Great Tang Idyll

Jia Wei'ran heard his father's words. He had no idea what was going on, but seeing that there were outsiders around, he couldn't say some things for now. He nodded and sat next to his father. After sitting down, he felt that he was uncomfortable all over.

"Young Master Jia is here too. Just now, the two of us were telling the magistrate that nothing will happen to Young Master Jia. Young Master Jia, tell us, where did you go? Were you kidnapped? Ever since Magistrate Cheng left, San'shui County has been in a lot of chaos, but there is not enough manpower. The two of us were telling the magistrate to recruit some more bailiffs."

Magistrate Assistant Zhang Ming'sheng said to Jia Wei'ran with a look of concern.

The first thing Jia Wei'ran thought of was that if the Administrative Office recruited more people, the money at the Administrative Office would be even less. There were hundreds of bailiffs already, so why recruit more? How many people were there in San'shui County? He had to oppose them, "Magistrate Zhang, I think the public security in San'shui County is good, why recruit more people?"

"It's wrong for Young Master Jia to say that. What one hears is fictitious, but what one sees is reality. The Magistrate has a deep understanding of this. If the Administrative Office's bailiffs did not notice that something was off, perhaps San'shui County would have to change the magistrate. We should recruit 200 more bailiffs. It's actually not that many.

There's enough for Little Luo'shui, but I heard that more restaurants will be built near Between The Water And Clouds. A lot of people will go there. What if someone encounters danger? Do you agree, my lord? "

Recorder Zhao Xiang added. He was now full of anger. Originally, he was supposed to be promoted, but now a new official came. Regardless of who was in Zhao Xiang's position, it would be impossible for them to be happy.

Magistrate Jia sat there helplessly. He looked at his son and then he looked at the two people who sat opposite him. He nodded, "Recorder Zhao and Assistant Zhang are right. We should hire another two hundred bailiffs. Wei'ran, earlier when you were buying stuff, someone stuffed my mouth and covered my head with a sack, and kidnapped me. If there were two more bailiffs there, would something like this ever happen?"

"Huh? Father, you were kidnapped? In that short amount of time? How did such a thing happen? Was there not anyone around to witness this?" Jia Wei'ran opened his mouth wide and asked in disbelief.

"Young Master Jia, this proves that those bad guys are brave, and they don't care about whether or not there are people around or care about the location. Young Master Jia, you were also nearby, but didn't you also not see what happened?" Magistrate Assistant Zhang further said.

Jia Wei'ran thought about the situation at the time, and then he thought about his father's appearance, and the Recorder's and Magistrate Assistant's expression. He understood everything now. He and his father should have noticed when they arrived here. The Administrative Office planned to keep using money, possibly so that by the time his father took office, all of the money would be almost completely spent.

Jia Wei'ran felt sad. Today, he managed to see how competent they were. Just earlier he was discussing with his father how to scheme against them, but it now seemed like they would make a joke out of themselves if they tried. It was not surprising that his father agreed. If not, then if this matter spreaded, what would happen to his father's pride?

Thinking of this, Jia Wei'ran could only choose a temporary compromise, and said, "I wonder where the Recorder and Magistrate Assistant plan to assign the 200 new bailiffs?"

Magistrate Assistant Zhang replied, "One hundred people will be placed at Tu'qiao Village, fifty at the Administrative Office, and the remaining fifty will be placed where the magistrate encountered danger."

"One hundred and fifty people will be dedicated to doing things for the Zhang and Wang families? No, they have to be assigned elsewhere." Jia Wei'ran could feel the hatred inside himself. He was able to tolerate them recruiting bailiffs, and he was able to accept that they were going to spend money, but he couldn't accept that many people being sent to work for the Zhang and Wang families--- this would allow them to become even harder to deal with.

Before the Recorder and Magistrate assistant had a chance to talk, Magistrate Jia lectured him, "Wei'ran, what do you mean by doing work for others? Don't those two places belong to the San'shui County? Don't talk nonsense."

"Alright." Jia Wei'ran didn't dare to talk any more. This time he was not able to scheme against them, and instead, he and his father fell for their trap. Originally, a few bailiffs were sent to the Tu'qiao Village already, ano now a hundred more will be sent there. Later on, that place will be more stable. Does more need to be said about their relationship with the bailiffs at the Administrative Office?

Now there was nothing else important to discuss. After all, Magistrate Jia had not yet taken office. They could discuss more once he takes office. They hastily ate some food. They agreed that tomorrow the magistrate would leave the county first, and return with his men. Then they dispersed.

Jia Wei'ran didn't eat the stinky tofu. He left with his father. When they were outside and he saw that there was no one around, he said to his father, "Father, you just let them bully us like that? I really can't swallow this anger."

Magistrate Jia didn't look very well. He pursed his mouth, "So what if you could swallow it? We secretly came over here, but we were spotted immediately. They're telling us that we shouldn't try to come up with little ideas, and that I should work honestly, otherwise, something might happen."

"What should we do then? Is working honestly our only choice? This place is not the same San'shui County as before. Father, you spent quite a bit of money to get here. If you don't earn the money back, wouldn't it be a loss?" Jia Wei'ran felt uncomfortable when he thought about how his original ideas were swept away by the waters. The wharf was so profitable that it was like a basket of gold was earned everyday.

"Let's observe first, there's no rush. It's not like we're leaving immediately. We should wait for an opportunity. I doubt that their Administrative Office and the Zhang and Wang families are that clean. As long as we can find evidence, the San'shui County will change." Magistrate Jia was also distressed about the money. It was even more saddening to be able to see the money, but be unable to grab the money.

*

At this time, Recorder Zhao Xiang and the Magistrate Assistant Zhang Ming'sheng were also talking, but the mood of the two was different from that of the Magistrate Jia and his son.

"Brother Zhang, this time I really relieved my anger. I didn't intend to do that at the beginning, but who would have thought that the two of them snuck in by themselves. They saved us a lot of trouble. When we welcome the magistrate tomorrow, we will show them how amazing the San'shui County is. If they want to earn money, then it's easy. First, finish their work and satisfy the people."

Zhao Xiang smiled as he spoke to Zhang Ming'sheng. He let out a long breath. He felt like the day was not so cloudy anymore, and it was satisfyingly cooler.

Zhang Ming'sheng also had a smile on his face, and he replied, "Brother Zhao is right. He didn't take up his post yet, but he's already thinking about the money. If we don't let them know how amazing we are, will the people in the county still be able to have a good life? After spending so much effort to find temporary work for the people to do so that their income can increase, would the days still be good if the magistrate messed around with things?"

Having said this, Zhang Ming'sheng suddenly remembered something and asked, "Brother Zhao, how much money is left in the Administrative Office?"

"You're the magistrate assistant, and you don't know? You're asking me? There's not much left. There's probably a thousand or so strings of coins. When we recruit new bailiffs, it's perhaps… perhaps not enough to pay for horses and weapons. If money is spent on paying the bailiffs and buying weapons, then there's not enough for horses."

Zhao Xiang teased Zhang Ming'sheng, and he told him about the Administrative Office's financial state. He knew that Zhang Ming'sheng deliberately asked that question so that he could speak out the answer and make Zhang Ming'sheng happy again. The new magistrate was greedy for money? Then push him down. That was what he deserved for being greedy.

The Administrative Office has been repaired, and the issue with the bailiffs' meals was easy to deal with. They could get that place at Little Luo'shui to send something called a "buffet", or borrow money from other people. As long as it was a business that cares about the San'shui County, for example, the Zhou Xi'hu's family's or the original three restaurants, they would be willing to lend money. They can be paid back when it's time for them to pay for taxes.

Of course, they would have to talk to the Prefecture first, otherwise it would easily cause trouble. They would report it when the wharf at Little Luo'shui pays taxes next year, and then wait for the higher ups to respond.

Zhang Ming'sheng smiled again, and said, "Then why are we recruiting so many bailiffs? A bailiff can make it to the farthest part of the county within two hours and the Zhang Manor has their own Seedling Protection team. Although this name is good, others will think that they have something to do with farming.

The Emperor's nephew is also there. How could the Li Manor not have any guards? Tossing a hundred bailiffs over there is pointless."

"There is a purpose. The Zhang manor will come up with a way to use them. The extra people assigned to the Little Luo'shui will be used too. Let's go. Let's hurry back and prepare. We need to write out the needed proclamation, and let the people know about the new county magistrate."

Zhao Xiang didn't worry that they were hiring too many people. The Zhang Manor was the one who came up with this idea. Although they didn't intend to use this idea today, they happened to bump into the magistrate today, so he decided to use it.

*

There was another snowfall at night and it was much heavier than the one during the day. Zhang Xiao'bao and Wang Juan didn't get onto the heated brick bed yet since it was still too early. They only added a brazier to the room. The two of them were at their table studying. They have written half a page of words when the Administrative Office's messenger arrived.

"Unexpectedly, Magistrate Jia is quite interesting. He actually paid a private visit, but he didn't carry this out well and messed up." Zhang Xiao'bao looked at the letter written over there and said to Wang Juan.

Wang Juan smiled, "So he really has his eyes set on our wharf? Then should we still give him benefits? If not, he will cause trouble for the bailiffs once he sees that we keep giving the bailiffs benefits."

"Yes, we have to give him it. Let's first give him wood fungus. Didn't we send some cucumber plants over already? Later we can send some other daily use items. But we will not give him any money. An official's salary is not enough for an official to use. After we provide him with the items he needs to use, his salary can be used to help himself get promoted."

Zhang Xiao'bao didn't want to be too harsh. No matter what, he still had to let others stay alive. The more things the Magistrate does for the San'shui County, the more benefits they will give him, allowing him to develop a habit. As for whether this will succeed or not, he didn't know.