At midnight, a big event happened in Zhongling County.
Nearly a hundred well-equipped "bandits" rushed to the city walls and broke into the city for the first time after a "battle" with the officers and soldiers. Immediately, there was a lot of beating, smashing, looting and burning.
Almost all the wealthy merchants in the city were attacked. Although they also resisted, the ordinary servant Ding Huyuan was no match for this group of bandits. In the end, every household suffered heavy losses, and some even had their heads killed. .
This sudden catastrophe did not last long. In less than an hour, the bandits left the county town shouting and screaming, threatening to come back when they ran out of money.
There were cries and curses, and the whole Zhongling City stayed awake all night.
It wasn't until the early morning of the next day that the wealthy businessmen who had suffered losses reluctantly cleaned up the mess at home and went to the county government office to ask for an explanation.
"My son! You died so miserably! My father will definitely kill the gangster himself to avenge you!!"
"Where is Magistrate Wang?! We want to see him!!"
"What do the officers and soldiers do for food?! They can't even deal with dozens of bandits?!"
"Don't worry, Master! The slave family will never let you die in such a painful way!"
"Uuuu, my family property..."
"Dong-dong-dong! Dang-dong-dong!"
The Dengwen drum at the gate of the county government office was almost broken by a hammer, and more and more people gathered in the open space outside the gate.
However, if someone is interested, it is not difficult to see that all those who came to complain to the officials were the wealthy families in the city, and there were no ordinary people.
Of course, this is also very reasonable. After all, it is not easy for bandits to go into the city and rob them. They will definitely not waste their time on a small shop with little profit.
"Squeak~"
Amid the earth-shattering wails of the crowd, the gate of the county government office was finally pushed open by two government officials with bruises and swollen faces. However, the person standing behind the door was not the county magistrate, but an old man with white hair.
"Master! Where is Magistrate Wang!"
Immediately, someone asked loudly: "It's such a big deal that bandits have entered the city! Don't tell us that he doesn't know!"
"Let Mr. Wang come out! We want to ask him for an explanation face to face!"
"Does he just want to be a coward? If this matter cannot be resolved, we will file a lawsuit with the state government!"
"Everyone! Everyone! Hear from me first!"
Facing all the doubts, the white-haired old man shouted in a deep voice with "sadness" on his face: "Mr. Wang, he personally led the troops to fight with the bandits last night, but unfortunately he was wounded by the bandit's palm. At this time, he really didn't even get out of bed. No!"
"Just tell me if you have anything to do!"
"What's the matter? Do you even need to ask?!"
Someone shouted sternly: "Of course we want the Yamen to compensate us for our losses last night! We also need to send troops to arrest all the gangsters who committed the crime!"
"right!"
"That's right!"
This person's statement immediately received a response, and the white-haired master was not in a hurry to speak. He waited until everyone was tired of shouting before saying with a wry smile:
"Everyone, you are all from Zhongling County, and you should know the situation in this county best."
"The banditry has been going on for years. If the yamen could really suppress them, how could they wait until today?"
"Actually, the bandits have never entered the city before. It's not because they are afraid of the government. It's just that we are lucky!"
"But now the villages around the county have been raided by them. I'm afraid that the county will be invaded by bandits from time to time in the future..."
The master's words were not only a complaint, but also conveyed a very clear message——
The government can't control this banditry, so just do whatever you want.
Of course, everyone could not agree to such an irresponsible attitude, and the angry rebuke became even louder than before.
"What?! Is this what the Yamen told us?!"
"Master Wang, as the parent official of Zhongling! Are you going to put the people in dire straits like this? It is simply the greatest absurdity in the world!"
"Hmph! Folks! Since Mr. Wang doesn't care, the worst we can do is go to the state government and file a complaint!"
"..."
Listening to the threatening words, the white-haired master shook his head helplessly, sighing in his heart that good people are bullied by others, and good horses are ridden by others.
It is true that people sue officials in other places, but at least they are done secretly. There is no such thing as the current situation where they dare to threaten openly.
However, this cannot be wronged by others. If I want to blame it, I can only blame myself for being too weak and thinking too much about the "people" in everything...
Keeping Wei Changtian's words in mind, the master waited for a while, feeling that the time was almost up, and then he cupped his hands to everyone and said helplessly:
"Everyone, I won't hide anything from you even now."
"Actually, you don't need to file a complaint. The county magistrate feels that he has failed the folks in Zhongling and is ready to resign and return to his hometown."
"Once Mr. Wang leaves, it will take at least a year and a half before the next county magistrate comes. And even if the new magistrate comes, will he definitely be able to defeat this bandit?"
"Everyone, please listen to my advice."
"I'm afraid there will be no peace in Zhongling County from now on. You... better pack your things and leave as soon as possible!"
"..."
This time, there was no noise, no anger, no dissatisfaction.
After the master said these few words, all the people blocking the door were dumbfounded.
How could they have imagined that the tall and thin magistrate who never loses his temper would actually resign and leave like this!
There is no need for them to sue the state government, they will just stop doing it!
But the county magistrate can leave, but they can't!
These people's family fortunes are all in Zhongling. Who would be willing to leave the good life they already have and go to a new place where they are unfamiliar with and start over?
But if you don't leave... will you have to wait here for the bandits to rob and kill you again and again?
"The county magistrate can't leave! I, I am willing to donate money to suppress the bandits!"
I don't know who suddenly shouted, and after a brief silence, there was a chorus of responses.
"Yes, yes! Mr. Wang cannot resign! My Liu family is also willing to donate money!"
"Didn't the county magistrate say before that as long as you have money, you can ask the state government to send troops to suppress the bandits? Let's collect the money! We must not give up Zhongling County to the bandits!"
"That's right! A good official like Magistrate Wang is hard to find in the world! My Jia family is also willing to take money!"
"Wanchang Mihang is also willing!"
"For my dead son! I will donate too!"
"We all donate! We all donate..."
"..."
The scene in front of the county government office suddenly changed. A group of people who had just been indignant and demanding explanations instantly turned into good citizens full of social responsibility, and they all rushed to express their willingness to donate money to suppress the bandits.
The master looked at all this and marveled at Mr. Wei's clever calculation, but there was a look of embarrassment on his face.
"Everyone, this is just... that's all! Then I will inform the county magistrate to make a decision..."
"Master! You must persuade the county magistrate not to resign!"
"Yes! Money is easy to negotiate! You can never resign from this position!"
"I was not willing to donate money to suppress the bandits before because I was stupid! Please tell the magistrate that we have realized our mistake..."
"Okay, okay, I will tell you the truth..."
The white-haired master was dealing with the crowd while waving to the government servant next to him.
Upon seeing this, the latter immediately retreated quietly, and soon a horseman came out of the back gate of the county government office and headed straight to the south of the city.
…
A quarter of an hour later.
On the official road in the south of the city, more than a hundred soldiers in green armor stood tall and erect, while the thin county magistrate knelt down in front of Liang Zhen and Wei Changtian with tears in his eyes. In the end, it took several people to help him up.
"Master Liang! Young Master..."
"Old man, I really don't know what to say. Such a great kindness and kindness will definitely be remembered by the people of Zhongling..."
"Hahaha, Mr. Wang, there's no need to be polite, it's just a matter of effort."
Liang Zhen laughed twice, and it was obvious that he was in a good mood: "Since those wealthy businessmen are willing to donate money, it's time for us to set off. There is no need for Mr. Wang to send any more gifts. We will meet again in the future."
"Master Liang... I have another unkind request."
The thin county magistrate looked at Wei Changtian and asked very solemnly: "Forgive me for being presumptuous, may I ask you your surname?"
"..."
Wei Changtian was slightly startled, and then he announced his family name generously: "Wei family in the capital, Wei Changtian."
"Mr. Wei, thank you...what!"
The thin county magistrate suddenly trembled all over and froze in place for a moment.
"You, you are the one..."
"yes."
Wei Changtian was not surprised that the thin county magistrate had such a reaction. He smiled and looked at Liang Zhen before getting in the car and leaving.
However, after taking a few steps, he suddenly turned back and asked loudly:
"Master Wang, I know that you are an upright official, but I don't know whether you are an official for the sake of the people or for your own reputation?"
"Of course it's for..."
The thin county magistrate who came back to his senses subconsciously wanted to answer, but the second half of the sentence was never uttered.
"Da da da" the rapid sound of horse hooves sounded, announcing the end of an episode where Wei Changtian and others went south to Shuzhou.
The thin magistrate stood there for a long time, then suddenly straightened his somewhat stooped body and dusted off the old official uniform.
He stretched his arms forward like a hug, raised his hands to his forehead, and gave a deep bow to the raised road dust.
"Thank you, sir."
7017k
