In the grand courtyard of the Governnt Office, among the family heads, even if soone secretly cursed others as spineless cowards, when face to face, they would still greet each other with warm pleasantries.
"Mr. Ding, your cough is so severe, could it be that you’ve caught a cold? Maybe you should go back and rest," Scholar Hu said to a thin and frail official across from him.
"It’s... it’s nothing." Mr. Ding hurriedly covered his mouth with a handkerchief, took the opportunity to pop a dicine Pill into his mouth, and after catching his breath for a while, said, "When the Lord summons, it must be a matter of great importance to our locality. What is a re cold compared to that?"
He put on a show of determined loyalty, causing Scholar Hu to twitch his face, thinking to himself, you’re the one who criticizes the Officials most vigorously, thought you were tough, but I was wrong!
"Mr. Hu, why didn’t your family’s grandmaster co?" a local noble "concernedly" asked.
This prompted everyone to gather around.
Since Magistrate He hadn’t arrived yet, they gathered together to hold a small eting.
Grandmaster Hu is a retired Assistant Minister from Heavenly Capital, and during festivals and holidays, even Magistrate He would pay his respects. If Grandmaster Hu showed up this ti, they would feel much more at ease.
Shooting the bird that sticks its head out, right?
Without him leading, how could they avoid disaster?
Scholar Hu hurriedly said, "Grandmaster has not been in good health recently, and moreover, the Lord only ntioned that each family’s steward should co, he did not say that Grandmaster needed to co."
"That can’t be right, I saw at the last literary gathering for Xu Jieyuan that Grandmaster Hu was there, not even using a cane, and looking as vibrant as a young man," soone exclaid in surprise.
Scholar Hu cursed inwardly, all the world’s troubles are ruined by you creatures who like to fight within your nest.
He understood these people’s intentions all too well; they rely wanted to find a leader to confront the Governnt Office and Xu Qing.
If you have the guts, go do it yourself.
Scholar Hu’s face turned ashen, and he hurriedly covered it, pretending to cry.
The crowd was speechless, wondering why he suddenly started crying and moved to comfort him.
Scholar Hu quickly lowered his sleeve, fearing that people close by might sll the spicy fragrance concealed within. Who had stuffed so many spices into his sleeve last night?
The effect was genuinely striking; the tears flowed uncontrollably as he lanted, "It was precisely that literary gathering where, delighted by our prefecture producing a Top Scorer, Grandmaster drank a bit too much and accidentally fell later on, he’s still lying at ho..."
He sobbed even more vigorously.
Thus, Mr. Ding advised, "As a son, filial piety should co first. Mr. Hu, why don’t you go ho and take care of the Grandmaster, we’ll handle things here and ensure your Hu Family doesn’t suffer any losses."
Scholar Hu: "..."
He was still unsure of these people’s intentions; if he went back, it was likely that the Hu Family would suffer today.
The old bastard’s calculations were almost smacking him in the face.
No wonder people call you Mr. Ding Calculator.
He hurriedly said, "My father often says, ’A king in the presence of his father. To be loyal to the king is to be filial to the father.’ How could a son not listen to his father’s words?"
People cried out in pity.
Not knowing exactly what they were pitying.
At this mont, a voice sounded deep and resonant, "Everyone’s idling around, discussing family affairs, why not consider what the Lord wants from us?"
Everyone looked over.
They saw a strong, burly man speaking, who seed out of place among the refined group.
But he could still be categorized among the local strongn.
This man was the well-known Military Scholar Lei from our prefecture.
In our country, the military examination is relatively rough, and spots are exceedingly rare, but theoretically, Military Scholars enjoy almost the sa privileges as Scholars.
Thus, being a Military Scholar could barely claim a place among the local gentry.
The problem is, they generally don’t run in the sa circles.
Speaking of circles, Lei and King Lin are in the sa league.
Originally, everyone thought this country bumpkin might go and rebel, following King Lin to beco a mountain lord, but unexpectedly, this fellow managed to attain the rank of Military Scholar last year.
In theory, the military examination is far murkier than the provincial exam. After all, when the Ministry of War in Heavenly Capital lacked funds, they liked to ask the Court to hold a military examination for fundraising.
Moreover, for Military Scholars to wait for an official position is a lot harder than for Civil Servants.
Even if appointed as an official, it’s as a Military Officer, far less esteed than Civil Servants. Hence, many commoners know that Military Scholars are not very useful, resulting in fewer people seeking to offer them land.
Because countryn offer land to scholars, often based on their influence, asking these masters how many people could be exempted from military service and land tax, they don’t understand.
So, now that Xu Qing has beco a Top Scorer, it has given these nobles a chance.
Your reputation is big, and more people offering land will, in turn, let you reap what you sow.
If Xu Qing accepts them all, then just wait for death.
They will definitely find soone to lodge a complaint, even Xu Qing’s father-in-law, the Imperial Censor, won’t be able to cover for him.
anwhile, now Lei took the initiative to bring up the topic, the rest quickly figured it out, right, let this brute lead the charge.
Soone sneered, "Probably about the land offerings from the locals. Mr. Lei, isn’t your tax-exempt land a bit excessive?"
Lei imdiately responded, "How could that be, Lei always abides by the law."
"Right, right, right, but perhaps the Lord and Lord Xu don’t think so. If you ask , everybody’s family wealth isn’t easily earned, whatever happens later, we must stand united."
Lei nodded fiercely, "Anyway, whoever smashes Lei’s bowl, I’ll smash his pot."
"Good for you!" Scholar Hu montarily clapped in excitent.
He quickly realized that was wrong and hastily withdrew his hand, noticing everyone else flattering Mr. Lei, saying what a comndable courage Lei had...
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