Great Zhou Wensheng

Chapter 158 Jiang Sima's Example of Making an Example!
Inside the governor's mansion, the officials of the six departments were busy with their respective tasks.

Suddenly, Hu Wanjin rushed in, his face ashen, his voice trembling: "Quick! Everyone, set off immediately—go to the canal wharf to check the military rations being transported to the north!"

Everyone was stunned.

"Brother Hu, what happened?"

An old official put down the Chinese scroll in his hand, frowned, and asked.

Hu Wanjin's forehead was covered in cold sweat, and his voice trembled: "Commander Jiang, Commander Jiang, only took half an hour to audit all the accounts for the grain transported from the north! He found a deficit of a full 200,000 shi!"

"what?!"

The officials in the hall were all shocked and their faces changed color!

Several officials who were drinking tea suddenly spat out their water. Old Wu, the accountant, looked up in surprise, and his abacus fell to the ground with a clatter, scattering beads all over the floor.

"How is this possible?"

"Those dozens of thick account books were sent from various prefectures and counties in Jiangnan Circuit. Even a god couldn't calculate them so quickly!"

Hu Wanjin stamped his foot in frustration: "What's the use of saying all this now?! Get to the dock right now! — If a real problem is found, who knows how many people will lose their heads!"

The officials were in a panic.

Some people wore their official hats askew and didn't bother to straighten them, while others tripped on the threshold and almost fell.

Although they often freeloaded and skimmed off some extra money, there were priorities. The military rations being transported north were of paramount importance—they were the rations for the soldiers stationed on the border!
"Damn it! If I find out who tampered with the military rations, I'll skin them alive!"

"Stop talking nonsense! Let's go!"

The officials felt a chill run down their spines.

They knew all too well—if the embezzlement of 200,000 shi of military rations were confirmed and discovered when it was sent north, not only would the embezzlers be executed by slow slicing, but even the officials responsible for the investigation would face exile at best, and execution of their entire families at worst!

In a short while, the sound of horses' hooves thundered outside the governor's office.

Jiang Xingzhou, dressed in a dark official robe, stood on the carriage.

Behind him, thousands of yamen runners stood ready, armed with knives and spears.

"set off!"

At a command, the procession surged forward like a black torrent towards the canal wharf.

At noon, the sun blazed down.

The heat was intense at the Jinling Prefecture canal wharf.

Jiang Xingzhou, dressed in a dark official robe, stepped down from the carriage, the Sima fish tally at his waist gleaming coldly in the sunlight.

"Lord Jiang, what brings you here?!"

A sharp-eyed clerk hurriedly stepped forward, took the reins, and tied the carriage to the stone pillars on the dock.

This military dock served as a transit hub for transporting military supplies northwards throughout the entire Jiangnan region.

Military grain ships from various prefectures, counties, and towns in Jiangnan gathered here. Only after being counted and registered could they be sent to the northern border.

At this moment, the dock is filled with masts, and hundreds of grain transport ships of various sizes are quietly moored, their waterlines varying in depth.

"boom--"

The door to the dock duty room was suddenly pushed open.

The canal official, who was dozing on a bamboo couch, was startled and dropped his palm-leaf fan to the ground with a "thud".

Who did this?

Upon seeing who it was, the rest of his rebuke stuck in his throat.

Jiang Xingzhou's face was icy cold, followed by dozens of officials from the governor's mansion, and further away, thousands of yamen runners were surging towards the grain transport ships at various parts of the dock like a tide.

"Lord Jiang?!"

The transport official's heart skipped a beat. He didn't even have time to put on his boots properly and ran out barefoot. "This batch of military rations is to be shipped in three days. If we unload now, we'll be late!"

This commotion had already alerted all the grain transport ships at the dock.

The grain transport official from Suzhou Prefecture leaned against the ship's railing and peered out, while the grain escort officer from Hangzhou Prefecture poked his head out of the cabin.

These officials from various prefectures and counties in Jiangnan had already completed their handover and were just waiting to receive the approval documents from the governor's office before they could return to report for duty.

At this moment, seeing the governor's office suddenly send a large group of officials to inspect the grain ships, some people's expressions changed drastically, revealing panic, while others secretly exchanged glances.

Under the sunlight, some people had cold sweat on their foreheads, and some people's hands trembled slightly in their sleeves.

A grain of millet spilled out of the tattered sack, bounced twice on the bluestone slab, and rolled to the side of the canal transport official's bare feet.

His face turned pale with fright.

"Issue this official order—"

Jiang Xingzhou stood with his hands behind his back on the high platform of the dock, his official robes fluttering in the hot wind. His gaze, sharp as lightning, swept over the hundreds of grain transport ships, his voice like the clash of swords:
"For all prefectures and counties, inspect one bag out of every ten grain transport ships on the spot!"

"First, check the quantity; second, check the quality!"

"Anyone found shortchanging customers, using inferior grains instead of rice or millet, or passing off lower-quality goods as higher-quality goods—"

Jiang Xingzhou suddenly raised his voice, startling a flock of egrets on the dock, and shouted sternly: "The officials involved in transporting the grain must be arrested and punished immediately!"

"Yes, my lord!"

The officials, accompanied by their fierce and ruthless yamen runners, boarded the ship one after another.

The constables, armed with fire and water sticks, lined up on each boat and took out the grain sacks. The heavy grain sacks were carried out of the cabin one by one, accompanied by the rustling sound of burlap sacks being dragged.

Jiang Xingzhou stared at the pale face of the canal official, his mind clear.

He worried that not only was there a deficit of 200,000 shi of grain out of the million shi, but also that the grain supply was short by more than 100,000 shi.

Behind this deficit lies an even more horrifying scheme—to allow military rations mixed with gravel, old grain, and miscellaneous grains to slip through the cracks.

Once this batch of grain is handed over in Jinling Prefecture and into the hands of the Prefectural Governor, even a god couldn't explain it.

He, Sima, will have to take the blame for this.

After the handover, when the border soldiers discovered it, they mutinied, and the court investigated. Not only would his position as acting commander be in jeopardy, but he would also lose his head!
Even officials of all ranks throughout the state were implicated and punished, and countless innocent people were implicated as well.

"grown ups."

The canal official stared at the moldy millet grain at his feet, his Adam's apple bobbing violently.

"Open the bag!"

With a command given
The gleaming knife sliced ​​through the burlap sack.

The golden rice paddies should have cascaded down like a waterfall, but instead—

"Wow!"

Some dark sand and gravel were found mixed in with the grain bags on the No. 3 ship of Suzhou Prefecture!

Several plump rice weevils crawled out of the old millet on the No. 7 ship of Hangzhou Prefecture!
"Take it!"

The chains of the yamen runners rattled as they detained the grain transport official who had caused the problem on the spot.

On the dock, dozens of wooden tables were lined up in a row.

The veteran officials worked directly on the spot, quickly calculating the income and expenditure in the ledgers, their foreheads beaded with sweat, their fingertips flying like butterflies on the abacus beads.

One after another, the green ledgers were flipped open with a "whoosh," and the numbers, still wet with ink, steamed and scorched under the blazing sun.

They were filled with unease.

It was initially thought that Jiang Sima, a newly appointed top scholar, would be unfamiliar with government affairs.

But now it seems that Jiang Sima's methods are even more cunning than those of these old officials.

One in ten samples will be randomly inspected!

Verify the ledgers and the quantity of military rations!
Strictly investigate and punish the sale of inferior goods as superior ones!

Jiang Sima was fully aware of these methods.

"The Suzhou Prefecture Wuzhong Granary records that 25,000 shi of grain were delivered, but the grain transport ships actually carried 22,000 shi of grain, resulting in a deficit of 3,000 shi! In addition, there are 2,000 shi of substandard broken rice and rotten rice!"

"The charitable granary in Jiangdu County, Yangzhou Prefecture, has a deficit of 800 shi (a unit of dry measure)!"

Amidst the clinking of the abacus beads, a minor official secretly glanced up.

The young Sima official stood with a cold expression, his hands behind his back, his official robe hem remaining perfectly still, as if he had already mastered all the petty tricks of the grain transport officials in the prefectures and counties.

The old official Sun Shenwei's brush hovered in mid-air, filled with doubt and confusion.

Even with dozens of seasoned officials working day and night, it would still take them a day to sort out the accounts.

This newly appointed top scholar managed to uncover a deficit of 200,000 shi of military rations within half an hour, according to dozens of account books.
How is it possible to quickly tally the "receipts, expenditures, and inventory" of each warehouse?

How strange!

How could the deficit of this grain transport ship to the north be so severe?

Even the grain sacks contained 20-30% more sand, gravel, and rotten rice than in previous years. When Du Sima was in office, how could the prefectures and counties dare to be so blatant?

The old clerk, Hu Wanjin, slammed the account books heavily on the table in anger. In previous years, the military rations and provisions sent north by various prefectures and counties in Jiangnan had been relatively normal, with very little deficit.

He was careless this time too.

After personally inspecting the dock, he sent the account books submitted by the grain transport officials from various prefectures and counties to Lord Sima for approval.

"Humph!

Lord Du Shangjun is a veteran official who has served the governor for decades. He can smell the tricks of those corrupt officials even with his eyes closed!
However, at present, Du Sima has been transferred to the navy to repair the Taihu Lake project.

The position of Sima has become vacant, and the court will not officially fill the vacancy until next year!

However, this shipment of one million shi of military rations to the north was urgent and needed to depart from Nanjing within ten days.

Even if there were newly arrived intern Sima, unfamiliar with the affairs of transporting military provisions by canal, and perhaps unable to even understand the waterline of the transport ships, it would be impossible to uncover the shady dealings in a short period of time.

The grain transport officials are all aware of this; they must be trying to take advantage of this lean season to embezzle funds and make a quick buck.

"That's exactly right!"

A young clerk shook out a few grains of yellowed, stale rice from his sleeve. "When we inspected the ship just now, the outer sacks were bulging, full of new rice."

But when I used an iron rod to poke deep inside, all I found were old, broken rice bits!

Grains of rice trickled down between his fingers.

Several old officials were so angry that their teeth itched and their knuckles cracked.

—These audacious parasites dared to deceive even them!

If the newly arrived Commander Jiang is careless and signs the approval document for the handover of military rations without careful examination, the embezzlement will be exposed when the grain ships arrive in the north...

—These minor officials assisting the governor's office will, at best, have their salaries deducted to cover the deficit, and at worst, be dismissed and exiled!

The veteran officials of the governor's mansion exchanged glances, their eyes filled with lingering fear.

Jiang Xingzhou sat quietly on the dock, his fingertips twirling a grain of old rice. Mold spots, like a poisonous curse, spread silently across his palm.

The grain officer of Wuzhong Granary, kneeling on the ground, trembled all over, his back soaked with cold sweat.

"Suzhou Wuzhong Granary, grain escort officer, please speak!"
The ledger records clearly show that 25,000 shi (a unit of dry measure) were handed over.

However, upon inspection, the grain transport ships actually carried only 22,000 shi of grain, a shortfall of 3,000 shi—where did those 3,000 shi of grain go?!

In addition, there were two thousand shi of substandard broken rice and rotten rice!

Jiang Xingzhou asked calmly.

He suddenly bent down, his official boots crushing the scattered rotten rice on the ground, the broken rice making a soft popping sound on the soles of his boots.

Like crushing a woodworm!
Seeing the coldness in Jiang Xingzhou's eyes, the grain officer hurriedly grabbed Jiang Xingzhou's leg and cried, "Lord Jiang, please see the truth!"

The deficit is just normal wear and tear on the road!

We, the grain transport officials, boatmen, trackers, and porters, all needed rations on the road. The county government didn't give us any subsidies, so we still had to eat some grain! There were precedents for losses.

As for broken rice and rotten rice, the grain we requisitioned was also collected from the townships and towns.

I failed to examine the matter carefully at the time, which was an oversight.

When I return, I will thoroughly investigate the matter, expose all the corrupt officials below, make up for the shortfall in grain and fodder, and give you, sir, an explanation!

"Bullshit, who are you trying to fool?!"
If you're transporting 25,000 shi of grain, can you consume 3,000 shi by water?
This is by ship, and it's within our Jiangnan Circuit. Transporting grain from Wuzhong to Jinling, the loss would definitely not exceed ten shi of grain!
This isn't some long-distance land transport to the north, a arduous journey through the western deserts, yet the consumption is enormous!
"When the townships and towns hand over their grain and fodder, do you, a slippery official, really not check them?"

Hu Wanjin kicked over the measuring cup, causing the white rice to pour out like a waterfall, and grabbed the grain officer by the collar.

"Someone come!
The grain officer in charge of Wuzhong Granary embezzled military rations and should be executed according to military law.

Drag him out and execute him as a warning to others!

"The shortfall is 5,000 shi (a unit of dry measure). Send someone to inform Wu Zhongcang to send another batch of grain within five days."

Jiang Xingzhou untied his official seal and ribbon, and on the spot presented an official document, coldly saying.

As the Sima of Jiangnan Circuit, he directly dealt with the corrupt grain transport officials according to military law. The evidence was irrefutable, and there was no need to send them to the governor's office for trial.

"Yes!"

The ruthless yamen runners immediately dragged Wu Zhongcang's grain officer, who was already terrified and whose crotch was soaked with sweat, out and executed him according to military law.

The chains of the yamen runners rattled, and the grain transport officer suddenly cried out in anguish, "Your Honor, you are innocent! It was the Suzhou magistrate who ordered me to..." His voice trailed off abruptly.

The constables covered his mouth and dragged him outside the dock.

Hu Wanjin's expression changed drastically, but when he turned around, he saw Jiang Xingzhou looking towards the Caohe River, seemingly ignoring him.

Jiang Xingzhou didn't care who embezzled the five thousand shi of grain. As long as it was recovered, that was enough.

"The granary in Jiangdu County, Yangzhou Prefecture, had 10,000 shi of grain on its books, but actually only 9,200 shi were transported, resulting in a deficit of 800 shi!"

Where did the missing 800 shi of grain go?

Jiang Xingzhou's fingertips traced the ledger, the still-wet ink on the numbers stinging his eyes.

He raised his eyes, his voice as cold as a knife, and asked the grain transport officer of Jiangdu County.

The grain transport official of Jiangdu County suddenly knelt down, his forehead slamming heavily onto the bluestone slab.

"Sir, have mercy!
My grain transport ship from Jiangdu County was traveling to Jinling Prefecture when it encountered a sudden gust of wind on the Yangtze River. The waves were several feet high, and one of the grain ships capsized on the spot!

Despite the desperate efforts of the common people to salvage the situation, they still suffered a loss of one thousand bushels of grain!
It wasn't that a petty person embezzled; it was truly due to unpredictable natural disasters!
Afterwards, I even paid out of my own pocket to buy two hundred bushels of grain. However, the shortfall was too great; I simply didn't have that much money.

"A monstrous wind, and the boat capsized??"

Jiang Xingzhou chuckled lightly, tapping his fingertips lightly on the table. "Jiangnan grain transport? This is the first time I've heard of such a thing. The evil winds specifically target and capsize the grain transport ships."

Eight hundred bushels of grain were used to feed the fish in the river!

Who are you trying to fool with that excuse!

The grain officer trembled all over, cold sweat trickling down his temples.

Jiang Xingzhou closed the booklet of the Jiangdu County Granary and said in a stern tone: "I don't care where the missing grain went, and I don't care what methods you use!"
Whether it's buying grain or borrowing grain!

The deficit of 800 shi of grain must be made up within three days.

If he can't fix it, he'll be executed!

"Yes! Yes! I'll take care of it right away!"

The grain transport official of Jiangdu County was immediately relieved, as if he had been granted a pardon. He kowtowed repeatedly, almost crawling on his knees to express his gratitude and retreat.

—After beheading one, the rest indeed became obedient.

Jiang Xingzhou watched the departing grain official of Jiangdu County in a panic, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

The remaining grain transport officials from various prefectures, counties, and towns dared not argue with Jiang Xingzhou or make excuses; they only wanted to save their lives.

"Three hundred bushels of moldy grain, what happened?"

Jiang Xingzhou looked coldly at a grain escort officer.

"Your Majesty, it's clear!
The grain ships were old and in disrepair, with water seeping from the hulls, and hundreds of stalks of grain had become moldy along the way… I failed to inspect them in time, and have committed the crime of negligence!

The grain transport officer knelt on the ground, his forehead pressed against the bluestone bricks, and cried out in a trembling voice.

"Ah!"

Jiang Xingzhou chuckled softly and tapped his fingertips lightly on the table.

That's a good reason.

The laughter wasn't loud, but it sent chills down the spines of all the officials present.

Jiang Xingzhou simply stopped asking questions and waved his hand.

The officials of the governor's office were only allowed to find out the amount of grain and fodder that was missing from each grain transport ship, and to force the grain officials to make up the shortfall.

"Make up the shortfall within three days! If you can't, then set off with the grain transport officer from Wuzhong Granary!"

"Yes! Thank you for your mercy, Lord Jiang!"

After the grain transport officials from various prefectures, counties, and towns retreated in fear, having escaped a calamity, they gathered together and soon began to whisper among themselves, all complaining to each other in hushed tones—

"How could your Jiashan County be in deficit of three hundred shi (a unit of dry measure)?"

"Pah! You're one to talk!

I only embezzled three hundred bushels of grain, which was originally a minor matter and might not have been discovered, but I've been dragged down by you jackals.

How could I have imagined that you, with such audacity, could have such a deficit of several thousand bushels of grain in a single county!

The total deficit is a staggering 200,000 shi (a unit of dry measure), what a bunch of lunatics!
"Are you all thinking of taking advantage of Du Sima's departure to make a fortune?!"

"It's all your fault. You could have just embezzled a hundred bushels of grain. But you lost two hundred thousand bushels! That's so much! How can the new Sima Jiang not investigate thoroughly?!"

"Shh—keep your voice down! The grain officer in charge of Wuzhong Granary is the brother-in-law of the Suzhou Prefectural Magistrate. Jiang Sima can execute him without hesitation!"

"From now on, if you see Jiang Sima, you should take a detour. How could this newly appointed top scholar be so ruthless? He uncovered all the accounts in just one day!"

(End of this chapter)