Chapter 239: First Volume, Chapter 239: Strong Dragon Suppresses Local Snake

First Volume, Chapter 239: Strong Dragon Suppresses Local Snake

The young man's face turned as pale as paper; twenty staff strikes were no joke—he was already lucky to have not passed out from the beating.

Though fear flickered in the young man's eyes, resentment dominated: "I am Fang Yu! My father, Fang Tingshan, is a grain merchant of Beixi County! Your Excellency's distribution of grain to the common folk, though well-intentioned, has disrupted grain prices and brought endless harm!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than angry shouts erupted outside—the servants accompanying Fang Yu.

"Lord Qin, how can you beat my young master without cause?"

"My young master tore down the public notice to defend the interests of Beixi's grain merchants! Your Excellency punishes him without inquiry—what place does this leave for Beixi's grain merchants? What place for Beixi's merchants? Your Excellency claims to buy grain and distribute it to the people—surely you still need the support of Beixi's grain merchants!"

"Does Your Excellency intend to make enemies of Beixi's merchants?"

As the saying goes, a strong dragon cannot suppress a local snake.

A mere county magistrate cannot wield power so absolute that he alone controls heaven and earth; whether seeking to establish a foothold locally, to advance new regulations, or even to collect basic taxation, support from the local gentry is indispensable.

If you make enemies of the local gentry and powerful clans, your official position will never be secure.

Qin Feng had finally figured it out—the local gentry planned to unite and deliver him a downward warning.

Hah!

Interesting.

Qin Feng glanced at the shouting servants outside and said casually: "This is the Yamen—how dare you disturb its peace? Arrest all who made noise just now—ten staff strikes each."

The Fang family servants, unprepared for Qin Feng's refusal to back down—and his even harsher response—were momentarily stunned.

Before they could react, the burly guards seized them and dragged them into the DaTang, where, facing the merciless staffs, they let out a chorus of wails and screams.

Seeing his servants beaten, Fang Yu's face darkened as he gritted his teeth: "Your Excellency has just taken office and already seeks to make enemies of Beixi's merchants—do you not fear..."

Before Fang Yu could finish, Qin Feng cut in with a smile: "I don't fear."

Fang Yu froze, caught off guard, stammering: "I... I haven't finished speaking."

Qin Feng scratched his ear lazily: "No matter what you say, I don't fear."

Under Fang Yu's stunned gaze, Qin Feng glanced toward the Side Room and asked softly: "Where is the newly appointed County Assistant Magistrate?"

Soon after, a man around thirty, a scholar, stepped forward cautiously and bowed: "Your Excellency, what are your orders?"

Qin Feng pointed to a small table beside him, signaling the County Assistant Magistrate to sit, then fixed his gaze on Fang Yu and declared bluntly: "Fang Yu tore down the public notice, led a gang of evil servants, disrupted the Yamen, and incited a mob. According to the Da Liang Code, he deserves twenty staff strikes and two years' imprisonment. Since the staff punishment has already been carried out, proceed directly with imprisonment."

The County Assistant Magistrate turned pale—Fang Yu was the son of a local gentry, a man whose footstep could shake Beixi to its core.

In the past, the County Assistant Magistrate always avoided Fang Yu; now he was ordered to sentence him—his heart trembled with dread.

Fang Yu stood frozen, unable to believe his ears.

He had intended to use this moment to assert his authority over Qin Feng.

Qin Feng becoming county magistrate was fine; distancing himself from Chen Li was acceptable—but he must preserve tradition and maintain good relations with the local gentry.

Yet now, Qin Feng showed not the slightest respect to the gentry.

Their first meeting had already landed Fang Yu in two years of prison—it felt like a dream.

As the County Assistant Magistrate copied down the court record, a low voice rang out from outside.

"Lord Qin, what an imposing official aura you have!"

Qin Feng raised an eyebrow and turned toward the voice—crowds of commoners had already parted, revealing over a dozen men in brocade and silk standing at the entrance; their leader was a middle-aged man around forty.

The man strode directly into the DaTang, his gaze falling on Fang Yu lying on the ground—his eyes held sorrow, but mostly outrage.

Fang Tingshan slowly turned his head, fixing Qin Feng with a cold stare: "I am Fang Tingshan, grain merchant of Beixi! Hearing of Your Excellency's new regulations, I kindly sent my son to discuss grain purchases—yet you punished him without cause, surely chilling the hearts of Beixi's merchants?"

Qin Feng had expected this—today's events were clearly a coordinated move by Beixi's gentry.

Facing the furious Fang Tingshan, Qin Feng merely shrugged: "You're Master Fang, I presume? Hmph. To become Beixi's largest grain merchant, your business acumen must be sharp—but your parenting? Rather shallow. Did you never teach your son that one must kneel before a county magistrate and behave with caution inside the Yamen?"

"I punished him according to the Great Liang Code—what fault is there in that?"

At this, Fang Tingshan snorted in disdain: "Even in the Prefectural Governor's office, my son need not kneel—it is a privilege granted by every previous Prefectural Governor."

"I know Your Excellency is the son of the Minister of War, famed in Jingdu—but this is Beixi, not Jingdu. If you wish to establish a foothold here, you must remember the principle: make friends, not enemies."

At these words, Qin Feng burst into laughter, bending forward: "You're teaching me how to do my job?"

Seeing Qin Feng utterly dismiss him, Fang Tingshan's face flushed crimson and then pale; he gritted his teeth: "Does Your Excellency not even respect the Prefectural Governor?"

Ever since Qin Feng became this damned county magistrate, he could no longer live as freely as before.

Bound by the Ministry of Personnel, he must speak and act with caution.

The Prefectural Governor was several ranks above him—even as an official's son, he must assess the situation and avoid antagonizing the Prefectural Governor.

But judging by this, the Prefectural Governor was likely no better than a corrupt dog.

Facing Fang Tingshan's attempt to intimidate him with the Prefectural Governor's name, Qin Feng grinned: "The Prefectural Governor? In the past, that might have been troublesome. But now, with Liang on the brink of war with Di, all garrison troops are under direct orders. My father, the Minister of War, is the Supervisor of War. Are you so senile you think invoking the Prefectural Governor will intimidate me?"

Seeing Fang Tingshan's face burn red, Qin Feng pressed on, still grinning: "Are you about to say that even if you can't punish me, you can cripple my county's finances and leave me stranded? Then save the Prefectural Governor some silver—I have enough in my own pockets."

Beixi County's registered population numbers barely over thirty thousand.

Its annual fiscal expenditure, even at its highest, amounts to mere tens of taels of silver—this "small sum" is nothing to Qin Feng; he can simply squeeze it from his own funds.

But today's events served as a warning to Qin Feng.

Though Chen Li has been punished, the local gentry remain deeply rooted poisons—unless uprooted, Beixi County will never develop.

Seeing the Prefectural Governor failed to intimidate Qin Feng, Fang Tingshan unleashed his final card: "If Your Excellency insists on going your own way, the Fang Family and Beixi's merchants will unite to resist your new regulations and refuse all cooperation!"