Chapter Forty: Such Arrogance!

Qingyuan County Government Office

He Kui sat atop the county magistrate’s desk, showing no regard for the thunderous expression on Magistrate Liu Zhi’an’s face. He glanced at Liu with contempt, sneering, “Magistrate Liu, from the sound of your words, does that mean you refuse to show me this courtesy?”

“He Kui, don’t go too far! Let me remind you, I am still the magistrate of Qingyuan County!” Liu Zhi’an glared at He Kui and retorted angrily.

“Heh… Magistrate of Qingyuan County? What a lofty title!” He Kui scoffed, then slammed his palm on the desk with a menacing glare. “Liu Zhi’an, I call you ‘magistrate’ as a gesture of respect. Don’t refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit. Otherwise, walk the night roads too often, and you’ll surely run into ghosts!”

“Are you threatening me?” Liu Zhi’an’s face darkened, his voice turning cold.

“That’s right! I am threatening you!” He Kui admitted brazenly, sneering. “Let me make myself clear: it’s best if you agree. If you don’t, I’ll force you to agree!”

“Let me tell you, if you don’t approve fifty thousand silver dollars for the purchase of firearms today, and your wife and children happen to fall prey to bandits, don’t say I didn’t warn you in advance!”

A threat—an utterly naked threat!

Hearing He Kui’s words, Liu Zhi’an trembled all over with rage.

He wanted to refuse, but the thought of his wife and children made his previously firm resolve waver and grow weak.

A sudden wave of self-pity swept over Liu Zhi’an!

To be reduced to such cowardice as a magistrate—he could almost wish himself dead!

He was a magistrate, and not a local one at that, but assigned from outside. Since he had taken office two years prior, He Kui had seized all real power, leaving Liu Zhi’an a mere figurehead.

For these two years, he had been meek and submissive, devoid of any dignity befitting a magistrate.

He Kui had once been nothing more than a mountain bandit in the outskirts of Qingyuan, armed with a few guns, reigning as a local despot. He would ambush travelers and occasionally descend to the county town for plunder, tormenting Qingyuan endlessly.

But for reasons unknown, this bandit He Kui had somehow transformed himself into the Captain of the Qingyuan County Security Corps.

All local armed forces were under his thumb; even the police force was filled with his own men.

Since assuming command of the Security Corps, He Kui had grown ever more brazen. Armed with a few guns, he abducted women, bullied the honest, oppressed the weak—his crimes were countless.

For years, the people of Qingyuan had suffered unspeakably under the tyranny of He Kui and his gang.

Liu Zhi’an desperately wished to change this, but was utterly powerless.

Now He Kui wanted him to approve fifty thousand silver dollars for equipment for the Security Corps. How could Liu Zhi’an possibly accede to such a demand?

To grant He Kui such a sum would be to further feed his power.

Moreover, Qingyuan County was already impoverished. Even if Liu Zhi’an wished to allocate such a sum, the county treasury could not provide it!

But who could have foreseen He Kui’s utter madness—he now demanded that the magistrate impose heavier taxes!

Raising taxes was tantamount to a death sentence for the people!

In recent years, ceaseless wars, coupled with natural disasters, had left the people destitute, unable even to feed or clothe themselves. To not relieve their burdens was one thing, but to increase them was outright murder.

Liu Zhi’an could never consent to such a thing!

He flatly rejected He Kui.

Who could have guessed that He Kui, enraged by the refusal, would storm in to coerce him, trying to force him to sign the order for higher taxes, even driving out a guest who had come to visit Liu Zhi’an!

“Captain He, you ask me to raise taxes—that is to ask me to bring ruin upon the people! In these years of unending war and disaster, where in the countryside is there any surplus grain or money to be collected?” Liu Zhi’an looked at He Kui, his voice tinged with pleading.

“Hmph! What do the lives of those lowly peasants matter to me? I only care about silver dollars!” He Kui dismissed him with contempt. “Besides, if not for my Security Corps defending the county, protecting them, would they still be alive today? They would have fallen long ago to the blades of bandits! I am only raising taxes to buy weapons and strengthen our Corps—ultimately, all to protect them better!”

Hearing such shameless words, Liu Zhi’an’s anger rose to a fever pitch. His hands dropped to his sides, clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white.

“Magistrate Liu, I advise you to sign the order! Otherwise, who knows what might happen to your wife and children…” He Kui, seeing Liu Zhi’an’s helpless fury, grew even more smug.

Once, officials of Liu Zhi’an’s rank were far beyond He Kui’s reach.

Yet now, who would have thought He Kui could rise so high, able to manipulate even a county magistrate at will, and the man could do nothing about it?

This sense of achievement only inflated He Kui’s arrogance.

As for Liu Zhi’an’s wife, though He Kui despised Liu Zhi’an as a useless scholar, he had long coveted his wife, a true beauty by any measure.

He Kui had been tempted to claim her for himself, but had held back out of deference to her status.

But now, if Liu Zhi’an persisted in his obstinance, He Kui would have no qualms about making an example of his wife—and perhaps finally satisfying his lust.

As these thoughts crossed his mind, He Kui’s desire surged.

Just then, Liu Zhi’an’s secretary entered. “Magistrate Liu, someone outside the county offices requests to see you!”

“Who is it? Do they not know I’m in the middle of a meeting with the magistrate? I refuse!” He Kui snapped, cutting the secretary off.

“But the man claims to be from the army, and he’s accompanied by several guards. He seems to be a high-ranking officer,” the secretary replied, hesitating.

“High rank, low rank—it doesn’t matter. In Qingyuan County, I, He Kui, am the highest authority!” He Kui declared arrogantly.

His irritation grew—he had been about to get his way, only to be interrupted now. On top of Liu Zhi’an’s continued refusal, He Kui’s patience was waning.

Besides, even when he traveled, he brought a dozen men or more. This newcomer, with only a few guards, could hardly be anyone important—perhaps just a platoon or company commander.

Such men were beneath He Kui’s notice.

“Go and tell him! I, He Kui, fear no one! No matter what so-called high official he is, as long as he’s in Qingyuan County, I am the law! If he comes here, whether he’s a dragon or a tiger, he’ll have to crawl before me!”

He Kui bellowed his boast, still wearing an expression of supreme arrogance. Liu Zhi’an simmered with resentment, while the secretary hesitated.

At that moment, a voice sounded from outside the door.

“What impressive bravado! Today, I see for myself what true arrogance looks like!”

As the words faded, several figures strode into the room.