Qing Yao

Chapter 386 Don't rush, I'll give you a note
Debt disputes should not be subject to government intervention through criminal means to protect the interests of officials simply because one of the parties involved is an official.

That doesn't make sense, and it doesn't make sense.

If Anqing Prefecture really does that, then the money shop will definitely not let it go.

Could someone who runs a money exchange not have powerful figures behind them?

If this gets out of hand, can Anqing Prefecture handle it?
Besides, how could Anqing Prefecture, which had taken the initiative to seek refuge, not know who was behind Emperor Xianfeng?
Therefore, Prefect Song, who was eager to act as a peacemaker, suggested that the Provincial Education Commissioner should personally sit down with the people from Xianfeng Bank and have an open and honest discussion about the debt issue. It would be best to postpone it if possible, and if it couldn't be postponed, the debt could be restructured.

However, it is not possible for Anqing Prefecture to send people to forcibly intervene.

The Anqing Prefecture refused to accept the case, and the Provincial Education Commissioner was powerless to do anything about it, since neither side had jurisdiction. However, he was still furious and sent someone to the Provincial Surveillance Commissioner's Office, which was in charge of criminal cases in the province, to report the case.

When the Provincial Surveillance Commissioner received the report, he did not refrain from intervening due to the debt dispute. Instead, he immediately dispatched personnel to investigate. That very night, armed constables who had been lying in wait at the Education Bureau arrested several people who had posted "big-character posters."

They thought the matter was resolved, but unexpectedly, the people arrested by the provincial governor's office were released before dawn and then brazenly continued to paint over the outer wall of the provincial education office in broad daylight.

Enraged, the provincial education commissioner rode in a sedan chair to the provincial judicial office to question the officials, where he was personally received by Provincial Judicial Commissioner Zhang.

"Why did the provincial judge release those lawbreakers?!"

Faced with the questioning from the provincial education commissioner, the provincial judge helplessly explained that it was not that the provincial judicial office was negligent, but rather that the actions of those arrested did not constitute a crime. He couldn't possibly sentence them just because they made a few remarks about the death of their entire family for not paying their debts.

Judgments must be based on evidence. What is that evidence?
The basis is the Qing Dynasty law.

The Qing Dynasty legal code did not have specific provisions regarding debt collection practices arising from private debt disputes.

No one died, no one was injured, no one caused trouble at the yamen, and no one broke into the debtor's house to make a scene. Even if the judicial office wanted to enforce the law, it had no way to do so.

"Lord Xu, in my opinion, we should..."

The provincial judge, Lord Zhang, expressed great sympathy for the provincial education commissioner's plight, but insisted that a provincial judicial official must never abuse his power. He hoped that the commissioner could find a way to raise some money to repay the debt after returning home, or at least pay the interest if necessary.

Well, the provincial governor's office is unreliable, and Anqing Prefecture is unreliable either. Apart from the provincial education commissioner's office itself, there is no other government office in the provincial capital that can help the education commissioner solve the problem. He can only solve it himself.

At the official level, colleagues understand the old master's feelings, but the law cannot be trampled on, much less used as a tool for officials to protect their private interests. This is a red line that they must firmly adhere to.

Disappointed, the education commissioner had no choice but to return to his office dejectedly.

As a result, a group of beggars that Xianfeng found from who-knows-where started singing Lianhualuo (a type of folk ballad) across from the yamen (government office) every day, making the story of "The old master owing money and not paying it back, acting like a rogue in front of the sage's gate" known to everyone in Anqing.

The inaction of the provincial governor's office and the Anqing prefecture emboldened the rogues who came to collect debts, to the point that they dared to write on the walls again as soon as the yamen runners from the education office had cleaned them.

The yamen runners at the education office got too lazy to clean it up anymore.

The onlookers treated the old master being pursued for debts as a daily spectacle, with large crowds gathering outside the education bureau's office every day to watch the spectacle. This humiliation and disgrace was even more unbearable than killing the education bureau chief.

The dignified master of the province was so tormented that he lost his appetite and could not sleep at night, and in just over ten days he became haggard.

But he persisted, because he believed that Zhao Youlu would not break his promise and that Li Jingli, who went to Fengyang, would definitely bring back 50,000 taels of silver.

Returning empty-handed and indicating that he had not seen Lord Zhao, Li Jingli completely broke the Academic Commissioner, causing him to collapse into his chair on the spot.

Steward Chen, who went to negotiate with Xianfeng Bank, also brought back "bad news": although the loan was guaranteed by Governor Zhao, the actual borrower and user was you, Academician. Now that Governor Zhao is not in Anqing, who else can we ask for the money if not you, Academician? In short, pay back the money!
Steward Chen also brought back the latest demand notice, which clearly stated that the principal was 50,000 taels. With interest and overdue penalties, the total amount that Xue Zhengda needs to repay for this loan has now ballooned to 58,320 taels!
It was nearly eight thousand taels more than it should have been!
What kind of loan is this?

Loans that devour people without spitting out the bones!

But the payment reminder clearly stated that overdue payments would incur penalty interest!

Grandmaster, do you admit it yourself or not?
Take a good look at the small print at the very bottom of the original loan agreement, and at the end of the agreement, which states that "I have the right to interpret this agreement."

"Zhao Youlu, you've killed me!"

The academic official, who had no money to repay the debt, felt his vision go black and a wave of despair washed over him. In a moment of despair, he even considered suicide to preserve his reputation.

Fortunately, the housekeeper persuaded him to stop. Then he thought that if he died, wouldn't the stigma of not paying his debts be confirmed even more?

"Prepare the car, let's go to Fengyang. If I don't see Zhao Youlu, I'll die there!"

With a last glimmer of hope, the Academician, weary from his journey, arrived in Fengyang by carriage at a speed of twenty miles per hour.

After several twists and turns, they finally met Zhao An, who was directing the Green Standard Army to surround the mountain at Jiushan.

"Master Zhao!"

Looking at Zhao An, who had put aside his military duties to come and see him, the Education Commissioner almost burst into tears. "You must save me! Emperor Xianfeng is simply lawless. I have been driven to the brink of despair and have no face to face the people of Anqing!"

"What's wrong with the old master?"

Zhao An, looking surprised, quickly helped the Education Commissioner who was about to perform a grand salute: "Master, please don't be alarmed. What has happened that has caused you such panic?"

"Lord Zhao,"

With a sob in his voice, the Education Commissioner recounted how Xianfeng Bank had sent people to force repayment of the debt. "Lord Zhao, you guaranteed that the debt would be borne by the provincial treasury when it was due, but why is the provincial treasury so reluctant to release the money!"

"Oh dear, look at my memory!"

Zhao An suddenly realized what had happened and slapped his forehead in anger. "Look at me! The bandit suppression was so complicated that I completely forgot about this! It's all my fault, all my fault! But don't worry, Master, since I've vouched for you, there's no reason for me to make things difficult for you! Why would a mere few tens of thousands of taels of silver cause this? Someone, bring me pen and ink!"

"Whoo!"

An attendant immediately brought pen and ink.

"Master, please calm down. I will write you a note right away. You can go directly to the provincial treasury to collect the money when you get back."

As Zhao An spoke, he was about to write a note.

Upon seeing this, the provincial education commissioner felt a pang of anxiety and quickly said, "Sir, what needs to be repaid now is not fifty thousand taels, but almost sixty thousand taels!"

"Sixty thousand it is!"

Zhao An didn't care at all. He immediately wrote a note ordering the provincial treasury to allocate 60,000 taels of silver to the education commissioner's office. He then stamped it with his official seal and handed it to the delighted education commissioner: "Master, just take this note to the provincial treasury to withdraw the money. Alas, look at the mess this has made. It's all my fault, my fault."

(End of this chapter)