A Chain of Bad Debts

Chapter 22: A Chain of Bad Debts

"Whether the discrepancy is really that large, you can calculate it yourself and see." Zi Bofeng gave a cold snort and ignored him further.

As they argued below, the Prefect gently raised a hand, summoned his most trusted accountant, and whispered an inquiry.

"My Lord, looking at it now, it seems Hu Caijun made the calculation error."

"Is there any other possibility?"

"Unless Zi Bofeng cooked the books so well that even I cannot tell, there is absolutely no other possibility."

In that instant, the Prefect's eyes lit up.

They shone like two small lightbulbs, terrifyingly bright. At that moment, Zi Bofeng's spirit stirred; he was already highly sensitive to spiritual power and spiritual essence, and on the Prefect, there was actually something akin to "obsession" manifesting. It was the gathered belief of countless people, surely born from many constantly revering him and thinking of him.

Seeing the change in the Prefect's expression, Luo Qianshan, who had been waiting, immediately tensed his entire body like a hunting dog that had heard a command. This was the precursor to the Prefect wanting to execute someone!

He licked his lips, intending to seize this detestable scholar.

"Someone, come!" the Prefect raised his voice.

"This subordinate is here!" Before the bailiffs could respond, Luo Qianshan stepped forward, cupped his fists abruptly, and declared in a booming voice.

This brat, he sure is quick to snatch the job...

The Prefect shook his head slightly and ordered, "Take Hu Caijun away, have him reflect behind closed doors, and verify the accounts. If there is another error, he shall be executed without mercy!"

"Prefect, My Lord!" Upon hearing this, Hu Caijun felt as if he had been struck by a thunderbolt, standing stunned in place.

When Luo Qianshan realized it wasn't a job involving beating or beheading, he immediately lost interest. He waved a hand and said, "Drag him away!" He then subtly passed the task off to the bailiffs.

The bailiffs, who hadn't seen enough of the show yet, reluctantly stepped forward and dragged Hu Caijun away. Hu Caijun shouted all the way, "My Lord, I didn't calculate it wrong, I absolutely could not have calculated it wrong..." as he was hauled out.

Zi Bofeng clapped his hands quietly inside his sleeves and made a face at Hu Caijun. Hu Caijun was so furious he began to curse.

"Shut up!" Luo Qianshan punched him in the armpit, instantly leaving him gasping and unable to speak.

Luo Qianshan nodded with satisfaction; beating scholars was truly refreshing.

Once Hu Caijun was dragged away, the Prefect stood up and said, "Zi Bofeng, come with me. Qianshan, you come too."

"Me?" Zi Bofeng blinked and pointed at his own nose. Hadn't I already turned the situation around? Why is there a sequel?

"Yes, you." The Prefect nodded.

Luo Qianshan strode over with a dragon-like gait and shoved Zi Bofeng on the shoulder. Zi Bofeng turned and glared at him. Although there was a vast gap in their martial prowess and a significant difference in their physiques, they were evenly matched in their staring contest.

The Prefect walked to the side door and, noticing no one was following, turned back to find Zi Bofeng and Luo Qianshan locked in a glare. He couldn't help but laugh and cry at the same time. He composed his expression and said, "Hurry up and follow!"

The two quickly stepped forward to catch up.

The Prefect led them toward the study. Zi Bofeng saw Hu Caijun being dragged by two bailiffs, one of whom was covering his mouth to keep him from shouting. Their eyes met, and Zi Bofeng shrugged.

I told you to just help me announce my arrival, but you refused. Now look, you're the one in trouble. As for me, I still have to go to the study—sigh, the Prefect isn't planning to find a secluded spot to behead me, is he?

"Zi Bofeng, do you know your crime?" the Prefect asked as they walked, not sounding like he was pressing charges, but rather like he was making small talk.

"This student knows his crime." Zi Bofeng, who had been looking around, answered hurriedly.

"What crime have you committed?" Seeing Zi Bofeng's blank look, the Prefect was again torn between laughter and tears.

"This... what crime has this student committed?" Zi Bofeng asked in a low voice. He figured he had only been a bit arrogant; that shouldn't count as a crime.

The Prefect almost rolled his eyes. This fellow was truly a headache; no wonder not a single one of the three hundred scholars in Meng City didn't find him annoying.

"Offending the Prefect is a capital offense!" Luo Qianshan answered for him, drawing his steel blade halfway out. The gleaming steel was terrifyingly bright.

Zi Bofeng dodged to the side, keeping his distance.

"Besides offending this Prefect, you also forged account books and cooked the ledgers. That is also a capital offense, are you aware?" The Prefect snorted coldly.

"Hurry up and kneel to accept your death!" Luo Qianshan immediately intended to make Zi Bofeng bleed within five steps. This guy was too annoying; it would be a relief to just behead him.

"Why does the Prefect say such things?" Zi Bofeng widened his eyes, looking innocent. "Every stroke in this student's account book is clear and distinct. If the Prefect does not believe me, you may have anyone check and verify the accounts. If there is a single discrepancy, this student is willing to die!"

"The Prefect says you are guilty, so you are guilty! Kneel!" Luo Qianshan said impatiently. "My blade is already half-drawn, and you're still putting on this act for me?"

He extended a hand, gesturing to the side. When the time comes, hand rises and blade falls, then a kick, and the blood will spray forward without staining me at all. It would be perfect. Blood sprinkled on the stone steps and flowers—that is the romance of a soldier!

Who would have thought the Prefect would glare at him, leaving him completely bewildered.

"The account books may show no errors, but that does not mean there are no problems with them." The Prefect shook his head with a smile. "I have been an official for many years; how could I be deceived by such small tricks?"

"Prefect, My Lord, you are in a position of great power, you must not speak recklessly. This student, Zi Bofeng, has never told a lie."

"Zi Bofeng who only speaks the truth?" The Prefect turned to look at Zi Bofeng's innocent, righteous face, couldn't help but shake his head, and then burst into laughter.

What's going on? The Prefect seems to be in a good mood? Does this mean he isn't going to kill me?

I've already drawn my blade, and now you say you aren't killing him? Luo Qianshan tapped his head, suddenly realized something, and his eyes widened.

When he looked at Zi Bofeng again, his gaze changed instantly.

Luo Qianshan was not a dull man; he had just been weary from the journey and filled with rage, which made his mind move a bit slower. Now that he had turned his thoughts around, the way he looked at Zi Bofeng was no longer that of a man looking at a scholar about to be beheaded.

After bringing Zi Bofeng into his study, servants brought hot tea and then withdrew. Once Luo Qianshan closed the door, the Prefect said to him, "Qianshan, bring me the letter."

Luo Qianshan hurriedly took the sealed letter from his bosom and presented it with both hands.

Although he had long since anticipated the outcome, the Prefect still furrowed his brows and shook his head incessantly as he read the letter.

"Prefect, sir..." Luo Qianshan looked at the Prefect with some concern, but the Prefect merely shook his head, looked up, and turned his gaze toward Zi Bofeng. "Bofeng, do you know why I had people levy these taxes?"

Hearing the warmth return to the Prefect's tone, Zi Bofeng knew he was no longer in danger of losing his life, yet he remained puzzled as to why the Prefect would share this with him.

"You will understand once you read this letter." The Prefect handed the letter over, and after a moment of hesitation, Zi Bofeng received it with both hands.

Glancing at it, Zi Bofeng was immediately startled. At the bottom was a square red seal; the seal itself was small, but the name upon it was astonishing.

Sun, Chief Clerk of Quzhou Prefecture!

Was it really okay for him to be shown a letter from such a high-ranking figure?

Zi Bofeng felt a vague sense that he had been dragged into some massive trouble.

However, he was already riding a tiger and could not easily dismount, so he lowered his head and read on. Within a few breaths, he had finished the letter, and he looked up at the Prefect before him in astonishment: "Quzhou Prefecture wants to clear the tax arrears?"

"Precisely. At the beginning of this year, Quzhou Prefecture had people audit the tax records of previous years. Every city, without exception, had accumulated significant debts. Quzhou Prefecture has strictly ordered that all tax arrears must be settled within this year; failure to do so will result in the dismissal of officials. Furthermore, starting next year, taxes will be increased by thirty percent..."

"This news..." Zi Bofeng was simply unwilling to believe it.

"It is absolutely true." The Prefect nodded gently.

Zi Bofeng was rendered speechless. So, the Prefect himself was on the verge of losing his official position. Of course he knew there were problems with increasing taxes, but if he lost his post, nothing could be salvaged. Who wouldn't cling to such a position?

"You may think I am greedy for my official position, but you once said that if three years of taxes were collected, Lower Yan Village would cease to exist. And if three years of taxes are handed over, Mengcheng Prefecture will cease to exist!"

Had the finances of Mengcheng reached such a dire state?

Zi Bofeng suddenly recalled the deathly aura shrouding the world, and he realized that there was no one who was not struggling, and nowhere that was not in difficulty.

"Prefect, sir, are you intending to..."

"You were able to balance the accounts of your Lower Yan Village; can you balance the accounts of my Mengcheng Prefecture?" the Prefect asked solemnly.

Zi Bofeng pondered in silence. Luo Qianshan had already stood up, his steel saber in hand. Now that Zi Bofeng knew all of this, if he refused to comply, General Luo might truly strike him down.

Feeling the palpable killing intent behind him, Zi Bofeng gave a bitter smile: "Does this student have any other choice?"

"What do you think?" Luo Qianshan asked with a sinister tone.

"Then what is in it for me?" Zi Bofeng asked. Since everything was out in the open, he couldn't be expected to toil away for nothing.

"There is. If you succeed, I will sacrifice my own future if I must, but I will secure you a path to a fine career."

"Can I not earn a career through the imperial examinations myself?" Zi Bofeng rolled his eyes. "Give me something practical."

"What practical thing do you want?" The Prefect smiled.

The previously shrewd little scholar began to scratch his head in thought: "What should I want..."

He truly did not know what to ask for.

Money? Power? Women?

"As long as you can do it, whatever you want, provided I have it, I will give it to you," the Prefect said.

"Are you serious?"

"A gentleman's word."

"Is as good as a team of four horses!"

"Very well. Where are the ledgers?" Recalling the hardship of the previous day, Zi Bofeng felt an urge to groan.

"I will order people to gather the ledgers now. You need not worry for the moment; I will have Qianshan find you a place to stay first, and then I will transfer all the accountants under my command to work for you. You need not overexert yourself; let them handle the trivial matters."

The Prefect was very accommodating, and upon hearing this, Zi Bofeng nodded, quite satisfied.

"Prefect, sir, my younger brother and my father are still in the city, waiting for my news," Zi Bofeng said.

Record of Raising Monsters