Why Does Mr. Xie Favor Me? Chapter 44

Chapter 44 Fengman Palace

The entire military camp is slapping me and my boss on CP.

Concubine Zheng’s tears soaked the emperor’s clothes.He held her in his arms, feeling the body of the person in his arms shaking slightly from sobbing. The back under his palms was shockingly thin.

Guilt surged up instantly. She was really hurt both physically and mentally.

“Okay, don’t cry anymore.” The emperor patted her back, his voice as gentle as ever, “I asked them to change their prescription and make sure they take good care of themselves. When you get better, I will take you to the palace to stay for a while to relax, okay?”

Concubine Zheng nodded in his arms, but couldn’t stop her tears.The emperor patiently comforted her until she was tired of crying and her breathing gradually stabilized, then he gently laid her down and covered her with a brocade quilt.

He sat by the couch for another long time to confirm that she was really asleep, and then quietly left the bedroom.

In the corridor, people from Zhongshushe have been waiting for a long time, “Your Majesty, the positions of Wang Duzhi and Zheng Tongshi have been criticized in the court. The Wang and Zheng families have recently…”

The emperor’s voice was calm: “The noble concubine recently lost her son, and I am very sad. Why not promote her relatives to comfort her grief?”

He raised his eyes and his eyes fell on the lowered head of Zhongshu Sheren: “I remember that there are still two vacancies in the Yushitai to supervise the censors?”

Zhongshu Sheren’s heart froze, and he immediately understood the emperor’s unfinished intention.If there is any criticism, people who are not deeply involved with all parties can be used to suppress it.

He bowed his head deeply: “I understand, let’s do it now.”

Outside the palace wall, there was a gentle knock on the door of Xu Shuhuai’s duty room.A frightened tax collector came in, clutching a roll wrapped in oilcloth.

“Sir,” the tax collector’s voice trembled, and he put the oilcloth bag on the case, “There is a shipping gang’s accounting office over the Qingjiang section, and they secretly gave this to the lower official, saying that… they said it was to save their lives.”

Xu Shuhuai raised his eyebrows and used a fan to gently open the oilcloth. Inside was a seemingly ordinary account book. The paper was yellowed, but the ink was still fresh.He opened a page and glanced up and down, his pupils suddenly contracted.

The account book records the transactions of goods and money in and out of an unknown firm in the Qingjiang Section in recent years.There are many types of goods, from silk and satin to overseas spices, and the amount is huge.

What’s more important is that behind every large transaction, there are vaguely pointed to several fixed recipients. Among them, the code name Shangfang Procurement appears frequently, as well as the pseudonyms of several handlers, which makes Xu Shuhuai’s spine run cold.

Zhongshangfang, subordinate to the Shaofu, is in charge of the procurement of royal items for the palace.If this account book is true, it means that the eunuchs who purchased goods from the palace have already colluded with local powerful people and water transport smugglers to use the name of palace purchases to smuggle in private goods and evade huge commercial taxes. It is even possible…

Xu Shuhuai closed the account book and gently tapped his palms with his fan, but the corners of his lips curved with a trace of amusement.This account book came by chance and was so complete, it was almost like a carefully prepared gift.

He looked at the trembling tax collector: “Which accounting office is it?”

“After giving…the things, he ran away and said he would never return to Qingjiang.” The tax collector wiped his sweat and said, “Sir, what should I do?”

Xu Shuhuai chuckled lightly, but there was no smile in his eyes, “No matter how hot it is, it is evidence. You go down, this matter is rotten in your stomach.”

After sending away the tax collector, Xu Shuhuai sat alone in the duty room and meditated on the account book for a long time.He took up a pen and wrote a short secret letter and sealed it together with the account book.

“Here comes someone.” He called his most trusted personal attendant, “Send this letter to Xie Pushe quickly. You must hand it over with your own hands.”

Whether this is a trap or an opportunity, Xie Heng must decide.As for himself, he needs to be more careful to verify the clues behind the account book.

Almost at the same time, a suppressed cry came from outside the gate of Danyang Government Office.

A few ragged farmers and women, old and young, knelt at the foot of the stone steps in front of the official office, kowtowing and crying.They were tenant farmers on a manor that originally belonged to the Cui family in Qinghe.

The manor was confiscated and sent to the government. Although Cui paid the fine, she ignored the tenants who had lost their leased land.The government subordinates who newly took over the property acted according to the rules, requiring them to either sign a new lease according to the new regulations or leave on their own.

These tenant farmers have been attached to the Cui family for generations and have no other skills except farming. The food stored at home is almost exhausted and they are facing a shortage of food. They are desperate and are advised by several old servants of the Cui family. They come to the Danyang official office to ask Master Qingtian to make the decision.

When Bai Ce rushed outside the office after hearing the news, he saw a scene like this. The white-haired old woman hugged her sallow-faced and skinny grandson and wept silently. The middle-aged man’s rough palms repeatedly rubbed the tattered corners of his clothes. The young woman held the baby with her eyes blank and desperate.

“Sir! Please have mercy!” An old man kowtowed violently when he saw Bai Ce coming out. “The fields are gone and the rent has increased. We…we really can’t survive! The Cui family master said that it is the government regulations that require us to take away our land…”

Bai Ce stood on the stone steps. He clearly remembered the number on the file. Cui’s hidden land was 320 acres, and 10% of it was confiscated to become an official, which totaled 32 acres.The laws were clear and the penalties were clear, and he did not hesitate at all when making calculations.But at this moment, these digits turned into faces on the verge of despair.

He insisted on legal principles and believed that Cui had violated the law and his land should be confiscated.But they never thought about it. The tenants who were attached to these acres of land lost their livelihood in an instant.Laws are like swords. When they are slashed at powerful people, the fragments thrown up may also scratch innocent people.

“Old man, please get up quickly.” Bai Ce stepped forward to help him, his voice was dry, “This matter… the government has its own arrangements for this matter.”

“What arrangement? Just drive us away!” A young tenant farmer became excited and was held tightly by his companions.

Bai Ce looked at the disbelief and despair in their eyes, and felt as if something was blocking his throat.For the first time, he was severely shaken by the legal principles he firmly believed in.

The law is a ruler of fairness, but if the result of measurement is to make the already poor people worse off, whose fairness is this fairness?

Unable to make a promise, he could only order the yamen servant to temporarily appease him, send him some porridge, and promised to reply as soon as possible.Returning to the duty room, he sat in a chair in a daze for a long time, and finally got up and walked to the main hall where Xie Heng was.

After listening to Bai Ce’s statement with confusion and self-blame, Xie Heng did not blame him, but just looked at him quietly.

“Do you think you did something wrong?” Xie Heng asked.

Bai Ce hesitated for a moment and shook his head: “The student acted in accordance with the law and there was nothing wrong. It is true that the Cui family hid the land and the fine and confiscation was in compliance with the law. I just didn’t expect that the tenant farmers would be implicated in this.”

“This is it. The law is a ruler and a shield. The ruler measures the world and determines right and wrong. It cannot be bent or wronged. The shield protects the innocent and protects the good. It cannot be broken or lost.”

He continued: “You are not wrong, it is us who are wrong. We only thought about using rulers to measure and punish, but we forgot to prepare shields in advance to catch those who may be affected. Cui deserves to be punished, but the tenant farmers who depend on their fields should not be in trouble. If the execution of the law hurts innocent people, it is because we have not fulfilled our responsibility to provide guidance.”

Xie Heng walked back to the case, picked up a pen and wrote a few lines: “Go, join forces with the household officials, and immediately draw up the resettlement and transitional details of the original tenants on the confiscated land. Depending on the situation, one to two years of rent reduction or postponement can be given, assisting them in re-establishing a lease, or guiding them to transfer to government-run workshops or new military camps. The required money and food will be allocated part of the money confiscated from Cui this time and earmarked for special use. The details must be specific soon.”

Bai Ce took the piece of paper with still wet ink on it, feeling as if it was as heavy as a stone, and suddenly enlightened.He bowed deeply and said, “Student, I understand! Thank you for your guidance, sir!”

He understood that the letter of the law is dead, but the governance of the country is alive.While upholding the majesty of the law, we must consider people’s livelihood and pave the way forward.The delicate balance between this is the responsibility and wisdom of politicians.

As for Li Yuanjing in the east chamber, he was looking at a newly transferred document filed with the Ministry of Personnel, his brows knitted into knots.

He followed the clues of the fake land deeds and finally targeted an old chief of the Department of Civil Affairs named Chen.This man is over fifty years old and has been in charge of documents and files in the Ministry of Civil Affairs for more than twenty years. He is unknown and even has a reputation of being pedantic and dull.

However, the evidence in Li Yuanjing’s hands shows that at least since the 10th year of Yonghe, most of the land deed documents reported to the officials for review and archived by officials in various places, and those perfect fake deeds that were later found to have problems, passed through this person’s hands.

He did not forge directly, but used his authority in charge of archiving and verification to neglect or misjudge key aspects, thus giving the false deed a legal appearance.Occasionally, he would also give guidance to the powerful family officials who came to handle matters, how to make the seals and writing on the deed paper more compliant.

This is a hidden worm, not high in position but not small in energy.He probably serves not just one family, but a network of intertwined interests covering many places.

Li Yuanjing felt a chill. This was no longer simple economic corruption, but corruption that went deep into the root of officialdom.

If a person in charge of the archives of official documents across the country is corrupted, the harm he can cause will be far greater than greedy money.

Instead of alerting the enemy, he compared archived documents from earlier years and secretly visited powerful representatives from various places who had been in contact with the chief executive.The more clues are investigated, the more implicated they become.

The next day, Li Yuanjing personally sent the compiled secret report to Xie Heng’s desk.Xie Heng was silent for a long time after reading it.

“You know about this and I know about it.” Xie Heng locked the secret report into an iron box. “Continue to investigate secretly, keep the scope to a minimum, and the evidence must be ironclad. Especially whether he has any connection with the palace and the feudal towns.”

He paused and said, “As for the staff, I will arrange for him to be removed from his current post, promoted and demoted covertly, and placed in a position where he has no power and no authority, so as to cut off the channels for him to continue to do evil and pass on information. Once the evidence is complete, we will liquidate them all.”

Li Yuanjing bowed: “I understand. It’s just a servant. If this case is dug deeper, it may cause a storm.”

Xie Heng looked at the dark sky outside the window and said in a calm voice: “The storm is coming, and we can’t stop it. But since we have chosen to destroy the old and build the new, we must have the consciousness to ride the tide. However, when the wave hits, you must stand firm.”

Li Yuanjing said no more, bowed and retreated.

In the stormy Danyang official office, everyone is in their own position, either actively or passively, spiraling towards the center of the deeper and more rapid vortex.

In the Wang family ancestral hall in Guzang, Wang Yuzong twisted his beads and listened to the butler’s report that the account books had passed through the Zheng family line and were delivered to the rightful hands, with a calculating smile on his lips.

A few days later, Xie Nanqiao also received a reply from Sun Tao, the governor of Guangling County.

A thick stack with more than ten pages.At first glance, the format is neat, the scriptures are quoted, and there are detailed answers to the three questions asked by Xie Nanqiao.

After claiming that the tax reduction was due to last year’s flood, the county government implemented discretionary tax reductions and exemptions for the affected households in accordance with the new policy, and attached a three-page list of households with exemptions.

But it only took Xie Nanqiao half a stick of incense to discover the problem.

The names on the list of exempt households overlapped by less than 30% with the list of flood-affected households reported by Guangling County last year.What’s even more suspicious is that several well-known wealthy households in Guangling appear on the list, including a branch of the Zhao family who are related by marriage to the Wang family.

She put down the document and did not immediately refute it, nor did she send another document to urge her.

The dusk outside the window was getting darker, and the lamp in the duty room was lit by the clerk.Xie Nanqiao sat quietly for a moment, then suddenly stood up and walked to the archives in the backyard of the government office.

“Translate all the water conservancy project allocation and construction records in Guangling County in the past ten years, as well as the corresponding details of money and food expenditures.” She said to the old officials on duty, “Also, the total taxes and total expenditures paid by Guangling County every year since the sixth year of Yonghe County.”

The old official was a little surprised: “Girl, this…the quantity is quite large, and the warehouse is almost closed.”

“It’s okay, I’ll just watch here.” Xie Nanqiao said calmly, “I’m sorry to bother you.”

The old official had no choice but to agree and called two young scribes to help.Half an hour later, several large piles of dust-covered files were moved to a quiet room next to the archives designed for review.

Xie Nanqiao dismissed the others and faced the mountain of documents alone.She rolled up her sleeves, revealing a fair but strong wrist, and began to read.

At this glance, it is three days and nights.

She was still on duty during the day to handle other official duties, and came to the warehouse in the evening until late at night.The lamps and candles were changed one after another, the fingertips were slightly red from being rubbed by the paper, and a faint green shadow appeared in the eyes.

Guangling County is located between the Yangtze and Huaihe Rivers, with water networks crisscrossing it, so water conservancy is a top priority.However, in the past ten years, the imperial court has allocated more than 400,000 yuan to Guangling for water conservancy construction, but the actual project expenditures can be traced to less than 300,000 yuan.

The largest discrepancy occurred in the ninth year of Yonghe, when the imperial court allocated 80,000 yuan to control siltation in the lower reaches of the Qingjiang River. However, the project records were illegible and the acceptance documents were unclear. The so-called dredging of three miles had little effect on the hydrology of neighboring counties during the same period.

What’s even more strange is that since Sun Tao took office in the 10th year of Yonghe County, various miscellaneous expenses reported by Guangling County have increased year by year. Last year, they were more than double what they were in the 10th year of Yonghe County.

The bills and records of the handlers of these expenditures are either unclear or in a confusing format, making it difficult to delve into them.

Xie Nanqiao excerpted the key data and arranged them one by one on the manuscript paper for comparison.She discovered that there was a subtle correspondence between these unexplained expenditures and the tax shortfall that Guangling County failed to collect every year for various reasons.

It’s like moving the left hand to the right hand, but there are several turns in the middle, covering several layers of curtains.

When she closed the last volume of account books, it was already the dawn of the fourth day outside the window.

The faint morning light fell on her calm face through the high window.She was not tired, but had a sense of clarity after seeing the truth.But how can these discoveries really shake Sun Tao and even the forces behind him?

Directly impeach corruption?The evidence is still circumstantial and could easily be labeled as false accusations.

Refute his reply point by point?That would lead to endless paperwork.

Xie Nanqiao’s eyes fell on the dusty classics and history books on the bookshelf in the quiet room.She stood up and pulled out a “Commentary on Zhou Rites”, a “Guanzi”, and a “Salt and Iron Treatise”.Returning to the case, she spread out the rice paper again, this time writing more carefully.

She started with the discussion in “The Rites of Zhou·Tianguan·Zhongzai” that “nine methods should be used to manage the use of finances” and “Guanzi·Guoshu” that “the people will be happy when they are given, and angry when they are taken away, and the people’s sentiments are all the same”, clarifying the principle that the state’s wealth comes from the people and uses it to the people, and the importance lies in the Qingming Dynasty.

Then he cited the record of tribute from Kyushu in “Shangshu Yu Gong” and the allusion in Huan Kuan of the Han Dynasty’s “Salt and Iron Theory” that “therefore, when the emperor is a prince, he must abandon his ancestral temple and not enter it with the ceremonial certificate, which is considered disrespectful.” It alludes to local officials who have unclear accounts and unreasonable expenses, which is a blasphemy to the court’s etiquette system.

She compared the wastage of Guangling’s water conservancy funds with the old story in “Historical Records: River Canal Book” that Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty personally visited the gourd to block the mouth, and Wang Jing of the Eastern Han Dynasty regulated the river. She bitterly stated that “the expenses of river construction are the people’s blessings. If one point is wasted, the people will bear the burden. If the results are not obvious, the superiors will be responsible for the emperor and the subordinates will be responsible for the people.”

The article then turns to the chaos of the Guangling branch with no clear purpose and unclear taxation. He quotes the standard of “measure the salary of officials, pay the official salary, and give it to the people” in “Hanshu Shihuo Zhi”, as well as the concept of “wealth must be generated by manpower” in Lu Zhi’s “Equal Festival Taxation and Benefit for the Common People” in the Tang Dynasty. He analyzes it one by one and proves that the chaos of revenue and expenditure has deviated from the foundation of government.

The full text is richly cited, and the data is intertwined with ancient meanings. It has the governance framework of “Zhou Rites” and “Guan Zi”, as well as historical references from “Historical Records” and “Han Shu”, and it also incorporates the essence of later generations’ financial thoughts.There was not a single emotional accusation, but through rigorous research and comparison, the finance of Guangling under Sun Tao was thoroughly criticized.

After Xie Nanqiao finished writing, he put down his pen and sat quietly for a while, waiting for the ink to dry before sealing it.This time she still ordered the scribes to deliver the document to the Shangshu Province and send a copy to the Yushitai and Du branches. However, she attached a short note requesting that the ancient book chapters and sentences involved in the article be compared with Guangling empirical evidence and be forwarded to the Hanlin Academy scholars for revision and correction.

This seemingly humble move actually places the matter in a more open and academic discussion field.Soon this document not only circulated among the officials, but also caused waves in the Hanlin Academy and the Imperial College.

Several old bachelors who have always valued knowledge and a prudent attitude towards political affairs couldn’t help but sigh after studying: “The book “Zhou Li” and “Guanzi” were quoted to discuss the basis of financial use, and the “Yu Gong” and “Hequ Shu” were used to examine the actual situation of river engineering, and even more based on “Salt””Iron” and “Shihuo” analyze the shortcomings of the present… The warp and weft are intertwined, and the past and the present are connected. It cannot be done without a deep study of classics and history and a clear understanding of current affairs.This woman, Xie, not only has the talent of Ban Zhao to continue history, but also has the knowledge of Sang Hongyang and Liu Yan in managing politics.”

“Thank you Pushe for having a sister like this. It’s really a blessing from God. Reading her writings and knowing her heart, this girl’s ambition is not small.”

These comments, along with the content of the document, quietly spread to a higher level. Xie’s wife had a daughter, so Wenji’s statement was gradually quoted in more specific ways, which hit the mark.It has been replaced by the ancient good minister style.

For the first time, Xie Nanqiao’s name really entered the field of vision of some important ministers who would not have noticed her before.

While Xie Heng was proud of her, there was also a mist-like worry in his heart.He knows that the court has always been a place of undercurrents.

This gust of wind came faster than he expected, but with a subtle change in the direction of the wind, it passed by Xie Nanqiao and rolled directly between him and Xiao Jue.

Rumors in the military camp started with a gust of wind and a few glasses of wine.

Xiao Jue was very strict in running the army, but he was not completely unkind.On the day of rest, officers who are not on duty are allowed to gather in designated areas in the camp, as long as they do not get drunk and cause trouble and do not miss midnight the next day.

That afternoon, under the willow tree next to the school grounds, several young officers sat around a stone table, with a few plates of simple side dishes and a pot of turbid wine in front of them.The wine is a common pear white wine, not very mellow, but enough to cheer up.

These people all come from noble families. Although they are not top-notch families, they are also noble and noble in the county.Some of them joined the army because their families arranged for them to gain experience, and some came because they admired Xiao Jue’s reputation, but they may not fully agree with this general who has little foundation in their hearts.

After three rounds of drinking, the topic gradually started to open up.

“I heard that Xie Pushe came to the army again yesterday and discussed matters with the general in the tent until late at night.” A fair-skinned general named Zhu said casually, turning a rough wine cup with his fingertips.

Lieutenant Kong, who was slightly chubby next to him, chuckled: “It’s not just about discussing matters? I had a soldier under my tent patrolling the camp that night. Passing by the Chinese military tent, I vaguely heard something strange inside.”

“Strange noise?” Another person raised an eyebrow.

“It’s like panting, but also like whispering.” Captain Kong winked, “The lights in the tent have been on all night. Our general and Xie Pushe have a very close relationship.”

Several people exchanged tacit glances. They grew up in noble families and were deeply influenced by the informal and natural style of celebrities.In their view, private discussions about Shangguan’s personal relationships have a hint of imitating the magnanimity of the forefathers, and are also a subtle temptation for those who come from a poor family but are in a high position.

Zhu Lang was about to finish the glass of wine and sighed: “Xie Pushe is indeed a dragon and a phoenix among men, but it is a pity that he is not a man of my generation. The general has a close relationship with him, and I am afraid it will cause disputes.”

Captain Kong sneered, “In today’s world, when poor families are in power, how can there be any real discussion? It’s just a matter of success and failure. It’s just that the general is a military general after all, and being so close to the leader of civil servants, if word spreads, it will not necessarily be a good thing for the general’s reputation and the stability of the military’s morale.”

“That’s wrong.” Joining the Army, who had been silent all this time, spoke slowly. He was older and had a calmer expression. “Xie Pushe was in charge of the government, and the general guarded the border troops. The civil and military complement each other. It’s a good story. It’s just that people’s words are formidable, and everyone’s words are golden. The sergeants in the army are simple and simple, and they may not understand the celebrities. If the general’s reputation as a mountain in the hearts of the soldiers is damaged because of some gossip, isn’t it a small gain but a big gain?”

Several people were silent for a moment. They didn’t really want to rebel, and they were even in awe of Xiao Jue’s ability to lead troops.It’s just that the nobles’ sense of superiority and vague uneasiness about the status quo, mixed with a vague understanding of the boundaries of etiquette and law, make them unable to help expressing complex emotions in this way of conversation in private situations.

Rumors are like catkins, light but pervasive.

During a night patrol, Wen Boyan overheard two men from low-ranking noble families muttering in a corner, “General and Xie Pushe are probably close friends, and it is normal for them to discuss politics on the same bed.”

His face immediately darkened, he suppressed his anger, and found an opportunity the next day to report to Xiao Jue privately.

Xiao Jue was inspecting the newly made crossbow machine at the side of the school field. Hearing this, his hand that adjusted the crossbow string paused slightly.

He lowered his eyes, and his thick eyelashes cast a small shadow under his eyes, covering the emotions in his eyes.After a moment, he continued his hand movements and tightened the crossbow string. There was no sound in his voice: “Did you hear that?”

Wen Boyan nodded and said angrily: “These people have no clue what they say! General, do you want…”

Xiao Jue handed the adjusted crossbow machine to the ordnance officer next to him, patted the dust on his hands, and turned to look at Wen Boyan.His expression was still calm, even a little indifferent, but only those who knew him well could see a trace of tension beneath the calmness.

“What else did they say?” he asked, his voice low.

Wen Boyan hesitated for a moment and said in a low voice: “It’s just some arranged words, saying that the relationship between the general and Xie Pushe is extraordinary and goes against… against normal ethics.” He said the last few words with great difficulty.

Xiao Jue was silent. The cheers of soldiers practicing on the school field came in waves, and the sun was a bit dazzling.He thought of the tired look on his brows when Xie Heng came last night, and the kiss that smelled of tea and bitterness.

“The affairs in the military are complicated,” Xiao Jue finally spoke, his voice a little dry, “Xie Pushe and I do have many military and political matters to discuss.”

He paused and looked towards the military formations practicing in the distance, where dust was flying and flags were flying.

“People’s words are like the wind, and they fall away after being heard. The top priority in military management is strict discipline, fair rewards and punishments. As long as they abide by military regulations, they will not hesitate to die on the battlefield, do not cause any trouble on weekdays, and don’t care too much about minor gossip.”

This statement was vague, neither admitting nor explicitly denying it, and it also directed the focus to military discipline and practice.Wen Boyan heard the general’s attitude of not wanting to discuss the matter in depth. Although he still felt depressed, he could only clasp his fists and say, “Yes, I understand.”

Xiao Jue waved his hand and motioned for him to retreat.After Wen Boyan left, he stood alone on the edge of the school field, looking to the west in the direction of Danyang City, and did not move for a long time.

During the martial arts performance in the afternoon, Xiao Jue personally came out and ordered the battalion of the officers who were talking about it.The confrontation drill was extremely fierce. He commanded decisively and attacked fiercely, completely breaking up the opponent’s formation.

At the end of the exercise, he did not mention any rumors, but made extremely severe comments and additional punishments for the command coordination issues exposed during the exercise.

Several officers were sweating profusely. Under Xiao Jue’s cold gaze and merciless scolding, the superiority and restlessness caused by their birth were crushed to pieces.They once again clearly realized that in this military camp, only strength and military merit are the foundation of success.

But Xiao Jue knew in his heart that once the seeds of rumors had been sown, they would be difficult to eradicate.