Above the Great Dao
Chapter 261 - 138: Father and Son

Chapter 261: Chapter 138: Father and Son

The two returned to Huangpo Village, where Li Tianqing was already waiting at the village entrance and whispered, "Little Ten, people from Xinxiang County have come."

Chen Shi’s heart turned cold upon hearing this, and he glanced at Creation Little Five in slight panic, lowering his voice, "People from Xinxiang County? Could it be that the crime I committed in the past has been discovered? Tianqing, do you know which case has come to light?"

He had committed too many crimes, with multiple ones just from the Zhao family alone. Later, there were the cases of killing the County Magistrate of Xinxiang, the murder in front of the rich merchant’s house, and the assassination of the County Magistrate, all perpetrated in Xinxiang.

As for the other cases, they were committed elsewhere. According to the customs of the countryside, Xinxiang County shouldn’t interfere, right?

But it was difficult to say, after all, he had violated the laws of the Great Ming.

He didn’t want "Chen Tang" to know about these crimes he committed, fearing that "Chen Tang" would then refuse to acknowledge him.

Li Tianqing shook his head, "I didn’t dare to ask in detail. I’m also worried that it might be the affair with the Great Ming Treasure Ship that has been exposed, which could lead to us being captured and tortured by other families." freēwēbnovel.com

Creation Little Five chuckled inwardly. How could the whispered conversations of the two young fellows escape his hearing?

"At such a young age, what big cases could they have committed? Are they even more capable than I am?"

Just as he thought this, he suddenly remembered the heinous crimes committed by Chen Shi that he had seen at the Heavenly Listener Venerable, and thought to himself, "He is indeed not to be underestimated. If the person from Xinxiang County really means harm to Little Ten, then I’ll take action."

Chen Shi quickly followed Li Tianqing home, and upon arriving at the door, he saw a carriage parked next to the Divine Tree with several tall horses tied nearby. A few government officials stood guard with restraint, looking at Chen Shi with eyes filled with respect.

"Sir, the Talisman Master has arrived."

One of the government officials hastily stepped forward with a smile to welcome him, "Talisman Master, our master has come all the way from Xinxiang County city, hurrying day and night, and has finally arrived in this fortunate place before sunset. The master said that upon taking his position, he must first visit the Talisman Master..."

He was in the midst of speaking when an official next to the carriage interrupted him in a hurry, greeting Chen Shi with a smile, "Talisman Master, I am the new County Magistrate Wu Guangfu from Xinxiang County, just recently appointed. Hearing that Talisman Master Chen is a noble and well-respected figure beyond our county, on the very first day of my tenure, I rushed to bother you, hoping for your advice on the ways of being an official."

Chen Shi, Li Tianqing, Black Pot, and Creation Little Five were all astounded.

This new County Magistrate of Xinxiang had actually traveled over a hundred miles to Huangpo Village to visit Chen Shi on his first day in office!

He, the prominent parent official of Xinxiang County, was actually humbling himself, asking for advice from Chen Shi.

Moreover, Chen Shi was clearly just a young lad of barely ten, and even if you added the eight years he had been dead, he would only be twenty years old—where was he high in virtue and esteem?

Chen Shi pondered, what could he possibly teach County Magistrate Wu?

Should he teach him how to exploit the common people?

"County Magistrate Wu, the taxes in Xinxiang are somewhat too heavy."

After Chen Shi mused for a moment, he spoke, "We, as lords, must not be too hasty when exploiting the common people; we mustn’t be stingy when it’s time to provide them with sustenance. If they eat and grow fat, give birth to more children, and raise more livestock, then we can extract even more benefit from them."

Wu Guangfu showed a look of surprise and looked at Chen Shi with newfound respect.

His purpose for coming here was not truly to seek enlightenment, but he had heard that the previous two County Magistrates of Xinxiang had died because of Chen Shi, one of whom was even personally killed by him. Moreover, he heard that a neighboring county’s magistrate was also eliminated by Chen Shi.

After some investigation, he was shocked to learn that the previous governor of Xin Xiang Province was also exterminated because of Chen Shi, so he came without stopping to visit.

Upon seeing that Chen Shi was just a child of eleven or twelve, he couldn’t help but look down on him, but after Chen Shi expressed his views, he realized that this person indeed possessed extraordinary insights.

Chen Shi continued, "If you exploit them harshly, leaving them homeless, hungry, and unable to cover their bodies, they will not engage in production and will lack offspring, leading to their extinction within two generations. If the people perish within two generations, the court is bound to follow suit. Whenever I go out to sell talismans, there are always those who come to collect taxes, and I have also seen those struggling farmers offer themselves as sacrifices to the Divine Mother, risking their lives against the officials. Why let it go this far? Why not let them have more to give before it comes to such a step? This is my way of ’fishing’ from the people; the honorable County Magistrate, please ponder it."

"I am enlightened."

Wu Guangfu gave a deep bow to the ground, his sincerity profound, "I originally came to establish a connection with the master, never expecting to hear such profound reasoning and benefit greatly. Thank you for your teaching, Master. After taking office, I will certainly be lenient with the people."

Chen Shi returned the gesture and smiled, "County Magistrate Wu is too kind. I am but a mere Scholar; how could I presume so?"

Wu Guangfu did not want to impose any further and rose to take his leave.

Chen Shi did not accompany him out.

They went back into the courtyard, when suddenly another voice came, "Is Master Chen at home?"

Chen Shi frowned slightly, "What is it?"

The voice from outside was somewhat cultured and polite, "I am Cui He, the County Magistrate of the neighboring county. I have heard of the great wisdom of Chen Shi, Master Chen of Xinxiang County, and have therefore come from my county to visit the master."

Chen Shi opened the door and walked out to find a refined-looking official standing at the doorway with a few attendants behind him, whereas the carriage and horses were parked outside Huangpo Village.

Cui He said, "I could not help but come visit the master upon my appointment. Master Chen is high in virtue and esteem, and He wishes to listen to your teachings."

Chen Shi was both amused and annoyed—what business did this magistrate of the neighboring county have seeking him out instead of taking care of his own county’s affairs?

So, he repeated the warning he had given to County Magistrate Wu Guangfu and similarly advised Cui He.