Chapter 797: Chapter 681: Promoted to Third Rank (Part 2)
"Mr. Su has been promoted!"
"Lord Zhang has also been promoted, to Hu Zhou Governor, Acting Prefect!"
"Our dream has come true, we really have a Magistrate who loves the people..."
"The skies of Huzhou have cleared, thank Your Majesty for the great favor!"
"Thank Your Majesty for the great favor..."
The cheers rising and falling reached the state government, where Song Lifu, sitting on the Prefect’s high seat, slowly stood up. Facing the various prefectural officials below, who were glancing at each other, he smiled slightly, "Gentlemen, the appointment by His Majesty and the people’s collective gratitude, what do you make of it?"
Everyone in the room, due to this light-hearted remark, broke into a sweat.
Especially the governor and the inspector.
Logically, when a prefect commits an offense and is removed, there are only two ways for the new prefect to be appointed. One is for an Assistant Minister from above to be parachuted in, and the other is for someone to be selected from either the governor or the inspector.
They harbored such fantasies too.
But today, their fantasies were completely shattered.
The small magistrate they had oppressed for a long time was promoted to Hu Zhou Governor, Acting Prefect. In fact, everyone knew that this Hu Zhou Governor was just transitional; he was essentially the prefect.
The once heavily oppressed magistrate suddenly became their superior.
And was so deeply trusted by the emperor.
To the people, the skies over Huzhou might be clear, but to them, it’s certainly thundering.
"Come, let’s follow this officer to welcome our new governor. I can also use this opportunity for a handover." Song Lifu stepped out of the government office, leading the prefectural officials to welcome Zhang Yiran.
Meanwhile, Lin Xiaosu also returned to the rooftop of the restaurant.
Fu Fu, holding the newly acquired third-rank official uniform, was smiling widely. Her hands brushed over the fabric, almost wishing she could post on social media right then: "My husband has changed clothes again and again, what rank is this uniform? I don’t understand, seeking an explanation online..."
A golden light cut through the air, originating from the Prefectural Magistrate Mansion, as two figures walked through the air.
They were Song Lifu, the Minister of the Ministry of Justice, and the new Hu Zhou Governor, Zhang Yiran.
"Master Song, Lord Zhang!" Lin Xiaosu bowed slightly.
Zhang Yiran hurried forward, bowing deeply, "Greetings, Mr. Su!"
His bow was deeper than Lin Xiaosu’s.
This bow indicated that he still recognized Lin Xiaosu as his superior.
In fact, this was illogical.
Although the two of them held equivalent positions, Zhang Yiran as the governor wielded the power of a prefect, and he could essentially be considered a second-grade prefect.
From this perspective, his position was indeed higher than Lin Xiaosu’s.
But he completely disregarded that implicit superiority and still used the subordinate’s etiquette when meeting Lin Xiaosu.
Song Lifu, with his extensive experience in officialdom, could certainly see this.
He took a step forward, "Mr. Su, I shall return to Beijing today, and I’ve come to bid farewell!"
Lin Xiaosu smiled as well, "Master Song is returning to the capital, I have prepared some gifts for you to take back to Beijing."
Song Lifu laughed, "The gifts from Mr. Su, I have been receiving for three days, and now that I’ve collected them all, they were always intended to be taken back to the capital."
In his understanding, the gifts naturally referred to the more than two hundred suspects related to criminal cases within the Ministry of Justice.
However, Lin Xiaosu’s gift was not that.
With a wave of his hand, Zhang Tao lifted a chest.
Song Lifu’s body trembled slightly, "What is this?"
"The people’s wealth and silver extorted by Duan Jian Sect, among which are eight million Desert Gold present silver; Master Song, take it to His Majesty!"
"Eight million?" Song Lifu was shocked.
"Yes, Duan Jian Sect claimed to be the number one sect in Huzhou, indeed their resources and heritage outstrip the other sects by far."
Song Lifu gently waved his hand, and a guard from behind advanced to take it.
Song Lifu sighed deeply, "It seems the miracles Mr. Su created while going to Jiangnan continue."
Lin Xiaosu smiled, "But for the upcoming journey, I fear such successes will not come with every step."
"Next, you face the Sect Leader!" Song Lifu’s expression turned serious, "Mr. Su, do what you can, if you can’t, stopping is also no shame. The template you set in the Jiangnan Land with Huzhou has already exerted a huge influence, and echoes from other prefectures indicate that the sects have significantly restrained themselves. In fact, the goal of traveling to Jiangnan has already been accomplished."
Lin Xiaosu said, "I understand Master Song’s advice."
"But you still choose to move forward!"
"Yes! Tomorrow, I wish to enter Luohua Temple!"
Song Lifu deeply bowed, "This bow, on behalf of the ten billion people of Jiangnan, thanks Mr. Su!"
Lin Xiaosu returned the bow, "I dare not accept!"
"I will await good news in Beijing; farewell!"
"May you have a safe journey!"
Song Lifu rose into the air, returning to the capital.
Carrying away the last batch of connected accused from Huzhou related to the Ministry of Justice, he also took away the last harvest from Huzhou.
This marked the perfect closure of Lin Xiaosu’s first stop in Jiangnan.
Throughout the whole state, ten prefectures, ten major sects, plus one Heart Pavilion, were either eradicated or subdued, obtaining over four million Desert Gold in current silver. What concept is four million Desert Gold?
It is equivalent to half of Dahuang Country’s annual treasury revenue!
Within one state’s sect purges, to harvest half a treasury’s resources, appears immensely glorious, but this path is not replicable.
Why?
Because the money given to His Majesty was only obtainable by eradicating sects.
These sects had been extracting wealth for thousands of years, and he wiped it out at once. Can such a feat be infinitely replicated?
Obviously, it cannot.
For the upcoming journey, he won’t be able to bulldoze everything, he can only mainly rely on deterrence, and the ideal situation is if the sects accept his deterrence.
Upon acceptance, sects might as well hand over all their civil industries to you.
According to previous rules, these industries were then shared among the ex-owner and local people and would not be forwarded to His Majesty.
Lin Xiaosu is somewhat worried that His Majesty might be blinded by pots of Desert Gold and continually set his sights on money, so he gave Song Lifu an advance warning.
