Liuzhou's southern street was called Jade Spring Road, named for its proximity to a natural spring on South Mountain. The authorities had sealed off the spring and strictly forbidden outsiders from drawing water. Ordinarily, only respected teachers and wealthy households could pay the authorities for its naturally sweet water to brew tea-an exclusive privilege of the nobility.
This enterprise was also a fine source of revenue for Liuzhou's authorities. With so many rich people living there, there was no shortage of those willing to pay for enjoyment. Ordinary people could not taste the difference between boiled water and spring water, yet the wealthy were willing to scatter untold gold for that hint of sweetness.
After confirming that he would become Liuzhou's prefect, Chen Qing had already made plans for the spring. He intended to develop tea and fruit grown with its water to expand revenue. And naturally, financial control had to remain firmly in his own hands. The assistant prefect and deputy prefect assigned to him could forget about getting their fingers in that pie.
But things were now heading in a completely different direction from what he had imagined. Just as Ma Erniang had said, they had not seen so much as a ghost's shadow along the way, leaving his heart ice-cold!
An enterprise like the mountain spring was a luxury. It needed rich people willing to pay to flourish. Now that everyone had fled, what damned ghost was going to drink his lousy spring water?
Looking along the disordered, desolate streets, where so many once-popular shops now stood deserted, Chen Qing felt like dying.
"Sir? What are you looking at?" the coachman following behind Chen Qing asked curiously.
Chen Qing stared blankly for several seconds, then pointed at a storefront marked Five Fragrances House. "This used to be the most popular pastry shop on the southern street. They said the proprietress was a retired imperial chef from the palace. Her pastries weren't just exquisitely shaped-the taste was unmatched. Every day, between five and seven in the morning, servants from wealthy households would already be lining up here to order pastries. If you came a little late, you might not get any even after queuing all day."
"Business was that good?" The coachman paused, then asked cautiously, "Was this... your family's shop, sir?"
"No..."
The coachman rolled his eyes. Then why do you look like your own father just died...?
"Do you know how much tax this single shop paid every year?" Even Chen Qing's voice had begun to tremble.
"Uh... I... I don't know bookkeeping."
"Go cool off somewhere else!"
"Oh!"
Looking at the simpleminded coachman, Chen Qing felt utterly drained. He simply slumped to the ground and continued staring into space.
Economic development in ancient times depended primarily on people. Liuzhou had attracted so many people first through commerce, and second through its excellent reputation for education. Many people from elsewhere in Jiangnan sent their sons here to study.
Now the wealthy merchants had all fled, and so had the teachers. What was he supposed to do?
These people were excellent resources, especially the famous teachers. Once they went to neighboring prefectures, local officials were certain to do everything possible to court them and persuade them to stay for the sake of their administrative achievements. With nothing left but some common townsfolk and villagers hiding in the countryside, how was he supposed to play this game?
Sure enough... the damned heavens just couldn't bear to let him have it good!!
"My lord... the situation looks grim."
Chen Qing was not the only one nursing a headache over Liuzhou's situation. Gong Qinian, Jiangnan's provincial administration commissioner, also had a pounding headache. Liuzhou's geographical position meant it could not simply be allowed to fall into ruin. It had the best river port connecting Jiangnan to the north. Every year, northern furs, gemstones, and horses arriving by water sold briskly here, while Jiangnan's silk, tea, porcelain, and handicrafts fetched at least fivefold profits when sold in the north!
This attracted many merchants from both north and south. Though merchants held little status, every official knew that flourishing tax revenues depended on them. If Liuzhou collapsed, the finances of all Jiangnan would suffer enormously!
"My lord..." The circuit intendant responsible for one of Jiangnan's five major waterways shook his head. "Ever since word of Liuzhou's incident spread, practically no one has been willing to use its port except a few who don't fear death. They've all been shifting to the ports at Taizhou, Suyang, and Jincheng. But the volume of goods is too great, and those ports have begun turning ships away."
"And changing routes costs too much. Many traveling merchants have suffered losses. This is no good!"
"Do you think I don't know that?" Gong Qinian rolled his eyes. "What can I do right now?"
Jiangnan's commerce flourished, and its ports were already congested. Opening the Liuzhou route had relieved considerable pressure on Jiangnan's trade routes. Now, after years of prosperity, Liuzhou had suddenly collapsed. Unless it reopened soon, the chain reaction would likely cause considerable upheaval. If he mishandled it, he might even lose his official's hat.
"With Liuzhou in that ghastly state, even the local residents are fleeing and refusing to return. What can I do?" The administration commissioner was deeply vexed.
He had reacted too slowly back then. He should have immediately stopped people from fleeing Liuzhou City; then things would not have spiraled so far out of control afterward. Now look at it-all of Liuzhou's wealthy households and teachers had left. Local officials had even ignored his prohibition and secretly courted them. Getting those people to return now would be harder than scaling a thousand mountains.
The crucial problem was that no official was willing to go maintain order there, so they could only leave it to rot. If this continued, Liuzhou... really might be finished!
"My lord..." As a heavy atmosphere hung over the government office's rear hall, a servant hurried in from outside to report, "The education commissioner has arrived!"
"The education commissioner is here?" Gong Qinian and the circuit intendant beside him hurriedly rose to welcome him.
The education commissioner held Subordinate Third Rank, half a grade below Gong Qinian, Jiangnan's provincial administration commissioner. But education commissioners were imperial envoys, and all were sorcerers. In Great Jin, sorcerers and nonsorcerer civil officials held entirely different standing!
The Nine Ministers and regional governors-general were all sorcerers. Though the dynasty had been founded only twenty years ago, many had already realized that only sorcerers, who could contend with the bloodline Households, could rise to such high office.
His position as administration commissioner was practically the highest an ordinary person could attain. Yet even when facing a sorcerer official half a grade below him, he could only remain courteous, not daring to show the slightest disrespect.
"Lord Mu, you've finally arrived!" Gong Qinian stepped forward with great warmth, respectfully escorting him inside all the way from the entrance and immediately trying to invite him to the seat of honor.
"There's no need for such courtesy, Lord Gong. Please take the seat of honor!" Education Commissioner Mu Hongqing seemed to be a man who observed propriety closely. Even receiving such enthusiastic attention, he maintained his respect for his superior and firmly refused the seat of honor.
Seeing this, Gong Qinian did not insist. Evidently familiar with the man's temperament, he personally poured him some good tea before taking the seat of honor himself.
"Lord Mu, why have you only just arrived?"
"My apologies..." Mu Hongqing also looked embarrassed. "I was unexpectedly recalled to the capital. I hurried here without stopping, but it seems I was still a step too late."
After the Painted Skin Mister incident broke out, before he could go to Liuzhou to deal with the aftermath, the court had summoned him back to the capital for examination.
Quite a few people had impeached him then. After all, Liuzhou's entire officialdom had consisted of puppets wearing other people's skins. As education commissioner, he could hardly escape blame for such a horrifying affair!
"Whatever the case, it's good that you're back, my lord," Gong Qinian said hastily.
Most sorcerers had eccentric temperaments. The man before him was already the easiest education commissioner he had ever worked with, and he truly did not want to change partners without good reason.
Local officials relied heavily on education commissioners when it came to supernatural incidents. Anyone who had served as a senior local official knew how devastating such incidents could be to a region, and how severely they could affect administrative achievements. Liuzhou's incident was the perfect example.
Moreover, officials at his level whose administrative achievements were good enough could recommend talented juniors from their Lineages to the secret sorcerer academy in the capital. He had only a few years left before he could retire peacefully, and his achievements already met the requirements. Yet this had happened at precisely this critical moment.
"Actually, whether I return makes little difference..." Mu Hongqing took a sip of tea and said earnestly, "I visited Liuzhou yesterday and conducted an inspection. Apart from some puppets left behind by Painted Skin Mister, there was nothing else suspicious. No further supernatural incidents will occur in the short term."
"The key now isn't me. Local administration needs to start functioning first. To restore Liuzhou's former role in trade, we must first restore public confidence and convince outsiders that Liuzhou is safe."
"That's precisely why we've been hoping you would return, my lord!" Gong Qinian said hastily. "With you stationed in Liuzhou, those wealthy households and renowned teachers will be willing to return."
"I cannot remain stationed in Liuzhou, at least not for now..."
"What?" Gong Qinian froze. "But... why?"
"After the Painted Skin Mister incident, His Majesty grew suspicious of all Jiangnan. I must spend these coming days inspecting the other wealthy prefectures in Jiangnan to prevent another upheaval like Liuzhou's."
"Well..." Gong Qinian immediately found himself at a loss for words.
That was genuinely difficult to argue against. Though Liuzhou was important, Jiangnan's other prefectures were now even more important. If another incident like Liuzhou's occurred, all Jiangnan might collapse.
"I will send a capable disciple to remain in Liuzhou, and accompany you to speak with those renowned teachers and persuade them to return."
"Good, good, good!" Gong Qinian's expression immediately relaxed considerably. "Sorry for the trouble, Lord Mu."
"It is part of my duties. There's no need for thanks, my lord." Mu Hongqing set down his teacup and said earnestly, "But what I can do is limited. Persuading a few renowned teachers to return will not save Liuzhou's situation. Restoring its former role still depends on its local officials. I received word that Liuzhou's new prefect arrived today. Presumably, by tomorrow at the latest, he will visit you to seek your support."
"Oh?" Gong Qinian immediately rose. "Has someone been chosen as Liuzhou's prefect?" Rubbing his hands, he said, "That's wonderful! Do you know who it is, Lord Mu?"
"A newly successful imperial examination candidate named Chen Qing..."
"A newly successful candidate?" At those words, the smile on Gong Qinian's face immediately froze.
Wasn't this sheer nonsense?
Even an experienced, capable official would likely find Liuzhou's situation an enormous headache. What use was sending a new graduate with no administrative experience whatsoever?
Besides, since when did a newly successful imperial examination candidate become the chief official of a prefecture straightaway?
Please keep reading, and please send recommendation votes, hehe.