Chapter Ninety-Four: The Straightforward Xue Song

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Just arriving in Xuanzhou, being able to name the county magistrates below was not surprising. However, accurately knowing who was who was not so easy.

Magistrate Xue looked up and glanced at the newly appointed young prefect, Cui Shao. Standing beside Cui was a local official from Xuanzhou, likely the one introducing these local officials to Cui Shao.

Magistrate Xue subtly frowned.

Addressing someone directly by their given name was extremely disrespectful. Although it was not uncommon for a superior to call subordinates by their names, Xue Song, being an older magistrate who had passed the imperial examination long ago, was usually addressed by his courtesy name.

Even Cao Rong and Cao Sima called him “Brother Yueji.” Both Gu Wenchuan and Prefect Tian did so as well. Only the newly appointed prefect dared to call him by his given name.

Yet in the officialdom hierarchy, although Magistrate Xue was displeased, he stepped forward and cupped his hands to the new prefect, saying, “Your Excellency.”

“May I ask, how much grain is Qingyang prepared to supply to the prefecture?” Cui Shao asked.

The prefect frowned. “I’m asking you how much Qingyang can provide; just answer plainly.”

“Have all counties report their quotas so I can arrange deployment accordingly.”

Magistrate Xue was silent for a moment before speaking, “Your Excellency, if we report based on Qingyang’s capacity, Qingyang genuinely has little money or grain to offer.”

Cui Shao’s expression darkened. “What did you say?”

“I said Qingyang has no money or grain to contribute.”

Old Magistrate Xue was unafraid, calmly explaining, “Your Excellency, before you came to Xuanzhou, you might have known that a rebellion broke out in Shidai last year.”

“The unrest was due to the court imposing extra taxes, and last year, Qingyang also levied additional taxes.”

“It’s just past the New Year, and if Your Excellency demands money or grain supplies from the counties, the Qingyang county treasury only has about two or three hundred strings of cash left, and the anti-bandit squad has a few hundred more. If all this is handed to the prefecture, how will Qingyang county office continue to operate?”

“That would mean taxing the people again, collecting money and grain to send to Your Excellency.”

Magistrate Xue said quietly, “If it is Your Excellency’s order that Qingyang must deliver a certain amount, then I will do my best to comply with the prefecture’s decree.”

“But if Your Excellency means how much Qingyang can voluntarily contribute—”

Magistrate Xue shook his head, “Qingyang has no money or grain to offer.”

With these words, Cui Shao’s face grew even darker.

In essence, this was a matter of sharing responsibility.

Most magistrates present understood this, but Cui Shao was a superior official and a person of status. Even if they realized Cui Shao was trying to shirk responsibility while seeking political favor, none dared to speak out.

Higher rank crushed all; they could only bow their heads in obedience.

Magistrate Xue, however, no longer cared much about official ambitions.

He had no desire to advance, and so had no fear.

Cui Shao slammed the table angrily. “Xue Song, you care so much about your petty reputation, without any regard for the court’s greater affairs?”

Old Magistrate Xue smiled. “Your Excellency.”

“I am about to say something improper.”

“You are the new prefect of Xuanzhou and should consider Xuanzhou’s interests, not only think of Yuezhou.”

“Yuezhou is a prefecture in Jiangnan East Circuit, not even part of Jiangnan West Circuit. The inspector you mentioned is not our Xuanzhou inspector.”

“If the court orders Xuanzhou to supply money and grain to the front, we local officials will collect this year’s taxes early and send them promptly to the front.”

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“If Your Excellency means to use tax revenue to support the front, then I have no objections.”

“But if this is an additional levy—”

Magistrate Xue took a deep breath and slowly said, “Then this means more taxation.”

Cui Shao’s face soured deeply. After a deep breath, he gradually calmed himself and looked at Magistrate Xue with a smile. “Very well, I heard in the capital that local officials have a complicated web of interests. Now I have truly witnessed it.”

“Xue Song, no need to discuss matters here anymore. You may return to prepare your report.”

Magistrate Xue cupped his hands. “I take my leave.”

Without hesitation, he turned and left. Passing by Taiping County Magistrate Du Ying, Du gave him a thumbs-up.

The meaning was clear.

Impressive!

Prefect Cui then looked at the other officials and said sternly, “Is there anyone else like Xue Song? If so, you may leave now as well. I don’t mind making more reports.”

More than ten county magistrates present dared not move.

Not all could see through the lust for power; they could not afford to lose their hats of office.

Only Taiping County Magistrate Du Ying clenched his teeth, cupped his hands to Cui Shao, and said, “I too will return to prepare my report.”

After saying this, he turned and left.

Cui Shao’s face darkened to the extreme, then he slammed the table hard.

“Continue with the meeting!”

...

Two days later.

A carriage stopped at the entrance of Qingyang County Office. The weary Magistrate Xue walked in with his hands behind his back. The clerks lowered their heads and greeted him respectfully as “County Lord.”

Magistrate Xue nodded and responded in kind. He walked to the back office. Before reaching his study door, he heard his daughter’s voice inside.

“You’re not allowed to come down here!”

Then Li Zhao’s cheerful voice followed, “Miss Lianzhuqi is no match for me. Let’s change the game.”

“Change to what? You can’t beat me at Go either.”

“Let’s play Tiger Chess.”

Li Du Tou laughed, “I’ll teach you how.”

As Li Yun was about to set the board, the door slowly opened. Magistrate Xue looked expressionlessly at the two young people playing chess in his study.

Xue Yun was startled and quickly stood up, flustered. “Father, why have you come back...”

Magistrate Xue shook his head helplessly. “What, can’t your father come back?”

Miss Xue blushed slightly, glanced at Li Yun, and then lowered her head to explain, “I was just finding books for him, and we were passing the time playing a little chess...”

“All right, all right.”

Magistrate Xue sighed. “Good girl, go back now. Father needs to speak with Li Zhao.”

Miss Xue hurriedly nodded, saluted Magistrate Xue, then quickly ran out. At the study door, she glanced back at the composed Li Yun and then ran off.

After she left, Magistrate Xue shot a furious glare at Li Yun and scolded, “I asked you to stay and protect Qingyang’s safety, and this is how you protect it?”

Li Du Tou grinned, “County Lord, you speak without conscience. Isn’t Qingyang doing well? Not a single rebel bandit in sight.”

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Magistrate Xue sat down at his main seat and sighed quietly.

Li Yun stepped forward, poured tea for him, and smiled, “County Lord, you don’t look pleased. What happened?”

“The new prefect is difficult to deal with?”

“More than difficult.”

Magistrate Xue frowned. “He’s utterly arrogant. From a great family, he looks down on all of us subordinates. He relies on his connections in the court and is unbearably haughty!”

At this, Magistrate Xue muttered a groan, “You were right; he’s even worse than Prefect Tian!”

Li Yun finished pouring the tea and pushed the cup toward him with a smile. “County Lord, calm down. What exactly happened?”

“I probably won’t last much longer as magistrate.”

Magistrate Xue took a sip of the tea, tasting its bitterness. He put down the cup, shook his head, and sighed deeply.

Nearly twenty years in officialdom, yet he never rose because of his straightforward nature.

Having spent half his life in the bureaucracy, now facing departure, his mind was full of thoughts.

After a long silence, he looked up at Li Zhao and slowly said, “When the time comes, you’ll return home with me. Though the Xue family is not a great clan locally, it is not insignificant either. I’ll find you a position there, something for you and... you and...”

He trailed off, but the meaning was clear.

He was arranging a livelihood for Li Yun and Miss Xue.

Li Yun looked at the worried Magistrate Xue and sat down with a smile, then asked, “County Lord, what exactly happened? You’ve only been to the prefecture for a few days, and already offended your new superior?”

“You don’t seem the type to be careless.”

“I did offend him.”

Mentioning Cui Shao, Magistrate Xue’s brows tightened as he muttered, “If it happened again, I’d offend him again—this dog...”

He instinctively lowered his voice.

“Dog.”

“Relying on his background, he acts recklessly as soon as he arrives in the provinces. Having been a capital official too long, he has no idea what local life is like, yet dares to give orders like this!”

Magistrate Xue cursed fiercely, grinding his teeth, “He talks about the court’s greater interests, but clearly someone urged him on, hoping to share credit for quelling the unrest in Yuezhou. Once Yuezhou is pacified, he’ll be promoted for his merits, then leave without a care for this mess in Xuanzhou!”

Hearing this, Li Yun roughly guessed what kind of man the new prefect was.

He poured himself a cup of tea, took a sip, and said slowly, “County Lord, don’t worry. Tell me the details.”

“Maybe I can help resolve it.”

Magistrate Xue gave Li Yun a sideways glance.

“He’s a son of a noble family, a powerful figure in the capital. You think he’s some mountain bandit?”

Li Du Tou smiled faintly.

“Just tell me, consider it venting your frustrations.”

“What if I do have a solution?”

(End of chapter)