The two returned to Huangpo Village, where Li Tianqing was already waiting at the village entrance and whispered, "Little Ten, people from Xinxiang County have co."
Chen Shi’s heart turned cold upon hearing this, and he glanced at Creation Little Five in slight panic, lowering his voice, "People from Xinxiang County? Could it be that the cri I committed in the past has been discovered? Tianqing, do you know which case has co to light?"
He had committed too many cris, with multiple ones just from the Zhao family alone. Later, there were the cases of killing the County Magistrate of Xinxiang, the murder in front of the rich rchant’s house, and the assassination of the County Magistrate, all perpetrated in Xinxiang.
As for the other cases, they were committed elsewhere. According to the customs of the countryside, Xinxiang County shouldn’t interfere, right?
But it was difficult to say, after all, he had violated the laws of the Great Ming.
He didn’t want "Chen Tang" to know about these cris he committed, fearing that "Chen Tang" would then refuse to acknowledge him.
Li Tianqing shook his head, "I didn’t dare to ask in detail. I’m also worried that it might be the affair with the Great Ming Treasure Ship that has been exposed, which could lead to us being captured and tortured by other families."
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Creation Little Five chuckled inwardly. How could the whispered conversations of the two young fellows escape his hearing?
"At such a young age, what big cases could they have committed? Are they even more capable than I am?"
Just as he thought this, he suddenly rembered the heinous cris committed by Chen Shi that he had seen at the Heavenly Listener Venerable, and thought to himself, "He is indeed not to be underestimated. If the person from Xinxiang County really ans harm to Little Ten, then I’ll take action."
Chen Shi quickly followed Li Tianqing ho, and upon arriving at the door, he saw a carriage parked next to the Divine Tree with several tall horses tied nearby. A few governnt officials stood guard with restraint, looking at Chen Shi with eyes filled with respect.
"Sir, the Talisman Master has arrived."
One of the governnt officials hastily stepped forward with a smile to welco him, "Talisman Master, our master has co all the way from Xinxiang County city, hurrying day and night, and has finally arrived in this fortunate place before sunset. The master said that upon taking his position, he must first visit the Talisman Master..."
He was in the midst of speaking when an official next to the carriage interrupted him in a hurry, greeting Chen Shi with a smile, "Talisman Master, I am the new County Magistrate Wu Guangfu from Xinxiang County, just recently appointed. Hearing that Talisman Master Chen is a noble and well-respected figure beyond our county, on the very first day of my tenure, I rushed to bother you, hoping for your advice on the ways of being an official."
Chen Shi, Li Tianqing, Black Pot, and Creation Little Five were all astounded.
This new County Magistrate of Xinxiang had actually traveled over a hundred miles to Huangpo Village to visit Chen Shi on his first day in office!
He, the prominent parent official of Xinxiang County, was actually humbling himself, asking for advice from Chen Shi.
Moreover, Chen Shi was clearly just a young lad of barely ten, and even if you added the eight years he had been dead, he would only be twenty years old—where was he high in virtue and esteem?
Chen Shi pondered, what could he possibly teach County Magistrate Wu?
Should he teach him how to exploit the common people?
"County Magistrate Wu, the taxes in Xinxiang are sowhat too heavy."
After Chen Shi mused for a mont, he spoke, "We, as lords, must not be too hasty when exploiting the common people; we mustn’t be stingy when it’s ti to provide them with sustenance. If they eat and grow fat, give birth to more children, and raise more livestock, then we can extract even more benefit from them."
Wu Guangfu showed a look of surprise and looked at Chen Shi with newfound respect.
His purpose for coming here was not truly to seek enlightennt, but he had heard that the previous two County Magistrates of Xinxiang had died because of Chen Shi, one of whom was even personally killed by him. Moreover, he heard that a neighboring county’s magistrate was also eliminated by Chen Shi.
After so investigation, he was shocked to learn that the previous governor of Xin Xiang Province was also exterminated because of Chen Shi, so he ca without stopping to visit.
Upon seeing that Chen Shi was just a child of eleven or twelve, he couldn’t help but look down on him, but after Chen Shi expressed his views, he realized that this person indeed possessed extraordinary insights.
Chen Shi continued, "If you exploit them harshly, leaving them holess, hungry, and unable to cover their bodies, they will not engage in production and will lack offspring, leading to their extinction within two generations. If the people perish within two generations, the court is bound to follow suit. Whenever I go out to sell talismans, there are always those who co to collect taxes, and I have also seen those struggling farrs offer themselves as sacrifices to the Divine Mother, risking their lives against the officials. Why let it go this far? Why not let them have more to give before it cos to such a step? This is my way of ’fishing’ from the people; the honorable County Magistrate, please ponder it."
"I am enlightened."
Wu Guangfu gave a deep bow to the ground, his sincerity profound, "I originally ca to establish a connection with the master, never expecting to hear such profound reasoning and benefit greatly. Thank you for your teaching, Master. After taking office, I will certainly be lenient with the people."
Chen Shi returned the gesture and smiled, "County Magistrate Wu is too kind. I am but a re Scholar; how could I presu so?"
Wu Guangfu did not want to impose any further and rose to take his leave.
Chen Shi did not accompany him out.
They went back into the courtyard, when suddenly another voice ca, "Is Master Chen at ho?"
Chen Shi frowned slightly, "What is it?"
The voice from outside was sowhat cultured and polite, "I am Cui He, the County Magistrate of the neighboring county. I have heard of the great wisdom of Chen Shi, Master Chen of Xinxiang County, and have therefore co from my county to visit the master."
Chen Shi opened the door and walked out to find a refined-looking official standing at the doorway with a few attendants behind him, whereas the carriage and horses were parked outside Huangpo Village.
Cui He said, "I could not help but co visit the master upon my appointnt. Master Chen is high in virtue and esteem, and He wishes to listen to your teachings."
Chen Shi was both amused and annoyed—what business did this magistrate of the neighboring county have seeking him out instead of taking care of his own county’s affairs?
So, he repeated the warning he had given to County Magistrate Wu Guangfu and similarly advised Cui He.
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