Chapter Thirty-Eight: The Magistrate's Summons

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Of course, the matter of collecting taxes was mainly the county’s concern; in the rural pavilions, at most, they merely assisted, and it had little to do with Wang Zhenling. However, preparations against bandits and the expulsion of ghosts after the autumn harvest were precisely the responsibilities of Wang Zhenling, the wandering patrol.

“Preparations against bandits, expelling ghosts?” Wang Zhenling was slightly taken aback, but soon understood. It was the time after the autumn harvest, when winter was approaching, and the farmers had become idle.

Every year, at this time, as the end of the year drew near and the cold deepened, many common folk with no means of sustenance would often leave their homes and turn to banditry. In these times, people lived within walled communities, isolated and protected—making it hard for petty thieves to operate. Thus, the destitute would often gather together, forming gangs to rob households, with even more attacking travelers and merchants along the roads.

If the harvest was poor and the bandits grew in number, they might even dare to attack rural pavilions and county towns in groups. So, at this time, precautions against such bandits had to begin.

This, however, was only part of the problem. For in this world, there was no unified underworld; only local City Gods and spirits held dominion, suppressing ghosts. Each governed their own territory, with no overarching authority, resulting in many lawless areas where bandits and ghosts congregated and hid.

For example, the mountain of Wuji, over two hundred miles outside Danling County. This was precisely why the surrounding counties had more ghost constables than others.

And when the winter and the turn of the year arrived, those bandits and ghosts hiding in the gloomy places, forests, rivers, and marshes would roam out, causing harm everywhere. If the ghosts grew too many, so-called ghost tides would form, leading to nights when a hundred ghosts walked, and even ghosts appearing in broad daylight.

At such times, the government had to busy itself with repelling bandits and ghosts, lest the rampant bandits and spirits cause widespread disaster.

Some thirty years ago, Danling County suffered a ghost tide that breached the City God's prison, allowing sinful spirits to escape, even causing the City God himself to perish.

Wang Zhenling had crossed into this world more than ten years ago, so he naturally knew of these matters. Yet his knowledge was limited, for Jiaode Li was within the county town, protected by the City God, and ordinary ghosts or bandits dared not act recklessly.

Fortunately, after Wang Zhenling kept the rural clerk Zhu He by his side, the man had worked diligently, assisting Wang Zhenling with official tasks and alleviating many troubles.

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Zhu He, whatever his character, was quite capable and experienced in official affairs, and had already reported this matter to Wang Zhenling a few days earlier.

At that moment, Wang Zhenling said to Chen Bushi, “The lower officials have already arranged everything. After the autumn harvest, all pavilions will be ordered to strengthen their defenses and increase patrols. Each community will select able-bodied men during the idle season for drills.”

Hearing Wang Zhenling's response, Chen Bushi was quite satisfied. A subordinate who took initiative was always preferable to one who only acted when told.

Yet Wang Zhenling had not yet grasped Chen Bushi’s true intention.

“Where are these able-bodied men trained?” Chen Bushi asked in an apparently casual tone.

“According to past practice, each rural pavilion gathers only its own men, and the others train within their own jurisdictions. For if everyone assembled in one place, there would be at least a thousand or two people—too conspicuous, easily sparking rumors.”

In peaceful times, small-scale drills were acceptable. But gathering several thousand men for military exercises—was it rebellion or something else?

Chen Bushi nodded, “Since there’s precedent for such matters, let it follow the usual practice.”

After some consideration, he continued, “I’ve heard you’ve been at odds with the City God lately?”

Wang Zhenling was startled to find Chen Bushi already knew of this. He wondered if Chen Bushi was aware of his own theft of official fortune.

He could stand firm against the City God’s ghost officials only because he had Chen Bushi as his backer. Now that Chen Bushi had brought it up, Wang Zhenling knew he couldn’t maintain that attitude and simply answered, “Yes.”

“Hmm, that Danling City God is indeed rather domineering! You are my chosen candidate, yet the City God dares act so, clearly showing me no respect!” Chen Bushi sneered.

Wang Zhenling found it strange. Anyone who had spent time in officialdom knew superiors rarely showed such loyalty or voluntarily took on their subordinates’ troubles. Usually, superiors most hated those who stirred up unnecessary trouble.

Unless...

Chen Bushi and the City God already had their own conflict!

“Yes, the City God’s ghost officials keep insisting on dragging my clerk before you…”

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As Wang Zhenling considered whether to add embellishments, Chen Bushi slapped the table: “How dare that spirit act so!”

He was already furious.

Wang Zhenling knew nothing of the conflict between Chen Bushi and the City God, but Chen Bushi understood it well. He realized the City God’s ghost officials sought to bring Wang Zhenling before him, intending to embarrass him.

In the official world, right and wrong mattered little; what mattered was someone aiming to bring you down.

As a scion of the Chen clan of the river, the core of his generation, he was truly a favored son of heaven. To put it bluntly, his status and position were no less than those of imperial princes. Wherever he went, was he not surrounded by reverence and awe?

Yet this City God not only opposed him at every turn but now tried to scheme against him. How could Chen Bushi not be enraged?

Like Wang Zhenling, however, he found no easy way to deal with the City God for the moment. A City God was a local deity; to topple him was not impossible, but starting from above would be costly and not worthwhile. On his own side, he had no leverage.

At this point, Wang Zhenling spoke, “Sir, I’ve heard the City God is the deity of the city and should not associate with the spirits of the countryside, especially those of illicit shrines. Yet the Danling City God not only consorts with many rural community gods but even colludes with private shrines, such as the Great Fan rural shrine and the Black Water Shrine…”

He had not finished when Chen Bushi broke into delight.

To limit the power of the divine, especially since the City God was in the city and closest to the government, the court had enacted a series of prohibitions. For example, the City God's authority was never to extend beyond the city, nor should he associate with spirits outside.

Yet, like many decrees of the Grand Cheng Dynasty, these prohibitions had become empty words.

Such matters, though, could never be brought to light—much like corruption. It was forbidden, yet how many officials did not indulge? However, if evidence was ever found and reported, the corrupt official would meet a sorry fate.