Chapter Thirty-Eight: Inviting You into the Urn

  Chen Gui sat in the carriage, looking out of the window with a somewhat proud and carefree air, especially at the reverent gazes of the common people, feeling extremely pleased.

  Now, the important positions in the county government are almost all arranged by myself. As for that County Magistrate Lu, he is just an outsider, without a mentor or a housekeeper, and without experience, he is just a fledgling. If I slightly use my power, I can make him obey me completely. If I want to oppose him, it's easy to put him in a powerless position, so that the county magistrate's orders can't even leave the county government. In short, I am the "local emperor" of this land.

  The county magistrate's words are not as effective as his own words. To put it bluntly, if he stomps his feet three times on the ground, Jiangyou County will "tremble with fear".

  "Sir, would you like to go home first or return to the county government?" Zhang Chunyan rode his horse to the window and asked with a diligent face.

  In Chen Gui's eyes, the most important thing for his own people was to be loyal. However, Cao Hu, whom he had personally promoted, brought back completely different news from the chess pieces he had secretly placed beside Lu Xianwei. Chen Gui immediately felt unhappy in his heart and suspected that Cao Hu was not betraying him but trying to ride two boats at once, which was absolutely not allowed. Therefore, Chen Gui had the idea of finding someone to replace Cao Hu.

  This is what Chen Gui meant by cultivating Zhang Chunyan, and this Zhang Chunyan was also a clever character. Feeling that the high-ranking county magistrate had the intention of cultivating himself, he was overjoyed and his heart was filled with joy. Without saying another word, he worked hard with all his might, showing unusual enthusiasm, serving Chen Gui very well.

  "Go to the county government." Chen Gui said calmly.

  If he still acts as the county magistrate, he will return home and have a good wash. However, today is different from usual days, the new county magistrate has taken office. This county magistrate still has people in the Ministry of Officials and cannot be easily offended. Chen Gui returns at this time, showing his diligence and leaving a good impression on the county magistrate. In the future, if there are any good things, he will also think of himself.

  There is actually another reason, that is the village head Zhang of Xin Qiao town has passed away, last night he added two pillows for himself, they are two "thin horses" from Yangzhou, very good at serving people, especially those who are older, after a wild night, Chen Gui can be said to have "exhausted his arrows and provisions", afraid that if he goes back he will be bothered by his first wife and new concubine, so he went to the government office to attend to official business.

  "Yes, County Magistrate." Zhang Chunyan hastily responded and then loudly instructed the carriage driver to carefully drive back to the yamen.

  "County Magistrate"

  County Magistrate

  After getting off the car, Chen Gui walked inside while those yamen runners and miscellaneous servants swarmed to greet him. As the second most powerful person in the county government, his status was naturally unquestionable. However, Chen Gui's face, which had just been full of pride, slowly turned solemn. His long-time follower, Chen Youfu, couldn't help but lower his voice and ask, "Master, is everything all right?"

  "It's nothing, just feeling a bit unusual."

  "Not very common? Sir, what does it mean?"

  Chen Youfu is the old man of the Chen family, who has been sensible since childhood and has started taking care of Chen Gui. For decades, he has been in the Chen family and has never left. It can be said that he is a loyal slave of the Great Ming Dynasty. Others dare not ask this question, but Chen Youfu said it casually.

  "A bit different," Chen Gui said in a low voice: "If it were in the past, these people would have already surrounded us to flatter and ask for rewards. But they just called out in a routine manner, neither surrounding us nor showing any reverence in their eyes, making me feel that something is not quite right."

  "Master, shall we return to the mansion first?" Chen Youfu, a timid and cautious person, hastily said.

  Chen Gui shook his head and said, "No need to, what's meant to come will come, can't escape even if I hide. I reckon there must be some changes in the county government by now. I'll just go out for a few days, this county government won't change overnight."

  "That's right, it's still up to Master Jiang in You County." Chen Youfu hastily said with a smile.

  Although he felt a bit unusual, Chen Gui still walked into the county government office with confidence in his eyes. This confidence came from two aspects: one was his years of operation, and the other was that he had placed an important chess piece next to the new county magistrate, so he would know in advance if anything unexpected happened.

  "What? Isn't this County Magistrate-sama? Has Your Honor just returned from an inspection?" a fat man said with a fawning expression.

  Chen Gui recognized that this was a small head of the workshop, named Chen Fei, and they even shared the same surname. Previously, he didn't think much of him and wasn't interested in his attempts to get close, but at this moment, he felt that Chen Fei's smile was very sincere, thinking that there might be an opportunity to promote him.

  "Magistrate, you must be tired, let me get you a cup of ginseng tea to quench your thirst."

  "Sir, are you hungry? I'll get some pastries for you."

  "Sir, we have top-grade dried plums here, would you like to try some?"

  Several clerks and runners bustled about, vying to attend to him, which made Chen Gui regain his superior air. He secretly thought to himself that he had been overly sensitive earlier, chuckled, and loudly asked: "Where is the Honorable County Magistrate?"

  Chen Fei hastily said: "County Magistrate is handling official business in the side hall."

  Chen Gui didn't say a word, nodded and walked straight to the side hall. Although he looked down on this ignorant county magistrate, there were many rules in officialdom, and etiquette couldn't be abandoned. This time was considered an outing, after finishing, naturally had to report to his superior, even if it was just for show.

  "Your subordinate has arrived to pay respects to Your Honor." With Lu Haoshan's consent, Chen Gui entered and paid his respects.

  An official of a higher rank can crush people to death, the county magistrate is of the seventh grade, while the deputy county magistrate is of the eighth grade, with a difference of two grades between them. The first-in-command and second-in-command have too great a disparity in power.

  Lu Haoshan nodded and said: "Yes, Magistrate Chen has worked hard, no need for formalities."

  "Thank you, sir."

  "Magistrate Chen, this trip is to inspect the preparations for the Lantern Festival. Is everything going smoothly?" Lu Haoshan asked directly.

  Chen Gui hastily replied: "Thanks to your blessings, everything is going smoothly. Under your wise leadership, this year's lantern decorations will definitely be more beautiful and dazzling than last year."

  "Not bad, Magistrate Xin has worked hard."

  "How can I dare? This is the duty of a humble official like myself. Instead, Your Honor has been toiling alone in the county government, shouldering the burden of over 50,000 parents and elders in Jiang County all by yourself. It's you who have made great efforts and achievements." Chen Gu said with a flattering tone.

  This time, Lu Haoshan did not deny it. On the contrary, he said with a helpless expression: "The family is big, there are many people, and the contradictions are accumulating more and more. There are also many people who commit crimes. Look, in these few days, this official has been tortured by those lawless people until his head hurts."

  "Is that all?" Chen Gui said with a shocked face: "These petty commoners, what can they do? How dare they be lawless and disrespect the authorities? Sir, please don't be polite to these people, or else they will become bolder and may even pose a threat to us."

  Lu Haoshan hesitated and said: "County Magistrate Chen, although it's said that way, the other party has a big background, so it's better not to provoke them."

  "Sir, evil cannot suppress good. Moreover, sir, you are pleading for the people's lives, which is a good thing. I fully support it," said Chen Gui with a serious face.

  As long as Magistrate Lu is strict in enforcing the law, he will offend the local powers. Once there is a conflict, it will be difficult for him to integrate into Jiangyou County. At that time, he can please both sides and gain benefits from both, and those rural gentry and wealthy landlords will also trust him more, and the benefits and respect he receives will naturally increase. Therefore, Chen Gui secretly "encourages" Lu Haoshan to start a conflict with the local powers in Jiangyou.

  Lu Haoshan said with some difficulty: "I'm afraid they won't be so easily persuaded, County Magistrate Chen, you also know that I've just entered officialdom and don't understand many things, you must instruct me."

  "This is the natural way," Chen Gui said with a smile: "I, as an official, have worked with three county magistrates and have some experience. Your Honor only needs to prepare the human evidence and material evidence properly, and in front of the evidence, he won't be able to pretend anymore. Moreover, our yamen has thirty-six kinds of torture instruments, including hand clamps, foot clamps, finger presses, saws, drills, chisels, whips, rods, etc., all complete. When the time comes, we'll use them one by one on him and see how long he can hold out. It won't be up to him not to confess."

  "Good idea! County Magistrate Chen is indeed knowledgeable and experienced. If it weren't for his guidance, I wouldn't have made up my mind yet. Now it's settled."

  "I dare not, I just casually mentioned it, whether it has any effect or not, that's for you to decide."

  Lu Haoshan smiled slightly, then suddenly changed his expression: "Come on, take down the culprit Chen Gui."

  "Yes, sir." Several yamen runners immediately rushed into the side hall, and without saying a word, they tied up Zi Chen Gui. The leader of the group was none other than Cao Hu.

  Chen Gui was shocked and hastily shouted loudly: "What are you doing, have you gone mad? I am Chen Gui, your county magistrate, do you want to rebel?"

  "Haha, gotcha! Cao Hu said with a cold smile: "It's best not to resist, otherwise, haha, you'll be in for a world of trouble."

  "Yes, County Magistrate Chen said there are dozens of torture instruments. I think, Sir Chen wouldn't want to experience them one by one, would he?" Lu Haoshan said with a smile, speaking slowly and calmly.

  Not good, I've been deceived! Chen Gui's face turned pale: the questions that Lu County Magistrate asked earlier were all methods of torturing prisoners. He thought he was teaching him how to deal with others, but unexpectedly, he learned and immediately used it to threaten himself. This is like lifting a rock to crush one's own foot.

  "Please enter the urn."