The anti-Qing movement began with the looting of the Eight-Nation Alliance.

With a "thud," Lu Da threw the postmaster in front of Shen Lian.

"My lord, the postmaster has arrived!"

"Where did you thugs come from? How dare you arrest me, are you trying to rebel?" The postmaster, dizzy and disoriented, scrambled to his feet. Poor thing, he was over fifty years old and had never been treated like this before.

"Mr. Ye, show him my official credentials and the documents from the Ministry of Personnel." Shen Lian shook his head.

"Your Excellency, the Circuit Intendant!" After reading Shen Lian's document, the postmaster knelt down with a thud. The other postmen also knelt down, as did the surrounding common people and merchants.

It must be said that Qing Dynasty officials were very powerful, but Shen Lian found it very distasteful.

"Fellow villagers, I am the newly appointed Daotai, Shen Lian. Everyone, get up quickly! Now that I have come to this matter, I will definitely give you a satisfactory explanation."

Shen Lian quickly ordered the guards to help the people up, but of course the postmaster and postmen wouldn't help them.

Shen Lian briefly explained the situation to the three gentlemen, then sat down on the chairs that Lu Da had brought over. With so many people present, he planned to conduct a public trial.

"What's your name? Raise your head!"

"Your humble servant, Liu Yishou," the postmaster said haltingly, kneeling on the ground.

Liu Yishou? That's quite a name!

"You're not going to tell me you don't know about the fodder, are you?" Shen Lian sneered.

"Yes, Your Excellency! I am simply following the established practice..."

"What a fine example of following old precedents! Damn it, the world is ruined by corrupt officials like you who follow old precedents!" Shen Lian couldn't help but curse.

"Mr. Wang, according to the laws of the Qing Dynasty, what punishment should they be given?"

"My lord, we should inform the prefect. Let's make the judgment together when he arrives!" Ye Zhennan said hastily before Wang Huazhen could reply.

“Your Excellency, the postmaster is the prefect’s father-in-law. His daughter is the prefect’s concubine.” An old man in the crowd spoke up when they heard that the prefect was being summoned.

"It's alright, this is perfect! Don't worry, everyone, it doesn't matter who comes today. Send someone to call the prefect over here immediately!"

Half an hour later, the prefect of Dezhou rushed in. He knelt on one knee and bowed to Shen Lian; "Your humble servant Huang Peixin greets Your Excellency!"

"Hmm! Get up! Prefect Huang, are you aware that this post station is embezzling funds for fodder and oppressing and exploiting the people?"

"Please forgive me, Your Excellency, I truly had no knowledge of this!" Huang Peixin steadied himself and replied with a cupped hand.

"You don't know anything? Then what have you been doing all day? Your subordinates are embezzling and taking bribes, exploiting the people. You don't know anything! Why are the Boxers causing trouble in various parts of Shandong? It's all because of these corrupt officials. How can the people not revolt when they can't survive? Huh!"

"What kind of official are you if you know nothing? You might as well go home and grow sweet potatoes."

"I failed in my duty, I am guilty!" Huang Peixin was sweating profusely.

"Hmph! Since you don't know anything, just stay out of the way!" Shen Lian knew that this was a trivial matter and he couldn't do anything to the prefect.

"Mr. Wang, what crimes should they be charged with? Let's start with this clerk!" Shen Lian picked up his teacup and took a sip.

"Your Excellency! This official embezzled grain funds, shortchanged the people, and exploited them. He even dared to plot against you. Just kill him!" Wang Huazhen said calmly. It was that simple for the magistrate to kill a mere clerk.

"Fine! Doesn't he like to beat people? Guards, drag him away and give him thirty lashes!" Shen Lian roared. He hated people who used the slightest bit of power to oppress the common people. They were even more despicable than corrupt officials.

Two guards came up and dragged the limp clerk out. Lu Daziran understood Shen Lian's intentions and personally took a big stick and followed.

"Bang, bang, bang! Ah! Ah..." The screams echoed, making the postmaster tremble with fear. The prefect was also pale.

A moment later, Lu Da walked in. "Sir, the criminal couldn't withstand the torture and is dead!"

Everyone felt a chill run down their spines upon hearing this; this Magistrate Shen was truly ruthless.

"Hmph, he got off too easy. Is death all that matters? We must confiscate his property and return the embezzled funds."

"Where is he?" Shen Lian pointed to the postmaster.

"My lord, spare me! My lord, spare me!" The postmaster hurriedly kowtowed and begged for mercy.

“My lord, this man can be dismissed from his post, his property confiscated, and exiled. Of course, if my lord is not satisfied, he can also be convicted of disrespecting the Holy Emperor’s decrees. That would be beheading and exile of the whole family!” Wang Huazhen spoke without hesitation, befitting someone who had worked in the Ministry of Justice for decades.

"Your Excellency, please show mercy!" Seeing his father-in-law's pleading eyes, the prefect knelt down and begged for mercy.

"Hmm! Since Lord Huang pleads for leniency, then sentence him to exile! However, he must repay all the embezzled funds for fodder and compensate the people. Starting from the time he became a postmaster. If he doesn't have enough money, sell his house, sell his land, and sell his wife and daughters for me!"

“If that’s still not enough, then you, the Prefect, can pay for it! How about that?” Shen Lian said to Huang Peixin with amusement.

"Thank you, Your Excellency!" the prefect said insincerely, clasping his hands in thanks. Inwardly, he cursed Shen Lian's ruthlessness.

"Alright! That's settled then! The rest is up to Lord Huang. Folks, if any of you haven't received your money, feel free to come to the Daotai's office to find me," Shen Lian said, standing up.

"By the way, I saw that the child was beaten badly by that clerk. After confiscating his property, give the child's family twenty taels of silver as compensation!"

"Thank you, Your Honor! San Yazi, quickly kowtow to the upright and just official!" The woman pulled the child and knelt down before Shen Lian.

"Thank you, Your Excellency! Thank you, Your Honor!" "May Lord Shen be blessed with longevity and prosperity!"

The people below immediately knelt down, shouting excitedly.

At this moment, Shen Lian felt extremely pleased; being an official was truly wonderful. He had only done a small thing and yet he had received so much gratitude from the people.

"Fellow villagers, please rise! Now that I, Shen Lian, have arrived, I will no longer allow corrupt officials to harm you. In the future, I will introduce more policies to benefit the people. I guarantee that all the villagers of Taiwu Lindao will have enough to eat and clothes to wear. They can farm with peace of mind and do business freely."

"Thank you, Your Honor!" "Thank you, Your Honor!"

Regardless of whether Shen Lian was being sincere, they saw a glimmer of hope today. The common people were generous with their praise.

"Mr. Ye, look at these good people! Why can't these officials think more about them?" Shen Lian said to Wang Zhennan as he walked, waving his hand.

"My lord, it's best not to be too radical in officialdom! The officialdom is a complex and interconnected place; even if you treat the people well, if you can't pay the taxes and grain to the court, or if you don't govern the region well, you won't pass the imperial examination!" Ye Zhennan advised in a low voice.

Shen Lian naturally knew that he was acting in his best interest and nodded in acceptance. Of course, he had his own thoughts in mind.

What a load of rubbish! The Qing Dynasty doesn't even have many years left. As long as I have a powerful army and the support of the people, let's see who dares to test me!