The playboy county magistrate

Li Xuanzhi was looking down at the accounting records when he heard this and looked up.

"They outwardly comply but inwardly defy, delaying and obstructing. They neither disobey orders nor defy commands, yet they gradually erode the effectiveness of the new policies."

With the political situation settled and the imperial edicts being promulgated throughout the land, no one dared to openly defy the new national laws.

However, this group of people who had taken root in the countryside were well-versed in the art of lying low and surviving. They abandoned open verbal confrontation and instead used the softest tactics of delaying to erode the foundation of the new policy.

Avoid making mistakes, overstepping boundaries, and giving others ammunition against you. Yet, policies that benefit the people can be reduced at each level, with less than three-tenths reaching the people.

Over time, the people will become resentful and mistakenly believe that the new policies are all talk and no action, and that the people's hearts will fall apart and the old problems will return to normal without anyone else's intervention.

Magistrate Cao added another sentence, his tone becoming even more solemn.

"I have heard that in recent evenings, the heads of local gentry families in various counties have been secretly traveling together. Although there is no concrete evidence of them gathering crowds to cause trouble or privately discussing state affairs, their movements are secretive and their contacts are frequent, making their behavior highly suspicious."

Li Xuanzhi listened quietly, his eyes deep and unsurprised.

They had been operating for generations, their influence deeply entrenched. Their roots in the local areas were far deeper and more difficult to eradicate than those of the old faction in the imperial court.

"They're getting desperate," Li Xuanzhi said slowly. "Their hereditary privileges have been abolished, and their monopolistic industries have been dismantled. A century of privilege has vanished in an instant, so naturally they're unwilling to surrender."

"I will immediately dispatch men to conduct a thorough patrol and prevent this group from meeting in secret!"

Magistrate Cao bowed and pleaded for permission, as if he would rush out immediately if Li Xuanzhi simply nodded.

"No need to rush." ​​Li Xuanzhi raised his hand to stop him, a hint of a smile flashing in his eyes.

"Forceful suppression will only force them to hide deeper and their disguises to become more convincing. Now that they are eager to coordinate and plot a coup, it is precisely the time when they will expose themselves."

It's better to guide than to block, and better to investigate than to suppress.

Instead of piecemeal efforts that only address the symptoms and not the root cause, it's better to wait for them to band together, fully expose all their remaining forces, and then wipe them out completely.

Gu Pan'er instantly understood his meaning and softly echoed him.

"The lord intends to use this secret collusion to thoroughly eradicate the old malpractices in Pingzhou, so as to pave the way for a new policy for the whole country."

"Yes." Li Xuanzhi nodded, his gaze falling on the thick stack of county and prefectural records on the table.

"Pingzhou is a model for new policies across the land, and we must not leave it with even the slightest hidden danger. Otherwise, when other prefectures and counties follow suit in the future, there will be loopholes and loopholes everywhere."

"Old Cao, on the surface, you continue to manage the affairs of Fuyu County. Secretly, dispatch trusted officials to discreetly investigate any unusual activities by gentry and clans in various counties and villages, including but not limited to gatherings, collusion, and other methods. Record everything in detail and preserve evidence."

"Your humble servant obeys!" Magistrate Cao bowed and accepted the order.

"Pan'er." Li Xuanzhi turned to look at the woman beside him, "You worked through the night to refine the details of the new policy, focusing on four areas: grain subsidies, land surveying, workshop reporting, and tax calculation. Patch up the loopholes, detail the regulations, and clarify the accountability mechanism."

"Okay." Gu Pan'er responded and immediately bent down to pick up the dossier.

"Tonight, I, the woman, will surely present the new rules and regulations."

……

That night, in the western suburbs of Pingzhou, at the Liu Family Villa.

This is the secret gathering place of several long-established clans in Pingzhou, hidden in the mountains and forests, beyond the reach of ordinary officials.

The night was deep, and the candlelight flickered dimly.

The six clan heads sat around a table, their faces gloomy and their expressions somber.

Seated in the center was the head of the Liu family, the most powerful clan in Pingzhou, who was over fifty years old. His eyes were sinister and deep. For decades, he had controlled the local affairs and managed most of the prominent families. He was adept at forbearance, scheming, and making plans in secret.

"The situation in the capital is hopeless. The entire faction of Censor Fan has been wiped out, and there are no more powerful figures to support us."

The old patriarch of the Liu family spoke slowly, his voice low and hoarse, filled with resentment.

"Our generations of accumulated wealth and achievements have been completely destroyed by Li Xuanzhi alone!"

The Wang family patriarch gritted his teeth, "By what right? By what right can a mere youth arbitrarily change the system and cut off our clan's path to survival! No one in the court can protect us, so we can only save ourselves!"

"Self-rescue?" The other man shook his head with a wry smile. "The laws are strict. Li Xuanzhi wields power that only imperial envoys can have, allowing him to act as he sees fit. Plus, the Imperial Guards are stationed in Pingzhou. Who would dare to openly rebel? That would be courting death."

Upon hearing this, everyone fell silent.

"Grain subsidies are being delayed at each level, land surveys are being deliberately vague, and workshop reporting is being deliberately postponed. Li Xuanzhi will soon be able to crack these systems. We need to find a way to solve this once and for all."

The head of the Liu family slowly curled his lips into a wicked smile, "I've heard that this Lord Li Xuanzhi is still a vigorous young man. Men of this age always have inexhaustible energy."

He raised his hand and patted twice, causing the beaded curtain in the inner hall of the villa to sway gently, the sound of the fine jade beads colliding crisp and melodious.

A graceful figure in simple white robes walked out.

The woman wore a pale white gauze dress, her hair was loosely tied up, and she wore only a simple jade hairpin. She wore no heavy makeup and no elaborate ornaments.

With gentle and beautiful eyes and a graceful figure, she possesses the unique charm of a well-bred lady.

She was none other than Liu Yunrou, the eldest granddaughter of the Liu family patriarch.

Liu Yunrou stepped forward gracefully, her figure slender, and slightly curtsied to everyone in the hall. Her demeanor was dignified and poised.

"Grandfather." Her voice was soft and gentle, without a trace of arrogance or spoiledness.

The head of the Liu family looked up at his eldest granddaughter, his words filled with earnestness.

"Yunrou, do you know the predicament of our family today? The Liu family's foundation built over generations and its century of glory have been destroyed by the new government. Now we have lost our backing in the court, the family's foundation is in grave danger, and the lives of hundreds of people in the entire family are hanging by a thread."

Liu Yunrou lowered her eyes and nodded, her long eyelashes trembling slightly. Her expression was gentle, yet carried a perfectly measured hint of worry.

"My granddaughter knows."

"It's good to know." The head of the Liu family said in a deep voice, "Li Xuanzhi achieved success at a young age, and he is upright and incorruptible. Money and power cannot touch him in the slightest. But he is still a young man, full of vigor and passion, and the hardest thing for him is to overcome the hurdle of love."

"Since childhood, you have been well-versed in poetry and literature and are knowledgeable in etiquette. Your appearance and figure are outstanding in Pingzhou. Tomorrow, under the pretext of expressing your gratitude for the new policies and conveying the people's sentiments, you will enter the government office to pay your respects to Li Xuanzhi."

"Serve him closely and speak to him gently. Do not seek immediate success, but simply gradually enter his side and soften his heart."

"Once he becomes biased towards you and shows even the slightest favoritism or indulgence, we can seize on this as leverage to spread rumors, tarnish his reputation, and destroy his integrity."

"As long as Li Xuanzhi has flaws in his personal character, the people's hearts will be divided. No matter how perfect the new policies are, they will be ruined because of him."

One can abide by the laws of the court, and refuse money and power, but the word "love" is the hardest to control.

Once tainted, the integrity and impartiality of the young virtuous minister will completely collapse, and the hearts of millions of people will be utterly shattered.

Upon hearing this, the other family heads in the hall instantly showed joy and repeatedly praised him.

"Master Liu is brilliant! This plan is silent and stealthy, killing without shedding blood!"

"Yes! No matter how strict Li Xuanzhi is with himself, he can't resist the allure of a gentle touch. As long as Miss Liu is near him, I'm sure he'll be tempted!"