The playboy county magistrate

For generations, the gentry of Changping County had been entrenched in the countryside, profiting by annexing private land and concealing farmland, colluding with officials, and indoctrinating the villagers with the fallacy that "the new policy will seize land and the government will distribute the property," intimidating the people into resisting the reform.

The villagers were afraid and dared not accept the new policies, allowing the local gentry to gather crowds to obstruct officials and tear up government documents.

But the people have their own scales in their hearts.

The magistrate of Cao County publicly announced that landless migrants could apply for public land free of charge, be exempt from taxes for three years, and receive government subsidies for farming tools and rice seeds. All public land concealed by local gentry and private land seized by them would be investigated and returned to the people, with every penny going to them.

A written notice, outlining tangible benefits, is far more persuasive than the empty threats from local gentry.

Farmers and landless displaced people in Changping County, who had been exploited by local gentry for years, voluntarily gathered at the county government office to inquire about the details of the new policy. They earnestly requested the government to investigate private land and redistribute arable land equally.

The local gentry of Changping County panicked upon seeing this and were no longer satisfied with mere verbal obstruction. Instead, they gathered all the male members of their clans and led a group of ignorant villagers to storm the township government, forcibly preventing officials from inspecting the land.

But at this moment, the people's hearts have turned to the new government.

The people actively cooperated with the government in collecting evidence, providing evidence one by one of the crimes committed by the gentry in seizing public land, intimidating the people, and resisting the new policies.

Cao, the county magistrate, seized the opportunity to take action, cracking down on more than ten troublesome local gentry clans led by the Wei family in Changping County and confiscating their illegally acquired private farmland of tens of thousands of acres.

Immediately following was the good news of Qinghe County delivered by County Lieutenant Feng himself.

The chaos in Qinghe County began with a strike by merchants and gentry, and the closure of ferry crossings.

Although the Diao family has fallen, the Wang family still exists.

For decades, the Wang and Diao families jointly controlled land and water trade, manipulating prices. They monopolized freight transport, hoarded goods, and reaped exorbitant profits through their monopolistic channels.

This joint effort with two other counties to resist the new policies aims to create panic among the people by striking to cut off supplies and causing prices to skyrocket, thus forcing the court to halt the new policies.

But Li Xuanzhi had already foreseen the disadvantages and made arrangements in advance.

Grain stored in Fuyu County was transported downstream and flooded into Qinghe County overnight. It entered the market at a fair price, filling the market.

The government opened up state-run shops and temporary ferry crossings, allowing merchants from all over the country to trade freely without going through the royal family's channels, thus completely breaking the commercial monopoly.

People had no worries about food and clothing, and prices remained stable. Merchants were freed from the layers of commissions and exploitation by local gentry and clans, and were able to operate freely, making small profits but selling large quantities.

In contrast, the Wang family merchants who led the strike suffered heavy losses in just a few days of closing down, missing out on customers and revenue.

Forcibly blocking the ferry crossing allowed out-of-town merchants to seize business opportunities, completely shaking the foundation of its monopoly.

With profit at their fingertips, merchants are the most pragmatic.

Small and medium-sized businesses were the first to succumb to the pressure, reopening their stores and proactively reporting their business accounts.

The Wang family, operating alone, was unable to achieve their goal, and their meticulously planned strike and closure of the ferry crossing collapsed on their own.

Commerce in Qinghe County has fully recovered, and water and land transportation are unimpeded. Prices are becoming increasingly stable, and people's livelihoods are becoming more secure.

Thus, the rebellion in the three counties of Pingzhou was completely quelled.

"It's just the beginning."

Li Xuanzhi saw things clearly.

The victory at Pingzhou, though seemingly a great one, actually thoroughly enraged the old guard in the imperial court and the gentry and clans throughout the land.

While the overt resistance from the prefectures and counties is clear, the hidden dangers within the imperial court and the coordinated counterattack from the gentry and clans across the country are only just beginning to take shape.

After a moment's thought, Magistrate Cao came up with many ideas.

He stood to the side and spoke softly.

"With the local unrest quelled, the old guard will no longer have any pretext for 'the new policies disturbing the people.' They will inevitably abandon their local struggles and instead gather in the imperial court, fabricating other charges to launch a full-scale counterattack."

Li Xuanzhi nodded slightly. "You're right. The old faction has been lying low for many days, plotting and scheming. They will never accept a complete defeat. A complete victory in Pingzhou will cut off their local lifeline. They will definitely go all out and fight to the death in the court."

Just as Li Xuanzhi had predicted, the capital city was in a state of flux.

Inside the study of Fan Wuwei, the censor of the Censorate, the atmosphere was so oppressive it was suffocating.

Fan Wuwei held the secret report that all three counties of Pingzhou had been defeated. His knuckles gripped the paper tightly, and a sinister and violent aura surged in his eyes.

Seeing his father like this, Fan Wuwei's eldest son thought about some things he had talked about with Li Xuanjing over tea, and finally clenched his fist and couldn't help but offer his advice.

"The new policies have expanded too rapidly, Li Xuanzhi's power is too great, and the people's support is too strong. Li Xuanzhi is young but already enjoys immense imperial favor. If this continues, no one will be able to control him."

"Father, since Li Xuanzhi cannot be charged with the crimes of disturbing the people, causing trouble, or harming the government, then let's change the charge."

Fan Wuwei glanced at his eldest son with some surprise.

His own child was indeed rather dull-witted; otherwise, he wouldn't have been willing to associate with Li Xuanjing, that increasingly impoverished eldest son of a marquis's mansion who hadn't even managed to become a heir.

Now that his eldest son has suddenly come up with an idea, whether it's a genuine breakthrough or just a foolish mistake, he has at least made some progress.

Perhaps this son of mine can see through the surface and come up with a more perfect solution that even a clever person might not be able to think of.

"Oh? Tell me, what crime can be charged?"

"His achievements overshadowed the ruler, and he gained the support of the people to enhance his own prestige."

Fan Wuwei was instantly shocked.

Is this still my own stupid and useless son?

Fan Wuwei's eldest son felt uneasy seeing that his father didn't say a word.

But when she thought about how her father hadn't immediately started cursing, she realized that what she was saying might actually be feasible.

Li Xuanjing is indeed a good brother-in-law. His sister has already helped him solve problems even before she is married into the family. Wouldn't it be even better if they became family in the future?

Young Master Fan composed himself, trying to remain calm, and continued:

"Disturbing the people and disrupting the government are minor offenses, forgivable and correctable. They can win over the hearts of the people while maintaining real power in the region. The new policies, now forming a self-contained system, seem like a good thing, but a slight misstep could cross the line of imperial power. How can Your Majesty be so unafraid?"

Fan Wuwei remained silent for a long time before patting his eldest son on the shoulder and laughing heartily.

"Guards! Immediately deploy your spies and mobilize former officials and nobles in the capital. Tomorrow morning at court, all of them must submit a joint memorial."

"A collective impeachment against Li Xuanzhi for using the guise of the new policies to win over the hearts and minds of the people in the prefectures and counties, cultivate his own power base, and establish a separatist regime in Pingzhou. This is a disaster for the nation and a threat to the imperial power!"

"I don't seek immediate death from a single impeachment, but rather to sow discord within the Emperor's heart. This will strip him of his power and halt his expansionist policies. By halting his outward expansion and confining him to Pingzhou, we can gradually eliminate this major threat in the future!"

Then, he looked at his eldest son with satisfaction, picked up a sign from the desk, and handed it to him.

"Good boy, go and choose whatever you like from Daddy's private stash, don't be shy."

Young Master Fan's face turned red with excitement.

Such treatment was something I'd only experienced when I was very young, clinging to my father's leg and begging for affection. In all these years, when had such good fortune ever befallen me?

Li Xuanjing's brother-in-law is really lucky for him!

Fan Wuwei had no idea that his foolish eldest son had completely become Li Xuanjing's man, to the point that he almost turned the entire Fan family into a "knife" in Li Xuanjing's hands.