Climbing to the Top: A Reborn Queen's Journey-Chapter 356: Killing the Chicken (Part 1)

As Jiang Shaohua finished speaking, Chief Clerk Zhao kowtowed repeatedly in fear, his voice full of terror: "Commandery Princess, please calm down. I was momentarily possessed by demons and did something foolish. I beg the Commandery Princess to give me a chance to redeem myself."

Two or three hundred taels of silver, not a large sum, but not a small one either. Opportunities for profiteering under the Commandery Princess’s rule were scarce. When he distributed rations to the starving, he dared not play any tricks at first, handing them out honestly every day. After more than two months, with no one inquiring or auditing, he grew bolder.

Initially, he withheld half of the grain, hoarded it for ten days or more, and then sold it to a grain store. After tasting the benefits, his courage grew stronger and stronger...

The Commandery Princess came to Xi’e County for inspection, and he was on edge, praying inwardly that she wouldn’t scrutinize the accounts too closely. Little did he know that she would go directly to the villages of the starving for a meticulous inspection, making it impossible to hide the glaring truth from her.

Now, his regret was so intense it felt as if his intestines were twisted, and he kowtowed, pleading for the Commandery Princess’s forgiveness and mercy.

Jiang Shaohua glanced coldly and gave a chilling order: "Men, take Chief Clerk Zhao to the county government’s prison. Also, send my command back to the Prince Mansion to summon Yang Shi immediately."

Song Yuan cupped his fists in acknowledgment, personally stepping forward to seize Chief Clerk Zhao’s arm. The corpulent Chief Clerk Zhao, in Song Yuan’s hands, was no different from a fat duck being dragged to slaughter.

"Spare me, Commandery Princess! Spare me, Commandery Princess! I know my mistake. Please give me a chance to reform! Spare me, Commandery Princess!"

Zhao’s cries for mercy grew fainter and fainter.

Kneeling on the ground, County Magistrate Zou and others looked increasingly forlorn.

Jiang Shaohua’s gaze swept over them and asked calmly, "County Magistrate Qin, you are in charge of building houses for the starving, correct?"

Tall and slender County Magistrate Qin, suddenly named, shuddered, his voice trembling: "Yes! Commandery Princess, please investigate clearly. I sent government officials to build the houses and conscripted some commoners when manpower was short. They weren’t paid, but it could offset the corvée labor."

"I absolutely did not take any benefits from it."

Jiang Shaohua said calmly, "I, the Commandery Princess, will not spare wicked people, nor will I wrong those who serve diligently. You’ve barely done an adequate job on this task. However, there are shortcomings. The weather is hot now, and airy, leaky houses can pass for now. But in a few months, when the weather cools, the houses the starving people live in need to be sturdier."

County Magistrate Qin dared not wipe his cold sweat with his sleeve, nodding repeatedly: "Yes, yes, yes, I will remember this matter."

"Also, the village is too filthy; it needs to be cleaned and swept regularly to prevent the spread of disease due to mosquitoes and flies," Jiang Shaohua instructed. "Instruct the people to clean it themselves."

County Magistrate Qin nodded like a yes-man.

Jiang Shaohua’s gaze shifted to the County Captain: "County Captain Chang, you are responsible for the starving people opening up wasteland. How often do you inspect the fields?"

County Captain Chang began to sweat coldly: "Commandery Princess, the county government has many affairs; I inspect once every ten days."

"From now on, inspect every three days," Jiang Shaohua ordered straightforwardly. "The people are turning the soil with wooden plows, which is too laborious. Find a way to borrow some oxen for the people to use."

County Captain Chang dared not object: "Yes."

Finally, Jiang Shaohua looked at County Magistrate Zou: "County Magistrate Zou, you are the County Magistrate of Xi’e County. I, the Commandery Princess, come to Xi’e only once a year, at most staying ten to eight days before leaving. The rest of the time relies on you to govern Xi’e."

"Cherish the people, treat them well, and keep them in your heart. If they have difficulties, think of ways to solve them. Otherwise, what qualifies you to be a parent official?"

These words were already a severe criticism. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

County Magistrate Zou, flushed with shame, wished he could vanish: "I’m not meticulous enough in my work, far inferior to County Magistrate Cai, disappointing the Commandery Princess."

"You indeed disappoint me a great deal," Jiang Shaohua showed no mercy to County Magistrate Zou: "I’ve been in Xi’e County for just two days and have already discovered so many problems. You sit in the government daily; are you deaf and blind, unaware of everything?"

Poor County Magistrate Zou knelt before the Commandery Princess, bearing the anger from her: "I was negligent, and I deserve to die! Please punish me, Commandery Princess!"

"Chief Clerk Zhao must be severely punished and make an example of all fourteen counties," Jiang Shaohua said coldly: "You few haven’t committed grave mistakes; for now, I will spare you. If there’s a next time, pack up and go back home."

County Magistrate Zou didn’t dare lift his head, obediently agreeing.

Jiang Shaohua rose and left, followed by those around her. Only County Magistrate Zou and his group remained in the main hall.

County Magistrate Qin and County Captain Chang struggled to stand up and then helped the numb-kneed County Magistrate Zou: "The Commandery Princess has left; my lord, please rise."

County Magistrate Zou, without any strength, relied on others for support, barely able to stand. He said weakly, "You all heard the Commandery Princess’s words earlier. From today on, everyone needs to be meticulous in their duties. Do not disappoint the Commandery Princess again."

Everyone responded in a low voice.

When the Commandery Princess came for inspections previously, she was somewhat gentle. This time, her furious aura was fully unleashed, and everyone was shaken.

County Magistrate Qin, a bit uneasy, asked, "My lord, how do you think the Commandery Princess will deal with Chief Clerk Zhao for embezzling grain?"

"It won’t come to beheading, right!" County Captain Chang grew increasingly fearful, his voice a bit quivering.

County Magistrate Zou sighed: "The Commandery Princess must make an example, and punishment will be severe. What exactly will happen will become clear in a few days when Yang Shi arrives. Everyone just needs to be cautious these days. Let’s disperse!"

...

After venting her anger, Jiang Shaohua became much calmer upon returning to her chamber, saying to Chen Jinyu: "Compared to County Magistrate Cai, County Magistrate Zou falls short."

Chen Jinyu spoke truthfully: "In fact, County Magistrate Zou does not oppress the people, does not embezzle silver, and acts fairly. In the eyes of the commoners, he is already a good official."

With County Magistrate Zou’s official conduct, he can rank among the top hundred out of over a thousand county magistrates in Da Liang.

However, with County Magistrate Cai as a paragon for all the county magistrates in Da Liang, naturally, the Commandery Princess’s expectations are high, making County Magistrate Zou appear somewhat lackluster and mediocre.

Jiang Shaohua sighed lightly: "Well, let’s continue these arrangements for now. However, Chief Clerk Zhao, I must heavily punish."

To make an example!

Chen Jinyu nodded: "Yes, a severe punishment is needed to alert the other counties."

Riding fast from Xi’e County to Nanyang County and back takes three days.

Qin Hu, tasked with returning to the Prince Mansion to deliver the Commandery Princess’s directive, invigorated Yang Shi when he received it: "I will promptly go with Guard Qin to Xi’e."

With the Commandery Princess previously in the Capital City for half a year, his role as an investigator had become leisurely. Now, he’s finally useful again!