Seeking to Acquire

Eighth month, second day, Ninth Year of Yonghe. Anchang County, Yingke Tower.

The owner of Yingke Tower was a shrewd individual. At present, Yingke Tower retained the general structure from when Su Xia last performed, and they had also invited popular opera troupes and dancers to perform.

Leveraging the fame Su Xia had brought, coupled with the fact that the head chef and singers truly possessed some skill.

Yingke Tower's business was much more prosperous than before, generally packed every day. Sometimes, if one wanted to host guests there, they would need to book several days in advance.

Of course, no matter how high the demand, some people still viewed it as ordinary.

Among these were the Anchang Four Great Families.

At this moment, in Yingke Tower's most luxurious private room, the patriarchs of the four families were all present, entertaining distinguished guests.

The sounds of silk and bamboo, string and pipe, along with the gentle, melodious singing of the dancers, created an atmosphere of intoxication, making one feel half-dazed and lost in the moment.

Outside the room, the shopkeeper was frantically busy.

His usually warm and amiable face was covered in sweat. He kept shouting:

"Where's the drunken fish? Tell Old Wang to hurry up, this is our signature dish!"

"Er Lengzi, are you stupid?! ... I don't care which table ordered this dish first, you bring it here. Do you know who's inside? The Four Great Family Patriarchs, and Magistrate Wei are all here! If you offend them, you won't be able to get by in Anchang!" Fortunately, the shopkeeper possessed considerable managerial talent. Although flustered, he still managed the affairs in the private room in an orderly fashion, ensuring no disrespect was shown to the distinguished guests.

Inside the private room.

The Four Great Family Patriarchs and Magistrate Wei Zhun were all from prominent backgrounds and were not easily swayed by such a spectacle. They merely felt the restaurant had put in some effort.

After the wine had flowed and the dishes had been served, Zhou Biqing exchanged a glance. The dancers in the room bowed and respectfully withdrew. It was time to discuss serious matters.

Wei Zhun, having served as an official for many years, was experienced. His expression remained unchanged as he took a sip of wine, though a hint of amusement flickered in his eyes.

The Four Great Family Patriarchs exchanged glances. Zhou Biqing was the first to rise, raising his cup and saying, "Since Lord Wei became the father and mother official of our county, you have opened up fertile land, reclaimed wasteland, cared for the orphaned and elderly, strictly dealt with thieves, and repaired bridges and roads. Your judgments have been fair and just. In less than three years, it can be called great governance. At night, doors are left unlocked, and lost items are not picked up on the roads. This is all thanks to your efforts, Lord. We are deeply honored. We raise our cups to you again!"

Wei Zhun drank the wine and said with a smile, "Not at all, not at all. It is also thanks to everyone's cooperation. I, Wei, merely serve the imperial court and fulfill my duties!" This was true. Without the cooperation of the Anchang Four Great Families, Wei Zhun's authority would barely extend beyond the county town. How many county magistrates throughout history have fallen victim to local powers?

Wu Zhirong, the Patriarch of the Wu Family, a middle-aged fatso, heard this, and his already ruddy, oily face broke into an even wider smile. He said, "Lord Wei's achievements are undeniable. I believe your performance review this year will undoubtedly be top-tier, and with a promotion, you can directly enter the prefecture. With Lord Wei's talent, perhaps in no time, you will be in charge of an entire prefecture, truly bestowing blessings upon hundreds of thousands of people, and accumulating great fortune and luck!"

These flattering words struck a chord with Wei Zhun. Although he repeatedly claimed he dared not, and tried his best to conceal it, the slight hint of joy revealed did not escape the notice of the seasoned Four Great Family Patriarchs.

Wu Zhirong exchanged a look with Zhou Biqing, who, understanding, finally got to the point.

"We have invited you here today, Lord, to seek your assistance with a matter!"

"What matter? If it is within my capabilities, I will naturally do my utmost to assist!" The unspoken implication was that if it was beyond his capabilities, he could easily refuse.

"Old fox!" Zhou Biqing cursed inwardly, but his smile widened. "It's just a small matter. We have purchased a piece of land north of the city and wish to build a temple..."

"You... are you mocking me?" Wei Zhun's expression turned cold upon hearing this. "Or do you believe you can compare to a Prefectural Aristocracy?"...

In this world, there were no gods. In the county town, there were generally three types of temples that could receive incense offerings.

The first type was the Imperial Ancestral Temple, which was officially sanctioned and the most legitimate.

The second type was Taoist temples, which were under the authority of the Taoist Sect. To build a new Taoist temple in Wuzhou, one needed the endorsement of White Cloud Temple; otherwise, it would be considered heterodox worship and subject to royal law.

The third type was for Prefectural Aristocracies and Great Clans, allowing their ancestors to be worshipped by others, accumulating incense and fortune to strengthen their own foundations. This was a move that harmed the court to enrich oneself and naturally drew resentment. The major aristocratic families had long engaged in overt and covert struggles to obtain this right.

Now, hearing that the Four Great Families wanted to build a temple, Wei Zhun assumed they wanted their ancestors to receive incense offerings. Although the Four Great Families were powerful, even united, they could not be considered a Prefectural Aristocracy. To do such a thing, Wei Zhun inwardly sneered, thinking they were cutting themselves off from the world. He was also somewhat puzzled, as the patriarchs of the Four Great Families should not be so unwise.

Zhou Biqing said with a wry smile, "County Magistrate Wei, you must have misunderstood! We are not so foolish as to compare ourselves to a Prefectural Aristocracy. The temple we are building is not to worship our own ancestors, but a local spirit from the countryside!"

"This spirit is extremely efficacious and can protect the region. People in the county town also believe in it. We are merely acting on behalf of others who have entrusted us with this matter!" the Patriarch of the Wang Family added.

"A countryside spirit?" Wei Zhun was startled and somewhat speechless.

Matters in the countryside were quite complex. In this era, villages were plagued by fierce ghosts, and information was scarce.

These countryside spirits were varied, and their origins were often unknown. Some were naturally formed by ancestors, some were attracted by refugees fleeing disaster, and some were even vengeful ghosts disguised as spirits to harm people. It was a mixed bag, difficult to discern.

Moreover, how could a countryside spirit be as efficacious as the ancestors of prominent families in the city, who had been worshipped for hundreds of years? Wei Zhun strongly suspected the Four Great Family Patriarchs were playing a joke on him.

To Wei Zhun, as long as the countryside spirit could ensure peace in the region and did not involve blood sacrifices to harm people, he would let it be.

But to build a temple in the city for worship?

This was truly unheard of. After all, spirits could not be moved. How could such a situation arise before?

Legally, the county magistrate was a "hundred-li marquis" of the region. Although the Ghost Suppression Cao Division had a special status, they were still under the jurisdiction of the yamen. This matter was indeed within Wei Zhun's authority to decide. However, this was pushing the boundaries. Normally, it would be fine, but if scrutinized, a complaint could lead to significant trouble.

This depended on what the Four Great Family Patriarchs offered in exchange for Wei Zhun to take such a risk.

After some thought, he asked, "What is the name of this spirit?"

"This spirit is called the Earth God!" Zhou Biqing replied.

"Earth God..." Wei Zhun savored the words. His heart relaxed. Without a specific name, even if it were a great ancestor, they could not gather fortune to benefit themselves. This would reduce many troubles and eliminate some suspicion.

Wu Zhirong added fuel to the fire, saying, "If you can help us with this matter, Lord, we will be eternally grateful. This year's taxes will be paid in full and on time. We can also contribute three thousand taels of silver to help you repair the roads!"

Wei Zhun was astonished. These terms were extremely generous.

The annual tax collection in Great Gan was always a major challenge, especially when landlords secretly resisted taxes. Every tax season, there were those who evaded, bribed, surrendered, or sold their land, creating a complex mess. On top of that, officials would take their cut. Collecting seven or eight tenths each year was considered a blessing from heaven.

Now, the Anchang Four Great Families promised to pay taxes on time. As the largest landowners in the area, with fewer troublemakers, this year's tax revenue would be exceptionally smooth. This would undoubtedly earn him an "Excellent" rating from the prefecture, which would be greatly beneficial for his future career.

As for road repairs, it was a major concern for Wei Zhun. Although the previous praise for his bridge and road construction was true, it only benefited the residents within the county town.

Anchang County was located in a remote area, and the main passage to the outside world was a mountain road that had been in disrepair for years, making travel extremely inconvenient. Wei Zhun had intended to thoroughly repair this road.

However, even with the entire county treasury and some funds from the prefecture, there was still a shortfall of two thousand taels of silver. Normally, he would seek donations from the wealthy households in the county, but they were all as stingy as iron. Now, three thousand taels of silver were being offered at once, a significant expenditure. After deducting the cost of road repairs, there would be one thousand taels remaining, the use of which was self-evident.

Just as the saying goes, "To take, one must first give." The Four Great Families had offered such generous terms that Wei Zhun was left feeling surprised and uncertain.

He spoke, "This matter is of great importance, and I must have a few days to ponder it carefully!"

The Patriarchs of the Four Great Families exchanged glances. As long as there was no outright refusal, there was still hope, so they said no more.

Afterward, the group merely discussed poetry, romance, and the like, and the banquet concluded with everyone in high spirits.

After the banquet.

Wei Zhun returned to the County Yamen. A maidservant brought him some hangover soup. After a few sips, Wei Zhun's drunkenness subsided, and he said, "Go and invite Chief Clerk Zhao!"

The maidservant acknowledged the order and withdrew. Before long, Chief Clerk Zhao entered and bowed, saying, "My Lord!"

This Chief Clerk was named Zhao Kongming. The position of Chief Clerk was responsible for overseeing the documents of the Six Divisions, coordinating between superiors and subordinates, and managing both the mundane and the spiritual. It was equivalent to a prime minister, and naturally, only a trusted confidant could hold such a position. Zhao Kongming was an old retainer of Wei Zhun's family, and with considerable effort and connections, he had been transferred here to assist Wei Zhun, making him indispensable.

Wei Zhun rubbed his temples and said, "Today, the Four Great Families invited me to a banquet and proposed a matter that has left me deeply hesitant!" He then recounted the previous events and asked, "What are your thoughts on this?"

Zhao Kongming, around thirty years old, possessed an air of scholarly refinement. However, at this moment, his brow was furrowed. After thinking for a moment, he said, "The title of this Earth God sounds vaguely familiar. I recall seeing it on a document before, which Clerk He sent to the Ghost Suppression Cao Division for archiving."

Wei Zhun's brow twitched. "Summon He Song!"

As soon as He Song entered, he sensed that the atmosphere was somewhat amiss. He knelt and bowed, saying, "Greetings to the Great Lord!"

Ordinarily, Wei Zhun would have told He Song to rise long ago. But this time, he only heard a cold voice from above: "He Song, do you know anything about the Earth God?" He Song's heart lurched as if he had fallen into an ice cellar.

However, he managed to steady himself and said, "Not long ago, there was a document, but Daoist Lingzhu was not present, so it was archived for the time being!"

"Nonsense! Fetch it at once!" He Song practically scrambled out. Wei Zhun usually appreciated He Song's capabilities, but when it came to official matters, he was strictly business, with no room for personal sentiment.

A short while later, the document was retrieved. Wei Zhun read it carefully, his expression growing increasingly grim.

"Heh heh... Truly audacious. To think they've been spreading this for months. Well done, Four Great Families! Well done, Earth God!"

At this point, even Zhao Kongming began to sweat.

He Song hardened his resolve, knelt, and kowtowed heavily, tears streaming down his face. He cried, "I owe my current prospects to your promotion, my Lord. How could I dare to conceal anything from you? Before, I feared attracting trouble, as this matter falls under the jurisdiction of the Ghost Suppression Cao Division. I was blinded by foolishness. I beg for your forgiveness..." He kowtowed like a pounding pestle, a red stain appearing on the ground. In his heart, he was grateful that he had kept a copy, archiving it beforehand. Otherwise, he would have had no defense.

"Hmph!" Wei Zhun let out a cold laugh. The anger in his heart subsided considerably. After all, fearing ghosts and spirits was only natural for a human.

"However, in the past few days, there has been news that has made my heart tremble. Even if you hadn't sought me out, I would have come to report it!" He Song continued.

"The worship of the Earth God has become widespread in the villages. Even in the county town, over half of the population, five to six thousand people, believe in it. This has greatly alarmed me..." He Song laid out the entire situation, intending to show his loyalty while also subtly promoting the Earth God's influence. It was a clever move, designed to offend neither side.

"What..." Wei Zhun was truly shocked by this. He abruptly stood up, knocking the documents and inkstone on his desk to the floor.

Since it had already spread throughout the county, if Wei Zhun were to declare the Earth God an unorthodox cult and order its destruction, any mishandling could incite a popular uprising. With the Four Great Families secretly supporting it, a major disaster could ensue. Although he could request reinforcements from his superiors to suppress it, Wei Zhun's tenure as County Magistrate would be over, and he might even face punishment. His complexion turned somewhat ashen.

Fang Ming had also underestimated the Earth God's influence. This was a true deity whose divine powers were closely related to the lives of the common people. As long as one believed with sincerity, prayers would be answered, and no one would be cheated. With the Four Great Families fanning the flames, it had become popular throughout the county in just a few months, with over half the population in the county town itself believing. This was why he had the confidence to instruct the Four Great Families to seek county-level worship for him.

Thank you to My Arrogant Er and others who understand, to book friend 110710..., and Wang Feng Zihai for their rewards, as well as other book friends for their recommendations and collections. Wenchao expresses his gratitude!