Starting with a Wei Wu soldier

Chapter 291 Reform of Officialdom

The news from Yangzhou arrived three days earlier than Chen Xing's group.

On September 27th, while the imperial carriage was still slowly traveling south on Gaoyou Lake, various versions of the story were already circulating in the streets of Yangzhou. Some said that the emperor was going to make an incognito visit to investigate corrupt officials; some said that the empress was going to personally visit Slender West Lake to select imperial concubines; and some said that the imperial concubine was going to reorganize the salt merchants of Yangzhou and reassess the tax rates.

There are all sorts of opinions.

Those who truly knew the inside story kept their mouths shut.

The salt commissioner of Yangzhou was named Qian Qian. He was a former official of the previous dynasty who remained in office after surrendering to the Qing dynasty. He had been operating in Yangzhou for twenty years, and everyone in the salt transport office was his man. The salt merchants of Yangzhou treated him with even more respect than the prefect.

At this moment, Qian Qian was sitting in the study in the back office of the Salt Transport Bureau, staring blankly at a secret letter.

The letter was received three days ago; it was unsigned and contained only one line:

"The Emperor is approaching; take care."

Qian Qian read the letter three times, then held it up to the candlelight and watched it turn to ashes.

"Master," came the butler's voice from outside the door, "Manager Zhao has arrived and says he has urgent business to discuss."

Qian Qian frowned. Manager Zhao was the largest salt merchant in Yangzhou, and he had been cooperating with him for over a decade; their relationship was very close. His arrival at this time was probably not a good thing.

"Let him in."

A moment later, a short, stout middle-aged man rushed in, his face full of anxiety.

"Lord Qian, something terrible has happened! Rumors are circulating that the Emperor's visit to Yangzhou is to reorganize the salt administration! They also say... they say someone has leaked our accounts from all these years to the capital!"

Qian Qian's expression changed, but he quickly regained his composure: "What's the panic? I have my own arrangements for the accounts. Go back and tell those companies to keep quiet for the time being and not to run into trouble."

Manager Zhao nodded repeatedly, but then hesitated and said, "But... but what if they really investigate..."

Qian Qian sneered: "Investigate? What are you going to investigate with? Once the accounts are balanced and the treasury funds match, the person can't be found. No matter how great the emperor is, he still needs evidence."

He stood up, walked to the window, and looked out at the salt transport office buildings with a sinister gaze.

"I've been in Yangzhou for twenty years. What storms haven't I weathered? Let alone the emperor, even the Heavenly King himself would have to follow my rules."

On September 29th, the imperial carriage arrived in Yangzhou.

The prefect of Yangzhou, surnamed Zhou and named Pei, was a civil official in his early fifties. He had a kind face and spoke in a gentle manner. He led the civil and military officials of Yangzhou to greet him thirty miles outside the city, and the ceremony was impeccable.

Chen Xing sat in the jade carriage, looking at the officials kneeling on the ground through the gauze curtain. His gaze lingered on each person's face for a moment before moving away.

Yangzhou was even more prosperous than Luoyang. Along the Grand Canal, docks lined the banks, with cargo boats shuttling back and forth; shops lined the streets and alleys, and pedestrians thronged the area. On the shores of the Slender West Lake, painted boats swayed gently, and the sounds of string and wind instruments could be faintly heard.

Chen Xing knew the saying, "Above is heaven, below are Suzhou and Hangzhou." But seeing Yangzhou with his own eyes, he truly understood what it meant to say, "Half of the world's wealth comes from Jiangnan."

However, his gaze did not linger on those glamorous facades.

He was watching, wondering who stood behind that prosperity.

On the first day of the tenth month, Chen Xing summoned the civil and military officials of Yangzhou to the Yangzhou Imperial Palace.

The imperial palace was located in a garden on the shore of Slender West Lake. It was originally the villa of a salt merchant from the previous dynasty, which was later confiscated by the government. The garden had pavilions and towers, winding paths leading to secluded spots, and chrysanthemums in full bloom in autumn, their delicate fragrance filling the air.

But the atmosphere inside the hall was devoid of any leisure for appreciating flowers.

Chen Xing sat upright on the throne, with Murong Mingyue seated to his side. Su Xiaoxiao, Lin Wan'er, and Lan Fenghuang listened from behind a screen. Your Highness, Zhou Pei, the Prefect of Yangzhou, Qian Qian, the Salt Commissioner, and officials from various departments stood solemnly according to their ranks, each holding their breath and not daring to utter a sound.

"Prefect Zhou," Chen Xing began, his voice low but clear, "how was the autumn tax collection in Yangzhou this year?"

Zhou Pei quickly bowed and said, "Your Majesty, ninety percent of Yangzhou's autumn taxes have been collected this year, and the remaining ten percent is expected to be collected by the end of the month. This is twenty percent more than last year."

Chen Xing nodded and then asked, "What is the burden on the people? Are there any cases of people becoming impoverished or fleeing due to taxes?"

Zhou Pei replied, "Your Majesty, I have investigated and found no such matter. Yangzhou is prosperous, and the people pay their taxes with little effort."

Chen Xing grunted in agreement and turned to Qian Qian.

"Commissioner of Finances and Salt".

Qian Qian immediately stepped forward and knelt on the ground: "Your subject is here."

"I would like to see the accounts of the Salt Transport Bureau."

Qian Qian stiffened slightly, then said, "Your Majesty, I have prepared the account books and await your review at any time."

Chen Xing nodded and didn't ask any more questions.

But Qian Qian was kneeling on the ground, his back already soaked with cold sweat.

On the second day of the tenth month, officials from the Ministry of Revenue and the Censorate began to audit the accounts of the Salt Transport Office.

Qian Qian stood calmly to the side, occasionally pointing at the account books and explaining the figures. His accounts were meticulously prepared; every income and expenditure was well-documented and flawless.

However, Han Qi, a secretary in the Censorate, noticed something unusual in those "impressive" accounts.

beautiful.

Each account is clear, neat, and without any alterations or errors. The account books have remained like this for over a decade.

Han Qi has worked in auditing his entire life and has seen countless ledgers. What real ledger is without alterations, corrections, or errors? Only ledgers prepared for public viewing appear so perfect.

He didn't make a fuss, but silently noted down a few suspicious points.

Late at night on the third day of the tenth month, Chen Xing summoned Han Qi to the imperial palace.

"Any discoveries?"

Han Qi knelt on the ground and said carefully, "Your Majesty, there is no problem on the books."

Chen Xing looked at him without saying a word.

Han Qi paused, then said, "But precisely because I can't see anything wrong, I feel there is something wrong. It's too clean, so clean it doesn't seem real."

Chen Xing nodded: "Go on."

Han Qi said, "I suspect that the Salt Transport Office keeps two sets of accounts. One is for the court to see, and the other is for their own use. The one for the court is well-made; the one for their own use is the real one."

Chen Xing was silent for a moment, then asked, "How did you get the real one?"

Han Qi shook his head: "I do not know. Qian Qian has been in Yangzhou for twenty years, and his influence is too deep. Everyone in the Salt Transport Office is his man. If I act rashly, I am afraid I will alert him."

Chen Xing stood up and walked to the window. The moonlight outside was like water, spilling onto the Slender West Lake, making it shimmer.

"Han Qi," he suddenly said, "do you know why I sent you to investigate?"

Han Qi was taken aback: "Your Majesty... I do not know."

Chen Xing turned around and looked at him.

"Because you are not one of my former officials, nor are you from Jiangnan, and you have no connection whatsoever with the salt merchants of Yangzhou. You do your job, and I trust you."

Han Qi was startled and bowed deeply: "Your subject... will certainly do his utmost to live up to Your Majesty's trust."

On the fifth day of the tenth month, a major event occurred in Yangzhou.

Salt merchant Manager Zhao was stabbed three times at his doorstep and died on the spot. The murderer was caught immediately; he was a young man in his early twenties who claimed to be Zhao's former accountant. He said he had been cheated out of his wages by Manager Zhao and harbored resentment, so he killed him in revenge.

The case was tried by the Yangzhou Prefecture and concluded in three days. The murderer confessed, was sentenced to death with reprieve, and the case was submitted to the Ministry of Justice for review.

Everything fell into place naturally.

But Chen Xing frowned when he saw the case file.

He had someone summon Han Qi.

"Who is this Manager Zhao?"

Han Qi replied, "Your Majesty, it is the largest salt merchant in Yangzhou, who has close ties with Qian Qian, the Salt Transport Commissioner."

Chen Xing nodded, then asked, "What about the murderer?"

Han Qi said, "It is said that he was the Zhao family's former accountant, and he was dismissed three years ago. The reason for his dismissal was that he was dishonest and stole money from the Zhao family."

Chen Xing was silent for a moment, then suddenly asked, "A dishonest accountant, fired three years ago, suddenly comes back to kill someone, and in front of so many people. Do you think that makes sense?"

Han Qi was stunned.

Chen Xing looked at him, his gaze deep.

"Han Qi, go investigate. Investigate the accountant's whereabouts over the past three years, find out if there are any other grudges between him and Manager Zhao, and find out if anyone has contacted him after he committed the murder."

Han Qi's heart skipped a beat, and he bowed deeply: "Your subject obeys the decree."

On the eighth day of the tenth month, Han Qi's secret report was delivered to Chen Xing's desk.

That accountant was dismissed three years ago and went to another place. Three months ago, he suddenly returned to Yangzhou with a large sum of money. Someone saw him go to the back office of the Salt Transport Bureau after his return.

After the murder, he was caught on the spot; he neither fled nor resisted. In prison, he said nothing, only repeatedly muttering one sentence:

"I killed him, I should pay with my life, it's only right and proper."

After reading the secret report, Chen Xing remained silent for a long time.

"Han Qi," he said, "go to the prison and see that man in person. Tell him that murderers should pay with their lives, that's only right. But whether the person he killed deserved to die, I want to know."

Han Qi accepted the order and left.

On the ninth day of the tenth month, Chen Xing summoned Qian Qian alone.

Inside the Salt Commissioner's office, Qian Qian knelt respectfully below the steps. Chen Xing sat in the main hall, his gaze calm and revealing no emotion.

"Qian Qian," he began slowly, "how many years have you been in Yangzhou?"

Qian Qian replied, "Your Majesty, I have been in Yangzhou for a full twenty years."

"Twenty years, that's not easy." Chen Xing nodded. "How much salt tax did you handle in those twenty years?"

Qian Qian said, "Your Majesty... I can't remember exactly. It was probably several million strings of cash."

Chen Xing then asked, "So, how much is your own salary?"

Qian Qian was taken aback for a moment, then said, "My salary is only a few hundred strings of cash per year."

Chen Xing looked at him and suddenly smiled.

There was no warmth in that smile.

"A salary of several hundred strings of cash, even after twenty years, would only amount to ten thousand strings. Yet you, Qian Qian, own five mansions in Yangzhou, a thousand acres of farmland, and hundreds of servants and maids. Your son married the daughter of the richest man in Yangzhou, and your daughter married the nephew of the textile commissioner of Suzhou. Qian Qian, tell me, where did all this money come from?"

Qian Qian's face turned deathly pale, and cold sweat poured down his forehead.

"My lord...my lord..."

"You don't need to explain." Chen Xing stood up, walked up to him, and looked down at him. "Your accounts are well done, but your life is far from beautiful."

He turned around, walked back behind his desk, and sat down.

"I will have my accounts thoroughly investigated at the Salt Transport Bureau. I will have your family properly protected. And I will find all your accomplices one by one."

He paused, his voice turning cold:

"Qian Qian, is there anything else you want to say?"

Qian Qian collapsed to the ground, his lips trembling, unable to utter a single word.

On the tenth day of the tenth month, the "real" account book was found in a secret room in the back office of the Salt Transport Bureau.

The account books were hidden in a fold of the wall, wrapped in oiled paper, and were well preserved. They recorded the true income and expenditure over the past ten years: which salt merchants overpaid, which money went into whose pockets, which accounts were for the court to see, and which were divided among accomplices.

Seventeen salt merchants were involved in the case.

The officials involved in the case ranged from the Salt Transport Office to Yangzhou Prefecture, and from Qian Qian to Zhou Pei, totaling more than thirty people.

Zhou Pei? Prefect of Yangzhou?

Chen Xing stared at the list, remaining silent for a long time.

The kind-looking and gentle-speaking Prefect Zhou was one of them.

On October 12th, Chen Xing issued an imperial edict:

Salt Commissioner Qian Qian has embezzled a huge amount of salt tax. He is hereby escorted to the capital and handed over to the three judicial departments for joint trial.

Zhou Pei, the prefect of Yangzhou, condoned his subordinates' failure to report the matter. He is hereby dismissed from his post and escorted to the capital to await further punishment.

All seventeen salt merchants involved in the case were seized, the main culprits were imprisoned, and the accomplices were ordered to return their ill-gotten gains.

More than 30 officials from the Salt Transport Bureau and Yangzhou Prefecture involved in the case were all dismissed from their posts, arrested, and severely punished according to the law.

The imperial edict sent shockwaves through Yangzhou.

Those salt merchants who were usually arrogant and domineering became prisoners overnight; those officials who used to lord it over others lost their jobs overnight.

At first, the people couldn't believe it, but later, after watching with their own eyes those usually arrogant figures being led onto prison carts, they were convinced it was true.

Someone set off firecrackers.

At the tea stall, someone began to sing a new folk song:

"When honest officials arrive, corrupt officials fall. Yangzhou city takes on a new look."

On October 15, Chen Xing and his party left Yangzhou and set off northward.

Before leaving, he stood on the shore of Slender West Lake for the last time, gazing at the once prosperous city that was now rife with undercurrents.

Murong Mingyue stood beside him and said softly, "Your Majesty, this investigation was well worth it."

Chen Xing nodded, but did not speak.

He wondered, if Yangzhou had its salt commissioner and Bianzhou had its powerful local figures and folk songs, how many more "Qian Qian" and "Zhou Pei" were there in those places that were implementing new policies?

In Yangzhou alone, more than thirty people were identified.

What about the entire Jiangnan region? What about the whole country?

Han Qi appeared behind him unnoticed and whispered, "Your Majesty, I have something to say, but I'm not sure if I should."

Chen Xing turned around: "Speak."

Han Qi said, "While I was checking the accounts, I discovered a clue that points to the capital. However, this clue is too vague for me to confirm."

Chen Xing's gaze sharpened.

"What clue?"

Han Qi hesitated for a moment, then said, "Some money flowed to Chang'an. As for who exactly got it, I... cannot find out."

Chen Xing remained silent for a long time.

"Investigate," he said. "Take your time, no rush. Once you find out, tell me."

Han Qi bowed his head deeply.

On October 16th, the imperial entourage set off.

As Yangzhou city receded into the distance, the shimmering waves of Slender West Lake disappeared into the morning mist.

Inside the carriage, Chen Xing closed his eyes to rest, gently tapping his knees with his fingers.

Murong Mingyue looked at him, wanting to say something, but held back.

After a long while, Chen Xing suddenly opened his eyes.

"Zitong, tell me, did I win or lose this time?"

Murong Mingyue thought for a moment and said, "We won. We exposed the corrupt officials, deterred the scoundrels, and the people are applauding. How can it be a loss?"

Chen Xing shook his head.

"We won, but we only won this one round in Yangzhou."

He paused, his gaze drifting towards the receding city of Yangzhou outside the window.

"How many more rounds are left, I do not know."

Murong Mingyue remained silent for a moment, then gently took his hand.

That hand, with its distinct knuckles, was slightly cold.

The carriage rumbled along Qiming Road, heading north.

Behind me, the outline of Yangzhou became increasingly blurred, finally disappearing into the vast morning mist.