The Upright Magistrate 03

What made things worse was that he accidentally caught sight of the boxes sent by these two families.

He was all too familiar with them—this was exactly how the previous county magistrate had accepted bribes.

Could it be that the master was also...? Wang Jia felt uneasy. If the master was embezzling, should he pretend not to see it or... just pretend not to see it?

Fang Zhiyi had visited all the influential families in his jurisdiction, asking them strange questions. After finishing his rounds, he returned to his private quarters and began scribbling notes. He also had arrangements for the constables—first, he taught Wang Jia and the others some unusual military formations, then ordered them to gather the local garrison troops every afternoon for training.

When questioned, he simply said he’d read about it in a book.

On top of that, Fang Zhiyi kept dispatching messengers and posting recruitment notices for soldiers.

Wang Jia grew increasingly baffled by the master’s actions. At first, he thought the master was planning to embezzle on a grand scale, but now it seemed different. The wealthy families were voluntarily bringing gifts to visit him, often staying for entire afternoons. Even former rivals were arriving together, appearing strangely close.

When Fang Zhiyi took out silver to recruit more soldiers, Wang Jia’s heart trembled violently.

Could it be... the master was planning a rebellion?

The thought startled even himself.

But if the master was rebelling, should he join him or... join him?

However, his dilemma didn’t last long, because Fang Zhiyi assigned him a task—to escort his family back to their hometown.

The journey was a thousand miles long, and Wang Jia’s unease only deepened. He had also heard another rumor—their county magistrate was actually the son of Fang Huatian, the current prime minister of the court!

Before leaving, he wanted to bid farewell to the master, but he overheard Fang Zhiyi lecturing the wealthy families about strange terms like "resource integration" and "foreign trade." He couldn’t understand a word, but the heads of those families listened with rapt attention.

Wang Jia didn’t get it, but one thing was clear—the master was crossing the line. If someone reported him, he’d be done for. But then again, who would dare?

Besides, in Qingping County, there was no official higher than Fang Zhiyi. Whatever he did, the final say was his alone.

Meanwhile, Song Yunfan was counting the days in prison.

Finally freed from the cangue, he heard his cell door open again. This time, he was cautious, but the moment his hand touched the door, the shout came: "Prisoner escaping!"

Naturally, he was beaten again.

This time, however, they didn’t put the cangue back on him. Instead, they threw him into a larger cell filled with petty criminals—brawlers, thieves, vandals—people who’d usually be released after a short stint.

But Song Yunfan sensed trouble the moment he entered. The inmates glared at him, and some even recognized him.

"Because of you escaping, our sentences got extended!"

"Beat him!"

"Don’t kill him—aim for the butt! The butt!"

As the blows rained down, Song Yunfan finally understood. The jailer had announced that because of his repeated escape attempts, the magistrate was furious—so furious that he extended everyone else’s sentences as punishment.

In reality, this was just to keep them from leaking information outside.

Additionally, according to the laws of the Great Qi, ordinary prisoners were to be released after serving their time. Fang Zhiyi found this a waste of manpower, so he introduced "labor reform." Every prisoner except Song Yunfan was sent out daily to work—chopping wood one day, hauling stones the next, even repairing city walls.

Exhausted after a day’s labor, the prisoners returned to find Song Yunfan sound asleep. Needless to say, they didn’t take it well.

While overseeing the new recruits’ training, Fang Zhiyi received a reply letter. Unfolding it, he broke into a smile.

A subordinate asked, "What’s the news, sir?"

Fang Zhiyi glanced at him. "Heh, the hot potato’s been tossed away!"

Over at Panlong Stronghold, the bandits were growing restless. They had been on high alert, ready to storm the execution grounds, but after two months, there wasn’t even a verdict.

Rumors spread in the stronghold—some complained that Song Yunfan was ruining their livelihood. Because Xiaotian Hu had ordered everyone to stay on standby, they hadn’t raided in two months. If this continued, they’d starve.

Even the strategist, Xue Qi, was losing patience. Finally, Xiaotian Hu relented, allowing his men to go out in shifts to "work."

It was at this moment that Song Yunfan was escorted out of Qingping County—by imperial troops!

Song Yunfan was dumbfounded. What kind of treatment was this for just killing one person?

During the handover, he overheard the magistrate whispering to the commanding officer.

"That’s the one."

"No doubt about it—treasonous poetry!"

"I didn’t dare handle it myself."

"Take this, for your troubles."

Watching them openly engage in bribery and hearing the words "treasonous poetry," Song Yunfan felt trapped in some elaborate scheme.

Then, someone brazenly shoved a rolled-up cloth into his clothes. His scalp prickled—were they framing him this openly?

Fang Zhiyi couldn’t be blamed. He had sent three batches of letters—the first to forge alliances, the second to strengthen them, and the third to offer a "great merit"—a captured rebel, an undeniable one.

Who would’ve thought his reputation was so impeccable that no one doubted his claim? The governor of Changping Prefecture immediately dispatched troops to retrieve this "rebel." With the empire unstable, the emperor despised rebels the most. Presenting one would surely earn praise.

Because the troops arrived so quickly, Fang Zhiyi’s "evidence" wasn’t fully prepared. They barely finished in time.

Watching Song Yunfan gagged and hauled away, Fang Zhiyi waved reluctantly.

"Hope we never meet again," he muttered. He was busy enough—holding meetings with local gentry, uniting them under common goals, teaching them how to profit, and indoctrinating them with new ideas. It was exhausting.

But bad news soon arrived—Song Yunfan had been rescued. The Panlong bandits ambushed the escort and freed him.

Fang Zhiyi spat in disgust.

Little Hei remarked, "It’s to be expected. You killed the protagonist’s father—what else could happen?"

Fang Zhiyi smirked. "Doesn’t matter. Now he’s officially a rebel, and he’s made an enemy of Changping Prefecture. Panlong Stronghold is doomed, and the governor owes me a favor. Either way, I win."

Just then, Wang Jia rushed in—he had only returned a few days prior.