#107 - A thousand pounds can't stop
Looking at Xu Ming and Xu Pangda, Liang Wen seemed helpless:
“My lords, Baihe County is no ordinary place.
Admittedly, three prime ministers once held office in Baihe County, and even Elder Fang's hometown is here, Baihe County was indeed known for its political integrity.
But Baihe County is different now.
In recent years, several families in Baihe County have produced cultivators who practice in sects. After returning, they used their connections to form the four major clans of Baihe County.
Over the years, the clans of Baihe County have become increasingly rampant. These four families control most of the industries in Baihe County.
These four families also support many gangs, all of whom work for them.
In addition, Baihe County is far from Wudu and is a small county town, so who would pay attention to it, with the emperor so far away?”
Xu Pangda sneered a few times: “Oh? Does Lord Liang worry about the power of a few small sects, being an official of the imperial court? Or has a large sect appeared near Baihe County that even the Wu Kingdom can't afford to offend?”
“Lord Xu, look at what you're saying.”
Liang Wen sighed,
“It's not a matter of whether we can afford to offend them. It would be better if it were just fighting and killing.
The problem is that I can't get anything done here.
Before me, many officials came to Baihe County to take office, but while the officials are outsiders, the petty officials under them are locals.
We all wanted to rectify things.
But the problem is that our orders cannot be carried out.
What can you do if the people under you delay you?
If you fire the petty officials, you still need to find someone local. If you find someone from outside, who doesn't know the local customs, who will recognize you?
In addition, the four major clans send gifts from time to time, so almost every official colludes with the local clans. The entire Baihe County government has been corrupted completely.
Over time, the four local clans have become increasingly rampant, and the ill-gotten gains are divided between the clans and the Baihe County magistrate, usually in a 30/70 split.”
“The county magistrate only gets 70%?” Xu Pangda asked.
Lord Liang smiled: “Lord Xu, that 70% is theirs; we only get 30%.”
Xu Pangda: “…”
“It seems that Lord Liang has also received a lot of gifts.” Xu Ming snorted coldly.
Liang Wen was not angry and just shook his head: “Whether Lord Xu believes it or not, I have not received any benefits from the four major clans.
Regarding the cases in Lord Xu's hands, it's not that I haven't thought about dealing with them, but I can't find a way to start.
Take the case of Sun Dequan's daughter being humiliated in the street by a wealthy family, and her brother being beaten to death in the street for trying to seek justice.
The people involved don't admit it, and several people in the street say they didn't see it. What can I do?”
“…” Xu Pangda was speechless for a moment, not knowing what to say.
“Lord Liang, are the files from that time still there?” Xu Pangda asked.
“Yes.” Liang Wen nodded, “Although those cases seem to be closed, I kept the files at the time and they are in my residence.”
“Please bring them over to us, Lord Liang. Since I am the magistrate of Baihe County, I naturally cannot stand idly by.” Xu Pangda said seriously.
Xu Ming looked at Liang Wen and smiled: “If we don't reopen the case, what would Lord Liang do with those files?”
Liang Wen smiled: “Then I will take these files to the prefecture to take office. One day, I will reopen the case.”
Five days later, after Liang Wen completely handed over to Xu Pangda, he handed the official seal to Xu Pangda and left Baihe County for the prefecture.
In the following days, Xu Ming saw Xu Pangda busy, handling the affairs of Baihe County while personally running around, trying to find evidence to overturn those cases.
However, Xu Pangda was not so smooth.
The others in the county government naturally knew what Xu Pangda wanted to do.
They were very respectful to Xu Pangda on the surface, and everyone seemed to obey Xu Pangda's arrangements.
But in reality, when they started working, everyone was procrastinating, making excuses.
Xu Pangda was busy from morning to night every day, but things were difficult to progress.
Xu Ming naturally would not stand idly by.
Originally, Xu Ming was about to leave Baihe County for Qingyang Prefecture, but seeing Xu Pangda's overwhelmed appearance, Xu Ming was worried that this kid would act impulsively.
So Xu Ming also stayed to help.
Finally, on the seventh day, Xu Pangda ran over happily with a document, excitedly saying to Xu Ming: “Fifth brother, I found a breakthrough!”
“Oh? What breakthrough?” Xu Ming asked.
“The Li family! The Li family that broke the scholar's leg! After my investigation, that scholar changed his name and is now called—Yu Ping'an!” Xu Pangda said excitedly.
“Yu Ping'an?” Xu Ming was also a little surprised.
If the emperor knew that the current Tanhua had his leg broken, the clans of Baihe County would be wiped out even without Xu Pangda's intervention.
Some things are as light as a feather if not brought to the surface.
Some things are too heavy to hold back once they are revealed.
“Are you going to report this to the imperial court now?” Xu Ming asked, “I always feel that this matter is a bit strange.”
Xu Pangda also nodded:
“I also feel that this matter is a bit strange.
Logically speaking, with such a great hatred, Tanhua Yu might have told His Majesty. Even if it wasn't about Tanhua having his leg broken, a scholar has a title.
As long as His Majesty knew about this, the Li family would be executed.
But His Majesty didn't react at all.
So I was thinking, is His Majesty testing me, letting me solve it?
Or did Tanhua Yu not say anything? After all, this kind of thing is a humiliation for Tanhua Yu.”
“What are you going to do, third brother?” Xu Ming asked.
Xu Pangda thought for a moment: “I don't know if the Li family knows that the scholar they broke the leg of is actually the current Tanhua. If they don't know, I'll let them know. If they want to live, they have to help me. After I use them to fight each other, I'll kill the tiger!”
Xu Ming shook his head: “But third brother, have you ever thought that if the Li family already knew that the person they broke the leg of was the current Tanhua, why didn't they run?”
“Hmm?” Xu Pangda looked at Xu Ming, “What do you mean, fourth brother?”
“This Li family may not be that simple.” Xu Ming said slowly, “They may have someone behind them who won't let them run.”
