Cultivation Begins with Caring for Sister-in-law

Outside Qingtian County.

Su Wen let out a long sigh, then shouted loudly, "Immortal Master Chen, you are formidable!"

Qingtian County was the base of one of the Celestial Master Army's divisions, with over ten thousand troops, yet Immortal Master Chen dared to venture in with just a thousand men, especially after having plundered the Salt Warehouse and killed so many last night.

And that wasn't all, Immortal Master Chen was particularly assertive in front of the opposing general and commander, daring to reprimand the subordinates right in front of them.

Su Wen felt a surge of pride, that following such a leader made him feel full of confidence.

"From now on, don't call me Immortal Master Chen, just call me County Magistrate like everyone else," Chen Mo no longer needed to rely on mystical pretenses to fool the masses. As the group grew, it was better to stick to a single title.

"Yes, County Magistrate," Su Wen replied.

...

The incidents of last night had been thoroughly dealt with, and rewards for killing bandits were given out according to Chen Mo's reward system. After Wang Ping and the clerks confirmed everything, the rewards were distributed to the Divine Brave Guard.

Among them, Zhang Fusheng, who reported the information, received a reward of five thousand coins and was credited with a merit, which would give him priority for any future vacancies for a deputy leader.

He also received a three-day leave.

The saying goes that it's like wearing fine clothes in the dark if one doesn't return home in prosperity.

Zhang Fusheng was someone who liked to boast. Having barely slept all night, he came to Dadong Lake early in the morning to brag to fishermen about his accomplishments from the previous night.

The surroundings were filled with people from Qingtian County, all envious of the treatment given to the Divine Brave Guard.

Just for reporting information, he got a reward of five thousand coins.

If spent sparingly, it could sustain an average family for a year.

Feeling the envy in their gazes, Zhang Fusheng was quite puffed up with pride.

"I really have to thank the County Magistrate. Without him, I wouldn't be where I am today," Zhang Fusheng sincerely expressed his gratitude to Chen Mo.

As soon as he said this, the surrounding people started talking.

"County Magistrate Chen is truly a good official. The price of millet had risen to one hundred and two cents per pound in the town, but after he became the County Magistrate, it dropped immediately to sixty cents."

"Without County Magistrate Chen, I wouldn't dare to leave my house, let alone come out to this Dadong Lake to fish."

"County Magistrate Chen is indeed a Justice. No previous county magistrate exempted us from taxes, but County Magistrate Chen not only waived one year of taxes but also paid us to build city walls."

"I wish County Magistrate Chen could be Pingting County's magistrate for life."

"Spit, spit," Zhang Fusheng said after hearing this, spitting twice, "My family's County Magistrate is a Wenqu Star descended from the heavens, an Immortal God. What is a magistrate compared to him? He could easily be a Prefect or a Prince, staying a magistrate for life, watch your tongue."

"Spit, spit, I'm a fool who can't speak. Slap my mouth, slap my mouth." The person who hoped that Chen Mo could be Pingting County's magistrate for life slapped himself twice.

In fact, he didn't curse Chen Mo. He sincerely wished to live under Chen Mo's governance for life, but he just hadn't read enough books to articulate well.

In just over a month, the people of Pingting County had already grown to love Chen Mo from the bottom of their hearts.

By the lake sat an old man with a straw hat for shade, sitting alone away from the crowd but hearing everything the people said.

Dressed in a linen outfit, he looked quite simple, yet he stood out from the surrounding people.

His clothes were too clean; the nearby villagers wore clothing that was somewhat dirty and stained, suggesting they've been worn for a long time. In contrast, the old man's attire had no patches.

His long white hair was tidy, not a tangled mess.

The old man's name was Geng Songfu, from Gaozhou, who had been fond of reading since childhood, wise and strategic, familiar with legal codes. He became an Advanced Scholar in The Sixth Year of Jianping, ranked seventh in the second batch.

Although at the bottom of the second batch, he was still a top among scholars and started his career as a Chief in the Supreme Court, holding a Sixth Grade position with a bright future.

Just when everyone thought Geng Songfu was on a smooth path to success, he offended someone.

While reviewing a case at the Ministry of Justice, he discovered it was a wrongful conviction. As he gathered evidence to clear the case, he encountered numerous obstacles.

Even his colleagues and superiors subtly suggested he stop investigating. But having studied scriptures since childhood, vowed to uphold justice and punish corrupt officials, he couldn't ignore injustice and was determined to seek justice for the victim.

Ultimately, despite many hurdles, Geng Songfu uncovered that the case involved the son of a Prince.

Just when the case was almost resolved, he was falsely accused of rape, imprisoned. Though pressured to plead guilty, he refused, asserting his innocence, which led to a broken leg by the guards.

Despite not confessing, he was still imprisoned for five years as a rapist by the authorities.

He was released only after the Prince fell from grace, and the previous emperor ordered an investigation, proving his innocence.

Even then, he was relegated from the center of power to serve as County Magistrate in a remote small county, Wutai County, in Gaozhou.

He wasn't disheartened, believing that serving the people was more important than titles.

But upon taking office, he realized it was not easy to be a parental official.

The people were ignorant, clerks cunning, and the Noble Clans entrenched.

Despite his abilities and ambitions for the people, he faced tremendous resistance.

Eventually, overcoming these issues, he diligently governed Wutai County, controlling floods, repairing levees, fighting local tyrants, dredging waterways, advocating strict punishment of corrupt officials, and banning favoritism and bribery, forcing corrupt officials to return land to the people.

Under his governance, Wutai County transformed from a poor small county toward an Upper County.

But because he infringed on the local Noble Clan's interests and was upright, refusing to flatter the powerful, his term ended without a promotion, and instead, he lost his post.

Until the former emperor died and Emperor Xuanhe ascended the throne, he was reinstated as Wutai County's magistrate.

However, by then everything changed, Wutai County returned to its former state, and the local Noble Clans were wary, not as easily dealt with as before.

His authority was usurped, unable to command anyone, achieving nothing in the end.

Later turmoil arose...

The city Noble Clans and rich households defected early, even trying to capture him, beheading him for credit.

If not for the people's help, he would have been a neglected corpse.

Reflecting on his life.

Having wasted most of his life, yet accomplished nothing substantial.

But he refused to give up, not planning to end his life this way.

He intended to try his luck at the Jiangnan Xiao Family, but upon passing through Pingting County, he noticed a very lively city with excellent order.

Elderly and children's faces beamed with happiness.

No refugees or beggars were seen on the streets.

Military gear was tidy, constables undisturbing to civilians, and people lived in peace.

Through thorough investigation, he discovered the county magistrate wasn't only a rebel but also a seventeen-year-old youth, who implemented land measurement and tax exemption policies.

And succeeded.

To know, even he couldn't achieve these two points.

PS: This chapter contains only two thousand two hundred words, so there will be another chapter.