mtlumby2d Chapter 1518 The road was built to collect tolls
Chapter 1518 The road was built to collect tolls
The advisor heard that Sun Shan was building a road, so he wanted the mountain.
He asked, utterly bewildered, "Magistrate Sun, if you're going to build a road, then build a road. What else can you do with those hills besides rocks?"
Sun Shan replied shamelessly, "Master, what if—and I mean what if—I widen the official road and Magistrate Zou of Yuanling County comes to collect tolls? Wouldn't all my road construction have been for nothing?"
The advisor: .....
He asked in surprise, "Magistrate Sun, what do you mean by that? Are you building this road to collect tolls?"
Sun Shan said confidently, "Master, why build a road if we don't charge tolls? If we don't charge tolls, wouldn't it be a waste of money? This official road is not only steep but also long. How much manpower and resources will it take to build it?"
"I've invested so much; how can I recoup my investment without charging some tolls? My apology, to avoid future disputes with Magistrate Zou, we must have these mountains assigned to Yuanlu County. This is called prevention."
The advisor said: Magistrate Sun's words make so much sense that there is no way to refute them.
Road construction already takes a lot of effort, but the worst part is when someone else takes credit for it after it's finished.
For example, if Magistrate Zou were to finish repairing the road, he might set up a toll station at the border between Yuanlu County and Yuanling County.
This happens frequently; it's normal for them to come up with all sorts of excuses to ask for money.
If he were Magistrate Zou, he would also take this path.
Magistrate Sun took over the mountain and built roads within his jurisdiction.
Once it's fixed, the toll fees will go into his own pocket.
Wow, Magistrate Sun is really thoughtful; he's prepared to charge fees in advance.
The clerk thought for a moment, then chuckled and said, "Magistrate Sun, you must consider this matter carefully, sir."
Sun Shan, being very understanding, said, "Master, I will wait for your reply at the post station."
After saying this, Sun Shan left the government office and ran back to the post station.
As for whether the road construction was for the purpose of collecting tolls, Sun Shan had actually thought about it.
They don't accept locals from Yuanlu County; they only accept people from other places.
Then I thought about it and realized that there wasn't much trade in Yuanlu County, so even if they collected tolls, they wouldn't get many copper coins.
The purpose of building the road was to facilitate exchanges between the two places, especially to help the people of Yuanlu County sell their goods to Chenzhou Prefecture.
Charging tolls would be short-sighted and killing the goose that lays the golden eggs, so it seems best not to.
Of course, we'll discuss all of this later, and make plans once Prefect Liu agrees.
The annual summary meeting of Chenzhou Prefecture has come to a close.
According to last year's figures, Sun Shan should have gone back.
This year is different; family members are visiting, so I have to do some shopping before I go back.
After all, Chengzhou Prefecture is a prefectural city with abundant and diverse products at favorable prices. If not now, when?
Yun Jie'er had long been impatient at the post station. If she were in Hejia Village, she could go shopping by herself, but now that she was far away in Chenzhou Prefecture and was an official's wife, she had to pay attention to her image.
In particular, she was known as a "lady of high society," and absolutely could not do anything that would tarnish her reputation.
Sun Shan had barely stepped into the post station when Sister Yun was about to run out to greet him.
Unfortunately, Magistrate Shen beat him to it and took Sun Shan away.
Sister Yun: ...
I didn't find Magistrate Shen annoying before, but now I wish he would just disappear.
Brother Shan had only been there for three days when Magistrate Shen took every opportunity to have him "compose poems and exchange verses," which infuriated Sister Yun.
Granny He quickly comforted her, "Miss, you are now the wife of an official, so you must be mindful of your image. You must be a gentle, considerate, and intelligent wife and mother. Magistrate Shen and the master rarely see each other, so they inevitably chat every day."
After hearing what Granny He said, Yun Jie'er's restless desire to go out and eat delicious food vanished.
Not only should they smile, but they should also offer fruit platters, fine wine, and side dishes so that Sun Shan and Magistrate Shen could talk late into the night by candlelight.
Sun Shan, who was pulled into Magistrate Shen's room: .....
What's Sister Yun up to? Why send in so much fine wine and snacks to go with it?
Don't you know the things sold at the post station are particularly expensive? How much does this cost?
When Magistrate Shen saw the fine wine, his eyes widened in astonishment, just like the little fat girl seeing the Su family's large gold bracelet, with a faint trace of drool escaping from the corner of her mouth.
He agreed, saying, "Magistrate Sun, let's have a good get-together. Hehe, this wine is excellent. Let's drink it all to ease our longing."
He secretly agreed: Madam Sun is indeed virtuous; she even knew he liked to drink. Hehe, what a good wife!
Then he thought of his wife, whose skin was wrinkled and worn out.
Tsk tsk~~~ He starts threatening to fight and kill after just a little alcohol. Magistrate Shen gritted his teeth in hatred.
If it weren't for the fact that she bore me children, I would have divorced her long ago.
Of course, Magistrate Shen only dared to mutter to himself, because if Madam Shen heard it, she really would hit him.
Magistrate Shen did not want to experience the pain of being hit with a stick.
Sun Shan had no desire to drink and chat with Magistrate Shen. What was there to talk about between two grown men?
Especially considering how hard I've tried, my teaching skills are still inferior to those of the complacent Magistrate Shen. And this time, the assigned tasks are all owed to Magistrate Shen.
Sun Shan became angry when he saw Magistrate Shen.
He said directly, "Magistrate Shen, please don't drink too much. This is a post station. If you get drunk, it will be unseemly and others will see you."
Magistrate Shen thought Sun Shan cared about him, so he confided in Sun Shan even more.
He laughed and said, "Brother Sun, I've always been known for my ability to drink a thousand cups without getting drunk, so this little bit of wine is nothing. Hehe, Brother Sun, I'm so happy to see you again today."
Ah, recalling last year at the inn, drinking and singing with you, life was so carefree. Haha, Brother Sun, enough of the chit-chat, let's drink!
After saying that, he raised his glass, drank it all in one gulp, and then refilled it.
He continued, "Brother Sun, let's drink to our reunion."
After saying that, he downed another cup and then poured himself another full cup.
Sun Shan: ...
It is highly suspected that Magistrate Shen did not intend to drink with Sun Shan, but rather to freeload off him.
Look at how fast they drink! They drink so fast!
Sun Shan didn't drink a drop, but Magistrate Shen downed three cups.
Magistrate Shen drank and poured himself a drink, muttering to himself for a while.
Sun Shan felt dizzy and wanted to slap Magistrate Shen unconscious.
However, Magistrate Shen was really good to Sun Shan, telling him all his experience as a magistrate over the years: "Brother Sun, our prestigious title of Marquis of Baili is actually nothing. Alas, being a magistrate is not easy these days."
We're caught in the middle, suffering under the weight of superiors and troubled by unruly commoners. Brother Sun, listen to me, Prefect Liu's words go in one ear and out the other; he's neither good nor bad and can't do anything to us.
"Out of sight, out of mind with troublemakers. Besides, there are even more ruthless troublemakers to deal with. Heh, we'll just stay in the county government office and let them do whatever they want."
What can Sun Shan say?
They could only watch as Magistrate Shen drank a whole jar of wine until he was completely drunk before they managed to break free.
Magistrate Shen's personal page looked at Sun Shan with embarrassment.
He said respectfully, "Lord Sun, my master is so happy to see you. Please forgive him if he has been rude."
In recent years, it has been a rare occasion to find a Magistrate Sun who shares the same ideals as the master, and the pageboy is also happy for his master.
Sun Shan waved his hand, smiled slightly, and said kindly, "It's alright."
Then he left quickly and quietly, vowing to avoid Magistrate Shen starting tomorrow.