The biggest difference between Li Xia and other officials of the Song Dynasty may be that he did things regardless of the rules and regulations of the court.
For example, after Fang Yankai returned to Qingfu County, he didn't know whether the court would pursue him for the crime of disobedience, whether his merits were too great or too great. He didn't know where to go from now on, so he didn't dare to make decisions easily on many things.
Will southern Shu follow the example of northern Shu and build a mountain city? Will the people be released outside the city or move into the city? How will the rewards for archers and local braves be calculated? Should river patrols be abolished or continue to be trained...
Normally speaking, these many matters should wait until at least after the Chinese New Year and when the state department gets the news before they can start arranging them.
"After two years of busy work, I suddenly feel free." Fang Yankai said with emotion.
"Dong Weng's injury hasn't healed yet, and he caught wind and cold again, so he only returned to the county town for seven days." Jiang Yan said: "What's more, the New Year is coming soon."
Fang Yankai shook his head and said, "County Magistrate Jiang went to Xuzhou, and I am recuperating from my injuries. Are the county affairs arranged by Lieutenant Li these days?"
"Yes, he just released the people from the city, rewarded them, and subsidized the river patrolmen. He also provided rice and grain to help some victims...that's all he did."
"If you can do this in seven days, I'm afraid you're already too busy. Is there something wrong with the county?"
Jiang Yan's mind was not on these matters. He thought for a while and said softly: "Dong Weng, in my opinion, it is not for Magistrate Jiang to go to Xuzhou. It is better for Dong Weng to go to see Shi Zhizhou in person."
Fang Yankai waved his hand and said: "Firstly, I am indeed injured, and secondly... I really don't know how to tell these things to Zhizhou. Magistrate Jiang can make things smoother."
"Students don't understand."
"I don't understand either." Fang Yankai said with a bitter smile.
He closed his eyes and could imagine Shi Jun asking questions one after another, but he didn't know how to answer them.
How did Li Xia train such a rural warrior who could fight the Mongolian army? Why didn't he obey orders on the Yangtze River? He should be abolished later, otherwise how could he maintain the power of a county?
"In short, if I can't handle it, let County Magistrate Jiang do it. He...is good at doing this."
Jiang Yan said: "The students just feel sorry for Dong Weng, such a great achievement..."
"No matter how great the merit is, it was all done by County Lieutenant Li. What's the pity?"
"But wherever Dong Weng takes office in the future, Shi Zhizhou's attitude is crucial."
Fang Yankai said: "Let's not talk about this anymore. Is there anything going wrong in the county recently?"
"Li County Lieutenant took advantage of the great victory and personally handled the county affairs... There are small problems, but there are no big problems." Jiang Yan said: "However, he started to expand again."
Fang Yankai was silent for a while and whispered to himself.
"It seems that he can manage a county by himself..."
I don't know if this is a sign of gratitude or regret.
"Master Secretary, County Lieutenant Li is here to see you." Suddenly I heard Huang Shi say from outside the door.
…
When Fang Yankai met Li Xia, he asked first, "How is the situation?"
"Ashu has passed through the border of Yixi tribe and left Shu. I got the news that the other two Mongolian troops attacking Hezhou have also retreated."
"Where did Feiyu receive the news?"
"I have a friend who is a soldier in northern Sichuan."
Fang Yankai pondered: "Is it possible that he is a general who can send you a message in such a short time? Feiyu has connections."
"Um."
"I'm finally settled." Fang Yankai sighed and said, "Feiyu has been the chief official of a county these days. How does it feel?"
Li Xia said: "I can't do it, so I came to see the landlord today."
"What happened?"
"There are too many things." Li Xia said: "Household registration, fields, spring plowing after spring, not to mention these, today this family said that other family picked up his pot, and tomorrow another family is looking for the body of their son...
Has the landlord recovered from his illness?"
Fang Yankai did not answer, but asked: "Feiyu has made such a great contribution and has never thought about being transferred?"
"I took office in mid-September, and now it's only mid-December. How can I be transferred?" Li Xia said, "It's just the beginning."
Fang Yankai muttered: "My term has not yet expired. If I want to be transferred, I don't know who else to look for besides Shi Zhizhou... But Shi Zhizhou seems to want to blame you and me for not obeying orders. I..."
At this point, he paused, as if he didn't know what to say.
"Let's not talk about us first." Li Xia asked, "What will happen to Shi Zhizhou?"
Fang Yankai pondered and said: "Feiyu can understand that when Wu Lianghetai was killed, the court discussed merits, with Pu Shuai taking the lead, followed by Shi Zhizhou, Zhang Dutong, and then you and me."
"I see."
"If I had to guess, the magistrate should serve as a capital official for the next two years."
Li Xia nodded, seemingly satisfied that "Shi Jun is finally leaving."
"He's gone, and you have no one to rely on?"
Fang Yankai was stunned and said with a wry smile: "Although Zhizhou appreciates me, he does not form cliques for personal gain."
Li Xia said: "Originally, you were supposed to go to Xuzhou and explain to the magistrate why you didn't obey the order. But you kept your word and took on this matter with me. You didn't intend to blame it on me alone. I owe you a favor."
Fang Yankai nodded.
"The landlord is in an embarrassing situation. He has no backing, is afraid of not being promoted, and is afraid of being suppressed by me?"
"You don't have to be so blunt."
"Have you ever thought about staying?"
Fang Yankai smiled bitterly again and said: "There is only one position for county magistrate."
"I'll be the one, how about you continue to be the chief registrar?"
"Are you kidding Feiyu? Even if my three-year term expires and I am transferred to another party as the chief administrator, it would be easier..."
"Is it better than being the chief clerk under me?"
"good."
"Why? I'm not good to you?"
Fang Yankai didn't answer for a long time. He shook his head and sighed: "This is too ridiculous."
Li Xia asked: "What do you want me to do?"
"I don't know."
Fang Yankai sighed and murmured: "I really don't know what to do. Since I was admitted to the imperial examination, I have served as county captain three times and as chief registrar once. I have been an official for eleven years. Only Shi Zhizhou appreciates me, but he has no power to appoint or remove me.
I can only recommend it to me, but this time..."
Li Xia said: "You want me to take care of it for you?"
Fang Yankai shook his head.
Li Xia said: "I have no intention of transferring him, nor do I intend to give up the position of county magistrate."
"Yes, I can't compete with you."
"Then what do you want?"
"Let's wait for the court to arrange it." Fang Yankai said: "Thanks to you, I can be considered to have some credit this time, and I may not be unable to be promoted..."
Li Xia shook his head and said: "In this case, it's time for the landlord to step in and do something, stop pretending to be sick and avoid being lazy."
"It's not that I'm lazy. On the one hand, I don't know how the imperial court will arrange Shunan in the future, and on the other hand... I don't want to compete with you for power."
"Just do whatever is good to the people. If anything happens, I will take the responsibility. Also, I also said that I will not compete with you for the power of the Registrar."
Fang Yankai was stunned again, but Li Xia had already walked out...
"Why don't Ah Lang sell a favor to Fang Yankai? It would be better to take him away."
"He thinks I'm a traitor and doesn't want me to help him."
"Whether he is promoted or demoted, how can he be affected?"
When Han Qi'an said this, he suddenly smiled and said, "Alang, do you know what the officialdom of the Song Dynasty is like?"
"like what?"
"Gourd." Han Qi'an said: "A gourd with a small top and a big bottom. The pouch under this gourd is filled with petty officials, more than in any previous dynasty. Many officials join the imperial examination and Yinbu every year.
But if you want to get from this big bag to the smaller bag above, some people can't squeeze out from the mouth of the gourd. Fang Yankai is such a small official who can't squeeze in because he has no backer."
"The credit for killing Wu Liang Hetai is not enough?"
"This pot of soup is divided among people." Han Qi'an said, "However, the soup was cooked by Alang. If you want to divide it, you can really share it with him a little more. After sending him away, we should start selling smuggled salt."
"Other than that? Is there anything else that could get in the way of Fang Yankai?"
"The main thing is this private matter, otherwise he might be left behind." Han Qi'an said: "I have to say that he did a good job in handling the trivial matters in the county. It would be more difficult to deal with someone else."
Li Xia said: "Private salt and private salt are those that cannot be controlled by the government. He is his master bookkeeper. We sell our salt and don't need to worry about him."
Han Qi'an was puzzled and said: "But he will definitely oppose this matter."
"He is against illegal salt trading, and I am also against illegal salt trading. But the government officials are under my control, and illegal salt trading is under my control. If I can't suppress it, what can I do?"
"Ah Lang sounds like an official. But he will definitely doubt us."
Li Xia said: "He can't get the evidence."
Han Qi'an said: "I understand. If you have to sell smuggled salt and the county government can't get the evidence, you can ensure that others can't get the evidence."
"Yes. Send someone to contact Wu Tong. I want to see him before the New Year."
"yes."
When Li Xia said this, he sent someone to recruit Bao San and asked, "Have you found Jiang Fan?"
Bao San looked very sad about this and said: "I'm still sending people to look for it, but I can't find it."
"Where's the body?"
"The day before yesterday, we fished out more than ten corpses, but none of them were found."
"Keep looking."
"Yes." Bao San thought for a while, then raised his hands and said, "County Lieutenant, I'm afraid Jiang Fan won't be able to come back. Should his team choose another leader?"
"No rush, just wait for two more days." Li Xia rubbed his head and said, "I will take care of his team first. You go and choose a few trustworthy experts and do other things in the future..."