Climbing to the Top: A Reborn Queen's Journey-Chapter 355: Problems (2)

Jiang Shaohua suppressed the anger in her heart, and after soothing the two elderly gently, she went to take a look around their home.

The hastily erected thatched house let in light and wind from all sides. Currently, in the extreme heat of summer, it wasn’t much of a problem. But when the weather turned cold or rainy, it would surely be very drafty.

Then she saw the wells used by the famine victims; in a village of several hundred people, there were only two wells. They had to queue up each day to get water.

The paths in the village were also messy, emitting an unpleasant odor.

After walking around for half a day, Jiang Shaohua’s expression grew increasingly displeased.

Chen Jinyu couldn’t help but mutter a few words: "The conditions here are indeed quite poor."

Of course, for the famine victims being sheltered, having food and a place to live, seeds and land to cultivate, was like stepping from hell into paradise. In these times, being able to survive was already very fortunate; how could they dare to wish for anything more regarding their environment?

Jiang Shaohua snorted lightly, "Let’s go to the fields and take a look."

When they reached the fields, they found even more problems.

In a vast area of wasteland, farmers were either bent over weeding or pulling a wooden plow to cultivate. As Jiang Shaohua and her group appeared, everyone hurriedly knelt down and kowtowed.

"Everyone, stand up." Jiang Shaohua called out strongly, her voice carrying to the people’s ears: "I, the Commandery Princess, have come to check on you. There’s no need to panic, just continue with what you were doing."

The people still kowtowed a few more times before rising in twos or threes. While working with their hands, they turned their heads sneakily to observe.

"Is that the Nanyang County Princess?" 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

"It must be. There’s only one Commandery Princess in Nanyang. And we have to address her as our Commandery Princess in the future."

"We were desperate, and it was the Commandery Princess who took us in, built houses for us, provided us with food, even gave us seeds. Half of the land we cultivate belongs to us. How could there be such a good Commandery Princess in the world!"

Jiang Shaohua, with her keen hearing, caught the people’s whispers. Listening, she felt a sigh in her heart.

The people’s requests were so simple. A place to live, land to cultivate, the ability to fill their stomachs; that was the best life for them.

Such simple demands had become a luxury in the northern lands ravaged by drought, locust plagues, and war.

"Tang Sili," Jiang Shaohua instructed briefly, "go and ask who is responsible for cultivating the wasteland. Why is there only a wooden plow and not a single oxen?"

Beneath the Commandery Princess’s calm tone, there surged a tide of anger.

Tang Youyin carried out his command solemnly. Having worked in the West E County Government for ten years, he was very familiar with everyone there. Upon inquiring by the fields, he knew who was in charge.

It so happened that this person was Tang Youyin’s cousin. In those days, both brothers worked at the county office, one as the Da Tang Official, the other as Little Tang.

Now, Little Tang had moved to serve at the Prince Mansion, while Da Tang Official still worked at the West E County Government, in charge of supervising at the fields daily.

"Cousin, the Commandery Princess has questions for you. Report everything truthfully, and don’t hide a single word." Tang Youyin instructed gravely.

The Da Tang Official agreed immediately.

When facing the Commandery Princess, he revealed it all without concealing anything, describing the county government’s deceitful tactics clearly: "The proposal to settle the famine victims was learned by County Magistrate Zou from County Magistrate Cai of Li County. However, there were some deviations during the actual implementation."

"Those responsible for building the thatched houses did it perfunctorily. The distribution of rations was initially accurate, but it started to be skimmed in the past two months. The saved grain was quietly converted into silver."

"The cultivation of wasteland is under my charge. I dared not slack off and have come to inspect the fields daily. A few years ago, the county government promoted a new type of yoke plow, and the old wooden plows were collected and stored in the warehouse. I just issued the wooden plows for their use. However, the matter of the oxen is indeed difficult to resolve."

"The county office doesn’t have oxen. In West E, about one in five households own an ox, but they’re reluctant to lend them, fearing harm to their cattle."

Jiang Shaohua cast a faint glance: "Is it the same in Li County?"

The Da Tang Official, feeling a sudden chill down his back from the Commandery Princess’s glance, answered quietly, "It’s said that in Li County, County Magistrate Cai specifically negotiated with the villagers to rent oxen, accounting for two jin of grain for one day. The grain was supplied by the county office."

The rest didn’t need to be said.

The West E County Government didn’t have that much grain, or Lord Zou couldn’t manage to that extent.

Even the famine victims cultivating the barren land had no complaints. To them, being provided with houses and rations by the county office was already unbelievable. How could they dare to ask for more?

Jiang Shaohua’s gaze cooled slightly: "This matter, I, the Commandery Princess, know now. I will inquire about it with County Magistrate Zou when I return to the county government in the evening."

Poor Lord Zou, better pray for your good fortune!

Tang Youyin and his cousin exchanged looks silently, both sighing inwardly.

...

County Magistrate Zou’s eyelids twitched constantly throughout the day, his mind uneasy.

In the evening, as the Commandery Princess returned to the county government, this ill premonition immediately came true. Tang Youyin brought the account books to County Magistrate Zou and gave a meaningful glance.

County Magistrate Zou felt his heart sink with a thud, just as he heard the Commandery Princess coldly question: "County Magistrate Zou, the rations recorded daily in the account books and the amount actually distributed to the people differ by half. Are you aware of this?"

Cold sweat instantly formed on County Magistrate Zou’s forehead, and he hurriedly knelt to plead guilty: "Commandery Princess, please calm your anger, I truly was unaware of this matter."

Jiang Shaohua sneered: "You are the parental official of West E, and this matter happened right under your nose, yet you are completely unaware? Truly incompetent!"

County Magistrate Zou felt like crying but dared not shirk responsibility, just knelt there pleading for serious punishment from the Commandery Princess.

Jiang Shaohua ignored County Magistrate Zou and ordered: "Pass on my command that everyone in the county government is to come to the main hall."

With the Commandery Princess’s order, in less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, everyone in the county government had assembled in the main hall.

In a county government, there were four official ranked officers, along with six clerks and officials, etc., totaling over twenty people.

The Commandery Princess wore an expressionless and cold gaze, County Magistrate Zou knelt with a deathlike pallor, and upon seeing this scene, everyone’s hearts sank, and they also followed suit by kneeling.

"Tang Sili, show the account book to Chief Clerk Zhao."

Jiang Shaohua commanded coldly. Tang Youyin respectfully accepted the order and immediately brought the account books to Chief Clerk Zhao.

The plump Chief Clerk Zhao, sweating profusely, was nearly fainting.

He was responsible for distributing the rations to the famine victims, and naturally knew the discrepancy in the account books best.

"Chief Clerk Zhao," Jiang Shaohua asked slowly, eyeing the pale Chief Clerk Zhao, "more than a thousand people, each getting a jin of grain daily. Skimming half means over five hundred jin, ten days makes five thousand jin. Over two months, that’s thirty shi."

"Now, with grain prices soaring, this much grain converted into silver would be at least two or three hundred taels."

"When you calculate it, it almost amounts to your annual salary."