Chapter 67: County Magistrate
Chapter 67: Chapter 67: County Magistrate
Chen Li’s heart sank. ’So that’s what this is all about.’ He immediately said, "Uncle, could you report to the County Magistrate and ask him to choose someone more capable?"
"Difficult."
Liu Wende’s face clouded with worry. He lowered his voice, "The Lord County Magistrate named you personally. I’m afraid you won’t be able to refuse."
After a moment’s hesitation, he added, "The County Magistrate is in the office right now. Why don’t you request an audience with him yourself? There might still be some room for negotiation."
"Alright," Chen Li agreed in a low voice.
"Wait here. I’ll go announce you."
After speaking, Liu Wende hurriedly took the documents and walked deeper into the County Magistrate’s Office.
Before long, Liu Wende returned at a brisk pace and said to Chen Li in a low voice, "Nephew, the Lord County Magistrate is in the rear courtyard and has granted you an audience. Follow me."
Chen Li nodded. "Then I’ll trouble you to lead the way, Uncle."
The two of them passed through the corridors of the County Magistrate’s Office’s front hall, wound around several courtyards, and arrived at a secluded rear garden.
In the garden was a small pond, its water clear and tranquil. A few koi fish glided slowly among the sparse waterweeds.
By the pond, a slender man of about thirty or forty in plain clothes stood with his back to them, holding a fishing rod and gazing quietly at the water’s surface.
This was the Magistrate of Mirror Mountain County, Zhang Heming.
A gentle breeze swept past the pond, bringing a touch of coolness.
An extremely faint, yet dense and heavy pressure, like liquid mercury, silently spread out and enveloped his surroundings.
The Spirit Realm!
Alarm bells screamed in Chen Li’s mind, but his face remained as calm as still water.
He concealed his qi, and his entire being seemed to transform into a simple stone, blending into the surroundings until not a trace of a martial artist’s aura remained.
The Court separated civil and military administration. Within a county, there were Civil Servants like the County Administrator and the Chief Clerk, and Military Officers like the County Captain and the Inspector.
These Assistant Officers were mostly positions filled by Civil Scholars or Martial Scholars. The County Magistrate, however, had to be a genuine Advanced Scholar who had passed both the civil and martial examinations.
’It seems that if Shouheng and Shouye want to succeed in the Martial Examination, this Spirit Realm threshold is something they’ll never be able to avoid...’
As his thoughts raced, Chen Li had already concealed his qi to its absolute limit.
"County Magistrate, Chen Li is here."
Liu Wende stepped forward, bowing to make his report.
The County Magistrate didn’t turn around, only waving his hand dismissively.
Liu Wende understood. He gave Chen Li a meaningful look, then quietly retreated to the side to wait.
Chen Li stood a few paces behind the man, his hands hanging at his sides.
The County Magistrate remained focused on the float on the water’s surface, as if completely unaware of the movement behind him.
Time flowed by in the silence, marked only by the soft whisper of the breeze across the water and the occasional chirp of a distant bird.
This silence was, in itself, a form of pressure exerted by a superior.
After an unknown amount of time, the float suddenly plunged underwater.
With a flick of his wrist, the County Magistrate’s fishing rod instantly bent into a smooth arc.
A crucian carp with shimmering silver scales was pulled from the water, thrashing its tail as it struggled in the sunlight.
Zhang Heming skillfully removed the hook, tossed the fish into the basket beside him, and only then did he slowly turn around.
His face was lean, his gaze placid, even carrying a hint of scholarly refinement. But Chen Li keenly caught the flash of sharpness deep within those placid eyes.
"Sit."
Zhang Heming pointed to another empty stone stool by the pond. His voice was flat and emotionless, betraying no pleasure or anger.
"Thank you, Lord County Magistrate."
Chen Li sat as instructed.
Zhang Heming picked up a plain cloth from the stone table and carefully wiped his hands. His gaze fell upon Chen Li as he got straight to the point. "Chen Li, a few days ago, Tu Sandao died."
Chen Li’s heart leaped, wondering why the man would mention him. But his expression remained perfectly still as he met the County Magistrate’s gaze, calmly waiting for him to continue.
Zhang Heming lifted his teacup, gently blew away the floating leaves, and took a small sip, as if speaking of some trivial matter.
"That scoundrel was nothing but a common hooligan with a long list of evil deeds. When I first arrived in Mirror Mountain, I intended to bring him to justice. But over the years, he proved useful to the Government Office. The commercial taxes in Jingshan County are difficult to collect; the merchants are all as slippery as eels. Every year, we fall short of the Court’s tax quota by over ten thousand taels of silver.
"A man like Tu Sandao, using his underhanded methods, was actually able to collect a good deal of silver and cover the deficit. So, as long as he didn’t kill anyone or go too far, I would... turn a blind eye."
He paused, and his gaze suddenly became so intense it felt tangible, locking onto Chen Li’s face. He let out a soft, inscrutable laugh. "A pity. A man’s heart is never satisfied; it’s like a snake trying to swallow an elephant. People get carried away so easily. He thought he’d latched onto someone powerful and started getting ideas above his station. His death... I’m not surprised, not regretful. In fact..."
He paused slightly. "I’m rather pleased."
Before his voice had even faded, an invisible wave of Spiritual Sense swept over Chen Li again, as if trying to see right through him, inside and out.
Chen Li remained as steady as a rock, his heartbeat stable, his breathing long and even. His eyes were clear as spring water, as if he were merely listening to a piece of street gossip that had nothing to do with him.
An extremely faint flicker of doubt crossed Zhang Heming’s eyes, but it vanished as quickly as it appeared.
He set down his teacup, his tone suddenly shifting to one of testing. "Chen Li, do you know how the Court’s laws deal with killings in the Jianghu?"
"This humble one is ignorant. I pray my Lord will enlighten me," Chen Li asked respectfully, his eyes lowered.
"The Court’s law regarding Jianghu conflicts is to judge by actions, not intentions."
Zhang Heming’s voice turned a shade colder. "If it’s a duel between equals to settle an old grudge, the Jingwu Bureau will not intervene. But if the strong prey on the weak and wantonly kill the innocent... even if they flee to the ends of the earth, the Court can hunt them down and make a public example of them."
Chen Li lowered his gaze and remained silent.
Zhang Heming studied him thoughtfully for a moment before getting to the heart of the matter. "Wende has already told me why you’ve come to see me. But the Water Bandits are rampant right now, and their movements are unpredictable. I need the locals to form a militia, to fortify our defenses and clear the fields, so we can counter their movements with stillness. Chen Li, you’re an intelligent man. You should know what to do."
"Yes, my Lord."
Chen Li sighed inwardly. He knew he couldn’t refuse now, so he agreed at once.
’This County Magistrate’s methods are anything but simple. He’s not someone to be trifled with.’
’He used the matter of Tu Sandao to warn me right from the start.’
’No matter how I responded, I would have fallen into his trap.’
’I just don’t know why he chose me. Is it just because Shouheng and Shouye are at the martial arts hall?’
’Or does he know something else?’
An expression of approval appeared on Zhang Heming’s face. He nodded and said, "You are a man who understands the circumstances and knows when to advance and retreat. I trust you know what to do."
"I await your guidance, my Lord," Chen Li said respectfully.
Zhang Heming picked up his teacup and took another sip, his tone becoming more casual. "I have an unpromising son. He doesn’t have much talent and runs a grain shop, barely scraping by. Recently, he’s insisted on going to the Zhuoyan Collection to buy grain. I told him it’s a wharf, that the Water Bandits are rampant, and that it’s very dangerous.
"But he wouldn’t listen and insisted on going. Then I thought, children must make their own way in the world. It’s his livelihood, so I decided to let him be. This Zhuoyan Collection happens to be under your jurisdiction. I ask that you look after him. Consider it fulfilling a selfish wish of mine, as a father."
Chen Li’s brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.
’He just wants me to protect his "son"?’
The Lord County Magistrate’s words seemed to hold an unspoken meaning, but for the moment, Chen Li found it difficult to grasp his true intentions. He cupped his hands and said, "Please rest assured, my Lord. When I return, I will be sure to pay the young master a visit first."
"Mm," Zhang Heming nodded, satisfied. A faint smile finally appeared on his face. "You may go."
"Yes. This humble one takes his leave."
Chen Li bowed deeply, and only then, at a gesture from Liu Wende, did he slowly exit the rear garden.
Once Chen Li’s figure disappeared at the end of the corridor, Zhang Heming re-baited his hook. With a flick of his wrist, the fishing line cut through the air and once again sank into the tranquil pond.
He leaned back in his chair, his gaze falling upon the gently rippling water. His eyes, reflecting the light from the pond and the shadows of the trees, showed he was lost in thought.