Qing Yao

Chapter 275 Officials can't do this

The imperial decree appointed Fu Chang, the provincial governor of Jiangning, to conduct a full investigation into Zhao Youlu's grain-related case. Since it was a full investigation, Fu Chang naturally had to talk to the person involved.

That is, "preliminary review".

This "preliminary hearing" is different from the court hearings held in government offices; it is a private conversation.

Before the investigation results are released, even if Zhao An is stripped of his official hat and awaits trial, he cannot be treated as a criminal official and will still enjoy certain benefits.

Otherwise, they would have been shackled and sent to Beijing by donkey cart long ago.

Moreover, Zhao An's "Story Collection" completely misled Fuchang, making people believe that this lucky guy who rose ten ranks in a year was the old man's "Five Blessed Children" who had been living among the common people.

With this mindset, the whole process was less like Fuchang being questioned by imperial decree and more like the provincial governor having a cordial meeting with "Prince Zhao," with the atmosphere relaxed like a tea party or an interview program.

"Drink tea, drink tea."

This was the fifth time Fuchang had invited him to tea. The tea was brought by him; he said it was pre-rain Longjing tea, a tribute from Hangzhou for the old master.

No matter how delicious this tribute tea was, it didn't taste as good to Zhao An as the tea that the tea shop owner outside gave him.

It's purely psychological.

Zhao An felt that the things belonging to ordinary people and the things belonging to the old man were different.

Along with the imperial edict, a copy of the impeachment petition against Zhu Gui, the governor of Anhui, was also sent to Jiangning. The copy is now in Zhao An's hands, and he is reading it while drinking tea.

According to the contents of the copy, the incident occurred at the Sizhou Wuheshui Sub-warehouse, which was directly under the jurisdiction of Zhao An, the grain transport commissioner.

Water-based granaries were grain storage depots in various regions related to the Grand Canal, located in places with extremely convenient water and land transportation. In addition to water-based granaries, each province also had Ever-Normal Granaries directly under the jurisdiction of Guizhou County officials, as well as Charity Granaries and Community Granaries managed by local gentry.

Institutionally, Zhao An, as the director of the Grain Bureau, had absolute authority over the Shuicang granaries. However, apart from a few large granaries directly under the provincial government, Zhao An, as the director of the Grain Bureau, only had the authority to provide business guidance for the other granaries, but not direct leadership.

Both personnel and operations were handled autonomously by the local authorities, so officials outside the grain system mostly ignored Zhao An, the Daotai, who had no subordinate authority.

The Wuheshui secondary warehouse was quite large, with a stockpile of about 350,000 shi of grain. However, according to the whistleblower, the actual stockpile was less than 300,000 shi, resulting in a deficit of about 50,000 shi.

The materials show that Zhao An, as the Grain Commissioner, knew that the Wuhe Reservoir was severely depleted, but still used the name of disaster relief to forcibly distribute grain. In name, 35 shi of grain were distributed, but in reality only 18 shi were distributed to the people, while the remaining 11 shi were sold to grain merchants at high prices.

In years without disasters, the overall grain price in Anhui was 1.2 liang per shi (a unit of dry measure), but Zhao An sold it to grain merchants for 2.7 liang, more than double the price.

If the allegations are true, it means that Zhao An embezzled approximately 250,000 taels of imperial assets and covered up a deficit of 50,000 shi of grain.

The whistleblower was none other than Fan Wentong, the ambassador of Wuheshui Cicang.

The problem lies here: if someone else reveals it, the credibility of the story will be much lower.

However, Fan Wentong was the head of Wuhe Reservoir, and all the accounts for grain in and out were in his hands. If someone who knew him so well jumped out and openly exposed him, the evidence would definitely be unfavorable to Zhao An.

In other words, this matter is definitely not fabricated; it must be a fact.

To clear the name of "Five Blessed Ones," Fu Chang believed that the first step should be to start with Fan Wentong.

He put down his teacup, leaned forward slightly, and asked cautiously, "Does Lord Zhao know this Fan Wentong?"

"do not know."

Zhao An shook his head, frankly admitting that he had only been in office for a few months and had been busy inspecting the granaries in Jiangning and the surrounding areas. He hadn't had time to inspect other granaries in Anhui yet, so he hadn't even met Fan Wentong. "I see,"

Fu Chang nodded and asked who had presided over the opening of the granaries and distribution of grain in Wuhe.

"It's Zheng Fuyang, the grain supervisor of the yamen."

Zhao An briefly explained the situation: after receiving Zheng Fuyang's report on the severity of the disaster in Anhui, based on the principle that the lives of the people are of paramount importance, he ordered all granaries to release grain without waiting for approval from his superiors.

Zheng Fuyang was in charge of this matter from beginning to end, because the disaster situation was like a military situation and could not be delayed. If he, as the grain transport commissioner, were to go to the disaster area, who knows how many people would starve to death.

"Oh?"

Fu Chang's eyes lit up, and he proposed a hypothesis: could it be that this Zheng Tongpan was using Zhao An's name as the grain commissioner to act on his own, and was subsequently reported to the governor's office by Fan Wentong, the ambassador of the Wuhe Reservoir?

This is possible. A reasonable explanation is that the grain commissioner was kind-hearted, but his subordinates became greedy and took the opportunity to make money. The unsuspecting clerk thought it was the grain commissioner's order, so he went over his head and reported it to the governor's office.

However, Zhao An shook his head and said, "I trust Judge Zheng. He would never use my name to engage in such corrupt practices. If this matter was indeed done by Judge Zheng, then I am willing to accept the court's punishment."

He spoke very firmly.

The problem is that if Ambassador Ku wasn't lying, then there really is a major problem with Wuhe Reservoir. In that case, someone has to take the blame, otherwise it will be very detrimental to Zhao An, the grain transport commissioner.

"It's true that Lord Zhao trusts his subordinates, but you can only know a person's face, not their heart."

Fu Chang did not believe that the minor treasury envoy who dared to report to the governor's office without authorization was fabricating a story to flatter the grain commissioner, so he wanted to push out the magistrate surnamed Zheng to take the blame.

This way, it's easier to explain to everyone, both superiors and subordinates.

"I understand what Lord Fu means, but Prefect Zheng is my subordinate. If I were to push him out to take the blame because of personal interests, what would the officials and the public think of me?"

As he spoke, Zhao An slowly stood up and walked to Fu Chang. “Lord Fu and I have a good relationship. If one day in the future I also act against Lord Fu for personal gain, how will you view me?”

"This"

Fu Chang suddenly thought of the matter of how he had induced the other party to sell the Jiangning Confucian Temple.

"Lord Fu, the most important thing for us officials is to help each other. Those in higher positions should be considerate of their subordinates, like a gentle spring breeze and nourishing rain, without using their power to bully others or blaming everyone for minor mistakes; those in lower positions should wholeheartedly assist them and serve them like dogs and horses. As for friendships, we must be loyal and devoted, sharing weal and woe, and never wavering in our resolve even if we are brought to our deaths."

At this point, Zhao An looked at Fu Chang meaningfully, “In this day and age, most people seek profit and avoid harm. Superiors are harsh and ungrateful, subordinates are sycophantic and opportunistic, and friends become estranged when the benefits are exhausted. However, as the saying goes, ‘if the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold,’ we officials should have a benevolent and forgiving heart, and friends should have a steadfast and unwavering spirit. Only in this way can there be harmony between superiors and subordinates, and the way of friendship flourish.”

What does this mean in summary?

A leader must never harm his subordinates, a subordinate must never betray his leader, and a friend must be willing to go to great lengths for him, even if the sky falls, he must grit his teeth and bear the burden himself, and never be the kind of person who harms his subordinates, his leader, or his friends.

Only by acting in this way can we ensure unity.

Unity brings great strength.

"Lord Fu should personally go to Wuhe to investigate this matter. As the saying goes, one has no right to speak without investigation."

Zhao An offered his suggestion: instead of engaging in underhanded dealings with him here, Fuchang should go to Wuhe for an on-site investigation.

Perhaps the investigation will yield some pleasant surprises.

(End of this chapter)