After ten years of accompanying me in my studies, the entire court begged me to shut up.

The leading gentry member was named Wu Youfu, who pulled Zhang Shi through the gate.

The crowd followed one by one, and the banquet in the front hall had already been set out, with seven or eight people sitting around it.

Wu Youfu, with a beaming smile, said respectfully, "Imperial Censor Zhang, please take a seat!"

Zhang Shi, without any hesitation or refusal, took his seat in the main seat.

Wu Youfu personally poured him wine and said with a smile, "Imperial Censor Zhang must have had a long journey. I have specially prepared some wine to welcome you and wash away the dust of your journey."

Zhang Shi picked up his wine glass and took a sip, but his expression was not good.

"Master Wu, I have reviewed the county government's accounts, and there are no problems."

Wu Youfu's smile froze for a moment, then he smiled again and said, "Imperial Censor Zhang, the accounts are only superficially correct, but it's a fact that Magistrate Wang's road construction was extravagant and wasteful, causing hardship to the people and squandering their money..."

Zhang Shi put down his wine cup, looked at him, and slowly said, "You said that building roads would be a waste of money and manpower. Is that your idea, or the idea of ​​the local people?"

Wu Youfu patted his chest and assured him, "Don't worry, Censor Zhang, this is the will of the people!"

Several local gentry nearby chimed in, "Yes, yes, yes! The people of Wuqing County are the most honest and simple!"

"After Magistrate Wang took office, he started causing all sorts of trouble, leading to widespread resentment throughout Wuqing County. Otherwise, we wouldn't have written this joint letter!"

Zhang Shi remained silent for a moment, then slowly nodded.

"Alright, let me take another look and see if there's anything else wrong with the accounts."

Wu Youfu smiled broadly: "You've worked hard, Imperial Censor Zhang. I've prepared some local specialties for you..."

The drinking lasted for half an hour, and everyone eventually left, tipsy.

Zhang Shi's face also showed signs of drunkenness, and he prepared to go to bed to rest.

As I get older, the constant running around and the exhaustion are really too much for me.

Two maids came in, one carrying water for washing feet, and the other immediately helped Zhang Shi take off his clothes.

Zhang Shi waved his hand and said, "You may all leave. This old man doesn't need anyone to serve him!"

The two maids' expressions changed, and they both knelt down on the ground, at a loss for what to do.

Zhang Shi asked, "I told you to get out of here, what are you doing?"

One of the maids said, "Master said that if we don't serve you well, he'll beat us to death..."

Zhang Shi frowned and called out, "Shunzi, Shunzi!"

Shunzi trotted in: "Master, what are your orders?"

Zhang Shi pointed to the two maids and said, "Find them a place to rest. If anyone asks tomorrow, just say they've been serving me the whole time."

Shunzi nodded and said to the two maids, "Master prefers quiet and doesn't like to be disturbed. You may leave."

The two maids exchanged a glance and whispered, "We're in the next side room. If the master gives any orders, just call out."

After the two men left, Shunzi said, "Master, the local specialties those people gave us were all silver notes."

Zhang Shi seemed to have expected this, and while soaking his feet, he asked, "How much?"

"I've counted it; there are three thousand taels in total!"

"snort!"

Zhang Shi snorted and said, "These people are really stingy. They think they can get rid of a county magistrate with just three thousand taels!"

Shunzi said, "Should I return the silver notes?"

"Don't!"

Zhang Shi waved his hand and said, "Put it away for now, and I will personally hand it to His Majesty when we return to the capital."

After saying that, he wiped his feet with a towel and went to bed to rest.

Shunzi took the foot-washing water away and then asked, "Master, I heard that the Crown Prince has shares in that trading company. Last time, when that county magistrate got into trouble, he was beaten up by the Crown Prince. You must be careful!"

Zhang Shi laughed and said, "Are you afraid the Crown Prince will come and beat me up too?"

Shunzi was even more worried and said, "How about I talk to Master Wu and ask him to send a few guards over?"

Zhang Shi hurriedly said, "Please don't! If someone comes to our door tonight, we can go back! I've heard that Yang Tinghe's son is known as a child prodigy. I want to see if he's a real genius or just pretending!"

Shunzi didn't understand at all, shook her head, and carried the foot-washing water out.

-----------------

Late at night, at Zhu's Trading Company.

Yang Shen, Wang Shouren, and Li Chun sat around in the public room.

On the table was a dish of fried hazelnuts and a pot of hot tea.

Li Chun grabbed a handful of hazelnuts and chewed as he said, "That censor surnamed Zhang went to a house in the east of the city tonight. The owner of the house is Wu Youfu, the brother-in-law of Hu Lin, the former magistrate of Wuqing County."

Wang Shouren frowned: "Hu Lin? The accomplice in Cheng Zhirong's case?"

Li Chun nodded: "That's right! Cheng Zhirong was beheaded, Hu Lin was exiled three thousand miles away, and his family property was confiscated. Wu Youfu is his brother-in-law. He used to get a lot of benefits by relying on his brother-in-law. He happened to be out of town when the dam was damaged, so he wasn't implicated."

Wang Shouren was silent for a moment, then said, "They want to drive me away!"

Li Chun slammed his hand on the table: "That goes without saying! Cheng Zhirong's case implicated a whole bunch of people. Although a few have been punished, those local gentry are deeply entrenched; they're all in cahoots. You're building roads and reclaiming wasteland in Wuqing County; how can they not be anxious? Yang, what do you suggest we do?"

Yang Shen didn't say anything, but picked up the teacup and took a sip.

Wang Shouren replied, "If it's just impeachment, I don't care. I have a clear conscience!"

Li Chun said anxiously, "Director Wang, they're practically defecating on your head, and you're still so nonchalant?"

Wang Shouren shook his head: "Justice resides in the hearts of the people."

Yang Shen put down his teacup and slowly said, "Justice certainly resides in the hearts of the people, but the problem is, those gentry are also human. Whether they have justice in their hearts is another matter. Chief Secretary Wang, there's something I don't understand: why did those people suddenly launch this attack? Besides road repairs, have you been doing anything else lately?"

After pondering for a long time, Wang Shouren said, "I intend to remeasure the fields!"

Upon hearing this, Yang Shen finally understood that the root of all the problems lay here!

Those wealthy households all have hidden land, and these hidden lands contain a great deal of profit!

In the Ming Dynasty, no matter who you were or how high your official rank was, anyone who dared to touch the land would suffer a terrible death!

"That's it, there's no choice now, this is a war to the death!"

Wang Shouren was prepared, saying, "If they want war, then let them. I've done nothing wrong, why should I be afraid of them?"

Yang Shen looked at the two of them, silently weighing his options.

This whole affair was instigated by the other side, and with the royal family as a powerful backer, victory seemed assured.

Thinking of this, he said, "Then... let's teach them a lesson?"

Li Chun stood up excitedly and said, "I'll find that censor right now and give him a good beating!"

Just then, Laifu's voice came from the doorway: "Young Master, is this a convenient time?"

Yang Shen casually said, "Come in and talk!"

Laifu pushed open the door and came in, holding a letter in his hand, saying, "This was sent by the master."

Yang Shen looked at the letter, somewhat puzzled.

If Dad needs anything, he can just send someone to deliver a message. Why send a letter instead?

"Alright, you can go ahead and get busy!"

After Lai Fu left, Yang Shen immediately opened the envelope and took out a slip of paper.

The text contains only one sentence: "Duke Zhou feared rumors in his day, and Wang Mang was humble before his usurpation."

Seeing Yang Shen's strange expression, Wang Shouren stood up and said, "Yang Shen, I'll go back and make preparations!"

"etc!"

Yang Shen handed over the note.