Chapter 29: It's better to be an official, it makes money faster than being a bandit (Seeking monthly votes)

On the afternoon of the day Zheng Xuancheng died, the Hundred-Household Office and the County Government simultaneously posted a notice, announcing his various crimes and the news that he had been brought to justice.

The commoners of Tongzhou all clapped and cheered upon hearing this.

"Good riddance! That man surnamed Zheng has been throwing his weight around in Tongzhou for how many years? So he was a rebel of the Xuan Sect all along, no wonder he was so evil. Fortunately, Heaven has eyes and sent Magistrate Pei, otherwise who knows how much longer we would have been plagued by him!"

"No wonder the culprit was never caught after the previous County Magistrate was assassinated; it turns out the person in charge of investigating the case was the real murderer! This Zheng Xuancheng hid himself too deeply, just like that Xu Zhiyong; who could have guessed?"

"If you ask me, Xu Zhiyong using the alias Xu Yuanqing to rob people outside the city was most likely instigated by Zheng Xuancheng! That god-forsaken wretch, collecting 'tributes' from us in the city while arranging for people to rob us outside—he deserved to die!"

The former Zheng Mansion, now the Pei Mansion, still had the same garden and the same pavilion, but the scene had changed and the people were different; only Pei Shaoqing and the County Magistrate sat side by side.

Song Youcai was highly efficient; in just two days, he had cleaned the Zheng Mansion and staffed it with servants.

Magistrate Pei moved into his new home early this morning.

"Young Master Pei has reaped the benefits this time, while our Holy Sect has been saddled with the bad reputation," the County Magistrate said, shaking his head as he watched the fish fighting for food in the water.

Pei Shaoqing didn't even look up as he scattered fish food: "Your reputation wasn't that great to begin with."

"That is only because the imperial court deliberately smears and stigmatizes our Holy Sect," the County Magistrate snorted coldly.

Pei Shaoqing turned his head to look at him, "Is that so?"

He wore an expression that said, "I'm listening to you make it up as you go."

"At least part of the reason is that." The County Magistrate's face suddenly couldn't hold the expression, and he slowly exhaled, saying: "I admit, after thousands of years of development, the Holy Sect has become a mix of the good and the bad with many factions. There are indeed degenerates who act in extreme ways and commit evil deeds, but that is only a small part. Most people have never forgotten their original intentions, living up to the philosophy from when the sect was founded..."

"Alright, alright, I'm not interested in your philosophies, so don't try to proselytize me; the only missionary position I can accept is the one in the bedroom." Pei Shaoqing interrupted him and set the fish food on the table, "You didn't just come here today to congratulate me on my housewarming, did you?"

"Zheng Xuancheng is dead; has our gentleman's agreement taken effect?" the County Magistrate asked, staring at him.

Pei Shaoqing smiled slightly, "Of course, our cooperation started long ago. What, does County Magistrate have something you need my help with so soon?"

"Since that is the case, can the martial law and inspections targeting our Holy Sect be lifted?" the County Magistrate asked bluntly.

The Opening Sun Holy Son would be arriving soon.

"How could it be that fast? We still have to search for Zheng Xuancheng's accomplices for a few days." Pei Shaoqing shook his head and added, "Of course, it's just for show. If you trust me, your people can come out and move about, just don't be too blatant. Otherwise, you'll be causing me trouble, and then I'll only be able to choose to eliminate the trouble."

In his view, the world was currently at peace and the people were living and working in contentment, which could be called a golden age. The idea of the Xuanhuang Sect raising an army to rebel was simply absurd. Even if they were allowed to preach, how many commoners could they really bewitch and coerce?

It was just unclear why the current imperial court was so wary of this rebel organization that clearly couldn't succeed, insisting on exterminating them completely and even prohibiting the circulation of related texts and books.

"Young Master Pei has a big mouth; Gongsun Yi is not here right now," the County Magistrate said, feeling displeased with Pei Shaoqing's attitude, and gave a warning that was neither too light nor too heavy.

He incidentally revealed that he already knew the identity of the masked man who had gone to kill him that night.

Pei Shaoqing laughed, "In that case, couldn't Helmsman Wang easily take my head?"

Gongsun Yi might have left, but Madam Gongsun was still here. Moreover, he himself possessed the strength of the Condensing Qi Initial Stage, and with his status as a Marquis Mansion Young Master and a Jing'an Guard Flag Captain, why would he fear a mere Helmsman Wang?

"Young Master is joking; how could I possibly kill a friend?" The County Magistrate stared at Pei Shaoqing for a moment, then also tilted his head back and laughed.

Even if he had wanted to kill Pei Shaoqing before, he had only dared to cooperate with Zheng Xuancheng and use the hands of mountain bandits; he hadn't dared to let the Holy Sect's people act, nor had he dared to act himself. Now, he had even less courage and no need to do so.

Although their goal was rebellion and they claimed not to care about the imperial court, the court was like an insurmountable mountain, pressing down on them until they couldn't breathe.

If he really killed a scion of a Marquis family like Pei Shaoqing and it was investigated, the Great Zhou would surely root them out, and who knew how many Holy Sect disciples would die in vain.

Compared to a dead Pei Shaoqing, a living Pei Shaoqing who was willing to cooperate with the Holy Sect brought more value.

"You had better be able to be friends with me." Pei Shaoqing laughed twice, then restrained his smile after a moment and said meaningfully: "Because my enemies all end up very miserably."

"I have already witnessed it." The County Magistrate nodded in deep agreement, stood up, and cupped his hands: "Farewell."

"I won't see you out," Pei Shaoqing spat out the two words.

No sooner had the County Magistrate left than Liu Yuheng, dressed in a goose-yellow long dress, walked over with a light gait and reported softly: "Young Master, the wealthy gentry of the city have come together with gifts to visit, saying they are here to congratulate you on your housewarming."

She had always been Gongsun Yi's capable assistant at the Iron Sword Sect, so Pei Shaoqing had given her the job of Butler.

"They're here to pay me protection money!" Pei Shaoqing chuckled, "Lead the way, Madam."

These people had paid money to Hundred-Household Zheng when he was here, and now, without waiting for a new Hundred-Household to take office, they were taking the initiative to pay him. It was clear they had recognized him as the replacement for Zheng's ecological niche; they were sincere and had a good eye.

"Yes." Liu Yuheng nodded slightly and turned to lead the way, the outline of her rounded buttocks clearly visible under her silk skirt, swaying slightly left and right with her steps.

It made one want to experience the "softness" of a swordswoman.

…………………………

Inside the main hall, a group of men dressed in brocade, half of whom were fat and round-faced, immediately put on smiling faces and stood up to welcome him when they saw Pei Shaoqing arrive: "Greetings, My Lord."

"Everyone, please sit." Pei Shaoqing walked to the main seat at the top and sat down before greeting them.

"Thank you, My Lord."

After everyone was seated, the middle-aged man in a green robe sitting in the first seat on the left stood up with a smile and said: "My Lord first killed the bandit leader Xu Yuanqing, then eliminated the Xuan Sect rebel Zheng Xuancheng. Having you here is truly the fortune of our Tongzhou. Today is the occasion of your housewarming, so we have specially prepared modest gifts on behalf of all the people in the city to express our feelings."

"There's no need for empty talk." Pei Shaoqing raised a hand to cut off the output, leaned back, and asked straightforwardly: "How much did you pay Hundred-Household Zheng before?"

"Uh..." Pei Shaoqing's directness left the green-robed man stunned, and the others were also confused, looking at each other. In the end, the green-robed man was the first to adjust and said: "Since Young Master is straightforward, we won't beat around the bush. In the past, each of our businesses gave Hundred-Household Zheng ten percent of our profits, and we are willing to do the same in the future."

Officials and merchants have always achieved things through each other.

As for the commoners, they are the consumables that achieve them.

"In that case, in your eyes, is Zheng Xuancheng on par with me?" Pei Shaoqing was displeased. Before they could argue, he continued his output: "Besides, that's not how the accounts are calculated. Zheng Xuancheng collected ten percent from you in the city, and his lackey Xu Zhiyong, using the alias Xu Yuanqing, pretended to be a horse bandit to occasionally collect 'road money' from you outside the city. His gains were far more than ten percent! How could I possibly settle for only ten percent?"

I used to rob you outside the city, but now I won't rob you anymore, so this money must be given to me in another way.

The group of old fogies immediately broke into a cold sweat.

They had thought this master came from the Capital and didn't lack money, so following the old rules would suffice. They hadn't expected him to have a bigger appetite, being even more insatiable than Zheng Xuancheng.

Everyone suddenly started to miss Zheng Xuancheng.

"Then, in your opinion..."

"Fifty percent," Pei Shaoqing said indifferently.

The group immediately wore mournful faces, "We hope Young Master will have mercy. We only earn a bit of hard-earned money. It's not just the Hundred-Household Office; we have to grease the palms of the County Government and every other department. Fifty percent—that's taking our lives!"

"Alright, alright, what's with a bunch of men blubbering like that? If you don't have money, why learn to give gifts? If I were in the Capital, I wouldn't even bother with you." Pei Shaoqing waved his hand impatiently and said: "Then twenty percent."

Looking at his expression of disdain, at this moment, the crowd didn't feel Pei Shaoqing was too greedy; instead, they felt a bit inferior.

We stinking outsiders are too poor, to the point that our bribery is embarrassing in front of a noble master from the Capital!

Although they felt that twenty percent was still a lot, it was not much compared to fifty percent, and fearing that if they did not agree, Pei Shaoqing would be displeased, they nodded one after another and agreed.

"Then from now on, we shall all make a fortune together."

Pei Shaoqing changed his sour expression and said with a smile.

It really is better to be an official; money comes faster than being a bandit.

"We rely entirely on Young Master's care," everyone said in unison.

If the next chapter does not come out, it is stuck in review.





(End of chapter)