FIMA Ch88: What Use Is It

During the early morning court this day, the Governor of Shuntian Prefecture, Ding Ye, submitted a memorial impeaching the officials of Ling County in Shandong for embezzling disaster relief grain, resulting in the deaths of over ten thousand lives in the county.

Furthermore, there were scholars from neighboring counties who, entrusted by others, brought a blood letter signed by a hundred people to the capital to file the lawsuit as evidence.

In the summer of last year, Shandong suffered a severe drought.

Not a drop of water was seen for months, and sixteen counties experienced a massive drought disaster with absolutely no harvest of grain.

The imperial court’s autumn taxes for the year had not yet been collected, and the silver in the national treasury had already been sent to the various armies at the border passes to prepare winter provisions, leaving no power to allocate further funds for disaster relief.

Forced by circumstances, Emperor Jianzhao and the Six Ministries discussed and decided to allow the disaster-stricken counties to open their granaries and release grain on their own. Once the imperial court’s autumn taxes were collected this year, funds would be allocated down to replenish the granaries of each county.

Here it should be explained: why, after a disaster occurs, would they rather transport grain for relief from thousands of miles away than open the local granaries?

Mainly, the primary purpose of establishing granaries in various counties and cities in ancient times was to guarantee military provisions; disaster relief or other purposes came second.

Granaries concerned the major affairs of the military and the state, and concerned the foundation of the country.

Therefore, if a certain place wanted to open its granaries to release grain for disaster relief, first, it must be a major disaster; then, officials at all levels would calculate the disaster situation; finally, it would be reported to the imperial court, discussed and agreed upon by the Emperor and the ministries. Only under unavoidable circumstances would an imperial edict be issued to open the granaries and release the grain.

Thus, on television, one often sees officials who couldn’t bear the suffering of the common people and privately opened granaries, ultimately ending up beheaded.

However, for the drought in several counties of Shandong last year, the imperial court responded very quickly and also agreed to let the local authorities directly open the granaries to release grain. Even the disaster relief silver had already been supplemented after the autumn taxes were collected. Logically, there shouldn’t have been many casualties.

Ling County, mentioned in the Shuntian Prefecture Governor Ding Ye’s memorial, was a top-tier county in Shandong with over four thousand households, meaning a population of about twenty thousand.

But according to Ding Ye, during the severe drought last summer, the death toll in Ling County was nearly ten thousand, which meant almost half the people died.

How terrifying was this? It could basically be inferred with certainty that the county magistrate of Ling County did not conduct disaster relief at all last year.

So, where was the grain in the granary?

Looking at the bloody handprints on the petition, not only was Emperor Jianzhao furious, but the civil and military officials also looked askance.

Sigh, too tragic…

Emperor Jianzhao was utterly enraged by this matter.

Embezzling from the granary was a thousand times more detestable than privately opening the granary. This was a massive rat of the state.

Moreover, last year’s drought disaster wasn’t reported until the beginning of summer this year. There definitely must have been someone covering it up among the high-ranking officials in Shandong, or even within the Six Ministries in the capital.

Emperor Jianzhao immediately dispatched Gu Siyuan to lead the Imperial Guard personal troops and head to Ling County to verify.

Firstly, naturally because he trusted Gu Siyuan; secondly, because the first accuser, Shuntian Prefecture Governor Ding Ye, was the Sixth Prince Xie Xuan’s person.

Gu Siyuan and Xie Xuan had always been at odds, so he absolutely wouldn’t show bias toward him, and the findings of the verification would be the most truthful.

Gu Siyuan didn’t delay for a moment.

Upon receiving the oral edict, he immediately mounted lightly, took a simple cavalry, and led his men out of the city on horseback.

“The Imperial Guards are handling affairs, all pedestrians make way!”

Gu Siyuan galloped forward on his horse, his black hair flying, while the Imperial Guards behind him waved their hands loudly to clear the path.

On the pavilion of the highest Siji (Four Seasons) Pavilion in the capital, glancing at the galloping group below.

Shuntian Prefecture Governor Ding Ye frowned: “Your Highness, letting Gu Xun go verify, won’t he cause some unexpected trouble out of this?”

He naturally knew as well that this Imperial Guard General of the Household and Superintendent of the Capital Garrison was most at odds with the Sixth Highness.

After speaking, he didn’t get a reaction for a long time.

Ding Ye hesitantly glanced to the side, only to see his Sixth Highness resting his chin on his hands, eyelids slightly lowered, wholeheartedly looking in the direction of the galloping Imperial Guard troop. On his usually extremely cold face, there was actually a trace of an unconcealable, tender, and lingering light smile, as if looking at his most intimate lover.

Ding Ye first sighed with emotion that the Sixth Highness was ultimately still a youth. It was perfectly normal for a youth to admire beauty and be affectionate.

But in an instant, he suddenly realized something was wrong.

He immediately craned his neck to look out the window. Because of the overly arrogant way the Imperial Guards traveled, the people on the street had long dodged inside, and there were no beautiful girls nearby.

So, His Highness was truly looking at those Imperial Guards, but the Imperial Guards were all a bunch of rough men…

And there was no one particularly good-looking either.

The only one considered to have an outstanding appearance was Gu Xun, who had a huge grudge against His Highness.

Could His Highness be smiling while looking at Gu Xun?

Yikes. Ding Ye only felt a shiver down his spine and hurriedly shook his head. I probably drank too much tea just now and my mind isn’t clear.

After watching the whole group of cavalry completely disappear at the end of the main road.

Xie Xuan slowly turned his head, looked at Ding Ye sitting nearby, and answered his previous question: “No need to worry. This time our evidence is sufficient; it can’t be easily covered up. Moreover, based on Gu Siyuan’s character, he shouldn’t use his public office to avenge private grudges on such a major matter either.”

“Oh…” Ding Ye responded lingeringly.

But his mind was temporarily in a trance.

The Sixth Highness is actually speaking well of Gu Xun?

No way, his guess just now, no way…

Xie Xuan narrowed his eyes, looking at this guy with a bizarre expression: “Lord Ding, what’s wrong?”

Ding Ye hurriedly replied with a serious face: “Nothing.”

He suddenly felt a sense of responsibility as if he had grasped a massive secret.

Ling County in Shandong was one thousand two hundred miles away from the capital. But this time, aside from changing horses at post stations and conveniently eating and resting for a moment, Gu Siyuan spent the rest of the time traveling day and night, without sleep or rest.

He compressed what was originally a nearly ten-day journey into six days.

The accomplices in the capital who were rushing to deliver the message weren’t as fast as him.

When Gu Siyuan brought his men to Ling County, it was late at night.

He split open the main gate of the county office with one sword strike. The current county magistrate of Ling County, Jiang Mingcheng, was sound asleep in bed, reeking of alcohol.

Two days later, when Gu Siyuan had begun his return journey to the capital bringing the evidence found from the investigation, as well as the county magistrate Jiang Mingcheng and the deputy county magistrate Fu Yan, the accomplices from the capital delivering the message had just entered Ling County city.

Hearing that the Imperial Guards had already come and left with the people, those few messengers directly shed their armor and discarded their clothes, leaving and never returning. The matter was entirely beyond salvation.

Gu Siyuan evaded inspections all along the way. After returning to the capital, he presented all the evidence and handed over the captured people.

Since this matter was first reported by the Shuntian Prefecture, after some argument, Emperor Jianzhao ordered the Shuntian Prefecture and the Three Judicial Offices to jointly try the case.

And that county magistrate Jiang Mingcheng was evidently a spineless coward.

Having entered the Shuntian Prefecture’s major prison, before the torture even began, he confessed directly.

Jiang Mingcheng was originally an advanced scholar from a proper imperial examination background. After becoming the county magistrate of Ling County, he originally had the intention to do great deeds.

However, he found it hard to move a single step locally.

Because the local deputy county magistrate, county commandant, including the head constable, and others were tightly knit into a single line, feigning compliance but acting in opposition to him as the county magistrate.

Later, they complacently told him a secret concerning Ling County.

Ling County had quite a reputation in the whole of Shandong, and even the whole country.

Because it produced a fine wine called Yujin (Turmeric) Wine, which was extremely delicious. A certain emperor of the previous dynasty had even specially written poems and essays for it, making the Yujin Wine’s reputation flourish even more.

By the current dynasty, Yujin Wine had similarly become a tribute item. Only twenty barrels were produced a year, all given as tribute to the Imperial Household Department of the palace; ordinary people couldn’t get it even if they begged.

So, over ten years ago, a certain local county magistrate, along with the deputy county magistrate and village elders, started having ideas.

Ling County couldn’t sit on a mountain of treasure without cherishing it; wouldn’t that be a reckless waste of heavenly gifts?

They started having people brew Yujin Wine privately.

At first, they just secretly gifted it to those local superior officials in Shandong to clear the path for their future prospects.

After all, a thing like wine was gone once drunk, leaving absolutely no evidence behind. Unlike other tribute items, which might be discovered when used and could be reported by colleagues.

And once ambition opened a gap, there could be no time of satisfaction. Not long after, they finally decided to start bringing Yujin Wine out to sell.

Great Liang had enjoyed a long period of peace, and there were many wealthy merchants, especially in the regions of Jiangnan and Shanxi. They didn’t lack silver; they only lacked items to adorn their status.

As a tribute item, Yujin Wine was, of course, noble enough.

Thus, a single jar of wine could be sold for thousands of taels of silver, more than the salary obtained from being a county magistrate for ten years.

The merchants who bought the wine naturally didn’t dare to speak out. The sellers were guilty, and they, who secretly drank tribute items, were equally guilty.

And those superior officials in Shandong were given more than half the silver obtained from selling the wine every year to ensure everything was secure, so they naturally wouldn’t cut off this path to wealth either.

The county magistrate changed every three years, but the deputy county magistrate and village elders were locals and remained there all along.

Consequently, Ling County had changed six county magistrates to date, but ultimately all were forced to join this business, leaving with full pockets.

And because of the official relationship lines pulled together by this cup of wine, those county magistrates who walked out of Ling County often had much smoother official careers afterward than their colleagues.

With officials shielding one another like this, over the years, the higher-ups actually knew absolutely nothing about Ling County privately selling tribute wine.

However, the reason Yujin Wine was more delicious than ordinary wine was firstly because of the locally produced grain and water, and secondly because the times of fine brewing were more than ordinary wine.

For other wines, one catty of grain could produce three taels of wine; Yujin Wine could only produce one tael, and it had to use the local grain of Ling County to ensure its flavor didn’t change.

Under the increasingly expanding trade, the grain became insufficient.

But the quota routinely given to the superior officials every year couldn’t be reduced, and they were even more reluctant to part with large batches of shining white silver.

So naturally, this group of people set their minds on the local granary.

Anyway, Great Liang hasn’t fought a war for who knows how many years. Even if they fought, it wouldn’t reach here. The grain in the granary was just waiting to age day by day.

But who could have known that a drought would suddenly descend upon Shandong last year? Who could have known that the imperial court this time actually wouldn’t provide disaster relief according to convention, but instead let them open their granaries and release grain?

When the incident happened, Jiang Mingcheng directly panicked.

But under the instructions of the superior officials and the deputy county magistrate, he hardened his heart and directly closed the city gates, not allowing a single person from Ling County to leave.

The superior officials also stated they would cooperate and absolutely not let a single disaster victim walk out of Shandong.

Ultimately, this resulted in nearly ten thousand commoners of Ling County being forced to wait for death in vain inside the city.

After hearing the reasons behind this, the expressions of everyone in the royal court changed.

The root of this monstrous tragedy was actually just for a cup of wine…

Emperor Jianzhao was even more furious beyond control.

He immediately sentenced Jiang Mingcheng, the deputy county magistrate of Ling County, the county commandant, and others to death by a thousand cuts, and their three kindreds were all exiled. As for the rest of the Shandong officials involved in the case, those to be hanged were hanged, and those to be exiled were exiled.

And in these ten-plus years that Yujin Wine was privately brewed, there were also quite a few officials who had been promoted from Ling County and Shandong to other places.

They were naturally insiders as well.

Among them included the former Governor of Shandong, the current Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice, Weng Xiuyong. And just a month ago, through His Majesty granting the marriage of the Weng family’s daughter, Weng Xiuyong became the future father-in-law of the Fourth Prince Xie Huan, only waiting for an auspicious day to officially marry.

In addition, there was the former county magistrate of Ling County, Yuan Liangping, who was the only son of the Minister of Revenue Yuan Xian, the number one important minister under the Eldest Prince Xie Hong.

Now, it wasn’t only Xie Xuan’s people actively pushing for His Majesty to strictly punish the related persons.

The Second Prince Xie Kuan’s people were also very active. Striking down two opponents at once, who wouldn’t be happy?

The reasons were also very sufficient.

Setting aside the fact that privately stealing from the granary was already a capital crime of exterminating the nine familial exterminations, and setting aside the tens of thousands of wrongfully dead commoners in Ling County, just speaking of this act of privately brewing tribute wine, it was blatantly trampling upon the prestige and dignity of the royal family and the Emperor.

Even they, members of the royal family, needed a quota to obtain these things. Those treacherous ministers, those merchants, actually also had the qualifications to enjoy it endlessly?

Under the boiling public sentiment.

Emperor Jianzhao couldn’t go against the trend. Yuan Liangping was sentenced to beheading, and his father Yuan Xian, due to his many years of meritorious service, was only dismissed from office and had his family property confiscated.

The Eldest Prince’s side suddenly lost a Minister of Revenue, and his heart was simply bleeding endlessly.

What is the Ministry of Revenue? It’s the money bag.

Winning people over, raising private soldiers, which of these doesn’t require money?

“Xie Xuan, you actually dare…” After the court session ended, Xie Hong directly blocked his path.

Xie Xuan narrowed his eyes at the person in front of him: “Eldest Royal Brother, do you still remember our conversation just last month, also in front of the Taihe Hall?”

Xie Hong glared. That was when, to disgust Xie Xuan, he deliberately and actively requested the Emperor to appoint Gu Xun, who had a huge grudge with Xie Xuan, as the Superintendent of the Capital Garrison.

The revenge came this quickly?

Watching the person fall into his own thoughts, Xie Xuan nodded with satisfaction.

But at the same time, he felt somewhat sorrowful in his heart.

Sigh, why do these people just not believe that I am merely a pure, good prince, merely wanting to champion the commoners and punish corrupt officials?

On the other side, the family of the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice, Weng Xiuyong, was entirely sentenced to exile in Lingnan. Lingnan was full of miasma, and it had never been seen that exiled criminals could survive.

“Xie Xuan, you lunatic,” Xie Huan clenched his fists tightly.

Originally, the Weng family had a marriage contract with him. According to the laws of the current dynasty, for anyone in the imperial clan, except for major crimes like rebellion, all others could have their penalty reduced by two degrees according to the law; royal in-laws could have it reduced by one degree.

The five punishments were beating with a light stick, beating with a heavy bamboo, penal servitude, exile, and death. Reducing the punishment of exile by one degree was penal servitude, and penal servitude meant going to prison. In these times, grain was precious; without the punishment of being locked up for decades, it meant the imperial court was raising you, letting you enjoy blessings.

Therefore, penal servitude generally only lasted up to three years at most.

If he didn’t break off the engagement and married the Weng family’s daughter as his principal consort, then the Weng family would be royal relatives. According to the law, their criminal responsibility could be reduced by one degree. Being locked up for a few years and doing some bribing, they could all save their lives.

But, he wanted that position. How could he have a father-in-law bearing such crimes, and one who had committed such a crazed and heinous deed? Unless he completely didn’t want the hearts of the people anymore.

But when he resolutely and decisively went to break off the engagement, the courtiers he had originally been trying to win over all changed how they looked at him, as if he was incredibly cold and heartless.

The loyalty, filial piety, benevolence, and righteousness he had painstakingly displayed at the Empress Dowager’s birthday ceremony also vanished into thin air in an instant.

Xie Huan’s gaze was cold and severe.

What do these people know?

How do these people know his difficulties?

It’s all Xie Xuan’s fault. This damned person, if I had known it would be like this, I shouldn’t have gone through so much trouble at the sacrificial ceremony; it would have been better to just kill him directly.

“Xie Xuan, from now on, it’s either you or me. If I don’t kill you, my heart will not be at peace!”

“What are you saying?” Emperor Jianzhao walked in from outside.

Xie Huan hurriedly restrained his expression: “Imperial Father.”

Emperor Jianzhao sat on the chair and scrutinized him for a long while before saying slowly: “I know you’ve been wronged this time, but are there some things that can be said?”

Xie Huan lowered his head, realizing that Emperor Jianzhao wasn’t truly angry over his words about killing his brother, and his heart immediately felt much better.

Hmph, Xie Xuan, no matter how glorious you are, so what? In reality, you’re just my shield. Your Imperial Father, who you think dotes on you the most, doesn’t care about you at all…

Everything is just making a wedding dress for someone else.

Emperor Jianzhao added: “This time it was also because my considerations were incomplete. Originally granting the Weng family’s daughter to you in marriage was seeing that although Weng Xiuyong’s reputation isn’t prominent in the royal court, he actually has many students and old friends, and a massive network of relationships. Who knew Weng Xiuyong would actually stir up this kind of broken mess?”

Xie Huan hurriedly said: “Imperial Father has exhausted his thoughts and efforts for your son, no one could have anticipated this matter.”

Emperor Jianzhao nodded: “Just let this time’s matter pass. You are still young, and there are still plenty of opportunities. I will pick another suitable marriage for you. As time passes, everyone will also forget today’s matter.”

“Yes,” Xie Huan responded with a smile.

A moment later, he hesitated and said: “Imperial Father, Xie Xuan has always had a deep mind, but his recent actions are quite amiss. Your son feels, could he have already noticed something?”

Emperor Jianzhao’s expression turned solemn.

As a father, using his son was naturally not a respectable thing.

After the sacrificial ceremony incident last time, Xie Xuan might have had some suspicions, but it should only be a guess. After all, he himself had still always doted on him later.

Aside from holding a differing opinion on the matter of appointing Gu Xun as the Superintendent of the Capital Garrison, could it be because of this that clues were discovered?

“I will have someone carefully investigate this matter.”

…

Meanwhile, at this time in the Sixth Prince’s mansion, after seeing off that batch of trusted ministers under him.

Turning his head, he saw a tall figure he hadn’t seen for a long time sitting on the stone bench in the courtyard.

Thus, our Sixth Highness Xie Xuan, whose mind had always been deep, immediately jumped directly onto Gu Siyuan, angrily accusing: “Went to Ling County for over ten days round trip, and didn’t even come to see me after returning to the capital. Did a little goblin hook your soul on the way?”

He truly missed this person very much this time.

Gu Siyuan steadily held his slender waist with one hand, slightly curled the corners of his mouth, lowered his eyes, and said softly: “With you, this lively and cute little lion spirit waiting in the capital, how could this general look at other spirits?”

Hearing this, Xie Xuan felt somewhat smug in his heart, but also somewhat annoyed.

Lively and cute is right, but how can you say I’m a little lion spirit? Am I that fierce?

He opened his mouth, ready to bite.

As a result, as soon as his fine white fingers touched this person’s chest and shoulders, although they were still very hard and broad, he could distinctly feel he had lost a lot of weight.

He immediately couldn’t bear to bite him. He leaned up and kissed that Adam’s apple, which was more prominent due to the weight loss, mumbling between his lips: “Lost so much weight, why go all out like that? Did you do it on purpose to make me feel distressed, so I wouldn’t have the heart to bite you? Gu Xun, you hateful fellow, why do you only know how to bully this Prince? To actually even use the bitter flesh trick?”

“…” Gu Siyuan.

This is simply a classic case of blaming the victim.

Who knows who it was that used the honey trap trick first?

But these words certainly couldn’t be spoken out loud, otherwise, it would be another round of the ‘bullying’ topic.

He thought for a moment and said calmly: “It’s because Your Highness feels distressed for this general, otherwise the bitter flesh trick wouldn’t be of use even if applied.”

“Gu Xun, General Gu, this mouth of yours, how come it’s so good at talking today? Let this Prince see, have you been possessed by some spirit?” Xie Xuan’s fine, white jade-like fingers slowly groped toward his lips.

Staring at the person, Gu Siyuan’s expression remained unchanged, saying carelessly: “Just touching, what use is it?”

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