White-robed Minister

Chapter 131-0129 [We can't let the pressure cooker explode!]

Xu Lai had barely returned to the signing hall when Gong Fugui came knocking on his door.

"Xu, please sign your name." Gong Fugui took out the impeachment memorial.

Upon closer inspection, Xu Lai discovered that it was the group of people who had impeached the Nanjing garrison's censorate.

This institution is for retirement, specifically for old officials who have made mistakes, lost in power struggles, or are unwilling to take charge but still want to remain officials.

However, it was indeed an official body responsible for overseeing local officials; those old guys had the power and obligation to supervise them. If the county magistrates of Yingtian Prefecture were collectively disturbing the people, it would be dereliction of duty for them not to impeach them.

Therefore, Gong Dingchen, Shen Qi, and Xu Lai wanted to join forces to impeach them—actually, to prevent the old guys from causing trouble and to take the initiative to stop them from meddling.

Xu Lai checked the memorial and, finding its contents correct, immediately signed and stamped it: "What's the situation in the prefectural city?"

"The cloth merchants' account books have all been seized, and they haven't realized what's happening yet," Gong Fugui said. "However, it probably won't be so easy for the other counties. Once the prefectural city takes action, someone will definitely run to the other counties to report it."

Xu Lai then asked, "Where is Magistrate Zhuang?"

"He is sick," Gong Fugui said.

Zhuang Gongyue was Fan Zhongyan's grandson-in-law, and many of the Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) from Yingtian Prefecture were students personally taught by Fan Zhongyan.

Even though most of them have passed away, their children and grandchildren still maintain close contact.

Zhuang Gongyue's first reaction was to intervene, but he quickly realized that he shouldn't get involved.

Therefore, Zhuang Gongyue simply pretended to be sick and kept all visitors out.

Xu Lai then asked, "Where is Wang Caosi?"

Gong Fugui said, "My father was stopped by Wang Caosi before he even left the city."

In the past thirty years, all the successful candidates in the imperial examinations in Yingtian Prefecture were either acquaintances of Wang Yirou or descendants of his acquaintances. Gong Dingchen's investigation of the case behind his back infuriated Wang Yirou.

In the Song Dynasty, all official positions were designed to check and balance each other.

If the provincial judicial commissioner and the prefect forcefully investigate a case, the transport commissioner has no way to stop them; at most, he can impeach them afterward for "unfair handling of the case." The reverse is also true.

Xu Lai, along with Wang Ke and Zhao Qian, checked this year's grain and cloth sales records and then reviewed the previous years' conversion records in the cabinet warehouse.

Next, they checked the account books of the Fucheng Cloth Shop that had been seized.

After a day of investigation, as he finished work in the evening, Wang Ke rubbed his neck and said, "This evidence is enough. The officials and merchants in Songcheng and Gushu counties can all be convicted. Once the evidence is submitted to the higher authorities, even the prime minister won't be able to overturn the case. The censors will be swarming in, drawn by the smell of blood."

Xu Lai said to Bu Chao, "You take a squad of soldiers and guard this room carefully. Prevent it from burning down!"

"yes!"

Bu Chao accepted the order.

Zhao Qian sighed, "This case is simple, but it's complicated to handle."

Wang Ke said with a smile, "I don't know about the local powerful families, but all seven county magistrates and their subordinates will be in trouble this time. They won't be able to withstand a demotion of one rank; they'll have to be demoted at least three ranks."

Yingtian Prefecture governed seven counties, all of which were prefecture-level cities. The county magistrates were all officials from the capital, and relatively low-ranking ones at that. If these people were demoted, they would certainly be demoted to the rank of "selected officials" (a lower-ranking official in the capital).

The leap from being selected as a candidate to becoming a high-ranking official in the capital was extremely difficult.

Their investigation this time has yielded results that could at least turn seven Beijing officials into candidates for the imperial examinations!

Those registrars and county lieutenants are also highly likely to be stripped of their positions and dismissed from office.

This case will surely shake the government and the public.

Xu Lai looked up at the sky. He had done his best within his duties, and now it was up to the officials in the court to decide what to do next.

Hopefully, those renowned officials won't let me down.

Gong Dingchen personally led a team to Yucheng County to investigate.

Several prime ministers and top scholars came from there!

Wang Yirou followed him directly, and halfway there she said, "Lord Zhao (Zhao Gai) is a kind and honest elder, how can you bear to investigate his relatives?"

"Lord Zhao has always been selfless and impartial. If he knew that a relative had broken the law, he certainly wouldn't protect him," Gong Dingchen said.

The Song Dynasty currently has four prime ministers, and Zhao Gai is one of them.

Zhao Gai was a kind-hearted man who would swallow insults and never hold grudges. Even when Ouyang Xiu mocked him in his youth, Zhao Gai didn't take it to heart and even offered his help when Ouyang Xiu was in trouble.

Last year, when Han Qi got rid of Ren Shouzhong, he presented blank imperial edicts for the prime ministers to sign. Zhao Gai was not planning to sign them, but after Ouyang Xiu persuaded him, he signed them anyway.

Zhao Gai had not returned to his hometown for decades, and his children and grandchildren all lived in Tokyo. Only his relatives and in-laws remained in Yucheng County.

Do the relatives and in-laws of the vice prime minister really behave honestly?

Wang Yirou then reminded him, "Don't forget, you were able to get promoted back then because of the recommendation of Duke Du Zhengxian (Du Yan). Are you even going to investigate his descendants?"

Gong Dingchen said, "Du Zhengxian was honest and selfless. As prime minister, grand tutor to the crown prince, and duke of Qi, he was so poor upon retirement that he had no money for old age and had to come to Yingtian Prefecture to be supported by his son-in-law. His son-in-law's descendants preyed on the people. Was this something Du Zhengxian would have wanted to see?"

These words were obviously meant to flatter Du Yan. Officials can receive pensions upon retirement, so how could they not have money for retirement?

Moreover, Du Yan's children and grandchildren were all alive and well; they were just busy with official duties and didn't have the energy to take care of their elderly father.

So Du Yan simply went to his son-in-law's house.

Du Yan's other son-in-law was Su Shunqin.

He went to Yingtian Prefecture to retire and lived a very comfortable life. He even formed a "Suiyang Five Elders Association".

A group of retired old men in their eighties and nineties spent their days feasting, composing poems, and having fun. Who among their students and former officials didn't fawn over them? Even Fan Zhongyan frequently sent them congratulatory telegrams.

Wang Yirou finally unleashed her trump card: "Back then, when your teacher was to be exhumed for an autopsy, more than one person in Yingtian Prefecture risked their life to vouch for him!"

Gong Dingchen did not speak again.

At the same time, he secretly cursed Wang Yirou for being an idiot.

Why did Gong Dingchen personally go to Yucheng County? Of course, it was to control the overall situation.

The case must be investigated, but we must strike a balance.

The seven magistrates of Yingtian Prefecture, along with the registrar and county lieutenant, were scapegoats for the powerful clans. Even so, Zhao Gai, as the vice prime minister, was certainly subject to impeachment by the censors.

Han Qi could be impeached because of this!

Investigating a case is like cooking soup in a pressure cooker. Gong Dingchen is responsible for controlling the temperature and releasing the pressure. He has to cook the soup properly, prevent the pressure cooker from exploding, and also keep his micromanagement a secret.

It was impossible to travel by boat from the prefectural city to Yucheng County; officials could only travel by carriage while their entourage walked.

As soon as Gong Dingchen left the prefectural city, someone ran to warn him. By the time he arrived in Yucheng County, the opportunity had already passed.

All the merchants, big and small, in the cloth trade inexplicably had problems with their account books. Some were burned in a fire, some were waterlogged and the writing was illegible, and some simply claimed they couldn't find them.

Gong Dingchen was furious and immediately detained the manager and accountant, ordering the clerks to interrogate them in turn.

Then, notices were posted throughout the county, encouraging people to report county officials for harassing the people. Even if someone did report it, it was because county officials were oppressing the people, and it had nothing to do with powerful families—of course it was related, but there was no evidence.

Gong Dingchen would even personally impeach those powerful families, but in the end, everyone could accept the outcome.

The common people can also be appeased.

Since the summer taxes have already been collected, the autumn taxes and miscellaneous levies in each county should be reduced or exempted. In any case, the people must be given appropriate compensation.

The powerful families had to honestly accept the punishment and hand over some money to the government to make up for the losses caused by the government's reduction of autumn grain and miscellaneous levies. In this way, the county officials were punished, the powerful families were given a warning, and the people of the seven counties were allowed to recuperate.

The people cannot be harmed only this year; they have suffered for many years in a row. Gong Dingchen's responsibility is to allow the people under his jurisdiction some respite during his term.

If he can achieve this level of excellence, he would be considered a very rare and good official.

Shen Qi personally investigated Ningling County, and traveling by boat was fast enough for him. But the messenger was even faster, traveling at full speed in a small boat.

When Shen Qi arrived in Ningling County, the relevant shop ledgers were also gone.

It doesn't matter.

In ancient times, when officials investigated cases, they did not necessarily need evidence; as long as the logical chain of events was consistent, it was sufficient.

-

They visited the common people, obtaining testimonies of the disturbance caused by the price gouging, and testimonies from cloth merchants selling silk at exorbitant prices. Presenting these evidence, they could then report to the imperial court.

They could also interrogate county officials and force them to confess.

What if someone is killed while being tortured to extract a confession? It doesn't matter, as long as you don't kill too many people.

Of course, there are also some detailed regulations: interrogation shall not exceed three times. The cumulative number of beatings shall not exceed two hundred. Only the legs and buttocks may be struck. Those over seventy years of age, under fifteen years of age, and disabled persons shall not be tortured.

Shen Qi hasn't used up his quota for killing someone this year yet.

"Interrogate him severely!" Shen Qi roared.

"what!"

An official from Ningling County suddenly let out a piercing scream.

The county clerk being tortured was too familiar with the ways of interrogation; after only two or three blows, he realized that Shen Qi really wanted to beat him to death.

If I don't confess today, I will be beaten to death on the spot.

Why risk your life for a salary of just a few hundred yuan?

When the clerk was struck four times, he cried out in panic, "I confess! I confess everything! It's the regular tax, the cloth merchant pays the regular tax to the county government. This year the summer tax has changed, and I—I only received a few strings of cash—"

Shen Qi slammed his gavel: "I'll ask you a question, and you'll answer it!"

Ten days later.

The Hall of State Affairs.

The four prime ministers, Han Qi, Zeng Gongliang, Ouyang Xiu, and Zhao Gai, sat together.

Zhao, the probability expert, spoke first: "I'd like to resign."

"It's not that bad," Han Qi said.

Zhao Gai said, "Then I need to ask for leave to return to my hometown to pay respects to my ancestors. There are some things that need to be taken care of. Even if I don't consider the people of my hometown, I have to think about the reputation of my Zhao family. I can't let the family's reputation be ruined in my hands."

Zhao Gai wrote to his relatives and in-laws many times, telling them that they absolutely must not engage in business. The relatives were generally obedient and did not engage in business, but one of his daughters-in-law's family members was doing business.

Zhao Gai could guess that even relatives who weren't in business would take this opportunity to lend money and acquire land.

He must, while he is still alive and still holds prestige, get his clansmen to return the land they have seized over the years to its rightful owners. If the original owners are dead and have no descendants, then the land should be donated to the government as public property, and poor farmers should be recruited as government tenants.

Although there will certainly be omissions, the general direction cannot be changed, and the Zhao family's reputation cannot be ruined.

Zhao Gai didn't care about the land and money. His children and grandchildren were all in the capital and had long since lost contact with their hometown. It was his relatives who were causing trouble using his name. Not only did he not gain any benefits, but he also had to take the blame for his relatives!

Zeng Gongliang sighed, "Gong Dingchen, Shen Qi, and Xu Lai, those three really picked a good time."

During this period, the Puyi debate was just entering its first climax.

The censors were fiercely criticizing the prime minister, who had many old associates in Yingtian Prefecture. Therefore, when the case was reported to the court, the censors impeached the prime minister for protecting the sons of his former associates and abusing the people.

That's a bit of a stretch.

Don't the censors have many old friends in Yingtian Prefecture? Fan Chunren is now a censor, and he has old friends with all the powerful families in Yingtian Prefecture.

But no one impeached Fan Chunren because he was Fan Zhongyan's son.

"Four gentlemen, the Emperor summons you." A eunuch ran up to deliver the message.

The four prime ministers hurriedly followed the eunuch to the East Hall to meet the emperor.

Zhao Shu pointed to the desk and said, "Within two days, fourteen impeachment memorials have been submitted, all concerning cases in Yingtian Prefecture. Minister Han, two of them are impeaching you."

Sima Guang and Lü Hui seized the opportunity to launch a fierce impeachment campaign against the prime ministers, and also impeached the retired officials of the Nanjing Censorate.

How ruthless was Sima Guang?

He also impeached the sons of two of his old friends!

Since Sima Guang had already gone to such lengths, Han Qi also had to make his stance clear: "Your Majesty, please select a capable and incorruptible person to go to Yingtian Prefecture to thoroughly investigate this case."

This is because the case in Yingtian Prefecture involves too many high-ranking officials or the families of deceased high-ranking officials. Local officials cannot handle it; a central special task force must be established.

Zhao Shu asked, "Who should we send to investigate the case?"

The four prime ministers said in unison, "We request to step aside, as it is inconvenient for us to recommend officials."

"Then let Sima Jianyuan go," Zhao Shu said, directly naming Sima Guang.

Wasn't Sima Guang making a big fuss this time?

So he sent Sima Guang to investigate the case!

Zhao Shu is currently in a spectator's mood, happy to see the prime minister and the censors continue their infighting, and taking the opportunity to give a warning to those powerful local clans.

However, someone took the opportunity to impeach Cai Kang—who was also from Yingtian Prefecture—which greatly displeased Zhao Shu.

Firstly, Cai Kang and Zhao Shu were both teacher and friend; secondly, Cai Kang was a spy planted by Zhao Shu in the Censorate.

The officials impeached Cai Kang simply to remove the spy planted by the emperor.

Yesterday, Cai Kang even came to resign, but Zhao Shu forced him to stay.

Zhao Shu now has mixed feelings of love and hate towards Xu Lai. He likes Xu Lai's reckless actions, but he also resents Xu Lai for dragging Cai Kang into it.

The emperor knew Cai Kang very well. This honest and capable minister would never tolerate his relatives exploiting the people. At most, it was those relatives who were secretly doing bad things.

"Boom!"

That night, thunder and lightning struck, followed by torrential rain.

Sima Guang was unable to leave the capital to investigate the case.

Because the sky over the capital was like a hole had been punched in it, and the rain kept pouring down.

Countless people and livestock drowned, the imperial palace was submerged, and the Xihua Gate had to be opened to release the floodwaters. The palace staff quarters were also washed away by the flood.

Of those unclaimed bodies alone, 1580 were discovered and buried by the authorities.

The number of claimed and missing bodies is simply impossible to count.

Countless people drowned in the Worry-Free Cave.

In this situation, the emperor would have to issue an edict of self-reproach.

Officials who harm the people must also be severely punished.

Xu Lai could no longer afford to investigate the case; the focus of the officials in Yingtian Prefecture quickly shifted to flood control and disaster relief. Yingtian Prefecture had also been hit by floods!

[In the eighth month of the second year of the Zhiping era, a great rain fell in the capital, causing floodwaters to gush forth. Countless official and private residences were destroyed, and countless people and livestock were swept away. An imperial edict ordered the opening of the Xihua Gate to drain the accumulated water from the palace. The water surged violently, destroying all the palace buildings and staff quarters. Many people and livestock drowned; officials provided burial and sacrifices for the 1,580 orphaned or unclaimed animals. — *History of the Song Dynasty, Treatise on the Five Elements*]

>