Then he said: "It turns out that your situation is already so difficult...then you really can't help the county government even half a cent in this matter of suppressing bandits?"
"Forgive me, Magistrate Lu!"
President Lu smiled bitterly and said: "We still thought that the county government could give us some tax relief."
"The official roads also need to be repaired."
A wealthy gentleman continued.
"There are also people in You County who were affected by the flood. Some of them are still stranded in the city. We have to resettle them."
"Collapsed houses, etc. also need to be repaired by the county magistrate..."
"..."
One by one they spoke.
All kinds of questions.
Instead, he made various demands on Lu Liang first.
Finally, President Lu said: "If Magistrate Lu is too busy, our Chamber of Commerce can still hire people. It just needs funding from the county government."
Lu Liang's face looked a little ugly, "Everyone, this county has just taken over the county government. These matters cannot be dealt with in a short time."
As he spoke, he tilted his head and asked Yu Mian, "Master Yu, how much money does our county government have in its account now?"
Yu Yi apologized with a smile, "This... I only have more than thirty taels of silver in my account. And... I still owe the servants two months of salary arrears that have not been paid."
Not to mention Lu Liang, even Lu Fang was a little confused.
Is the county government in Youxian so poor?
Lu Liang frowned, "Last season's grain tax and commercial tax were collected not long ago, so why is the county government now out of money?"
Yu Yi smiled bitterly, "My lord, you should go over these accounts in person after you return to the county government office!"
President Lu and others smiled half-heartedly.
The atmosphere was a little awkward for a while.
At this time, there was a pretty maid outside the door carrying dishes.
After placing the dishes on the table, he did not move away, but stood behind the gentry to serve them.
This battle...
Seeing the calm faces of President Lu and others, Lu Fang knew that these guys were probably used to such a scene.
Is this a lack of money?
These guys clearly don’t want to suppress bandits!
Is this deliberately creating pressure on Lu Liang?
Demonstration?
Lu Liang suddenly chuckled twice and said: "Everyone has heard it too. The county government cannot protect itself now. I'm afraid what you said..."
"It doesn't matter, it doesn't matter."
President Lu said: "We are just vomiting our bitterness. Magistrate Lu can take his time on these matters."
Take your time!
If we do this slowly, the suppression of bandits will have to be postponed to the Year of the Monkey.
Lu Liang and Lu Fang looked at each other.
Lu Liang coughed twice and said, "That's good."
This meal, even though there was a pretty maid waiting at the back, was naturally a bit boring.
During the dinner, everyone was chatting.
Almost all of them are pouring out bitter water.
To put it bluntly, you, Lu Liang, came to You County to clean up the mess. You need money, but you don’t have it, but you have to take care of the matter.
As for whether to act first or to suppress the bandits first, that is your own business.
When the banquet was over, Lu Liang still paid for the meal from his own pocket.
Then I took Yu Yi back to the county government office, but there was nothing to say on the way.
When they arrived at the county government office, Lu Liang and Lu Fang walked to the backyard.
Lu Liang said: "The attitude of these guys is thought-provoking..."
"They are unwilling to suppress the bandits."
Lu Fang said: "Looking at their shiny faces, they must be rich. They are just unwilling to pay to help you, the county magistrate, suppress bandits."
"Could it be that they are colluding with those bandits?" Lu Liang asked with a frown.
Apart from this, he really couldn't think of any other reason to explain the attitude of President Lu and others.
As the wealthy gentry of You County, their business is the largest, and it stands to reason that they have suffered the most from the bandits. If there is no collusion, why would they be unwilling to suppress the bandits?
"Nine times out of ten."
Lu Fangdao: "But it's hard to tell. How about... I ask Jiang Zimo to go outside and inquire?"
Jiang Zimo is from a lower class background, so he should be able to find out something.
If these wealthy gentry in Youxian County are really connected with the bandits, there won't be any rumors among the people, right?
Now the people I am in contact with Luliang are the Youxian county government and the wealthy gentry. Naturally, I cannot listen to their side of the story about the situation in Youxian.
"That's fine."
Lu Liang nodded lightly.
…
A mansion somewhere in You County.
This house is probably not much better than the Wang Ye family's house.
It is the home of Lu Deye, the president of Youxian Chamber of Commerce.
After the thirteen gentry came out of the Sifang Building, they all went straight to his home and were sitting in the main hall.
I have my own maid serving tea.
All of them looked relaxed.
Lu Deye gently fiddled with the tea lid in his hand and said, "What do you think of this new Mr. Lu?"
"Young baby."
Someone directly commented in four words.
Others sneered, "It seems to be nothing more than that. He wants us to pay him to help him suppress bandits just after contacting him. It's so naive."
"But that's okay. Seeing as he's not tough, we might as well keep him in You County. As long as he listens to us, it's better than Tanzhou Prefecture sending a new county magistrate."
"..."
"hehe."
Lu Deye chuckled, "Don't underestimate him. I heard that Ningyuan's water control this time is quite outstanding. Although he is young, he should have some ability."
"So what if you have the ability?"
Someone said with a smile: "There are many smart and capable people among the previous county magistrates, right? In the end, they just have to let us lead the way? A clever woman can't make a meal without rice, and the county government has no money. Counties like these
If Ling wants to do something, he can only rely on us to donate money. As usual, if he listens to us, we will give him some sweetness. If he doesn't listen, hehe, he won't even be able to pay the salary of the handyman.
Go out and see how he can hold on to the position of county magistrate."
"Ha ha!"
Everyone chuckled.
Lu Deye also had a smile on his face, "What if he pays for it himself? I heard that he and his brother are not short of money."
Obviously, he had investigated the origins of Lu Liang and Lu Fang.
"Pay for it yourself?"
Someone laughed and said: "Even if he is rich, if he can't control the people below, what's the use?"
"No one runs errands for him, no one collects taxes for him, and no one takes care of things for him. He is just a decoration as a county magistrate."
"As for suppressing bandits, hehe, he can't just go up and kill the bandits with a knife, right?"
"Ha ha!"
There were bursts of laughter again in the room.
Lu Deye's mouth showed a somewhat sarcastic smile, "Suppressing bandits... If the bandits are suppressed, how can we still be able to get wind and rain in the county so much..."