bullyxtreme Chapter 104 Calling Each Other Brothers
Chapter 104 Calling Each Other Brothers
As dusk settled, Li Chong and Ma Kuo helped each other out of Zuiyun Tower.
"Brother!" Li Chong laughed, his eyes glazed with drunkenness. "Meeting you today, I realize that true friendship really exists. If it weren't for your heavy responsibilities, I would have loved to keep you here to sleep next to me."
"When I went to Bianjing to take the imperial examination back then, how could I have missed getting to know you, my worthy brother? It's truly a great regret!"
"Hehehe~~~"
Ma Kuo staggered slightly, his face flushed, and replied with a smile, "Brother! What you said is exactly what I wanted to say! I never imagined that not all scholars are pedantic pedants, but that there are also people like you, skilled in both literature and martial arts. Tomorrow, when you return to the capital after your promotion, I will certainly do my best to be your host!"
"Then it's a deal! I eagerly await your invitation, my dear brother!"
"It's a deal!" Ma Kuo patted Li Chong on the shoulder and laughed heartily. "If I come back alive, I'll definitely share a drink with you again, brother!"
Li Chong grimaced and gasped.
This kid, when he's drunk, he doesn't know his own strength.
Judging from this, Ma Kuo's boast at the dinner table about being able to draw a strong bow was not an exaggeration.
Li Chong immediately removed Ma Kuo's arm and handed him to his subordinate: "Brother, don't say such discouraging things. I see that you are blessed with good fortune and are not destined for a short life. Your journey will surely be smooth sailing. After we return to the capital and report to the emperor, I will be waiting for your help."
"Of course, of course."
After exchanging a few polite words while still slightly drunk, Ma Kuo's subordinates helped him onto his horse and headed towards the post station.
Be careful.
Li Chong couldn't help but add, "Brother, you've had too much to drink. Don't run so fast, or something might happen."
"It's alright!" Ma Kuo waved his hand dismissively. "When I was in the capital, it was common for me to get drunk and hang out with others. Brother, you don't need to worry about it."
He bowed slightly while seated on horseback, and Ma Kuo patted the horse's back, shouting, "Giddy up!"
As if to prove himself, he rode off at breakneck speed.
"Hey!"
Li Chong raised his hand, but it was too late to catch up.
"Don't drink and ride a horse, and don't ride a horse and drink, or you might get into a car accident."
It's so rare to find a Northern Song official who gets along with you; it's a valuable connection. It would be such a shame if he ended up getting drunk and falling off his horse, which would be a terrible injustice.
Watching Ma Kuo's departing figure disappear into the distance, Li Chong sighed helplessly and lowered his hand.
Before anyone knew it, his eyes, which had been blurry with drunkenness, were now clear and he looked quite energetic.
If it weren't for the slight flush on his cheeks, you wouldn't have been able to tell that he had drunk a lot of wine.
This is something he's been honing recently. Putting everything else aside, Li Chong's acting skills have improved quite a bit since this time travel.
"County Magistrate."
Behind him, the Xue family father and son came out.
Li Chong rubbed his face, put on a smile again, and turned around to look at them: "Gentlemen, thank you for keeping me company today."
Before Xue Tao could speak, Xue Ming spoke first, saying readily, "Your Excellency, what are you saying? It's a rare opportunity to have a drink with this young master from Bianjing. This young master Ma comes from a respectable background, but his temperament suits my taste quite well; he's a fine man."
"Wen Zhao!"
Xue Tao reprimanded his son in a low voice, then stepped forward half a step: "May I ask, Your Excellency, what brings this envoy to my Yanggu County? Is it related to the decree regarding the land reclamation policy?"
Seeing Xue Tao's concerned expression, Li Chong finally realized that this was what Xue Tao was worried about.
That's true. Given the speed of information dissemination in this era, probably very few people in the entire Northern Song Dynasty would know about the Jin Dynasty across the sea, let alone a country gentry like Xue Tao.
If we're talking about major events, the only major event in Yunzhou recently is the imperial court's order to reclaim land.
In the entire Yanggu County, which wealthy family has all the necessary paperwork for their land?
Of course, we have to worry about what unexpected changes might occur.
The land reclamation project concerns the land property of tens of thousands, even millions, of people, so it is not surprising that the imperial court would send a special envoy to oversee the matter.
However, Li Chong had already verified that Ma Zheng's group was headed to Dengzhou and were going to sea, so it was definitely not for this matter.
However, I can't tell them this.
After a moment's thought, Li Chong slowly said, "It's hard to say. When Lord Ma came, he reprimanded me and told me to keep it a secret. I really don't know why. But I have other plans regarding the land reclamation."
Xue Tao's voice became more hurried: "Please give your instructions, Your Excellency."
Those angels are too high a level for him to reach; he should focus on what's in front of him.
"The imperial court has ordered the reclamation of land, specifically land with unclear contracts," Li Chong said slowly. "If the contracts are completed, even if the imperial court sends people down to inspect, they will have no grounds for complaint, thus ensuring complete safety."
Xue Tao looked troubled: "The imperial court just issued an order this year that even if the county magistrate helps us with the land deeds, the two sides can still find out that my family is intentionally evading payment. When the superiors blame us, not only will we lose our land, but we will also have to pay a lot of money."
The land deeds are brand new; the imperial court would never leave such a large loophole if it wanted to amass wealth.
Therefore, Xue Tao felt that it was still very risky.
Li Chong glanced at him. Was Xue Tao really unaware, or was he pretending to be stupid?
Even a time traveler like himself understands this operation, so why wouldn't this old fox know it?
On second thought, Li Chong seemed to have figured it out. Xue Tao wasn't unaware of this; he was just waiting for him to speak.
After all, if Xue Tao spoke first, it would mean he needed Li Chong's help and would have to give him something in return; but if Li Chong spoke first, things would be much easier. Although he would still have to spend some money, he would definitely save a lot of money.
Li Chong shook his head inwardly: "He's just judging others by his own petty standards."
Fine, I'll give him face.
"Master Xue must be confused," Li Chong said with a chuckle. "The date written on the newly made land deed is just a matter for this county to decide. Even if you're worried about flaws, it's not difficult to find a few skilled craftsmen to make the contract look old."
"After all, it was accumulated over many years, and it's heartbreaking to see it snatched away by treacherous officials in the court."
Xue Tao's eyes flickered slightly, and he immediately cupped his hands and said, "What the county magistrate says is true. My family has fifty mu of excellent paddy and dry land, which I would like to give to the county magistrate as a token of my gratitude."
"Heh." Li Chong shook his head. "Who does Patriarch Xue think I am? Some kind of Yang Chengde?"
Xue Tao was somewhat surprised upon hearing this. What did Li Chong mean by that?
Li Chong turned to face the father and son, and said solemnly, "There are treacherous officials in the court who have misled the emperor into issuing such decrees that harm the people. Although I am merely a county magistrate, I cannot stand by and watch this happen. My intervention is solely to stabilize the people, not to take the opportunity to enrich myself!"
Upon hearing this, the Xue father and son were filled with respect. If what Li Chong said was true, then he was truly a rare and incorruptible official.
Li Chong continued, "Look at Zhu Zhicheng, even if he gave me money, I might not help him! Your bribery of me today is clearly not to thank me, but to harm me!"
Xue Tao, his face filled with shame, said, "It was my shallow thinking that led me to misunderstand the magistrate. I beg your forgiveness."
"Atonement? That's easy to discuss." Li Chong gave a strange smile. "As long as you agree to do this county a favor, I'll take care of the land deed for you."