fake gentry

Chaisang County Government Office.

Tao Mao stood at the door, looking around for a while.

He wasn't wearing his official robes today, only a plain silk robe with wide sleeves. When he saw the oxcart with a canopy that he had given him appear, he immediately went to greet it.

"My dear Xie, it's been so long."

The bailiff had originally thought that only a high-ranking official like a prefect would personally greet the county magistrate, but he was surprised to find that it was an incredibly young scholar. County Magistrate Dong even personally put down a stool for him, which made him secretly amazed.

Who is this child?

Yes.

The Xie family son who recently became famous in Huangshiyan.

No wonder, no wonder.

The servants, realizing what had happened, immediately stood up in neat rows.

Tao Mao felt extremely proud and warmly welcomed Xie Hong and Xie Shang into the second hall.

In all honesty, no one in the local gentry or the gentry who lived in Chaisang looked down on the Tao family. Even his father, Tao Kan, was looked down upon, let alone him, a poor county magistrate.

It wasn't to the point that the government's orders were ineffective, after all, the Tao family's influence was still quite strong. But being obedient and being convinced are two completely different things. This did not prevent even the lowest-ranking aristocrat from cursing the Tao family while obediently following their orders.

That's how contradictory and bizarre it is.

Tao Mao was a humble and unassuming person, but frankly, he was mediocre and lacked political acumen, which made him more likely to be looked down upon.

But now, the most outstanding gentleman of the Xie family of Chenjun has personally come to visit him and even brought a gift with him. How could he not be excited?

He had long heard of Xie Shang, who was the next clan leader of the Xie clan of Chen Commandery and was quite well-known in Jiankang.

Upon entering the hall, guests and hosts took their seats. Xie Shang subtly surveyed the room, a slight smile playing on his lips.

The furnishings inside the hall were somewhat peculiar.

It's simple in style, yet it's furnished with high-quality decorations. The five thousand words of Lao Tzu hanging on the wall, though not written by a famous author, are still quite presentable.

However, it is really inappropriate to hang it in the county government office.

After the guests and host were seated and exchanged greetings, Tao Mao ordered a servant to serve tea, and Xie Hong then introduced Xie Shang to Tao Mao.

"Master Tao, this is my cousin, Shang, the son of Youyu Gong."

Tao Mao had already learned of Xie Shang's existence from Dong Xuan, and hurriedly bowed to Xie Shang. However, Xie Shang followed the proper etiquette for visiting between gentry families, which greatly excited Tao Mao.

He dreamed of being treated as a member of the aristocracy.

Xie Hong chuckled inwardly. "Magistrate Tao, your dream will probably come true in another year or two. Your father has been planning this for many years."

Xie Hong deliberately brought Xie Shang along today. Although Xie Shang is somewhat famous, his other identity is the most important asset today.

Today, Xie Hong brought Xie Shang along, which is to tell Tao Mao that the Xie clan of Chen Commandery supports what I am about to do. The eldest son of the Xie clan, the next clan leader, is accompanying me; even Tao Kan must show him due respect.

"Master Tao, I should have visited you sooner, but I have been busy on the mountain these past few days and have not been able to come."

Xie Hong casually recounted the visit of Wang Huzhi, Lu Shi, and others, inadvertently revealing a big secret that completely stunned Tao Mao.

Even though Xie Hong has already made a name for himself, it's not enough to make the noble families of both the north and south bow down to him all at once, is it?

"Xie Lang, the Wang family of Langya, the Lu family of Wujun, the Shan family of Taishan, and the He family of Kuaiji—these are all prestigious families. The rest are also respectable families. Have they all truly joined Xie Lang's Heaven and Earth Society?"

Xie Hong smiled without saying a word, and Xie Shang then gave a general account of the association's formation, fundraising, and preparations for relief. Tao Mao listened for a long time without making a sound.

He's mediocre, not stupid.

Moreover, he was Tao Kan's son, and had traveled all over the country with his father since childhood, seeing many grand occasions.

A group of young men from noble families in the north and south gathered around a sixteen-year-old boy, formed a society, and raised four million coins overnight.

He had lived half his life and this was the first time he had ever heard of such a thing.

The distinction between the gentry and commoners was not only reflected in social status, but also in wealth.

The poor and needy are poorly clothed and starving, while the aristocratic are extravagantly luxurious.

As the magistrate of Chaisang County, he felt this particularly deeply.

For example, if a third-class nobleman went on a trip to Mount Lu, the amount of cloth wasted in just one day setting up curtains, laying out the floor, and using partitions would be enough to clothe twenty people for a year.

They would simply throw away the cloth when it got dirty, but a self-sufficient farmer might not even be able to afford a new set of clothes made of ramie cloth all year round.

Xie Hong was able to raise millions of dollars with just one sentence.

Is four million coins a small amount? If converted into soldiers' rations, it would only be enough to support two hundred elite soldiers for a year.

But is four million a lot of money?

As Xie Hong said, he planned to set up five soup kitchens in Jiangzhou, providing two meals of soup every day, along with some straw sandals, brown clothes, and even salt. If all of these were used to relieve the refugees, it would be enough to save tens of thousands of people.

So here's the question.

Once these soup kitchens are set up, thousands, or even tens of thousands, of refugees from Jiangzhou will flock to them. Where will these refugees end up?

Tao Mao finally understood what Xie Hong's visit meant, and his mind went blank.

"Thank you, my love..."

Tao Mao looked at Xie Hong, tears welling up in his eyes.

Chaisang County is a vital transportation hub in Jiangzhou, with an official road passing through the city and a ferry crossing just outside. Normally, gentry and noble families frequently traveled there. What would happen if thousands of refugees flooded into Chaisang and had no food or shelter?

Xie Hong smiled at Tao Mao and said, "Master Tao, I know your difficulties. I have come to your door today to discuss with you. The Heaven and Earth Society will provide grain, manpower, and supplies. You only need to do three things to receive unexpected benefits."

"What's good... oh no, which three items?"

Xie Shang almost burst out laughing, and Tao Mao's old face flushed red.

Xie Hong turned around and glared at Xie Shang before launching into a long, rambling speech.

"Firstly, I hope that Lord Tao will designate a place outside the city as a temporary place for refugees. I guarantee that the refugees will not enter the city, nor will they disturb the passing scholars. They will only be settled in a designated place outside the city."

"Secondly, please ask Lord Tao to send his constables to maintain order. They only need to patrol the resettlement area daily to prevent anyone from taking advantage of the chaos to cause trouble."

"Thirdly, register and record them. The refugees are all poor and lowly, and many are even of low social status. If Lord Tao can get them to stay and cultivate the wasteland, and then register them in the county, they will be the source of Lord Tao's future taxes. As for those who do not want to stay, your father, Lord Shiheng, also needs soldiers. Let them rest for a few days and then send them to Guangzhou."

Tao Mao stared blankly at Xie Hong, remaining silent for a long time.

How did that person's head grow like that?

A huge problem turned into a huge blessing.

But he was still worried that he would have to take responsibility if things got out of control.

"Now that you mention it, Master Xie, this matter is indeed feasible, but... with thousands of refugees gathering outside the city, what if someone harbors malicious intentions and takes advantage of the situation to incite a mutiny and wreak havoc on the local area? If the imperial court investigates, I, as the county magistrate, cannot bear the consequences." Tao Mao looked pitifully at Xie Hong: "The gathering of refugees is a matter of life and death; at best, I will lose my post, at worst, I will be exiled. What advice do you have for me, Master Xie?"

Upon hearing this, Dong Xuan, who had been silent, also changed his expression. He had just become the county magistrate and hadn't even settled into his new position yet; he certainly didn't want to end up being exiled.

He knew Tao Mao well; he was usually very cautious and steady. But the fact that he spoke so frankly today showed that he was indeed tempted, yet also had many concerns.

Xie Hong remained calm, picked up his teacup, took a sip, and looked up at Tao Mao: "Master Tao, if I may be so bold as to ask, what is the purpose of your appointment as county magistrate?"

Tao Mao was taken aback.

For what?

It's just so that my father, who has fathered more than a dozen sons, will look at me more often.