"Your second crime is that you are lazy in your official duties and diligent in enriching yourself." Zhu Ping'an continued, "Whether it is taxation, law enforcement, arrests, or official document processing, you have been procrastinating and pushing back, and you can't find a file in a day... But you are very diligent in making up excuses and robbing people. I have secretly checked all the shops in the county, and your means of enriching yourself have opened my eyes. You can't help me handle official duties, but instead bring disaster to the people. What use do I have for you?!"
After hearing this, the clerks felt even more guilty. They had joined forces with County Magistrate Zhang to cause trouble for Zhu Ping'an and drive him out of the county government, but they didn't expect that this would become a ready-made handle. In addition, it was an indisputable fact that they had made up all sorts of excuses to take advantage of the shops in the county.
"Your third crime is to desert the battlefield when the Japanese invaded. When the Japanese invaded our county, I called all public officials to the city walls to resist them, but none of you obeyed my orders and you all ran away. When Jingnan needed you the most, you betrayed Jingnan. I have dismissed you from your posts, which is already a light punishment."
Zhu Ping'an said disdainfully that if any of these clerks had responded to the call and gone up to the city walls to defend against the Japanese pirates, Zhu Ping'an would have shown leniency to them. Unfortunately, none of these clerks cherished the opportunity.
"Sir, we did not desert the battlefield. When the Japanese pirates attacked the city, we all helped defend it."
"Yes, we all went. Sir, we did not desert the battlefield. You cannot slander us."
"That's right. Not only did I climb the city wall, I also killed a Japanese pirate on the spot. Zhang Wenshu was right next to me at the time. Zhang Wenshu can testify for me, right?"
"Hmm? Yes, that's right. I saw with my own eyes on the city wall that Wang Dianli hacked a Japanese pirate to death. After being hacked, the pirate became very ferocious. In the end, I was quick-witted and gave that bastard another blow to kill him. Is that right, Zhang Dianli?!"
"Yes, that's right."
A group of clerks began to argue, insisting that they had all participated in defending the city, and each of them spoke with certainty.
"All the people guarding the city have signed and sealed the record, but none of your names are on it." Zhu Ping'an curled his lips in disdain. The reason why he signed in and recorded it at that time was not only to reward and commend him, but also to guard against similar situations before him.
"We did participate at the time, but we left early, before the signatures were recorded."
Some clerks make such excuses.
"Oh, so you left early? Haha, I issued three execution orders when I was defending the city. Anyone who retreats in battle without my order will be killed without mercy! Come, let me see who said they were leaving early just now?!"
Zhu Ping'an glanced at everyone with a scorching gaze. Under his gaze, all the clerks lowered their heads. No one dared to make any more excuses, for fear that they would be singled out by Zhu Ping'an and taken out to be executed.
"Sir, although that is true, if you dismiss all of us, how can the county government run?! Please think twice and give me another chance. We will definitely change our ways and become officials again."
The clerks changed their strategy, and from the perspective of the operation of the county government, they half threatened and half requested.
At this moment, a report came from outside the door.
"Your Excellency, Mr. Zhang from Zhangliu Village, Mr. Wang from Wangzhuang Village, Mr. Liu from Baqiao Village, and Mr. Liu from Liujia Village... come to the county office to report."
A bailiff came in to report to Zhu Ping'an.
"Okay, please come in." Zhu Ping'an smiled and glanced at the clerks, "The successor has arrived, so you don't need to worry. I have official business to attend to, so I won't accompany you. Dadao, show the guest out."
After saying that, Zhu Ping'an was too lazy to talk to them anymore, so he got up and went out to meet Zhang Tongsheng, Wang Xiucai and others.
Zhang Tongsheng and others were the talents that Zhu Ping'an had visited when he went to the village to direct post-disaster reconstruction some time ago. Their character, knowledge and ability were proven in the surrounding area. After multiple investigations, tests and screenings, Zhu Ping'an selected 15 people and invited them door to door. In the end, 11 people including Zhang Tongsheng and Wang Xiucai gladly accepted the invitation, while the other four did not accept the invitation for various reasons. However, these 11 people were enough to set up the team of Jingnan County Government.
In addition, the young and strong citizens who defend the city and are willing to work in the county government have registered during this period, which has greatly enriched the grassroots officials and yamen runners, enough to ensure that the operation of Jingnan County Government will not be affected in any way.
hateful!
Zhu Ping'an, this outsider thief, had already planned to dismiss all of us and even found a successor!
Upon seeing this, the clerks gritted their teeth, hatred boiling in their hearts, and were filled with resentment towards Zhu Ping'an!
"Everyone, please leave. The county government is about to start working. Those who are not relevant please leave immediately and do not disrupt the work of the county government." Liu Dadao led eight yamen runners and drove away these clerks who had been dismissed with a sneer.
"Hmph, let's go. County Magistrate Zhang, Chief Secretary Yao, and Dianshi Li will be back tomorrow. We will go out of the city to welcome County Magistrate Zhang and his people and ask them to help us. Hmph, by then, Zhu Ping'an will beg us to come back."
"Hmph, let him act arrogant for a while now, but he will have to bow his head and admit defeat in the future. The more arrogant he is now, the more embarrassed he will be in the future. When he begs us to come back, we will all have to hold our heads down. Unless he bows his head and begs three or four times, none of us can come back."
"Yes, that's what we should do. When the time comes and he begs us for help, we must settle accounts with him."
The clerks left angrily and agreed to go out of the city to meet Zhang Xiancheng and his men and ask them to make the decision. They were very confident about this. In their opinion, Zhu Ping'an, an outsider, could not match the combined strength of all the locals.
Humph, even if Zhu Ping'an resisted the Japanese pirates, defended Jingnan County, killed more than 800 Japanese pirates, and expelled the Japanese pirates entrenched in Taiping County, and recovered Taiping County, didn't he still rely on the young and strong people of our Jingnan County! ? If he was left alone, humph, he would have died long ago, and he would have dreamed of making meritorious deeds in the underworld! Without the local people of Jingnan, he Zhu Ping'an is nothing.
A group of clerks left indignantly, holding hands, leaving behind a few harsh words, and left the city together.
They had already contacted County Magistrate Zhang and his team, and knew that they would be back tomorrow. According to the itinerary, County Magistrate Zhang and his team would arrive at Liuhe Town today. After the clerks left the city, they went straight to Liuhe Town to wait for them. They wanted to tell County Magistrate Zhang the news and ask him to make the decision for them.