White-robed Minister

Chapter 104-0102 [A Group of Scholars Smuggling Salt]

After the banquet, Shen Zhi invited Xu Lai to the backyard of the county government office alone.

He knew that Yu Shanyuan and Xu Lai had a good relationship, so things were a bit awkward now because Shen Zhi and Yu Shanyuan had a very unpleasant falling out.

Six months ago, Qingyuan County levied summer taxes, and all miscellaneous taxes, except for the regular tax, had to be converted.

Yu Shanyuan initially offered gentle advice, saying that if things were done this way, it would affect Shen Zhi's reputation. The farmers would be burdened unnecessarily, while Shen Zhi would receive little benefit; most of the money would be earned by clerks, merchants, and landlords.

Not worth it!

However, Shen Zhi had already been sidelined by the clerks and was unwilling to clash with them again. Moreover, he could also share some of the benefits, so he told Yu Shanyuan to keep quiet.

Yu Shanyuan was seething with resentment, complaining that Shen Zhi wouldn't listen to advice. If he had listened earlier, how could he have failed to control those clerks?

The two sides started arguing.

Yu Shanyuan was so angry that he left that very day, without even collecting his salary for that month.

"You've been back in Qingyuan for several months now, why haven't you come to catch up? I only found out you went back to your hometown a few days ago," Shen Zhi began to defend himself. "Alas, those clerks in the county government are incredibly cunning, they've ruined my reputation for no reason."

Qingxi Village still needs the county magistrate's protection. Xu Lai continued, "All clerks in the world are like this. When I become an official in the future, I will also have to be careful."

Shen Zhi said, "I've learned my lesson. I'm going to reform the bureaucracy."

"With your methods, those corrupt officials will surely be helpless," Xu Lai said casually.

He secretly despised Shen Zhi, believing he was even worse than a normal corrupt official.

Corrupt officials prey on the people, and they certainly reap the benefits themselves, while the lower-ranking officials can only drink the soup.

And what about Shen Zhi?

The clerks get to eat meat, while the magistrate gets to drink soup; it's the magistrate's reputation that's ruined. They can't even get a hot meal!

Shen Zhi added, "Just four months ago, I read Yu Gong's eulogy in the official gazette. Yu Xiangong was honest and upright throughout his life, and dared to speak out and remonstrate. Upon hearing the news of his sudden passing, my heart was broken."

"Xiang" was the posthumous title of Yu Jing, who was posthumously granted the title of Duke of Shixing and the posthumous honor of Minister of Justice. His descendants, including Yu Shuying, were also promoted through their privileged official positions.

Magistrate Shen is such an idiot; we can just lie and keep him hanging.

Xu Lai spouted nonsense: "Qingxi Village is fortunate to have received your patronage. I originally intended to ask my mentor for a recommendation, but alas—I can only find an opportunity to speak to Master Ouyang later."

"That Lord Ouyang?" Shen Zhi's eyes lit up upon hearing this.

Xu Lai said, "When I was in the capital, I would go to Prime Minister Ouyang's house every ten days or so. I would study classical Chinese writing with several young masters from the Ouyang family. Otherwise, how could I have achieved first place in the annual examination last year when I had just entered the Imperial Academy?"

Shen Zhi exclaimed in surprise, "Xingzhi actually got first place in the annual examination? No wonder he was exempted from the preliminary examination!"

"If you don't believe me, you can write to your relatives and friends in the capital to inquire. This is no exaggeration," Xu Lai said with a smile.

Shen Zhi became increasingly convinced of Xu Lai's connections and abilities, and quickly took out the prepared silver: "This is just a small token of my appreciation, please accept it, Xingzhi. If there is an opportunity, I hope you will put in a good word for me with Lord Ouyang."

If a scholar from within his jurisdiction travels to the capital for the imperial examinations, the county magistrate should, both morally and logically, provide him with travel expenses.

But the nature of this silver has changed.

Xu Lai's words weren't meant to swindle money; he simply wanted Shen Zhi to continue taking care of Qingxi Village. As for speaking well of him? He's fooling idiots.

To complete the charade, Xu Laishun accepted the money and continued talking about his social circle in the capital.

Shen Zhi listened with envy and began to regret giving too little money, but felt embarrassed to give more at the last minute.

This guy was very smart when he first passed the imperial examination, and he was also cautious when he first became an official. He even had some ambitions during the salt bandit case. But afterwards, he was quickly corrupted, became complacent and content with his lot, and his intelligence deteriorated to the point of absurdity.

Xu Lai was just saying it casually, but he managed to charm Shen Zhi into a cuckold's lip.

The next day, the official ship set sail, taking the candidates to Yingzhou.

Then, the official boat from Qingyuan County returned to port, and everyone had to wait for another boat in Yingzhou.

At this time, the number of people taking the imperial examinations increased, and scholars from Lianzhou and Yingzhou also gathered here.

Other scholars could travel by boat and eat for free by presenting official vouchers.

Xu Lai did not have an official certificate because he was not a successful candidate in the imperial examinations at all. Fortunately, he had many companions to testify, and the local government officials along the way allowed him to ride along for free.

Upon arriving in Shaozhou, Xu Lai visited the Yu family again while waiting for the boat. He offered incense to Yu Jing and told him that he was about to go to the capital to take the imperial examination.

Taking advantage of a moment when no one was looking, Xu Lai slipped a silver hairpin to Pianpian: "I bought this in Qingyuan County. I spent a long time choosing the style, but I don't know if you'll like it."

Her pretty face flushed, and after glancing around to make sure no one was watching, she quickly put the silver hairpin away, saying, "I like it."

After having lunch at the Yu family's house (in the countryside), Yu Shuying saw Xu Lai off back to Shaozhou City, and Pianpian felt embarrassed to keep following along.

Yu'er watched them leave, clutching the sachet in her sleeve again and again, wondering when she would be able to give this gift.

-

After waiting in Shaozhou City for a day, Yu Shanyuan heard that there was an official ship and hurriedly came.

"Haha, my two brothers," Yu Shanyuan laughed heartily, "We said we'd go to the capital together, and it actually came true!" Yang Shu was overjoyed: "Brother, you've also passed the imperial examination?"

Yu Shanyuan nodded: "Thanks to Lord Yu Xiang, I barely passed the provincial examination this year, ranking very low. In principle, I shouldn't have been able to pass the provincial examination. I don't even aspire to become a Jinshi; I'd be content with just being a provincial graduate serving as an acting official."

This year, the total number of people released from prison in Guangdong Province is less than 80, with Guangzhou accounting for one-third of that.

The remaining dozen or so states each have only 2 to 4 deportees.

Shaozhou has released three people this year, and Yu Shanyuan is one of them.

In early autumn of this year, Sima Guang submitted a memorial to the emperor, requesting reform of the rules for selecting officials through the imperial examination system.

Sima Guang said, "Every year, more than 2000 candidates are sent to the capital for the imperial examinations (the Jinshi examination), but only 200 ultimately pass and become Jinshi."

The number of people was high. Of these 200 newly appointed Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations), a large majority were from the Kaifeng Prefecture, the Imperial Academy, and the Lock Hall. This was abnormal and unfair to many other candidates from other regions.

Sima Guang continued his analysis: "Why did Kaifeng Prefecture produce so many successful candidates? Besides the excessive number of examinees, it was also because the chief examiners were officials from the two ministries and three academies. Their preferences had long been known to the Kaifeng scholars. Scholars from remote areas, traveling thousands of miles to the capital, enduring wind and snow, yet unaware of the examiners' preferences, how could they possibly outperform the Kaifeng scholars?"

Sima Guang hoped to admit Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) according to their place of origin, in order to change the imbalance in the Jinshi's ancestral home.

That is, during the Ministry of Rites' examinations, names were anonymously drawn according to region.

For example, in Guangdong Province, the number of successful candidates to be admitted was determined based on the quota ratio. When reviewing the papers, the quota was filled directly to avoid Guangdong Province failing to produce any successful candidates.

This approach can balance the number of successful candidates across the country and prevent Kaifeng Prefecture and the Imperial Academy from becoming too dominant.

To be honest, Sima Guang's suggestion was very advanced.

The Ming Dynasty's system of selecting officials through three examinations—the Southern Examination, the Northern Examination, and the Central Examination—was largely similar to Sima Guang's suggestion.

Unfortunately, Sima Guang's memorial was shelved.

This matter involves too many people.

In August of this year, Sima Guang and Han Qi almost had a falling out.

However, it was Sima Guang who submitted a memorial to the emperor, listing ten major crimes committed by the eunuch Ren Shouzhong. Each of these crimes was punishable by death.

Zhao Shu also wanted to kill Ren Shouzhong, but Empress Gao Taotao pleaded for his life.

Gao Taotao was Zhao Shu's only spiritual haven, and she was always there for him during his most helpless and distressed times.

Killing a eunuch was easy, but Zhao Shu was afraid that his wife would be unhappy and that he would develop a rift with his closest relative.

Therefore, Zhao Shu hesitated.

Han Qi originally wanted to kill Ren Shouzhong, but he guessed the emperor's intentions.

The emperor has always had mental health issues, and Han Qi worries that if he kills Ren Shouzhong, the emperor and empress will quarrel. What if the emperor goes insane in the end?

So Han Qi started pulling another stunt.

He secretly prepared blank imperial edicts, had Ouyang Xiu and other high-ranking officials sign them, then summoned Ren Shouzhong to the Hall of State Affairs and sternly rebuked him: "You deserve to die!"

Ren Shouzhong was so frightened that his legs went weak and he immediately knelt down and begged for mercy.

Han Qi then issued another intimidation order, filling out a blank imperial edict to demote Ren Shouzhong to Qizhou. He was given a nominal post and placed under house arrest.

A grand eunuch who oversaw the palace attendants was forcibly escorted out of the capital by Han Qi.

As for Ren Shouzhong's property, it will all be confiscated!

When Sima Guang received the news, he was completely stunned, and then flew into a rage.

He believed that Han Qi was breaking the rules.

First, Ren Shouzhong should be executed according to the law.

Second, Han Qi has no right to handle this privately.

However, the emperor and empress were very satisfied with Han Qi's actions.

We traveled north, stopping and starting along the way.

Some scholars couldn't wait for the free official boats and, in order to get to the capital as soon as possible, paid out of their own pockets to take merchant ships.

Along the way, more unfamiliar scholars joined them, and Xu Lai and his group of scholars always maintained a size of forty or fifty people.

When they arrived in Yangzhou and were waiting for their boat, they saw another group of scholars, all carrying large and small bags, boarding the boat.

"What's in your bag?" Yang Shu asked curiously as she stepped forward.

One of the scholars replied, "Salt. Huai salt is cheap. We have official certificates, so as long as we don't carry too much cargo, we can be tax-free all the way and even ride the official boat for free. We can sell it at a high price in the capital and make at least twenty strings of cash per trip."

The candidates, who were visiting the capital for the first time, were all speechless upon hearing this.

Can one go to the capital for the imperial examination and also do business on the side?

"I want to go salt trading too!" Immediately, other scholars in the same field followed suit.

Yang Shu looked at Xu Lai: "Shall we sell some too?"

Yu Shanyuan said, "It doesn't seem to be illegal."

"Then let's sell it." Xu Lai scratched his head; he hadn't expected this kind of operation either.

Some scholars were filled with regret, as they had carried too much luggage and could no longer carry the salt bags.

Xu Lai and his group went to inquire further and discovered that those scholars had actually been smuggling salt. This was because the official salt price was 40...

It costs 3 wen per jin, but this area is a salt-producing region of Huai, where private salt is only 3 wen per jin.

It's even more expensive in the capital; the wholesale price is 45 wen per jin.

"Buy if you want. I don't smuggle salt, and I won't stop you," Xu said.

Yang Shu thought for a moment and said, "Then I won't sell them either."

Yu Shanyuan said, "I didn't bring much money with me. I heard that prices in the capital are very high."

Xu Lai expressed his understanding and even went with him to inquire where he could buy smuggled salt.

But he doesn't sell them himself.

He preferred to deceive corrupt officials like Shen Zhi.