A powerful minister of the Song Dynasty

Chapter 301 Arriving at the Training Ground, Bringing Weapons

Officials protect each other.

They naturally share common interests that they need to protect.

Zheng Wenhuan could not escape his current situation.

County Magistrate Zhou Derong threw a tantrum in the household affairs office; in short, he was criticized by the newly appointed county magistrate.

None of you will have an easy time!

Qian Gansan, the military advisor in charge of household affairs, was the most nervous because he was mainly responsible for bookkeeping.

Once the county magistrate investigates, he'll be finished.

During the Song Dynasty, the sons of minor officials were allowed to join the army and take the imperial examinations. This rule was not changed until Zhu Yuanzhang became emperor.

Because Zhu had suffered oppression from petty officials, he believed that since the Song Dynasty, only petty officials had become corrupt and therefore he did not allow them to take the imperial examinations.

The county magistrate lost his temper, and all the clerks in the county government office tucked their tails between their legs.

It seems the new magistrate has already started his first major campaign.

I wonder which unlucky people will get burned.

Song Xuan, however, did not stay in his room to eat, but went out with two attendants.

They happened to run into the people from the criminal investigation department, whose head was Yu Gao, the clerk in charge of criminal investigation.

Yu Gao quickly bowed, and many of the minor officials followed suit.

Song Xuan didn't seem to mind and asked them where they had lunch.

Yu Gao quickly perked up.

They would either borrow a pot and firewood from the jailer to heat up their leftovers, or they would grab a bite from a street stall.

Now that it's hot, it's a good time to go out for a walk.

The prison cells needed to prepare some "pig feed" for the prisoners, so they would always request firewood and coarse rice.

What's wrong with everyone using a little firewood?
Prisoners are lucky if they can even get something to eat, let alone whether it's hot or cold.
"What are you planning to eat today?" Song Xuan originally wanted to ask Qi Lecheng.

"Replying to your question, sir, let's go to the corner and have a bowl of noodles," Yu Gao quickly replied.

"how is the taste?"

"It's alright, though."

Song Xuan nodded: "Lead the way, I'd like to try it too, let's go."

Yu Gao was surprised that Song Xuan would go out to eat with them, so he cautiously took the initiative to lead the way.

The criminal investigation department is not a large department.

Their main responsibilities include case recording and the management of torture instruments.

It's enough if all five people can write.

"Brother Qi, let's go, together."

At Song Xuan's shout, Qi Lecheng perked up and quickly followed.

The officials in the interrogation room all looked at Qi Lecheng.

Unexpectedly, he, a lowly servant, was addressed as Brother Qi by the high-ranking official.

Given their close relationship, what kind of "relationship" could they possibly have?
He mingled in the county government office.

Ability is not that important.

Relationships are the most important thing!
It seems I'll have to be more polite to this watchdog from now on.

The group then reached the corner.

Before me was a flatbed cart pulled by two strong mules.

This type of vehicle first appeared in the Song Dynasty, and was mainly used in the Central Plains.

It is named for its smooth and stable ride.

When the stall owner saw Yu Gao escorting a young man over, he quickly came over to greet him, diligently wiping the stools and inviting Song Xuan to sit down.

"This customer looks unfamiliar; is this your first time visiting our stall?"

As Song Xuan sat down, he asked:

"Great, shopkeeper, what kinds of noodles do you have here?"

"To let our customers know, our restaurant offers vegetable noodles, braised pork noodles, braised noodles, braised pork noodles (both large and small sizes), pan-fried braised pork, assorted pan-fried dishes, raw and cooked rice, and pan-fried fish rice."

Song Xuan nodded; they were all Tokyo specialties, things he'd never tried before.
"Shopkeeper, what's your specialty for noodles?"

"Naturally, it's the meat-stuffed side."

Song Xuan nodded and looked back at the person:

"Give me ten servings."

"okay."

The stall owner quickly went over with a smile to prepare, and sold ten servings of noodles with meat in one go.

But he's a big spender.

Yu Gao instinctively went over to pay the bill.

After all, although this stall is a street stall, its specialty noodles are not cheap.

"Hey."

Song Xuan directly stopped Yu Gao:

"What's going on? You want to pay my bill?"

When asked, Yu Gao seemed a little embarrassed:
“My lord, that is the proper way.”

Without Song Xuan's prompting, Wang Bao took out money from his satchel and asked the shopkeeper how much it cost.

"How much is your monthly salary? Can you afford to hire me?"

"You can certainly afford to hire a high-ranking official."

Song Xuan chuckled: "So you can afford to hire these guys?"

"I'm a little short on cash."

Song Xuan gestured for Yu Gao and the others to sit down:

"When I go out to eat, I always treat others."

"Anyone who wants to treat me to a meal should first consider whether they are qualified to do so!"

"Yes Yes Yes."

Yu Gao quickly responded.

He didn't feel that Song Xuan had insulted him.

This is the case.

Does anyone really have the right to invite a top scholar who has passed all three imperial examinations to dinner?
However, this was the first time they had ever seen an official like Song Xuan who didn't need his subordinates to express "filial piety."

Regardless of the circumstances, when a new official takes office, his subordinates have to chip in to treat him to a meal.

Even if you pay money, you may not be eligible to attend and sit with others.

Qi Lecheng sat to the side with a smile on his face, feeling extremely lucky.

When those officials were gossiping today, Qi Lecheng wanted to tell Song Xuan about it.

But there was never a chance.

Seeing them sit down, Song Xuan smiled:
"Don't be nervous, I've seen your salaries from Clerk Zheng."

"They're all so poor they have to steal paper from the county government office to sell case files to make a living, and they still want to treat me to a meal. I'm afraid they can barely feed themselves."

Yu Gao and the others hurriedly said that they dared not sell the imperial paper privately.

Song Xuan didn't care either:
"They're just pieces of paper anyway. Sell the waste paper if you want, and sell the files of old cases if you don't want them."

This was also a tradition of the Song Dynasty.

Su Shunqin was the son of Su Qi, one of Song Xuan's recommenders for the imperial examinations.

He and his colleagues sold waste paper as usual, and then used the money to go out for a meal.

During this time, Wang Zhu also sat with prostitutes, which meant that they engaged in intimate behavior.

Wang Yirou also wrote a poem that contained highly disrespectful words towards Confucius and the current emperor.

As a result, he was fiercely criticized by Zhang Fangping, Song Qi, and Wang Gongchen.

Zhao Zhen was also very angry, but in the end Han Qi spoke up, saying that these people were all close ministers of the emperor.

With the Western borders at war and national affairs so fraught with danger, why are they not offering advice to the emperor, but instead attacking Wang Yirou over trivial matters? What are they thinking?

Zhao Zhen thought it made sense, but he dismissed or demoted them all.

Su Shunqin defended himself by saying that he did this out of "consideration for the officials," not out of intentional theft.

The imperial court permitted officials to sell these waste papers.

However, it can also be used for official banquets and entertainment.

This is acceptable for our department.

Don't invite people from other departments, otherwise it will be considered misuse of public funds.

After giving a small tap, Song Xuan immediately smiled and said:
“I’m afraid that if Yu Xingcao pays the bill now, he’ll really starve to death in the next few days, and then I’ll be the one to blame for it.”

"Hahaha."

Someone couldn't help but laugh, and the laughter quickly spread.

Yu Gao found that the newly arrived county magistrate was not arrogant at all.

He wasn't the cold-faced judge that the rumors from this morning suggested.

Everyone relaxed.

After all, Song Xuan, this high-ranking literary star, actually acted quite down-to-earth.

The person who is so proud of his literary talent has the qualifications to back it up.

If you're not convinced, then try passing the triple crown exam yourself and experience it for yourself.

Song Xuan tasted the noodles. Actually, the reason this restaurant is expensive is because it gives a generous amount of meat.

The meal included carbs, meat, and two cloves of garlic.

Other types of noodles don't come with extra garlic.

Song Xuan saw that Gao did not eat garlic:

"What, you don't like garlic?"

Yu Gao shook his head: "No, it's because I'm afraid my reply will offend your esteemed master."

"It doesn't matter."

Song Xuan took the first bite of garlic:

"Xianchun, go and buy two packets of cloves, also known as chicken tongue incense, and send one packet to the brothers in the torture chamber later."

"Here."

Xu Xianchun responded.

Yu Gao subconsciously took a bite of garlic.

He had never seen such a generous official before.

After all, chicken tongue spices are not cheap these days.

Not everyone has the means to use this thing to "suppress" bad breath.

At the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, Cao Cao wrote a letter to Zhuge Liang, saying that he would send him five catties of chicken tongue incense as a token of his gratitude.

Song Zhiwen wanted to climb into Wu Zetian's bed and become her male favorite, but Wu Zetian disliked him because of his bad breath.

For this reason, he brushed his teeth every day and even often held chicken tongue in his mouth, but he still did not win Wu Zetian's favor.

Xu Xianchun quickly finished his noodles and went straight to the pharmacy.

Instead, everyone else sat with him, mainly to watch Wang Bao eat and drink heartily.

These county officials came here to eat and even paid for it.

The stall owner naturally gave them extra ingredients, and they ate until their bellies were round.

But unexpectedly, the attendants beside the high-ranking official...

It's really edible!
He devoured all three bowls of the finest noodles with braised pork.

Even so, he drank all the soup.

I heard Master Song say not to eat too much, because there's a competition to be held this afternoon.

I'll make up for the lunch I had in the evening.

Wang Bao then wiped his mouth, indicating that he understood.

Xu Xianchun rushed back and handed the chicken tongue incense to Song Xuan.

Song Xuan took a packet of chicken tongue incense, popped one into his mouth and held it there, then casually scattered the rest.

Everyone thanked him repeatedly.

Song Xuan then asked:

"Does the county government handle many cases every day?"

"In reply to your question, sir, it's not many. When things get busy, it's a dozen or so."

"When things aren't busy, there are three to five people, but the people in the criminal investigation department don't have enough people to handle just one case."

Yu Gao then explained to Song Xuan:
"Even a high-ranking official knows the saying 'If the people don't report it, the officials won't investigate.'"

"After all, some lawsuits require money once they go to the yamen, and many people are reluctant to spend that money."

Song Xuan nodded to indicate that he understood.

Tokyo has a population of one million.

How can people not have conflicts?
Street fights are common, and even when people are fighting until they are bleeding, few people report it to the authorities.

Gui Fanlou kidnapped people and reported the case to the authorities, but the authorities were completely helpless.

"Alright, I'm going back to take a nap."

Song Xuan spat out the chicken tongue he was eating, grabbed a new one, and sauntered away.

Yu Gao and the others hurriedly bowed and saw them off. Only after seeing the watchdog Qi Lecheng follow did they begin to discuss among themselves.

"Boss, the Master isn't as harsh as the rumors say when you get to know him!"

Yu Gao nodded slightly:

"The household is lucrative, and the official saw the account books."

"Taxes have been collected unevenly over the years, and with preparations for the summer tax collection fast approaching, it's no wonder he's angry."

"The boss is right. For Master Song, being a county magistrate is just a stepping stone. He will definitely aim for the position of prime minister in the future."

Yu Gao also stood up:
"So we should behave ourselves and listen to whatever the master says, understand?"

"I'll do whatever the boss says."

Yu Gao gently patted the garlic skin off his clothes:
"Besides, we only make a little money on a regular basis, so it's the right thing to do to stay out of this mess."

Everyone agreed.

Those who like to litigate are mostly scholars, and it's rare to find someone willing to bribe them.

The only place they can accept bribes is to alter testimonies and receive lighter sentences; they don't have much real power.

Moreover, since some small county governments have been divided into six departments, imitating the six ministries of the central government, they have long since each occupied a piece of the pie of profit.

The clerks in the same office placed great importance on forming cliques.

After all, everyone needs to cooperate to make money in the long run and compete for profits with the other Cao families.

Everyone knows that the most lucrative position in the county government is the Revenue Officer.
They've gotten into trouble, and everyone's just waiting to see them make a fool of themselves.

They eat their fill of food all the time, so it's their own fault for being targeted now.

Song Xuan walked slowly.

He acts according to his own way of doing things.

Even if you think your subordinates are stupid, you should let middle managers handle the education and training, instead of doing it yourself.

Then I'll need to appease this subordinate who's being targeted by the middle manager, and then put pressure on the middle manager to teach this subordinate a lesson.

He had long been adept at the art of managing people.

Being a "nice guy" won't lead a team to grow bigger and stronger.

There is some truth to the saying that "to repel external enemies, one must first secure internal stability."

Especially during the Northern Song Dynasty, the authority of county officials was confined to their offices, while the power of clerks extended to the countryside.

(The magistrate's authority was confined to the government office, but the power of the clerks and clerks spread throughout the city and countryside.)

Elsewhere, the emperor's power did not extend to the countryside, and Song Xuan did not want his power to be taken away by others, thus providing them with convenience.

"My lord."

Qi Lecheng quickly told Song Xuan the news he had heard that day.

Song Xuan nodded, smiled, and patted him on the shoulder:

"Got it, you're pretty smart."

Qi Lecheng also had a smile on his face:
"Among so many people in the county government, only the high-ranking official treats me like a human being. Everyone else calls me a watchdog. How could I, Qi Lecheng, not know how to repay kindness?"

Song Xuan stretched out his hand.

Wang Bao immediately took out a string of coins from his satchel.

"Hand out."

After Song Xuan took it, he slapped a string of coins into Qi Lecheng's hand:

"Buy some sweet treats for your old mother at home. Work hard from now on, and you won't be treated badly if you follow me."

Qi Lecheng was so excited he was shaking.

He had also contributed money to the New Year celebrations for successive county magistrates, but he never gave anything back.

Now that I've met Song Xuan, I not only got a free meal without having to contribute any money, but I've also been rewarded!

Looking across thousands of prefectures and counties, it is extremely rare for a county magistrate to take the initiative to invite his servants to dinner.

If Song Xuan were to be so kind as to refuse, then he would have wasted eight years of his time guarding the gate.

Qi Lecheng instinctively wanted to kneel down before Song Xuan, but Song Xuan stopped him.
"This little bit of money is nothing. You should ask them about their treatment when you have time."

Wang Bao followed Song Xuan, but Xu Xianchun patted the excited Qi Lecheng on the shoulder:
"You're lucky, kid, to have gotten on the coattails of a big shot."

"From now on, everyone who sees you will have to call you Brother Dog. Anyone has the right to call you 'watchdog'?"

Qi Lecheng watched shakily as Xu Xianchun followed Song Xuan's footsteps.

He felt like he was dreaming.

But the heavy Tian Sheng copper coin in his hand told him that it was true.

Am I really going to defy fate and change my destiny?
The group in the torture chamber vividly described how Song Xuan, this high-ranking official, had invited them to dinner.

The presence of chicken tongue fragrance caused Song Xuan's "reputation" to reverse in the blink of an eye.

What kind of status or position do you have that you deserve to be invited to dinner by a high-ranking official like yourself?
But it really happened.

That's incredibly kind of you, sir.

The plight of the group in the torture chamber was something the other chambers envied.

Some even suggested that we deliberately bump into Master Song tomorrow at noon.

He wasn't doing it for a free meal; he just wanted to make a good impression on the new magistrate.

No one wants to be second to anyone else.

Qi Lecheng, who was jokingly called the "watchdog" by everyone, couldn't help but smile.

He looked around at everyone in the county government office with great smugness.

Since Master Song thinks so highly of me, I must certainly live up to the reward he has given me.

These words naturally reached the ears of Zhou Derong, the county magistrate.

His outburst at the household office was an attempt to portray Song Xuan, the new magistrate, as difficult to serve, but Song Xuan immediately shattered that image with his approachable manner.

Zhou Derong sighed. He didn't believe that the high-ranking scholar Song Xuan would lower himself to associate with a bunch of hopeless officials like them.

This is nothing but a pretense.

Which of those top-ranked scholars doesn't have their eyes on their foreheads?

Over time, it will be exposed.

Zhou Derong waited for Song Xuan to reveal his true nature.

“County Magistrate Zhou, do you think the sir is deliberately targeting us?” Qian Gansan cautiously extended his hand, making a gesture of offering a gift.

Let's drag him onto our ship too. Then we'll all be in the same boat, and he won't keep chasing after us anymore.

"Shut up, go settle your accounts."

Zhou Derong glared at him. He hadn't figured out anything about Song Xuan yet, and he was already going up to give him money.

Isn't that just handing over leverage against us?

I've never heard anyone say that he always treats others when he goes out to eat. Does anyone else even deserve to treat him?

Is this statement simply what it means literally?

A smart person like Song Xuan always speaks after careful consideration.

This man is nothing like a novice county magistrate; his manner of doing things is incredibly experienced.

He just doesn't care about the money we give him as gifts; what he wants is political achievements!
Song Xuan, at a young age, achieved the highest honors in all three categories of imperial examinations. He had money of his own, and if he wanted beauty, he fell in love at first sight with the daughter of Minister Cao, and for this reason, he refused Prime Minister Lü's marriage proposal.

Thus, he became the first top scholar in the history of the Song Dynasty to marry into a military family, which was unprecedented.

If Zhou Derong still can't figure this out, then he's wasted all these years of time working in the county government.

Otherwise, Song Xuan wouldn't have attached such importance to the summer tax!
Now Zhou Derong wanted to see if Song Xuan had the ability to get money from those wealthy landlords to make up for the tax deficit!
When the appointed time arrived, Song Xuan instructed County Lieutenant Ban Feng to beat the drum to notify everyone.

Registrar Zheng Wenhuan and County Magistrate Zhou Derong also rushed over to follow orders.

Song Xuan stood on the high platform of the back school field, looking down at the large group of people gathered below, which could be described as a disorganized mess.

Even among the Imperial Guards, many failed to obey orders.

Song Xuan didn't dwell on it too much; beating the drum was simply a way to establish his authority.

There were three shifts of yamen runners, as well as mounted archers and patrolmen who had come from outside the city.

Everyone stared at the new magistrate, wondering what he was up to.

Song Xuan took the roster, first introduced himself, and then began calling out names.

The fast squad, directly under the county commandant, was responsible for apprehending thieves and summoning criminals. They were equipped with iron rulers and chains, and some elite soldiers were allowed to ride horses.

All forty-five people were present.

Song Xuan walked down from the high platform and began to look at their faces one by one, while also checking their weapons, which were not rusty.

"Indeed, the men under County Commandant Ban all look elite."

Ban Feng was overjoyed, and the other staff members also looked happy.

After a midday, they all understood that the new magistrate intended to give Ban County Lieutenant an important position, and they could also bring honor to the county.

Song Xuan returned to the high platform and called roll for the Zhuang soldiers; there were eighty people.

They were assigned by the county magistrate and were responsible for guarding the court, escorting prisoners, carrying fire and water sticks, and also for fire prevention in the county government office, and even supporting the express convoy.

Song Xuan also came down to look at this group of people. They used that kind of technique: loud noise causes less damage, and quiet noise causes more damage.

I usually practice my skills by making tofu.

There are many opportunities to make money, but also many risks!

After sizing him up, Song Xuan said nothing and went back to call out names of his own team members.

The "Soap Squad" consists of twenty people who are responsible for clearing the way for the ceremonial procession. If there aren't enough executioners, they can also fill in as assistants.

After surveying the group, Song Xuan realized that his group, responsible for the ceremonial guard, was the smallest and looked too thin, suggesting they didn't have much money to gain.

The Zhuang class had the largest number of members, and Zhou Derong, who was not so thin compared to them, could be sent out to boost morale.

It doesn't seem like they have any fighting ability.

However, in Song Xuan's eyes, the forty or so men under Ban Feng were all skilled fighters.

It looks like they've been practicing their skills in various matches outside.

There were a total of 125 yamen runners in the three shifts.

Then Song Xuan began to call out the archers. There were thirty permanent archers, including ten mounted archers and thirty rotating archers, all of whom were temporarily assigned.

These men also belonged to the county commandant Ban Feng, and they did not appear to be thin or weak.

Inspector Zhang Chen watched Song Xuan taking attendance and was very puzzled.

After all, it's quite difficult to receive a salary without working in Tokyo.

Could it be that this famous top scholar in front of us is also someone who only knows how to study by rote?

However, after learning that Song Xuan had been appointed as the magistrate of Kaifeng, Zhang Chen made a special inquiry about his superior, who turned out to be a "tough nut to crack."

He even dared to offend his superior, Chen Yaozuo, the Prefect of Kaifeng.

This kind of person shouldn't be considered brainless!
So Zhang Chen couldn't understand Song Xuan's intentions.

After confirming everything, Song Xuan turned to the patrol officers and began calling out names.

The patrol and inspection office had 120 people, responsible for inspecting the city gates, cracking down on smuggling on key roads, managing smuggling of grain transport at the Bianhe River wharf, managing boat owners, and maintaining order for land-based merchants and post roads.

There are many lucrative opportunities, but not everyone can make a profit.

In addition, the Northern Song Dynasty implemented a system of mutual inspection between the patrol inspectors and county magistrates. The patrol inspectors in Kaifeng County were nominally under the control of the county magistrate, but in reality, they were mostly under the command of the Privy Council.

They only got a very small amount of meat to eat.

Inspector Zhang Chen did not dare to underestimate Song Xuan. After listening to him finish reading, he learned that five people had not come due to injuries or illnesses.

Song Xuan nodded:
“Registrar Zheng, take five strings of cash from the account and give it to Inspector Zhang so he can pass it on to those five brothers. Unfortunately, they are injured or ill.”

"Here."

The registrar Zheng Wenhuan didn't dare to utter a single word of rebuttal.

Hearing how generous Song Xuan was, everyone felt even more envious of the three injured patients.

If I were sick, that would be great; I'd get the reward money for nothing.

Anyway, Song Xuan was using official funds, not his own money.

Kaifeng County had a budget of 300 guan per year, but actual expenditures often exceeded the budget, requiring the diversion of other funds to make up the shortfall.

In addition, there were also station reception fees and festival "gift money".

Song Xuan put the roster aside and looked at the people below:

"I was ordered to be the magistrate of Kaifeng County. Today is the day for roll call at the drill ground. I had already sent the county magistrate to inform them. I was thinking that if they missed the time, ten out of ten would be absent, and if one was absent, they would be dismissed."

"I didn't expect all my brothers to be so respectful and not deliberately cause trouble for me, but instead help me establish my authority!"

Zhou Derong understood that he was the one Song Xuan had chosen to establish his authority over.

However, he was used to it; all the previous county magistrates had treated him this way when dealing with a seasoned official like himself.

It's just that no one has ever succeeded.

"Zhang, the head of the fast shift, was the full amount of money paid for the salt smuggling operation last month?"

Hearing Song Xuan's question, Zhang, the constable, was somewhat taken aback. He quickly stepped forward, first glancing at County Lieutenant Ban, then lowering his head again:
"In reply to your question, sir, it was not the full amount."

Song Xuan nodded: "I have also checked the accounts. The Three Departments approved ten strings of cash, but you only received three strings?"

Ban Feng glared angrily at Zhou Derong. "Ten strings of cash!"
You only gave me three strings of cash, you're fucking greedy.

Zhang, the head constable, looked at Zhou, the county magistrate, and bowed again, saying:
"Replying to your question, sir, I only received three strings of cash, which I then divided among my brothers. I was unaware that it was ten strings."

In reality, Zhang Dutou only received two strings of cash. One string was given as a bribe to County Lieutenant Ban. These were all unspoken rules.

Zhou Derong's face was a little pale. He didn't expect Song Xuan to bring this up in public.

However, knowing that he was the chicken that was taken out, he cooperated very well.

"County Magistrate Zhou," Song Xuan said directly.

"You come and explain to Chief Zhang where the seven strings of cash that disappeared went."

"In reply to your question, sir, it was actually used to fill the gap in the official funds."

Zhou Derong bowed slightly, explaining that he had no other choice.

The county government's tax revenue was uneven, so much of the money was unusable.

The official allowance was also reduced from 500 strings of cash to 300.

There was no chance to intercept the "surplus".

This involves collecting an extra 10% to 20% of taxes, which is not recorded in the books and is used for "official entertainment."

Fines were mainly used for minor offenses, with the offender not imprisoned. The county magistrate could allocate 30% of the fines as rewards.

While some loss of grain was permissible, Kaifeng County was also flooded, leaving no opportunity to raise funds.

Hearing Zhou Derong's words, Song Xuan nodded:
"As you all know, Kaifeng County is currently unable to collect taxes, which has caused losses to everyone's interests. I understand that you are all facing difficulties!"

"But do you, Magistrate Gao, know the extent of the danger these frontline brothers face? Can those who smuggle salt be considered good people?"

“He could have lost his life in the blink of an eye. This money cannot be embezzled; it must be returned to him immediately.”

"I understand."

Zhou Derong retreated, thinking to himself that he had finally passed the test.

In fact, there were even riskier ways to make money, but Zhou Derong would not tell Song Xuan about them.

Litigation fee deductions, river engineering levies, profit sharing from smuggling and other illegal activities, etc.

County Lieutenant Ban Feng's face was full of joy. "The county magistrate really takes good care of me."

Zhang, the head constable, also retreated, exchanging smiles with his brothers; more money had come in.

Song Xuan then looked at Zhang Chen:
"Inspector Zhang, I see from the accounts that you collected 30 more strings of cash in commercial tax last month, but it was also instructed to use it to cover the shortfall?"

Zhang Chen quickly stepped forward and replied, "That is indeed the case, sir."

In fact, he received more than thirty strings of cash, but only thirty strings were recorded in the books.

“Registrar Zheng, bring out this money as well.”

"Yes."

Zheng Wenhuan led his men to collect the money.

Song Xuan began calling out names, then had Zhang Chen take five strings of cash, and then called over Zhang the constable to take seven strings of cash.

Many yamen runners stared longingly at the thirty strings of cash piled on the platform, wondering what the master meant by this.

"From this day forward, Kaifeng County will be under my administration, Song Xuan. I will reward you for your merits and will never withhold any money from you. After all, we are all serving the court and are all taking risks."

"But if there is a mistake, I will also punish it."

Song Xuan's words invigorated everyone.

After all, judging from Song Xuan's words and actions, he was not joking; he really was giving money.

Song Xuan continued with a smile:

"Of course, you bunch of poor bastards can't squeeze a penny out of you, so I won't fine you."

"At most, the Zhuang brothers will use you as practice tools to hit you with the paddle. I've heard that the Zhuang brothers are very skilled."

"Hahaha."

A burst of laughter came from below.

"Those who have committed serious crimes should not be imprisoned in Kaifeng County. They should be exiled to other places to avoid making their former brothers feel guilty."

Song Xuan's tactic of first harming others for his own benefit, then slapping them, and finally offering them a sweet treat still works for some people.

Ban Feng was beaming with pride.

He was undoubtedly the brightest star today, even looking at Zhang Chen with extreme provocation.

He didn't fall for it today.

If Zhang Chen beats her up, that would give her even more grounds to argue.

Song Xuan grabbed the string of coins: "I plan to distribute this money to everyone today."

These words immediately caught the attention of the three shifts of yamen runners, the mounted archers, and the patrol officers.

Everyone thought that the current magistrate would have Inspector Zhang return the money!

He sent it directly.

Song Xuan is a good county magistrate.

He gave everyone money as soon as he arrived; who wouldn't appreciate his kindness?
Immediately, the yamen runners below began to murmur amongst themselves.

Song Xuan gestured for everyone to be quiet and listen to him.

"But there are a total of 270 people here. Everyone gets a share, and each person gets a basic share of 40 coins, so it took 11 strings of cash."

"As for the rest of the money, let me see your skills. Here, those who are capable can come up, and those who are not can go down."

"If you can run, fight, shoot arrows, swim fast, or climb walls well, as long as you have the skills, you can sign up and let me see."

Song Xuan pointed to the money in the basket:

"The reward money is not to be split equally; whoever is capable will take one string of cash."

"If there isn't enough money to go around, I'll make up the difference out of my own pocket. I'm just worried that you won't have the ability to take it all."

Upon hearing Song Xuan's announcement, all three shifts of yamen runners were eager to earn this sum of money.

If you perform well, you can not only earn money, but also catch the eye of the county magistrate!
Who among those present was unaware of Song Xuan's background?

"Is there anyone else who doesn't understand?" Song Xuan asked again.

"My lord, may I ask what the rules are for being able to fight?"

Zhang, the head constable, was the first to inquire. He dared to confront the salt smugglers because he wanted to earn a reward and also to catch Song Xuan's eye.

Song Xuan pointed to Zhang Chen and Ban Feng beside him and said:
"The three classes of yamen runners and mounted archers, whoever can show their fighting skills can challenge Inspector Zhang. Everyone fights for ten rounds. If you can knock them down or not be knocked down by them, you will pass and then move on to the next round."

“The patrol inspectors will challenge the county magistrate, following the same rules. This is fair.”

"it is good."

Zhang Dutou shouted loudly.

After all, they had clashed with the patrol officers quite a bit.

They've already lost their temper.

The idea of ​​everyone attacking each other's superiors is simply ingenious.

Ban Feng didn't care. Relying on his good skills, he had long wanted to openly beat up the people from the patrol and inspection department.

Moreover, it's a one-on-one session, so you won't be at a disadvantage.

Lord Song, he's taken such good care of me!

Zhang Chen quickly cupped his hands and said:
“My lord, we are just ordinary people. Swords have no eyes. One of us is fighting against more than a hundred people. We simply don’t have the strength to hold on. We hope you can understand us.”

"That makes sense." Song Xuan took two steps on the platform.
"However, after so long, everyone knows their own skills, and not everyone can prove that they can fight."

Song Xuan then casually pointed to Wang Bao and Xu Xianchun behind him.

"If you two feel tired, my brother can take over, how about that?"

Since Song Xuan had already sent out his own brothers, Zhang Chen had no choice but to shut up, no matter what his opinions were.

However, he also felt that Song Xuan was right; not everyone needs to prove that they can fight.

Ban Feng, however, added insult to injury by saying:
“My lord, there’s no need for your brothers to step in. I can handle it myself. Even if my bones break, I won’t utter a single word.”

"It's just a friendly spar, there's no need to get hurt. After we're done, I was thinking of treating you all to a meal, so how can you be too badly injured?"

After Song Xuan's words, everyone knew their limits.

However, it's inevitable that tempers will flare up during battles.

Song Xuan then addressed the group of mounted archers, saying, "I know that those who can serve as mounted archers are all elites. Show us your archery skills or horsemanship."

"Here."

The crowd on the training ground became even more excited.

Who wouldn't want an extra reward?

Chief Zhang shouted, "Brothers, let me set an example for you."

So he went over and started fighting with Zhang Chen.

Wang Bao brought a chair for Song Xuan and invited him to sit down and observe.

"it is good."

Ban Feng was making a lot of noise from the side.

Zhang Dutou was his most capable and valiant general. In his opinion, even on the battlefield, he could cut off the heads of the Liao people.

Song Xuan didn't want to judge the archery, so he directly asked Xu Xianchun to supervise.

Xu Xianchun had witnessed Song Xuan's archery skills firsthand.

He understood, of course, that Song Xuan looked down on these people, but he still had to use them.

Since everyone is new here, even if we replace them all, it will be difficult to find so many qualified people who can obtain "guarantees" in a short period of time.

After all, working in the county government requires passing a political vetting process, and you need five or ten households to act as guarantors.

After Zhang Dutou successfully defeated Zhang Xunsi, he came to Song Xuan.

Song Xuan pointed to Wang Bao standing behind him: "Let's arm wrestle and see how long you can last."

"Here."

Zhang, the head constable, held his breath as he looked at the tall and imposing Wang Bao.

Such an opportunity to gain exposure should not be easily given up.

So when his veins were bulging, he used all his strength to try and beat Wang Bao.

However, Wang Bao had been well cared for by Song Xuan for so long that his physique had improved and he was no longer weak.

What's more, he hadn't even eaten his fill at noon, yet he was so easily defeated by Zhang Dutou.

After trying for a long time, Wang Bao's arm remained motionless, and Zhang Dutou was about to give up.

His face turned red from holding back, and he cupped his hands in apology, then prepared to leave.

But Song Xuan asked, "What about this person?"

Wang Bao replied respectfully, "Replying to Twelfth Brother, this man has sufficient strength and the necessary skills."

"Ah."

Song Xuan picked up a string of coins and let Zhang, the head constable, take it away.

"My lord, didn't I lose?"

“I didn’t say you could only take the money if you beat him. If that were the rule, there would be very few people in the entire Song Dynasty who could take the reward.”

Song Xuan handed the money to Zhang, the head constable.
"Since my brother says you passed, then you passed. You're a good man!"

Upon hearing this suggestion, Zhang Dutou looked Wang Bao up and down again.

If this man were to wear infantry armor, he would probably be able to easily break through the enemy's formation.

So he bowed to Song Xuan, then to Wang Bao, before smiling and walking down from the platform with the money in his hand.

Seeing that Song Xuan was actually paying, the crowd went even crazier, each claiming they had the same ability.

County Magistrate Zhou Derong couldn't understand why such good money would be given away to such a poor person.
Is collecting taxes really something that can be done by testing these yamen runners?
It still relies on local gentry to act as intermediaries, pleading with wealthy and powerful families to pay taxes so that the accounts don't look too bad.

Innocent!

Seeing Song Xuan's actions, Zhou Derong felt even more certain that he was about to suffer a major setback.

However, I won't remind him. There's still a long road ahead, just wait and see.

Zhou Derong was eager for Qian Gansan to sort out the accounts and then hand them over to Song Xuan so that he could collect taxes from those powerful and influential people.

I really need to learn from him how he collects taxes from those powerful and influential people.

Just as everyone was enthusiastically showing off their skills, someone from the palace arrived.

Everyone immediately stopped and bowed to listen.

Zhang Maoze stood on the drill ground: "Announce the imperial edict that Song Xuan, the magistrate of Kaifeng, should enter the court early tomorrow morning to participate in the grand court assembly."

Song Xuan quickly accepted the imperial decree, indicating that he understood.

It seems that after his father-in-law arranged for someone to impeach him, both the emperor and the prime minister have already given their responses.

I wonder if they have reported the impeachment to Empress Dowager Liu in advance.

Looking at the large crowd, Zhang Maoze respectfully asked Song Xuan to rise: "I wonder what Scholar Song is doing today?"

"I've come to test the abilities of the people in the county government, since Kaifeng County has a large population and prominent public security issues."

"I see."

Zhang Maoze then smiled and said, "I wonder if Scholar Song could speak to me privately? His Majesty has something to say."

"can."

Song Xuan instructed County Magistrate Zhou to keep an eye on things, and that he would be right back.

Even after Song Xuan and the eunuch sent by the government left, the people in the county government office were still in a daze.

Although the magistrate of Kaifeng was qualified to attend the grand court assembly, no one was personally invited by the emperor.

Master Song's background is truly extraordinary!
(End of this chapter)