The difficult year that Qing’an County had just endured showed no signs of relief in the new year.
Despite driving away the Marauder Army, not a drop of rain fell throughout the winter.
After spring began, the Qingshui River completely stopped flowing, leaving the riverbed full of sun-dried fish.
Soon, these dried fish were scavenged by people to stave off hunger.
With irrigation sources cut off, spring farming could not proceed, and panic spread everywhere.
This left Lord County Magistrate Ye Xiangming in a frenzy, organizing a large workforce to dig wells and collect water, while also guiding farrs to plant drought-resistant crops like sweet potatoes.
Although sweet potatoes are hard to swallow and require processing to be edible, it’s better than planting rice or wheat and harvesting nothing.
Even so, by sumr, a large number of disaster victims still appeared within the borders of Qing’an County.
"Sir, madam, have rcy and give us so food!"
The streets and alleys of the county seat suddenly filled with many refugees carrying their families, dressed in rags with sallow faces. Their entire possessions were a bundle and a few broken bowls, sitting on the ground begging passersby.
But they couldn’t get much food—grains were very precious now, and getting one al a day was considered fortunate.
The influx of disaster victims severely affected the security of the county seat, so the Governnt Office dispatched runners, along with the Garrison Army, to drive these people outside the city for settlent and relief.
For a while, the sounds of crying and pleading were endless, even reaching inside the Governnt Office.
In the main hall, Lord County Magistrate Ye Xiangming was troubled, speaking to Wang Chen, who sat beside him, "The county’s grain reserves can only support us for another month at most, and we can’t buy any more grain from Yunze Prefecture now."
"My dear son-in-law, what do you suggest?"
Ye Xiangming was skilled in military affairs but lacking in civil governance, increasingly relying on County Magistrate Wang Chen for advice and strategies.
"Borrow so grain from the big households."
Wang Chen said without hesitation, "They must have reserves; we should borrow as much as we can."
"That doesn’t seem right."
Ye Xiangming was quite hesitant about Wang Chen’s suggestion.
He knew so big households in the county had hoarded large amounts of grain, but without a valid reason to take action against them, it could easily cause great chaos.
The big households are not weaklings who would tolerate being easily skinned.
Moreover, Ye Xiangming had intricate connections with many big households after operating in Qing’an County for so many years.
It was hard to make a move!
"Nothing’s wrong with it."
Wang Chen said calmly, "In tis of crisis, we should work together for the ten thousand common people of Qing’an. Whether they want to lend or not, they must. At most, we pay for the grain at a reasonable price."
In Wang Chen’s view, his father-in-law was very capable, but after being an official for a long ti, particularly as the county magistrate, he had beco hesitant and indecisive, lacking his forr decisiveness.
Ye Xiangming smiled bitterly, "They’re willing to sell?"
Grain was more precious than silver taels now, and even with money, it was impossible to buy enough grain on the market. Without the county’s storage for relief, all the disaster victims outside the city would have starved to death long ago.
"That can’t be left to them."
Wang Chen said without hesitation, "How about I have soone plant a few sets of armor in those big households’ hos, giving us a reason to act."
In every dynasty, secretly hoarding armor was a major cri, punishable by exile at the least and execution of the entire family at the most!
A set of armor was a very sufficient reason to destroy a big household.
Ye Xiangming listened in awe, even feeling a chill in his heart, realizing his understanding of Wang Chen had been renewed once again.
He murmured, "But what if the drought isn’t over after eating up these big households?"
The big households in the county were not like leeks in a field, which could grow back after being cut; consuming them was not much different from killing the goose that lays the golden eggs.
"Then we’ll just rob!"
Wang Chen’s expression was fierce: "When the ti cos, I’ll lead troops back into Yunze, sweep through the rogues and bandits, and surely we’ll scrape together so grain."
Yunze Prefecture is known for its fertile lands, and no matter how severe the drought, the situation there is still much better than here.
Ye Xiangming was taken aback again, "Leading troops across borders is a serious cri!"
This cri is much bigger than hoarding armor, at least resulting in the execution of three generations.
Wang Chen said, "We just need to disguise ourselves as rogues, right? When rogues fight among themselves and rob each other, the local governnt would only be pleased. Who could pin this cri on us?"
His eyes were full of coldness: "If it really cos to that day, we, the father- and son-in-law, might as well revolt."
Ye Xiangming couldn’t help but take a deep breath.
Only then did he realize the boldness of his son-in-law, far beyond imagination.
In Wang Chen’s mouth, starting a rebellion was as trivial as a routine matter!
The county magistrate instinctively looked around.
Fortunately, only the father- and son-in-law were present in the Governnt Office’s main hall; such treasonous words wouldn’t reach a third person’s ears.
Seeing his father-in-law frozen and silent, Wang Chen laughed, "Of course, that’s the last option. Father-in-law, don’t you think dealing with the big households is better?"
Ye Xiangming couldn’t help but smile wryly.
Indeed, compared to rebellion, dealing with big households seed insignificant!
The county magistrate could only sigh, "That’s the only way."
Ye Xiangming and Wang Chen were the top two figures in Qing’an County. Together, the father- and son-in-law had no rivals in the entire county.
As a result, many big households in the county were in for bad luck.
Under the heavy threat of the "hoarding armor" charge, one big household after another either voluntarily or under coercion donated large amounts of grain reserves, greatly alleviating Qing’an County’s grain crisis.
Nurous disaster victims survived because of this.
However, the consequences were also very evident, with many big households pretending to comply while secretly sending people to Prefecture City to file complaints, accusing Ye Xiangming and Wang Chen of exploiting and extorting the innocent citizens, committing nurous cris in Qing’an County.
These big households had considerable influence when united, and Prefecture City quickly responded by dispatching an Inspector to Qing’an for investigation.
The result? The Inspector’s team was suddenly attacked by rogues before even stepping foot into Qing’an County.
Everyone, including the Inspector, was killed, and not even their bodies were found.
At the sa ti, several big households in Qing’an County were suddenly raided by the Governnt Office, where abundant evidence of their collusion with bandits was uncovered!
These unlucky individuals, besides having all their assets confiscated, were all sent to perform hard labor.
After such a commotion, Qing’an County beca as quiet as can be, with Ye Xiangming and Wang Chen’s prestige reaching its peak, rendering all major households submissive in their presence.
This situation lasted until late sumr and early autumn.
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