Great Song Dynasty Writer

Chapter 173 Fan Xiang's Promise

If Liu Yong, the prefect of Luzhou and Wang Kui's immediate superior at the administrative level, were here at this time, he would not be able to detain or interrogate Wang Kui. He would have to report the matter to the Judicial Commissioner of Zizhou Circuit and hand it over to the Judicial Commissioner for handling.

However, because the salt administration was under a dual management system, Fan Xiang actually had the power to directly interrogate Wang Kui, the head of the salt administration, regarding matters involving salt affairs.

"Yes, sir!" A hint of pleasure flashed in Supervisor Liang's eyes.

With a wave of his hand, the soldiers outside, as fierce as wolves and tigers, immediately rushed in, dragging the limp Wang Kui up without mercy, and also pulling out the few officials who were already terrified.

"Injustice! Lord Fan is innocent!" Wang Kui struggled and cried out in vain.

"Injustice?"

Fan Xiang stood up, walked up to Wang Kui, and looked down at him.

"Supervisor Wang, I ask you, you previously boasted that 'the villagers are content,' 'it's just a drop in the ocean,' and 'we have the will but not the power,' but have you ever considered that the 'drop in the ocean' and 'it's just a drop in the ocean' that you exploited layer by layer, even the dead, were precisely the reason that crushed the cooks and drove them to rebellion?! Your current predicament is all due to your evil deeds of yesterday! Take him away!"

The cries faded into the distance, and the side hall fell silent.

“Student Lu,” Fan Xiang said with admiration, “if you weren’t so meticulous and perceptive, these hidden parasites wouldn’t have been found so quickly.”

"I dare not accept the title of student, mainly because these parasites are too greedy and act recklessly, leaving traces that are difficult to conceal."

Lu Beigu cupped his hands in greeting, his heart also filled with turbulent emotions.

He felt a great sense of accomplishment from personally uncovering the truth and exposing the corrupt elements.

“This is just the tip of the iceberg.”

Fan Xiang sighed, “Grain, firewood, wages, and rations—these are the very things that sustain the operation of the salt fields and the lives of the salt workers, yet they have all been embezzled to this extent! And how many evil spirits are hidden within the salt tax quota, the sale of salt permits, and the commercial tax revenue? If I don’t request an imperial decree to thoroughly rectify this situation, how can I leave this place with peace of mind?”

Lu Beigu nodded silently. To fight against such a deeply entangled interest group, one imperial sword alone is not enough; more importantly, it is Fan Xiang, the one who wields the sword.

Fan Xiang had previously reformed the salt administration in the Northwest, so he must have had enough experience with this kind of thing.

"However, your mission ends here."

Fan Xiang suddenly patted Lu Beigu on the shoulder: "You did a great job on this trip to Yujing. After I finish meeting with the head of the household tomorrow at noon, you can leave. I will have Supervisor Liang send soldiers to escort you back."

"Master Fan".

Lu Beigu was about to say something, but Fan Xiang stopped him.

"There are many shady dealings involved here that you can't change. Go back and focus on your own work. I heard from Prefect Liu that you ranked very high in the state school and took the state examination this year. I think we'll be able to meet again in Kaifeng next year."

"If you can pass the imperial examination, then come and help me."

Fan Xiang sat down and smiled, then said, "If you don't pass the exam, I will speak with Minister Zhang. With our joint signatures, we can at least guarantee you a position in the Three Departments. Once you have a resume, it's not too late to take the special examination in a few years. You'll still have a legitimate background."

Special examinations, also known as "Zhi Ke," refer to small-scale imperial examinations held by the government at irregular times. These were special examinations specifically for selecting officials. Examples include those established during the reign of Emperor Taizu of Song, such as those for being virtuous and upright, able to speak frankly and offer strong advice; those for being learned in the classics and worthy of being teachers; and those for being knowledgeable in administration and capable of educating people. In contrast, there are examinations established by the government today, such as those for being talented and knowledgeable in both theory and practice; those for being insightful in strategy and planning; and those for being capable of military planning and serving on the frontier.

Unlike the specialized subjects in the regular imperial examinations, such as Mingjing and Mingfa, which anyone could take, the special imperial examinations, while also specifically for selecting officials, recruited the talents most needed by the Song Dynasty, such as technical bureaucrats who understood economics and civil officials who could lead armies into battle.

Therefore, although the scope of the special imperial examination was not large, the eligibility of candidates was very broad. Whether serving officials or commoners, anyone could participate by recommendation from high-ranking officials such as the Chancellor, Privy Councilor, or the Three Departments. Indeed, "recommendation from a high-ranking official" was the highest hurdle. Of course, those who had already passed the imperial examination could also participate in the special imperial examination.

For example, Fu Bi originally wanted to take the imperial examination, but unfortunately his father-in-law Yan Shu was the chief examiner that year and he had to recuse himself, so he had to take the special examination that year.

For example, the brothers Su Shi and Su Zhe, even though they passed the imperial examination, were dissatisfied with their ranking and participated in the special examination for "virtuous, upright, and outspoken remonstrance" in the sixth year of the Jiayou era. They finally entered the third class, and Su Zhe was promoted all the way to the position of remonstrating official.

"Many thanks to Master Fan for his guidance!"

Lu Beigu did not refuse, but simply bowed and thanked him.

Clearly, he was rewarded for his recommendation by Zhang Fangping and for passing Fan Xiang's personal test.

—This gives him an alternative path with a higher margin of error.

In the Song Dynasty, technocrats who understood economics were rare talents, and even more so, they were the type of talents who could avoid the turmoil of the imperial court and always be given important positions.

Because no matter how much the various officials fought among themselves, the state machinery of the Song Dynasty still had to keep running, and the necessary condition for it to keep running was that there had to be enough money.

People like Zhang Fangping and Fan Xiang, who have reached the end of this road, also need capable subordinates to assist them in completing their work, and they also need someone to inherit their mantle.

Therefore, regardless of whether Lu Beigu can pass the imperial examination next year, he will be able to enter officialdom and be directly appointed by the Three Departments, having gained the approval of Zhang Fangping and Fan Xiang.

"Let's sleep here tonight. It's right next to the military camp, so it'll be safer."

Fan Xiang's style of doing things was meticulous and rigorous. In order to prevent some people from resorting to desperate measures, he not only personally checked the guards around the official residence, but also personally inspected the doors and windows, and confirmed that the stored water buckets were usable.

When Supervisor Liang returned, his hands stained with blood, he asked directly.

Are the officers and soldiers guarding the city gate tonight all reliable?

Supervisor Liang assured him, "I have spoken with all the officers of Yujing Bureau, and the guards assigned to the gate tonight are absolutely reliable."

"What about the small door?"

"I've already given those specific instructions."

Fan Xiang pondered for a moment, then asked again, "If trouble really arises, have the passwords for exiting the main and side gates, as well as the code words for following the sentries, been clearly communicated to the officers?"

"I've made it clear that the main gate and the side gate are different, and they're also different from the outer sentry posts."

"Without torches in the dark, can we figure out the route from here to outside the city? Are the guards even able to see in the dark?"

"Yes, I've arranged all the armored guards to protect you."

It must be said that Fan Xiang, who has experienced many trials and tribulations and personally fought on the battlefield, does things differently from ordinary people.

Lu Beigu also carefully remembered all these seemingly insignificant details.

(End of this chapter)