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Xin'an City had been peaceful and stable under the governance of the former Magistrate, Mr. Chen, with clear administration and harmony between the officials and populace. The people lived and worked in contentment, and it could be described as a joyful land. However, not long after Magistrate Ceng Lu took office, he shattered this harmonious scene, beginning a campaign of extortion and exploitation that weighed heavy on the people, who voiced their grievances loudly. Yet Ceng Lu, relying on his connection with Empress Cheng in the palace, committed all manner of misdeeds without concern for his reputation or any hesitation, as his trusted managers grew fat with corruption on his coattails.
