Chapter 35: This Is Old Master Huang’s Juhe County
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
“Hey, you’re acting too excited.” Lu Zhengming saw that Zhao Guang actually knelt down and immediately laughed. “Stand up. County Lord doesn’t want anyone to kneel.”
The words Immortal Venerable and County Lord sounded quite similar, and there was a sea of voices shouting here. He didn’t notice the difference.
“Oh, right, right.” Zhao Guang hurriedly stood up.
He understood that Cui Heng probably did not want to expose his identity as an Immortal. He immediately adjusted his emotions and continued to welcome Cui Heng according to their original plan.
However, Cui Heng’s arrival still gave him an indescribable sense of shock.
This was an Immortal being who could revive the dead. He actually came to this small Juhe County to be a county magistrate.
Could it be that something major had happened here, or some earth-shattering treasure was about to appear?
He had wandered all over the world a few years ago and often ate and drank in the teahouse. He had heard many stories and read many books, so he knew that Immortals did not easily come to the mortal world.
If an Immortal descended, something big would definitely happen!
“If I can help an Immortal, will I be able to obtain an Immortal-level fortuitous encounter?” Zhao Guang was immediately excited. He was determined to work for Cui Heng wholeheartedly in the future. Perhaps this would be his second chance to change his fate.
At this moment, Cui Heng had already arrived at the city gate of Juhe County.
He had noticed Zhao Guang at first glance. He did not expect this grave robber to be the “sponsor” Lu Zhengming had found. It could be considered as fate.
Then, Cui Heng waved his arm gently so that everyone could see him.
After the crowd saw the young appearance of the new county magistrate, it immediately caused a commotion in the crowd.
“The new county magistrate is actually so young. He looks to be in his twenties.”
“He’s probably not even in his twenties. He’s too young. I’m afraid he was targeted and forced to take over!”
“It’s said that the rebel King Yan is about to attack us. This new county head is probably a scapegoat!”
“The county magistrate position changes like flowing water, but Old Master Huang’s seat is iron-clad. He may be young, but he’ll still be grasped in the latter’s palms.”
Many of the citizens whispered.
They had been paid to welcome the new county magistrate, but that did not mean that they were sincere in their greetings.
County magistrates were usually extremely cruel creatures. The previous county magistrates were all greedy b*stards who racked their brains to suck the money out of the citizens’ pockets. Some had even gone as far as collecting 100 years of taxes in advance.
He even colluded with the county’s wealthy Master Huang and took away many people’s land, forcing them to become tenants.
To many people, changing a county magistrate was just swapping a different person to squeeze them dry.
However, this county magistrate seemed a little different.
It was really strange that he took the initiative to spend a lot of money to invite these bumpkins over to welcome him.
As Cui Heng rode towards the gate, his gaze swept over the thousands of citizens. He saw colors of gray, green, and black on them.
They were sorrow, fear, and evil.
Not even an ounce of joy and love.
“It seems that the previous county magistrates were really ridiculous.” Cui Heng could not help but sigh in his heart. There were not many good magistrates in this ancient feudal society.
In particular, in recent years, the Great Jin Dynasty had been engulfed in the flames of war. Rebel armies rose one after another. It was obvious that they did not have long to live in such times, so the county magistrates became even more aggressive in sucking money.
However, in any case, after this welcoming ceremony, the people of Juhe County basically knew that a young county magistrate had arrived. But, that was all.
No one felt that this new magistrate could make any difference.
...
In the Juhe County Office, Cui Heng officially took over all the matters here.
Due to the war everywhere, the decree of the Great Jin Imperial Court could only reach the various counties of the Central Continent. Almost all the other regions were autonomous regions now, so he did not need to be appointed by the Emperor and could directly take office.
Lu Zhengming became the county deputy, and Zhao Guang was also brought over to be the official registrar.
After Monk Hui Shi finished writing down his martial techniques, he continued to be the leader of the court officers.
These were the preliminary steps in setting up the county office.
“If I want to gain the trust and love of the people of Juhe County as soon as possible, what should I do?” Cui Heng asked Lu Zhengming and Zhao Guang.
As a newcomer, if he could do something that was beneficial to most of the people in Juhe County, he might be able to gain a lot of affection.
Lu Zhengming and Zhao Guang looked at each other.
They both saw the doubt in each other’s eyes.
This county magistrate seemed to really want to do something good for the people of Juhe County?
Could this be what it meant to be high-spirited and compassionate?
Although neither of them understood why Cui Heng was doing that, they thought about the question seriously and came to the same conclusion.
“County Lord, Juhe County is located by the Hong River. It’s an important waterway in Fengzhou. With this strategic resource, the people shouldn’t be poor. But in fact, most families don’t even have many full meals a year,” Zhao Guang said first.
“Because there’s a Huang family here,” Lu Zhengming explained. “The rise of the Huang family originated from an ancestor 90 years ago, the Water Envoy of the capital. While controlling the water transportation he racked up a lot of money and brazenly bought land in Juhe County.
This made the Huang family, which was originally an ordinary wealthy family, become the largest family in Juhe County. To this day, they already occupy 100,000 acres of land. Most of the people in the county are tenants of the Huang family.”
“Hehe, from then on, Juhe County became Old Master Huang’s Juhe County.” Zhao Guang sneered at the side. “After occupying a large amount of land, the Huang family began to crazily increase the rent of their tenants.
“In serious cases, there will even be times when the level of annual harvest is not enough to pay the land’s lease. At that time, the Huang family will lend money to the tenants to borrow food and pay for the land lease. Then the profits will roll in and gradually turn the tenants into serfs like livestock.”
“If County Lord can wipe out the Huang family, you will definitely make all the people in the county clap their hands for you and worship you as the heavens,” Lu Zhengming said.
“This Old Master Huang even secretly has a private army. In the past, whenever a new county magistrate came into office, they would send a greeting to the Huang family and ask to meet with Old Master Huang.” Zhao Guang continued, “It’s said that there was a magistrate who did not go and greet Old Master Huang after he took office. Then, he was found dead on the streets less than half a month later.”
“The Huang family is indeed a good fat pig.” Cui Heng laughed when he heard this and asked, “The Huang family must have collected many antique calligraphy and paintings?”
“Probably a lot,” Zhao said after a moment.
“Then we’ll wipe out the Huang family.” Cui Heng decided.
...
In the Huang family’s mansion in the east of Juhe County.
Old Master Huang, in his fifties, was fishing. But instead of sitting in a chair, he used the body of a young girl as a stool.
The young girl who looked to be no more than 16 or 17, was kneeling with her hands against the ground, her body positioned as a human stool. Her frail body trembled as she supported the nearly 200 jin of weight on her back.
Sweat was already forming on her forehead. Her body trembled, but she didn’t dare to move.
The last maidservant who failed to support Old Master Huang properly, had already been chopped up and thrown into the pond to feed the fishes.
“Old Master, that young county magistrate did not send a greeting card.”
At this moment, a middle-aged man in gray jogged over and bowed. “I’ve also checked that little fellow’s background.”
This was the Huang family’s butler.
Huang Cai.
“What’s his background?” Lord Huang asked without looking up.
“I heard that he’s Zhao Guang’s relative. He spent money to buy an official position. He doesn’t have any background,” Huang Cai said in a low voice. What he had found out was all the information Lu Zhengming and Zhao Guang had deliberately spread.
“Zhao Guang?” Master Huang sneered when he heard that. “He’s a nouveau riche. He’s like a dog. How dare he encroach on the position of the county magistrate? After holding it in for three months, it’s time to eat!”
In this era of chaos, it was not unusual for a county magistrate’s position to change every month. Therefore, he was not surprised by the sudden departure of the previous county magistrate.
“Old Master, do you think this county magistrate is a martial expert like the previous county magistrate?” Huang Cai was a little worried.
The previous county magistrate was Yan Sheng. He had come here to prepare for the entry of King Yan’s army into the city.
Therefore, the first thing he did was to come to the Huang family to establish his might.
Although he promised a lot of benefits later on and even exploited the commoners with the Huang family, his domineering martial strength also left a deep impression on the Huang family.
“It’s just a brat who’s still wet behind the ears. Even if he started practicing martial cultivation in his mother’s womb, how powerful can he be?” Old Master Huang sneered in disdain. “Send a message and ask that brat to come and pay his respects to me tomorrow morning. Otherwise, he’ll bear the consequences himself.”