Chapter 78: The Emperor's Edict

After much conversation, Du Long and his companions finally understood why these villagers abandoned their fertile fields and instead scraped by on the mountains, barely surviving, only to be harassed by officials from time to time.

“Don’t the local officials know what's happening here? Do they really just ignore the people of Fengli County starving, as if it’s none of their concern?” Du Long asked in disbelief.

“Sigh! It’s us common folk who suffer. Those officials don’t care about the meager profits from farming. They’re all getting rich from the gold they secretly mine from the Monster Beast Forest,” an elderly villager finally spoke up, having shed his initial wariness.

Looking at the twisted stalks of malnourished crops on the hillside, Du Long felt a rising, indescribable rage. Such corrupt and negligent officials were truly despicable!

“How outrageous! Everyone, I am Du Long, the newly appointed Lord of Fengli County. I swear to punish these corrupt officials severely and restore peace and prosperity to the people under my rule!” In his anger, Du Long revealed his identity and made his vow before the villagers.

“The new lord?” one villager scoffed, “Heh, we’ve seen several lords come and go. But since this fief doesn’t make any money and actually costs them, each one hardly waits to leave. Who would want to take on such a wretched place?”

“Haha, Du Long! The world is indeed full of wonders!” Su Jinbao burst out laughing as if he’d heard the greatest joke. “I’ve seen countless county towns in my travels, but this is the first time I’ve heard of a lord losing money on his own fief!”

Humiliated by this mockery, Du Long’s face flushed red. He grumbled, “It is indeed strange! Even the poorest fief should at least break even. How could one end up losing money?”

The elderly villager explained with a dark expression, “It’s quite simple. The county governor, Qian Jinlong, is fond of boasting at banquets about his powerful connections—he claims to be directly tied to Chancellor Fan’s family in the capital. With such a background, he secretly colludes with others to mine gold, making money far faster than any harvest could bring. So…”

Du Long finally understood: to maintain his private monopoly over the gold mines, the black-hearted county governor deliberately imposed external tax rates on the fields, squeezing the people until they could no longer farm. With no tax from agriculture, the population dwindled, revenues collapsed, and expenses outstripped income. The result? Lords could only pour money in, never turn a profit!

Even more absurd, the governor would “generously” cover some expenses out of his own pocket, then claim the county owed him a fortune. Of course, the villagers only heard vague rumors—the sum was astronomical.

He was, after all, merely a county governor, a senior servant of the state with limited salary. If not for corruption, where would he get so much money to “lend” to the county? Yet, the county somehow ended up in debt to this minor official!

“Outrageous!” Du Long fumed. “I’ll go right now and cut down that corrupt scoundrel myself!”

“Du Long, don’t be rash!” Zeng Wan’er quickly cut in, seeing his anger rising. “The governor is an imperial official, beyond the authority of a mere lord. You have no right to judge him, let alone execute him!” As the daughter of a high-ranking minister, she was well versed in the empire’s bureaucracy.

“She’s right, Du Long! Don’t act impulsively, or you’ll only bring ruin to yourself and the entire Du clan!” Du Cainie urged as well.

Seeing the villagers’ disappointed faces, Du Long felt his rage almost boil over, but memories from his previous life reminded him he truly could not act recklessly.

At that moment, Princess Fire Phoenix leaned close and whispered a few words in his ear. His ash-grey face suddenly lit up with disbelief. “Is that true?!”

“Of course! Would I joke about something like this?” she replied with a pout.

“Ha! Heaven truly favors me! Come, let us ride at once to Fengli County City! Fellow villagers, await my good news!” Du Long’s anger vanished, replaced by laughter as he leaped onto his warhorse and galloped off toward his guards.

After joining forces, more than two hundred riders thundered toward Fengli County City, kicking up a great cloud of dust as the bewildered villagers watched them go.

Fengli was already within the county borders, so riding hard, it took them barely over an hour before a ramshackle earthen city appeared on the horizon. Its dilapidated walls spoke volumes about the poverty within.

From afar, they saw dozens of people waiting outside the city gates—an unusual welcome, but then, this was the arrival of the princess’s consort, not just any minor lord. Governor Qian Jinlong himself led a group of officials and local nobles to greet them.

Du Long rode at the head of the column, reined in his horse at the gate, and swept his gaze over the corpulent figures assembled there. The sight of these bloated parasites made his blood boil.

“I am Qian Jinlong, governor of Fengli County! May I ask if it is Her Highness Princess Fire Phoenix and Lord Du arriving?” The crowd parted to reveal a fat, middle-aged man, who stepped forward with a sycophantic grin and a deep bow.

“This is Her Highness Princess Fire Phoenix, and I am Du Long, the new lord of Fengli County.” Though seething inside, Du Long announced their identities.

At this, Qian Jinlong’s beady eyes lit up and his ingratiating smile grew wider. Leading his entourage, he knelt and offered a formal greeting. “Your humble servant Qian Jinlong pays his respects to Princess Fire Phoenix and Lord Consort!”

“Rise,” said the princess impatiently, waving her hand, the sight of so much quivering fat making her queasy.

“Thank you, Your Highness. Thank you, Lord Consort!” Qian Jinlong rose with his followers, already sweating from that brief act of obeisance.

“I have prepared a banquet at the city lord’s residence. Please, Your Highness and Lord Consort, honor us with your presence!” Wiping his brow, the fat governor forced another fawning smile.

“No need. Please, Governor Qian, take us directly to the county administration. Time is short, and I must immediately take charge of all affairs in Fengli County.” Du Long refused at once; he had no appetite for feasting with these gluttonous officials.

“Well…” Qian Jinlong was caught off guard by this snub. Glancing nervously at the armored troops behind Du Long—the imperial guards’ murderous discipline made him shudder—he forced a smile. “Very well, let us go to the administration hall first. It’s right beside the city lord’s residence. Once your people are settled, we can move on to the banquet.”

Du Long offered no further explanation. Once Qian Jinlong had finally squeezed himself into his sedan chair, the party entered the city and headed for the administration hall. Watching the exhausted bearers struggle under the governor’s weight, Du Long and his companions could only sigh and laugh at the absurdity.

The street they traveled should have been the city’s main commercial thoroughfare. Yet, there were few pedestrians, and the buildings were mostly run-down. Only a handful of shops were open, while most doors remained tightly shut. The whole scene radiated desolation.

The people they passed had dull, hopeless eyes, their faces etched with despair. Their gaze toward the officials was filled with contempt and hatred. Their clothes were coarse and plain, and among all the people Du Long saw, only a rare few wore anything remotely fine.

The townsfolk were pale and thin, clearly malnourished, a stark contrast to the bloated officials and nobles.

At last, trailing behind the governor’s sedan, they arrived at the county administration hall. Du Long’s rage flared again as he looked at the two mansions before him—the city lord’s residence on the right (the governor’s own home) stood in opulent splendor, the grandest building in the entire city.

Right next to it, the official county hall was dilapidated beyond description; the disparity was beyond words.

Suppressing his fury, Du Long cast a cold glance at Qian Jinlong, who had just clambered out of his sedan, then turned to the curious townsfolk gathering nearby.

“Sun Lin! Wang Shun!” Du Long suddenly barked.

“At your command!” The two captains, elite among elites, stepped forward at once and saluted loudly.

“Take your squads and secure the county hall. No one is to move without orders—await my further instructions!” Du Long ordered sternly.

“Yes, sir!”

Sun and Wang immediately led their men into the county hall. Their fierce appearance startled Qian Jinlong, who hurried over, flustered. “Lord Consort, what is the meaning of this?”

“This is not the place to talk. Come, Governor, let us speak inside!” Without another word, Du Long strode into the county hall.

Entering the main chamber, Du Long unceremoniously took the central seat, the very one where the governor usually presided over cases. Technically, Du Long, as lord, had no right to sit there, but with his dual status as both lord and royal son-in-law, and with Princess Fire Phoenix herself present, no official dared object.

“Someone, bring a chair for Her Highness to sit beside me!” Sitting grandly in the main seat, Du Long called out. At once, a house retainer fetched a chair, and the princess seated herself without hesitation.

“Heh, everyone, I’m afraid you’ll have to amuse yourselves for a while. Feel free to wander the city or stay to watch me at work!” Du Long grinned at his friends.

“Don’t worry about us. I’m curious to see how you’ll handle matters,” Su Jinbao replied with a smile. The others nodded, so the group withdrew to the side to watch the proceedings.

Nodding, Du Long’s face turned serious. He stood, took out a golden imperial edict, and proclaimed in a loud voice, “Imperial decree from His Majesty!”

With a rustle, all the officials, their doubts and discontent forgotten, fell to their knees in reflex, waiting respectfully for Du Long to read the emperor’s command.