Brother Xie, you’re really greedy. We other prefectures don’t even have a single Dou Ou Bank, and you want two!

The Tong’an Prefecture Magistrate also said, "Brother Xie, you can’t just think of yourself. You should leave something for us. Our Tong’an Prefecture still has two copper mines, and if something goes wrong, the copper mines will be hard to protect."

Ugh, shameless! How can you even say that?!

All the officials present cursed such a sentiment in their hearts.

Other than Linhe Prefecture and He’an Prefecture, Tong’an Prefecture is considered the safest in Jianghuai. Because of the copper mines, the Emperor has dispatched an additional military unit to guard the mines. Ordinary bandits, refugees, and even locals are wary of Tong’an Prefecture’s doubled military force and dare not cause trouble there.

The Tong’an Prefecture Magistrate, seeing the ravenous looks from the other officials, quickly added, "Although Tong’an Prefecture has double the military power, it is not affluent. Farmers still lack money to pay taxes."

So don’t glare at me; I’m suffering, too.

The Magistrates of Baishan Prefecture and Yuyang Prefecture couldn’t stand it anymore and pleaded with Master Ouyang: "Sir, our two prefectures are near the Central State, and things have already gone awry. We can’t have further chaos. Please open a bank in our two prefectures and help us out."

Let us get transferred first, and then you can withdraw the bank. We don’t want to be implicated and lose our heads due to chaos in our jurisdictions.

The Tong’an Prefecture Magistrate, sharp-tongued, remarked, "Colleagues, your two prefectures are overrun with mountain bandits. Is this the time to send a large amount of Silver to Baishan Prefecture and Yuyang Prefecture? It’s like sending sheep into a tiger’s den?"

The Silver would be robbed as soon as it entered your prefectures.

The magistrates of the two prefectures wanted nothing more than to knock the Tong’an Prefecture Magistrate down and give him a beating.

Master Ouyang looked at the two magistrates and said, "Gentlemen, there’s no need to worry. I have received news that due to incidents in Zhili, the Emperor is furious and has already ordered additional troops to secure each prefecture."

The Magistrates of Baishan Prefecture and Yuyang Prefecture heard this and grimaced. Only sending troops to suppress the situation? They needed Silver!

But there is truly no Silver.

Master Ouyang said, "Young Master Dou and I are limited in our abilities; we can only open the bank gradually. I’m afraid I can’t help you."

The magistrates almost jumped up to hit Ouyang Hu but dared not to because of his status as a Great Scholar and the protective elder brother he has. They could only swallow their frustration and ask, "Sir, you’re not going to help us at all?"

Master Ouyang sighed, "It’s not that I don’t want to, but I simply lack the capability... Originally, I shouldn’t have meddled in tax matters, but my conscience is uneasy, and I had to sacrifice my own wealth to open the Dou Ou Bank."

"Gentlemen, I apologize." Master Ouyang stood up and bowed to the two magistrates, scaring them into hurriedly stepping aside and returning the salute.

At this moment, all the officials present realized that relying on Dou Ou Bank to rescue them was impossible.

However...

Master Ouyang said, "There’s no need to worry too much, gentlemen. The Emperor won’t ignore Jianghuai. If you can endure this period, good news will surely come from the Capital."

The Magistrates of Baishan Prefecture and Yuyang Prefecture heard this, but their expressions showed no improvement. Maybe other areas of Jianghuai could be protected, but their two prefectures, being close to Central State, were uncertain.

Magistrate Gu comforted them, "Colleagues, since Master Ouyang has said so, surely there is already good news from the Capital. Just wait patiently."

The two magistrates heard this and nearly sneered. It’s easy for you in He’an Prefecture to say such cool words when you’ve benefited entirely!

The Magistrate of Linhe Prefecture, Magistrate Shi, also arrived and spoke up, "Colleagues, I heard that many wealthy family members from Central State have fled to your two prefectures. These people are quite wealthy, and, suffering from local instability, should be willing to help keep things steady."

After saying this, he got up regardless of whether the two magistrates listened and bowed to Master Ouyang, saying, "Sir, I request you to help pacify the noble families of Linhe Prefecture. Convince them to donate Silver to assist Linhe Prefecture farmers through this crisis."

Magistrate Shi hoped for a promotion; he didn’t want the tax issue to cut his path to advancement.

However, Magistrate Shi wasn’t too worried about trouble in Linhe Prefecture. For one, Linhe Prefecture was prosperous, with many wealthy people. Donations from them would solve the issue.

Second, because of the many noble families, they wouldn’t let the place where they rest their livelihood fall into chaos. Their influence was too strong for a magistrate to suppress alone.

Master Ouyang said, "Old Master Yan San is a friend of mine. Magistrate Shi, just have him help. The noble families and wealthy members of Linhe Prefecture have money and brains and will surely be willing to contribute some Silver to stabilize Linhe Prefecture."

Will Old Master Yan San help?

Magistrate Shi was finally relieved and smiled, "Thank you, sir."

With Master Ouyang’s assurance, upon returning, Magistrate Shi could directly find Old Master Yan San to urge him to gather the noble families, wealthy people, and discuss how much Silver each family could contribute.

Magistrate Shi’s goal achieved, he clasped his hands toward the officials present and said, "Colleagues, we, Jianghuai, are the shield of Jiangnan, a treasured land of mountains and rivers, producing plentiful grain. The Emperor will surely protect Jianghuai, and there’s no need to worry."

He continued, "It’s getting late. Junior Minister Ming is still in Linhe Prefecture, so I shouldn’t remain outside for long. I must depart early tomorrow back there, so I bid farewell now."

After saying this, he left without delay, taking his people with him immediately.

The officials present were extremely envious. Being stationed in a wealthy prefecture was indeed advantageous. Even when facing such a major issue as double taxation, they could handle it easily.

After Magistrate Shi left, Master Ouyang also got up and said, "Gentlemen, after much travel and fatigue, I must also take my leave."

With that, he left unceremoniously, taking Young Master Dou, Gu Jin’an, and County Magistrate Zheng with him.

Only Magistrate Gu was left to deal with the magistrates who hadn’t received any Silver.

Master Ouyang felt uneasy in his heart, and without asking County Magistrate Zheng and the others to continue with him, he returned to his previous room supported by Ah Song.

Gu Jin’an, seeing Master Ouyang’s poor complexion and fearing he couldn’t endure it, took out a bottle of Convenient Medicine and handed it over, "Sir, this is a Yangrong Pills from the pharmaceutical workshop. Please take one before resting."

Master Ouyang nodded and had Ah Song dissolve the pill in hot water before drinking it down.

Seeing Master Ouyang silent, Gu Jin’an felt very guilty. He bowed and solemnly said, "Sir, this is all my fault. I shouldn’t have suggested you start the new bank."

Master Ouyang smiled, looked at Gu Jin’an, and asked, "Do you know what my brother scolded me about the most?"

Gu Jin’an paused, unsure why Master Ouyang was mentioning this suddenly, and shook his head, "I do not know, sir."

"It was for being too quick to champion the underdog." Master Ouyang said, "When I was young, I stirred up many troubles for my elder brother because of this. He would clean up after me while scolding me, yet I remained unchanged, believing I was right."

After saying this, Master Ouyang paused, seemingly reminiscing the past, "So even if you and Miss Ming didn’t ask me, I would still have helped you... This is not your fault; it’s what I intended to do."

If he hadn’t wanted to do it, neither Good Brother An nor Miss Ming could have persuaded him.