During the Xianfeng period of the Qing Dynasty, there was a county magistrate in Ju County who was much loved by the people, Zhang Ling. Zhang Ling was an official who was upright and quick-witted in handling cases. Soon after coming to Ju County, he cleared many old cases that had been backlogged for many years. Zhang Ling was not only good at handling cases, but also good at farmland and water conservancy construction, which turned many lands that had been in arrears in Ju County for many years into fertile fields, so he was very loved by the people.

Although County Magistrate Zhang was diligent and loved the people, he had no choice but to suffer from locust plagues and social unrest for years, and the people still couldn't make a living. The people hoped that the government would take more effective measures. But at this moment, County Magistrate Zhang suddenly resigned, and people speculated about the real reason for County Magistrate Zhang's resignation, but few people could guess, because there was a little-known story in it.

The story should start with a robbery case: the local ruffian Zhao Zhong robbed the pedestrians of the village at the head of the village, and happened to be recognized by the person, so he sued the official. When the yamen caught Zhao Zhong, Zhao Zhong had not had time to hide the stolen goods. It can be said that the evidence was complete.

In the courtroom, Zhang Ling shouted and asked Zhao Zhong why he was robbing people's property. Zhao Zhong actually answered the question: "The eldest master is out of the hall!"

Zhang Ling was very angry and continued to ask Zhao Zhong, but she didn't expect Zhang Zhong to say the same thing. Zhang Ling was both puzzled and angry, and shouted angrily: "You are bold to make fun of the people and don't answer truthfully, why did you ask the master to withdraw from the hall?"

The yamen next to him slapped Zhao Zhong's spine with a stick and knocked Zhao Zhong to the ground. Unexpectedly, Zhao Zhong still grinned and said, "Sir, please retreat!"

County magistrate Zhang felt that it was really strange, so he stood up and left his seat. At this time, only to hear a clatter above his head, county magistrate Zhang hurriedly dodged, and the bricks that fell from the top of his head smashed his seat to pieces. County magistrate Zhang broke out in a cold sweat and thought to himself that if Zhao Zhong had not asked him to withdraw from the hall, he would not have been smashed to death and would certainly have been crippled.

It turned out that the county yamen had been in disrepair for a long time, and the wood on the roof had rotted, so that such a thing happened, but how did Zhao Zhong know in advance? So the county magistrate retired and brought Zhao Zhong into the inner house to inquire about the specific situation.

Zhao Zhong said that his grandfather told him to say so. Zhang County magistrate asked him where his grandfather was. Zhao Zhong said that his grandfather had been dead for more than 30 years, and he was only in his teens when his grandfather died. At that time, his grandfather said that he deserved to be robbed, but as long as he did as he said, he could turn a bad situation into a good one.

Zhang Ling asked Zhao Zhong what his grandfather's name was, and Zhao Zhong said he was called Zhao Xingye, who was famous for being good at divination during his lifetime. County magistrate Zhang asked about Zhao Xingye's situation, and as soon as he asked, Zhao Zhong talked endlessly. County magistrate Zhang was dubious, and finally put Zhao Zhong in prison temporarily, and let the guards take good care of him.

The next day, the county magistrate Zhang asked his master about Zhao Xingye's real situation. The master told Zhang the county magistrate a lot of anecdotes about Zhao Xingye, which became more and more mysterious. Zhang Ling was fascinated when he listened, and of course he believed that Zhao Zhong's words were true.

A few days later, the county yamen repaired it and asked the case again. Zhao Zhong changed his story. Zhao Zhong said that he did not rob at all, but only borrowed two bean cakes from others, because the other party was afraid that he would not return it, so he repented and sued him for robbery. Zhang Ling asked the plaintiff if this was the case, and the man nodded and said yes. So Zhang Ling asked Zhao Zhong to immediately compensate him for six bean cakes, and of course, the plaintiff nodded in agreement.

In fact, all this was secretly coordinated by the county magistrate Zhang, and Zhao Zhong's six bean cakes were also helped by the county magistrate. In fact, Zhao Zhong was not that kind of heinous person, but his bad years and poor management made him impoverished. That day, he saw that his children were really hungry, so he went to rob someone else's two bean cakes.

Shortly thereafter, the county magistrate resigned, claiming to be ill, and Zhao Zhong went from being poor to a wealthy family with more than 40 acres of land. Later, people familiar with the matter said that Zhang Ling gave Zhao Zhong the money for the land, because Zhao Zhong gave Zhang Ling his grandfather's book of divination.

For the sake of a few books, even the county magistrate did not do it. At first, people felt that the county magistrate Zhang lost a lot because of petty losses. Six months later, the Taiping Army's Northern Expedition passed through Juxian County, and the successor of the county magistrate led the officers and soldiers to resist for a few days, but finally the city was outnumbered and fell to death. Only then did people think of the resignation of the county magistrate Zhang, who said that if the county magistrate did not resign, it would definitely be difficult for the deserters to be defeated.

It is said that when Zhang County Magistrate resigned and returned to his hometown, he was actually inspired by Zhao Xingye, because when Zhao Zhong opened the porcelain altar sealed with paraffin wax before his grandfather's death and took out the book for Zhang Ling, he found a yellowed note inside. There were 16 words on the note: I am a disciple of Zhang Ling, returning to my hometown to practice. Obsessed with my career, I will rest in chaos!