Chapter 0010: Receiving Rewards in Class

Silk and cloth were taken out one by one and displayed to the public, along with strings of money

In the small county town, nearly every household was summoned. Early in the morning, the yamen runners in the county office beat drums and gongs to announce that the Blue-faced Eighteen Ghosts had been captured, and there would be a public trial presided over by the county magistrate. For the townspeople, this was undoubtedly a piece of heartening news.

The county office is located to the north of Zhangqiu County, considered the most luxurious building in the county, grand and imposing. However, this is merely the perspective of Uncle Luo San and his companions. In Luo Feng's eyes, Zhangqiu County is too backward, with dilapidated structures everywhere, low buildings, and narrow streets. It is surprising that such a small county even has a designated market where all commercial transactions must take place.

As the two took their seats, Magistrate Zhang ordered someone to bring up the blue-faced ghost

On both sides of those narrow and uneven streets, there are no shops at all, nor are there any street vendors. This reflects a design philosophy from the era of war. Surprisingly, even this small county town is divided into wards and markets, with ward gates and walls, creating a segmented layout throughout the town.

Horses are not cheap, especially in recent years. The emperor is preparing to campaign against Goguryeo in Liaodong, and thus has issued an edict for wealthy families across the realm to raise horses. These horses are to be reserved as backup warhorses for the eastern expedition. Many families have been assigned the task of raising horses, and they are required to deliver them to the court by the deadline, which has led to a significant increase in horse prices in the Central Plains

Good, well done!

After the execution, the corpses were left on the city wall for three days, and then the heads were severed and sent to the provincial office

When faced with a time of scarcity, one often has to make do with meager rations. If one were to encounter disasters such as floods, droughts, or locust plagues, then one would be compelled to seek alms and flee from hardship.

Qin Qiong was born into the Qin family of Licheng, which was a local gentry. In their eyes, it was acceptable to hold official positions or serve as clerks, but to become a servant would be considered too lowly and even degrading.

The common people are filled with praise, and no one sympathizes with those individuals, nor does anyone care why these people resort to thievery

Thank you, County Magistrate! Uncle Luo and the others also expressed their gratitude, but it was evident that they were somewhat displeased, as the reward had been halved for no reason.

During the Kaihuang and Renshou years, life was relatively stable, except for the years of famine. With hard work and frugality, one could still have enough to eat. However, in the years of the new emperor's great enterprise, with extensive mobilization of resources and frequent military campaigns, the common people were often subjected to conscription, sometimes even serving beyond their term. This frequently disrupted their farming and household affairs, making life increasingly difficult.

There are people singing the praises of Li Cheng's Qin Qiong and Changbai Mountain's Luo Wu, saying that they were remarkable heroes in their youth. Upon hearing this, Luo Feng surprisingly felt a bit elated.

You should practice your martial arts diligently at home. Once you have reached adulthood, I will recommend you to serve under the command of the general, as that would be the proper path.

County Magistrate Zhang made a decisive and resolute judgment. In recent years, banditry has surged in various regions, leading to a deterioration of public order. The imperial court has also become increasingly stringent towards these lawless individuals

Ordinary individuals are not permitted to possess the strong bows and crossbows of the military, but hunting bows are exempt from this restriction. Practicing archery with a hunting bow is indeed a viable method.

But now a piece of silk is only worth a hundred coins, how could it be worth as much as five hundred coins?

As soon as the blue-faced ghost appeared, it provoked waves of spitting and curses from the people outside

Luo Feng and his companions traveled along the way, hearing people discussing everywhere about how the Blue-faced Eighteen Ghosts were captured. Some accounts were quite exaggerated, while others were fairly accurate.

"Third Uncle, can you carry two stones of wheat?"

Upon arriving at the county office, Luo Feng saw many constables dressed in black and brown clothing. According to Uncle Luo San, those in black clothing were the third class of constables, while those in brown clothing were the assistants to the third class constables. These individuals were primarily commoners from various villages, summoned to serve in rotation as auxiliary personnel. Unlike the black-clad constables who had official positions, they were referred to as Bai Zhi and Zhi Yi.

The lid of the box was opened, revealing a string of copper coins and several pieces of silk.

County Magistrate Zhang appeared in a green official robe and wore an official hat, while the county deputy Zhang Xutuo also appeared in official attire

Uncle Luo San on one side felt that something was amiss and hurriedly asked, "Zuo Shi, wasn't the reward twenty guan? Why is it only five thousand coins and ten pieces of silk, along with twenty pieces of cloth?"

With a loud clang of the gong, a group of constables shouted in unison, "Mighty and powerful!"

Once I receive the reward, I will first buy two stones of wheat to take home. Uncle Luo San said while eating wheat porridge.

"Those constables look so imposing, Fifth Brother, you would definitely look impressive in that outfit too," said Little Seven, gazing enviously at the few constables with sabers hanging at their waists. To him, wearing black clothes and carrying a saber meant being a government official, which was incredibly impressive.

After the Blue-faced Ghost fled to Qijun, it caused widespread panic among the people, with several merchants in Zhangqiu County also having been robbed. Now that the Blue-faced Ghost has been captured, is it not a great relief to the public

I cannot ride a horse, nor do I have one" Luo Feng said with a bitter smile

The magistrate Zhang in the hall observed Luo Feng's actions with great appreciation. He was well aware that currently, a match of silk only costs one hundred coins. However, the county office's treasury did not hold much money, and it would be quite difficult to suddenly produce two hundred seventy guan as a reward.

He waved his hand, and thus several boxes of money were brought over by the attendants

Luo Feng initially intended to say that while he could afford to buy a horse, raising one was not easy. However, considering the substantial reward he would receive this time, he decided to let it go. If he could raise a horse, it would certainly be quite convenient.

Even Qin Qiong only received ten guan of copper coins, while the remaining one hundred guan of the reward was in silk and cloth, which was exchanged at a rate of five hundred for one piece. Therefore, his total reward of one hundred and ten guan ultimately amounted to only thirty guan in hand

Zhang Xutuo had no objections to this judgment and even held great admiration for County Magistrate Zhang. He was a military officer who served as a district vice magistrate, and his responsibilities included commanding the local troops and maintaining public order. It was his duty to suppress bandits and capture criminals, and in chaotic times, strict measures must be employed without any room for leniency

At breakfast time, the attendant from yesterday brought breakfast again, which was simpler than the day before: a bucket of freshly steamed wheat rice accompanied by a pot of egg drop soup

Moreover, all local government offices operate in this manner, and it is impossible for him to make exceptions solely for Luo Feng; that would violate the established rules, and he cannot report this to his superiors

To serve as a subordinate is merely a sideline, while serving as a soldier in the government is the proper path; this is a widely held belief among contemporary people, including Qin Qiong.

Under the gaze of countless eyes, Luo Feng and Qin Qiong, among others, were called to the hall to receive their rewards. Several attendants brought up large boxes in pairs, placing one in front of each of them.

The Blue-faced Ghost is a notorious criminal who has been wanted by various local governments for execution without mercy, allowing authorities to act first and report later.

At the time when the current emperor ascended the throne, the price of horses in Qi County was not high. A typical cart horse was priced at around 4 guan, while a horse suitable for riding was about 8 guan, and a warhorse was at most around 20 guan. However, now it is said that a young warhorse costs at least 40 guan, which is already double the price.

Thank you, County Magistrate! Luo Feng leads the way in expressing gratitude!

Eight plus five equals thirteen guan in hand, although it still falls short of seven guan in rewards, Luo Feng is already very satisfied, after all, thirteen guan is a substantial amount of money, especially for him and the old Luo family at the foot of Changbai Mountain

However, Luo Feng is quite content, as the saying goes, "A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush"; what one has in hand is truly one's own

Luo Feng and seven fellow townsmen each received a reward of twenty guan in copper coins and silk, while Qin Qiong alone received a reward of one hundred and ten guan.

Upon hearing such words, Luo Qi became quite displeased, and with a flushed face, went up to argue with them, stating that it was they who had captured the eighteen ghosts. The argument became heated, with faces flushed and spittle flying.

I am just afraid of encountering unruly villagers who may cause a scene, which would be quite embarrassing at that time

Qin Qiong stated that the soldiers of the Sui Dynasty were required to provide their own weapons and horses. Although they generally paid money to the military government and then received standardized military equipment crafted by the court, to become a soldier, one must first possess good martial skills, especially proficiency in archery and horsemanship, which were of utmost importance. After all, even if one was selected to join the soldiers, how could they achieve merit without excellent skills in archery and horsemanship

The horse has returned, I will gift you a set of saddles and a set of hunting bows

"How can I not be able to lift it? Back in the day, I..." Third Uncle reminisced about his youthful past.

Stranglehold decision

After the meal, the county magistrate's attendants arrived again, instructing them to go to the county office

In fact, I believe you do not need to agree to Magistrate Zhang's request to become a servant

What you just saw was the bounty offered by the government, and this is an additional reward from the county and the wealthy merchants within the county, five thousand coins for each person

These five strings are genuine gold and silver, all consisting of strings of copper coins, without a trace of silk fabric

When I arrived at the county office, it was already quite lively here

Steamed wheat rice is quite unpalatable, made by grinding wheat after removing the husk and mixing it with beans for steaming, resulting in a very coarse and hard-to-swallow texture. However, compared to flour-based foods, it saves the processes of grinding into flour and sifting, especially after the addition of beans, which can conserve a significant amount of grain

Some say that the Blue-faced Eighteen Ghosts committed a robbery against the county magistrate's daughter due to their lack of foresight. As a result, the county magistrate summoned Zhang Zhuguo, the district governor who happened to be passing through the county on his way to take office. Zhang Zhuguo was a seasoned general with numerous victories, and his intervention naturally led to a swift resolution of the matter.

The guard Qin Qiong and the villager Luo Wu stepped forward to receive their rewards

The silk cloth, originally valued at 15 guan in reward money, has depreciated fivefold, resulting in an actual receipt of only 3 guan.

The constable in the black robe beside him laughed and said, "That's right, one string of coins is one thousand, five strings make exactly five guan. And ten bolts of silk are worth five guan, while twenty bolts of coarse cloth are worth ten guan, adding up to exactly twenty guan."

The reward of twenty guan has effectively become eight guan

Otherwise, what you are referring to is the black market price; the official price is indeed five hundred coins for a piece of silk, and the same goes for a piece of cloth, without a doubt

Luo Feng did not cause any trouble, he is very understanding and very good

A bolt of silk measures 40 feet in length and 1 foot 8 inches in width, weighing 12 taels. In contrast, a piece of cloth measures 50 feet in length and 1 foot 8 inches in width. The price of one bolt of silk and one piece of cloth is equal, with each being valued at 500, which is, of course, the official exchange rate

You should take the time to practice archery and horseback riding properly

I have a friend with the surname Xu in Dongjun whose family has a trading caravan that goes to the frontier for trade every year. They bring back some cattle and horses, and the prices are actually quite reasonable. When the time comes, I will ask him to select a young horse for you, which should cost around 5 or 6 guan. You can train and raise it yourself

In reality, due to the continuous rise in grain prices in recent years, silk fabric has actually become increasingly inexpensive. The normal market price is one bolt of silk for one hundred coins, but now the county only offers five guan of copper coins, while the remaining fifteen guan are compensated with silk and cloth, valued at five hundred coins per bolt of silk. This results in a disparity of five times.

Luo Feng quietly counted the silk money, and he found that there were a total of five large bundles of money, ten rolls of silk, and twenty rolls of cloth

If twenty guan becomes eight guan, then let it be eight guan; at least there are still eight guan left

Therefore, the magistrate Zhang of the Blue-faced Ghost was sentenced to death by hanging directly, and it was an immediate decision, without first being detained and then reported to the provincial office for submission to the Ministry of Justice in the capital.

He knew that since this constable dared to act this way in public, it must have been with the consent of the county magistrate. Although this would result in significant losses for them, the other party presented the official price as a legitimate reason, leaving them with no grounds to object

After all, even the constables of the third class cannot be considered true public servants, as they do not receive any official salary or allowances, relying instead on various unspoken rules and gray income.

After Uncle Luo San and the others got up, they were quite satisfied with the meal of steamed bread and millet. For them, being able to have a filling meal was already quite good, especially considering that in recent years, life had been getting worse year by year, and it had become difficult to make ends meet

Those who are guilty shall be punished, and those who have made contributions shall be rewarded. The government troops, including Qin Qiong, and the local villagers, such as Luo Wu, have successfully captured and killed the blue-faced bandit, and they shall be heavily rewarded. According to the previous wanted notice, the leader of the bandits will receive a reward of 100 guan, while each of the remaining bandits will receive 10 guan

Uncle Luo San wanted to say something else, but Luo Feng reached out from behind and tugged at him a few times