Yang Ling

"But... according to what you said, Brother Shen, shouldn't the two great families be expanding their tenant farmer numbers, ensuring they eat well and live well? Why are there so many refugees now? Isn't that undermining their own foundation?" Zhao Hu asked, confused.

Shen Zhui sighed, "This is where the Li family's insidious nature comes in."

"Our dynasty has deities manifesting and Daoist magic overseeing things, so most people still believe in the orthodox deities officially recognized by the Son of Heaven."

"Furthermore, I've checked the Heyuan County records. Twenty years ago, the area of Heyuan County was only ninety percent of what it is today."

"This means the city's boundaries are constantly expanding, and those living within the city, due to the absolute protection of the City God Temple, will basically offer sacrifices there."

"Unless the local county magistrate is incompetent, or colludes with others, allowing the influence and prestige of noble families to surpass the government within the city, then the government and the City God Temple become mere decorations."

"This situation isn't unheard of. In the capital cities of those princes and marquises, I suspect people only know of their lords and not the Son of Heaven."

Zhao Hu frowned and patted his head. "Brother Shen... what you're saying is making my head spin. Can you just tell me directly how the County Magistrate plans to turn the situation around? When can we leave the city?"

Shen Zhui said helplessly, "Simply put, the County Magistrate wants to start by investigating the land and household registrations that the major families have concealed, weakening their strength. This is to achieve the goal of eliminating the Yin Gods, which is the core principle of the 'Destroying Sects and Temples' action."

"I suspect the Li family is using the County Magistrate's order as an excuse to publicize and expel the hidden unregistered population for tax evasion, while still firmly holding onto the land."

"This results in the tenant farmers becoming free, but without land, and they still have to pay poll taxes according to the law."

"At the same time, they'll be told that these were the County Magistrate's orders, that he forced them into displacement. This way, all the refugees' resentment will be directed at the County Magistrate and the imperial court!"

"If this continues, and they bribe officials above and below, impeaching the County Magistrate for poor governance and causing widespread public anger, then the County Magistrate will either be transferred or dismissed. Simultaneously, the prestige of the imperial court and the temples will also be damaged."

"When the new county magistrate arrives, these families will then adopt a cooperative stance and re-accept the refugees. All previous losses will not only be compensated but they will rise to an even higher position!"

"As for the method to turn the situation around," Shen Zhui mused.

"The most direct method, of course, would be to break out of the city and directly destroy the strongholds of the Li and Yang families, eliminating their Yin God's true bodies. Then there would naturally be enough resources and land to appease the refugees."

"But the County Magistrate has issued a ban now," Zhao Hu said urgently.

"Then we can only wait and see," Shen Zhui shook his head.

"See if the County Magistrate is transferred first due to public anger."

"Or if the County Magistrate can first quell the public's resentment and gather absolute evidence."

"As long as the ancestral Yin Gods of the two great families are weakened to a certain extent, unable to protect their evil deeds, the County Magistrate can then request skilled individuals to come and uproot the two families completely!"

"So, it all comes down to waiting," Zhao Hu said with some disappointment.

Shen Zhui also shook his head slightly, with a hint of emotion.

He guessed that Wei Wenhe was trying to show weakness, waiting for the two great families to overreach themselves and expose their flaws.

Meanwhile, the two great families were trying to find a way to oust Wei Wenhe.

Logically speaking, if this tactic were viable, it should have been employed three years ago when the County Magistrate wasn't yet prominent.

The powerful individuals who could develop their families to this extent couldn't possibly be fools.

There must be a reason why they didn't do it then, so why dare to do it now?

"There are probably many things I don't know. I hope the County Magistrate has the confidence to resolve the current predicament."

Shen Zhui sighed inwardly. Even if the County Magistrate succeeded in the end, many innocent people would likely starve to death.

If the County Magistrate failed, then people like them wouldn't have a good outcome.

He dared not pin his hopes on the next County Magistrate being as just and incorruptible as Wei Wenhe.

The County Yamen, the main hall.

Wei Wenhe stood with his hands behind his back, facing a map of Heyuan County. His expression was neither happy nor sad, as if lost in thought.

Wang Long stood quietly beside him, not daring to breathe too heavily, for fear of disturbing his junior brother's contemplation.

After a long while, Wei Wenhe turned around.

"Senior Brother, what conditions did Yang Ling offer you?"

"Childish ramblings, not worth mentioning."

"Does Senior Brother want to hear what conditions Yang Ling offered me?" Wei Wenhe chuckled.

Wang Long looked surprised. "Is that Yang Ling so wildly imaginative?"

"Senior Brother, please look."

Wei Wenhe waved his hand, and a golden envelope flew out from his sleeve, hovering in front of the two of them.

The envelope shimmered with a golden light, like a flickering flame, dazzling to behold.

"Ancient Tomb Document?" Wang Long was slightly startled. Fifty years ago, someone had excavated a large pile of golden paper from an ancient ruin. It had the function of instant communication, a very long effective range, and could conceal the location of both parties communicating, causing a sensation at the time.

Later generations imitated it based on the Daoist inscriptions on it. Since then, these disposable communication Daoist paper sheets emitting golden light have been called Ancient Tomb Documents.

"Whoosh~" A beam of green light shot from Wei Wenhe's body into the paper, and then the paper slowly began to burn.

A human figure appeared within the golden flames.

The figure was clearly visible: a middle-aged man wearing a magnificent Daoist robe and with his hair in a high bun.

"Lord Wei," the man in the magnificent Daoist robe bowed. Then, noticing Wang Long's presence, he turned and cupped his hands towards Wang Long.

Wei Wenhe merely nodded slightly in response, while Wang Long stared at Yang Ling with a cold expression.

Yang Ling paid him no mind and spoke.

"Lord Wei has been in our Heyuan County for three years, with outstanding achievements and treating the people like his own children. He is deeply loved by the common folk and valued by his superiors. In just three years, the county has seen a complete transformation. Setting aside personal biases, I, Yang, must also commend Lord Wei. Truly, a hero in his youth, worthy of a young master from a noble family in the capital."

"Just say what you want," Wei Wenhe said plainly.

"Since Lord Wei has opened this letter, I, Yang, will get straight to the point."

Yang Ling cupped his hands again and said sincerely, "Lord Wei, your family background is illustrious, your talent exceptional, and your ancestor, Venerable Master Xuan, is a sage of our time. Now that the court has reached a decision, I, Yang, implore Lord Wei to be merciful."

"Of course, Lord Wei, you naturally wouldn't associate with the likes of us. If Lord Wei is willing to continue in office, then my Li and Yang families will do our utmost to support your ascent."

"According to the convention of Liang Prefecture's five-year review, after winter, the Liang Prefecture government will begin discussing the promotions of county officials. If Lord Wei is willing, the position of Director of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau will be yours for the taking."

Before Wei Wenhe could speak, Wang Long let out a cold laugh. "What an arrogant boast! You, Yang Ling, dare to utter such wild words, promising a promotion from Rank 7 to Rank 6! Aren't you afraid of being laughed to death!"

Yang Ling was neither angry nor annoyed. He chuckled softly. "I, Yang, certainly don't have the ability to do that, but someone else will. Of course, it's mainly because Lord Wei himself is capable. If Lord Wei agrees, with our assistance, a special promotion in just over a year wouldn't be impossible."

"What if I'm not willing to serve anymore?" Wei Wenhe asked softly.

Seeing Wei Wenhe speak, Yang Ling's brows lifted, and he waved his hand, producing an object.

"Lord Wei, please take a look."

"What is this..." Wang Long stared at the object in Yang Ling's hand, his expression a mixture of surprise and uncertainty.

"Patriarch Yang truly has a grand gesture," Wei Wenhe sighed softly.

"A token for entry into the Nine Nether Secret Realm, and it's even the Five Dragon Token, which grants access to the core area. Truly impressive."

"The Nine Nether Secret Realm, the Five Dragon Token?" Wang Long's eyes widened.

The Nine Nether Mountain Range bordered Heyuan County, though only a small part of it, and it was the extremely safe outer perimeter.

But the Nine Nether Mountain Range itself, in terms of its vast geographical scope, was almost comparable to ten prefectures!

Within it were numerous otherworldly sects, demonic cults, and ancient ruins. The Nine Nether Secret Realm was a ruin discovered many years ago.

A Nine Nether Token would automatically fly out from that ruin once every twenty years. Those who obtained a token could use it to enter the ruin and explore.

Whether it was treasures or inheritances of ancient cultivation methods, the Nine Nether Secret Realm catered to a wide range of cultivation realms.

From Xiantian to the Divine Ability Realm, cultivators could benefit from it.

This Five Dragon Token, if someone were willing to sell it, even cultivators in the Spirit Bridge Realm would be willing to buy it at any cost.

Silence. Even though Wang Long hated Yang Ling at this moment, he wouldn't advise Wei Wenhe to refuse.

Because if his junior brother obtained this Five Dragon Token, he might embark on a path to greatness.

Wang Long felt proud and sorrowful at the same time.

He was proud that even though there was a prevailing sentiment in the court against destroying sects and temples, and even though the two major families currently held the upper hand, they were willing to offer such immense benefits to ask his junior brother to leave.

This was the greatest affirmation of their efforts over the past three years.

He was sorrowful because this affirmation came from their enemies. Meanwhile, Liang Prefecture would occasionally send criticisms. And this Five Dragon Token was in Yang Ling's hands, yet they had only seen it from afar at an auction in the capital.

Golden flames leaped and danced, slowly engulfing the remaining paper.

When the flames had consumed about eighty percent, Yang Ling bowed again.

"What I, Yang, seek is nothing more than to protect the foundation of my ancestors. As long as Lord Wei agrees, I, Yang, can send someone to deliver the token immediately."

"At the same time, the troubles in the city can be resolved in an instant. In Lord Wei's final year in Heyuan County, the various families in our Heyuan County will absolutely not violate any laws!"