Frost for a Thousand Years

Chapter 314 Lord Song's Incognito Visit

When these words came from the mouth of this outsider, everyone was stunned.

No one expected that he could hate Song Shi'an so much!

However, it's understandable. His own father was planted in the ground like a ginseng root, and he fled to Huai County to cultivate land, only to find that there was neither justice nor a way to survive. Who wouldn't be angry?

But this kid doesn't understand that a man's anger is only effective when blood is flowing!
"..." The young master on horseback was also stunned by his crazy behavior. He stared at him in astonishment for a while before he reacted. Then he pulled out his whip and lashed at him, "How dare you be so disrespectful to Lord Song!"

However, even when the whip struck Song Shi'an directly, he did not flinch.

After Song Shi'an was beaten, Xin Yue instinctively wanted to kill him.

But Song Shi'an's gaze made him feel somewhat frightened.

He was still staring straight at that person.

"According to the laws of the Great Yu Dynasty, can I sue Song Shi'an?"

He pressed him forcefully.

Upon hearing these four words, the young master was taken aback, and could only stare at the other party with forced glare, not knowing how to refute.

When Jia Xu was young, he did something that was hailed as genius, but even he himself found it boring.

In his early years, Jia Xu was recommended as a filial and incorruptible official. Due to illness, he resigned from his post and returned to his hometown. On the way, he encountered rebels, and dozens of his companions were captured. Jia Xu, however, calmly claimed to be the grandson of Duan Jiong and told them to find Duan Jiong and that he would pay a large sum of money to ransom him.

Then the traitors killed everyone else except him, and even safely sent him home.

Similarly, someone who can recite the "Great Yu Laws" is not an ordinary person.

In addition, like Jia Xu, he didn't have the temperament of a commoner at all.

"How is Lord Song? Do you want to sue him?" the patrol officer asked.

“He said that the military-agricultural colonies would allow everyone to cultivate land and be paid for their labor, but I have come to Huai County and have no fixed abode, living a life of wandering and displacement. Song Shi’an’s policies are not implemented and he is untrustworthy. Can you sue him?” Song Shi’an asked.

"Lord Song hasn't even taken office yet, how could I have lied to you?"

Hearing this, the patrol officer was relieved.

He's nothing more than an arrogant and ignorant hothead who can't even afford to eat.

I thought it was an inspector sending someone disguised as a commoner to conduct a secret investigation.

"You're already calling him Lord Song, so how can you not be considered to have taken office? Wasn't the land reclamation a policy he was in charge of implementing?"

"Good, you ignorant fool."

There was only one patrol officer, who had come to disperse the crowd of troublemakers. Seeing that the man was courting death, he didn't stop him. He simply raised his head slightly and said, "Then I'll take you into the city to the county magistrate and file a complaint with him. How about that?"

“My little brother is just too young and ignorant, please don’t mind him, sir…” Upon hearing the county magistrate’s name, Madam Ma quickly pulled Song Shi’an back and said with a smile, “Let’s not cause trouble, let’s disperse now.”

In feudal society, the county magistrate was a local official who was like a parent to the local people.

To put it more bluntly—I am your father.

Moreover, these people were refugees, not even farmers. The magistrate could kill them if he wanted to find a pretext.

As long as you don't get too carried away or lose your temper, and don't mess around like you would with Fruit Ninja, it's all fine.

Moreover, just his statement, "I'm going to sue Song Shi'an," could cost him his head.

But Song Shi'an was not intimidated at all and did not back down an inch.

"It's too late! Let's go!"

The patrol officer immediately rebuked them, raised his whip, and pointed at the remaining villagers: "If you do not disperse, you will all be punished as accomplices!"

The people were forced to disperse.

The young master turned his horse around.

Song Shi'an followed behind, heading into the city.

"How come this kid is so reckless?"

"Song Shi'an deserves to be scolded, but he's not someone who can be scolded."

"Even the highest-ranking officials in the imperial court don't have his power..."

"I'm doomed."

The villagers could only watch him go to his death.

After walking a distance, Song Shi'an suddenly grinned and touched his back.

That whip strike was really powerful.

Seeing him like this, Xin Yue couldn't help but smile, but quickly suppressed it.

Since he himself doesn't care about being beaten, then there's no need for me to rush.

And so they entered Cishan City.

Of all the cities Song Shi'an has visited so far, this is the smallest.

It looks to be about 400 meters from north to south and 500 meters from east to west, covering an area of ​​0.2 square kilometers.

It's roughly equivalent to a chicken-crowing post station.

Less than one percent of Sheng'an's.

However, though small, it has all the essential parts and is still much better than those fortified villages.

Upon reaching the city gate, the patrol officer dismounted and led the two directly to the county government office. He then said to his colleague at the gate, "This man wants to file a complaint with the authorities. You keep an eye on him while I go and inform the county magistrate."

"Sue an official?"

His colleague found it somewhat amusing, and noticing that his wife was quite pretty, he jokingly asked, "Who are they suing?"

"Lord Song," the young master said before entering the county government office.

"..."

That person was left dumbfounded.

"Sir, what is our leader's name?" Song Shi'an asked proactively.

"How dare you inquire about your esteemed name?"

"But I still need to address him, right?"

"Calling him 'County Magistrate' is enough."

"it is good."

Song Shi'an smiled and said nothing more.

The two of them waited to be summoned.

The county official who was watching them didn't want to say a word.

Who the hell is crazy enough to talk to ordinary people about suing Party Secretary X?!
.........

"Master, we've captured someone outside the city."

That young master said.

"Just hand the arrested person over to the clerk. What are you talking to me about?"

County Magistrate Zhang Cun didn't even look up; he was looking at the account books, quite annoyed.

"Sir, that man wants to file a lawsuit..."

Just then, the county magistrate rushed in: "Your Excellency, the post station ahead reports that Lord Song is less than twenty li away from our county, and he should arrive tonight!"

Zhang Cun immediately stood up and asked nervously, "What are your orders, Lord? Did you say you were coming to Cishan?"

"No, I don't know whether we should stay in Cishan." The county magistrate was also unsure. "But we have to stay in the county. The prefect hasn't given any instructions, so we can't be irresponsible."

“But the Prefect is very intolerant of such behavior. If he dislikes it, wouldn’t it be seen as flattery if we went to receive him?” Zhang Cun was very troubled.

"How about I go to the post station first and ask the Prefect whether Your Excellency intends to visit Cishan?" the County Magistrate asked.

"You're going?" Zhang Cun hesitated.

A prefect of the third rank, being sent to greet a county clerk—this level of protocol is probably insufficient.

Besides, if he licks it well and pleases Lord Song, then he will miss such a good opportunity.

Everyone in the world knows that Song Shi'an is the Crown Prince's man.

From then on, he would be a top-ranking official, equivalent to the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat. If he could appease him...

But after all, this is Song Shi'an, such a young and ambitious figure. If the newcomer has ill intentions, he might not be able to handle it.

Just then, the clerk arrived again, hurriedly saying, "Sir, those unruly people outside the city have started causing trouble again, and they've even killed one of the Wu family's servants!"

"Oh dear!" Zhang Cun was a little numb, so he simply said, "Send the commander out of the city to warn those troublemakers. If that doesn't work, arrest everyone who's causing trouble..."

"Will they be arrested and imprisoned?" the clerk asked.

“What a fool! What if the Prefect comes to the city and sees so many people in the prison and asks about it?” Zhang Cun said. “Don’t release them from Guanshan for the next few days.”

"Also, make sure everyone keeps their mouths shut." Zhang Cun raised his finger and said to the county magistrate and the clerk, "Before the prefect leaves Cishan, anyone who dares to talk nonsense there, I'll skin them alive."

"Yes," they both said in unison.

“Go ahead,” Zhang Cun said.

"Sir, should I wait at the post station?" the county magistrate asked.

"Alright then," Zhang Cun said after a moment's thought. "You wait at the post station and arrange food and lodging for the Prefect according to protocol. If the Prefect wants to go to Jianxing first, then arrange for someone to escort him. If he says he wants to come to Cishan to take a look, then quickly send someone over to inform him, and I will personally go to welcome him."

"Yes."

After receiving the exact order, the county magistrate withdrew.

Here, only Zhang Cunhe and that young master remained.

"By the way, you just said that the person outside is going to sue the authorities?" Zhang Cun asked impatiently. "Who is he going to sue?"

"Lord Song".

“…” Zhang Cun was stunned.

After a long, long time, he put down the ledger in his hand. He slowly leaned back in his chair, and then burst out laughing: "Call them in, call them in."

Sometimes when work pressure is high, a sudden event like this, seeing these stupid and unruly people, is incredibly pleasant.

"Yes!"

And so, the young master went and brought Song Shi'an and Xin Yue in.

Then, six county officials stood on the left and right, each holding a large stick to intimidate the authorities.

"Who is standing here, and who are you suing?" Zhang Cun asked casually.

"I'm going to sue Song Shi'an."

Song Shi'an stared at him and said, word by word.

"Hmm." Zhang Cun nodded, then said, "Let's put that aside for now. Why didn't you kneel before me?"

“I am a scholar who passed the imperial examination in the forty-ninth year of Jiarui. According to the ‘Dayu Law,’ I do not need to kneel before a seventh-rank county magistrate,” Song Shi’an said.

"You say you're a scholar, so you are?" Zhang Cun asked.

"Guo Chun, a scholar from Qing County, Qinzhou, you can check him out, sir," Song Shi'an said calmly.

"No need for further questioning. Since you are a scholar," Zhang Cun asked. "Then why don't you recite 'Exhortation to Learning'?"

"A wise man said: Learning should never cease. Indigo dye is extracted from the indigo plant, yet it is bluer than the plant itself..."

Song Shi'an recited it from memory with remarkable fluency.

"Alright, that's enough. I believe you're a scholar, but what about the person next to you?"

“My principal wife, Yuezhi,” Song Shi’an said.

“Alright, then let’s all stand and talk.” Zhang Cun looked at him and asked with a smile, “Since you can recite the great work ‘Exhortation to Learning’, why are you so disrespectful to Lord Song? Is it proper for a scholar to attack a leader of the literary world, showing any respect for hierarchy or seniority?”

“The author of ‘Exhortation to Learning’ is admirable, and his defense of Shuo County is also admirable,” Song Shi’an said righteously. “But the Song Shi’an of today is not worthy of respect.”

"Lord Song hasn't even taken office yet, so why is he not worthy of respect?"

“Although he has not yet arrived in Huai County, the ‘Tuntian Law’ has already been promulgated in all the counties of Huai County. It has been said that all people who participate in the Tuntian program can report to the county government offices.” Song Shi’an said, “Those who have no land or house can receive the minimum daily relief from the government offices until the Tuntian program begins.”

“Yes, go ahead,” Zhang Cun said.

"But why haven't so many people outside the city received relief from the government?" Song Shi'an asked.

"So many people?" Zhang Cun said, puzzled. "I didn't see any."

“They were just outside the city, but were stopped by the young master and not allowed to enter,” Xin Yue said seriously.

“Fine, then have them come to see me,” Zhang Cun said. “If they are, they will be resettled in accordance with the ‘Tuntian Law’. But none of them have come. Just because you, a man from Qinzhou, have the nerve to say that many people are not receiving relief? I haven’t seen a single one of them.”

OK OK.

These are the officials of our Dayu.

Song Shi'an smiled.

Xin Yue was furious and wanted to kill the guy right now.

She had met princes, the crown prince, the Prince of Yan, and many generals.

This seventh-rank county magistrate was arguably the lowest-ranking among Song Shi'an's rivals.

How disgusting!

“The ‘Military Colonization Law’ states that displaced people are not subject to household registration and are allowed to participate. All levels of government in Huai County have a responsibility to manage them,” Song Shi’an said. “Sir, could you please register me and give me a bowl of thin porridge?”

"Of course, I have the utmost respect for Lord Song and fully support the land reclamation program. As a refugee from Qinzhou, you are even more deserving of recognition."

After Zhang Cun finished speaking with a smile, his face darkened, and he suddenly said, "But now, we're talking about something else."

"What brings you here, sir?"

“Since the Prefect has not yet taken office and there is no evidence of his dereliction of duty, you should file a lawsuit.” Leaning forward slightly, Zhang Cun said slowly, “I remember that His Highness the Crown Prince recently announced to the world that Ji Yuan of the pseudo-Qi gave a group of spies 10,000 gold coins to slander and attack the Prefect. His Highness also ordered all prefectures and counties to be vigilant against these spies continuing to spread rumors and cause trouble.”

"What does it mean?"

Song Shi'an countered with a question.

"You look to me like a spy."

Staring at Song Shi'an, his tone suddenly turned icy.

Unfortunately, he basically died here.

If Song Shi'an had transmigrated directly into the body of a refugee, there would only be one outcome for him as an angry young man in ancient times—being arrested as if he were one of the 500,000.

There was simply no room for maneuver in this situation.

Most people would be terrified to death just hearing this, since once that label is attached to someone, there's no chance of survival.

These two are really not afraid at all.

Have the people of Qinzhou gone mad?

"Drag him away and send him to jail for a thorough interrogation." Zhang Cun waved his hand casually. "Interrogate his accomplices and the people behind him, and find out who they are."

As soon as he finished speaking, the young master, holding a large stick, stepped forward to take the man away.

Just then, Xinyue slowly slipped her hand into her sleeve.

"Take your hand out!" The young master immediately reprimanded him for this action.

Before being detained, Xin Yue took out a gilded fish-shaped talisman.

The magistrate couldn't possibly be unaware of that shape, so he was immediately taken aback.

And the color...

"bring here."

Only officials of the seventh rank or above were qualified to wear the fish-shaped tally.

Moreover, it's the lowest-grade bronze talisman.

The lowly clerk, who only served the county magistrate in the county office, had no idea what this was and had never even seen it before. So he simply swept it aside, ran to the county magistrate, and presented it with both hands: "Your Excellency, that woman took it out."

The minor official thought it was an offer of bribery.

But the county magistrate couldn't possibly not know him.

What he cared more about was what was written on it.

He swallowed hard, staring at the fish-shaped talisman, when suddenly his eyes widened.

—Prefect of Huai County, Song Shi'an
(End of this chapter)