The Cunning Magistrate: The Empress Begs Me to Take the Reins of the World

The newly crowned top scholar publicly composed a vulgar doggerel poem at court, mocking the female emperor.

Furious, the emperor banished him to Bittersea County, where he was certain to die as its magistrate.

Jiang Ning, who had transmigrated here, found himself caught in this deadly predicament.

"Three thousand Northern Mang cavalry have crossed the pass. They'll arrive in three days."

"The bandits of Canglang Mountain sent a letter demanding five thousand shi of grain. If we don't hand it over, they'll massacre the city."

"Prince Yu has amassed troops for his own ends. Once we receive our provisions, he'll abandon us and let us fend for ourselves."

"My lord, we're doomed!"

After hearing about the city's predicament, Jiang Ning racked his brains to find a way to survive.

Then the scheme "drive the tiger to swallow the wolf, and borrow a knife to kill" suddenly came to mind, and he immediately had a plan.

Without hesitation, he wrote three letters.

"Have someone deliver this one to the Northern Mang cavalry. Tell them we're surrendering, and that all the grain, weapons, horses, and women in the city will be theirs. We have only one request: help us get revenge by killing those bandits."

"Have someone deliver this one to the bandits. Tell them the grain is ready and they can come collect it in three days."

"Deliver this one to the nearest commander in Prince Yu's camp. Tell him we're pretending to surrender to the Northern Mang cavalry. When the time comes, have his men come and kill the foreign enemy. They'll earn enormous merit and claim the cavalry's horses and weapons as well."

An old city official asked in disbelief, "My lord, will this really work?"

Jiang Ning replied with complete confidence, "It will!"