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

When you stare into the abyss, the abyss is also stared into by you.

In the room, Jiang Yuan was looking at Chen Qing, and Chen Qing was being looked at by Jiang Yuan.

"You... have something to say?" Chen Qing held it in for a long time and was the first to speak, breaking the silence.

Jiang Yuan rubbed his hands together and smiled what he thought was a very enthusiastic smile: "Master Chen, don't worry, eat first, we can talk while we eat."

Chen Qing nodded with a gloomy expression.

Even though the two were enemies, Jiang Yuan was at least a county magistrate, a legitimate official.

He really didn't dare to kill Jiang Yuan. If he just stole some things, the higher-ups wouldn't bother to care. But if he really killed a county magistrate, it would be a big deal.

Chen Qing could still distinguish between a full meal and every meal.

"Someone, prepare the meal!"

At Chen Qing's call, a burly man quickly brought up a jar of wine and two roasted whole chickens.

Chen Qing glanced at Jiang Yuan indifferently: "The mountain stronghold is not as good as the county magistrate's mansion, so it's just okay..."

Halfway through his words, a look of shock appeared on Chen Qing's face.

Jiang Yuan picked up a roasted chicken, tore off a leg and stuffed the whole chicken into his mouth, looking like a starving ghost.

"County, has the county town fallen into such a state?" Chen Qing looked at Jiang Yuan in surprise.

If a county magistrate is so hungry, what about the common people in the city?

Can be imagined.

"Well, it seems like you didn't send it to our county town%￥%%...%￥" Jiang Yuan said vaguely while eating chicken in big mouthfuls.

Chen Qing frowned and waved his hand, saying, "It's not too late to talk after you finish eating, County Magistrate."

Got it!

This was exactly what Jiang Yuan was waiting for. He picked up a roasted chicken, walked to the door, and threw it towards Wang Gang and the other man.

We still have to rely on two people below, and we must not let them go hungry.

Half a minute later, Jiang Yuan was full and wiped his mouth with a handkerchief before looking at Chen Qing.

"To be honest, I came here this time hoping that Master Chen could lend a helping hand."

Several veins on Chen Qing's forehead were throbbing, and his face was full of speechlessness.

Brother, you are the county magistrate and I am a bandit. Do you know what a bandit is?

He is the kind of guy who does all kinds of evil and robs people on the road, and his targets are people like you, the dignitaries.

You come to me to borrow something, isn't that bullshit?

"Don't even think about it, this is impossible." Chen Qing rejected Jiang Yuan's proposal decisively without even thinking about it.

Jiang Yuan was not panicked at all. Since he dared to come, he must be prepared.

"Master Chen, may I ask how many counties are there in your territory?"

Chen Qing narrowed his eyes, a hint of murderous intent permeating his eyes.

Can I talk about this kind of thing?

What's the difference between this and confessing without asking.

Jiang Yuan calmly drank a sip of water and said slowly, "Actually, I know even without you telling me that there's no county town within a hundred miles of Taiping County. At most, you're traveling back and forth between Tai'an County and Taizong County."

Having said that, Jiang Yuan smiled at Chen Qing, picked up the three cups on the table and filled them with tea.

"Master Chen, right now, our three counties are like three cups filled with water, and you are the one who often takes some tea from these cups."

"Can Master Chen understand this comparison?"

Chen Qing nodded, his voice slightly sarcastic: "County Magistrate, just speak frankly. I was fortunate enough to study in a private school for a few years. If I hadn't offended your colleagues, how could I have ended up in this situation?"

Jiang Yuan ignored the sarcasm in the words. He simply picked up one of the cups, poured out the water in it, put it on the table again and looked at Chen Qing.

"Master Chen, Taiping County is now like a cup without water. Hundreds of people in this county have no food left."

Chen Qing looked at Jiang Yuan with a sneer on his face: "What does this have to do with me? I didn't rush into the county to rob you."

Jiang Yuan leaned back in his chair, looking resigned to his fate.

"Master Chen, you are wrong. The life and death of our Taiping County really depends on you."

"Just think about this. Originally, you could rob three passing caravans a month. But now that Taiping County is gone, your harvest has dropped by 30%, right?"

"Yes!" Chen Qing's face suddenly showed an expression of sudden enlightenment.

Seeing this scene, Jiang Yuan couldn't help but sneer in his heart.

You are not qualified to fight with me, who has been in the workplace for three to five years!

"Then let me ask Master Chen, without this 30% income, can you still live so happily in Black Cloud Mountain?"

"In other words, how have you at Black Cloud Mountain been able to dominate the mountain for so long? Isn't it because of our three counties that we support you?"

Having said that, Jiang Yuan's temperament suddenly changed. He stood up, slammed the table, and looked at Chen Qing with a serious face.

"Master Chen, our Taiping County has suffered such a disaster and is on the verge of collapse. Even if you don't consider the common people, you should at least consider your own future gains."

"If you lend a helping hand now, who in Taiping County would dare to accuse Black Cloud Mountain of being a bandit?"

"Master Chen, while eating, drinking, and having fun are certainly important in life, do you really want people to stab you in the back after you die?"

"Do you want to see Taiping County and the two surrounding counties record a reputation as a place of arson, murder, looting, and all sorts of evil in the county annals?!"

At this point, Jiang Yuan exhaled and spoke again: "Master Chen, you are still young at this time, but can you remain childless for the rest of your life? Will you let your child continue to be the leader of this bandit group?"

"No! My son will never be a bandit!" Chen Qing trembled all over and quickly stood up.

Jiang Yuan understood that the time had come, and he immediately patted his chest and said, "Master Chen, as long as you help Taiping County this time, it won't be a problem for your son to attend a private school in the future."

"After studying, passing the imperial examinations, bringing honor to the family, and leaving a name in history, isn't this a natural outcome?"

"Sir, please tell me what you need me to do!" Chen Qing's eyes were red.

I don’t care about other things, even if I’m scolded by others.

But, I really have a son!

Jiang Yuan's mouth was dry from what he had said. He picked up the water cup, drank it all, and said, "It's easy. Lend me some food and some money, and we can talk about it later!"

"Please wait a moment, sir. I will prepare it right away." After Chen Qing finished speaking, he hurriedly left the room.

It was not until this moment that Jiang Yuan finally breathed a sigh of relief. He couldn't help but wipe the cold sweat from his forehead.

"Damn it! These guys are so ruthless and willing to kill people. Luckily, I managed to fool them..."

"Fortunately, these bandits aren't bad by nature, and most of them were forced into this kind of banditry."

"But come to think of it, no wonder leaders like to make big promises. This thing really works." Jiang Yuan smiled.

Soon, hundreds of bandits stood in the mountain stronghold with two large sacks of food on their shoulders.

Jiang Yuan, with tears on his face, pulled Chen Qing aside and said, "What bandits? I think you are all chivalrous and righteous knights, heroes of the green forest with great righteousness!"