It's better to be an empress than a county magistrate

Master Liu from Wanxian nodded in agreement and went down to make preparations.

The news of Lu Xingchen destroying Niutou Village caused a huge stir, and even the prefect of Jizhou heard about it.

Lord Kang, the governor of Jizhou, was lying in a rocking chair. Next to him, a pretty young lady was sitting on a small stool, peeling grapes with her slender white fingers.

A man named Liao stood with his body hunched.

Mr. Liao is an aide to Prefect Kang.

"The new county magistrate of Xing County actually destroyed two gangs of bandits on Niutou Mountain..." Prefect Kang said slowly.

"I heard that he is only sixteen years old. He is truly a hero at a young age."

"Yes, Your Excellency the Prefect." Mr. Liao echoed.

"The county magistrates of these counties are all cunning. Every year they always say that they are being harassed by bandits and that the people are unable to make ends meet and refuse to pay taxes to our government office."

"This group of bandits has been destroyed. It is still spring now. In the autumn, they should pay all the taxes to the government office," said Prefect Kang.

"You, the prefect, have been too magnanimous over the years and always spoiled them." Mr. Liao said somewhat indignantly.

"It's not that I'm magnanimous, it's that I love the people like my own children. I hope these ordinary people can understand my good intentions." Prefect Kang showed a calm expression.

"The new county magistrate has not come to the prefectural government office to register."

"Then send someone to deliver my appointment document to the Xing County government office."

"Just say that I agree to appoint him as the magistrate of Xing County."

"Also, prepare some more gifts and send them over. Tell him that this is a reward for him eliminating the bandits."

Mr. Liao nodded and agreed, but he was still a little worried.

"Sir, the magistrate of Xing County was able to wipe out the two gangs of bandits on Niutou Mountain, which shows that he is very powerful..."

"Do you think he will..."

"What's there to be afraid of with his extraordinary strength? No matter what, he can't get past me."

"The country is in a turbulent period now, and anyone can claim to be the king."

"Such a talent has unexpectedly appeared in the jurisdiction of this prefect. We must work hard to win him over. Don't be petty and judge others by your own standards." Prefect Kang scolded with a stern face.

Mr. Liao had no choice but to suppress his doubts, said a few more words of compliment, and then turned around and went back to work.

The young lady placed the crystal green grapes in her hand to Governor Kang's lips.

Magistrate Kang bit it gently, and at the same time bit the young lady's slender white fingers.

The young lady laughed softly and said "hate" in a shy voice.

*

After suffering for half a day, Jia Wanhe could no longer endure it, so he picked up a pen, dipped it in ink, and wrote a letter to his son Jia Rong in great pain.

Then, someone quickly took his letter and delivered it to Song County on horseback.

When Jia Rong saw the letter sent by Jia Wanhe, he didn't know what to say for a moment.

Because Jia Wanhe wrote ten pages in a very eloquent manner, and the first nine pages were all about cursing Lu Xingchen for being a cruel and treacherous person with evil ambitions.

Ling Xiao read the letter and told Lu Xingchen its contents.

"I'm going to pull out all the old man's hair and spank him hard with the sole of my shoe if he keeps swearing." Ling Xiao was so angry that he jumped up and down.

Lu Xingchen's expression was indifferent. "You have obtained so much land and gold and silver from others. What's the big deal if you get scolded?"

"Give me 10,000 taels of gold now, and I'll let you scold me."

Ling Xiao laughed at Lu Xingchen twice, "Young Master is just joking, how can I have so much gold?"

"Since you don't have gold, why don't you practice martial arts?" Lu Xingchen said coldly.

She was working when Ling Xiao came over and kept muttering to herself for quarter of an hour. She just couldn't calm down and work.

Ling Xiao said "oh" and felt a little disappointed, but still turned around and left.

The young master was right. He had to practice his skills well because the enemies he would face in the future would be stronger. If he wasn't careful with his mediocre skills, he would lose his life. How would he be able to protect the young master in the future?

Jia Rong read the letter written by Jia Wanhe over and over again.

He was also very angry when he watched it for the first time, but after watching it a few more times, his anger turned into helplessness.

This is an era where the strong prey on the weak.

No one is a savior. The only one who can save yourself is yourself.

It’s a pity that Song County’s luck has run out.

Now Lu Xingchen has left him thirty villages, what’s the use of an isolated city?

Jia Rong felt that he had no way out, so he called the few remaining counselors in the city to discuss countermeasures together.

Several counselors originally thought that the bandits had been eliminated and they could live a comfortable life in the future.

But when they saw the letter written by Jia Wanhe, they were so angry that they almost exploded.

"Lu Xingchen is simply taking advantage of the situation, you little bastard."

"This is kicking someone when they are down. It's despicable. It's really despicable."

"He is acting like a bandit, even more like a bandit than a bandit."

Several counselors gathered around the letter written by Jia Wanhe, but they had no idea what to do and kept complaining.

Jia Rong sighed in his heart, and there was no need for him to tell them about this matter.

The counselors that Jia Wanhe raised were of such a high level that it was not surprising that Song County ended up like this today.

"Everyone, I didn't call you here to listen to your complaints. Do you have any countermeasures?"

The noisy sounds in the room suddenly stopped.

Several people pursed their lips, lowered their heads, and did not dare to look at Jia Rong.

What can they do? They have no soldiers and no money.

"Young master, these lands and money cannot be given to us. If we give them to us, we will have nothing in Song County." said a counselor.

Another counselor continued, "If you don't give them these things, the county lord will never come back."

Finally, the strategist looked at Jia Rong, with an unspeakable emotion in his eyes.

The other two counselors immediately understood what the third counselor wanted to express in his eyes.

"Young Master, you should be decisive when the time comes. You are already fifteen years old this year, and it is not impossible for you to sit on the position of County Duke." The strategist continued.

"What nonsense are you talking about? My father is still in Lu Xingchen's hands, and I take his place. What would I be then? An unfaithful and unfilial person..." Jia Rong said angrily.

"Master, I support your idea this time." said the first counselor.

"Even if you take over as the county lord, can we resist the attack of Xing County with our current military strength?"

The two counselors who had just encouraged Jia Rong to take over were suddenly speechless.

"If we reject Lu Xingchen's request and she leads her troops to attack Song County, then everything will be gone."

The three counselors were at a loss for a moment and all looked at Jia Rong.

Because in the end, Jia Rong has to make the decision himself.

"Young master, I am going to say something that I shouldn't say." The strategist who had just opposed Jia Rong's decision to take over continued.

"Even if we leave behind thirty villages and the county seat of Song County, these few things will eventually fall into Lu Xingchen's hands."

"Why don't we just give Song County, as well as all the villages, land, and people, to Lu Xingchen."

"This way you and the master might be able to keep some money for yourselves, and the lady and the young lady won't have to live too hard."