“無需多言，數日足矣。”
張羅揮手打斷。
郡府架構尚存，重啟政務並非難事。下官明白！”
周青臣暗自詫異。
傳聞這位張上卿素來慵懶，在咸陽時常早退，怎會...
“涉間！”
張羅朝外呼喚。末將在！”
驍將應聲而入。
張羅頭也不抬地吩咐：“速往郡尉府取兵符，整飭郡兵，掌控臨淄！”
“若無兵符，便稱奉本官詔令。
陛下賜我先斬後奏之權。”
“得令！”
涉間按劍疾步而出。
半個時辰後。
數十名獲釋官吏戰戰兢兢地拜見新上官。閒話少說，各司其職！”
The grand hall of the Governor’s Mansion was abuzz. Zhang Luo presided from the main seat, with the Commandant of Justice, Zhou Qingchen, seated at his side.
The remaining officials, those not rehended, hurriedly excused themselves. Yet before the time it took for an incense stick to burn, a steady stream of people began pouring in.
Meanwhile, word of Zhang Luo handling governance spread rapidly through Linzi. Matters long delayed due to the governor’searance were now being addressed.
At first, it seemed But after little more than half a shichen, an eager onlooker rushed out, exclaiming, Quick! Go see! The Governor’s Mansion is nearly packed with people!
Coming and going—nonstop!
Hearing this, the idle townsfolk decided to Upon arrival, they realized it wasn’t just crowded—officials, convicts, servants, moners, nobles, and merchants were all gathered outside the gates. More kept arriving from afar.
To keep order, guards led by She Jian held back the curious masses, preventing them from blocking the path.
Wasn’t Lord Zhang Luo jointed today? Already at work?
Lord Zhang Luo? The Prefectural Overseer?
Fool, how many Zhang Luos hold such rank in Qin?
The crowd didn’t fully grasp what they were witnessing, but the sheer bustle fascinated them. People streamed in and out, and occasional shouts and cries hinted at unseen drama.
None had ever seen such governance firsthand.
By heaven, in the time we’ve been talking, four officials already left the Governor’s Mansion!
Carrying bundles too.
Two men—partSo fast—does he even understand the cases?
Idiot! A man of his rank handles a county’s affairs with ease!
But how?
How should I know? We can’t go in.
Say, remember when you had to repay the state for those broken tools? What ifealed?
No point—I already paid.
It’s fine. Lord Zhang doesn’t seem harsh. If it wasn’t deliberate, he might waive it.
——
Chapter 122
By the second day, Zhang Luo had moved his seat outdoors, near the courtyard steThese two days had reshaped Zhou Qingchen’s of efficiency. The backlog of two months’ worth of documents was vanishing at an astonishing rate—without cutting corners.
No wonder he rose to high rank so young—even with short hours—his work simply gets done.
As Zhou Qingchen reflected, he noticed Zhang Luo hand a document to a clerk, who scurried over.
Finishing his own task, Zhou Qingcen turned to the couple before him and scowled. Husband Yue, for beating his wife—fracturing her arm and injuring her foot—shall be punished with shaving. However, given the wife’s own shrewish nature, the penalty is reduced: only his beard shall be removed.
他將刑文書遞給另一人。
其他人會照辦。
至於那對夫婦如何反應，與他無關。
張羅聽見了，處理完手頭事務的他，瞥了那對夫婦一眼。
男子滿臉憤懣，手傷未愈的女子略顯窘迫。
古人極重身體髮膚，何況是精心養護的鬍鬚。
儘管此事已過去兩月，或許他們早已和解，但當初已在臨淄城報了官。
既已報案，便須處置。
周青臣繼續處理張羅方才交辦的文書。嗯？買兇行兇者名業，另曾唆使十二歲童子致人傷殘。
這類大案他此前已辦過幾樁，未料仍有遺留。
周青臣看向跪伏一旁的刑犯。依律，業當處磔刑！
磔刑，先裂肢體，再斷咽喉。
刑犯聞訊頓時癱軟，嘶聲嚎叫起來。
但很快被拖了下去。
周青臣隨即取過下一卷竹簡。
張羅案几旁的茶水始終未動。
此刻他正審視兩名臨淄郡官吏——田嗇夫與倉吏。
連這兩人也面露茫然，昨日才剛獲釋。你們當真無罪？
稟上卿，下吏確實冤枉啊！小吏聲音發顫。
張羅冷哼，目光釘住田嗇夫。單說臨淄縣——今年降雨幾何？可曾傷稼？穀穗抽發如何？荒蕪田畝多少？已徵芻稾幾許？
郡中文書多半空白，有字的還是旁縣所報。