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#85 - Let Taipingdao tell you

Qingzhou Prefecture.

Prefectural Yamen.

Study.

A pot of clear tea was already brewed.

Prefect Gao Yuan and Assistant Administrator An Liangbi sat on chairs, their brows furrowed.

Outside, a series of cries and noisy commotions arose.

Extremely clamorous!

"What's going on with this Yang family?"

"Yang Jingye was killed by people from the Guiyi Sect; they should just go to the Six Doors to handle it."

"Coming to the Yamen every two or three days to make a scene, do they really think this Prefectural Yamen is run by their Yang family?"

Gao Yuan, reaching the end of his patience, slammed heavily on the tea table, causing the teacups to rattle.

Relying on the influence of Han Guozhang, the Yang family had been engaging in bullying and market manipulation in Qingzhou Prefecture, long incurring the resentment of the people.

Gao Yuan, out of respect for Han Guozhang, had indulged the Yang family many times, but not only did the Yang family not restrain themselves, they instead became even more excessive.

Now, with the great epidemic in Qingzhou.

The Yang family, disregarding Gao Yuan's advice, actually monopolized medicinal materials and drove up drug prices.

They simply weren't giving Gao Yuan any face at all, nor were they giving the poor people of Qingzhou a way to survive.

Now, they were also constantly harassing the Prefectural Yamen, disrupting normal office work.

How could this not enrage Gao Yuan?

Assistant Administrator An Liangbi smiled and said:

"Your Excellency, the Yang family naturally went to the Six Doors to make a scene."

"Today, the Yang family comes to us with their troubles, not because of Yang Jingye's matter, but because of the recent attacks on their Yang family's shops and businesses."

Strangely enough.

Recently, a group of people emerged, constantly harassing all of the Yang family's businesses in Qingzhou.

Some people threw dung into the Yang family's cosmetic shop, splashed ink on the silk shop, and released snakes into the restaurant…

These were still minor.

Even more extreme, some directly set fire to the Yang family's shops, estates, and even residences.

Or, they used falling rocks, flying arrows, and other means to obstruct the Yang family's caravan transport on the road.

Even now, people have begun to attack members of the Yang family, although no one has been killed yet, the situation is developing more and more seriously.

For a time, the entire Yang family's business was almost at a standstill, and everyone was panic-stricken.

Regarding this matter, the Prefectural Yamen naturally could not sit idly by.

A group of people were arrested, and a group of people were also punished.

But the situation did not subside, but instead showed a tendency to intensify.

Those people seemed to have no fear of punishment at all, not even death, like a group of crazy fanatics.

Like moths flying into a flame, they followed one after another.

According to their confessions, these people believed that if they died for the Yellow Heaven, they would surely enter the Yellow Heaven and enjoy eternal bliss after death.

It was precisely this belief that made a group of ordinary people unafraid of even the powerful and influential Yang family.

Gao Yuan pondered:

"It must be those people from the Taiping Dao doing it, right?"

An Liangbi nodded:

"The Taiping Dao originated in Giant Cow Village, Taiyang County; its leader calls himself the Great Virtuous Teacher, and it is said that he can cure diseases with talisman water, and has many followers during the great epidemic."

Gao Yuan had long been dissatisfied with the Yang family, but lacked the means to restrain them.

Now that the Taiping Dao had appeared, Gao Yuan also intended to use the Taiping Dao to check and balance the Yang family.

As a Prefect, if he wanted to be invincible in Qingzhou, he had to learn the art of balance.

It was precisely for this reason that Gao Yuan did not deal with the Taiping Dao's harassment of the Yang family with thunderous means, but instead intentionally let it go unchecked.

At the same time, Gao Yuan also secretly remembered Qiu Zhuo's name.

A subordinate who can understand his superior's intentions is a good subordinate worth cultivating.

However, Gao Yuan naturally couldn't say so openly.

He just said faintly:

"Since there are people who do not abide by the law and discipline, then deal with them according to the law."

"The most important thing is irrefutable evidence to be convincing. Do not engage in favoritism and bend the law, and betray the Emperor's grace."

"As long as the evidence is sufficient, arrest whoever should be arrested. This kind of trivial matter is not for the Prefectural Yamen to worry about; let the people below handle it well."

An Liangbi secretly pondered Gao Yuan's meaning.

Afterward, he hesitated and said:

"The magistrate of Taiyang County has a memorial reporting the Yang family."

"Your Excellency… do you want to take a look?"

As An Liangbi spoke, he took out an official document from his bosom and placed it on the desk.

Seeing An Liangbi's hesitant appearance, Gao Yuan also had a bad feeling in his heart.

Especially when it came to major events involving the Yang family, whatever he did would become a thorny matter.

He did not open the official document, but just tapped it lightly with his fingers and asked:

"Should I look at it?"

An Liangbi shook his head gently.

Seeing An Liangbi's advice, Gao Yuan couldn't help but frown secretly.

He immediately understood that the matter involved in this memorial must be very big.

So big that it was not something he, as a Prefect, could decide.

But as the head of a prefecture, he was always constrained by the Yang family everywhere, which also made him unwilling.

Gao Yuan pondered slightly and said:

"Then let's just shelve it for now."

So An Liangbi took the official document on the desk and put it back away.

Since the official document had not been presented to His Excellency for review, the matter could naturally be dragged on and shelved first.

After a pause, An Liangbi said again:

"Your Excellency, recently the Taiping Dao has been developing rapidly in Qingzhou, and has swept through many counties."

"Even in Qingzhou Prefecture, they plan to set up a sub-altar."

"Once their sub-altar is successfully established, I am afraid it will stimulate the Yang family, leading to a struggle between the two sides."

"Should we prevent this?"

Hearing this matter, Gao Yuan couldn't help but remain silent for a moment.

Finally, he said:

"For folk beliefs, it is better to guide than to block."

"Moreover, this official has heard that the Taiping Dao seems to have some methods in treating epidemics."

"During this great epidemic, if the Taiping Dao can assist in warding off the epidemic, then the government should vigorously promote it."

Gao Yuan also wanted to see just how much the Taiping Dao, which dared to contend with the Yang family, was worth.

If the Taiping Dao was just a self-important mantis trying to stop a chariot, then this chess piece was not worth utilizing.

If the Taiping Dao really had some skills and value, then Gao Yuan would seriously consider it.

An Liangbi nodded:

"This official understands."

At this time, the crying and noise outside became louder.

Clearly, the Yang family members, not getting a response for a long time, became even more unruly.

An Liangbi asked in a low voice:

"Lord, what about these Yang family members..."

Gao Yuan said displeased:

"This official enforces the law impartially, how can I be swayed by the Yang family?"

"Let them cry if they want to cry, ignore them."

Now that Yang Jingye was dead, the Yang family was without a leader.

Before a new head of the family was established, the Yang family would at least have to go through internal strife for a while.

At this point in time, Gao Yuan didn't need to give the Yang family any face.

"Right, send someone to inform the Yang family."

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"If someone is causing trouble for the Yang family's business, the government will take care of it, and will handle it."

"But the Yang family is not allowed to abuse private justice, otherwise, don't blame this official for being ruthless."

Gao Yuan, taking advantage of the opportunity of Yang Jingye's recent death, also intended to give the Yang family a good warning.

...

Taiyang County.

County衙.

A luxurious convoy stopped in front of the county office.

A group of distinguished guests were invited into the study of the yamen.

Magistrate Qiu Zhuo and his advisor Zhang You, upon hearing the news, also hurried over.

"You two are..."

Qiu Zhuo looked at the visitors in front of him, not familiar with them.

But in his heart, he already had a general guess.

He saw that among the group in front of him, there were no lack of maids, male servants, and guards.

And the leaders were the two young women in the lead.

The two young women had beautiful faces, gorgeous clothes, and extraordinary temperament, obviously not from ordinary families.

The young woman in the lead glanced at Qiu Zhuo, and said with a face full of arrogance:

"Qiu Zhuo, I am Yang Yelin, the direct granddaughter of the Yang family."

This Yang Yelin was somewhat condescending, obviously not taking a small county magistrate seriously.

Another young woman bowed and said:

"This commoner is Yang Jing of the Yang family, greetings to the County Magistrate."

This young woman who called herself Yang Jing seemed much more modest.

Qiu Zhuo immediately returned the greeting:

"So it turns out that you two are young ladies of the Yang family, please forgive me for any neglect."

Yang Yelin, upon hearing this, pointed at Yang Jing contemptuously and said:

"Qiu Zhuo, make one thing clear."

"I am the young lady, she is just a concubine's daughter."

As she spoke, Yang Yelin went straight to the main seat and sat down.

And Yang Jing lowered her head slightly, not daring to sit, and could only stand aside with the maids.

Since ancient times, the legal wife was honored, and the concubine was inferior.

The Yang family was a wealthy merchant family, and even more strictly adhered to etiquette.

A concubine's daughter's status, from childhood, was to serve the legal mother and legal sister, and her status was only slightly higher than that of a slave.

Yang Jing came along this time to be responsible for serving and assisting her legal sister Yang Yelin.

Qiu Zhuo smiled awkwardly and asked Yang Yelin:

"I wonder what Miss Yang has come here for..."

Yang Yelin slammed the table and snorted coldly:

"Qiu Zhuo, are you asking the obvious!"

"My grandfather died in your Taiyang County, what do you think I'm here for?"

Qiu Zhuo and Zhang You exchanged a glance, obviously this Yang Yelin had come to settle accounts.

Immediately, Qiu Zhuo said with an awkward smile:

"Miss Yang, the person who killed Old Master Yang was Guiyi Sect."

"Guiyi Sect is a martial arts sect, which is managed by the Six Doors, I am also powerless."

Yang Yelin saw that Qiu Zhuo wanted to easily push the blame, and an angry look appeared on her pretty face:

"Qiu Zhuo, don't even think about getting away completely clean."

"After all, my grandfather died in your yamen, and you can't escape responsibility."

"If our Yang family were to pursue the matter, I think your position as County Magistrate would come to an end!"

Yang Yelin originally thought that her words would definitely scare Qiu Zhuo into a panic.

But who knew.

Qiu Zhuo only chuckled twice, and did not answer.

This made Yang Yelin even more angry.

A small County Magistrate actually dared to try to perfunctorily deal with her?

Yang Yelin immediately said sternly:

"Qiu Zhuo!"

"I see that you really don't take this young lady seriously!"

"Then this young lady wants to ask you, my grandfather brought an entire convoy when he came to your Taiyang County."

"Why hasn't a single person or vehicle returned to this day?"

"Especially my grandfather brought one hundred thousand taels of silver to Taiyang County, why hasn't there been any news of a single penny to this day?"

"Tell me, did you embezzle this money?"

Yang Yelin's voice was very sharp, echoing throughout the study.

However, Qiu Zhuo looked at his nose, his nose at his mouth, and his mouth at his heart, looking like he didn't plan to answer.

Zhang You, who was beside him, stood up and was about to speak.

But he was immediately pointed at and scolded angrily by Yang Yelin:

"It's not your place to speak here!"

"Qiu Zhuo, I ask you again."

"That Taiping Dao in your Taiyang County, why is it constantly opposing our Yang family, is there your instruction behind this?"

"You have such great courage, even when your father was alive, he had to be respectful to our Yang family."

"Tell me! Who gave you the courage?"

Qiu Zhuo sighed slightly, shook his head gently, and revealed a strong sense of regret on his face.

It was unknown what he was regretting.