Chapter 201: Ma Zhou: Fooled Again

"Magistrate, why don't we ask His Majesty, or the Crown Prince, whether we can get back part of that embezzled money?"

Ma Zhou literally wanted to cry; the hand holding his pen couldn't stop trembling.

"Ask what?" Chen Yan glared at him fiercely, "His Majesty and the Crown Prince said that all affairs of Weinan County are under my authority. If you sign, sign; what's the point of any other words?"

"But... but these terms are too harsh; I truly dare not sign," Ma Zhou, on the verge of tears, said.

He didn't know what Chen Yan and Du Gou had done, but they suddenly approached him, saying Weinan County was now severely short of funds; even with excellent development conditions, the lack of money prevented implementation.

So the two of them drafted a loan note on the spot, claiming it was a loan to them in the name of the Weinan County Government, with the interest absurdly high.

Damn it, who would understand?

Ma Zhou always felt Chen Yan and Du Gou were employing a sophisticated form of corruption, but he had no evidence.

"What's so harsh?" Du Gou complained, "Is borrowing 50,000 and repaying 60,000 called harsh?"

"What about the Money Shop's nine out thirteen return?"

"Sign quickly; these terms are already generous. If it weren't for Weinan County's development, County Magistrate Chen and I wouldn't be willing to lend this money."

Ma Zhou: "......"

Look, look—are you even speaking human language?

Borrowing 50,000 and repaying 60,000 isn't high?

Even without the nine out thirteen return being that exaggerated, how much is the difference?

And damn it, it's only a three‑month loan, with monthly installments.

My heavens, this isn't corruption—what is it?

"Magistrate, perhaps... you should sign this yourself," Ma Zhou hesitated repeatedly, staring at the contract's arguably harsh clauses, finally gritting his teeth: "I am merely a junior county official; I cannot make such a big decision."

"You are the County Magistrate of Weinan County; it's best that you sign this."

"Nonsense," Chen Yan shouted angrily, "If I sign and the higher-ups blame me, what then?"

Ma Zhou: "......"

Du Gou looked at Chen Yan in surprise, with an expression that said, 'I never expected you to be this kind of person.'

Facing Ma Zhou's resentful gaze, Chen Yan cleared his throat dryly, his expression slightly uneasy.

"Um, Zhou, I didn't mean it that way..."

"Yes, I understand, Magistrate; you want me to gain more experience."

Chen Yan: "......."

Du Gou: (laughs)

The atmosphere suddenly became awkward.

He got screwed, and old Ma seemed to catch on.

Chen Yan thought to himself that this was ominous, but a faint smile appeared on his face as he put an arm around Ma Zhou's shoulder and said, "Zhou, the way you speak sounds like you have a grievance in your heart."

"Didn't I already report it? Didn't they send someone down?"

"In two days another scribe and another junior county official will come; the pressure on you will be much less, and you won't have to be so exhausted thereafter."

"See, I'm being good to you, right?"

Ma Zhou, looking exhausted, "I thank you, Magistrate."

"Since another junior county official will take office in two days, why not wait two more days and let that official sign, okay?"

"How can that work?" Chen Yan replied dissatisfied, "Zhou, I'm giving you a chance. Signing this carries great risk, but isn't it also an achievement?"

"Consider this: Weinan County is at a critical moment of rapid development, yet a lack of funds would delay it—how huge a loss would that be?"

"Development would stall; the roads currently being built in Weinan County would immediately halt, leaving countless laborers without income, and travelers would have to keep treading the uneven road surface."

"The plan and direction Du brother and I devised would be impossible to implement, and Weinan County would miss its chance to soar."

"The common folk remain impoverished; their faces stay numb as ever, showing no glimmer of hope for the future. They hustle daily for a few ounces of silver that cannot fill their own or their families' bellies, and after a year of toil they find themselves owing more and more to the Money Shop or wealthy landlords."

"Zhou, can you bear that?"

"Can you bear to see the people live like this forever?"

"Can you bear to see Du brother's and my efforts go to waste?"

"Can you bear to see His Majesty's helpless, disappointed gaze?"

"Zhou, as long as..."

"If I sign this, everything will change, right?" Ma Zhou rubbed his forehead, full of helplessness, and said.

"Ha ha." Chen Yan said with a dry laugh, "I knew old Ma understood me."

"Alright, alright, please stop; can't I just sign?" Ma Zhou, fearing Chen Yan would next stretch the cause of Weinan County to the cause of the entire Tang Dynasty.

"Right now it's only delaying Weinan County's takeoff; if he keeps going, I might become the culprit that delays the Tang Dynasty's rise."

"See what I said?" Chen Yan grinned, saying to Du Gou, "I told you early that old Ma truly understands the great cause; he'll agree, yet you still don't believe it."

Du Gou: "......"

Ma Zhou said nothing, just kept signing.

From initially being duped by Chen Yan and serving as a pawn for a while, he realized that this County Magistrate was a huge swindler.

Moreover, he was the kind of swindler who cheats people to death without remorse.

Look at that phrase; it's truly something that comes out of the mouth instantly.

The most important thing is that he can argue with logic and evidence, making it impossible for you to refute.

What a freak, how did he get such a superior?

"You say you want the county to develop; if you're willing to use your own savings, go ahead. Borrowing in the name of the Weinan County Government isn't disallowed either."

"But you insist on such high interest; who wouldn't tremble upon seeing it?"

"Isn't it that you both want the county to develop and also want to earn an extra profit?"

After signing, Ma Zhou let out a sigh, "Magistrate, it's all set now, right?"

Looking at the name on the contract, Chen Yan beamed, "Alright, alright, of course it's fine."

"Lao Ma, don't worry, I'll immediately go with Brother Du, taking fifty thousand guan, to invest in the paper‑making workshop and the Yin Shua Fang, as well as the most important library."

"From now on, our Weinan County will own thirty percent of the library's shares."

"Okay…huh?" Ma Zhou stared blankly for a moment, then realized something was off, "No, Magistrate, what does it mean to own thirty percent of the library?"

"Didn't I sign a loan agreement? What does it mean that Weinan County will own thirty percent of the library later?"

"Besides, if it's a share agreement, shouldn't it be a full hundred percent?"

"Full hundred percent?" Chen Yan glared, "Are you damn well still asleep?"

"Just fifty thousand guan trying to own full shares, I wouldn't even dare that in my dreams."

Ma Zhou: "......."

He hadn't finished speaking when Chen Yan continued, "And what do you mean you signed a loan agreement?"

"You clearly signed a share agreement, okay?"

Saying that, he picked up the agreement from the table, and under Ma Zhou's bewildered gaze, proudly unfolded the other half and revealed the densely written clauses.

Ma Zhou's face turned green.

Damn!

Got duped again!!

"......"