The convoy returning from the marriage visit arrived back at the county yamen only after night had already fallen.

Xu Ke didn’t bother with fatigue or exhaustion from men and horses. After arranging for Yingchun and the others to settle in, he went straight to the study. From a distance he could already see Xu Fu and Luo the head constable waiting at the entrance. Neither had been there for long—the lantern light under the corridor stretched their shadows long and thin.

Xu Ke nodded and pushed the door open.

“Come in.”

Luo the head constable followed him inside and stood with his hands folded, not even daring to lift his eyes. Xu Ke pointed at the chair beside him.

“Sit. Don’t just stand there. Xu Fu, bring tea.”

Luo quickly waved his hands.

“Your Excellency is too kind. I’m fine standing. Standing is fine.”

Xu Ke didn’t insist. He sat down behind the desk and got straight to the point.

“What brings you here so late?”

Luo lowered his voice.

“Sir, I’ve heard some news. County Magistrate Zhou has invited a number of local gentry to a banquet tonight. I’m afraid he’s going to use his old tricks again.”

“Oh?” Xu Ke took a sip of tea, expression unchanged. “What old tricks? Speak plainly.”

Luo clenched his jaw, as if deciding to risk it all.

“Sir, do you know why the previous magistrates couldn’t complete their terms and always left in disgrace?”

Xu Ke gestured for him to continue.

“County Magistrate Zhou is deeply tied to those local gentry,” Luo said, leaning forward slightly. “The land is theirs, and most grain shops in the city are theirs too. Whenever a new magistrate tries to do anything serious, they work together to obstruct him.”

Seeing Xu Ke listening without interruption, Luo continued.

“First trick: manipulating prices. They raise grain prices together. The common people suffer, flood the yamen with complaints, and then the magistrate is stuck—intervening or not, both are problems.”

He paused, then went on.

“Second is worse. They keep gangs of idle men who stir up trouble in the city. Today they smash a stall, tomorrow they block a road. The whole city becomes chaotic. If you try to arrest them, you only catch scapegoats—they’re just expendable thugs. The real masterminds sit behind the scenes laughing.”

Luo’s voice dropped further.

“The third is the worst. They spread rumors in teahouses and taverns. Today they say the magistrate took bribes, tomorrow they say he’s involved with some widow. It spreads until black becomes white. Once your reputation is ruined, anything you do will be criticized. In the end, you’re forced to resign.”

He finished and cautiously observed Xu Ke’s expression.

Xu Ke tapped his fingers lightly on the desk.

Price manipulation, rumor campaigns—he had already expected those. But the “gang system” Luo described was new.

He looked at Luo with a measuring gaze. Luo felt uneasy under it but didn’t dare move.

“Luo Ban Tou,” Xu Ke suddenly said, “do you know why I promoted you first?”

Luo was startled. He thought for a moment—because he was the first to pledge allegiance?

Xu Ke saw through his thoughts and gave a faint smile.

“That’s only part of it.”

He lifted his tea cup.

“Second, you have a good reputation among the constables. You’re loyal to people. Third, among the three divisions, you’re the only one who actually does his job properly.”

Luo lowered his head, listening intently.

Xu Ke set down his cup.

“I don’t value this small county seat all that highly. I didn’t come here to be a county magistrate for status. I came here to get things done. For the people, and for my own results and reputation. Do you understand?”

Luo looked up and met Xu Ke’s gaze. The unease in his heart suddenly settled.

This official truly wasn’t afraid of those tricks.

He cupped his fists.

“Sir, you care about the common people. I respect that. From now on, wherever you point, I will go. Even if it’s mountains of knives or seas of fire.”

Xu Ke waved his hand.

“Enough talk. I don’t need loyalty speeches. I only ask you one thing—can you firmly control the fast-response constables?”

Luo straightened.

“Yes.”

“Good.”

Xu Ke raised his tea cup.

“Then drink this tea. If I achieve anything in the future, I will not forget you.”

Luo took the cup with both hands and drank it in one gulp. After placing it down, he respectfully stepped back and left the study.

Xu Ke watched him go.

“See him out,” he said to Xu Fu.

Xu Fu followed him out.

The study quieted down.

Xu Ke stood by the window for a moment, then returned to the desk and unfolded a sheet of paper. He began writing a letter.

The letter wasn’t long. When Xu Fu returned, it was nearly finished. Xu Ke added a final line, dried the ink, folded it, and sealed it:

“Please take care of this matter, Second Sister-in-law. Remember this name: kelexs.com. Good books won’t be lost. Please send the person over as soon as possible.”

He then handed the letter to Xu Fu.

Xu Fu took the letter, hesitated for a moment, then said, “My lord, regarding the county yamen… should we make some preparations? Those people are connected to all sorts of underworld figures. If they really stir things up, I’m afraid it won’t be easy to handle.”

Xu Ke smiled and patted his shoulder.

“No need. Right now, the name of the Jia family still carries some weight. This is just a precaution. A man of great worth does not stand under a collapsing wall. If there’s help available, we use it.”

He walked to the doorway, then looked back.

“All right, go rest. There will be more to do tomorrow.”

Xu Fu responded and withdrew.

Standing under the corridor, Xu Ke looked at the outline of the yamen in the night and let out a long breath.

Zhou Fengchun … I’m waiting for your move. What are you waiting for?

The largest wine house in Shenjing County had been reserved that night by County Magistrate Zhou.

On the second floor private room, after three rounds of drinks and five courses of dishes, the atmosphere was already lively. Zhou Fengchun sat at the head seat, slowly turning a celadon wine cup between his fingers, wearing his usual composed smile. Below him, several local gentry clinked cups and spoke more freely as the alcohol took effect.

“Lord Zhou, just say it directly. What’s the plan this time?” a fat merchant slapped his cup onto the table. Wine splashed out, but he didn’t care at all. “Aren’t the previous magistrates all sent away by us? What can this one possibly do differently?”

Zhou Fengchun smiled faintly.

“Brother Qian, no need to rush. This Magistrate Xu is somewhat different from the previous ones. We must proceed slowly.”

“Different?” the man surnamed Qian snorted. “Aren’t they all outsiders? He handled Zhou Shun only because that fool walked into a blade. If we all act together, can he really take us all down?”

A dark-faced man on the side chimed in.

“Brother Qian is right. I’ve got dozens of men in the street gangs. They’ve been idle for too long—it’s time to stretch their muscles.”

Qian clapped his hands.

“Exactly! I’ll raise grain prices in my shops tomorrow. Once the people can’t afford food, they’ll flood the yamen in protest. Let’s see how he handles that.”

Someone hesitated.

“I heard this Magistrate Xu has backing from the Jia family…”

Qian paused and looked at Zhou Fengchun.

Zhou Fengchun remained calm and smiled.

“The Jia family? No need to worry. He has his backing, and I have mine in official circles. But officialdom has its own rules. Even the Jia family cannot openly interfere in local governance for the sake of a mere seventh-rank magistrate.”

He took a sip of wine and continued slowly.

“As long as we follow the old methods—stir trouble in the streets, manipulate grain prices—he will naturally fall into disorder. At that point, someone will handle things on the official side for me.”

Qian’s eyes lit up.

“So that’s how it is, Lord Zhou…”

Zhou Fengchun waved his hand lightly.

“Some things are better left unsaid. You only need to know—the old methods still work.”

The dark-faced man grinned.

“Then it’s settled! Tomorrow I’ll have my street gangs move—smash a few stalls, block a few streets, and let that Xu suffer.”

Qian also grew excited.

“I’ll raise grain prices first thing tomorrow. When the people can’t buy rice, they’ll cry at the yamen. Let’s see how he responds.”

Zhou Fengchun nodded.

“Just don’t make it too extreme at first. Test his reaction. As for spreading rumors—set that aside for now.”

Qian asked, puzzled, “Why? Don’t we usually use all three methods together?”

Zhou Fengchun glanced at him.

“That man just handled Zhou Shun. The people are calling him a ‘righteous magistrate’ right now. Rumors at this moment will be useless and may backfire. Wait until the first two measures take effect and public resentment rises—then it will be the right time.”

Qian gave a thumbs-up.

“Lord Zhou is truly far-sighted!”

In the corner, a few others exchanged glances but said nothing, lowering their heads to drink tea.

Zhou Fengchun ignored them and raised his cup.

“Come, everyone. Drink. After this is done, there will be generous rewards.”

They all raised their cups and drank.

By the time the banquet ended, night was already deep.

Qian staggered up, leaning on Zhou Fengchun’s arm.

“Lord Zhou… that land in the east of the city…”

Zhou Fengchun patted him lightly, smiling without answering, and signaled servants to help him into his sedan chair.

The dark-faced man cupped his fists and left with his men, disappearing into the night.

Standing at the entrance of the wine house, Zhou Fengchun watched the sedan chairs fade into the distance. The smile on his face slowly faded.

The shopkeeper approached cautiously.

“Lord Zhou, tonight’s bill…”

“Put it on my account,” Zhou Fengchun said without turning.

The shopkeeper hurriedly bowed and withdrew.

Zhou Fengchun looked up at the night sky, a cold smile appearing at the corner of his lips.

Xu Ke?

Young, arrogant, inexperienced.

This time, he would let him truly understand—

just how deep the waters of Shenjing County really were.