Youzhou.
Lingze County.
County Magistrate Meng Sheng was drinking tea in the rear courtyard of the county office.
It was his habit.
Every day, he took a short nap for half an hour in the afternoon, then got up to drink tea and read in the courtyard.
This helped him adjust his body and mind, conserve his energy, and prepare himself.
Five years ago.
He had successfully advanced to the Innate Realm.
Afterward, the Governor of Yanzhou appointed him County Magistrate of Lingze County, a lucrative post.
One had to know that Lingze County was the key passage between Qingzhou and Youzhou. Although it was called a county, its prosperity rivaled that of a prefectural capital. Every year, caravans and travelers journeying north and south passed through in an endless stream.
It was also the main source of Yanjun's annual revenue.
Da Qi was nominally a unified empire.
In reality, it was already in danger of splitting apart.
The Imperial Court's control over the various provinces was growing weaker. It could only maintain a balance of order.
It appointed some officials.
And collected taxes each year.
The local aristocratic families had long since grown powerful, and many matters were decided locally.
As for the individual provinces.
The great aristocratic families were the ones who called the shots within their provinces.
They governed the world jointly with the Imperial Court.
The lesser aristocratic families each had their own spheres of influence, while also being assigned official posts in various places. As long as they paid their annual taxes on time, the provincial offices would not interfere too much in their specific affairs.
From top to bottom.
Although things had not reached the absurd point where "a subordinate's subordinate isn't my subordinate,"
They were already quite loosely organized.
Besides that.
There were