#88 - Leaving Zhongling, Mr. Xie

At the hour of midnight, a major event occurred in Zhongling County.

Nearly a hundred well-equipped "bandits" stormed the city, engaging in a "great battle" with the government troops before breaking through the city gates for the first time, followed by a spree of smashing, looting, arson, and robbery.

Almost all the wealthy merchants and prominent families in the city were attacked. Although they put up some resistance, their ordinary house servants and guards were no match for this group of bandits. In the end, every household suffered heavy losses, and in some cases, even the heads of families were killed.

This sudden catastrophe did not last long. In less than an hour, the bandits left the county town, shouting that they would return when they had spent all the money.

Cries and curses filled the air, and the entire city of Zhongling remained sleepless throughout the night.

It wasn't until early the next morning that the wealthy merchants and prominent families who had suffered losses managed to salvage what they could from the ruins of their homes and collectively rushed to the entrance of the county government to demand an explanation.

"My son! You died so tragically!! As your father, I will personally kill those bandits to avenge you!!"

"Where is County Magistrate Wang?! We want to see him!!"

"What are the government troops good for?! They can't even deal with a mere few dozen bandits?!"

"My lord, rest assured! This humble one will never let you die in such a miserable way!"

"Wuwu, my family fortune..."

"Dong, dong, dong! Dong, dong, dong!"

The grievance drum at the entrance of the county government was almost beaten to pieces, and the crowd gathered in the open space outside the gate grew larger and larger.

However, if someone paid close attention, it would not be difficult to see that those who came to file complaints and demand explanations were all wealthy families in the city, with not a single commoner among them.

Of course, this was also reasonable. After all, it was "not easy" for the bandits to enter the city and plunder, so they would definitely not waste their time on small households with little wealth.

"Squeak~"

Amidst the earth-shattering wails of the crowd, the gate of the county government was finally pushed open by two bruised and swollen-faced yamen runners, but the person standing behind the gate was not the county magistrate, but an old man with white hair.

"Master Aide! Where is County Magistrate Wang!"

Someone immediately questioned loudly: "Such a big thing happened, with bandits entering the city! Don't tell us he doesn't know about it!"

"Everyone! Everyone! Listen to me first!"

Faced with a barrage of questions, the white-haired old man shouted in a deep voice with a "grieved" expression: "Wang Daren personally led troops in a fierce battle with the bandits last night, but unfortunately, he was struck by a palm of a bandit and injured. He is now unable to even get out of bed!"

"You can tell me anything you need!"

"What is it? Does that even need to be asked?!"

Someone sternly shouted: "Of course, it is to demand that the yamen compensate us for the losses of last night! And also to send troops to arrest all the bandits who committed the crime and bring them to justice!"

"That's right!"

"Exactly!"

This person's statement immediately received a chorus of responses, and the white-haired aide was not in a hurry to speak, waiting until everyone was tired of shouting before he smiled bitterly and said:

"Everyone, you are all people of Zhongling County, and you should be most aware of the situation in this county."

"The banditry has been rampant for years, and if the yamen could really suppress it, why would we have waited until today?"

"In fact, the reason why the bandits have never entered the city before was not because they were afraid of the government, but because we were just lucky!"

"But now the villages around the county town have been looted by them, and I'm afraid that this county town will also be frequently harassed by bandits in the future..."

The aide's words were both a complaint and a clear message—

The government can't control the banditry, so do whatever you want.

Of course, everyone could not agree with such an irresponsible attitude, and the angry accusations were even more intense than before.

"What?! Is this the explanation that the yamen is giving us?!"

"Wang Daren, as the parent official of Zhongling! Is he just going to leave the people in dire straits like this? It's simply outrageous!"

"Hmph! Fellow villagers! Since Wang Daren doesn't care, we can just go to the prefecture government to file a lawsuit!"

"..."

Listening to the threatening words, the white-haired aide shook his head helplessly, secretly sighing in his heart that good people are bullied, and good horses are ridden.

It's not that there haven't been cases of commoners suing officials in other places, but at least they were done secretly. There has never been a situation like the one in front of them, where they dare to threaten openly.

However, this can't be blamed on others. It can only be blamed on their own Daren being too weak and too considerate of the "people" in everything...

Remembering the words that Wei Changtian had instructed him to say, the aide waited for a while, feeling that the time was almost right, before cupping his hands to the crowd and saying helplessly:

"Everyone, now that things have come to this, I won't hide it from you anymore."

"In fact, you don't even need to file a lawsuit. County Magistrate Daren feels that he has let down the elders and folks of Zhongling, and he is already preparing to resign and return to his hometown."

"Once Wang Daren leaves, it will take at least half a year or a year before the next county magistrate arrives, and even if a new official comes, can he definitely quell the bandits?"

"Everyone, listen to my advice."

"This Zhongling County is afraid that there will be no peace in the future. You... should pack your things and leave as soon as possible!"

"..."

This time, there was no noise, no anger, no dissatisfaction.

After the aide finished speaking these words, everyone blocking the gate was dumbfounded.

They never expected that the tall and thin County Magistrate, who never lost his temper, would just resign and leave like this!

They don't even need to file a lawsuit with the prefecture government, he's already quitting!

But the county magistrate can leave, but they can't!

These people's families and businesses are all in Zhongling. Who would be willing to give up their current good life and start over in a new place where they are unfamiliar?

But if they don't leave... are they going to wait here for the bandits to come and rob and kill them again and again?

"County Magistrate Daren can't leave! I, I am willing to donate silver to suppress the bandits!"

Someone suddenly shouted, and after a brief silence, the voices of agreement instantly rang out.

"Yes, yes, yes! Wang Daren can't resign! My Liu family is also willing to donate silver!"

"Didn't the county magistrate say before that as long as there is money, we can ask the prefecture government to send troops to suppress the bandits? We will raise the money! We must not let this Zhongling County fall into the hands of the bandits!"

"That's right! Wang County Magistrate is a rare good official! My Jia family is also willing to take out silver!"

"Wanchang Rice Shop is also willing!"

"For my dead son! I will also donate!"

"Donate everything! We will all donate..."

"..."

The atmosphere in front of the county government suddenly changed. The group of people who had just been righteously indignant and demanding an explanation instantly turned into good citizens full of social responsibility, vying to donate money to suppress the bandits.

The aide looked at all of this, marveling at the brilliant plan of that Young Master Wei, but a look of embarrassment appeared on his face.

"Everyone, you are... Forget it! Then I will inform County Magistrate Daren and let him decide..."

"Master Aide! You must persuade County Magistrate Daren not to resign!"

"Yes! Money is easy to discuss! But the official position must not be resigned!"

"It was our stupidity that we were unwilling to donate money to suppress the bandits before! Please tell the county magistrate that we have already realized our mistake..."

"Okay, okay, okay, I will definitely convey the message truthfully..."

The white-haired aide responded to the crowd while waving his hand to the yamen runner next to him.

The latter saw this and immediately quietly retreated, and soon a rider came out from the back door of the county government and headed straight for the south of the city.

...

A quarter of an hour later.

On the official road south of the city, more than a hundred Qingjia soldiers stood solemnly, while the thin county magistrate knelt in front of Liang Zhen and Wei Changtian with tears streaming down his face, and it took several people to help him up.

"Daren Liang! Young Master..."

"I, I really don't know what to say. With such great kindness and virtue, the people of Zhongling will definitely remember it in their hearts..."

"Hahaha, Wang Daren, you don't have to be so polite, it's just a small effort."

Liang Zhen laughed twice, showing that he was in a good mood: "Since those wealthy merchants and prominent families are willing to donate money, then we should also set off on our journey. Wang Daren doesn't need to see us off anymore, we will meet again if we have the chance in the future."

"Daren Liang... I have one more request."

The thin county magistrate looked at Wei Changtian and asked very solemnly: "Forgive me for being presumptuous, may I ask the young master's honorable name?"

"..."

Wei Changtian was slightly stunned, and then generously announced his family name: "Wei family of the capital, Wei Changtian."

"Young Master Wei, thank you... What!"

The thin county magistrate's body suddenly trembled violently, and he was instantly stunned in place.

"You, you are that..."

"Yes."

Wei Changtian was not surprised that the thin county magistrate would have such a reaction. He smiled and exchanged glances with Liang Zhen before preparing to get in the carriage and leave.

However, after taking a few steps, he suddenly turned his head and asked loudly:

"Wang Daren, I know that you are an honest official, but I don't know whether you are an official for the sake of the people or for your own reputation?"

"Naturally, it is for..."

The thin county magistrate, who had come back to his senses, subconsciously wanted to answer, but he never said the second half of the sentence.

"Da, da, da" The sound of rapid horseshoes rang out, announcing the end of a small episode in Wei Changtian and others' journey south to Shu Prefecture.

The thin county magistrate stood in place for a long time, suddenly straightened his somewhat hunched body, and brushed the dust off his worn official robe.

He stretched his arms forward as if holding a ring, raised his hands to his forehead, and made a deep bow towards the rising dust.

"Thank you, Young Master."