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墨書 Inktalez
The two exchanged smiles, indeed, now relying solely on word of mouth, news of Liu Qingxi had spread for hundreds of miles. People from all walks of life, from high-ranking officials to ordinary citizens, were continuously coming to seek her help in building houses.
Those like Boss Qian, who initially chose Liu Qingxi, felt fortunate; now, if one wanted to find her, it was uncertain how long they would have to wait in line.
At the same time, Yang Yichen had finished visiting relatives and it was time for him to take up his new position.
That morning, Yang Yichen packed his belongings and prepared to set off for Linyi County: “Mother, once I get settled, I will come back to take you to the county town.”
“Alright!” A tear glimmered in Wen Family's eyes; her son had grown up and could now stand on his own as a local official, benefiting the people of the region.
At the Linyi County Yamen, two middle-aged men sat in the main hall. One of them, with a beard, said: “Sir, the new county magistrate is arriving today; we should prepare to head to the next location.”
“Yes, I thought I would never have a chance for promotion in my lifetime. I’ve been here in Linyi for over ten years and honestly lost any desire for competition. But unexpectedly...”
Sometimes, when you fight hard for something, you may not get what you want; yet when you stop competing, opportunities arise. Life is truly remarkable.
“Sir, we know this new County Magistrate; he is quite the talented young man.”
When Yang Yichen was first assigned to Linyi, both County Magistrate Zhou and Master Wen received the news.
“Indeed, we were right about him; our promotion is also somewhat connected to him.” If it weren't for last year's earthquake and the actions of Yang Yichen and Liu Qingxi, what awaited them would not have been a High Office and Generous Salary, but rather a series of dire consequences following the emperor's anger.
At noon, Yang Yichen's carriage arrived at Linyi County, heading straight for the county office.
After submitting his appointment documents, the guarding Yamen Guard respectfully invited him inside.
Before he could speak, the two men inside came out to greet him: “Ah, we finally await your arrival, the renowned Young Talent of our Western Moon Kingdom.”
“Lord Zhou, Master Wen,” Yang Yichen cupped his hands in salute: “You flatter me; it is thanks to your guidance that I am who I am today.”
“Not at all! It is your exceptional ability that has earned you His Majesty's recognition,” County Magistrate Zhou replied with a smile.
That day they merely felt that Yang Yichen was extraordinarily capable; they had not anticipated that at just fifteen years old he would achieve such accomplishments. Given his life experiences thus far, it was clear that Yang Yichen was destined for even greater things.
"Alright, since you are taking office, let's do a handover. I'll give you a brief overview of the situation in Linyi County." Following this, County Magistrate Zhou shared his years of experience in governance.
Before they knew it, evening had fallen. Looking up, County Magistrate Zhou suddenly slapped his forehead and exclaimed, "Oh no, I've been so caught up that I forgot to eat!"
"Lord Zhou, you have worked hard," Yang Yichen expressed his gratitude for County Magistrate Zhou's heartfelt guidance.
At this point, Yang Yichen had fully entered the circle of the Linyi County government. County Magistrate Zhou and Master Wen set off to leave, and from then on, it would be up to him to strive and fight on his own.
In this era, the county government was structured with positions such as Magistrate, County Constable, and various clerks. The Official Position document stipulated that the responsibilities of the county magistrate included: "Encouraging agriculture and sericulture, resolving legal disputes, and announcing decrees regarding moral conduct within the jurisdiction. Matters concerning households, taxation, grain collection, and contributions were all under their authority," thus granting significant power despite being a seventh-rank official.
The county yamen also had three main subordinate officials: the Deputy Magistrate, who served as the assistant to the Magistrate or County Governor; the Chief Clerk, responsible for managing records and archives, akin to a modern-day secretary; and the County Constable, who handled public security and criminal investigations, essentially acting as the head of public safety.
Initially, after taking office, Yang Yichen had gained some understanding of this team. Since County Magistrate Zhou had been in position for a long time, he held considerable influence and connections in Linyi County.
Master Wen was his right-hand man and had served as an advisor when Zhou first became the county magistrate.
However, as a newcomer who was still young, even with County Magistrate Zhou's instructions, Yang Yichen still sensed a strong hostility from those below him.
On his first day in office, when Yang Yichen appeared in the main hall of the yamen, there were only a few scattered individuals present.
Ah! This scene was within Yang Yichen's expectations; however, he did not anticipate how overtly the others would act.
"You few go check on why the Deputy Magistrate and County Constable haven't arrived yet?" A few yamen guards hurried out. Moments later, they returned to report: "Your Excellency, the County Magistrate is unwell and cannot come; the County Constable has matters at home."
The implication was clear: this was meant to be a real show of force.
The few individuals who had come down stood there nonchalantly, seemingly waiting to see how this young County Magistrate would respond—would he allow the Deputy Magistrate and County Constable to undermine him or would he take decisive action?
In any case, they wouldn't need to step forward; there were plenty of people eager to see him make a fool of himself.
Yang Yichen's position as county magistrate had already made him a target of envy for many.
County Magistrate Zhou had been in Linyi for over a decade, and his Deputy Magistrate and County Constable had been there just as long.
The Deputy Magistrate, Jiang Tong, was about the same age as County Magistrate Zhou, in his forties. He had assumed that with County Magistrate Zhou's promotion, he would naturally become the next magistrate of Linyi County.
Who would have thought that a young Fellow would suddenly appear and take his position? It was impossible for him to feel comfortable about this.
Thus, Yang Yichen's arrival blocked the path for their lower-ranking officials, making Jiang's prospects for promotion even bleaker.
That early morning, Jiang Weitong intended to give Yang Yichen a show of strength. If he had any sense, he should obediently listen and not try to seize power. However, it was clear that the other party was not someone who could be easily manipulated.
Seeing Jiang's attitude, Yang Yichen couldn't help but sneer internally: "Well, since the County Magistrate is unwell, I will allow him to rest at home. I will grant him a half-month leave. After all these years, Deputy Magistrate Jiang has worked hard for the people of Linyi County; it's time for him to take a break."
"As for the County Constable, with instability at home, he naturally has no mind to handle public affairs. It would hinder work efficiency. He can take his time to sort everything out before returning to duty."
"Wow!!!" No one expected Yang Yichen to retaliate so decisively.
Aren't you feeling unwell? Fine, I'll give you leave to recuperate; look how considerate I am towards my subordinates. Aren't you busy with family matters? That's okay! Come back whenever you're done.
The implication was clear: if you're not well or haven't settled your family affairs, then don't bother showing up.
The few people who came down were stunned by Yang Yichen's decisive and efficient way of handling things, internally reflecting: "This time he has kicked a hard nail!"
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