However, County Magistrate Xu was puzzled: "Why didn’t Ming Shaoqing take Zou Jiang away?"
Zou Jiang was the key witness in the Zou Youlian case, and should have gone to the Capital to await a summons.
He had asked Ming Shaoqing about it, but Ming Shaoqing said, "The cris Zou Jiang accused Zou Youlian of did not involve colluding with river bandits. That issue arose only after the river bandits learned of Zou Youlian’s arrest and wanted to silence him. There is both human and material evidence available for this case, so there’s no need for Zou Jiang to go to the Capital."
Yet, County Magistrate Xu was still doubtful, for with Ming Shaoqing’s cautious nature, he should have taken Zou Jiang along.
Master Tian said, "In the Zou Youlian case, there are human witnesses from the river bandits, the administrative and subordinate officials of Linhe Prefecture, the administrative and subordinate officials of Jinling Prefecture, as well as several other accomplices. There is no lack of physical evidence or statents, so it doesn’t matter whether Zou Jiang goes to the Capital or not."
"Is that so?" County Magistrate Xu glanced at Master Tian with a clearly unconvinced look.
Zou Jiang also ca to see off Ming Shaoqing. Hearing County Magistrate Xu whispering to Master Tian, he approached and said, "Your Honor need not be puzzled. It was I who asked Ming Shaoqing to allow to stay. Ming Shaoqing understood that I am of advanced age and suffer from old and new ailnts; it would be difficult for to travel long distances, hence he didn’t have accompany him to the Capital."
Then he asked, "Your Honor harbors such doubts—do you wish for to drag my sick body to the Capital and then die in a foreign land?"
How could County Magistrate Xu respond to that?
He could only smile and say, "Old Jiang misunderstands; how could I possibly harbor such malicious thoughts?"
Upon hearing this, Zou Jiang laughed and walked towards the county governnt office with the others who had co to see off Ming Shaoqing.
County Magistrate Xu, seeing him, hurriedly asked, "Old Jiang, do you plan to return to Luchang County soon?"
His great vengeance had been achieved; he should return ho to pay homage to his ancestors and enjoy his twilight years. Did he really intend to continue mooching off the governnt office, letting them pay for his dical bills? The governnt office wasn’t wealthy.
Zou Jiang replied, "My injuries have not yet healed; I need to stay in the governnt office for a while longer. I hope Lord County Magistrate will not be annoyed."
With that, he breezily entered the governnt office, chatting and laughing with several Governnt Officials nearby.
County Magistrate Xu glared at Zou Jiang’s retreating figure, feeling quite pained about the governnt funds.
County Captain Jiang, seeing that County Magistrate Xu seed not to understand the intentions of Ming Shaoqing and Zou Jiang, straightforwardly approached him and said, "Lord County Magistrate, Zou Jiang is a talented man, courageous and strategic, and loyal. You might consider hiring him as your staff. If you rise in rank together, he will be extrely useful in the future."
A higher position ant facing even crueler situations in the future. Without a capable strategist to assist, a powerless and not very clever official like County Magistrate Xu would probably end up dead without a complete corpse.
Master Tian also nodded and said, "County Captain Jiang’s words are very true. Your Honor might consider hiring Zou Jiang."
County Magistrate Xu was startled and wanted to ask them, "Have you gone mad?" Suggesting he hire a madman like Zou Jiang as staff—wasn’t every task Zou Jiang undertook enough to get him beheaded several tis? "You may not care about your lives, but I care about mine."
County Magistrate Xu was scared, waved his hands, and said, "Let’s discuss this matter later; I still have much official business to attend to."
Ming Shaoqing had given him a docunt yesterday, rapidly delivered by a ssenger from Elder Shangguan, stating that he could sell Zou family’s properties in Tianfu County to compensate the victims with the money raised.
The money given to the victims a few days ago was from the governnt funds, and he needed to recover this expense.
"The Zou family doesn’t own much property in Tianfu County; most of their properties are in places like Jiangnan, Jianghuai, and Central State, with so even in the northeast Yangji Prefecture."
"Yangji Prefecture is already at the northern border of Great Chu. This shows that Zou Youlian had already planned an escape route for the Zou family. In case his misdeeds were exposed, they would flee to Yangji Prefecture and then leave Great Chu from there."
"Unfortunately, his evils were nurous, and even God didn’t protect him, resulting in the destruction and demise of his family."
"County Magistrate Xu, being lenient towards his subordinates, saw that Luo Wu and the Qin Brothers had gained much rit, and Gu Jin’an had connections with the Zheng Family and Shangguan Family. Therefore, he specifically called Luo Wu and said, ’The Zou family has so fields and shops in Qingfu Town. Find so ti to go ho and ask around; if you or your neighbors are interested in buying, bring the necessary silver to the county governnt, and I will give you a discount."
"Luo Wu, intent on marrying Gu Jinxiu, was considering buying property in the county town. He asked County Magistrate Xu, ’Sir, the Zou family also has so houses and shops in the county town. My family is interested in buying one or two; could this be possible?’"
"’Certainly, I can reserve so well-located shops and houses for you.’ County Magistrate Xu didn’t mind as long as the Luo Family could afford it."
"Luo Wu was delighted; he knew that many wealthy families in the county town had their eyes on these Zou properties, and the Xu Family had already sent soone to offer a high price for the well-located Zou shops and houses. The words from County Magistrate Xu showed that he valued him."
"What pleased Luo Wu even more ca next."
"County Magistrate Xu said to County Captain Jiang, ’Lord Jiang, since Luo Wu is here, there’s no need to hide the appointnt letter anymore. Just give it to him directly.’"
"County Captain Jiang chuckled and nodded, handing a scroll of docunts to Luo Wu and said, ’Take a look.’"
"Luo Wu, who had known he would be promoted to squad leader, replacing Squad Leader Zhu, was not surprised. He calmly took the docunts, but when he opened them, surprise still surfaced in his eyes, ’Sir, this...’"
"The appointnt scroll not only had the seal of Tianfu County Governnt but also the seal of Prefecture Governnt Office."
"County Captain Jiang smiled, ’Do not be surprised. This is what you deserve, and also the intent of Lord County Magistrate.’"
"Normally, the appointnt of a new squad leader only needs approval from the County Magistrate and the County Captain. However, County Magistrate Xu would be transferred in a few months, and the incoming County Magistrate’s character was unknown; he worried that Luo Wu, being newly promoted, might be replaced. Therefore, County Magistrate Xu had sent the appointnt letter to the Prefecture Governnt Office to have it sealed."
"This way, even if the new County Magistrate wanted to dismiss Luo Wu, he would have to go through the Prefecture Governnt Office."
"Luo Wu imdiately knelt on one knee, ’Your humble servant thanks Lord County Magistrate and Lord County Captain for your efforts on my behalf.’"
"County Magistrate Xu smiled and asked Luo Wu to stand up, then ntioned, ’You still have injuries and should go ho to recuperate. Also, now that you’re promoted to squad leader, this is a cause for great celebration in your household. If your family plans to host a feast, I can grant you a few days off.’"
"In the countryside, even becoming a Governnt Official at the governnt office is an event worth a village feast, let alone a squad leader, which is a significant position for a farming family, as there are only three squad leaders in a county."
"Thinking of Gu Jinxiu possibly visiting Granny Li at Huaiyu Embroidery Shop, Luo Wu shook his head, ’Your humble servant appreciates your kindness, sir, but the county governnt is currently busy. I wish to wait until after this busy period before requesting a few days off.’"
"In this way, he would have ti to accompany Gu Jinxiu to Huaiyu Embroidery Shop."
"County Magistrate Xu, upon hearing this, beca even more pleased and told Luo Wu, ’Alright, stay busy for a while longer, and when things settle down in the county governnt, go back to your village and celebrate properly.’"
"With that, he waved his hand to dismiss Luo Wu."
"But as soon as Luo Wu left the courtyard of County Magistrate Xu’s office, he encountered Squad Leader Zhu coming in with hostility at the gate."
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