The first county magistrate in history

In Yangping County, Qin Zheng prepared to leave without waiting for all the wells to produce water.

It's not just Yangping County that's affected by the disaster. The people in those disaster-stricken areas are waiting for him.

Qin Zheng’s next target is Fengyu City, the seat of Liangjin Prefecture, which is the second disaster area.

Liangjin Prefecture is the name of the governor's office of Liangjin Province.

At the Yangping County Prefectural Office, Qin Zheng frowned, "Why hasn't the court sent someone to take over as Yangping County Prefect?"

He can't leave if no one comes to take over.

Wu Xiaoyou thought for a moment and said, "Sir, did you forget to report it?"

Qin Zheng said, "The Yihui Army is nominally protecting me and cooperating with me on my mission, but in reality they are spies. Even if I don't report it, Zhang Shaoyong will. I'm too lazy to take off my pants to fart!"

Xia Mo Ning's pretty face beside her blushed slightly. Did he know everything?

Hehe, little did you know that I am also a spy!

Wu Xiaoyou was also very anxious: "Disaster relief is imminent, but you can't just abandon Yangping County like this. Wouldn't that cause chaos?"

"Sir, the imperial edict has arrived!" At this moment, a report came from outside the door.

Imperial decree?

Qin Zheng was overjoyed: "I guess they sent someone."

Hurry and receive the order.

The official who announced the decree was another old eunuch, but he was very polite and did not act arrogantly.

"The Emperor, by the grace of Heaven and the Mandate of Heaven, decrees: Your Excellency Qin has made outstanding contributions to disaster relief in Yangping County. I am deeply pleased and hope you will continue your efforts. To reward your meritorious service, I hereby authorize Your Excellency Qin to recommend a candidate for the prefect of Yangping County. I decree this!"

After the old eunuch finished reading the imperial edict, he handed it to Qin Zheng.

Qin Zheng was stunned!

Why didn’t you mention my crime of forging the imperial edict and the Shangfang sword, nor did you mention that I killed the prefect Yang Ping?

Don’t you know?

That's impossible. How did she know that I had made great contributions to disaster relief?

Even if Zhang Shaoyong concealed it for him, he believed that local officials would report it to the court.

At this moment, the old eunuch smiled and said, "Sir Qin, His Majesty has a secret decree!" Qin Zheng, who was about to get up, quickly knelt down again and said, "Long live the emperor. I accept the decree!"

The old eunuch took out a scroll of imperial edict from his sleeve and handed it to Qin Zheng, saying, "Your Majesty has ordered that Minister Qin Ai must respond to the secret edict immediately. I will wait here."

Qin Zheng took the secret order and said, "Wait a moment. Xiaoyou, have some tea!"

He hurried into the back hall.

Xia Mo Ning followed in.

Qin Zheng rolled his eyes at her and said, "This is a secret decree."

Xia Mo Ning had no choice but to stop unwillingly.

Qin Zheng unfolded the secret decree: "Bold Qin Zheng, you dare to forge the imperial edict and the imperial sword. You deserve death! I recognize your contributions to disaster relief and will give you one chance. I hope you will make amends, otherwise, I will settle the score later!"

Qin Zheng was sweating profusely. As expected, the empress knew everything.

This is to save your own brain first and wait and see the results!

It is true that living with the king is like living with a tiger!

The last sentence of the secret decree was: "Remember, Liangjin Governor Wu Guanggui is a disciple of the Northern Border King. His relationship is of great importance and cannot be killed. You must proceed with caution!"

Qin Zheng had long known that Wu Guanggui's backer was the King of the Northern Territory.

He didn't want to push the King of the North into a corner now, and the Queen's intention coincided with his own.

But what about this secret decree?

Qin Zheng frowned.

If it were someone else, they would definitely be filled with gratitude and reply directly: Thank you for your grace, I will make amends and work hard until my death...

Something like this.

However, Qin Zheng did not dare to reply like this, as it would be tantamount to admitting that he had done it.

Once admitted, this letter will become a handle, equivalent to a confession.

How could Qin Zheng leave his life and death to the empress?

After thinking for a moment, he picked up his pen, dipped it in ink, and wrote:

I speak of my fear at Huangfeng Beach, and sigh of my loneliness in the ocean of Lingding. Everyone is mortal since ancient times, but I will leave behind my loyalty to shine in history.

After finishing writing, Qin Zheng always felt that there seemed to be a few sentences missing, but he just couldn't remember them.

Forget it. With my limited cultural background, I'm lucky enough to be able to express myself so clearly and awesomely.

Qin Zheng found a bamboo envelope with satisfaction, stuffed the incomplete poem into it, put a stopper in it, and sealed it with wax.

Then he walked out and handed it to the old eunuch.

The old eunuch took it with a smile.

Qin Zheng ordered: "Xiaoyou, arrange for the father-in-law to rest."

The old eunuch said quickly: "I dare not accept the hospitality of Lord Qin. Farewell!"

After saying that, he ran away with a few young eunuchs.

It's like being afraid that if you run too late, something bad will happen.

Qin Zheng was stunned: "Xiaoyou, what's wrong with them? Am I a monster?"

Xiaoyou couldn't help laughing: "I'm sure they all know what happened to Eunuch Zhu."

Qin Zheng: “…”

He was happy: "Hehe, I wonder which of those eunuchs dares to show off to me in the future?"

Xia Mo Ning asked, "Master Qin, how did you respond?"

She knew her sister's temper, and if things went wrong, Qin Zheng would be in trouble.

Qin Zheng smiled proudly and said, "Is there anything that a poem can't solve?"

"Poetry? You can write poetry?" Xia Mo Ning was surprised.

Wu Xiaoyou was even more proud than Qin Zheng: "My master's literary talent is unmatched in the world. Back then, when my master first came to Hongtong County to take office, he was harassed by those literati. In the end, my master only wrote half a poem, and they surrendered!"

"Half a poem? How was it written?" Xia Mo Ning was surprised. She was only busy playing in Hongtong County and had never heard of it.

Wu Xiaoyou was about to speak when Qin Zheng's face turned bitter: "Shut up, I'm very annoyed. The empress actually asked me to select talents to be prefects. Where can I find one? I don't know anyone in Yangping County."

"Sir, Tian Zhubu is here." Just when Qin Zheng was worried, a special agent reported.

Qin Zheng's eyes lit up, it was a good opportunity.

"Wow, sir, I miss you so much." Tian Fuan came in and knelt on the ground crying loudly.

It looked like a kidnapped child who finally saw his parents.

Xia Mo Ning was stunned.

Wu Xiaoyou smiled bitterly.

Qin Zheng was speechless: "What are you doing here?"

Tian Fuan wiped away his tears and said, "Sir, I miss you so much that I can't eat or sleep. If I don't see you again, I will die."

Qin Zheng: “…”

"If you have something to say, say it now, or you'll fart now, or I'll kick you!"

Tian Fuan quickly said, "I really came here to see you, sir. And..."

Tian Fuan glanced at Xia Mo Ning and said with a chuckle, "Miss Xia is here too?"

Wu Xiaoyou quickly took Xia Mo Ning's hand and said, "Miss Xia, let's go to my room. I'll tell you what poem my master wrote!"

Xia Mo Ning was speechless: "Are you afraid that I will hear it? Humph, Sister Xiaoyou, you stay, I'm leaving!"

Xia Mo Ning couldn't stay any longer, so she left angrily.

Qin Zheng glanced at Wu Xiaoyou.

Wu Xiaoyou understood, and when he walked out of the room, he saw Xia Mo Ning squatting against the wall.

Wu Xiaoyou didn't know whether to laugh or cry: "Miss Xia, what's wrong?"

Xia Mo Ning was startled, and she quickly said with a chuckle, "Sister Xiaoyou, I want to catch some ants and make soup with them. They replenish the blood, and I've been bleeding a lot this month. I'm anemic!"

After saying that, he ran away.

Wu Xiaoyou: “…”

After Xia Mo Ning left completely and Wu Xiaoyou returned, Tian Fuan said, "Sir, plastic was found here. Your Excellency is busy with disaster relief, and I was afraid of missing something, so I came here to take a look. Your Excellency, don't worry, we have Master Zhang alone in Hongtong County, which is enough."

Qin Zheng nodded. Even if Hongtong County didn't have a parent official, the people knew what to do. So he could rest assured.

"Have the Xia family's goods been shipped?" Qin Zheng asked.

Tian Fuan nodded. "It has been published. Sir, when will you continue writing your Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio? Those writers are getting furious. When I arrived, they were throwing eggs and vegetable leaves at the county government office."

"..." Qin Zheng was at a loss whether to laugh or cry. What should he do with these literati?

I was worried: "I'm too busy now, shall I wait until I'm free?"

Suddenly, he looked at Tian Fuan and said, "Old Tian, I know you've always felt that your talent was not appreciated. I'm sorry that you followed me. I know that you were planning to take over Hongtong County. Unfortunately, you acted too arrogantly and wanted to show off your position as the Xuanzhou prefect. Unexpectedly, I took down the recruitment notice. You must be regretting it all these years, right?"

"Sir, please don't test me! I really don't have such an idea! My loyalty to you is evident to all. From the day I followed you, I swore that I would follow you for the rest of my life. If you despise me, I will die as proof." Tian Fuan's face was pale and he was sweating profusely.

Wu Xiaoyou smiled secretly, who can deceive adults?

How could the adults not know what you are thinking?

Qin Zheng sighed: "So that's how it is!"

Looking at Wu Xiaoyou: "Xiaoyou, don't you think it's a pity?"

Wu Xiaoyou has followed Qin Zheng for too long, and she understood what Qin Zheng meant with just one look.

He suppressed his laughter and said seriously, "Yes, what a pity! Sir, why don't you call Master Zhang over?"

"Wait, what do you mean?" Tian Fuan looked at Wu Xiaoyou and then at Qin Zheng in confusion.