Strange Tales from the Northern Qi Dynasty

Chapter 309: War Horses Fly, Wind Rises
Youzhou, Fanyang.

It was extremely lively outside the city, with officials standing crowded around, waiting for the arrival of the new governor.

Most of these officials are also new.

This change not only affected the newly acquired counties, but also affected counties and prefectures that had long been under the command of the general, such as Youzhou. The administrative scope was changed and the officials were also changed.

It was a thorough and major change, not just limited to the newly acquired land.

The county magistrate stood at the front. Compared with those behind him, he looked exceptionally calm and not at all frightened.

The county magistrate was quite old, had an elaborate beard, and did not talk to his attendants.

However, the county magistrate, the chief clerk, and even several important officials behind him were chattering non-stop at this moment.

They all looked a little scared.

The county magistrate even whispered: "The governor has already dismissed six officials and more than ten clerks during his inspection of the counties."

"You must not be careless."

The county official Cao Shi looked quite confident. He smiled and said, "Don't worry too much, County Magistrate. Although we are not as good as you, we all graduated from the school and were among the best in our studies."

The county magistrate hurriedly shook his head. "Among those who were dismissed and punished by the governor, there are many who are more powerful than us. There was one who ranked second in the assessment last year, and he was arrested and sent directly to Pingcheng for punishment."

"The governor has always been strict and has always been ruthless in enforcing the law."

"Are you sure that nothing is wrong with your subordinates? If they have made any mistakes, tell me now. There is still a chance to make amends. If the governor finds out himself, they will be beaten half to death and then sent to Pingcheng. They may not arrive in Pingcheng alive! Think carefully! "

Hearing the county magistrate's words, Yu Xiaoshi shuddered, as if he remembered something.

His abnormality quickly attracted the attention of the county magistrate, who frowned and quickly grabbed the other party's hand, "Mr. Zhao, what's the matter with you?"

"Don't endanger your own life!"

The faces of several people around him changed drastically, and they all looked at him. Yu Xiaoshi took a deep breath, looked around, and whispered, "Not long ago, a man from the Lu family was caught wandering around drunk. Someone came to me and said that he was a relative of Lord Lu in the court, and asked me to do a small favor and release him. I thought it was not a big deal, just a fine and detention, so I decided to release him."

The county magistrate hurriedly asked, "Did you accept any bribes?"

"No, no."

"Are you sure you didn't take bribes?"

Yu Xiaoshi's lips trembled. "It's just some tea leaves, just a small box of tea leaves. I swear, nothing else, just some tea leaves. I think the Lu family is a big family in the local area, and many of their family members are officials in the government, so I..."

The county magistrate suddenly became a little uneasy.

He looked at the county magistrate in front of him and gritted his teeth, "You, is this all you learned in the study room? To accept bribes and release people without permission?"

Yu Xiaoshi looked flustered, "I really don't know, I just..."

"Okay! Thank goodness you told me in time!"

The county magistrate interrupted him and walked a few steps to the side of the county magistrate.

Magistrate Zhang narrowed his eyes, looking very pleased. The county magistrate whispered to him what had just happened. Magistrate Zhang opened his eyes and glanced at him, "Release people without permission?"

"good."

"Mr. Zhang, why don't you arrest the person first? It's better for us to arrest him and interrogate him ourselves than to be discovered by the governor. If the governor comes to investigate, we will be in trouble."

Looking at the worried county magistrate, the county magistrate shook his head slightly.

"If it involves other people, then that's fine, but if this matter is related to the Lu family, it's better to find a way to keep it secret."

"Hide it? Why?"

Magistrate Zhang stared at the official road in the distance and said coldly: "The governor hates local tyrants very much, and even dislikes the big families. In his eyes, the tyrants and the big families are the same, there is no difference. After he came to Youzhou, even those big families with good reputations were dealt with by him. If he dares to take people to slaughter the Lu family, what should we do in the future?"

The county magistrate wiped the sweat off his face and said, "What if the governor finds out himself?"

"No problem."

"Go and tell them to pretend that nothing happened. Do not let the governor find any opportunity."

"only"

The county magistrate didn't quite understand the county magistrate's actions, but he had no choice but to go back and inform him.

A group of people slowly appeared in the distance, and then a group of knights were seen approaching.

There were hundreds of knights, many of whom were fully armed. The leader was wearing armor, and there were even heads hanging on both sides of his horse.

The officials immediately bowed deeply.

The warhorse came all the way to the official, and its breath sprayed on the county magistrate.

Tang Yong jumped off his warhorse with an agile posture.

Although Tang Yong seemed to be a civil official, he actually started his career as a military officer. When he was young, he served as a military officer for Gao Huan, governed with Gao Cheng, and fought wars with Gao Yang. Among a group of Han literati, his style was the least like that of a Han scholar-official.

After all, he had beaten up the Xianbei people who were not doing their job well in the court. He was a genuine barbarian scholar-official and was against Tiangang.

Tang Yong attached great importance to people's livelihood. In the past, he often advised the emperor to reduce corvée and the number of hunting in the city. When he was sent to serve as an official in other places several times, he killed the powerful and ruthless people. The people all felt that he was fair.

He was a tall man, and as he looked at the many officials kneeling down, his eyes swept over them one by one. No matter who it was, they would feel a little uneasy when they were stared at by him.

"Get up."

Magistrate Zhang stood up and looked at Tang Yong gently.

"Governor, we..."

"Don't talk nonsense, Su Xiang!"

A military officer stepped forward hastily, "Governor!"

"Keep an eye on these officials, don't let any of them leave, and take them to the government office."

Tang Yong then looked at the county magistrate and said, "You stay here and follow me to check various places."

"only!"

Tang Yong nodded slightly to the military officer, who understood what he meant, and the two groups parted ways at the city gate.

Magistrate Zhang rode a fine horse and followed behind Tang Yong. The two men strolled around the farmland outside the city. Tang Yong checked the farmland and the houses in the countryside. He asked the soldiers to bring a few farmers in at random and inquired about the situation.

These farmers were extremely restrained in front of Tang Yong and their voices trembled.

"I am the governor of Youzhou, and I am here on behalf of the general to investigate the injustices among the people. If you have any injustice, you can tell me. I will protect you and will not allow others to retaliate."

"Sir, there has never been any injustice done to you, Governor."

"Oh? This place is so peaceful? Have the children of the big families never bullied you?"

"Well, the children of the rich families basically don't come to places like this."

"And the officials?"

“It happened many years ago.”

"it is good."

The governor of Tang asked one by one. Finally, he stopped pretending and asked, "Have the local powerful families ever bullied the people around them? Do you know about such things?"

County Magistrate Zhang stood aside and shook his head.

Seeing Governor Tang questioning many people, Magistrate Zhang stepped forward and whispered, "Mr. Tang, our ancestral family, the Lu family, has people working for the general. They know the law and the rules. How could they do such a thing as bullying the people?"

"Besides, these are all big families. Unlike those rural tyrants, they pass down poetry and literature to their families."

"Lord Tang is also from a prominent family and was a noble during his time. Why does he have such great malice towards them?"

Hearing Magistrate Zhang's question, Tang Yong slowly turned around, stared at Magistrate Zhang, and grinned, "The world has been in turmoil for hundreds of years, and the reason is these sages who passed down poetry and books from generation to generation as you mentioned."

"You ask me why I am so malicious?"

"When Gao Changgong had not come here before, 70% to 80% of the officials and land here belonged to the Lu family, right?"

"I do not know."

"I don't know why you are butting in. You are so concerned about the Lu family. Could it be that you accepted their bribes?"

"Never."

Tang Yong was talking to him when the military officer came hurriedly on horseback and respectfully handed the document in his hand to Tang Yong.

Tang Yong lowered his head, looked for a moment, and then laughed.

"Tea leaves, let them go?"

Magistrate Zhang clenched his fist suddenly.

"Governor"

"Zhang County Magistrate, things are different now than they were in the past. The county magistrate is the county magistrate, and the county magistrate is the county magistrate. Do you think you can lead the entire city to fight against me with just one word from you?"

Magistrate Zhang frowned and said seriously, "I think Lord Tang is really not suitable to be the governor."

"Oh? Why?"

"Lord Tang is prejudiced against the great families and is ruthless, causing panic among the people of Youzhou."

Tang Yong shook his head, slowed down his horse, and walked side by side with Magistrate Zhang. The two of them walked towards the county office. As they walked, he said, "Youzhou is the state with the most clans in the entire north."

"Why do you think the general asked me to come here?" "Did he send me here to drink tea and eat meat with the great families here?"

Magistrate Zhang shook his head. "There are many talented people among these great families, and each of them is a good person to assist the general. What can you gain by tormenting them like this? In the end, you will only be ruined."

"If he is truly a good person with a clean record, how can I frame him?"

Tang Yong asked seriously, "I was just looking for evidence of their crimes, why do you say I was deliberately targeting them?"

"Is their evidence false?"

“Just some minor mistakes”

"A small fault?!"

Tang Yong's voice suddenly rose, and he said angrily: "Breaking the law is breaking the law. Can a small mistake be ignored?"

"Officials in the past didn't dare to take care of these people, allowing them to break the law and discipline. But once I want to investigate them, I am targeting them?! Is it true that only indulgence means not targeting them?"

"Your subordinate prison officer accepted gifts from others and released prisoners privately. Do you think this is a small matter?"

"You knew about this, but you still dared to instigate your subordinates to conceal it and continue to indulge the big clan!"

"Are you still qualified to be a county magistrate?"

"Someone come and catch him for me!!"

As Tang Yong spoke, he didn't even need the soldiers to take action. He stretched out his hand and pushed the county magistrate to the ground.

The county magistrate fell off his horse, his face covered in dirt and all his dignity gone. The soldiers on both sides stepped forward and pinned him to the ground. County Magistrate Zhang began to struggle and became even more angry.

"Tang Yong! You cruel official!!"

"I will never let you go!"

"You won't let me go? Threatening the governor, do you know what this crime is?"

“How much benefit did the Lu family give you?!”

Tang Yong's voice was getting louder and louder. Magistrate Zhang could no longer maintain his composure. He struggled to raise his head and said, "Cruel official! Traitor! Do you really want to cause chaos in Youzhou?"

"Youzhou is in chaos? How can there be chaos without you?"

"This fellow insulted the governor. According to the law, he should be caned twenty times!"

The soldier was about to take off the county magistrate's skirt and beat him, but the county magistrate shouted, "You can't be rude to me!"

"I am the general's uncle! The general is my nephew!!"

Tang Yong laughed and looked around, "This is the first time I've heard that a general has such an uncle."

Zhang Qianxiong raised his head and shouted, "The general's biological mother is my sister!"

"It's my biological sister!"

He looked around and asked, "Do you think I'm bluffing?"

"During the reign of Emperor Shenwu, Empress Dowager Lou personally acted as a matchmaker and betrothed my sister to the governor Liu Taozhi. She gave birth to Liu Taozi!"

"Let me see who dares to attack me!!"

Hearing Zhang Qianxiong's words, the armored soldiers on both sides were stunned, and even the armored soldiers who were holding him down subconsciously let go of their hands at this moment.

There was some fear on their faces.

If they were asked to beat the princes, they would not hesitate, but if they were really the elders of the general
Zhang Qianxiong finally stood up. He looked at Tang Yong angrily, "You cruel official, you keep saying that you are doing this for the people, but in fact, it's just because of your own likes and dislikes. You were born in the frontier, and your family fell into poverty when you were young, so you hate those who are living better than you, so you want to target them and make trouble for them. You use trivial matters as an excuse to attack them. I will definitely tell the general the truth."

Tang Yong narrowed his eyes. He didn't know who the general's mother was.

But after hearing the man in front of him speak so confidently, he more or less believed what he said.

"I have never said that what I did was for the people. I only seek justice. Under the law, no matter if they are common people or big families, those who violate the law should be punished, and those who make contributions should be rewarded."

"Only justice can govern the world."

"And most of you who come from great families despise the law and cannot tolerate justice."

"I don't care if you are the general's uncle or someone else. Even if the general's father is here today and hides the criminal, I will still beat him up!!"

"Someone come! Get started!!"

"Who dares?!"

Zhang Qianxiong scolded again, and the soldiers were very conflicted, not daring to take action, nor to retreat.

Tang Yong burst into laughter. He jumped off his horse and rubbed his fists. "It's just right. It's been a long time since I have personally tortured people."

When Tang Yong led the wounded county magistrate back to the office, the officials were almost frightened.

Several people wanted to tell all the mistakes they made when they were young.

Tang Yong met with them one by one and asked them about relevant matters.

Afterwards, Tang Yong ordered his men to break into Lu’s mansion and arrest the man.

Under Liu Taozi's command, the power of the big families almost no longer exists. Their strength comes from order. Under the rules, they are extremely powerful and have the force to maintain their basic safety.

But with Liu Taozi, it cannot be said that there are no rules, just that there are no rules that they want. Liu Taozi doesn't care what they say about him, nor does he care about the people's hearts. As for military force, their military force is no match for the warriors on the border.

Tang Yong began to thoroughly investigate several local big families and many powerful people in the countryside.

Anyone who dared to disobey would be killed on the spot and his head would be cut off as a military merit.

The cruelty of their actions is frightening.

In the lobby of the county government office, Tang Yong sat in the upper seat, and the officials sat very straight without looking to the side.

The soldier stood at the entrance, holding a sharp blade and staring into the distance.

Tang Yong looked seriously at the officials sitting on both sides.

"Since you have not broken the law, do not be afraid of me."

"I am just a rough man. I followed Emperor Shenwu to fight in battles when I was young. I haven't read many books, so I can't designate excellent systems and arrange qualified officials like other governors. However, I am familiar with the law and know what is fair."

"If any of you have made achievements, I will personally write to the governor to reward you. If anyone breaks the law, I will punish him without mercy."

"I will not interfere in local affairs. I will leave it to you to handle. However, if anyone dares to mess up the government, neglect the government, or even implement evil policies, don't blame me for being ruthless."

As Tang Yong spoke, he looked at the county magistrate not far away.

"You are a good person. You don't go along with the county magistrate. I have seen your past achievements, which are also very good."

The county magistrate was not happy at all at this moment. His face was pale and his hands were shaking.

When he was taken out alone for questioning, he hesitated for a moment, but finally told the truth.

But who could have imagined that the county magistrate was actually the general's uncle.

Now the news has spread throughout the city.

The county magistrate was scared half to death.

The Tang governor was certainly not that scared, after all, he was an important official, but what about himself?

What if someone wants to retaliate against me in the future? Will the general tolerate me?

Thinking of this, the county magistrate felt that his future was bleak and that he was afraid that his whole life would be decided by this matter.

After Tang Yong left, the county town returned to its original appearance.

The county magistrate sat in the house, gazing into the distance with reluctance.

The house was empty.

Not long ago, he called his younger brother over and asked him to take his wife and daughter to another place so that they could live in seclusion to avoid being implicated by him.

Now, he is the only one left in the courtyard, and even the servants in the house have been dismissed.

At this moment, a knight suddenly rushed in.

The knight was wearing armor and looked very majestic.

"Where is County Magistrate Li?"

"Why don't you come out to greet me?"

The county magistrate hurriedly stood up and bowed to greet him.

The knight took out the document and threw it to him.

"This is the promotion order from the Xingtai. The general thinks highly of you and has personally rewarded you with a fine horse and a letter. The general asked you to write back to him every year and report the local affairs truthfully."

The county magistrate was trembling all over. He took the letter with a shivering hand, then knelt down and held it above his head.

"I kneel down to thank the great general for his grace!!"

ps: Yong’s politics were quite harsh, but they suppressed the powerful and handled public affairs very well.

Feng Changye, a Zhonglang of the Sikong Department, and Ping Tao, a military officer of the Taiwei Department, were both punished for violating the limit on the amount of money collected by the levy. Yong was punished with thirty canes on the back. The prime minister of Qi had never beaten court officials, so this shocked everyone. - "Book of Northern Qi: Biography of Tang Yong"

I can't write about all ten governors, otherwise it would be too watery. However, I will consider writing about a similar round in the future, with a title similar to these two chapters, and occasionally insert it into the main storyline to write about the governance styles of several governors.
(End of this chapter)