Only after being reborn did I realize that I was the white moonlight of a powerful minister.

The next day, Xie Bohuai and his party went to Huaizhou City, where Meng Feichi had already brought people to pick them up at the post station outside Huaizhou City.

"I am a former subordinate of Lord Xie, and I came here specifically to welcome him. I was unaware that you would be coming to Huaizhou, and I am truly sorry for not greeting you properly. Brother Si Yan, where is our lord?" Meng Feichi looked behind Si Yan.

The memorial impeaching Minister Zhou was submitted in secret, and Meng Feichi was unaware of it. However, Meng Feichi was aware that the Emperor later summoned Xie Bohuai, and Xie Bohuai subsequently brought his men to Huaizhou.

He pretended not to know anything when he came to pick up Xie Bohuai, but Meng Feichi knew exactly what was going on. Knowing Xie Bohuai's personality, Meng Feichi hadn't slept all night and had specially brought people with him.

Si Yan, on the other hand, seemed very enthusiastic. "The lord went out early this morning and hasn't returned yet. You've worked with the lord before, so how could we possibly inquire about his whereabouts?"

That made perfect sense, and Meng Feichi didn't think much of it. "Then I'll wait here for you, sir. By the way, how are the brothers from the Town Government Division?"

"Same as always. Those who can do it can continue, and those who can't, take your money and go home. Brother Meng has been doing well these years, his face has gotten rounder."

"Not at all, it's still not as good as when I went through life and death with my brothers." Meng Feichi chuckled. "If I had a choice, I would still prefer to continue following you, sir."

Si Yan reminded him, "The lord is no longer with the town government."

"Whether he's here or not, it doesn't matter." Meng Feichi and Si Yan smiled and talked for a while, but Xie Bohuai still hadn't returned. Meng Feichi couldn't help but feel anxious. "Si Yan, should I send someone out to look for him?"

Si Yan said that was fine too, "If you're in a hurry to see the magistrate, Brother Meng, that's fine too."

Are you in a hurry?

Meng Feichi dared not show it and could only suppress his feelings, waiting until after noon before seeing Xie Bohuai and Qingshan return.

Meng Feichi immediately stepped forward enthusiastically, "Your subordinate Meng Feichi greets Your Excellency!"

Xie Bohuai glanced down at Meng Feichi and then said, "Get up. It's been a long time. You've gotten quite plump."

"If you can't practice martial arts and just eat and drink all day, you're bound to get fat. Where is Your Excellency going? If you're going to stay in Huaizhou City, why not come to my house and let me entertain you properly?" Meng Feichi spoke only to Xie Bohuai, seemingly ignoring Minister Zhou.

That's how everyone in their town government is; they only have eyes for the commander.

Xie Bohuai agreed, and Meng Feichi, whose back was already sweating, led Xie Bohuai and his party into the city.

The Meng family's house was a three-courtyard compound located in the most prosperous area of ​​Huaizhou City. Meng Feichi walked to the side and said, "When I left the capital, I was fortunate enough to receive an extra fifty taels of silver from you, sir, which allowed me to return to my hometown, buy property, and start a small business. But it wasn't easy. Every year, I also had to handle the official grain tax for the county government, which didn't bring in any money. It was just to make it easier to do business on weekdays. However, I've been very lucky. Some of my brothers aren't good at business, and the money you gave them quickly went down the drain."

Xie Bohuai would give fifty taels of silver as a resettlement fee to any officer in the town government who was injured on duty and unable to perform his duties.

This money is enough for them to go home, buy land and houses, and live a life of comfort and security.

This is why, despite the negative things people say about Xie Bohuai, the brothers in the town government are all extremely loyal to him.

Apart from……

Xie Bohuai's gaze fell on Meng Feichi. He hadn't expected that one of his men would betray him.

Is there something hidden?

Xie Bohuai followed Meng Feichi into the main courtyard and saw Meng Feichi's wife, but not the child. Meng Feichi explained, "The county magistrate hired a tutor. My eldest son is more capable than me and can concentrate on his studies, so I sent him to study. The daughter is also at the county magistrate's residence. She gets along well with the county magistrate's daughter and often goes to stay with him. Please sit down. I have already had food prepared. Please eat and drink your fill."

While Meng Feichi was speaking, his wife stood to the side with her head down, seemingly very nervous.

Xie Bohuai said anything was fine, "Who is the local magistrate?"

“His surname is Jiang, and his given name is Zongping,” Meng Feichi said.

"The Jiang family? They have connections with two families in the capital?" Minister Zhou couldn't sit still any longer and interrupted with a question.

Meng Feichi said, "He is considered to be from a collateral branch."

The Jiang family of the capital is also a prominent family; the former Princess Hui was from the Jiang family.

Upon hearing that they were from the Jiang family of the capital, even if they were from a collateral branch, Minister Zhou became interested.

After Prince Hui's defeat, the Jiang family in the capital kept a low profile, as many members of the Jiang family had been punished because of Prince Hui's influence. The Jiang family was now no longer comparable to ordinary aristocratic families.

Minister Zhou looked at Xie Bohuai and said, "The Jiang family must hold a deep grudge against you."

“The Jiang family isn’t the only one who resents me. Isn’t Your Excellency the same?” Xie Bohuai said casually. After dinner, Minister Zhou insisted on going out for a stroll. Xie Bohuai had Qingshan accompany him, while he went to the study with Meng Feichi.

Summer days are long and it gets dark late; it's still bright now.

The room was somewhat dark, and Meng Feichi wanted to light a lamp, but Xie Bohuai refused.

"You should know why I came to Huaizhou. Is there anything you want to tell me?" Xie Bohuai asked.

Meng Feichi's face froze. "I really don't know. Has something happened in Huaizhou City that requires your attention?"

"Someone submitted a memorial saying that someone in Huaizhou City is seizing fertile land, and the new land that was originally supposed to be rented has been forcibly bought. Are you aware of this?" Xie Bohuai asked.

"I don't know about the forced purchase. But I do know that because of last year's flash flood, there were too many places in Huaizhou City that needed repairs. The money issued by the capital wasn't enough to repair the irrigation canals, which is why the corvée labor period was extended. Later, after the new fields were dug, the government symbolically collected a small amount of money so that they could continue to repair other fertile fields and city walls. However, the people felt that the government wanted to take advantage of the situation to seize the fertile fields, and the stalemate has continued, resulting in many fields not being cultivated this year," Meng Feichi said.

What is the official price?

"Two hundred coins."

One tael of silver is worth one thousand coins. If it's only two hundred coins, most people can afford it.

However, in the areas Xie Bohuai passed through, more than half of the fertile land had not been cultivated, so it couldn't have been a matter of two hundred coins.

Ordinary families rely on the harvest of the year to survive. If they don't farm now, most of them will starve to death in the winter.

Therefore, there is only one possibility: that ordinary people cannot afford to grow it.

Xie Bohuai withdrew his gaze. "So that's how it is. I didn't expect Huaizhou City to be so poor. But repairing the city walls is not as important as the people's food supply back then."

"That's true."

Xie Bohuai stood up and said, "Take me to see Jiang Zongping. I won't wait until tomorrow."

"Isn't it too late?"

"If we delay any longer, Huaizhou City will be a scene of cannibalism!" Xie Bohuai said sternly, and Meng Feichi subconsciously trembled. This was the oppressive atmosphere that had formed within the town government.

Left with no other choice, Meng Feichi took Xie Bohuai to Jiang Zongping's residence.

The guards at the gate saw that it was Meng Feichi and immediately came over to greet him warmly, but Meng Feichi shook his head slightly. The guards immediately said, "You've come to see our master, right? Unfortunately, our master went out of the city today and I'm afraid he won't be back."

"He has to come back, whether he can or not." Xie Bohuai took out his token. At this moment, Minister Zhou also arrived with Qingshan. Xie Bohuai looked coldly at the Jiang family guards and said, "Tell your master that I will only give him half an hour. If he does not come to see me, he can forget about being the county magistrate."

The guard was illiterate, but he understood that the gold color of the token represented its meaning. He looked helplessly at Meng Feichi.

Xie Bohuai also went to see Meng Feichi, but he didn't say anything and instead strode into the Jiang family home.

The guards had no choice but to go to the master and tell him that a fierce-looking man had arrived.

"I know, didn't I tell you to send Meng Feichi to pick him up? Let him come, don't leave him hanging." Jiang Zongping was lying in his concubine's arms, eating a peach that she was feeding him.

"But that official said that if you don't show up within half an hour, you shouldn't be the magistrate."

“He’s gone too far! He’s already on my turf. Does he really think this is the capital?” Jiang Zongping said he wouldn’t go.

Meanwhile, in the main hall, Meng Feichi was so nervous that his palms were sweating. Half an hour later, Jiang Zongping still hadn't appeared.

Xie Bohuai glanced at Meng Feichi before turning and entering the Jiang family's inner courtyard.

"Who are you? This is the county magistrate's residence. How dare you barge in?"

"Stop right now, or I'll..."

Before the servant could finish speaking, Xie Bohuai snatched the wooden stick from the man's hand, lifted him high, and slammed him to the ground. "Where is your master?"

If one doesn't say anything, Xie Bohuai will hit another.

Several servants were injured by Xie Bohuai in succession. The last one, a coward, confessed that he was with Aunt Qiu. Xie Bohuai had someone point out the direction and ran over there himself.

At this moment, Jiang Zongping was completely naked and was making love with his beautiful concubine, oblivious to the world around him.

"My goodness, let me kiss you...who is it?"

Before he could finish speaking, the door was kicked open, and the right door slammed to the ground, startling the concubine inside who screamed loudly.

Xie Bohuai held the knife he had snatched from the servants, looking at the two naked people on the bed. "Jiang Zongping, you are the first person to dare to leave me hanging."

Jiang Zongping never expected that Xie Bohuai would dare to break into his inner courtyard and arrest people. "Where are they? Are they all dead? Lord Xie is here, why didn't anyone tell me?"

"Do you know who I am?" Xie Bohuai sneered.

Jiang Zongping: ...We're doomed, we've been exposed.

But he could only continue to pretend. “Your imposing manner and grandeur are only found in Lord Xie of the Zhenfu Division. You’ve misunderstood, sir. I’m just a lowly county magistrate. How could I dare to keep you waiting? It must be some servant in the manor spreading rumors. Please do me a favor and wait outside for a while. I’ll be right back once I’ve dressed, okay?”

"No way." Xie Bohuai used his knife to pry open the blankets covering Jiang Zongping. "Since you have the guts to leave me hanging, then see me like this."

"Sir, I..."

"Since you know my reputation, why didn't you come out with me? Do you think I'll go easy on you?" With that, Xie Bohuai stabbed Jiang Zongping's arm with the knife in his hand. Blood flowed out instantly, and Jiang Zongping screamed in pain, rolling off the bed.