Raising chickens and pigs and digging for wild vegetables, the county magistrate's promotion wa

Chapter 110 Magistrate Zhao: Admitting Defeat and Seeking Peace

Just as Yang Shaofeng was filled with curiosity, Limpy Five continued, "Also, there are many unfamiliar faces following behind Magistrate Zhao; they are not from our Ningyang County at all."

Hearing what Limpy Wu said, Yang Shaofeng became even more curious. After a moment's thought, Yang Shaofeng directly instructed Limpy Wu, "Let's go and meet this Magistrate Zhao to see what he's up to."

But as soon as Yang Shaofeng led the lame man to the county government gate, he burst into laughter upon seeing the official robes worn by Magistrate Zhao.

According to the regulations of the Ming Dynasty, officials of the seventh rank like Yang Shaofeng were required to wear scarlet round-collared robes and plain silver belts.

However, Magistrate Zhao was now wearing a blue swallow-patterned robe, and his belt had been changed to a black horn one.

Tsk tsk, this is a county magistrate who was originally a seventh-rank official, but was demoted to an eighth-rank county assistant.

Seeing that Magistrate Yang was barely able to suppress his laughter, Magistrate Zhao wanted to curse him out, but when he thought about how he had been demoted to an eighth-rank county assistant, two ranks lower than Magistrate Yang, and how he had come to Ningyang County to admit defeat and seek peace, Magistrate Zhao had to suppress the urge to curse.

Having mentally prepared himself, Magistrate Zhao took a deep breath, stepped forward, and bowed to Yang Shaofeng, saying, "This humble official, Zhao Liang, acting magistrate of Wenshang County, greets Magistrate Yang."

Seeing that Magistrate Zhao Liang made no mention of how he was demoted, Yang Shaofeng grunted and asked with great curiosity, "May I ask what brings Magistrate Zhao to Ningyang County?"

Zhao Liang took another deep breath, turned slightly to the side, pointed to the crowd of people behind him and said, "I was confused at the time and actually came to Ningyang County to make things difficult for Magistrate Yang. Now that I think about it, I am truly ashamed and regretful."

"These people are from Wenshang County. They heard that the people of Ningyang County have a good livelihood, so they have decided to move to Ningyang County to settle down. I deeply regret that I did not allow them to move before. This time, I have written a document to allow them to move. I hope that Magistrate Yang can accept these people."

Upon hearing Zhao Liang, the county magistrate, say this, Yang Shaofeng couldn't help but feel deeply impressed.

This is a ruthless person who can bend and stretch.

At the very least, I can't be as flexible and adaptable as Magistrate Zhao.

After a moment of introspection, Yang Shaofeng gestured towards the main hall of the county government office and said, "In that case, I'll trouble Magistrate Zhao to wait in the county government office while I process the relocation procedures for these people."

Zhao Liang nodded, cupped his hands in greeting to Yang Shaofeng, and said, "Please, I also have many questions that I would like to ask Magistrate Yang."

Yang Shaofeng naturally ignored Zhao Liang's request for advice. After all, the two were not on the same path and had long since become enemies. He could just listen to Zhao Liang's nonsense about asking for advice; anyone who took it seriously would be a real fool.

Leading Zhao Liang and a group of people from Wenshang County into the county government hall, Yang Shaofeng went straight back to the chair in the main seat and casually flipped through the relocation documents that Zhao Liang had brought.

Then, Magistrate Yang Shaofeng thought that Zhao Liang was probably here to annoy people.

What the hell is this called?

Write down names like Yang Moumou, Zhao Moumou, Li Moumou, Wang Moumou, etc., then add a list of the family members, write a sentence permitting the relocation, and stamp it. That's it.

What's the rest? Age, skills, ancestral home—there's no information about any of that.

No, is it that Old Zhu is so stingy that you, a county magistrate, are unwilling to spend money on writing materials, or do you have a problem with me?

While silently complaining to himself, Yang Shaofeng instructed Lame Wu, "Have them line up by household, just like when we registered Liu Miao Village before."

After Bo Wu received the order and arranged for the people of Wenshang County to line up by household, Yang Shaofeng asked each person one by one, recording their name, age, date of birth, ancestral home, and any skills they were good at.

After registering the last person, Magistrate Yang put down his pen and paper, took a deep breath, and said to Zhao Liang, "County Assistant Zhao, this time you have sent a total of eight households, twenty men and twenty-three women. Are there any errors or omissions?"

Zhao Liang quickly stood up, cupped his hands in greeting, and replied, "There are no errors or omissions."

After saying that, Zhao Liang's face changed to one of admiration, and he said, "Magistrate Yang is indeed amazing. I never thought that the registration of the people could be done so well. I am truly impressed."

Yang Shaofeng had no intention of getting involved with this County Magistrate Zhao. Upon hearing this, he simply chuckled and said, "A mere trick, not worth mentioning."

After a slight pause, Yang Shaofeng continued, "I have to go on an inspection tour of the villages later, so I won't keep County Magistrate Zhao any longer?"

Zhao Liang was immediately filled with dissatisfaction, and the urge to curse him out once again took over.

Damn it, just how much does this guy surnamed Yang look down on me to be so arrogant and domineering?

Or are you really not worried that you might lose power one day?

After mentally ranting and raving, Zhao Liangcai took another deep breath and said, "The fact that Magistrate Yang personally inspected the villages shows his concern for people's livelihood. It is a blessing for the people of Ningyang County and an example for us to emulate. I will take my leave now."

Yang Shaofeng smiled again, cupped his hands in greeting to Zhao Liang, and said, "Please."

Only after Zhao Liang's figure disappeared outside the county government hall did the smile on Yang Shaofeng's face gradually fade.

This guy is not only ruthless, but also a wolf in sheep's clothing.

We must be very careful of this guy in the future. We must not let him gain power under any circumstances. Otherwise, not only will we have to be on guard against his revenge every day, but the people of the Ming Dynasty will also have no good life.

After letting out a slight sigh, Yang Shaofeng turned his gaze to the eight households that had migrated there.

"Now that you have moved to Ningyang County, you are now citizens of Ningyang County."

Yang Shaofeng said solemnly, "There are a few things I must explain to you first, so that you will not feel wronged when you fall into my hands in the future."

"The first thing is that you must work diligently from now on, not be lazy in agriculture, live in harmony with your neighbors, be filial to your parents, not wander around causing trouble, and certainly not engage in gambling or other illegal activities."

"Especially those who commit shady dealings at this checkpoint, if they fall into my hands, they will be given twenty lashes, and I will not let them off lightly."

"The second thing is that there are many vacant houses in the villages and communities inside and outside the city. If you have some money, you can buy them and live there."

"If you have no money, I will not give you this house to live in for free. I will only allow you to rent it temporarily. When you have money in the future, I will buy the house you live in."

"As for making money, you don't need to worry too much. The men can earn money by digging artificial lakes or by building roads, while the women can earn money by working in lighter workshops or by working in farms."

“When you receive your wages each month, the rent for your housing will be deducted from it, and what is left is your wages.”

"The third thing is that the autumn sowing is over now, and even if you were given land, I'm afraid there wouldn't be enough time to cultivate it."

"Therefore, the land that is to be allocated will still be allocated to you by this official, and the wasteland that needs to be reclaimed will still be reclaimed by you. When spring comes next year, you can plant beans to fertilize the land."

"Did you all understand?"