Yang Chuxia almost laughed from exasperation, recalling that the Zhou Family did own a few shops; it turns out that the Zhou Family was also the maternal family of Madam Zhou. Just a few shops, and yet they’re pretending to be the Old Master. And this Principal Clerk Zhou, taxing the Shoutao Village an extra forty percent, could it be that other villages were also overtaxed?
The taxes submitted to the county were certainly according to the imperial allocation, so the extra portion must have gone into Principal Clerk Zhou’s private purse. She had suspected that despite being a re principal clerk, he was able to acquire property, maintain a mistress, even afford a carriage. With his annual salary, minus the cost of food and drink, he wouldn’t have enough to buy even one-third of a carriage.
In his ten years of service, who knows how much he has extorted from the people?
"Since your village has been exploited for so many years, why only make a fuss now? What have you all been doing before? Have you never voiced your grievances to the previous County Magistrate?"
The leader spoke up, "Madam, although the previous County Magistrate wasn’t bad, he wouldn’t fall out with the principal clerk over us commoners. We did have people co to report before, but, but they were chased away before they could see the County Magistrate, not to ntion being crippled afterward. The person who ca last year did not make a tily retreat during the flood disaster and didn’t survive..."
They would not have risked coming to the county city if it weren’t for the upcoming autumn harvest and the impending tax levy.
Last year, they had heard about the arrival of a new County Magistrate but were unsure what kind of person he was, hence they dared not co forward. Only recently did they learn that the Lord County Magistrate had started irrigation projects in other towns, which made them think he might be a good official, prompting their visit to the county city.
Yet they feared being turned away or even disabled like the last visitor, unable to enter the governnt office.
So they concocted this risky plan. They did not truly intend to assassinate anyone, lacking the courage for such a deed. They only aid to feign an attempt on the County Magistrate’s family mber, assuming the County Magistrate would personally interrogate them. That way, as long as they could speak to the County Magistrate, if he was willing to handle their village’s affairs, even if it ant death for them out of retribution for frightening his family, they were ready to accept it.
"I understand the situation. Stay in the residence for one day, and I will have soone verify your claims. If you’ve lied, your fate will be worse than the one before you. However, if you speak the truth, I will have the Lord County Magistrate et with you once he returns."
"Every word we’ve said is true!" the leader asserted once more.
Afterward, Yang Chuxia instructed Brother Li to take them away.
"Madam, Ming Liu says he’s found the person. Do you want to et with them?" Ming Liu asked after everyone had left.
"No need to et. Just go through our plans once with her. Call Fugui, I have an errand for him."
Shortly after, Fugui arrived.
"Madam, you called for ."
"Mm," Yang Chuxia recounted the conversation with the n from Shoutao Village, "Since the young master’s people are often with him and risk recognition, it would be better if you investigated. Check if what they’ve said is true. Rember to bring back so evidence or testimony if it is. While at it, see if other villages are facing similar issues."
"Yes, this task is indeed more suited for than for Ye Yi and the others," Fugui agreed.
With that, Fugui departed as well.
Fugui’s investigation of this matter was expected to take several days, so Yang Chuxia set it aside for now.
What occupied her thoughts currently was finding ways to make Mianyang more prosperous.
But no imdiate solutions ca to mind.
User Comments
0 comments from readers