Chapter 428: Thorough Investigation
Under the Dongchang's intervention, several officials were dispatched to take those brawling commoners away.
Looking at their faces, they seem overjoyed to be going to jail for three days. They're clearly not worried about any complications along the way.
Only after those people had left did Li Chen look at the leading official, saying with indifference, "Who is the magistrate of Weihai?"
The official at the front promptly replied, "My magistrate is Zheng Baorong."
Li Chen went over his mind, but he didn't have any impression at all.
"Three Treasures."
Li Chen called out, "Send two Jinyiwei with an imperial edict to that official. Bring Zheng Baorong to Guanhai Academy and await further instructions."
Guanhai Academy is where Mr. Jing retreated to live in Weihaiwei.
Li Chen's words came down with a clean, decisive force, leaving no room for hesitation or further discussion. Although the official officer had his doubts and confusion swirling within him, he dared not voice them. He reasoned that since someone from Dongchang would be following him back, if his magistrate father wanted to cause trouble, there would be no way to pin it on him.
Upon thinking this through, the idea suddenly became clear. The officer bowed respectfully, then rose and, accompanied by two in fine clothes from the Three Treasures sect, left.
"Let's go straight to Guanhaishuyuan."
After Li Chen finished speaking, he turned and returned to the carriage.
Su Jinpa also hurriedly followed in.
The convoy started again, Su Jinping smiled at Li Chen and said: "Why don't you be the prince anymore? I think you'd be more suitable as a prefect or a magistrate."
Li Chen said angrily, "You'd rather be a prefect or a minister of finance than keep the position of crown prince? Only you could come up with such a deal."
Su Jin's pale wrist propped up her delicate chin as she said, "The matter of exorbitant taxes affects the livelihood of an entire city. If it were merely local officials enriching themselves for personal gain, that would be one thing. But what if there are other secrets involved? What then?"

Li Chen raised an eyebrow and said, "What do you mean? Do you know Zheng Baorong?"
Su Jinpa said, "Look, there's finally something you don't know, right? As the prince, you handle everything in the world. It's normal that a small figure like the magistrate of Weihaiwei wouldn't reach your ears. But I just happen to know."
"This Zheng Baorong is a native of Weihaiwei. His Zheng family is the largest clan and landowner in Weihaiwei. While other landowners cultivate fields, Weihaiwei's coastal location means agriculture is underdeveloped. Therefore, they have claimed a sea area as their fishing grounds. Anyone else who enters to fish must pay rent to the Zheng family."
Thus, after decades of accumulation, the Zheng family can be said to be incredibly wealthy.
And this Zheng Bao Rong was precisely someone who, taking advantage of the imperial court's defeat at Yumen Pass and subsequent string of losses, when the national treasury was at its emptiest, opened a special recruitment program for officials, spending a full sixty thousand taels of silver to buy this magistrate position. He held it for over a decade.
Li Chen sneered, “Sixty thousand taels, quite a big investment. Spending so much to buy an official position, these past few decades must have earned back the principal and interest, right?”
Su Jinpa shook his head and said, "You are fond of looking at people with such an old-fashioned view. Who says that officials bought are necessarily bad officials? Just as most officials in the world come from studying the classics, so do the treacherous ministers and corrupt officials. Therefore, bought officials may not necessarily be bad officials, for example, this Zheng Baorong."
Zheng Baorong has worked diligently for over a decade, making Wehaiwei prosperous. Look at this city wall, it was built by Wehaiwei with its own funds. The Qin Empire has a long coastline and many coastal cities, but only Wehaiwei doesn't need funding from the court. Every year, during typhoons, tsunamis, and stormy waves, they are self-sufficient.

(Editor in charge：web novel)