Being an emperor is not something he can do, so he can only rely on his connections.

Gaoyang County Government Office

The second hall was thick with smoke, and the atmosphere was so heavy it felt like water could drip out. The problem of the stubborn tenants in the water conservancy project was becoming a real headache for all the clerks present.

Head of the Household Department, Wu Xu, was the first to break the silence. He slammed the account book in his hand onto the table with a loud "bang", his beard trembling with anger. "Sir! These gentry and wealthy families are ruthless! I've calculated with them time and again. Once the reservoir and canal are completed, nearly 70% of the land they own will be transformed into fertile fields that are guaranteed to yield a harvest regardless of drought or flood! This is a great thing! But now they are like leeches smelling blood, clinging to the land price! It's 30% higher than the market price! They are clearly trying to suck the blood out of the project and fatten themselves up!"

The workshop clerk had a bad temper. He stood up suddenly, and the legs of his chair scraped harshly on the ground: "Why waste your time talking to these termites! If you ask me, this is like drinking wine and then refusing to accept it! What are the tax collectors in the county government supposed to do? Go and check! We will find out everything we know! Who among these wealthy families has not hidden land and evaded taxes? Who has not bullied the villagers and lent money at high interest? Just find a reason to arrest the most serious ones, put them in shackles and display them in public! The land will be confiscated and confiscated! It will not only solve the problem of land use, but also fill the treasury and eliminate harm for the people. It's three birds with one stone!" His voice was loud, with the usual ruthlessness and directness of low-level clerks, but also a bit of recklessness without regard for consequences.

"Absurd!" Fang Yue immediately objected. His face was serious, and he tapped the table with his knuckles. "This is drinking poison to quench thirst! Forced confiscation and occupation, how is it different from banditry? My lord, the people of Gaoyang are now beginning to settle down, and that's because we focus on 'legal principles' and 'justice'. If we carry out such tyranny, we will lose the people's hearts! Today we can use this method to seize their land, and tomorrow they can incite the people to question all our policies! The project is to benefit the people. If we sow the seeds of disaster and provoke civil unrest, you and I will be sinners for all eternity! This proposal is absolutely not feasible!" His words were loud and clear, representing rationality and a long-term vision.

A cold light flashed in the eyes of the newly appointed Dianshi Zhao Peixin. He spoke slowly, but his voice was stern, typical of a criminal official: "What Wu Xuchang and Fang Shuban said are all reasonable, but they have missed the point. I think the key to this matter lies in 'characterization'." He paused to attract everyone's attention, "Their behavior at this moment is no longer a simple price increase, but a blatant hijacking of public affairs, hindering the advancement of the court's people-benefiting projects. According to the "Heavenly Kingdom Law·Household Law", 'obstructing public affairs' is regarded as a precursor to 'treason'. Although the whole family will not be executed, the ringleader will be exiled for 3,000 miles, and their goods and official positions will be confiscated. When they ask for exorbitant prices, they are seeking their own death. Why bother to fabricate charges? The current law is the best knife!" His words were cold, revealing a Legalist cruelty that made people shudder.

Zhang Jingwei's brows knitted together as he listened to his subordinates' increasingly heated and extreme suggestions. He took a deep drag on his cigarette, slowly exhaled, and then tapped the table with his pipe, interrupting the discussion.

He swept his eyes over the crowd, his tone thick with sarcasm and fatigue. "Tsk, tsk, tsk, tsk, tax inspections, house confiscations, and even almost treason... Ladies and gentlemen, are we discussing county affairs, or are we planning a rebellion?" He leaned forward and stared at Zhao Peixin. "Zhao Dianshi, according to what you said, why are we still pretending to be officials? What are we talking about the law? We might as well take off our official uniforms and rule the mountain! You, Zhao Peixin, and you, Lao Ma from the workshop," he pointed at the two men who had just shouted for fighting, "each of you carry a watermelon knife, chop from one end of the village to the other, and chop whoever you don't like! As for me, I'll set up a stall at the entrance of the village, specializing in cutting iced watermelons. When you two come back tired of chopping, I'll quench your thirst. Do you think this method will work? Isn't it more satisfying?"

Zhao Peixin's face flushed red, and he lowered his head awkwardly. "Please calm down, my lord. This is not my intention. I was just... just clarifying the law to deter others..."

"Intimidation?" Zhang Jingwei snorted coldly, "Using the crime of treason to intimidate a few local tycoons who want to get a few more acres of land? You're going too far! What we want is land to build a canal, not human heads to build a Jingguan!"

He looked around and saw that everyone had lowered their heads, so he slowed down his tone, but his decision was unquestionable: "Alright, stop arguing. If you're not willing to use force and you won't accept soft tactics, then let's try a different approach. Let Yuan Liang do the talking."

He looked at the silent Chief Clerk Huang Liang. "Yuan Liang is smart and eloquent, and he understands the ways of both the underworld and the underworld. He's more suitable than those of us in official uniform to deal with these local tyrants. Tell him the bottom line is a 10% increase in the market price. This is the highest compensation the county government can offer. As for how to negotiate it down... he has plenty of dirty tricks up his sleeve. I don't care about the process, I only care about the result."

Huang Liang nodded thoughtfully upon hearing this, a look of understanding on his face. "Your Excellency's proposal might help break the impasse. Yuan Liang... is indeed adept at handling situations like this. I'll go find him now."

Just as the atmosphere of the meeting eased slightly and everyone was about to receive their orders and leave, hurried footsteps were heard outside the hall. Qian Ming knocked on the door and walked in quickly. Without paying attention to etiquette, he walked up to Zhang Jingwei and whispered:

"Young Master, the imperial physician from the capital has arrived! His carriage has stopped in the front yard, and Medicine Doctor Sun is chatting with him. He looks quite important, and he's waiting for you to greet him in person."

Zhang Jingwei's spirits lifted upon hearing this, and he immediately put aside his worries about water conservancy. "Finally! The meeting is over for now. Everyone, please prepare as we just agreed. I'll go greet the distinguished guest from the capital."