Chapter 237: First Volume, Chapter 237: Issuing New Regulations

First Volume, Chapter 237: Issuing New Regulations

"This is not taxation—it is a regulation to benefit the people!"

The literati present read the public notice again and again, their eyes filled with disbelief.

For a moment, heated debates echoed around the notice board.

The white-clothed scholar's face flushed red, his emotions wildly agitated: "Impossible! The content posted here must be deceiving the commoners! Since the founding of Shedynasty, every County Magistrate appointed in Beixi County has been a thief who plucks every feather. Even the most upright magistrate left with three or four carts of valuables."

"In my entire life, I have never seen such an official!"

The poor, ragged scholar in coarse cloth garb, however, stared with burning eyes and exclaimed excitedly: "If it were anyone else, I'd dismiss it—but times have changed. The one now seated in the County Yamen is the Young Master of the Qin Family."

Seeing the poor scholar so naive, the white-clothed scholar sneered in contempt and snapped: "If every single clause on this notice were true, I'd sooner believe the sun rises in the west. All officials are equally corrupt. If Qin Feng truly leaves Beixi County untouched, I'd burn incense and worship him—let alone these unrealistic edicts?"

"Let me put it this way: If Qin Feng fulfills every clause on this notice, I will raise funds to build him an Ancestral Hall and worship him for generations!"

Seeing the literati arguing themselves red in the face, the common people around them grew frantic, scratching their heads and pacing in agitation.

They knew only that three laws were listed on the notice, but since they couldn't read, they couldn't grasp their meaning.

Yet from the literati's reactions, it was clear these three laws would profoundly impact Beixi County.

There could be no middle ground.

Either it would bring blessings to the people—or dig down three feet to plunder them.

An old man trembled as he urged: "What does this notice say? Tell me quickly—is it taxation or Fu Yi? I heard the County Yamen's runners were purged by Lord Qin—every County Commandant and above was thrown in jail, and the old villain Chen Li was sent to Zhou Fu for execution. The Yamen Runners, fearing they'd be burned along with the fire, all defected and joined Feiying Stockade."

"The County Yamen is now critically short of staff. I heard they gathered every literate man from Qianli Baxiang last night and drafted thirty on the spot."

"Could it be… more Fu Yi?!"

The Beixi People feared nothing more than taxation and Fu Yi.

The men in each household were vital laborers; once taken away, the whole family would starve.

The hearts of the commoners were in their throats, fixed unblinkingly on the literati.

The ragged scholar in coarse cloth garb pointed at the notice and began reading slowly: "Beixi County Yamen Notice, issued by County Magistrate Qin Feng! The former County Magistrate Chen Li was tyrannical and grievously wicked, causing the people's livelihood to suffer—he has been sent to Zhou Fu for execution. The County Assistant Magistrate, County Commandant, Clerks, and Treasury Officers have all been arrested. To rectify the affairs of Beixi's people's livelihood, I hereby issue three regulations, as follows."

"First: Effective immediately, the County Yamen will install a Complaint and Report Box. Anyone who witnesses Yamen Runners abusing power or engaging in corruption may report truthfully—I will inspect once per month. If the report is verified, punishment will be severe and no mercy shown."

"Second: Literati are the foundation of county governance. Yet Beixi has not produced a single Journeyman in years—I am heartbroken. From this day forward, the County Yamen will allocate specific funds to support Beixi's Journeyman Studies. A Public Reading Private School will be established; all who wish to study literature may enroll free of charge. All Candidates will receive a monthly stipend of two taels of silver, provided by the County Yamen. Those who attain Journeyman status will receive five taels of silver monthly. Additionally, a Book Bureau will be established: any Beixi literatus purchasing books or classics may apply to the Bureau and receive them at flat price."

Merely hearing the first two regulations sent the crowd into uproar.

Both commoners and literati alike were stunned as if witnessing a divine miracle.

The area around the notice board was drowned in a chorus of astonished cries.

The old man thought his ears had betrayed him, his eyes wide with disbelief: "Since ancient times, officials have protected each other—who has ever seen officials turn on each other? This Young Master Qin has installed a Complaint and Report Box—does he mean to make enemies of every single Yamen Runner?"

A young man beside him burst out laughing: "You're senile! What enemies? Lord Qin has already cleared out every Yamen Runner! Clearly, Lord Qin is serious this time—ha ha! We've finally seen the dawn!"

Compared to the commoners, the literati present were even more agitated.

After all, in this age, the barrier to becoming a literatus was extremely high. Even if one studied independently and avoided private school fees, simply buying books was enough to deter most commoners. Not just commoners—even small landowners often had to scavenge for secondhand books.

And that was only one problem.

Every adult male was the most vital laborer in his household; faced with the choice between survival and the distant, unrealistic path of the imperial examinations, most had no choice but to choose survival.

Now, Qin Feng not only established a flat-price Book Bureau to solve the problem of book access for local literati, but also provided stipends to Candidates and Journeymen—this was an unimaginable boon for the local literati.

Cheers erupted spontaneously.

"Unbelievable! Not just in Beixi County—in all of Shedynasty's history, no such official has ever existed! If these regulations are truly enforced, Lord Qin is our blessing, our star of fortune!"

Under the crowd's urging, the ragged scholar immediately read the third regulation.

"In view of Beixi County's suffering, all taxation and Fu Yi are hereby waived for one year, to allow the people to rest and recover. Additionally, the County Yamen will allocate funds to purchase grain and seed; all Beixi County Household Registration holders may claim their share per capita: fifty jin of millet, thirty jin of buckwheat, and two jin of millet seeds."

As soon as these words were spoken, the entire Beixi County City was drowned in deafening cheers.

The commoners surged toward the County Yamen, surrounding its Door three layers deep on all sides, leaving no space to pass.

"Lord Qin, are you not a savior sent from heaven?!"

"Lord Qin, you truly are our Father Official!"

"Fifty jin of grain and two jin of seed per person—this is Timely Assistance for the Beixi People. Lord Qin's waiver of grain tax has moved us to tears. If you need it, we need not be exempt from Fu Yi—we, commoners, are willing to lend you our strength!"

Originally, the locals had scorned the idea of becoming a Yamen Runner.

Since Qin Feng began recruiting, nearly every position had been filled—except the Yamen Runner role, since it was considered a lowly trade.

Now, with these three notices posted, some had begun applying for the position of Yamen Runner.

A sturdy young man shouted: "Lord Qin, I volunteer to be a Yamen Runner—not for pay or sustenance, but to repay your mountainous grace!"