Chapter 57: Public Opinion 3/3

Zhang Chuqian was not afraid of County Magistrate Gou.

It is understandable. In Chongcheng County, if County Magistrate Gou wants to collect all the taxes, he must rely on some local forces. If he offends Zhang Chuqian, and Chuqian prevents him from collecting taxes, he won’t be a good magistrate.

This person is really arrogant… After Zhang Chuqian left, Li Qingzhi found County Magistrate Gou who was upset by Zhang Chuqian.

He first comforted County Magistrate Gou, then said, “Sir, you can begin.”

This is just the beginning.

After Zhang Chuqian swaggered out of the county government office, County Magistrate Gou, with tears in his eyes, personally took the old man who accused Zhang Chuqian to the clinic for treatment, paid for his medicine, and bought food for him.

The feces worker had always been doing the lowest of jobs, and no one respected him. Now, the county magistrate was so good to him that he was moved to tears.

Chongcheng County is not big, and many common people saw this scene.

“County Magistrate Gou is really a good person.”

“Yes, the county magistrate is quite good.”

“That Zhang Chuqian is really despicable.”

“Why didn’t the county magistrate arrest Zhang Chuqian?”

“The county magistrate may not have a way…”

…

As the people of Chongcheng County were discussing, someone suddenly said, “The county magistrate really has no way. Zhang Chuqian’s brother-in-law is Sun Juren!”

“Last time when Zhang Chuqian beat someone, he proudly said his brother-in-law is Sun Juren!”

“Zhang Chuqian even said he could prevent County Magistrate Gou from becoming the magistrate!”

“Is Zhang Chuqian that powerful?”

“It’s not just him, many powerful people in Chongcheng County, like Sun Juren, are related to him.”

…

Along with such remarks, there were also some anecdotes circulating in Chongcheng County. These anecdotes were all tearful complaints from ordinary people about Zhang Chuqian’s misdeeds!

Whether it was comments exposing Zhang Chuqian’s background or stories accusing Zhang Chuqian, they were all spread by Li Qingzhi and County Magistrate Gou.

Li Qingzhi spread County Magistrate Gou’s predicament to let the common people know about his difficulties.

The bad things Zhang Chuqian had done, he even turned into stories.

Zhu Family.

With a brush in his left hand, Li Qingzhi quickly wrote on the paper. In no time, a tear-jerking essay accusing Zhang Chuqian was written by him.

County Magistrate Gou stood aside, his disgust for Zhang Chuqian growing stronger. “This person truly commits numerous evils.”

Zhu Qian replied, “I’ll immediately have people copy it several times and spread it around!”

Li Qingzhi put down his brush. “Uncle Zhu, we can also have someone read it aloud in crowded places.”

“It should be done!” Zhu Qian agreed.

Li Qingzhi had written several such essays last night and some more today. It was almost enough. “Now that it’s almost done, all we need to do is push it in the direction we want.”

“Nephew, your idea is really good,” Zhu Qian said.

This time, County Magistrate Gou almost entirely relied on Zhu Qian to handle things, which Zhu Qian was delighted to do.

As long as he helped County Magistrate Gou accomplish this matter, he would certainly stand out in County Magistrate Gou’s eyes in the future.

And with County Magistrate Gou as his patron, his business would inevitably thrive.

Li Qingzhi said, “This is just an ordinary idea, but it’s successful because the county magistrate empathizes with the people.”

“Indeed, the magistrate is truly a benevolent official, willing to sacrifice his own reputation to bring a bright day to the people,” Zhu Qian hurriedly added. They had spread the news of County Magistrate Gou being sidelined by local forces in certain areas, which somewhat tarnished County Magistrate Gou’s reputation.

But Zhu Qian didn’t mention it, and County Magistrate Gou probably wasn’t even aware of it.

Li Qingzhi and Zhu Qian praised County Magistrate Gou relentlessly, making County Magistrate Gou feel extremely pleased and considering the two as confidants.

“I haven’t done much… It’s Ah Qing who is the hero,” County Magistrate Gou said.

“If it weren’t for the county magistrate, how could I accomplish anything?” Li Qingzhi quickly replied.

County Magistrate Gou was deeply moved to see Li Qingzhi always putting him first and praised Li Qingzhi’s handwriting with his left hand.

Li Qingzhi’s handwriting wasn’t pretty, but it had its own style within its vigorous strokes.

“I only practiced left-handed writing to capture the county magistrate’s heroic spirit,” Li Qingzhi looked sincerely at County Magistrate Gou. After all, everything was thanks to County Magistrate Gou!

The Zhu family was harmonious, but outside, the common people were becoming increasingly angry.

“That Zhang Chuqian is truly lawless.”

“Who let his brother-in-law be Sun Juren?”

“Quick, go to the east of the city, someone is covering their face there and accusing Zhang Chuqian!”

…

The crowd rushed over, and there, the person arranged by Zhu Qian covered his face with cloth and was reading aloud the simple and tear-inducing essay written by Li Qingzhi. The first-person essay was very colloquial and moving, causing the listeners to uncontrollably wipe their tears.

Even the story of the son of Old Sun, whose leg was broken, telling others about his family’s misfortune, wasn’t as moving as this!

The people of Chongcheng County were already resentful towards Zhang Chuqian because of the incident with the chamber pots, and now, these emotions were further exacerbated.

Not only ordinary people were affected, but even scholars were influenced. The students in Li Xiucai’s school were extremely disgusted with Zhang Chuqian.

Such a good county magistrate like County Magistrate Gou was actually being forced by Zhang Chuqian!

And those who were harmed by Zhang Chuqian were truly pitiful!

The younger students in the school were crying, and they cursed Zhang Chuqian.

Li Xiucai was also secretly cursing Zhang Chuqian.

With so many people in his family, and many people having chamber pots at home, everyone liked cleanliness… If Zhang Chuqian’s plan truly succeeded, their family would only be emptying chamber pots, and they would earn barely a few coins a day.

And who knows if Zhang Chuqian’s collections will keep increasing?

The entire Chongcheng County was in turmoil. Zhang Chuqian, who boasted “My brother-in-law is Sun Juren,” was furious due to the two incidents of feces being thrown at his house and being sued.

Zhang Chuqian sent his men to find the person who threw feces at his house, and during their search, conflicts inevitably arose.

“Zhang Chuqian’s men have beaten someone again!”

“Zhang Chuqian is going too far!”

“Why don’t they arrest him?”

“I heard even the county government’s bailiffs have been bribed by him.”

“What should we do then?”

“The county town is getting worse and worse…”

…

The people of Chongcheng County complained, and it was at this time that some words spread: “Let’s all go to the county government office tomorrow!”

“County Magistrate Gou is a good official, he will surely help us.”

“We can’t let Zhang Chuqian harm people anymore!”

“Sun Juren and his people are all related to Zhang Chuqian, only County Magistrate Gou can help us!”

…

After all, this was ancient times, and news spread slowly.

So by the time these messages spread, Li Qingzhi had already boarded Jin Xiaoshu’s boat, ready to go home.

His idea was actually very simple, just to stir up public opinion and let the people of Chongcheng County collectively sue Zhang Chuqian.

Zhang Chuqian could indeed shake off the accusations against him, but if all the people in the city sued him… this was ancient times, and officials had to consider public opinion.

With the entire city demanding punishment for Zhang Chuqian, County Magistrate Gou could easily capture him.

If County Magistrate Gou were to inform the authorities in the capital… not to mention Zhang Chuqian, even those like Sun Juren who were connected to Zhang Chuqian would be in big trouble!