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

Some valuables were moved in from the courtyards of the second in command, the third in command, and finally the sixth in command. However, they were insignificant compared to the valuables in Zhao Long's courtyard.

"Young Master, there are only a few things, not even 50% of what is in Niutou Village..." Ling Xiao showed a look of disappointment.

“That’s terrible!”

"Don't move these properties for the time being, leave them in Teng County..." Lu Xingchen looked at Zhao Rui.

"You should start counting now... Register the calligraphy and paintings, jade articles, etc. and store them in a box. Other gold and silver items should be recorded in another account book and kept as funds for the reconstruction of Teng County."

Zhao Rui showed an incredible look, "You want to rebuild Teng County?"

"What do you mean by you? This is our county lord." Ling Xiao said to Zhao Rui angrily.

"If our young master hadn't been lenient with you, I would have kicked you to the ground."

"You don't kneel down to greet our young master."

Zhao Rui was hesitating whether to kneel down.

"I don't care about those things. If you are not kneeling willingly, you don't have to kneel." Lu Xingchen waved his hand indifferently.

"It doesn't matter whether you kneel or not, but I need capable people. If you fail to do your job well, you are not qualified to work for me even if you kowtow to me ten times a day." Lu Xingchen said, staring at Zhao Rui with burning eyes.

"You are a scholar with a heart to help the world and save people, so use your talents and strength to do a good job."

Zhao Rui showed a guilty expression on his face.

He thought that Lu Xingchen would plunder Teng County's property, and then abandon Teng County here, leaving it to fend for itself, turning it into an empty city and eventually becoming a gathering place for bandits and beggars.

"I have other things to do. You go ahead and do your work. I'll come find you when I'm done." Lu Xingchen said to Zhao Rui, turned around and was about to leave Zhao Long's yard.

Zhao Rui looked at Lu Xingchen's departing back and knelt on the ground before she left.

"County Magistrate Lu, I thank you on behalf of the people of Teng County."

Lu Xingchen stopped and looked back at him, "You can't represent them."

"This world belongs to the common people."

Zhao Rui looked at Lu Xingchen with disbelief.

He seemed to understand what Lu Xingchen meant, but also seemed not to understand.

However, Lu Xingchen had no intention of explaining these profound principles to him, and took Ling Xiao and Lu Yun back to the yamen.

Those gentry and merchants who were frightened half to death were still huddled in the lobby of the government office, not daring to move.

After all, there was a soldier holding a knife, standing at the door motionless, like a pine tree.

They had never seen such meticulous soldiers.

The soldiers they had seen before were like thugs, either picking their noses or robbing houses.

At first they thought they were doomed and were going to be beheaded.

As time went on, no one did anything to them.

Their anxious hearts were relieved a little.

But they didn't dare to move. In the past few years, countless gentry had died for no reason at the hands of Zhao Long and his men.

Lu Xingchen and his men walked in.

She pulled up a chair and sat down.

"Are you all gentry and merchants in the county?" Lu Xingchen asked.

No one dared to answer him.

"I am Lu Xingchen, the county magistrate of Xing County. You may have heard of my name. I will not kill people indiscriminately." Lu Xingchen looked at the crowd who were huddled together.

Slowly they walked out from the corner and knelt on the ground.

"I kowtow to Magistrate Lu."

Lu Xingchen knocked on the table, "Are you all gentry and merchants?"

Several country gentlemen raised their hands one after another.

One of them said, "In reply to Lord Lu, I am a country gentleman, and my home is in Wangjiazhuang outside the city."

Then several merchants also reported their names.

"Do you still have the fields and the shop?"

The squire replied, "We have land, but all income from the land must be handed over to Magistrate Zhao... No, it's Zhao Long."

"Yes, the fields are in our hands, but all the harvests are not in our hands."

Several merchants also said, "Although I have a shop, they can take whatever they want from the shop, and I have to give all the income to them."

"I saved your lives, please admit this." Lu Xingchen looked at several people and asked.

Several masters nodded.

"Thank you, County Magistrate Lu, for saving my life."

"If Magistrate Lu has any instructions, please tell me."

"Those of you who have land, keep 100 acres for yourself, and hand over the rest to the government office."

"I can exempt you from taxes on these one hundred acres of land for two years."

"Those who have shops will keep two for themselves, and the rest will be handed over to the government office."

"Your treatment is the same as theirs. You don't have to pay taxes for these two shops in the next two years. Whatever you earn is yours."

"Whether you feel you have made a profit or a loss, this is the policy of this county. Otherwise, we will treat you as Zhao Long's accomplices and chop off your heads together."

Naturally, there was no reason for these gentry and merchants to refuse, and they all expressed their willingness to hand over their land and shops.

"Then you all go back. Don't think about being sneaky and letting this county know about it. You will suffer the consequences..." Lu Xingchen glanced at them.

Several people stumbled with fear, saying they didn't dare.

Lu Xingchen needs the ownerless land very much.

Horses were an important strategic material in this era.

But she didn't have enough space to raise horses.

Since there is so much abandoned land in Teng County, we can fence off a piece of land for her to raise horses.

Moreover, Teng County is the closest place to Niutou Mountain, and a horse farm enclosed here has good concealment.

Lu Xingchen dealt with the matters in the county town briefly, and then went to find Lu Feng.

"Your Excellency, Teng County is already under our control." Lu Feng said.

Lu Xingchen nodded and said, "Brother Lu, you take people to guard the county town. I will go out and meet up with Wei Hu and Zhang Fan."

"Zhao Long was able to capture Teng County and occupy it for so long. He must have some extraordinary skills."

"I'm worried that Wei Hu and Zhang Fan will suffer."

"Let Yuehui guard the county town, I will go with you." Lu Feng was also a little worried about Lu Xingchen.

"No need, I can take Ling Xiao with me." Lu Xingchen said.

"Let me go with the young master too." Lu Yun walked over.

"It's enough for me to accompany the young master. You are not needed." Ling Xiao said to Lu Yun.

Lu Yun ignored Ling Xiao and just looked at Lu Xingchen.

"One more person will give you more assurance."

Ling Xiao was so angry that he gnashed his teeth and wished he could grow up quickly and become extremely strong.

So Lu Xingchen took Ling Xiao and Lu Yun out of Teng County and rushed to the place where Wei Hu ambushed Zhao Long.

The ambush point they set was not far from Teng County. If they rode non-stop, they could reach it in about an hour and a half.

I hope Wei Hu and Zhang Fan are safe and sound.