Chapter 24: The Mouthpiece
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“Master, could it be that you want me to return to the capital to bribe Wang Teng?” Liang Pin asked in surprise.
“That’s right! Tonight I will draft a letter. At dawn tomorrow, you must set off immediately with the fastest carriage and ship to the capital. Deliver the secret message and this thousand taels of silver to Wang Teng without delay. Remember, the sooner the better!” Liang Xiao said as he handed Liang Pin ten notes of ten-tael silver and two notes of one hundred-tael silver.
“This one hundred taels is for your round-trip expenses and hard work. Two hundred taels are for bribing Dong Sheng, the county magistrate of Wangjiang County, to keep an eye out for us. Once he takes the silver, he will understand what to do.”
After solemnly agreeing, Liang Pin sighed, “Master, you should still be cautious. The eunuch faction is not to be trifled with; this could backfire terribly and even bring eternal disgrace…”
Liang Xiao reassured him, “Those who achieve great things do not fuss over trifles. The Sima family and I are destined to be sworn enemies. We will inevitably face hostility from other noble families. To better govern Pei County, secretly bribing Wang Teng is a temporary measure. It can prevent more of Pei County’s wealth from being extorted, avoiding losing the big for the sake of the small.”
Liang Pin suddenly understood and immediately pledged, “I am willing to face fire and water for my master!”
After assigning Liang Pin’s mission, Liang Xiao discussed the next steps privately with Zhuo Zifang, then summoned all the officials to allocate tasks.
An hour later, Liang De returned to the county office with fifty constables and soldiers to report to Liang Xiao.
“Thanks to Master’s combination of kindness and strictness, these troops are now quite compliant. Even the three team leaders dare not show any dissatisfaction!”
“Following your instructions, we kept the Cao County captain and a few imperial officials to oversee the people, and selected some outspoken yet well-mannered soldiers from the garrison.”
Liang Xiao glanced at the group behind Liang De and casually opened a box on the ground.
Everyone’s eyes lit up instantly.
Inside were silver beads.
These were the stolen funds from Yuan Bailong.
Liang Xiao grabbed a handful and handed them to Liang De.
“Each bead is one tael. Distribute one to each person.”
The faces of the group immediately brightened.
“County magistrate, aren’t we supposed to receive our reward silver tomorrow…”
Liang Xiao shook his head, “Tomorrow’s reward silver will be given as planned. This is an advance payment for your hard work tomorrow.”
Advance payment for tomorrow’s hard work?
Everyone was puzzled.
Liang Xiao explained, “You all know this is my first time in Pei County, and after executing Yuan Bailong, rumors will inevitably spread. Your task is to divide into ten groups: one group for each of the eight directions around the county center, plus two groups in the center itself. Over the next few days, you will spread favorable public opinion about me in crowded places throughout the county.”
“As for the talking points, Liang De will train you tonight. After seven days, I will assess the situation in your assigned areas. Those who perform well will receive at least an additional one tael of silver.”
After discussing with Zhuo Zifang, they agreed Pei County was fraught with danger and urgently needed to stabilize public sentiment, promote the county magistrate, and win the support of the people to deter troublemakers.
Since they had not yet established a sufficient number of loyalists, bribing the influencers was the simplest, most direct, and effective method.
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The stolen funds seized from Yuan Bailong were enough to carry out Liang Xiao’s plan.
Everyone suddenly understood and clenched the silver beads tightly, confidently pledging, “We will make the people deeply aware of the county magistrate’s virtues!”
That night, Liang De taught everyone the talking points according to Liang Xiao’s instructions on the way to Pei County.
Everyone at Yuan Bailong’s mansion was arrested. Liang Xiao ordered his men to interrogate through the night, and he personally reviewed and confirmed the verdict.
As for Yuan Bailong’s relatives, the youngest was already over eighteen, and they were all known for abusing women. Each first trial ended in conviction.
In particular, Yuan Bailong’s eldest son had once driven a virtuous woman to death; once convicted and implicated with Yuan Bailong, the penalty would surely be death.
That night, Pei County was rife with undercurrents.
Fortunately, Liang Xiao’s decisive execution of Yuan Bailong intimidated the entire county and restored control over the military, so the night passed peacefully.
The Wu and Zhongli families’ main halls were brightly lit; the heads of the families were unable to sleep all night.
At dawn the next day, Liang Pin quietly left Pei County in the fastest carriage.
Zhongli Wanxue accompanied her mother to the main hall and found the entire family already gathered.
Especially Zhongli Xiu, who wore a stern expression filled with disappointment.
“Father, you’re all gathered so early. Has something happened?” Zhongli Wanxue asked.
Zhongli Xiu took a deep breath and said shakily, “We old folks gathered here at dawn waiting for the announcement.”
“Announcement?”
Seeing the elders’ serious expressions, Zhongli Wanxue grew worried.
Zhongli Xiu glared at her and said deliberately, “Qingfeng, you come explain it to this girl!”
Zhongli Qingfeng hesitated, then sighed.
“Sister, the county magistrate issued an announcement this morning with many details. The first item declared that Yuan Bailong committed treason and corruption, has been executed, and his family property confiscated.”
Zhongli Wanxue was puzzled: “Isn’t that a good thing?”
Zhongli Qingfeng sighed, “But among the confiscated assets, the number of seized fields and houses is about right; however, the stolen funds… after valuation, only amounted to six thousand taels of silver! As for the properties, they will be sold off and confiscated!”
Zhongli Wanxue’s heart skipped a beat.
Who was Yuan Bailong?
The decade-long tyrant of Pei County—how could his family fortune be only six thousand taels?
Zhongli Xiu said harshly, “Xue’er! Don’t you understand? Most of the stolen funds were obviously embezzled by Liang Xiao! Yuan Bailong is dead, so what? Will the people of Pei County live better? It’s just that one evil wolf died and another fierce tiger arrived!”
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Zhongli Wanxue remained silent.
“So this is the person you so strongly suggested our family cooperate with?”
Faced with her father’s rebuke, Zhongli Wanxue had no choice but to respond.
“Father, he… he must have his own reasons. For example, he might be worried that if the higher-ups find out there’s profit in Pei County, they’ll send people to extort and exploit us…”
Zhongli Xiu was shocked and speechless, unable to believe his usually clever and sharp daughter.
“You’ve lost your mind! What on earth do you see in him to defend him so blindly? His looks? His smooth talk?”
Zhongli Wanxue thought quickly and said, “Father, the principles of a true man are things I’ve tried to explain to you, but you neither understand nor believe.”
Zhongli Xiu almost spat blood on the spot and shouted, “Where did you learn these twisted ideas?!”
Qin Shi met Zhongli Xiu’s glare and hurriedly said, “Husband, I truly did not teach her!”
“Then which bastard did?” Zhongli Xiu shot a glare at Zhongli Qingfeng.
“Father, I can’t say words like that!” Zhongli Qingfeng looked wronged.
“Master, please calm down,” the steward beside Zhongli Xiu quickly soothed.
Sensing the worsening situation, Zhongli Wanxue began to prepare for tears.
Zhongli Xiu saw his beloved daughter on the verge of tears and softened, speaking earnestly, “In the announcement, he said the properties of Yuan Bailong would be sold off. No need to say more—it will undoubtedly be his own people buying them cheap and reselling at a profit! Xue’er, your father is not unreasonable, but you must open your eyes!”
Zhongli Wanxue lowered her head, silent.
Her mother had done her utmost for her, and as a child raised in comfort, it was only right to understand her father’s worries about the family’s survival.
Yet she still refused to believe he could be a worse villain than Yuan Bailong.
Zhongli Xiu was about to continue persuading his daughter when a guard hurried in to report.
“Master! The county office has posted another announcement: conscription will begin at noon today, requiring at least two thousand men!”
“Two thousand conscripts?” Everyone present was stunned.
Zhongli Xiu finally smiled bitterly, filled with emotion.
“Xue’er, now you see clearly! Pei County barely has enough people, money, and grain, yet he wants to conscript two thousand? Is this his so-called ‘helping the people and bringing peace’?”
Zhongli Wanxue was speechless.
“As your father, I want to see just how he plans to wage this endless war!”