I'll steal Gao Qiu's life and lead the Song Dynasty to prosperity.

The case closure documents from Kaifeng Prefecture were issued faster than expected.

Regarding the witness testimonies, the statements signed by Yang San and Manager Wang were perfectly consistent, sealing off the chain of "instigating theft - receiving and selling stolen goods".

Yang San admitted that he was forced to steal by gambling debts and was coerced by Manager Wang.

Manager Wang also confessed to instigating Yang San and accepting stolen goods. He begged for mercy, and when he mentioned his family, he was in tears, showing great remorse.

The physical evidence, namely the white jade "Fu Shou Ru Yi" (a type of auspicious symbol of good fortune and longevity), has been confirmed by the Prince's Palace to be an imperial gift of considerable value, and it has now been returned to its rightful owner intact.

The secret ledgers seized from Baoshun were verified overnight by the clerks of the household registration office.

The records of money inflows and outflows and the accrual of gambling debts corroborate the testimonies of Yang San and Manager Wang, further confirming the gambling den's illegal operations and excessive exploitation.

The facts of the case are clear, and the evidence is conclusive.

The Prefect of Kaifeng and the judges and judges reached a consensus and had no disagreements.

The verdict was delivered in just five or six days:

Wang Zhengyan, the manager of "Baoshunhao," instigated theft and accepted huge sums of stolen goods. He also ran a gambling den, exploiting and harming the people. For these multiple crimes, he was sentenced to exile three thousand li to Yizhou, Guangnan West Circuit, for public surveillance. The gambling den was shut down, and his family property was confiscated and added to the government treasury.

Yang San, a courtesan at the Prince Duan's residence, stole his master's property and should be severely punished according to the law.

However, considering that he was coerced beforehand, made a meritorious contribution by identifying the culprit afterward, and that the stolen goods had been recovered and no irreparable loss had been caused, he was given a lighter sentence of twenty strokes of the cane and exiled to the local prison to serve two years of hard labor.

The remaining employees and thugs of Baoshun were punished according to the severity of their crimes, ranging from caning to imprisonment.

Zhou Qin, the eighth-rank official clerk of the granary department who was nominally affiliated with the government, was not directly prosecuted. However, because his name was attached to such a filthy place, he was negligent in his duties. When the Ministry of Personnel heard about this, they ranked him as "the worst" and dismissed him from his current position, giving him a sinecure in a remote county. His official career was over.

A theft case involving a royal palace, a gambling den, and officials has thus come to a close.

In the Prince Duan's residence, Zhao Ji was quite satisfied with the result.

Although they failed to directly bring down Cai Jing, they managed to cut off one of his fingers, shut down his hideout, arrest his henchmen, and even get one of his peripheral officials dismissed from his post. This was a great relief.

He gave Liang Shicheng and Gao Qiu a lot of gold and silver as rewards.

In addition, Emperor Huizong specially hosted a small banquet at his residence, inviting Zhao Mingcheng and Zhao Xiaoyi to have a meal together as a celebration.

……

On the evening of the third day after the case was closed, Zhao Mingcheng sent a visiting card to the Zeng family and went to Zeng Bu's place again to "seek knowledge".

It was still that same study with its thousands of books and the faint scent of ink.

Zeng Bu sat by the window, reading a border newspaper in the dim light of the approaching day. When he saw Zhao Mingcheng enter, he put down the document and a gentle smile appeared on his face.

"Mingcheng is here, please sit down." Zeng Bu pointed to the chair opposite him.

"In your previous reading notes, you mentioned the art of diplomacy, believing that it is not only a strategy for foreign relations, but also a way to govern subordinates and balance power. After careful consideration, I find it very reasonable. Now that I have some free time, let's discuss it in more depth."

"The student was terrified; it was just rambling nonsense, and he never expected it to catch the eye of his uncle."

Zhao Mingcheng bowed respectfully and took his seat, whereupon a servant served him tea.

"Hey, that's not nonsense." Zeng Bu waved his hand and stroked his beard.

"Su Qin and Zhang Yi, among others, used their eloquence to dominate the world, but the foundation of their methods was nothing more than 'observing the situation' and 'using spies.' Situations have varying degrees of strength, and spies have varying degrees of closeness and distance. If a ruler can clearly distinguish the closeness, distance, strength, and distance of his subordinates and make them mutually supportive and check each other, then the ruler's intentions will be clear, and there will be no abuses of power among subordinates. Your deduction from this can be described as having a unique insight."

Zhao Mingcheng bowed slightly.

"Your insightful observation has enlightened me. In my humble opinion, the civil and military officials in the court each have different strengths. Some are like the powerful Qin, with deep roots and an irreversible momentum; some are like Qi and Chu, with vast territory and abundant resources, but prone to complacency; and some are like Han and Wei, with narrow territory but strategic location, whose allegiance can influence the overall situation."

A ruler, like King Zhaoxiang of the past, could employ Fan Sui's strategy of "befriending distant states while attacking nearby ones" to achieve a balance of power. However, when this tactic is used in the court, it must be guided by impartiality and focused on national affairs; otherwise, it risks fostering factional strife and infighting, ultimately harming the very foundation of the state.

After this incident, Zhao Mingcheng gained a deeper understanding of the art of diplomacy.

Upon hearing this, Zeng Bu's eyes showed even greater admiration, and he nodded in agreement.

"‘Use public interest as the yardstick and national affairs as the focus’—this is an excellent saying! The art of diplomacy is a powerful tool, but if the wielder is not of noble character, it will inevitably harm themselves. Back then, when the late emperor heavily relied on Wang Anshi to implement the new laws, it could also be seen as a grand strategy of diplomacy—breaking the old faction's alliance against the new ones and establishing a new policy through alliances against each other. The choices and balances involved were not easy..."

As Zeng Bu spoke, he picked up his teacup, took a sip, and asked a question seemingly unintentionally.

"For example, I recently heard about a minor case at the Prince Duan's residence that involves gambling dens, clerks, and even some rumors... If we were to view this kind of street turmoil through the lens of your earlier theory of 'observing the situation and using spies,' how should it be handled to avoid losing the balance between 'public interest' and 'national affairs'?"

Zhao Mingcheng understood immediately, knowing that this was the real topic of his "inquiry" for the day.

With a serious expression, he briefly recounted the "case" of "Yang San being coerced into theft by Manager Wang of 'Baoshunhao' due to gambling debts, and the Wang family reporting it to the authorities, resulting in the arrest of both the perpetrator and the stolen goods," which was no different from what the outside world knew.

After speaking, Zhao Mingcheng paused for a moment, thought for a while, and then began to explain.

"In this matter, in my humble opinion, Yang San and Wang Zhengyan are the 'Han and Wei' of this case. Their crimes are obvious, and judging them according to the law is an act of 'public interest.' As for any possible connections behind them..."

He looked up at Zeng Bu, his tone calm.

"The students believe that we should observe the situation. If the situation has become a carbuncle that harms the body, then it must be removed. If the situation is only like scabies and it is already known to be receding, then we should warn it with authority and restrain it with law so that it knows when to advance and retreat, which may be more in line with the needs of the 'national affairs'."

If we delve too deeply into the matter, we risk forcing them to form an alliance against us, or even creating discord within the powerful Qin state—this is not the best course of action. In this instance, the Kaifeng Prefecture only investigated the ringleader, avoiding unnecessary details. I believe this is the true beauty of the balance of power in this system.

Zhao Mingcheng gave Zeng Bu a highly concise answer that perfectly aligned with the academic topics discussed earlier, without revealing any hint of pedantry.

The two talked like a master and apprentice who had known each other for a long time.

Zeng Bu listened quietly, tapping his fingers lightly on his knees. When Zhao Mingcheng finished speaking, his eyes were full of admiration.

He put down his teacup and sighed.

"Mingcheng, you can see the essence of managing subordinates today from the ancient art of diplomacy, and you can also discern the weight of power in specific matters, grasp the nuances of balance, advance and retreat with reason, and be subtle yet shrewd. This is not merely an improvement in knowledge, but truly..."

He paused slightly, as if searching for a suitable word.

"He is already the prototype of a prime minister. Given time and further training, his future is limitless."

This is extremely high praise.

Zhao Mingcheng quickly rose from his seat and bowed.

"Your Excellency's praise is too much for me. I am young and inexperienced, and in all my actions I only hope to be upright and honest, to live up to the teachings of the sages, to the cultivation of the court, and to the expectations of Your Excellency. I dare not presume to be called a prime minister."

"Hey, young man, no need to be so modest."

Zeng Bu gestured for him to sit down, his smile fading and his expression turning serious.

"But remember, the tallest tree in the forest is the first to be felled by the wind. The most outstanding person is the first to be criticized. Although your handling of this matter was entirely reasonable and appropriate, it ultimately embarrassed some people."

"While pursuing knowledge is important, the skill of discerning situations and protecting oneself is equally indispensable."

"I will remember your teachings, Uncle, and will always be vigilant and never forget them," Zhao Mingcheng solemnly replied.

Zeng Bu's words were a form of care, a reminder, and also his most profound insights from many years of serving as an official.

"Hmm." Zeng Bu nodded, his expression softening. He didn't say anything more and instead asked about Zhao Mingcheng's studies at the Imperial Academy.

Zhao Mingcheng also asked questions about some difficult points in the classics and history, and the atmosphere returned to harmony.

After chatting for a while, Zhao Mingcheng saw that it was getting late and got up to say goodbye.

Zeng Bu personally escorted him to the door of the study. As he was leaving, he looked at the deepening twilight under the corridor and whispered something.

"What we discussed today has quite captured the essence of the matter. Now that you have grasped its subtlety, you should make good use of it. The political situation is like a game of chess; you need to be cautious yet decisive in your moves. Go back and study hard. If you have any questions, come and ask me again."

"Yes, student takes his leave, Uncle, please stay." Zhao Mingcheng bowed deeply, turned and left, his figure slowly disappearing into the vast twilight of the Zeng family courtyard.

Zeng Bu stood alone under the corridor for a long time before stroking his beard, slowly walking back to his study, and muttering to himself.

"Not bound by material things, not constrained by emotions, but guided by circumstances, things will naturally fall into place... The younger generation is truly formidable, indeed!"

……

Several days later, at Chongzheng Hall.

As the morning court session was about to end, all the officials stood solemnly, and Zhang Shangying, the Right Censor, stepped forward to present his report.

"Your Majesty, I hereby report what I have heard."

Zhang Shangying's clear voice echoed in the silent hall.

"Recently, a gambling den called Baoshunhao was involved in a case in the capital. The Kaifeng Prefecture has already made a judgment according to law, which is not worth discussing further. However, I have heard that the person who registered this gambling den with the government was Zhou Qin, the clerk of the Ministry of Revenue."

Zhou Qin, an official appointed by the imperial court and receiving the emperor's salary, should have maintained his integrity and served as a role model for the people. How could he disregard the laws of the land and use his official position to condone and protect gambling dens?

Zhang Shangying took a breath and continued.

"This is not the fault of any particular gambling den; it is a terrible phenomenon! If government officials all use their official positions to protect profit-making establishments in the marketplace, openly or covertly taking a cut and seizing profits, where is the integrity of officials? Where is the rule of law? If this continues, I fear that collusion between officials and merchants will lead to corruption in the bureaucracy, the common people will be exploited without any recourse, and the dignity of the court will also be damaged!"

"Therefore, I humbly request Your Majesty to issue a clear edict and thoroughly investigate the malpractice of officials affiliating themselves with merchants and profiting from the marketplace! Zhou Qin should be taken as a warning to all officials! Only in this way can we purify the bureaucracy and set things right!"

After Zhang Shangying finished speaking, he bowed and returned to his rank.

The hall was completely silent.

Many eyes, intentionally or unintentionally, drifted toward Cai Jing, the Hanlin Academician, who stood at the front of the civil official line, his face calm and composed, as if in deep meditation.

Zhao Xu, sitting on the dragon throne, had no expression on his face, but he gently tapped his finger on the armrest of the throne.

He had heard about Baoshunhao a few days ago, and he had also read the case documents from Kaifeng Prefecture regarding the theft at Duanwang Mansion a few days ago.

The theft of the Prince's mansion, the recovery of stolen goods from the gambling den, and the fact that the official affiliated with the gambling den was a relative of one of Cai Jing's lackeys... all these pieces of information had already formed a clear line in his mind.

He knew even better that Zhang Shangying's "rumored report," seemingly addressing the matter at hand and requesting an investigation into the widespread phenomenon of "officials affiliating with others," was actually just a formality.

On the surface, every sentence seems to be targeting Zhou Qin, but targeting Zhou Qin is actually targeting Cai Jing, who is behind him.

Some people are using this already ignited fire to criticize Cai Jing.

Thinking of this, Zhao Xu's gaze swept over Cai Jing, who was standing with his eyes down and silent, then over Zhang Dun, who was standing expressionless in front of him, and Zeng Bu, who was standing in the position of Privy Councilor.

Cai Jing has indeed been having a lot of good luck lately.

The Tongwenguan case was handled brilliantly, and his power and influence increased even further. His followers and former associates also became increasingly ostentatious.

Although this time Zhou Qin was dismissed and a gambling den was shut down, the losses were not significant, but this trend cannot be allowed to continue.

It's definitely time to give them a talking-to.

"What Zhang Qing said is not without reason," Zhao Xu said slowly, his voice not loud, but carrying an undeniable authority.

"It is fundamental for officials to maintain their integrity. To associate with merchants and profit from their business dealings is certainly contrary to official conduct. The Censorate and the Ministry of Personnel are instructed to pay close attention to such matters. If any are discovered, they should be reported truthfully and severely punished. As for Zhou Qin... since he has already been dismissed, let him serve as a warning to others."

He did not directly name Cai Jing, nor did he pursue the matter further.

However, the phrase "to serve as a warning to others" and the imperial edict to make the Censorate and the Ministry of Personnel "pay attention" are themselves an attitude.

The fact that the Censorate, which is mainly responsible for supervising the conduct of officials, was involved is particularly intriguing.

"Your Majesty is wise," all the officials responded in unison.

Cai Jing kept his eyes down, his face expressionless, as if the discussion had nothing to do with him.

But the hand hidden in the sleeve had its fingertips slightly digging into its palm.

Zhang Dun's lips twitched almost imperceptibly. Zeng Bu, however, possessed profound skill and showed no reaction whatsoever.

Zhao Xu said no more and stood up.

The eunuch's long, drawn-out greeting rang out once more.

"Court adjourned—"