Prime Minister

Chapter 120, Page 119: [Popular Sentiment]

"My lord, spare my life! I was blinded by greed and fodder. I know I was wrong, please have mercy on me..."

Wang Dong kowtowed repeatedly, his previous composure completely gone.

At this moment, he felt a strong fear of Xue Huai, because the other party exposed his biggest flaw in just a few words—even if he bought the land of those twenty-five households out of kindness, there was no need to change the so-called inferior land into mulberry fields, unless those sixty acres were actually superior land.

Wang Dong could not deny this point no matter what, and he could only plead guilty and beg for forgiveness.

As Wang Dong confessed, Chen Guan, the registrar of Jiangdu, was immediately thrown into a panic.

The erroneous record in the fish-scale map made in the seventh year of Taihe could still be explained; Chen Guan could attribute it to the former registrar and the county magistrate. The problem was that he had personally gone to Yushu Town for an on-site investigation. Even if Wang Dong kept his mouth shut and did not reveal the collusion between the two, he could not escape being called a muddle-headed fool this time.

Chen Guan's mind raced. He knew Wang Dong was doomed for the moment, but as long as this matter ended there, Wang Dong's fate wouldn't be too dire, and he wouldn't drag others down with him.

After the major case, Xue Huai said in a deep voice, "Wang Dong, I am questioning you now. You must answer truthfully. If you dare to lie or cover up anything again, it will be an additional crime, and I will punish you severely!"

Wang Dong quickly bowed his head and said, "This humble subject understands, and this humble subject would never dare to lie again."

"Which of the 60 mu of paddy fields you purchased from 25 households in Yushu Town were they of superior or inferior quality?"

"Yes, sir, it is...it is top-grade land."

"So, you knew from the beginning that these sixty acres were top-quality land?"

Wang Dong looked troubled and hesitant.

"Snapped!"

Xue Huai slammed his gavel and said sternly, "I see you won't give up until you're completely defeated. Guards, use the torture!"

"My lord! My lord, please wait! This humble subject will tell you everything."

Wang Dong swallowed hard, steeled his resolve, and then spilled the beans like beans from a bamboo tube: "Sir, those sixty mu of paddy fields have fertile soil and are all connected. I had my eye on them for a long time and even sent people to discuss buying and selling them to the local people, but they refused to budge. Until last summer, when the river dike breached and the floodwaters submerged that area, I knew they couldn't survive without selling their land. So I had someone buy the land for eighteen taels per mu, and then... then I tampered with the contract. It was actually four taels per mu. I thought that this amount of money would be enough for them to support their families, and more importantly, it would save me some money."

After hearing this confession, Chen Guan felt a surge of despair.

Hasn't this fellow realized that the young prefect in the hall is different from most Yangzhou officials? He's the type who can't tolerate any injustice, and these words will undoubtedly enrage him.

At this moment, the atmosphere in the hall became increasingly solemn. Even the usually calm and composed Magistrate Li Chunjiu dared not sit down and stood solemnly to the side.

The clerks and officials on the other side of the government office had stern expressions, including Wang Gui.

Xue Huai stared into Wang Dong's eyes and said coldly, "Enough to support a family? You give them two hundred and forty taels of silver, which is less than ten taels per household on average. How much grain can that buy? How long can it feed their family? And what will happen after that grain runs out?"

Wang Dong finally realized the seriousness of the matter. He dared not look Xue Huai in the eye and lowered his head, saying, "My lord, I am willing to compensate them with eighteen taels of silver per mu! I beg you to have mercy and forgive me!"

"Ah."

Xue Huai's lips twitched slightly, and he continued, "I ask you, how exactly did these sixty mu of paddy fields become inferior land? Who helped you falsify the results?"

Wang Dong quickly shook his head and said, "Your Excellency, I did deceive Huang Da and the others, but no one helped me cover it up."

He knew he couldn't implicate Chen Guan. At best, the matter would only result in compensation to the farmers and a beating. Xue Tongzhi couldn't possibly chop off his head over this.

Xue Huai couldn't stay in Yangzhou forever, but the Chen family behind Chen Guan was a prominent clan in Baoying County, and Wang Dong wouldn't be foolish enough to completely offend them.

"It seems you are fearless. Since you do not cherish the opportunity I have given you, then you have only yourself to blame."

Xue Huai's tone was icy as he looked to his right and said, "Hao Shi'an."

Hao Shi'an, a clerk in the criminal division of the prefectural government, stepped forward and said, "Your humble servant is here."

Xue Huai said, "You are a veteran official in the criminal investigation department. Now tell me how this case should be judged."

"Yes, Your Excellency."

Hao Shi'an said loudly: "Last autumn, Wang Dong, a wealthy man from Yushu Town, took advantage of the flood caused by the breach of the river embankment to fraudulently purchase 60 mu of high-quality paddy fields from 25 households in Yushu Town at a low price, falsely claiming them as low-quality fields. The contract falsely stated the land price, and the actual payment was only four taels per mu, causing innocent people to lose their homes. The evidence of his crime is conclusive. After trial, Wang Dong confessed without hesitation."

"According to the laws of the Great Yan, the original contract in this case shall be immediately voided, and the land shall be returned to its original owner. Wang Dong shall immediately make up the difference of a total of 840 taels to compensate the 25 affected households, and shall also be fined 500 taels of silver, which shall be confiscated and used for relief."

"Wang Dong committed the crimes of stealing and selling land and houses and defrauding officials of money for personal gain. The circumstances were egregious and the amount involved was enormous. He should be severely punished and sentenced to eighty strokes of the cane and three years of penal servitude. He shall also be exiled to Haimen County to serve hard labor to atone for his crimes."

There was dead silence in the hall.

Wang Dong stared in disbelief, his face turning deathly pale. At first, when he heard that he would have to pay out another thousand taels of silver and return all the land, he was indeed heartbroken. However, since he had fallen into Xue Huai's hands this time, he was fortunate to be able to pay his way out of trouble.

However, Hao Shi'an's last words struck him like a thunderbolt. Would he still be alive after eighty strokes of the cane?
Even if he survives, he will still be sent to serve three years of hard labor, which is something that Wang Dong, who is used to a life of luxury, cannot bear.

Just then, he heard Xue Huai nod and say, "Very good, judge it as you said."

Seeing Xue Huai about to take the order, Wang Dong didn't dare hesitate and directly said to Chen Guan, "Clerk Chen, you didn't say that before! You said that even if Lord Xue discovered something was amiss, he would at most give me twenty or thirty lashes, otherwise why would I help you cover it up! Clerk Chen, you have to save me! If I don't survive, you won't have a good end either!"

The scene of dogs fighting each other finally appeared, and Xue Huai slowly stopped holding the order slip.

Chen Guan was shocked and turned around to scold, "Wang Dong, what nonsense are you spouting! When did I ever say such things to you? You have the audacity to commit such a heinous act, what does it have to do with me!"

"How not?"

Wang Dong, having nothing to lose, said with a red face and a thick neck, "I've given you over a thousand taels of silver over the past few years, and every single transaction has been recorded! Are you trying to deny it?"

"you you……"

Chen Guan was furious and immediately turned to Xue Huai, saying, "Your Honor, this scoundrel Wang Dong is making baseless accusations and false charges. Please do not be misled by him! Such a despicable person should be dealt with by torture immediately!"

Seeing that Xue Huai was only looking at him indifferently, Chen Guan could only turn to Li Chunjiu and say, "Your Excellency, I have worked diligently these past few years, and you should have seen it all. Please help me explain!"

"This……"

Li Chunjiu was in a dilemma. Even if he was stupid, he could see that what Wang Dong said was true. If he sided with Chen Guan at this time, wouldn't he also be dragged down?
Upon realizing this, Li Chunjiu said solemnly, "Clerk Chen, you'd better confess honestly, don't be so deluded!"

Chen Guan was taken aback. The county magistrate in front of him had become completely unfamiliar, no longer the obedient person he used to be.

His expression shifted repeatedly, and finally he said dejectedly, "Now that things have come to this, I have nothing more to say."

Xue Huai then spoke, saying, "Jiang Sheng."

"The humble position is here!"

Jiang Sheng watched the whole thing and felt his emotions surging uncontrollably. At this moment, Xue Huai's image in his mind became even more lofty, just like the famous minister in ancient plays, who completely took control of the situation in the blink of an eye and never wasted too much energy from beginning to end.

Xue Huai instructed, "Take Wang Dong and Chen Guan away and have Hao Dianli interrogate them. You will assist them."

Jiang Sheng cupped his hands and said, "This humble servant obeys!"

He looked to the side and saw two guards who had followed Xue Huai south from the capital immediately step forward and drag Chen Guan and Wang Dong away from the main hall. At the same time, Hao Shi'an, the clerk of the criminal department of the prefectural government, bowed to Xue Huai and took his leave.

Wang Gui and the others watched from the sidelines, feeling no sorrow for Chen Guan's fate, but rather a few uncontrollable thoughts arising in their minds.

In fact, they were not optimistic about the temporary affairs department established by Xue Huai. Even if they did not hold him back, it would be difficult for Xue Huai to clear up the various deep-seated problems in the Yangzhou officialdom on his own. However, today, after witnessing Xue Huai solve a case that had been delayed for more than half a year with ease, they were naturally greatly moved.

On the other side, Xue Huai didn't pay much attention to the changes in the emotions of the officials under his jurisdiction. He got up and went down to the hall, and Li Chunjiu quickly followed him.

As Huang Da and the other two commoners saw Xue Huai approach, they quickly wiped the tears from their faces and kowtowed heavily, saying, "Thank you, sir! Thank you, sir!"

"Everyone, please stand up."

Xue Huai made them stand up, looked at their reddened eyes, and sighed, "This case is not complicated. It's just that we officials failed to help you seek justice in time. Fortunately, it's not too late."

These words made Li Chunjiu, who was standing to the side and behind, feel almost ashamed.

Xue Huai proved with his actions that the case was indeed not difficult. As long as one carefully analyzes the positions and actions of the parties involved, it is easy to find the suspicious points. He had previously entrusted the case entirely to Chen Guan while he indulged in frivolous pursuits and poetry, which led to the so-called unsolved case.

Huang Da and the others naturally dared not criticize the county magistrate, but the current outcome was a pleasant surprise they had not expected.

They not only got back their land, but also received compensation from Wang Dong. Each family received more than ten taels of silver, which was their hope for survival for the twenty-five households that suffered heavy losses from the floods last year.

The three were not good with words, so they could only repeatedly thank Xue Huai.

"It doesn't have to be this way."

Xue Huai forced a smile and said to the three men, "I will send someone to handle this matter. You will be able to get your land deeds back soon. In addition, the compensation money from the Wang family will be delivered to you within three days. This case is closed. Go back and tell your families the good news."

Huang Da and the others exchanged glances, and ignoring Xue Huai's attempts to stop them, they knelt down again and kowtowed, their eyes filled with tears, saying, "We, the common people, thank you, Your Honor!"

(End of this chapter)