It's better to be an empress than a county magistrate

Lu Xingchen nodded slightly, his expression solemn.

It's still the usual trick, praising you to death, praising you highly, and then marginalizing you.

I'll sell you when you lose your way.

These three old guys are really cunning.

"In that case, let's go into the city."

Lu Xingchen gave an order and rode forward.

The three masters got up from the ground, looked at each other, and there was joy on their lips.

Then gongs and drums started beating, and they returned to Yongzhou City with music and drums.

Although the three old guys prepared a banquet, the food was too shabby and there was almost no meat.

Even the rice was a mixed grain rice with sorghum and rice, and it was very rough.

The vegetables are also common radishes and cabbages.

This is just crying poor to her.

Wei Hu and others were a little angry when they saw the food on the table.

Seeing everyone's expressions, Master Wang immediately knelt on the ground and said.

"General, I am helpless. Wars have been frequent in recent years, and the people of Yongzhou City have been living too hard."

“They can’t even survive on their own, and we’ve been giving them tax exemptions.”

"We all care about the people and hope that they can live a better life."

"The warehouse in Yongzhou City is empty, so we can only use these to entertain the governor."

Lu Xingchen waved his hand. "It's okay, as long as there is a stutter."

Lu Xingchen sat down and started eating.

Lu Xingchen didn't mind at all, and Wei Hu and the others followed suit and started eating with big mouthfuls.

For a while, the dining table was filled with the sounds of eating.

Mr. Zhao and others showed even more proud expressions.

I didn't expect these bumpkins to be so easy to please.

After Lu Xingchen had his meal, he went to the prefectural government office.

The government office in Yongzhou City did not appear particularly dilapidated.

Lu Xingchen kept the three masters Liu, Zhao and Wang.

"The affairs of Yongzhou City have been handled by the three masters in recent years. So where are the lists of the people, the keys to the warehouse, and the account books?" Lu Xingchen asked.

The three masters showed helpless expressions.

"Sir, we really don't have these things." said Mr. Liu.

"Three years ago, Yongzhou City was looted by refugees."

"Let all these account books be burned."

"We have limited capabilities. We are unable to re-count the number of people, nor do we have the ability to calculate the land area... Therefore, there is no tax..."

"To be honest, we have been using our own assets to subsidize the operation of the state government over the years."

Mr. Wang had a bitter expression on his face.

"Yes, we have contributed a lot over the years." Mr. Zhao agreed.

Lu Xingchen was speechless. Not only did he not give her anything, but he even asked her for money.

People are not enough to swallow elephants.

Lu Xingchen knew the three old guys' plans very well, but she was not in a hurry.

She slowly took out the emperor's appointment document and handed it to the three masters.

"My three lords, please take a look. This is the appointment document that His Majesty gave me. I am the Governor of Yongzhou and also the Prefect of Yongzhou."

The three masters were shocked by the appointment documents in front of them.

Although they were not official officials of the court, they recognized the official court documents that had been used during the years.

The three thought that Lu Xingchen was also an impostor, so they respectfully welcomed him in and wanted to deal with Lu Xingchen the same way they had dealt with Guan Yue.

Lu Xingchen is just a sixteen-year-old girl.

What does a sixteen-year-old girl know?

Guan Yue was fooled by them, let alone Lu Xingchen.

But they never imagined that Lu Xingchen actually had an appointment letter from the court, and it was also stamped with the emperor's seal.

The three masters knelt on the ground and kowtowed to Lu Xingchen.

"I pay my respects to the commander-in-chief..."

Lu Xingchen smiled faintly and put away the appointment document.

"When you saw me, you all called me 'General Commander'. Why are you so surprised now?"

"You have all worked hard before. From now on, I will be in charge of Yongzhou."

"We are ready to accept orders from the commander-in-chief at any time." The three masters immediately expressed their loyalty.

Lu Xingchen waved his hand, "No, no. You are all ordinary people. What do I need you for?"

"You don't have the money, and do you have the strength?"

"You have nothing. You are just an eyesore in front of me."

"Everyone go home." Lu Xingchen waved his hand.

The three masters felt that things were not going as smoothly as they had imagined.

Originally they wanted to sideline Lu Xingchen, but now it seemed as if they were completely left aside.

The three old guys are unwilling

Mr. Liu said, "I am more familiar with the situation in Yongzhou than Lord Governor Lu, and I can offer advice in many areas."

"There is not a penny in the treasury, no account books for the people, no land books. What can you suggest? Tell me what you have to say."

Lu Xingchen looked at the three people with sharp eyes.

The three of them were speechless for a moment.

"Oh, right, you said that Yongzhou was so poor that it couldn't even afford to eat, and there were no granaries or silver.

Then, as long as I find food and silver in Yongzhou, they will all belong to me, right?" Lu Xingchen looked at the three people and asked.

The expressions of the three people kept changing, which was very exciting.

"Ah, that is..." The three of them had no choice but to nod and agree with Lu Xingchen's words.

"Okay, let's go back." Lu Xingchen waved his hand nonchalantly.

The three old men left the yamen.

"Girl, these three old guys are cunning and treacherous. All the food they eat has become cunning." Ling Xiao said gritting his teeth.

"Well, use your strengths and go look for it. All the food and silver you find will belong to us," said Lu Xingchen.

Ling Xiao suddenly became excited, nodded in agreement, and ran out.

Feixue stared at Ling Xiao's back as he disappeared at the door.

Lu Feng walked in quickly.

"I checked all the government storehouses, but there was no grain or silver, nothing at all."

"I asked Guan Yue, but this idiot knows nothing."

"After entering the city, he was anxious to go see his three wives."

"Did you send someone to follow him?" Lu Xingchen asked.

"He's going back to his home, what should I do with him?" Lu Feng looked confused.

"Feixue, send a few people with nimble legs and feet to take a look. This idiot must be mad to death and may even hang himself." Lu Xingchen turned around and gave Feixue an order.

Feixue nodded in agreement and quickly sent someone to find Guan Yue.

Lu Feng looked at Lu Xingchen blankly, not knowing what she was doing.

"It's not important, you will know it in a while." Lu Xingchen did not explain.

“Find a few ordinary people and ask them whether they have paid taxes in recent years.”

"All the shops are closed, but I caught a shopkeeper and asked him about it. He paid taxes on time every year, and the tax rate is not low." Lu Feng replied.

"That's right. Every household pays taxes, and the tax rate is not low. Where did the money go? It must have been hidden by those three old guys."

Lu Xingchen said.

"Brother, thank you for your hard work in setting up the government office in Yongzhou."

Lu Feng nodded in agreement.

Half an hour later, Feixue came in and said, "Girl, you are really as good as a god. Guan Yue almost hanged himself on the beam."