I have been a county magistrate for ten years. My subordinates insist on giving me a yellow robe.

The autumn wind chilled people's hearts, the moon was bright and the road was sparse. Jiang Yuan and his two companions, who had completely escaped from their pursuers, hummed a little tune and carried their spoils towards Taiping County.

Li Hu was carrying several hundred taels of silver, but his steps were unusually light.

After a lot of trouble, they finally arrived back in Taiping County at three o'clock in the morning.

In the dim night, houses with completed foundations were scattered about, filled with people who had worked hard all day.

Jiang Yuan didn't feel sleepy just now due to the stimulation of his brain, but now that his mind has just relaxed, he suddenly feels sleepy.

After taking two people to move the things to the court, Jiang Yuan lay down on the big table in the court and fell into a deep sleep.

When Jiang Yuan woke up, it was already bright outside.

Jiang Yuan just stood up after rubbing his eyes when Wang Gang came over with a basin of water.

"Master, wash your face."

Jiang Yuan exhaled and rinsed his mouth with clean water. There was no toothbrush here, so he could only rinse his mouth with salt water.

Jiang Yuan took the big bowl of porridge brought by Wang Gang, and before he could take two sips, he saw Ma Zhi sitting nervously on the sack filled with silver.

"Ma Zhi, where are you hatching eggs?" Jiang Yuan said unhappily.

Ma Zhi looked at Jiang Yuan with a guilty conscience: "Sir, where did this bag of silver come from? I know those bandits in Black Cloud Mountain. They don't have that kind of wealth."

"Even if there is, you can't be so generous and give it all to us, right?"

"I borrowed it." Jiang Yuan said casually while drinking porridge.

Ma Zhi was stunned and looked at Jiang Yuan in disbelief. We grew up together without any relatives, how could I not know whether you have any relatives?

"Who borrowed it from?"

"I borrowed it from Mr. Huang from Tai'an County." Jiang Yuan said casually.

Ma Zhi patted his chest and breathed a sigh of relief: "Sir, I haven't heard you mention that you knew Mr. Huang from Tai'an County."

"But Mr. Huang is really a good man, he's very generous!"

Jiang Yuan looked at Ma Zhi as if he were an idiot: "What a waste! I already said it was a loan, with only a 10% interest."

"What?!" Ma Zhi immediately showed an expression of admiration.

"Sir, you have truly devoted yourself to our county. How much silver do you earn a year? Yet, you are willing to shoulder a debt that you cannot repay for several years for the sake of Taiping County. I truly admire you!"

Jiang Yuan calmly drank the last mouthful of porridge and said slowly, "I should be the one saying these words."

"Hmm? What does your Excellency mean?" Ma Zhi had a bad feeling in his heart.

Jiang Yuan grinned and said, "I know I can't pay it back, so I used your father's name on the IOU."

Ma Zhi opened his mouth wide, and after a while, he looked at Jiang Yuan with a sad face.

"My father has been dead for more than ten years!"

Jiang Yuan nodded seriously: "So, this money is the son's debt to his father. You can pay it back slowly in the future."

When I walked out of the court, the streets outside had been almost cleared and the pillars supporting the houses had been erected.

Jiang Yuan nodded. According to this rate, there should be an extra 180 houses in Taiping County in three days at most.

When the time comes, we will take care of the fields, and when spring comes and the spring rice is ripe, we will sell it and then develop other places in the county.

In a few years, Taiping County will be back on track. By then, as the county magistrate, won't I be able to just lie back and enjoy my life?

Thinking of this, Jiang Yuan encouraged himself again in his heart. No matter what, he had to develop Taiping County well.

Suddenly, Jiang Yuan looked at his hands in confusion.

No, it’s not right. It’s fine if you’re just promising something to Chen Qing, but why are you also promising something to yourself?

When cows and horses are tired, they know to rest. When I am tired, I know to make empty promises for myself?

But Jiang Yuan knew very well that unlike the pie in the sky painted by the capitalists in his previous life, according to the idea in his mind, this was completely achievable.

Looking at the busy villagers around him, Jiang Yuan called Wang Gang and Ma Zhi over.

The money borrowed from Heiyun Mountain and Mr. Huang's family had to be quickly converted into various urgently needed supplies.

This thing won't give birth to a baby if you keep it in your hand.

Wang Gang is honest and simple, and has a strong execution ability, but he is too honest. Without Ma Zhi's company, he is easily slaughtered.

"Sir, this round trip will probably take three or four days." Ma Zhi complained.

Jiang Yuan looked at him calmly: "Who said it would take three or four days? I'll be back tonight after a round trip to Tai'an County."

Ma Zhi's eyes widened immediately. You just caused such a big commotion in Tai'an County, and now you want us to go?

Isn't this asking me to die?

"It's not appropriate. Can we come back if we go there?" Ma Zhi said with a sad face.

"What are you afraid of? Mr. Huang's name is engraved on the silver. Go quickly!" Jiang Yuan kicked Ma Zhi angrily.

"And not only do you have to go there, you also have to go to Mr. Huang's shop to buy it. His shop has the most complete range of goods in the entire Tai'an County. Buy whatever you need. Don't be stingy."

Jiang Yuan waved his hand with extraordinary generosity.

After the two left, Jiang Yuan immediately looked at Li Hu.

"Sir, is there anything else?" Li Hu looked at Jiang Yuan cautiously.

What he did in the past two days completely shattered Li Hu's three views. None of them were reasonable, and they were all extremely dangerous. If he was not careful, there would be no descendants.

This left Li Hu with a psychological trauma.

Jiang Yuan patted Li Hu's shoulder with a smile and said, "Li Hu, how many prisoners are there in our prison?"

Li Hu was shocked. "What do you mean, sir? We may be poor, but we haven't reached the point of blackmailing prisoners. Besides, they're already in jail, so there's not much money left."

"What are you talking about? What are you talking about!" Jiang Yuan's face changed, he looked righteous and awe-inspiring, and then lowered his voice.

"No matter how few fly legs there are, it's still meat!"

Li Hu opened his mouth, but really didn't know what to say.

Jiang Yuan picked up a square piece of wood and prepared to use it as a gavel later.

"Stop talking nonsense! Bring all the prisoners here. I want to interrogate them personally!"

Li Hu shook his head and could only sigh as he headed to the prison.

Not long after, several prisoners were brought out under the escort of several young and middle-aged villagers.

Jiang Yuan slammed the gavel and shouted, "Who is this person? What have you done? Come here immediately!"

"My Lord, I am Zhang San, a native of Taiping County. I am innocent, sir! I am wrongly accused!"

Jiang Yuan waved his hand and called Li Hu over: "What on earth did this guy do wrong?"

"I can't stand the hunger anymore, so I slaughtered Mr. Zhang's cow."

Jiang Yuan thought about it again and again, and finally made the decision: "Pardon Zhang San, but he must stay in Taiping County for three years."

"Sir, are you letting him go now?" Li Hu looked at Jiang Yuan in surprise. Wasn't it said that fly legs were also meat?

If we just let it go, wouldn’t that just mean there would be one more mouth to feed?

Jiang Yuan looked at Li Hu unhappily. He was so hungry that he stole the cow from Mr. Zhang's house, and you still want to skim off the fat from his stomach?

What are you thinking?

"Li Hu, go to the jail and release anyone charged with the same crime as Zhang San. Those who have killed someone will be locked up for now."

"Sir, just release one or two. If you release them all, there will be no way to conceal it. This is a serious crime!" Li Hu reminded quickly.

Jiang Yuan calmly adjusted his official hat on his forehead and said, "What are you afraid of? The day before yesterday, we colluded with bandits, and yesterday we robbed Mr. Huang. Which of these things we did was not punishable by death?"