My Portable Ming Dynasty

Chapter 268 The Divine Sword Slays the Demon Again

Sure enough, Shuai Jiamo discovered the problem in the Jiageku warehouse in Changxing County.

As mentioned before, of the four-tiered fiscal system nominally established by the Ming Dynasty, only two tiers actually functioned: the national treasury and the local treasury.

County treasuries generally do not hold much silver; they are only used as temporary working capital. Most of the surplus is taken by the prefectural treasury, leaving only the necessary funds and grain to maintain the operation of the county government.

This is why the county government of the Ming Dynasty was always in such dire straits. Whenever an emergency occurred, it had to solicit donations from local gentry or sway the people's corvée labor. The county government was already doing its best just to maintain a balance between income and expenditure.

However, Shuai Jiamo discovered a large number of silver dollars awaiting delivery in the county treasury of Changxing County.

The silver dollars to be delivered were intended for the government treasury.

After these silver dollars were inventoried and verified at the county government office, they were sealed with the treasury seal and awaited transport to the treasury.

According to the accounts, this batch of silver dollars already belonged to the government treasury, but because it had not yet been transported, it was still stored in the county treasury.

This is what puzzled Shuai Jiamo.

Normally, the pending delivery status is just a very short-term state of silver dollars in the treasury, and it is impossible for them to remain on the books for a long time.

However, this sum of silver dollars, which was to be delivered to the prefectural treasury, had been sitting in the county treasury's account for over a month and had not yet been transported to the prefectural city.

Shuai Jiamo also inquired with the clerk in the county government's household registration department and was told that the treasury was currently taking inventory, so the silver dollars would be temporarily kept in the county treasury.

Shuai Jiamo didn't know that these silver dollars were all borrowed.

Those who stepped forward to lend silver dollars were naturally the county magistrates, and the lenders were local wealthy merchants and gentry.

These wealthy merchants and gentry naturally borrowed silver dollars out of respect for their local officials, so they only trusted their county's magistrate.

Because it had been agreed beforehand that the silver dollars could only be stored in the county treasury and could not be transported to the prefectural treasury.

Unfortunately, wealthy merchants and gentry didn't really trust the government much.

The wealthy merchants and gentry still wielded influence in the county, and even with the county magistrate's guarantee, they weren't afraid of him defaulting on his debts.

Once the goods are transported to the prefectural city, they are no longer within the control of these gentry.

What if Governor Min Qing reneges on his debt?
Can we still go to the governor's office to collect the debt?

This is the operating logic of the Ming Dynasty's government.

Shuai Jiamo still felt something was wrong, so he wrote everything down and returned to his room.

In the Ming Dynasty, county government offices were divided into front and back offices. The front office was where people worked, and the back office was where people lived.

The county magistrate naturally lived in the back office of the county government, while the residences of the county assistant magistrate and the county registrar were located on either side of the county government.

Changxing County is considered a wealthy county, and the county magistrate's residence was built in a very grand manner.

Shuai Jiamo returned to his study, took a handful of rice from his pocket, and sprinkled it on the table.

A short while later, he heard the sound of wings flapping.

Shuai Jiamo looked out the window, and a plump pigeon flew in.

Did this pigeon follow me the whole time?

Shuai Jiamo really didn't understand how this fat pigeon appeared, but the pigeon cage on its leg made him recognize that it was the same pigeon from the Huangji Observatory.

Putting aside his doubts, Shuai Jiamo stuffed all the evidence he had collected over the past few days into the pigeon coop.

But after he finished doing all this, the fat pigeon stood still, its cross-eyed eyes fixed on the rice bag in his hand.

Shuai Jiamo immediately understood what the pigeon meant and poured all the Taihu tribute rice from the rice bag onto the table.

After watching the fat pigeon slowly finish eating all the rice, he spread his wings and flew out the window.
-
For the next two days, Shuai Jiamo waited for Huang Ji's reply.

However, on the very next day, Magistrate Jia Jingtang, who had gone to the prefectural city for a meeting, returned to the county.

Upon returning to the county, Magistrate Jia, without even having a chance to rest, convened a meeting of the entire county government.

"Flood control?"

After hearing Magistrate Jia's order, Shuai Jiamo said in surprise and doubt:

"The summer harvest is approaching, should we go control the flood now?"

Jia Jingtang looked at Shuai Jiamo and said with a smile:

“Magistrate Shuai, don’t worry, the Governor has already taken that into consideration.”

"This flood control project was funded by the county government, which provided compensation to the people even though it delayed their summer harvest."

"In addition, the expenses for water conservancy construction will be allocated entirely from the government treasury, and will absolutely not burden the people."

Shuai Jiamo asked in confusion, "Where did the county government get the silver dollars?"

Jia Jingtang was somewhat displeased by Shuai Jiamo's persistent questioning, at which point his advisor chimed in:

"Shuai Xianchen may not know this, but this year there is a sum of silver dollars from the prefectural treasury that has not been remitted to the county treasury. The governor has ordered that these silver dollars be used directly to build water conservancy projects."

Shuai Jiamo wanted to speak again, but was rudely interrupted by Jia Jingtang, who cleared his throat and said:

"Gentlemen, go back and draft the flood control plan as soon as possible. You must come up with a plan within three days and start construction immediately!"

Shuai Jiamo had no chance to speak and returned to his study. Just as he was worrying about what to do, he suddenly heard the sound of wings flapping outside the window.

He quickly opened the window and saw a plump white pigeon fly in.

Shuai Jiamo reached out to grab the letter cage, but was pecked by the fat pigeon.

Shuai Jiamo stared at the fat pigeon, which then pulled its hind legs back. Shuai Jiamo then understood and quickly took out a bag of rice and scattered it on the table.

The fat pigeon then stretched out its legs, allowing Shuai Jiamo to untie the letter cage.

It was indeed a reply from Master Huang Ji!

In his letter, Huang Ji affirmed Shuai Jiamo's work and ordered him to keep a close watch on the silver dollars awaiting remittance in the county treasury.

But Shuai Jiamo didn't understand how long he had to drag it out, or when he would be considered to have completed his master's task.
How could a mere county magistrate disobey the county magistrate's orders? By delaying the release of silver dollars from the county treasury?
As the end of the month approached, Shuai Jiamo realized that he could no longer delay.

The county government was very efficient this time, completing the flood control plan in just two days. County Magistrate Jia Jingtang quickly affixed his seal and posted notices to recruit laborers.

At this rate, we'll probably need to use the silver dollars from the county treasury tomorrow.

After much deliberation, Shuai Jiamo finally gritted his teeth, untied his official robe, rushed into the county treasury, and locked it from the inside.

"Master, something terrible has happened! The Second Master has suffered a hysterical attack!"

When the yamen runners guarding the county treasury rushed up to Jia Jingtang to report, Jia Jingtang was stunned.

Shuai Jiamo was an eccentric person, and there were indeed many rumors about him in the county government, but was he suffering from hysteria?
"Speak properly! What exactly happened to the handsome county magistrate!?"

The yamen runner who made the report quickly said:

"The second master rushed into the county treasury, locked himself inside, and refused to come out no matter what."

"When we tried to drag him out, he raised a knife and tried to commit suicide!"

Jia Jingtang stood up abruptly. He instinctively sensed something was wrong and quickly led the yamen runners to the county treasury.

"Second Master! The First Master is here, come out quickly!"

Several constables surrounded the county treasury, trying to persuade Shuai Jiamo to come out. But Shuai Jiamo roared at the top of his lungs:
"Monsters! You are all monsters! Don't try to trick me into coming out and eating me!"

"What kind of 'master' is this! He's clearly a man-eating monster!"

"Anyone who tries to break in, I'll slay you monsters!"

After watching for a while, Jia Jingtang was still unsure whether Shuai Jiamo was truly insane or faking it.

The yamen runners dared not rush in. Shuai Jiamo held a sharp blade in his hand, and whenever the yamen runners rammed the door too hard, he would hold it to his own neck as a threat.

If a county magistrate dies in the county treasury, it is a major event that will alarm even the imperial court.

The constables present would certainly not be able to escape, so no one was willing to take the lead in charging.

Jia Jingtang was also afraid of causing trouble and didn't know what to do.

At this point, his advisor came up with a suggestion: Shuai Jiamo is a scholar; he'll be too weak to cause trouble if he goes hungry in the county treasury for a few days, and then they can just drag him out.

Jia Jingtang thought it made sense, so he could only order the yamen runners to surround the county treasury and wait for Shuai Jiamo to exhaust himself before making any further moves.

However, Shuai Jiamo was even more resilient than Jia Jingtang had imagined.

Three days later, when Shuai Jiamo showed no signs of exhaustion, Jia Jingtang realized the problem: it was impossible for him to be so energetic after a day and a night without food or water. Shuai Jiamo must have prepared water and food in advance!
Just as Jia Jingtang was about to order a forced attack on the county treasury, a yamen runner guarding the county government office suddenly ran back to report.

"Your Excellency! The imperial envoy and the special messenger from the Yingtian Provincial Governor's Office have arrived!"

An angel proclaiming a decree?
Yingtian Governor's Office?

Why did we come to Changxing County?

Jia Jingtang's heart skipped a beat; he already had a bad feeling.

He had no choice but to temporarily abandon his plan to deal with Shuai Jiamo and rushed to the front of the government office.

Before long, Jia Jingtang saw the procession of the Imperial Censorate. Upon seeing the officials from the Imperial Censorate responsible for announcing the imperial decree, Jia Jingtang quickly set up an incense table to receive the decree.

After hearing the imperial decree, Jia Jingtang's mind was buzzing.

This is an imperial edict approving the "Memorial on Raising Silver from the Treasury of the Five Prefectures to Improve the Water Conservancy of Taihu Lake," ordering the mobilization of silver from the treasuries of the five prefectures to repair the water conservancy of Taihu Lake under the leadership of Hai Rui.

Jia Jingtang had already heard the news while attending a meeting in the prefectural city, but he never expected that the officials from the Imperial Household Department who were delivering the imperial decree would arrive before the county government had even spent the money!

After receiving the imperial decree, Jia Jingtang immediately asked:

"Your Excellency, why did you come to Changxing County to deliver the imperial edict first? Shouldn't this edict have been sent to the governor's office?"

The official in charge of announcing the imperial decree said coldly:

"Isn't the government's money located in your county?"

Finished!

Jia Jingtang's mind was buzzing.

At this moment, another official in a green robe stepped out from the back of the procession.

"I am Shen Wen, the assistant in charge of water affairs of Taihu Lake under Lord Hai. I have come here on Lord Hai's orders to escort the silver awaiting delivery to the prefecture in your county government."

Shen Wen then said:
"Lord Hai should have arrived in the prefectural city by now. Lord Jia has just heard the imperial decree. Lord Hai is the Grand Censor of Water Affairs of the Five Prefectures, in charge of the water affairs of Taihu Lake in the Five Prefectures. This is Lord Hai's order, to escort the prefectural silver to the prefectural city immediately."

Just as Jia Jingtang was feeling dizzy, Shen Wen said again:
"Magistrate Jia, where is your county's assistant magistrate?"

Jia Jingtang was taken aback for a moment, and Shen Wen smiled and said:

“I am an old friend of Magistrate Shuai. We worked together in Qingtian Prefecture back then. Today I came to your county to meet with him.”

Now Jia Jingtang understood everything.

He looked at the officials of the Public Security Bureau, then at Shen Wen.

If this silver dollar were delivered to the prefectural city, the local wealthy merchants and gentry would certainly not let him off the hook.

Just as Min Qing said, the money was borrowed from the county. If Min Qing really reneges on his promise, the county magistrate will ultimately bear the responsibility.

Thinking of this, Jia Jingtang immediately knelt down and said:
"Archangel! Steward Shen! The guilty official has something to confess!"
-
Capital.

From the moment Huang Ji sent his letter, Su Ze knew that Min Qing was finished.

A few days ago, through Shuai Jiamo's clues, Huang Ji and Hai Rui quickly understood Min Qing's trick.

Hai Rui waited for the officials from the Imperial Censorate to deliver the imperial edict, then personally went to the prefectural city where the governor of Jiaxing and Huzhou was located, and ordered the officials from the Imperial Censorate to take Shen Wen directly to Changxing County.

With Hai Rui taking action, the rest is just a waste of time.

Changxing County will become the starting point of Min Qing's plan to collapse. Once one county magistrate confesses, the remaining magistrates will also reveal the truth. Once the collapse begins, it will engulf the entire Jiaxing-Huzhou officialdom and eventually bring down Min Qing, the governor of Jiaxing-Huzhou.

That’s how officialdom works.

Power can come from both the top down and the bottom up.

Officials in Jiahu can follow Min Qing for political achievements, but they can also betray Min Qing for self-preservation.

Now it's up to Hai Rui. Su Ze believes that with the sharpness of this great swordsman of the Ming Dynasty, he will definitely be able to clean up the officialdom of Jiaxing and Huzhou.

Su Ze is currently focusing on the "Longqing Accounting Records".

On July 29th, the "Longqing Accounting Records" were published, and this comprehensive account of the Ming Dynasty was finally completed and presented to the emperor.

The Longqing Emperor was very pleased and ordered that the officials of the Ministry of Revenue who participated in compiling the Accounting Records be rewarded. Zhang Juzheng, who presided over the compilation of the Accounting Records, was granted another title for his son, while Su Ze, who proposed the compilation of the Accounting Records, was also rewarded with ten gold coins.

However, it is said that after the emperor finished reading the accounting records, Emperor Longqing was not in a good mood.

The Beijing garrison costs 1.4 million silver dollars annually, with 120,000 registered soldiers, nearly consuming one-tenth of the Ming Dynasty's finances.

As for what the Beijing Garrison was really like, both the emperor and the Grand Secretaries knew it well. Let alone fighting a war, they couldn't even be expected to protect the capital.

Henan's annual grain revenue was 1.2 million shi (a unit of dry measure), of which 580,000 shi were needed for the stipends of the Zhou prince's palace alone, accounting for almost half of Henan's annual grain revenue.

The situation in Huguang was equally dire. The Chu Prince's Palace in Huguang not only seized a large amount of land, but also required 30% of Huguang's annual revenue for support.

In addition, the corrupt horse administration, the deficit in salt permits, the frequent rebellions by the chieftains in the southwest, and the increased military spending were all headaches for the emperor.

Just as Su Ze had predicted, when the emperor saw the account books, he naturally felt the pinch.

Since the emperor and his ministers were dissatisfied with the chaotic spending of the court, Su Ze naturally went along with it.

However, the Ming Dynasty's financial problems were complex and intertwined, especially the Beijing Garrison, which was crucial to the stability of the capital and could not be easily addressed.

The issues of horse administration and vassal kings are also serious problems that have plagued the empire to this day, and cannot be resolved by one or two memorials.

But political matters are like a fire; if you don't add fuel to the fire when it's burning, it will quickly go out.

If the court takes no action after the "Accounting Records" are issued, then the officials will act as if nothing has happened.

Therefore, Su Ze wanted to keep the flame that Zhang Juzheng had ignited burning.

Memorial Requesting an Imperial Edict to Strictly Reform the Deep-Rooted Malpractices of the Holy Descendants in order to Reveal Supreme Virtue

Let's start with the Confucius family in Qufu, the easiest problem to solve.

(End of this chapter)