Chapter 1041

Wang Yan was indeed very familiar with Qiantang.

Whether in the real world or in the film and television world with a modern urban background, he had been here several times. And in several ancient worlds, whether it was touring or leading troops to fight, he had also been here.

It could truly be said that he had formed an indissoluble bond with this place.

Qiantang had two sets of government offices: one for the state and one for the county. The county office was located in the east, and the place where trials and litigation were held in ordinary film and television was here.

The official office of the state government was located in the southeast Xun position of Qiantang County, symbolizing development and prosperity, which was naturally a good omen for the government. This was a large office area, and the state office was also here. Others who were not in direct contact with the people worked near the state office. Consolidating power and improving administrative efficiency.

Dressed in green official robes and wearing an official hat, Wang Yan asked his way all the way and arrived at the very quiet official office. He showed his credentials to the petty official at the door. Before he could speak, the petty official bowed: "With such a talented and imposing appearance, the small person doesn't need to think much to know that it must be the top scholar of this year coming to take office."

Seeing Wang Yan standing with his hands behind his back, smiling without speaking, the petty official was frightened by the look and couldn't help but explain with an awkward smile: "I won't hide it from you, official: yesterday when you entered the city with your family, accompanied by the Fan family's son, everyone above and below knew that you had come. And early this morning, when Master Fan came, he had already explained it."

"Don't be afraid. Looking at your appearance, you are much older than me; can I eat people?"

"Official, you are the Wenqu Star from the Heavenly Palace descending to earth, naturally having majesty. Even if the small person is innocent, my heart is still trembling."

Literacy is the most basic quality for petty officials working in the government; being able to handle things well and speaking nicely are also important assessment indicators. More importantly, one must have some connections to be good.

Petty officials cannot become officials; they belong to contract workers outside the establishment. Some are literary people who failed the imperial examination, and some are passed down from father to son, son to grandson. Regardless of the situation, the connections in the locality are quite deep.

"What is your name?"

"The small person is Fan Yincan; I have the same surname as Master Fan. My family has lived in Hangzhou for generations and has been officials for three generations. I hope the official will promote me a lot."

Wang Yan nodded with a smile: "Lead the way."

"Official, please this way." Fan Yincan's face was filled with a flattering smile, as brilliant as his name.

Led by Fan Yincan, Wang Yan arrived at the door of Fan Zhongyan's official office and walked straight in.

It was very lively inside. Except for Fan Zhongyan, other officials in the state were also present, all staring at Wang Yan who walked in.

Wang Yan was naturally not afraid of everyone's gaze and calmly bowed to Fan Zhongyan: "Master Fan, student has come to report."

Immediately, he bowed to the others: "Wang Yan greets you all. I arrived a bit late; I didn't expect you all to be so diligent for the people."

"Assistant Magistrate Wang is here. We have long heard of the top scholar's great name; seeing you today is truly a fortunate event."

"Exactly, exactly. After work today, Assistant Magistrate Wang, don't be in a hurry to leave. We will welcome the top scholar. Working together in the future, we should be close."

"As a junior, and young in age, I hope you will all take care of me in the future. I will definitely work together with you all to seek welfare for the people of Hangzhou." Wang Yan cupped his hands humbly.

For a moment, one word from you and one word from him, it became lively, and everyone was blowing each other's horns.

This was not simple flattery, but everyone's probing of Wang Yan, the second-in-command, to weigh his worth. In officialdom, meeting and saying nice things and blowing each other's horns belongs to the basic rules. Wang Yan could not know how to say nice things, but he could not be annoyed, because then he wouldn't be one of them.

Moreover, Wang Yan was only nineteen years old this year. Among the state officials present, the youngest was twenty-eight. Age sometimes makes people value you, such as when you become a top scholar and Assistant Magistrate of Hangzhou. But it also inevitably makes people look down on you, such as when you take office as Assistant Magistrate of Hangzhou.

Wang Yan was not even as old as some people's sons, yet he was their superior. The experience brought by age, which they thought was mature and sophisticated, made them subconsciously look down on young people. Especially since Wang Yan was their superior, their hearts were naturally filled with resentment.

But on the surface, everyone was truly harmonious, and they were talking happily...

Fan Zhongyan didn't speak, just drank tea with a smile, watching Wang Yan's skilled and natural officialdom social interaction, watching other state officials secretly suppressing him, and Wang Yan dealing with it without revealing his emotions.

Only he knew that Wang Yan was determined to deal with these officials, as well as the lower-level officials outside.

Seeing Wang Yan's calm and unhurried appearance, without any confusion of entering officialdom for the first time, Fan Zhongyan felt that what Wang Yan said might have a possibility of success...

After a long time, seeing Wang Yan sit down in the first seat on the left, Fan Zhongyan opened his mouth: "Alright, there is still plenty of time; we will interact slowly in the future. Zhang, the Signatory Magistrate."

"Master Fan."

Responding was a slightly fat man in his forties sitting opposite Wang Yan; this person was named Zhang Xianjue, and he was the Signatory Magistrate of this state.

The Signatory Magistrate was an official from the capital, and his official title was Signatory of the Judgment Hall Affairs. This Zhang Xianjue was the Signatory of the Ninghai Army Festival Observation Judge. He was the highest-ranking person besides Fan Zhongyan and Wang Yan, belonging to the third-in-command. He participated in trials and litigation, managed tax registers and household accounts, managed state personnel, supervised state officials, and held the five offices, with great authority.

Before Wang Yan came to take office, the position of Assistant Magistrate was held concurrently by Zhang Xianjue.

"You make the handover with Assistant Magistrate Wang, and then send the state accounts to Assistant Magistrate Wang for inspection."

"Yes, Master Fan."

"Since this is the case, let's disperse." Fan Zhongyan waved his hand.

Everyone stood up and bowed together, left Fan Zhongyan's official office, came outside, and agreed on a gathering and banquet in the evening, then dispersed and did their own things.

Wang Yan was led by Zhang Xianjue to his office as Assistant Magistrate.

The area was large, with a solid wood long table, on which were brush, ink, paper, and inkstone, and a pile of official documents. There were several rows of bookshelves, on which were many books and some porcelain ornaments. There was also a space for meeting guests and drinking tea, all of which were quite complete.

Zhang Xianjue introduced it to Wang Yan roughly and said: "Knowing that Assistant Magistrate Wang came to Qiantang, I had someone tidy it up yesterday. If you need anything, there are petty officials waiting for orders outside; just tell them. The tax registers and accounts of this state are all in the accounting room; if you want to inspect them, Assistant Magistrate Wang, just find a petty official to lead the way.

Master Fan already explained this morning that Assistant Magistrate Wang needs to be familiar with it first before taking up duties. I think Master Fan is afraid that Assistant Magistrate Wang is new to officialdom and doesn't understand the ways, which might delay the people's livelihood, so he arranged it this way. Assistant Magistrate Wang, don't be hasty; proceeding step by step is the right principle."

"Signatory Magistrate Zhang has spent his heart."

"It is my duty. If Assistant Magistrate has nothing else, I will withdraw first; I will definitely toast the Assistant Magistrate a few more cups of wine tonight."

Wang Yan stood by the window with his hands behind his back, watching Zhang Xianjue leave. He stood sideways, and the sunlight shone through the window, lighting up half of his face with mottled light...

There is no doubt that this Zhang Xianjue must be dealt with, because he does not respect Wang Yan.

What Fan Zhongyan explained was not to arrange any work for him for the time being, not that he shouldn't be the Assistant Magistrate. Normally, he should always take him to see other lower-level officials. But this Zhang Xianjue only brought Wang Yan to the office and pointed out two petty officials to come over, and that was it—this was not treating Wang Yan as dry food.

Wang Yan is really not a person who holds grudges...

Flipping through the documents on the table, they were all official documents issued by the imperial court, similar to various instructions a thousand years later. There were amendments to legal provisions, changes in some policies, and some requirements for Hangzhou's state government, etc.

After reading it once, Wang Yan walked out of the official office. The two petty officials who had been assigned earlier still hadn't left and were waiting for Wang Yan's orders, chatting in a low voice together.

Wang Yan listened to the two's discussion silently. Just like civil servants like to discuss various gossip in the unit, these two petty officials were also like this. But what made people feel not very pleasant was that the protagonist of their discussion was Wang Yan...

Finally, the two who were talking excitedly discovered Wang Yan, and suddenly they were full of panic, bowing and saluting Wang Yan: "Greetings, official, we... we are not..."

They wanted to explain, but didn't know how to open their mouths. Wang Yan didn't speak, and they didn't dare to stand up, so they could only bow like this, but still unwilling to give up, wanting to explain, but couldn't explain anything. In just a moment, sweat appeared on their faces—cold sweat.

Even if Wang Yan was targeted when he first arrived, he was still the Assistant Magistrate, nominally the second-in-command. The two petty officials might have some connections in the government office, but so what? As long as Wang Yan targeted the two of them, no one would be stupid enough to reject Wang Yan's face, so their job would be over.

After a good while, the two started to tremble from standing, and Wang Yan then spoke lightly: "Remember, be cautious in words and actions. Stand up."

"Thank you, official."

The two stood up straight together and let out a long breath, but avoided Wang Yan's eyes. They wanted to rub their waists, but didn't dare to move; they wanted to wipe the sweat on their faces and shake their sweat-soaked clothes, but still didn't dare to move.

"Don't be nervous; can I eat you? Tell me about your situation."

Wang Yan chatted with the two petty officials at the door of his official office, from their names to their families, then to their relatives, and even their mother's side, as well as their connections in the government office, etc.

By the time they talked later, Wang Yan brought the two into the official office, drinking tea while talking. It was in this process that the two petty officials got rid of their nervous emotions and relaxed. Only then did they pour out a lot of things to Wang Yan like beans.

After a long time, Wang Yan smiled and asked: "Did you two say earlier in the courtyard that Zhang Signatory's clansmen are doing business here and have annexed some land?"

"Uh..."

The two who had relaxed were instantly like ducks whose necks were pinched, not knowing how to answer.

"I treat you two with sincerity, but you two are distant with me; what is the reason?"

"Official, I..."

"Think before you speak," Wang Yan said lightly.

After a moment of silence, one of them cupped his hands and said: "Official, the matter of Zhang Signatory's clan is indeed true. I just said it; the small person's brother-in-law works in the county office. When I had wine with him at home last month, he told me. He annexed a hundred acres of good fields outside the city and sold the wives and daughters of good families. I heard he also wants to plot some tea fields."

"Was it a gambling game to deceive people?"

"Official, you are wise; that is exactly it."

Wang Yan nodded with satisfaction; this was the tangled web of the locality. It was secret, but not secret. But ordinary people wanted to know, but couldn't know.

He stood up and said: "Let's go, lead me to the accounting room to see."

The two petty officials exchanged glances. The one with the brother-in-law stood up and saluted: "Official, please rest assured, the two of us will definitely not tell outsiders. From now on, we will follow your orders and definitely follow your lead."

"I have to see. Remember, be cautious in words and actions."

"Yes, we will definitely keep it in mind."

"Let's go."

Wang Yan left the official office first, and the two petty officials followed closely to lead the way, introducing where each place was to Wang Yan on the way, and introducing officials to Wang Yan when they met them, which was much more thoughtful than Zhang Xianjue.

Accounts are very complicated, and there are several accounting rooms. Military funds, taxes, state accounts, etc., are all accounts, and all have records. If you want to see accounts in one aspect, you must inform the official in charge of this matter and keep a record, indicating who saw the accounts and when, to prevent any shady dealings.

What Wang Yan looked at first was not the tax registers, but the state accounts of income and expenditure. Because for other accounts, if you want to check the actual objects, you must measure the fields and check the population to match them. If you don't do this, you can only take the numbers submitted from below, and the accounts will definitely be exactly the same.

Even the modern fiscal and tax system has various fake accounts, various tax evasion and tax avoidance emerging one after another, and various tricks. Not to mention that the current fiscal and tax system is far from perfect, and information and transportation are not smooth. Thinking with your heels, you can know there are tricks inside, just a matter of the size of the tricks.

Wang Yan, led by the two petty officials, found the Recording Military Advisor of this state. The function of this position is to "manage the miscellaneous affairs of the state court and correct the negligence of the offices," belonging to the specific management of the five offices. Many accounts are his responsibility. He was present in Fan Zhongyan's official office earlier and was also a high-ranking official of the state.

This matter was explained by Fan Zhongyan, so this person naturally wouldn't stop Wang Yan from checking the accounts, and he even secretly questioned whether Wang Yan could understand many items in the accounts. But his attitude was very good, politely sending someone to go through the procedures for Wang Yan and leading Wang Yan to the accounting room.

The accounting room was large and dark, but not damp; it had been specially treated for moisture. In the accounting room, there were many bookshelves. On them were densely packed accounts in the style of books, arranged by year.

At this moment, the state officials who were waiting to see Wang Yan's joke and waiting to step on the top scholar to find psychological balance didn't know that the fate of many of them had already been recorded in the complicated items of the account books.

Wang Yan didn't make a noise, letting the two petty officials serve tea and water, checking the accounts until the end of the day, when he was called away by Zhang Xianjue to attend the so-called new official welcome party...