Chapter 163

Ye Xiaotian said, "The first thing, which is also the most urgent matter, is to appease the families of those who died. The yamen will eventually have to give them an explanation, this lowly official promised them that I will give them an explanation within three days, only then did they agree to leave. "

Hearing this, Hua Qingfeng frowned again, he let out a long sigh and weakly said, "Yeh Dianshi, the yamen has no money …"

Hearing that he was going to cry poverty again, Ye Xiaotian couldn't help but frown and said, "Daren, this matter concerns the people's will, even if we have to squeeze out other funds, we must first settle this matter! Of course it's not right for them to demand an exorbitant price, but the necessary compensation must not be lacking. "

Hua Qingfeng stammered, "This … you don't know, right now the county's finances are all in County Magistrate Xu's hands, this county … this county does not have a single cent … right now if we want to ask County Magistrate Xu for money, it's tantamount to asking a tiger for food …"

Ye Xiaotian was startled, he looked at Hua Qingfeng and then looked at Madam Ya. Madam Ya and Ye Xiaotian's eyes met, she lowered her eyelids, her long eyelashes flickered slightly, her eyes revealed a trace of sorrow, helplessness and bitterness.

An ominous premonition surfaced in Ye Xiaotian's heart, "Magistrate Hua … won't hand over his power so thoroughly right?"

Hua Qingfeng awkwardly explained, "Yeh Dianshi, once the war in Yunnan starts, a large amount of military supplies will have to be transported through this county. County Magistrate Xu has volunteered to take on the responsibility of ensuring the transportation of supplies. This county feels that County Magistrate Xu is my deputy, it's natural for him to step forward and take on this important responsibility.

If this county were to take on this responsibility, there's nothing wrong with it, but I'm afraid that County Magistrate Xu and Register Wang will be dissatisfied, and if they obstruct me, it will affect the military. This county's personal future is a small matter, but the people and the country will suffer a disaster, so after weighing the two, this county can only agree.

Who would have thought that County Magistrate Xu would gradually gain control of personnel, and then wanted to interfere in the county's finances. This county did not allow it, but County Magistrate Xu used the reason of ensuring the smooth flow of supplies, at that time the Ministry of War also sent people to urge this county to ensure the smooth flow of supplies, this county … this county can only focus on the overall situation … "

Ye Xiaotian listened for a while and was speechless, a chief magistrate, the most important authority, the most important is the power over personnel and the power over finances... if these two powers were given up, it would be strange if other people did not occupy the nest. Hua Zhi County was truly a perfect example of governing by hanging on a pillar and doing nothing. What a masterpiece! What a good example!

Ye Xiaotian asked in a bad mood, "This lowly official heard that Lord is well-read, but I wonder if Lord has heard of the story of Yu the Great's flood control?"

Hua Qingfeng was stunned, "Is Yeh Dianshi talking about the story of passing by the house three times but not entering?"

Ye Xiaotian rolled his eyes and said, "In the past, Yu the Great used the flood control as an excuse to gradually control manpower, resources, and finances. In the end, he made Emperor Shun a mere figurehead, forced him to abdicate, and exiled him to the Dark Parasol Field, where he finally died."

Hua Qingfeng's face flushed with anger, and he refuted, "Those are all unofficial rumors, not official historical records, so it can't be trusted."

Ye Xiaotian said coldly, "Lord, you are repeating the unofficial stories. As for what the sage said, ha! Haha … "

Seeing the two of them arguing, Su Ya hurriedly interrupted, "Master, what Yeh Dianshi said is right, the families of those who died must be compensated as soon as possible. As for the compensation, you can use the name of the magistrate, and I will pay for it first. The most important thing now is to think of a way to get back Master's financial and personnel rights as soon as possible. "

Ye Xiaotian looked at Madam Ya, a little surprised, and a little impressed. What money can Su Ya pay for it first? Magistrate Hua is already in such a position, and the monthly allowance given to Madam Ya is probably not much. Madam Ya can only use her dowry.

A woman's dowry is given by her family, and the husband and husband have no right to use it. This private savings of a woman is an important security after she gets married, and now she actually used her savings. It's really a case of 'A good man does not have a good wife, and a lazy man marries a flower branch'. The Celestial Flower Turtle actually married such a virtuous wife.

Magistrate Hua was grateful and ashamed at the same time, and said to Madam Ya, "Madam, I am useless, and have implicated you."

Madam Ya said reproachfully, "Husband and wife should help each other in times of need, and share weal and woe. Master, you don't have to treat me like an outsider."

Ye Xiaotian praised, "Madam is right, if Madam can pay for it to comfort the families of those who died, it will ease the hearts of the laborers. When the county has the money, we can return it to Madam. This matter concerns the hearts of the people, and must be done. As for the second matter, as long as it's done, it will be as Madam said, and we will be able to get back the financial and personnel rights that belong to the county magistrate! "

Hua Qingfeng was invigorated, and hurriedly said, "What brilliant plan does Yeh Dianshi have, quickly say it!"

Ye Xiaotian said, "The main reason why the people are grumbling is not because of the collapse of the relay road. The mountain roads are treacherous, and accidents are inevitable. In the past, to open up this road, who knows how many people died, and now it's the same for protecting the road. Moreover, the war ahead is urgent, and the relay road has to be repaired frequently. No matter rain or shine, there must be no delay, and accidents are even more common.

What the people are angry about is that because the management of the records is in a mess, the labourers are not chosen properly. Some people have served more than they should have this year, while others have been ignored, and have been staying at home leisurely. Although the choice of the labourers is not directly related to the accidents, but we cannot expect the grieving families of the deceased to be able to consider the problem so rationally. Therefore, the people responsible must be punished severely, so that the people can be appeased. "

Hua Qingfeng's face turned solemn, and said, "So, what does Yeh Dianshi mean?"

Ye Xiaotian's face turned cold, and said, "All the petty officials in the Department of Revenue must be punished, at least half a year's salary will be cut! Li Yuncong, who is in charge of the Department of Revenue, must be removed from his position. And the one in charge of the Department of Revenue is Register Wang, sir wants to impeach him to the administrative department. Also … "

At this point, Magistrate Hua's expression was already extremely ugly, and when he heard that there was more, he was even more alarmed. Ye Xiaotian didn't seem to care in the slightest, and continued, "Does County Magistrate Xu know that there was a mistake in the recruitment of labourers? The bailiffs are only responsible for finding people according to the books provided by the Department of Revenue, and won't pay too much attention to it. But when these labourers who were wrongly chosen are brought to the relay road, will they complain to County Magistrate Xu?

If they complain, and County Magistrate Xu doesn't report it to sir, nor does he correct the mistake in time, and when an accident occurs, he pushes all the responsibility onto sir, then County Magistrate Xu will be hard to absolve himself from the blame. Once it is investigated, he will also be impeached. And then there's you, sir … "

Hua Qingfeng swallowed his saliva with difficulty, and said, "What about this county?"

Ye Xiaotian said, "Sir, as the magistrate of a county, for these problems to occur in your jurisdiction, naturally you will be hard to absolve yourself from the blame. Sir should take the initiative to impeach yourself, and ask for forgiveness from the imperial court. At the same time, to atone for your crimes, you will personally take charge of the repair of the relay road! "

When Madam Ya heard this, she was already beaming with joy, and praised excitedly, "Good! In this way, not only will we reduce the prestige of County Magistrate Xu and Register Wang, and at the same time we will be able to regain control of the personnel and finances, killing two birds with one stone, what a brilliant plan! "

Madam Ya looked at Magistrate Hua excitedly, and when she saw Magistrate Hua's expression, she couldn't help but be startled. Magistrate Hua's face didn't show any signs of joy, but instead he looked deeply worried. Su Ya asked curiously, "Master, do you think there's something wrong?"

Magistrate Hua looked troubled as he said, "Yeh Dianshi, for such a thing to happen, there's nothing wrong with punishing the people in the Civil Revenue department. But right now the yamen is in need of manpower, if the people in the Civil Revenue department are angry because of this, and slack in their work, it will affect the allocation of labourers, and I'm afraid it will affect the overall situation. "

Ye Xiaotian frowned impatiently, damn it, he's afraid of wolves in front and tigers behind, he's already become a loner, and he's still talking about the overall situation. If he's really wholeheartedly working for the public, he'd rather lose his personal authority. Although Ye Xiaotian doesn't agree with him, at least he respects his character. But this turtle is obviously saying one thing, to put it plainly, he's afraid of stirring up trouble.

Hua Qingfeng is still explaining very seriously, "Moreover, Li Yuncong was only promoted to the Civil Revenue department after the road disaster, no matter what, this responsibility is not his to bear, and to remove him from his position, it's somewhat unreasonable. As for Register Wang and County Magistrate Xu, when impeaching their colleagues, we should be careful. Once the higher-ups know that our Hulu County's officials are not on good terms, it's not necessarily a good thing to expose ourselves. "

Ye Xiaotian couldn't restrain himself and said, "Daren, blindly showing kindness will only make people feel that Daren is weak and easy to bully. Sometimes, imposing might is more important than showing kindness. Using kindness and power at the same time, the ingenuity of it all depends on one's heart. Now is the time for Daren to show his might.

As for that Li Yuncong, what's important isn't when he became a Civil Revenue official, but how to pacify the people's anger. Don't tell me we have to investigate who has been in charge of the Civil Revenue department all these years, and hold them accountable one by one?

Who knows, if we investigate, even that County Magistrate Meng, who has already turned into a skeleton, will have to bear the majority of the responsibility. Are we going to dig up his grave, dig him up, and ask for forgiveness from the people? As for the previous Civil Revenue official, he's already been removed from his position because of this matter, how can he be punished again? What we need right now is an attitude. If Daren feels that you've wronged Li Yuncong, then wait until the storm has calmed down before reinstating him. "

Hua Qingfeng didn't listen to Ye Xiaotian's analysis of the pros and cons. He only thought in his heart, Humph! You're spouting extravagant flowery words, but isn't it because Li Yuncong has followed Xu Boyi, and you want to show him how powerful you are? Instead, you're using this county as your shield, trying to make me work for you.

Ye Xiaotian naturally didn't know what Hua Qingfeng was thinking at the moment. He continued, "So what if you're impeaching a colleague? Between Daren, County Magistrate Xu, and Register Wang, is there still any friendship between colleagues? When this lowly official was in the capital, I once heard of a province's governor and inspector-general impeaching each other. The people of the imperial court didn't feel that they were colleagues who were at odds with each other, exposing their own shortcomings. They only felt that they were wholeheartedly working for the public. Daren, it's time to use strong medicine. "

Hua Qingfeng shook his head repeatedly. "This move is too radical, too radical. It's better to take it slow."

Ye Xiaotian gradually became somewhat angry. He said in a more serious tone, "Daren, only by being clear in rewards and punishments can subordinates respect and obey! Furthermore, the power of personnel, finances, and political power are all under Xu Boyi's control. If Daren doesn't take this opportunity to take back the power that belongs to Daren, then when are you going to do it? "

Hua Qingfeng's mind was in a mess. He wanted to follow Ye Xiaotian's words and punish Xu Boyi and the rest to take back the power that belonged to him. At the same time, he was worried about the reaction of the people from the Household Division. He was worried that Xu Boyi and Register Wang would retaliate. He was afraid that after the impeachment of Xu Boyi and Wang Ning, the two of them would also impeach him. At that time, he might leave a bad impression in the eyes of his superiors. All these thoughts made him overcautious and indecisive, unable to make a decision.

Su Ya saw that her husband was hesitating. She was angry and anxious. She couldn't help but urge, "Master, Yeh Dianshi's words are very reasonable! If you don't make a decision, you'll end up in chaos. It's time to use a thunderous method to set things right! "

Hua Qingfeng said irritably, "What a woman's view! You don't have to interfere with my internal affairs. "

Su Ya was furious. She sat down hatefully and didn't say a word.

Ye Xiaotian saw this and laughed bitterly, "Daren ah, you want me to be Kongming. Sure! I'll give you advice. You want me to be one of the Five Tiger Generals. Sure! I'll throw down the goose feather fan and grab my snake spear. But now it's time for Liu Bei to marry his wife. You can't possibly want me to enter the bridal chamber for you right? "

Ye Xiaotian had used this allusion to mean that he could come up with a plan or charge into battle for him. However, there were times when he needed to step up to the front. That big-eared thief might only know how to cry normally, but when it was time for him to step up, he would never back down.

But when Ye Xiaotian said these sarcastic words in front of Lady Ya, although it didn't make her think too much, she couldn't help but feel embarrassed. Lady Ya glared at Ye Xiaotian. Her face was slightly hot. Her creamy cheeks seemed to be smeared with rouge. Her white cheeks were rosy, making her even more charming.