Li Zhi, don't be a coward

Chapter 705
A lot of things are not blindfolded, it will not happen.

The trouble that he was trying to avoid, one day still broke into Li Qinzai's life arbitrarily.

Under the conscript order of the imperial court, the young farmers who can be seen around them have to leave their hometowns and use their blood, sweat and toil to satisfy the vanity of the emperor.

Li Qinzai was really disgusted this time.

Resentment is disgust, and Li Qinzai is also very clear that Fengchan Taishan is what Li Zhi is determined to do. Since Empress Wu made a suggestion, there has been rumors in the city of Chang'an inexplicably.

Petitions by all the people, approval by hundreds of officials, once public opinion is created, people all over the world will unconsciously agree with it. This is actually the popular will, which is purely impulsive and easy to be fooled.

After laying the groundwork in advance and creating public opinion, the national treasury will not hesitate to owe debts for several years.

Li Zhi's determination to enshrine Zen was extremely firm, and Li Qinzai didn't have the guts to oppose it openly.

The next day, the county magistrate of Weinan came to Ganjing Village in person, stood respectfully outside the gate of Li's other courtyard, and begged to see Li Qinzai.

Li Qinzai met the county magistrate in the side hall.

The county magistrate's surname is Ma, and he has been the county magistrate of Weinan for less than a year. When he first took office last summer, the county magistrate Ma visited him at his house as a visit to the pier for convenience.

Although Li Qinzai is already a county lord, he still has to give the local snakes full respect, so last year he also hosted a banquet in honor of Ma County Magistrate.

However, when Li Qinzai saw him this time, he didn't have a good face.

Magistrate Ma saluted as soon as he entered the door, and when he straightened his waist, he suddenly found that Li Xianhou's complexion was frosty, and he was cold and indifferent.

Magistrate Ma's heart skipped a beat, and he immediately began to examine himself three times.

Is my saluting posture not standard just now?Is my expression not attentive enough?Am I offending this guy?
After much deliberation, Ma County Magistrate really didn't know why the Marquis of Li County gave him a face when he first met him, and his heart became more and more panicked.

"I haven't seen Li County Hou Zun for a long time, and I found that Li County Hou has become more and more handsome, elegant, and beautiful like jade. I am very envious of him."

Li Qinzai raised his brows: "Ma County Magistrate used 'beauty like jade' to describe me? Have you ever read a book?"

Ma County Magistrate became more and more stunned: "Mr. Li County, the ancient term, 'beauty' originally refers to a man. Is the officer wrong?"

Now it was Li Qinzai's turn to be stunned, he forgot to show his face, and stared at him blankly with wide eyes.

Seeing Li Qinzai's expression, Magistrate Ma had no choice but to explain: "A 'beauty' is a handsome man with outstanding virtue and ability. "Poetry" says, "He's son is as beautiful as jade." "Li Sao" also says , 'Only the vegetation is scattered, fearing the twilight of the beauty'..."

Seeing that Li Qinzai's expression gradually became complicated, County Magistrate Ma said cautiously: "Your official calls the Marquis of Li County a 'beautiful' who is handsome and elegant. There is absolutely no sense of disrespect, it is a compliment from the heart."

Li Qinzai was not at all embarrassed, so he twirled an orchid finger: "In this way, I am really a beauty that I still feel pity for. Magistrate Ma said it well...don't say it again next time."

Magistrate Ma didn't understand what he meant, but he still insisted on doing so.

Then County Magistrate Ma said cautiously: "I see that there is a gloomy look between the eyebrows of Marquis of Li County, and I seem to be in a bad mood. I don't know who offended you? If it is an internal matter under the jurisdiction of the subordinate, I am willing to share the worries of Marquis Li. "

Li Qinzai didn't answer, but asked instead: "Ma County Magistrate came to the door in person today, is there something wrong?"

Ma County Magistrate smiled and said: "Yes, in the past two days, the county government has counted the number of strong men in each village and village under its jurisdiction. There are more than 120 young households in Ganjing Village. The Marquis of Li County must know that His Majesty wants to become Zen Taishan , The imperial court ordered that the strong men be forced to work, and your Zhuangzi will dispatch [-] strong men."

"The official came here today to inform the Marquis of Li County that after the spring sowing, the strong men in Guizhuang will be on their way, and they may be sent to Puzhou two hundred miles away. Someone from the Ministry of Industry said , Your Majesty will probably build a palace near Puzhou during his tour of Fengchan."

Knowing the purpose of County Magistrate Ma's visit today, Li Qinzai's face darkened after he said what he said. It was not against Magistrate Ma, he knew that Magistrate Ma had done nothing wrong.

"My Zhuangzi can't transfer the farmers." Li Qinzai said decisively.

Ma County magistrate was stunned, Qiqi Ai said: "Why, why?"

Li Qinzai said slowly: "Do you know about the new crops? Your Majesty has sent thousands of guards to station around my village. Not only that, more than 200 households in my village have to take care of the new crops day and night. There are hundreds of people in the village. No. [-] people treat it as their own ancestors and serve it, and it won’t do to take anyone away.”

Magistrate Ma was shocked and said: "This, this... The lower officials really can't make decisions. The number of corvee workers in each village is sent by the governor's office, and the officials from the Ministry of Industry are responsible for the reunification. There must be no one in every state and county. Otherwise, ask the chief official."

"I don't dare to embarrass Li County Marquis, but you are more or less thinking about this official. The 120 households in Guizhuang have filed a case in the Governor's Mansion, and they cannot be changed. Otherwise, the official will not have a good end. It will also implicate the Marquis of Li County."

Li Qinzai snorted and said: "I said I can't be transferred, but I can't be transferred. How about you let the guards arrest me and put me in the prison of the county government to make an example of me?"

County Magistrate Ma was in a cold sweat, and laughed, "Hou Mo of Li County insulted himself, how could you be a chicken..."

Li Qinzai's expression froze, what the hell, he couldn't see that this guy's mouth was also cheap.

Patting Ma County Magistrate on the shoulder, Li Qinzai said earnestly and sincerely: "Rules are made by people, and they are also changed by people. Ma County Magistrate, don't be too rigid in being an official. You can also be flexible when you need to be flexible. What do you think?" ?”

County Magistrate Ma shook his head resolutely: "I can't be flexible. The governor's mansion comes to ask for someone. If I hand over one less person, I will be severely punished. I also ask Marquis Li to be considerate of my difficulties."

Li Qinzai was silent for a moment, and then said: "How about getting money in exchange? You set a price, how much is the labor of each farmer in my family worth, and I will give you the money, and you will relieve them of corvee."

Ma County Magistrate's face became more and more ugly: "Li County Marquis, don't make trouble. This is not a matter of money at all. Your Majesty entrusts Chan to make a tour. Who in the world dares to use money for labor? If it happens, the officer and you will both mortal sin."

Magistrate Ma paused for a moment, then said again: "Marquis Li County, let me ask you a lot, why are you doing this? Why don't you want to transfer the farmer out?"

"The imperial court recruited civilian husbands. They just worked harder to build the palace, and they didn't send them to the battlefield. There would be no casualties at all. Why do you bother with the imperial court over this matter?"

Li Qinzai leaned back, showing a domineering face: "No reason, I just feel unhappy and want to make some trouble, can't I?"

Magistrate Ma smiled wryly and said: "Okay, but the lower official is just a poor county magistrate. If you want to make trouble, can you not involve the lower official? The lower official can't bear it."

Li Qinzai was about to continue bargaining with him, so Guanshi Song hurried into the side hall, saluted and said, "Five Shaolang, His Royal Highness King Teng has come outside the door."

Li Qinzai was taken aback for a moment, then stood up abruptly, and said in surprise, "The great injustice... Ah, no, His Highness Prince Teng is here? Hurry up and greet him with a high standard!"

(End of this chapter)