Chapter 25: Who Loves the People as His Own Children?

Facing her father, who was simmering with resentment, Zhongli Wanxue felt anxious but found herself unable to persuade him otherwise in the heat of the moment.

In times of peace, conscripting two thousand men on top of an existing garrison of fifteen hundred was indeed an alarming act. It meant that for every twenty or thirty residents of Pei County, one soldier had to be supported; the burden was undeniably heavy, and it would inevitably worsen the lives of those already struggling. With such a ratio of soldiers to civilians, any hope of fostering the local economy was nothing more than a pipe dream.

The Zhongli family was known for its integrity. As prominent merchants in Pei County, they were tactful and honest in their dealings, often providing porridge to aid refugees—a family considered to have a strong sense of social responsibility. This was largely due to the character of Zhongli Xiu, who, both for public interest and private gain, longed for Pei County to be prosperous and stable, ensuring the longevity of his family’s business.

In the eyes of her father, Liang Xiao was no different from Yuan Bailong. He feared that Liang Xiao would act even more egregiously, exploiting the people of Pei County until a riot broke out, forcing the Zhongli family to cut their losses and abandon the county. Furthermore, his repeated, vehement reactions were clearly rooted in the fear that his precious daughter would be swept away by Liang Xiao.

Now, even if she claimed that Liang Xiao was that very general, no one would believe her.

"Nothing more to do at home. Let's go and see for ourselves!" Zhongli Xiu, his anger mounting with every word, rose abruptly and stormed out, his sleeves fluttering behind him.

Zhongli Wanxue followed quickly, silently praying. She remained convinced that Liang Xiao was not that kind of person, but she dared not defend him too frequently, lest she provoke her father and achieve the opposite of her intentions.

Inside the county magistrate’s office, the officials listened to Liang Xiao’s arrangements with genuine admiration. Liang Xiao had visited the barracks and successfully taken control of the garrison, ensuring that a military mutiny was unlikely. Within a single day, this magistrate had seized command of Pei County with iron-fisted efficiency, proving his capability; they could not help but be convinced.

Through the subtle, calculated hints dropped by Zhuo Zifang, everyone became convinced that this successor to the Marquis of Zhongwu had been sent to Pei County by the Emperor himself to gain experience. What did "Zhongwu"—Loyal and Martial—mean? It was the highest honor for a loyal official! Could there be anyone more loyal and patriotic than their magistrate? Impossible! Absolutely impossible!

After leaving Zhuo Zifang in charge of directing the work, Liang Xiao took advantage of the time before conscription began to head out into the streets with Ning Yan and two of his personal guards to gauge public sentiment. By his estimation, the mouthpieces he had arranged should be working their magic by now.

Pei County had a population comparable to a small prefecture, and with it currently being the slack season for farming, the streets were teeming with people. In the marketplace, a heated discussion had already begun, sparked by a local bailiff.

"Our Pei County has finally been blessed with a truly righteous magistrate! First, he executed that tyrant Yuan Bailong, confiscated his assets, and now he intends to use the ill-gotten gains to suppress bandits and improve the lives of the people!"

"Confiscated money used for good deeds? Is that for real?" The crowd looked at the bailiff with suspicion.

The bailiff feigned annoyance. "How could it be fake! I heard it from Registrar Wang yesterday, and the official notice was posted this morning. Our magistrate is determined to rectify the administration and improve the people's livelihood. He has strictly forbidden anyone from bullying the people or abusing their power—even himself!"

Another young soldier, mingling in the crowd, nodded repeatedly. "It’s the absolute truth! The magistrate issued a strict order yesterday: from now on, we soldiers are not allowed to freeload or harass the people, and he plans to punish every bully in the county who oppresses the commoners!"

The surrounding crowd clapped and cheered.

The bailiff added, "And that’s not all! All the various taxes Yuan Bailong fabricated have been abolished by the magistrate. Heavens, the burden on our fellow folks is going to be cut in half..."

Cheers erupted throughout the square, and everyone was ecstatic. They had heard rumors of the magistrate's promise to cut taxes the day before, but they had been afraid to believe it. Now, it seemed the news was not unfounded.

"We must protect such a righteous magistrate! We cannot let him die an untimely death like the last few magistrates..."

"Damn right! Who cares if they are bandit assassins? If anyone dares to harm the magistrate, I’ll be the first to risk my life to stop them!"

The two men fanning the flames in the crowd were the very guards Liang Xiao had brought with him; they were sincere in their words, a genuine expression of their loyalty. Soon, many hot-blooded youths were infected by the fervor, their faces flushed with excitement.

"Well said! Whoever loves the people as their own children, we shall support! We must protect our righteous magistrate!"

"I heard the magistrate will appear in person at the conscription site today. Let's go see; maybe some of us can enlist!"

Liang Xiao watched the jubilant crowd, feeling quite satisfied. The priority right now was to quickly secure the support of the people to handle any contingencies, which would also facilitate the subsequent conscription. Liang De had taught well; everyone had grasped the core message of the propaganda. As for the specific wording, that was left to their own discretion—if the messaging were too uniform, it would only invite more suspicion.

Ning Yan’s eyes sparkled, and she said happily, "Young Master, what they are saying makes so much sense~"

Liang Xiao let out a dry chuckle and looked back at her. This girl was too innocent to understand the intricacies, but he did not intend for her to be overly exposed to such things. From the moment he bought his official position from the corrupt eunuch, Ning Yan might well be the only touch of innocence left in his future life.

At the same time, the Zhongli family members also took to the streets and heard similar discussions among the populace. Zhongli Xiu’s face darkened, and he listened in silence.

"Husband, it seems the people are quite satisfied with Magistrate Liang. Perhaps the conscription is merely for the convenience of suppressing bandits," Madam Qin said, smiling to comfort him.

Zhongli Xiu’s expression did not soften. He snapped, "What would you women know of such schemes! Say no more. These are undoubtedly men he bought off, acting as his mouthpieces throughout Pei County to flatter him, all to make it easier to squeeze the people dry later! Yuan Bailong, and the few magistrates before him, were all the same. Don't just listen to their words; watch their actions! If he had the money to buy hearts, wouldn't it be better to do some real work and provide relief to the people?"

Madam Qin and Zhongli Wanxue exchanged glances and tacitly remained silent. At this point, he was incapable of hearing a single good word about Liang Xiao.

From dawn until noon, the streets and alleys were filled with praise for Liang Xiao. The Zhongli family boarded an open-air carriage and headed toward the barracks. Hearing the ongoing discourse along the way, Zhongli Xiu could only shake his head and sigh.

In the carriage behind them, Madam Qin watched Zhongli Xiu’s reaction, feeling equally depressed. "If he keeps causing such trouble, I fear your father will 'rekindle his fighting spirit' once again..." she whispered.

Zhongli Wanxue was also deeply worried. If he was pushed too far and rekindled his spirit to oppose Liang Xiao’s "tyranny," that would be a terrible outcome.

When the family arrived outside the barracks, they found it already packed with people. On a high platform, Liang Xiao stood in the center, waving to the crowd, with Zhuo Zifang and other subordinate officials standing behind him.

"The righteous magistrate!"

A wave of cheers from below reached Zhongli Xiu’s ears, sounding all the more grating.

"The art of fooling the people, it's all just the art of fooling the people!" Zhongli Xiu recalled his own disillusionment in years past, his heart filled with grief. Why were there officials like this everywhere in the country?

On the platform, after Liang Xiao signaled for silence, he announced in a clear, ringing voice:

"I thank all my fellow folks for your support! Before the conscription begins, there is something equally important that I must announce."

"Beyond the regular taxes stipulated by the imperial court, all the exorbitant taxes and levies previously set by the rebel Yuan Bailong—the portion that cost each household about five hundred coins annually—are hereby abolished, never to be reinstated!"

As soon as Liang Xiao finished speaking, countless people knelt on the spot, thanking him with great emotion.

The Zhongli family members’ eyes widened. He was actually doing it for real?