Prime Minister

Chapter 167, 166 [A Monumental Lie]

Yangzhou, the Salt Transport Office.

In a small courtyard that served as a temporary prison, Xu Guanlan slowly stepped in, and Lou Shizong hurriedly led his men to greet him: "Yuntai, you've arrived."

Xu Guanlan glanced at the three officials from the Yangzhou government office not far away. They were the people Tan Mingguang had sent to assist in the investigation. In reality, they were there to supervise the salt transport bureau's procedures and prevent any torture.

"What did they find out?"

Xu Guanlan ignored the three officials and stared coldly at Lou Shizong.

"Upon returning to Yuntai, Shen Bingwen vehemently denied the matter of the 10,000 jin of smuggled salt."

Lou Shizong had no way to express his suffering. He knew that they could not use torture, and that someone like Shen Bingwen would not easily give in.

Xu Guanlan did not reprimand Lou Shizong, but simply said, "You may all leave. I want to have a talk with him."

The three officials from the Yangzhou government were quite shrewd. Seeing that Xu Guanlan wanted to see Shen Bingwen alone, they did not rashly ask to stand by. Their only purpose in coming here was to ensure that Shen Bingwen would not be tortured into confessing.

Xu Guanlan stepped into the side room. The room was not cramped and the light was relatively bright, but it certainly could not compare with the exquisite elegance of Shen Garden.

An ordinary wooden bed, a simple wooden table and two chairs—that was all the furnishings in the room. The air was filled with the smell of old wood and a faint dust.

"Greetings, Your Excellency."

Two days have passed, and Shen Bingwen still looks as refined and calm as ever, showing no signs of the embarrassment or panic of being imprisoned.

He was not wearing prison clothes, but still the simple brocade robe he wore when he was arrested. Although slightly wrinkled, it did not diminish his demeanor.

Xu Guanlan was not surprised by this; on the contrary, he felt a sense of emotion.

Shen Bingwen was, after all, a man who had weathered many storms. Back then, the Shen family was able to remain calm and composed under the siege of the four powerful clans in Yangzhou, and hold out until Xue Mingzhang appeared and brought a turning point. This shows that his will was as firm as a rock.

His current situation is probably far from being a dead end for him.

“Master Shen, you have been wronged.”

Xu Guanlan spoke calmly, his voice steady and even.

With a perfectly measured hint of helplessness on his face, Shen Bingwen cupped his hands and said, "Your Excellency, you flatter me. The Salt Transport Bureau has designated personnel to handle this case, and I should cooperate. However, this claim of smuggled salt is utterly absurd. The Shen family has been in business for decades and knows all too well that the salt and iron monopolies are the cornerstones of the nation. How could we dare to overstep our bounds in the slightest?"

"sit down."

Xu Guanlan stared intently at the other person and said, “You don’t need to rush to defend yourself. The 10,000 catties of smuggled salt were found in the cellar of Guangtaihao’s warehouse. Hundreds of eyes were watching at the time, so there is both witness testimony and physical evidence. If you still talk about framing someone now, I’m afraid it will be hard to convince people.”

Shen Bingwen shook his head slightly and said calmly, "Your Excellency, on that day, Vice Envoy Chen led his troops straight into our warehouse, sealed the doors, smashed the warehouse, and ransacked it. If someone had hidden so-called smuggled salt in the warehouse beforehand... hehe, this is nothing new in Yangzhou, is it? Back when my Shen family was falsely accused of colluding with the canal gangs and smuggling weapons, those people's methods were a hundred times more sophisticated than they are now."

These words were both soft and hard, directly stating that the so-called smuggled salt was a frame-up against the Shen family, while reminding Xu Guanlan of the events of the past that the Shen family today was very different from what it used to be, and that such methods would probably be ineffective.

Xu Guanlan's expression remained unchanged, but a cold glint flashed in his eyes: "Vice Envoy Chen is acting in accordance with the law and orders. Once the smuggled salt is discovered, the matter must be thoroughly investigated. As for whether it is a frame-up, there are legal procedures for questioning, which we cannot determine by speculation. I have come here today to discuss more than just the matter of smuggled salt with Master Shen."

"Appreciate further details."

Shen Bingwen leaned forward slightly, appearing to listen attentively.

Xu Guanlan lowered his voice slightly, as if speaking frankly: "Salt and grain transport are the lifeblood of the nation, and Yangzhou is an important salt transport hub. The operation of the salt administration is not only related to the annual revenue of the imperial court, but also to the livelihoods of thousands of households in Yangzhou, as well as the lives of many people. This naturally includes your Shen family, and my colleagues in the Salt Transport Office."

Shen Bingwen listened quietly without interrupting.

"Prefect Xue is fiercely opposed to evil and his ambition is commendable."

Xu Guanlan changed the subject, sighing, "However, his style of action... forgive my bluntness, but it's too hasty and lacks consideration for the consequences. Since he entered Yangzhou, he first launched a major crackdown on officials in various counties, drawing attention from the officialdom. Then he turned his attention to local powerful families, arresting people and seizing their property, causing widespread panic and fear. Now that the Guangtai salt smuggling case has been exposed, once the evidence is confirmed, the Shen family's downfall is imminent. Even if Magistrate Xue wants to protect you then, how can the court and the public allow him to act out of personal favoritism?"

Ultimately, it became a blatant threat, and also a provocation.

Xu Guanlan was not unaware of the relationship between the Xue and Shen families, but he believed that everyone has to look out for themselves, and Xue Mingzhang had already passed away. Shen Bingwen was a pragmatic man, so why would he stake all the foundation built up by the Shen family over generations on Xue Huai?

Upon hearing this, Shen Bingwen finally sighed softly, his expression revealing a complex emotion.

Seeing this, Xu Guanlan spoke even more gently: "Master Shen should know that the foundation of Yangzhou lies in stability, in the full payment of the huge salt and grain taxes every year, and in the smooth flow of trade routes and the peace and stability of the people. Even if the local powerful families have made mistakes, Xue Tongzhi's sudden and forceful actions will not only fail to eliminate the accumulated problems, but will also destroy the very foundation that is barely maintaining its current operation!"

"Lord Luck Envoy."

Shen Bingwen raised his eyes, his gaze sharp for the first time: "According to you, should we just turn a blind eye to the numerous illegal acts of the officials and gentry in Yangzhou and let these malignant tumors fester? Take the salt administration, which you are most concerned about, for example. Some people have arbitrarily altered the quantity of salt permits, embezzling far more than ten thousand taels. Some people have monopolized the salt market, forcing countless small and medium-sized salt merchants into bankruptcy. Are you really completely unaware of these matters?" Xu Guanlan's face darkened slightly, and his eyes turned sinister: "Master Shen, you can eat whatever you want, but you can't say whatever you want. I am in charge of salt affairs, and there are rules and regulations for investigating illegal activities. Any accusation requires solid evidence."

"evidence……"

Shen Bingwen suddenly smiled, a smile tinged with sarcasm. “I wonder what kind of evidence you need, sir? Is it the nearly one hundred bags of smuggled salt that mysteriously appeared in the Guangtai warehouse? Perhaps for you, this evidence is indeed timely.”

Xu Guanlan's eyes were like knives, but Shen Bingwen met his gaze calmly.

The two sides are now on the verge of a complete falling out. Xu Guanlan has made his threats public, while Shen Bingwen has responded with an unusually tough stance.

In short, he knew where the smuggled salt in his warehouse came from, and he would never agree to use this to force the Shen family to stand against Xue Huai.

Xu Guanlan sneered, his tone hardening completely: "I respect the many good deeds your Shen family has done for our hometown, which is why I have come here personally to analyze the pros and cons with you, hoping you will pull back from the brink! As long as you put aside your grievances and persuade Magistrate Xue to set aside those trivial matters and prioritize the stability of the salt administration, I can guarantee your Shen family's safety and peace. I might even grant you some favors at the salt reunification ceremony. Otherwise..."

The room fell into a deathly silence.

The light streaming through the window slanted across Shen Bingwen's face, half of it bright and half hidden in shadow.

He remained silent for a long time, as if digesting Xu Guanlan's declaration of a combination of kindness and severity, carrot and stick.

Finally, he slowly raised his head, his face unusually calm. Instead of directly responding to Xu Guanlan's ultimatum, he asked a seemingly unrelated question: "Your Excellency, do you know why, as soon as Xue Tongzhi arrived in Yangzhou, he risked everything to eradicate long-standing abuses, even at the cost of his own life?"

Xu Guanlan was slightly taken aback, then sneered: "He's just young and impetuous, eager to make a name for himself, or perhaps trying to settle his father's unfinished business from back then? What else could it be?"

Shen Bingwen shook his head, unable to hide his disappointment, his gaze becoming deep and heavy: "I don't think so."

"Then I would like to hear your brilliant ideas."

"Your Excellency, you laugh at Xue Tongzhi for being young and impetuous, eager to make a name for himself, and every word you utter seems to be concerned with the overall stability of the country. I can't help but ask, what is the foundation of Yangzhou and even the Great Yan?"

Xu Guanlan frowned slightly.

A burning light appeared in Shen Bingwen's usually gentle eyes, and his voice gradually rose: "In my humble opinion, what Xue Tongzhi investigated and did was not for personal gain, nor was it youthful arrogance! He investigated those corrupt officials who eroded the foundation of the country and exploited the people; he purged those unscrupulous merchants who colluded with officials to embezzle national profits; he took action against those powerful clans that disregarded the law and treated the people like ants!"

Xu Guanlan's face remained calm, but a hint of wavering appeared in his heart.

This wavering did not refer to a sudden change of heart, but rather to his confirmation, through Shen Bingwen's heartfelt words, that Xue Huai's target was those powerful clans.

Shen Bingwen continued, “Your Excellency, what Xue Tongzhi saw were those salt farmers suffering in dire straits, and those canal workers selling their children for a full stomach! Why did he risk so much to tear open this filth? Because he deeply understands that the people are the foundation of the state, and a stable foundation ensures a peaceful state! What he sought was never personal political achievements, but a Yangzhou with clean governance, smooth implementation of policies, and the people benefiting from them!”

Xu Guanlan fell completely silent.

Shen Bingwen sighed softly and said slowly, "As for myself... and the ups and downs of the Guangtai ship, they are but dust compared to the great cause of eliminating harm and eradicating long-standing problems for the country."

At that moment, a resolute look appeared on his face.

Silence spread through the cramped room, oppressive and suffocating.

Xu Guanlan could no longer maintain his composure. He could no longer offer any new bargaining chips to threaten Shen Bingwen, because the other party's generous and righteous words had blocked any possibility of collusion between them.

He was, after all, a third-rank salt commissioner; he couldn't lower himself to the status of a mere merchant and show no respect for his high rank.

After an unknown amount of time, Xu Guanlan stood up, his voice icy and chilling: "Master Shen's reasoning is truly thought-provoking, but unfortunately... I hope you will take care of yourself."

He turned and left, but as he stepped out of the room, there was no obvious anger on his face; instead, there was a hint of relief that no one could tell.

He had always been worried that Xue Huai's real target was not those officials and gentry, but the Salt Transport Bureau and the Grand Canal Administration. Judging from Shen Bingwen's reaction, at least the worst-case scenario wouldn't happen.

Shen Bingwen watched Xu Guanlan leave, then picked up the book on the table again. His gaze fell on the ancient sages' admonitions on governing the world with integrity, and his fingertips unconsciously stroked the cool edge of the paper.

Only after Xu Guanlan's slightly suppressed footsteps completely disappeared outside the door did Shen Bingwen slowly raise his head and look at the spot where Xu Guanlan had just sat, his eyes deep and unfathomable.

A faint, almost imperceptible smile curved the corners of his lips, like a chilling undercurrent beneath the ice.

……

……

(There will be more tonight. The plot is quite fast-paced, so you can save it for a week before reading. My writing speed is a bit slow, please forgive me!)

(End of this chapter)