White-robed Minister

Chapter 127-0125 [Time to lead a team out to investigate a case!]

The officials of the Song Dynasty were incredibly audacious.

After the courtesans finished singing two songs, Gong Dingchen surprisingly took the lead in initiating a discussion about the Puyang region. Not only did the Vice Prefect Zhuang Gongyue participate, but even the six military advisors expressed their opinions.

So much so that Xu Lai, who had been silent, couldn't help but wonder if he had been too cautious.

After much reflection, Xu Lai came to a conclusion: caution is always better than folly. Your audacity is your business; I will absolutely not make any public statements.

But Zhuang Gongyue took the initiative to approach him: "Xu Qianpan believes that the former King of Pu should be given a title?"

Xu Lai said, "I am not well-versed in the classics and history, so I dare not make any comments. What you all said just now makes sense to me."

Gong Dingchen smiled without saying a word. He had long seen through it: Xu Lai was meticulous in his work and dared to offend anyone within his scope of responsibility. But he never expressed his opinion on sensitive topics outside his duties.

"How can everything make sense?"

Zhuang Gongyue, however, insisted on arguing: "The one who succeeds is considered the son. Since the Emperor has been adopted by the late Emperor and inherited the throne, then the late Emperor can only be considered the father. This applies not only to the imperial family but also to the common people. Whoever is adopted is the father. How can one then posthumously recognize the biological father as the father after adoption?"

"Prefect Zhuang is well-versed in etiquette and law, and I admire him greatly." Xu Lai immediately flattered him, but his attitude remained ambiguous, neither approving nor opposing.

That's definitely what Zhuang Gongyue would say.

His father-in-law, Fan Chunren, had just been won over by Sima Guang and Lü Hui and was appointed Palace Attendant Censor this month, becoming a member of the group of censors.

In recent months, there have been frequent changes in court officials, and the Privy Council's affairs have been nearly paralyzed.

First, Wang Chou, the Deputy Privy Councilor, died of illness, and Wu Kui was recalled to take his place despite the mourning period. However, Wu Kui insisted on leaving, resigning several times in hopes of returning home to continue the mourning period.

Next, Privy Councilor Fu Bi fell ill and his repeated resignations were not approved. He was unable to work while lying in bed.

Another Privy Councilor, Zhang Sheng, was over eighty years old and unable to work any longer, and kept requesting to retire and return to his hometown.

After all that effort, the Privy Council turned out to be full of useless old men who couldn't do their jobs.

How should we deal with the border threat from the Western Xia in this situation?

Han Qi summoned Chen Xu, the military commissioner of Shaanxi, back to serve as the deputy privy councilor, which drew unanimous criticism from the censors.

Because Chen Xu had already been denounced as a treacherous villain during the reign of Emperor Renzong.

Should we allow a treacherous villain to actually take charge of the Privy Council?

Despite the objections of the censors, Han Qi insisted on appointing Chen Xu as the Deputy Privy Councilor. The conflict between the two sides intensified, and coupled with the dispute over the Puyi Conference, the situation had reached a point of extreme tension.

Chen Xu's prestige was not enough to control the Privy Council, so the emperor simply appointed Han Qi and Zeng Gongliang as prime ministers to concurrently manage the Privy Council.

Then, the emperor appointed Ouyang Xiu as the Privy Councilor, but Ouyang Xiu resolutely refused to accept the position.

So Wen Yanbo was summoned back to serve as Privy Councilor. Wen Yanbo was unwilling and wrote a letter of refusal to no avail. He is now slowly returning to the capital and is expected to pass through Yingtian Prefecture soon.

The imperial court is in chaos, with a whole host of messy affairs.

Feng Jing succeeded Chen Xu in his post and was appointed as the Military Commissioner of Shaanxi.

Shen Kuo's cousin, Shen Gou, succeeded Feng Jing as the prefect of Kaifeng. This man was very concerned about the vulnerable, but he was also extremely righteous and would readily exile anyone who committed a crime. Historical records describe him as someone feared not only by the wicked but also by the virtuous.

The people of Kaifeng are blessed.

In order to support his father-in-law Fan Chunren in the local area, Zhuang Gongyue repeatedly brought up the Puyi incident at today's banquet, reiterating his views on many occasions.

The officials all agreed, but some were already dissatisfied.

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Even Gong Dingchen, who initiated the banquet, gradually became impatient and jokingly changed the subject, asking the courtesans to sing.

The famous courtesan Liang Yinyin from Yingtian Prefecture was terrified by Pu Yi and had no more intention of befriending famous scholars. She obediently obeyed orders to perform.

It can only be said that Zhuang Gongyue was too young at this time, eager to prove himself. Only after experiencing great trials and tribulations will he become mature and prudent.

Xu Lai ate throughout the entire process.

When someone comes to offer him a toast, he takes a sip.

As the event was drawing to a close, Xu Laicai said, "I intend to submit a memorial to the court, emulating the separation of the Nanjing Imperial Academy and the Yingtian Prefectural School. What does Your Excellency think?"

"You submit your memorial, and I can sign it as well." Gong Dingchen did not have high hopes for this.

Because the Yingtian Prefectural School was so glorious back then, it produced countless Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations). Those Jinshi had developed into local powerful families, controlling the entrance channels to the Nanjing Imperial Academy.

It was very difficult for ordinary scholars to gain admission to the Nanjing Imperial Academy.

Xu Lai's suggestion was to break the monopoly of local powerful families over the Nanjing Imperial College!

The Wang family of Yucheng alone boasted 38 Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) across five generations. Not only did they have countless protégés and former officials in the civil service, but even military generals like Zhong Shiheng and Di Qing were recommended by Wang Yaochen.

How could anyone possibly touch such a powerful family?

After the banquet, Xu Lai returned to the Hall of Judgments but did not immediately write a memorial to the court.

He needs to obtain all kinds of data first.

He intended to use a comparison of the number of successful candidates in the imperial examinations over the years in his memorial to prove that the Nanjing Imperial Academy had been corrupted. He wanted to let the facts speak for themselves!

Bu Chao followed Xu back and forth to the inner courtyard of the signing hall, and whispered, "That Magistrate Zhuang doesn't seem like a good person."

"Why?" Xu Lai asked with a smile.

Bu Chao said, "Originally, that 'Pu Yi' was being discussed quite a bit, with everyone going back and forth. But he used his official position to pressure people, and in the end, everyone went along with him. What kind of discussion is that?"

"Can you understand Central Plains dialect now?" Xu Lai asked.

Bu Chao laughed and said, "Our cook, Lin San Niang, and Aunt Wang, who is in charge of cleaning, are both locals from Yingtian Prefecture. I talked to them every day for five or six days in a row, and I also learned to read pronunciation from Chen Dequan. Although I'm still not very familiar with it, I can understand it by guessing and some other means."

Xu Lai encouraged him, "Keep practicing hard, and you'll learn it soon."

"My lord is back!"

Yu'er happily came over to greet her.

This was Yu'er and Bu Chao's first day off in Yingtian Prefecture. Xu Lai had planned to take them out for a stroll, but they were delayed by Gong Dingchen's banquet.

Bu Chao returned to his outer residence and continued practicing his spoken English with others.

Xu Lai moved a chair over and sat in the inner garden to sober up.

"Are you tired, my lord? I can give you a massage," Yu'er said.

The Song Dynasty not only had the term "massage," but also professional books such as "Essentials of Massage." Especially professional massage therapists would combine it with medicated ointments for "ointment massage."

A soft, warm hand pressed on Xu Lai's temples, then moved to his forehead. Next came his shoulders and arms—it was so comfortable that Xu Lai fell asleep.

This is truly a wonderful life; Xu Sanlang has never enjoyed it so much before.

June passed in the blink of an eye.

Xu Lai had not yet finished writing his memorial regarding the Nanjing Imperial College. As he was merely a judge in Yingtian Prefecture, he had little access to relevant data about the Nanjing Imperial College.

One can only take advantage of time to slowly peruse the official gazettes of the past few decades—by pointing to the late spring gazettes of the years of the imperial examinations, one can statistically analyze the changes in the number of Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) at the Nanjing Imperial Academy and its predecessor.

It takes a lot of time. Xu Lai focuses his energy on his job and only occasionally flips through it in his spare time.

Bu Chao hasn't mastered the Central Plains dialect yet, but he's already started going out to gather information.

He listened more and spoke less. Sometimes he would buy half a liter of wine and sit in a wine shop outside the city all day, eavesdropping on the various conversations of the wine drinkers.

One evening in late July, Bu Chao ran back and said, "Sanlang, I heard some news, but I don't know if it's useful."

"Tell me about it," Xu said.

Bu Chao said, "I heard some people complaining that the changes in Gushu County were too drastic, and the people were living a very hard life."

Xu Lai sighed, "The magistrate of Gushu County really doesn't respect the prefect or the vice-prefect."

When Gong Dingchen was young, he was known for abolishing unreasonable taxes.

Zhuang Gongyue had only been an official for a few years and considered himself a man of integrity who supported treating the people well.

Since the prefect and the vice-prefect were of one mind, they would certainly not allow the people to be oppressed.

The official document prohibiting counties from altering regulations that would disturb the people was personally signed by Xu Lai.

The officials of Gushu County, however, disregarded the prefect, the sub-prefect, and the assistant prefect, and continued to carry out their corrupt practices with great fanfare.

Regardless of whether it was after get off work or not, Xu Lai immediately went to the back of the government office to request an audience.

Gong Fugui warmly welcomed Xu Lai and led him to Gong Dingchen's study.

"Your Excellency, the county of Gushu has been demolished, and the people are suffering terribly." Xu Lai went straight to the point.

Gong Dingchen frowned and said, "Didn't they issue three official documents prohibiting counties from converting documents? Where did you hear that from?"

Xu Lai did not answer directly, but said, "The people's complaints have already reached the prefectural city."

Gong Dingchen thought for a moment and said, "You go and investigate personally. Take the judge of the proclamation office and the registrar with you, as well as a squad of soldiers, in case someone is desperate and tries something rash."

"Conversion" itself is not illegal and is one of the tax systems of the Song Dynasty.

However, the principle of essentially equivalent converted value must be followed.

Whether the value is commensurate is a matter of great uncertainty, so wrongdoing is often not investigated. Only when public outrage and resentment are aroused will an investigation be initiated.

If the allegations are verified, the person will basically be demoted, and in severe cases, they may be dismissed from office.

There was a case where a vice prime minister was implicated in a corruption case and was demoted three ranks.

This time, the prefectural government had clearly stipulated that alterations were not allowed, but the county government knowingly violated the rules—Gong Dingchen was particularly furious!

The next day, Xu Lai set off with Judge Wang Ke, two clerks from the office, and the registrar. He also brought more than ten soldiers from the local militia.

Bu Chao's identity changed from a secret agent to a close attendant of the judge, and he was extremely excited when he went out.

This investigation was initiated based on information he had gathered.

"I'm reminded of that Magistrate Shen, who tolerated the corrupt officials of Qingyuan County harassing the people. I wonder if Magistrate Shen has been promoted," Bu Chao said.

Xu Lai smiled and said, "I'm afraid that will be difficult."

Shen Zhi was promoted from acting magistrate to magistrate due to the maritime trade scandal, which can be considered a promotion. Unless he achieves some extraordinary political achievements or is recommended by a minister, he will just have to slowly build up his seniority.

Providing guarantees for the top-scoring county examinee, while considered a political achievement, wasn't really that important.

Xu Lai boarded an official ship at the south dock of the city, only to see another official ship docking, seemingly indicating that a high-ranking official had arrived in Yingtian Prefecture.

That high-ranking official was named Wen Yanbo.

The journey, which should have taken only a few days by boat, took Wen Yanbo more than a month, during which he repeatedly wrote to the emperor to resign.

He really didn't want to get involved in that mess at the Privy Council!