Chapter 829: Local Emperor

Translator: Atlas Studios    Editor: Atlas Studios

These words were not empty words, but the meaning behind the last sentence was huge.

First, Lord Li flattered Princess Shaoyi. Then, right on the heels of that, he expressed his loyalty to her, saying that he would do his best to settle the matters related to the refugees in the name of her “kindness”.

The word “tactful” was vividly reflected by him.

However, if one thought that that was all he meant, they would be very wrong.

This was the opposite. Lord Li had spared no effort to arrange for the refugees because of her kindness and benevolence. Therefore, he did not have the ability to transfer more people to suppress the bandits.

If one thought that he was pushing the responsibility of not being able to suppress the bandits to her, they would be very wrong.

Lord Li kept saying that it was all because of her kindness and benevolence. In that case, all the credit for arranging for the refugees belonged to her, the princess.

As the county magistrate, he only did as the princess wanted.

Lord Li was no longer taking credit. As a princess who had all the benefits, shouldn’t she give some benefits too?

For example, helping him resolve the problem of the bandits?

From the beginning, she had been labeled as kind and benevolent. Could she bear to watch coldly and ignore it?

Lord Li was indeed worthy of the saying that he who understood the times was a wise man.

His words were tricky and complicated. Those who understood his words naturally understood. Even those who did not understand would be flattered, and they would feel comfortable. No one would be offended.

It was no wonder that he had been an official in Liancheng for many years and was no longer controlled by the four families.

Yu Youyao smiled. “If you have anything to say, just say it!”

Lord Li’s eyes darted around and he quickly said, “The Princess wants to develop the silkworm business in Liancheng, but such a nest of bandits is entrenched in the area of Anshan and robbing pedestrians and merchants. It has a bad impact on Liancheng, as well as some surrounding silkworm-raising areas like Dandong and Xiuyan. If we let these bandits cause trouble, I think they will become more and more rampant. No matter how serious it is, it will affect the Princess’s grand plan to develop the silkworm business.”

The arrangement of the refugees was done for her, and the bandits would be eliminated for her. Every word and sentence was for her sake. It made one quite speechless.

However, if one carefully pried open his words and crushed them, it was indeed true. No one could find fault with his words.

Yu Youyao felt that Lord Li was a wonderful person.

Lord Li looked worried. “The princess is about to go to Xiangping City. Even if there’s a mountain between the city and Xiangping, you have to pass by the foot of the mountain. What if these bandits don’t have eyes and offend the Princess?”

His words were definitely not sensationalist.

If those bandits were really afraid of Princess Shaoyi, they wouldn’t have come out to commit crimes repeatedly as soon as King Yue Fei left and Princess Shaoyi was still in Liancheng.

King Yue Fei had set up a refugee camp in Liancheng and even arranged for the refugees to settle down. Those bandits would rather become bandits. It was obvious that they were a group of outlaws who wanted to rebel against the Imperial Court. If they went crazy, it was not impossible for them to attack the princess.

“I’ve made Lord Li worry.”

On the day she came to Liancheng, Yu Youyao had heard Yin Huaixi mention that the bandits in the Anshan area were fierce. Otherwise, Yin Huaixi wouldn’t have arranged for Huang Wenxian to receive her. He had even asked the You army, who was originally guarding the refugee camp, to return with them.

Lord Li was slapped in the face and looked ashamed. “The suppression of bandits was originally a matter of the government, but because the government couldn’t spare any manpower to suppress the bandits for the time being, they were afraid that they would delay the princess’s matters and were worried about your safety. They were anxious, so they looked for the princess to ask for an idea.”

Yu Youyao smiled. He might not really be asking for an idea. It was also true that he wanted her to use King Yue Fei’s men to resolve the problem of the bandits.

However, if Lord Li said it explicitly, wouldn’t he become a subordinate who was teaching her, a dignified princess, how to do things?!

It would make people unhappy for no reason.

Moreover, Lord Li was not a fool. The vassal lords guarded a territory to resist external enemies. Furthermore, because they had a large number of troops, they received a lot of suspicion and envy. Without the decree of the Imperial Court, they could not activate troops internally.

Therefore, it was not proper to ask King Yue Fei to send troops.

Even though the suppression of bandits was related to internal and external matters and the national policies issued by the Imperial Court, if they were not careful, they would still be exposed.

He had to mention the matter of suppressing the bandits, but Lord Li did not dare to say it clearly. He could only beat around the bush and tell her, wanting her to interfere in this matter.

Generally speaking, when there was a small-scale problem with bandits, the local government would send troops to eliminate them. If there was a large-scale bandit problem, the Imperial Court would send troops.

Without a decree from the Imperial Court, it was the government’s own business to send someone over to suppress the bandits.

At this moment, there were already more than a hundred cases accumulated in the government office. If he continued to let them be, these suppressed cases involving human lives would become evidence of his “incompetence” in managing the place.

When the human lives cases blew up, the Imperial Court would definitely pursue it. At that time, he would be demoted at best, and he would be fired and investigated at worst.

This was one of the reasons.

Secondly, if he did not make this clear now, when Princess Shaoyi’s plan to develop the silkworm industry was obstructed in the future, he would not be able to explain this to King Yue Fei and Princess Shaoyi.

After all, the development of the silkworm industry also concerned the survival of 200,000 refugees.

Lord Li’s words were indeed right. Every word made sense. It seemed like if she did not interfere in this matter, she would be letting down her reputation as Princess Shaoyi.

Yu Youyao smiled faintly. “I’m just a woman. What idea can I have? I’m afraid Lord Li has found the wrong person.”

Lord Li had a bitter expression. “You’re a living Bodhisattva who saves people from hardship. I might as well tell you the truth. There are only a few people in the government office. Even if I gather all of them, I won’t be able to gather enough people to suppress the bandits, let alone those bandits. Those bandits’ hands are all fugitives who have lost their lives. The soldiers in the government office are fine with the ordinary people in the residence, but if they go to suppress the bandits, their legs might go limp as soon as they see blood. I had no choice but to beg you.”

These words were true. Those bandits were very troublesome. Lord Li was fighting to suppress the bandits. Perhaps there was some indescribable inside story?

However!

Yu Youyao smiled. “That’s a little over the top. Liancheng is one of the gates of the capital and belongs to a large county. There are more than a hundred officials who enjoy the silver from the Imperial Court and serve the county office. There can be more than a thousand bailiffs in the government office. Below each bailiff, there are three to seven runners. Although they don’t work in the government office, they’re hired.”

Even though a seventh-grade county official did not have a high official position, he had a lot of power.

He encouraged and supervised farming, and fairly judged lawsuits. If there was a prohibition, he would announce it.

He was in charge of all matters related to household registration, taxes and corvée, money, and recruitment.

To put it bluntly, he was simply a local emperor.

In ordinary small counties, there were about 20 to 30 officials, and there were only hundreds, a hundred, or even dozens of bailiffs.

Not only was the geographical location of a large county like Liancheng very special, but it was also a connection to overseas countries. There were thousands of bailiffs and runners.

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