Chapter 202 - 201: Backing
Feng Zhan led Chen Li to the seat of honor and cupped his hands toward Luo Pingyuan. "County Magistrate, this is Chen Li of Lingxi, Landlord Chen."
Seeing Luo Pingyuan’s rather cold expression, Feng Zhan grew a little anxious. "County Magistrate, Landlord Chen is not only one of our county’s gentry, but more enviably, he has raised his sons exceptionally well. Both his sons have already broken through to the Spirit Realm at a young age. A family with two in the Spirit Realm—that’s a first for our Jingshan County."
Feng Zhan’s words were pointed, and their effect was immediate.
When the new County Magistrate, Luo Pingyuan, first heard that Chen Li was merely one of the local gentry, his expression had held a hint of barely concealed disdain.
Upon hearing this, a flash of surprise crossed his eyes. He rose from his seat and solemnly returned the formal greeting. "So you are Landlord Chen. Forgive my lack of respect. Two paragons from one family, both truly exceptional—it’s deeply enviable. I am new here, and I hope I can count on your full support in the days to come."
"Lord County Magistrate, you flatter me. I am unworthy of such praise."
Chen Li cupped his hands in return.
Feng Zhan then hurriedly introduced the man in the seat of honor to Chen Li. "Brother Chen, this is the Patriarch of the Songjiang Jiang Family."
"Patriarch Jiang."
Chen Li looked at Jiang Hongyi with a calm gaze and gave a slight nod in greeting.
Jiang Hongyi’s eyes narrowed abruptly. He gave an almost inaudible snort in response.
His gaze remained locked on Chen Li, radiating a cold killing intent so intense it was almost palpable.
But deep within his eyes, there was a flicker of imperceptible confusion.
’His aura is ordinary. There’s nothing special about him?’
At almost the same instant, a Power of Divine Sense as solid and heavy as a mountain emanated from the seat beside Jiang Hongyi, sweeping quietly toward Chen Li.
’A Divine Hall Grandmaster!’
Chen Li’s heart tightened, but his expression remained unchanged.
Out of the corner of his eye, he glimpsed the source of the Divine Sense.
He was an old man with graying temples and a weathered, austere face.
A uniquely shaped Crescent Moon Saber hung at his waist. Though its scabbard was dark and plain, it faintly radiated a bloody, malevolent Evil Qi.
Chen Li’s eyes narrowed slightly. Before even entering this place, he had activated a Secret Technique to conceal the Divine Embryo he had formed through years of arduous cultivation.
He allowed the second Deity he had obtained from his system to occupy his Divine Hall Acupoint, letting it dominate his external aura.
Now, even if this Grandmaster were to personally inspect him in detail, let alone just scan him with Divine Sense, he would at most detect the residual Inner Qi in Chen Li’s body. He would never discover his true Cultivation.
After the pleasantries were exchanged, Feng Zhan pulled Chen Li to a vacant chair further down the table. He poured tea for him personally and began to chat in a seemingly casual manner.
"Brother Chen, you’re a lucky man."
Feng Zhan’s voice was full of envy as he lowered it and said, "If my sons were half as promising as yours, I’d be smiling in my sleep. I wonder, is there some secret to how your sons broke through?"
Though the question sounded like casual small talk, it instantly drew the attention of many others nearby.
Even Jiang Hongyi and Luo Pingyuan, seated at the head of the room, seemed to slow their own conversation to listen in.
Chen Li lifted his teacup, gently blowing the foam from its surface. His tone was perfectly even. "You’re joking, County Captain Feng. I’m just a simple country landlord; what secrets could I possibly have? If those two boys of mine managed a lucky breakthrough, it’s all thanks to the excellent instruction at their martial arts academy. They’re diligent lads, I suppose. As for the specifics, I’m afraid I don’t know a thing."
Hearing this, a flicker of disappointment crossed Feng Zhan’s eyes. It wouldn’t be appropriate to press the matter, so he just laughed it off and changed the subject to local culture.
About the time it takes an incense stick to burn, everyone who was expected had arrived.
The new County Magistrate, Luo Pingyuan, cleared his throat, rose to his feet, and announced, "Thank you all for gracing this banquet with your presence. I am new here and will be relying on all of your support in the days to come. I am especially honored that Patriarch Jiang himself could attend today. Your presence truly makes our humble county shine."
The crowd rose and responded with polite pleasantries.
Luo Pingyuan smiled and invited everyone to move to the adjacent hall, where the feast was already laid out.
The feast was a lively affair, with toasts being exchanged and a veneer of perfect harmony.
As the host, Luo Pingyuan frequently raised his cup, making small talk with his guests.
After three rounds of drinks, the flush of wine on Luo Pingyuan’s face seemed to have deepened. He stood up again, raising his cup.
"Everyone, on this joyous occasion, there is one more matter for which I must ask for your full support."
His voice slowed, taking on a grave tone. "It is the matter of this year’s autumn tax. The Court is pressing the issue urgently. I hope you can all appreciate my difficult position and take the lead in paying your tax silver promptly."
After speaking, he held his cup aloft, waiting for a response.
In Jingshan County, the common folk now held very little land.
Over seventy percent of it was concentrated in the hands of the guests at this very banquet, or in the hands of the Noble Families they represented.
Only when they paid would the commoners follow suit.
But this group of people all had power and influence; they were not commoners who could be easily pushed around.
One could say that the future tax collection in Jingshan County depended entirely on the whims of these very people.
Yet, as his words faded, an awkward silence fell over the hall.
The once-lively atmosphere instantly chilled. The guests either lowered their heads to focus on their food or pretended to chat with their neighbors, their eyes darting about. No one spoke a word.
Luo Pingyuan remained frozen, his cup held aloft, the smile on his face growing strained. His gaze landed on Chen Li.
Chen Li spoke calmly. "If the County Magistrate will permit me. My son, Shouheng, placed first in the County Examination last March. The Lord Governor was gracious enough to grant my family a three-year exemption from the Land Tax and corvée labor, starting this year."
He could have registered for the exemption when the Land Tax was collected this past March.
But the tax collected then was for the previous year, when his family only owned 820 mu of land.
That would not have been a good deal, so naturally, Chen Li hadn’t registered.
Hearing this, a flicker of rage and malice flashed deep in Luo Pingyuan’s eyes, vanishing as quickly as it appeared.
He finally turned to Jiang Hongyi with a pleading look.
Without so much as lifting an eyelid, Jiang Hongyi said indifferently, "Magistrate Luo, you worry too much. Paying the Land Tax is the law of the Court. Everyone here is a reasonable person; who would dare refuse to pay? You can rest assured, County Magistrate. When the time comes, my Jiang Family will take the lead. We will not make things difficult for you."
The moment he spoke, the other guests rushed to chime in.
"Rest assured, County Magistrate, we will get the funds together as soon as possible."
"We would never dare delay an important matter of the Court."
In an instant, a chorus of pledges rose from the tables, and the atmosphere became lively once more.
Watching this unfold, the stiff smile on Luo Pingyuan’s face finally softened.
He gave Jiang Hongyi a deep look, drained his cup in one go, and said repeatedly, "Excellent, excellent! With Patriarch Jiang’s word and the support of all of you, this magistrate can finally rest easy! My thanks! My thanks!"
...
The banquet finally broke up, leaving behind a mess of cups and plates.
The Scholars and Gentry bid each other farewell with cupped hands, leaving the inn in twos and threes.
Outside the Drunken Immortal Inn, the night had grown late. A cool breeze swept by, clearing away some of the lingering scent of wine.
Chen Li walked out of the inn with the others.
Just as he reached the entrance, he saw several government constables handing out exquisite bamboo boxes to each of the departing guests.
They spoke polite words as they did so. "The Lord County Magistrate brought some Earth Gifts from his hometown in Jiangzuo. A small token of his esteem, please accept it graciously."
Chen Li noticed the government constables didn’t approach him. He was slightly surprised, assuming there wasn’t one for him, but he wasn’t particularly bothered and was about to leave.
"Landlord Chen, please wait."
A gentle voice called out from beside him.
Chen Li turned to see a middle-aged scholar of about forty, with a refined, scholarly face and dressed in a blue robe, hurrying toward him. He was holding a food box identical in style to the others, but slightly larger.
The middle-aged scholar wore a humble smile as he presented the food box with both hands. "Landlord Chen, the County Magistrate specifically ordered this portion prepared just for you. He said that as he is new here, there will be much he needs to rely on you for in the future. This is just a small taste of his hometown, a humble token. He hopes you won’t refuse it."
Chen Li’s gaze focused as he accepted the box. "The Lord County Magistrate is too kind. I thank him for this generous gift."
"Take care, Landlord Chen."
The middle-aged scholar cupped his hands respectfully as he saw him off.
Carrying the food box, Chen Li nodded to a few familiar members of the gentry before melting into the night.
...
The guests had all departed.
Servants moved about quietly, clearing the tables, afraid to make too much noise.
In the second-floor private room, the candles were trimmed, their renewed light illuminating two figures seated opposite each other.
The atmosphere, however, was a stark contrast to the earlier conviviality of the banquet; it was cold and oppressive.
Jiang Hongyi had not left. He remained seated imperiously in the seat of honor to the left.
The political smile on Luo Pingyuan’s face was gone, replaced by a weary expression. "At the banquet, thank you for speaking up, Father-in-law. Otherwise, with this autumn tax business, I’m afraid I would have been publicly humiliated, and my work here would have become impossible."
Jiang Hongyi didn’t so much as raise an eyelid. His voice was ice-cold. "Luo Pingyuan, I expended a great deal of resources to get you stationed here in Jingshan County, not so you could play the part of some incorruptible magistrate, dutifully collecting the autumn tax. And certainly not so you could take the Court’s knife and carve up my Jiang Family."
He slammed his cup onto the table with a dull THUD, splashing wine onto the surface.
His gaze stabbed at Luo Pingyuan. "What? Did you really expect my Jiang Family to take the lead and obediently send over eighty thousand taels of glittering silver straight into your County Magistrate’s Office Silver Vault? Have you forgotten who put that official’s robe on your back?"
Startled by the sudden, harsh question, Luo Pingyuan trembled and bowed even lower, hastily explaining, "Father-in-law, please calm your anger. I would never dare to be so ungrateful. While I was inspecting the County Magistrate’s Office Silver Vault accounts today, I uncovered a secret. Before his death this year, Zhang Heming never submitted the full sum from the auction of county lands. After deducting official expenses, there are still over four hundred thousand taels of silver left in the vault."
He took a step forward and lowered his voice. "This was Zhang Heming’s private stash. They say he was willing to face the Lishui rebellion alone rather than ask for reinforcements from the Commandery City, all because he was desperate to keep this fortune under wraps."
"I’ve been thinking... The Jiang Family has twenty-seven thousand mu of prime farmland in Jingshan, and this year’s tax silver should be over eighty thousand taels. But this money... it’s just moving from one account to another, a mere formality. Once the tax silver is officially in the treasury, I will return the sum paid by the Jiang Family in full, down to the very last coin."
He spoke faster, trying to placate his father-in-law’s fury.
After hearing him out, Jiang Hongyi let out a soft, cold snort and finally lifted his eyes. "Over four hundred thousand taels? That’s not a small sum. In that case, we’ll split the money, seventy-thirty."
As if he had expected this, Luo Pingyuan immediately agreed. "Done! Rest assured, Father-in-law. I will have thirty percent of it secretly delivered to your estate as soon as possible."
"Thirty percent?"
Jiang Hongyi sneered, his voice suddenly rising. "Luo Pingyuan, are you still half-asleep? I want seventy percent!"