt the situation fails, even more ruthless and underhanded tactics will inevitably follow.

Li Xuanzhi knew better than anyone that the rumors circulating in the streets and the commotion in the workshops were merely a pretext for his opponents to test his strength.

The old faction, having failed twice in their attempts to sabotage the situation, will never give up.

They have already figured out their modus operandi of stabilizing public sentiment, adhering to regulations, and emphasizing evidence. Their next move will undoubtedly be a decisive one that bypasses public opinion and seals off the charges.

As the daytime hustle and bustle subsided, the county government office became exceptionally quiet in the afternoon.

Gu Pan'er did not rest for even a moment.

Although the public disclosure of the accounts has reassured the public, she knows that in such a critical situation, no oversight is permissible.

Alone in the accounting room, she meticulously reviewed and verified every single income and expenditure slip, material ledger, and ironware sales receipt from the past few days. She marked, filed, and sealed every minor discrepancy and every instance of material loss separately.

She was still dressed in plain clothes, bent over her desk with her head down, her slender yet steady fingers holding the pen.

Despite the late nights and hard work, faint dark circles have appeared under his eyes, but his gaze remains clear and focused, without a trace of fatigue or perfunctoriness.

Others only saw his effortless success and triumphant victory. Only she, who stayed by his side under the lamp every day, knew that behind every moment of his composure lay meticulous planning and the immense pressure he bore alone.

She was of lowly status and powerless to shield him from the storms of the court or the oppression of the powerful. All she could do was guard this small tent and prevent any filth from tarnishing his reputation.