The group of people was followed by an army of 500 people mobilized from the nearby Qianhu Village, and marched toward Yunyang County in a mighty manner.
Li Changan did not take a cloud boat or a carriage, but rode on horseback like everyone else. He could see the disaster situation in various places with his own eyes instead of only understanding the disaster through files.
It took most of the day to get to Yunyang County.
What he saw along the way made Li Changan frown severely.
People close to Fucheng have begun to move closer to Fucheng, and relief food there has also begun to be distributed first.
But the closer to Yunyang County, the worse the situation of the people became.
There are even cases where people exchange their children and eat them.
Approaching Yunyang County, Li Changan stopped his team, began to change his appearance, and asked Xue Shiqing beside him, "How is the situation in Yunyang County?"
Xue Shiqing was slightly stunned when he saw Li Changan's skillful disguise techniques, but he quickly reacted and replied,
"It is mentioned in the files collected below that Yunyang County has the largest number of residents in the entire Pingyao Prefecture."
"So the pressure for disaster relief is very high."
"How much disaster relief money has been distributed?" Li Changan asked.
Xue Shiqing said, "More than 500,000 taels were allocated before and after."
Li Changan chuckled and shook his head, "But when we looked all the way, we didn't seem to see a single person who seemed to have received disaster relief silver grain."
"You will be the leader later, and I will be the secretary."
"Don't reveal your secrets."
Xue Shiqing looked at the others and said, "Sir Councilor, I am just a secretary, should I find another person in charge?"
Li Changan waved his hand, "There is no need, your task is to eat and drink."
"I'm too lazy to listen to those people's flattery, so I can hide and be quiet."
With that said, he patted Xue Shiqing on the shoulder, then pushed him to the top, "Let's go."
Xue Shiqing clasped his fists at the other chief ministers, then bravely led the team into the city.
As expected, the Zhenfusi team received a warm welcome from officials from the county and city levels.
Li Changan was hanging at the end of the Zhenfu Division team, looking at the disaster relief silver rations being distributed around him, with a trace of suspicion in his eyes.
The officials in front all bent over and smiled, leading the Zhenfusi team to the county government office.
The five hundred troops who came with the team were arranged in one place, while Li Changan and other eleven people were brought into the banquet room that had been prepared long ago.
"My lords have come all the way, so I will prepare a little wine to help you wash away the dust." Yunyang County Sheriff led a group of officials and said respectfully with smiles on their faces.
Everyone sat down.
The county governor brought officials from Yunyang County to see him.
"The magistrate of Yunyang County has met all of you."
"The magistrate of Yunyang County has met all of you."
"The magistrate of Xiaguanping County..."
"The magistrate of Luwan County..."
…
A group of local officials finished the ceremony.
Xue Shiqing asked, "Why didn't the magistrate of Zewu County come?"
The county guard quickly stood up and explained, with a hint of sadness in his voice, "Zewu County Magistrate Zhang Weimin unfortunately died during the flood control..."
"County Magistrate Zhang is hard-working, conscientious and upright on weekdays. His subordinates have already reported to the imperial court, begging the imperial court to commend Magistrate Zhang."
As soon as these words came out, other local officials responded one after another.
"Yes, Magistrate Zhang is admirable for his dedication to the people. We all regard him as a good teacher and helpful friend..."
…
After a meal, the host and guest enjoy themselves.
Farewell to Yunyang County officials,
A group of eleven people came to the room, and soon a group of government officials came in carrying files.
"Sir, these are some files of the thirteen counties under the jurisdiction of Yunyang County, including a compilation of farming, cultivated crops, etc."
Waiting for the Yamen servant to leave,
Li Changan patted the pile of files in front of him and said, "Look at the files in Zewu County and the situation of Zhang Weimin, the magistrate of Zewu County."
Xue Shiqing took out a volume from the file in his hand and said, "Sir, do you think there is something wrong with Zhang Weimin?"
"It could be someone else has a problem."
Li Changan smiled and said, "I have a few stories here, you might as well listen to them."
"First, the governor of Yunyang County and the fifteen chief officials, including the magistrates of thirteen counties, jointly embezzled 500,000 taels of silver. In the end, the loot was unevenly divided. One of them got the most, and the others were jealous.
Kill people."
"Secondly, one of the fifteen chief officials embezzled a large amount of disaster relief money, was discovered by others, and was then killed."
"Thirdly, among the fifteen chief officials, one of them took care of himself. The other fourteen people regarded him as an alien, so they took the opportunity to kill him."
"Which of these stories do you think sounds more interesting?"
The expressions of everyone present suddenly became a little strange. Xue Shiqing looked at Li Changan and said, "These stories are very interesting."
"But after today's meal, it's unlikely that there will be only one bad guy."
"That's true." Li Changan nodded and opened the file, "I'm still thinking about a question."
"The chief official of a county has been dead for such a long time. Where did the disaster relief money and food that should have been distributed go?"
"And where have the previous disaster relief silver grains been used...?"
One of the officers chuckled and said, "So Yunyang County needs to check it out carefully."
Xue Shiqing looked at Li Changan and asked, "Is it possible that County Magistrate Zhang really died fighting the flood?"
"Of course it's possible." Li Changan shrugged, "It's just that everything I saw today makes me subconsciously doubt it."
"Outside the city and inside the city are completely different."
"And the people in the city seem to have just received the disaster relief money and food. It's more like they are just showing off to us."
"After experiencing what happened in Pingyao Fucheng, I have never hesitated to speculate on these local officials in the worst possible way."
Li Changan put down Zhang Weimin's file and looked at the ten people present.
"My lords, please go back and rest first. We will start tomorrow."
A secretary asked, "Sir, where will we check the files tomorrow?"
"Check the files?" Li Changan was surprised, then shook his head and said, "I looked at Zhang Weimin's files."
"Zewu County is more than a hundred miles away from the county seat."
"Tomorrow we will go to Zewu County."
The ten people didn't react at once, they were all stunned.
"Counsellor... Sir, are you going to Zewu County tomorrow? Don't you want to check the files?"
"If you want to read the files, of course you have to visit the grassroots level in person." Li Changan found a comfortable position for himself, picked up a file, and
"Without investigation, there is no right to speak."
"The dossier can only be used as a reference. How can the problem be solved by just reading the dossier?"
The ten people present looked at each other with strange expressions on their faces, and then left with fists in their hands.
"Secretary Xue will stay here for a moment," Li Changan said.
Wait for others to leave.
Xue Shiqing asked, "I don't know what the reason is for the counselor to stay in office?"
"Is it strange that I go to Zewu County?"
Xue Shiqing looked a little weird, "It's a little strange, the other councilors will assign tasks to the principal and secretary."
"Then the chief secretary will take the following officers to investigate the place."
"After the chief secretary has collected all the information and compiled it into a book, just look through the file."
Li Changan nodded, "I will go with you then."
"Tomorrow you stay and keep an eye on the relief food, and deliver the relief food as soon as possible."
"Yes." Xue Shiqing clasped his fists and left.
Li Changan picked up the scissors on the table, cut off the wick, and then began to look through the files piled high on the table.