The playboy county magistrate

The three counties worked together, and the three routes launched a simultaneous attack.

The methods were swift and decisive, the rhythm synchronized, and the coordination impeccable. This was by no means a sudden upheaval by local gentry; it was clearly a well-planned counterattack by the old guard in the capital and the local aristocracy.

They had a thorough understanding of the rules of the court and had also accurately predicted Li Xuanzhi's weaknesses.

Although the new policies have already achieved results in Fuyu County, they are still in a state of instability and public sentiment is uncertain in other counties within Pingzhou.

If the chaos in the three counties drags on for a few days, prices will fluctuate, artisans will lose their jobs, and villagers will live in fear. The old faction can then immediately assemble the censors to impeach Li Xuanzhi for disturbing the state's order.

County Magistrate Cao and County Lieutenant Feng stepped forward together, their faces tense, and hurriedly bowed, requesting permission:

"My lord! Unrest has broken out in three counties simultaneously. If it is not quelled quickly, the chaos will surely spread throughout the entire prefecture. At that time, public sentiment will be unsettled, and it will be even more difficult to control! Please, my lord, make a decision immediately!"

Li Xuanzhi stood before the steps, his eyes showing no sign of panic.

The chaos in the three counties may seem like a dangerous interconnected problem, but in reality, each county has its own shortcomings and fatal flaws.

Li Xuanzhi slowly raised his hand, his voice steady and powerful, and immediately issued the order.

"Magistrate Cao, the gentry of Changping County rely on their generations of merit and collusion with officials to establish their power by concealing land and oppressing the villagers. You should personally go there. This trip does not require immediate accountability or forceful suppression. First, travel throughout the countryside to appease the people, and then post notices to publicize the details of the land redistribution policy and the new tax exemption policy."

Upon hearing this, Magistrate Cao bowed and accepted the order: "Understood! I will depart immediately!"

Li Xuanzhi then looked at Gu Pan'er, his tone solemn.

"The unrest in Yuanshan County is not due to popular uprising, but to corrupt accounting. The Jiang family uses their ill-gotten gains to support their cronies and control the artisans. Their factory closures and shutdowns are simply a pretext to use the artisans' unemployment as an excuse to blame the new policies for disturbing the people. Your father has had a good reputation in various places for many years, so he must have connections. Find a way to get the real accounting details, and be sure to pay attention to your own safety."

After watching Gu Pan'er walk out, Li Xuanzhi turned to look at County Magistrate Feng.

"The strike by Qinghe merchants and gentry to block the flow of goods is nothing more than an attempt to create the illusion of soaring prices and widespread hardship. You should personally lead a team to allocate the grain stored in the capital recently, and send it downstream to Qinghe County to stabilize prices."

"All businesses that operate normally will be exempt from taxes for three months under the new policy. Anyone who gathers to block the ferry crossing or deliberately causes trouble will be immediately arrested and placed on file for investigation, and will be held accountable in the autumn. By breaking the monopoly with supplies and stabilizing commerce with government orders, we can resolve the predicament of Qinghe County without firing a single shot."

Meanwhile, in the secret chamber of the Imperial Censorate in the capital.

The old-fashioned nobles behind Fan Wuwei, who had been feeling stifled and depressed for days, finally relaxed and all of them showed joy.

"Fuyu County can be stabilized by the support of the people, but now three counties within the same prefecture are in turmoil simultaneously. I'd like to see how this young brat Li Xuanzhi will clear his name of the charge of 'disrupting the people with the new policies'!"

The crowd echoed his sentiments, their killing intent palpable.

Once the chaos in Pingzhou has fermented, the situation can be settled in one fell swoop, completely crushing the momentum of reform.

"No rush."

"This time, I will make Li Xuanzhi fail under the new policies I have implemented. He will be utterly disgraced, never to rise again!"

Pingzhou, Yuanshan County.

The city gates were tightly shut, and all the workshops were at rest. The entire county was deathly still, and the people were filled with anxiety.

Inside the main courtyard of the Jiang family, the lights were on.

"A mere fifth-rank official, with only a piece of paper and an official robe, dares to shake the foundations of our centuries-old aristocratic family in the remote mountains?"

"Keep inciting the artisans to riot and refuse to open the workshop! I want to see just how capable Li Xuanzhi really is!"

On the official road outside the city, a horse-drawn carriage steadily made its way towards Yuanshan County.

Inside the carriage, Gu Pan'er blushed as she looked at Li Xuanzhi.

"My lord, didn't you entrust this matter to me and my father? Why did you come here personally?"

Gu Pan'er wanted to ask if they had come specifically to keep her company, worried that she might be in danger.

Li Xuanzhi smiled and put down the book in his hand.

"Of these three counties, Yuanshan County is the most dangerous. As the magistrate of Pingzhou, I can't very well let you and your daughter face the danger directly. If I draw the fire in front, it will be safer and more reliable for you and your daughter to carry out your mission."

Since ancient times, wealth has been a powerful motivator.

If Li Xuanzhi hadn't reviewed the Diao family's accounts and discovered some details, he wouldn't have known that the Jiang family in Yuanshan County was the most deeply hidden one.

They thought the Diao family was the most powerful, but little did they know that most of their wealth had returned to the Jiang family through various means.

The Diao family was nothing more than a living target, used to shield the Jiang clan from disaster.

How could he possibly trust the Gu family, this tough nut to crack, to be left to just the father and daughter?

"My lord, we've arrived."

Tang Zheng called out from outside, and Li Xuanzhi, wearing a new official robe, got off the carriage. His gaze swept over the silent county town, his eyes clear and calm.

"Jiang's plan is to stall."

He spoke in a low voice, then added, "If we drag this out until the people are completely agitated, until the old guard in the capital gathers all the pretexts to force the new policies to a standstill, they will have a chance of winning as long as the chaos remains unresolved."

"Enter the city!"

The county magistrate of Yuanshan County was already waiting in front of the yamen, looking anxious and pale.

He was nominally a county official, but in reality, he was constantly sidelined by the Jiang family. The administration and the people's livelihood were entirely controlled by the aristocratic clans; he was essentially a puppet.

Upon hearing that the prefectural governor was coming in person, he dared not be negligent in the slightest. Yet, he was wary of the Jiang family's power at every turn, and his every move was filled with timidity.

"This humble servant greets Lord Li."

Li Xuanzhi did not criticize him harshly, but spoke calmly.

"Issue my decree to immediately summon all ironworkers, workshop managers, and representatives of local gentry in the county government hall for a meeting. Also, seal up the Jiang family's workshop ledgers, tax receipts, and material inflow and outflow records for the past ten years. Not a single document is to be touched, and not a single word is to be altered."

Upon hearing this, the county magistrate froze and instinctively tried to dissuade him.

"My lord, you mustn't! The Jiang family is powerful. If we forcibly seal the tents, it could escalate the situation and cause a civil uprising! The artisans are currently in a state of unrest; the slightest mistake could lead to disaster!"

"A civil unrest?" Li Xuanzhi's tone was slightly cold.

"The real troublemakers are not the new policies, but the aristocratic gentry who monopolize private interests, oppress the people, and deceive officials. You, as an official appointed by the court, are responsible for this region and its people. Instead of addressing the abuses and bringing peace to the people, you are filled with fear and allow the aristocratic families to coerce the entire county. You have neglected governance and are unworthy of this official robe!"

The magistrate's face flushed red, and he lowered his head in shame, daring not to say another word. He could only bow and accept the order, hurriedly passing it on.

Half an hour later, a crowd gathered inside and outside the county government hall.

Hundreds of ironworkers gathered below the hall, most of them with fear in their eyes.

Several elders of the Jiang clan and the workshop manager stood in front of the hall, dressed in luxurious clothes, with arrogant expressions and eyes full of disdain and certainty.

They stood calmly, as if confident that the authorities would find no flaws in their story.

The Jiang clan chief did not attend in person, but sent a clansman to handle the situation on his behalf. This clearly demonstrated his condescending attitude and contempt for the government.

In his eyes, the young, newly appointed governor, a frail female accountant, was not worthy of his personal confrontation.

The atmosphere in the courtroom was tense and stagnant.

Li Xuanzhi sat upright in the main seat, his gaze sweeping over everyone in the hall, his calm and powerful voice resounding throughout the entire courtroom.