A Modern Man Reincarnated Into Tang Dynasty And Become A County Magistrate (Patreon)

Chapter 1: County Magistrate Fang Yuan and the Dreamed Virtuous Minister

Wuling County.

In the Tower of Beauty and Grace, Fang Yuan was enjoying a foot massage in the supreme private room.

The one providing the service was the tower's courtesan, Lu Chuchu.

“Lord Magistrate?”

Lu Chuchu’s voice was as sweet as a yellow oriole, soft and delicate. She looked up at Fang Yuan with pitiful, doe-like eyes, resembling a small, helpless rabbit.

“Your body’s good enough to do it again?”

Fang Yuan paused briefly, lowering his gaze to Lu Chuchu. Her snowy-white skin, delicate features, affectionate gaze, and well-proportioned figure exuded charm.

Thanks to meticulous training at the Tower of Beauty and Grace, Lu Chuchu had mastered the art of captivating men. Every word and gesture she made tugged at their hearts.

“Yes Lord Magistrate.” she replied with a blush, her eyes brimming with allure.

“Well, what are you waiting for? Help me undress!”

Fang Yuan waved his arm dramatically, signaling her to begin.

Lu Chuchu’s cheeks turned an even deeper shade of red, but she didn’t rush into action. Instead, she carefully removed Fang Yuan’s feet from the water basin, dried them gently with a towel, and set them aside. After pouring out the footwash and cleaning her hands, she returned to stand before Fang Yuan.

“Lord Magistrate, I am ready,” she said with a bow, her elegant figure on full display.

Her slender fingers traced Fang Yuan’s forehead, sliding lightly down the bridge of his nose and stopping at the collar of his robe.

Fang Yuan squinted slightly, enjoying the sight of Wuling County’s top courtesan. His body and mind were utterly relaxed, marveling at life’s pleasures.

Just as he thought Lu Chuchu was about to undress him, her movements suddenly stopped. Fang Yuan was about to urge her on when a series of urgent knocks echoed from the door.

“Lord Magistrate, I have an important matter to report,” said Zhang San, the county registrar, his tone anxious.

“What matter could be more important than my leisure?”

Fang Yuan’s voice betrayed his irritation. He despised being interrupted during his downtime.

“A secret message from the capital: His Majesty is traveling incognito in Lang Province and may visit Wuling County. We are instructed to watch the city gates carefully and ensure any potential individuals are treated with utmost hospitality.”

Zhang San’s voice was filled with excitement.

Wuling County was far from Chang’an City, and its residents rarely encountered high-ranking officials in their lifetime. The emperor’s sudden visit to Wuling County was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Zhang San to see the sovereign himself.

Winning the emperor’s favor could lead to boundless prospects.

“If His Majesty is traveling incognito, he clearly doesn’t want his identity revealed,” Fang Yuan replied after a moment of thought. “Besides, we don’t even know what the emperor looks like. How are we supposed to watch for him? If you want to watch, you do it.”

Fang Yuan dismissed the idea outright.

Serving a ruler was akin to serving a tiger—proximity might grant rapid promotion, but it could also lead to disaster. Faced with such minor opportunities and major risks, Fang Yuan deemed it wiser to feign ignorance.

“Lord Magistrate, your term is nearing its end. Soon, you’ll be transferred from Wuling County. If we can impress His Majesty now, even if it doesn’t result in promotion, it could at least ensure a favorable transfer,” Zhang San reasoned earnestly from behind the door.

He knew his magistrate disliked trivial tasks. However, the directive had explicitly stated the need to persuade Fang Yuan to personally oversee the matter.

Fang Yuan fell silent.

His tenure in Wuling County had reached a critical juncture. Leaving now could mean losing all he had worked for. To secure his position, he had spent a significant sum to extend his term to five years.

Over the past two years, Wuling County had grown from a small settlement of less than 5,000 people into a thriving town of around 80,000.

However, with only five months left in his term, Tang Dynasty law dictated that he would soon be reassigned elsewhere.

Fang Yuan sighed. He rose from his seat and gently pushed Lu Chuchu aside.

“We’ll resume our session later,” he promised.

<+>

On the official road leading to Wuling County, the surrounding area was still sparsely populated. Among the travelers, two figures stood out, walking side by side with extraordinary bearing. They were none other than Emperor Li Shimin and Grand Chancellor Du Ruhui.

"Keming, having you walk with me instead of riding in the carriage has been a hardship for you," Li Shimin said with a sigh, his tone sincere.

"Your Majesty, there's no need for concern. This minister’s body is still sturdy—cough, cough."

Du Ruhui shook his head with a faint smile, attempting to reassure the emperor. However, his words were interrupted by a fit of incessant coughing, leaving his face alternating between red and pale.

"When we finish visiting Wuling County, if the dreamed virtuous minister cannot be found, I will not persist. I shall return to Chang’an City and issue a self-reprimand decree," Li Shimin declared, stopping to gently pat Du Ruhui’s back.

As he spoke of issuing the decree, a deep fury surfaced on Li Shimin's face.

In April of this year, drought and locust plagues had struck simultaneously, leaving the realm short on grain and the people starving. Grain prices in Chang’an City had soared to unimaginable heights.

Yet, this was not what troubled him most.

The most vexing issue was the spreading rumors that natural disasters were a result of the emperor’s loss of virtue. These rumors emboldened court officials to demand that he issue a self-reprimand decree, admitting fault.

Though Li Shimin had executed several individuals to quell the dissent, the voices had not subsided. Instead, they grew louder and more widespread.

While he agonized over whether to issue the decree, he had a vivid dream in which he was told that a "virtuous minister" in the south could help him resolve the crisis.

With that hope, Li Shimin and Du Ruhui embarked on a journey southward, seeking the minister. However, their search had been fruitless. Everywhere they went, they found desolation and suffering. The hardships of the common people left no room for such a promising figure to emerge.

As they neared the borders of Wuling County, a confidential report warned that their identities might have been compromised. Thus, they disguised themselves as merchants and abandoned their carriage, continuing on foot to avoid detection.

"This minister is to blame for failing to ease Your Majesty’s burdens and becoming a hindrance instead," Du Ruhui said apologetically, forcing himself to suppress his coughs.

"There’s no need for such words. Let us move on," Li Shimin replied, shaking his head and forcing a faint smile.

The two continued their journey, but after walking for only a short while, they stopped abruptly, stunned by the sight ahead.

Before them stretched a vast, flat, gray-white road that seemed to extend endlessly. Its width was astonishing—large enough to accommodate eight carriages side by side.

To the right of the road stood a two-meter-tall stone monument engraved with large characters:

[ Welcome to Wuling County ] 

Turning to look at the road they had just traversed, they saw a stark contrast. The old road was narrow, barely wide enough for two carriages, and riddled with dirt and rocks.

Both men were dumbfounded.

"What is this road? How can it be so wide and smooth?"

Li Shimin’s voice trembled with disbelief, his eyes wide with shock.

Even Chang’an City’s grand Zhuque Street paled in comparison.

The road was so impeccably level and solid that not even a fingernail could leave a mark on its surface.

For a moment, he recalled the dreamed virtuous minister and felt his breath quicken with excitement.

"This minister… This minister does not know," Du Ruhui stammered, equally astonished and unable to provide an explanation.

He knew well the state of the southern regions—impoverished and underdeveloped. This road, however, would have required an immense investment to construct.

Could any county in the south possess such resources?

Exchanging a glance, the emperor and his chancellor strode forward onto the remarkable road, their anticipation growing with each step.

As they journeyed southward, the road became busier with traffic. They saw carts loaded with goods heading toward Wuling County.

When they finally reached the city gates, their eyes lit up at the sight of the gates, whose scale rivaled those of a prefectural capital.

<+>

Tn: 

Chang’an City: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chang%27an?variant=zh-cn

Keming: Keming is Du Ruhui courtesy name: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Du_Ruhui

Zhuque Street:

https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Reproduced-image-of-Zhuque-Street-in-Changan-City-Source-screenshot-from-World_fig6_356373965