Chapter 198: Nine Degrees of Kinship Not Enough? Add a Tenth!

Shen Xiuting paled in terror at these words and kowtowed. "Your Majesty, may I ask what crime I have committed, that Your Majesty would condemn me directly without going through the Three Judicial Offices?"

Chongzhen smiled and said to Shen Xiuting, "The Romance of the Three Kingdoms — I trust you, my dear minister, have read it. What crime did that grain officer commit?

Your crime far exceeds his. So your head alone will not suffice.

What We intend to borrow are the heads of your nine degrees of kinship as well!"

Shen Xiuting, however, refused to submit. He straightened his back and said to Chongzhen, "This is not a time of military campaign, nor has the people's morale shifted. For Your Majesty to exterminate my nine degrees of kinship without cause — I do not accept this."

Chongzhen glanced at the wine and meat on the table, largely untouched. He casually picked up a plate and hurled it to the ground before Shen Xiuting.

"Then what of the grain?" he demanded.

"We issued an edict early on: not a single person was to starve to death.

As for grain — never mind what the Great Ming itself allocated, we purchased no small amount even from the various foreign lands of the Southern Seas. Yet here and now, how many commoners have starved to death in Lantian County?"

Shen Xiuting drew a deep breath and defended himself: "Reporting to Your Majesty, as I have just stated, the grain distributed to Lantian County was insufficient to feed so many commoners.

Moreover, refugees fleeing disaster from other regions also arrived here — it was inevitable that some would starve. Furthermore, I have recently discovered that it was the County Bailiff, Zhao Jing, who was privately reselling the grain.

I was just about to arrest him and bring him to justice."

Chongzhen gave a cold, mirthless laugh and was about to speak when he saw Zhu Gang hurrying over. He immediately shut his mouth.

After Zhu Gang reached Chongzhen's side, he bowed and said, "Reporting to Your Majesty, the investigation is complete. At least seventy percent of this Lantian County's grain was privately resold by this corrupt official.

The buyer is surnamed Wu, a major merchant from Zhejiang. The most recent batch, roughly fifty thousand shi, is still in Lantian's Ever-Normal Granary."

With an expression that said he had expected this all along, Chongzhen looked toward Shen Xiuting and asked, "What else does Minister Shen have to say? And this Young Master Wu, so loyal and devoted to the nation?"

Wu Qi saw that the man reporting was dressed in a flying-fish robe and knew he was from the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Realizing the matter could no longer be concealed, he was so terrified on the spot that he wet his trousers, stammering and unable to speak.

Shen Xiuting, however, thrust a finger at Wu Qi and raged, "Fine! This county magistrate took you for the descendant of an old friend, here for the sake of Lantian's people. Yet behind my back, you have committed such heartless, dog-hearted deeds!"

Having finished cursing Wu Qi, Shen Xiuting then said to Chongzhen, "Reporting to Your Majesty, I truly did not know that this Wu Qi was in collusion with County Bailiff Zhao Jing.

It must be that this man, trading on my name, conspired with that Zhao Jing to resell the disaster-relief grain. I was momentarily negligent in my oversight, and I beg Your Majesty's forgiveness."

Damned bastard — even at a time like this, you still don't forget to sell out your teammate to save your own skin! Truly a master at shifting blame!

Chongzhen looked at Shen Xiuting and said flatly, "Momentarily negligent in oversight, is it? That crime is indeed far lighter than reselling disaster-relief grain — at worst, it warrants nothing more than banishment three thousand li away.

Minister Shen truly plays a fine abacus."

Shen Xiuting, hearing this, turned deathly pale. He was no fool; how could he not hear the murderous intent in Chongzhen's words? This was plainly a decision to use his nine degrees of kinship to pacify the people's hearts.

Sure enough, the Chongzhen Emperor continued, "Never mind that you are guilty — even if you were innocent, your head would still have to be borrowed. Go in peace. On the road to the Yellow Springs, with your nine degrees of kinship accompanying you, you will not be lonely."

Before Shen Xiuting could respond, Wu Qi kowtowed and said, "This student is willing to turn informant, and begs Your Majesty for a lighter sentence."

Hearing this, Shen Xiuting felt even more despair in his heart. If Wu Qi confessed to all the crimes himself, as long as Shen himself did not die, there might still be a chance to preserve the Wu family bloodline.

But now that Wu Qi had come forward to denounce him, it was likely that every last member of the Wu household, plus the nine degrees of kinship of his own Shen family, would all be slaughtered without exception.

Chongzhen glanced at Wu Qi, who had already been scared into wetting his trousers, and smiled. "If you can give a full and truthful account, it is not entirely out of the question."

Wu Qi first kowtowed, then prostrated himself low and said, "Reporting to Your Majesty, this student came to Lantian on my father's orders to visit an old friend.

Originally, seeing that the people of Lantian had suffered disaster, I thought to return home and urge my father to ship some grain to aid the commoners.

"But I never expected that Magistrate Shen would tell me there was a great business opportunity to make a fortune, and asked whether I was interested.

"In a moment of foolishness, this student was dragged into the mire by Magistrate Shen and began reselling the grain meant for disaster relief — a total of over one hundred fifty thousand shi.

"This student knows his crime is grave and his sin deep. But my aged father at home truly knew nothing of this matter. I beg Your Majesty to grant a lighter sentence."

The Chongzhen Emperor had absolutely no idea how much grain one hundred fifty thousand shi was, but even if it were one hundred fifty thousand jin, it was surely no small amount.

Drawing a deep breath, Chongzhen ignored Wu Qi and merely ordered, "Bring over the Assistant Magistrate, the Clerk, the Bailiff, and the other functionaries of Lantian County."

A moment later, the Chief Clerk and the Clerk were brought before Chongzhen, but the Bailiff had not come. The Embroidered Uniform Guard captain who had gone to find him bowed and said, "Reporting to Your Majesty, the Bailiff of Lantian County is already dead — killed by another.

However, someone staged the murder scene to make it appear a suicide."

By now, Chongzhen no longer even considered whether Shen Xiuting might be wronged. For the County Bailiff to end up dead in the rear courtyard of the county yamen — if there were nothing fishy about that, he, the Chongzhen Emperor, would have to be a complete idiot to believe it.

Unfortunately, he, the Chongzhen Emperor, was no complete idiot.

Chongzhen glanced at the Lantian County Assistant Magistrate and Clerk, who were kneeling on the ground trembling, and asked, "Who knew about Lantian County Magistrate Shen Xiuting's reselling of disaster-relief grain?"

The Lantian County Assistant Magistrate was a crafty old hand in his fifties. Hearing Chongzhen's question, he did not inquire about Chongzhen's identity. He merely sized up Chongzhen's attire, and then his face took on an expression of wanting to speak but holding back.

Chongzhen knew what this Assistant Magistrate was worried about and immediately shot a meaningful glance at Wang Cheng'en beside him.

Wang Cheng'en understood. He stepped half a pace forward and barked, "This is the Son of Heaven of the Great Ming, here in person! Answer His Majesty's questions honestly!"

The Assistant Magistrate observed that although Wang Cheng'en was in ordinary dress and wore no eunuch's robes, the sharp edge in his voice when he spoke was unlike that of ordinary men — it must be the kind found only among the inner attendants of the palace.

Now certain in his mind, the Assistant Magistrate prostrated himself even lower.

"I kowtow to His Majesty, long live, long live, for ten thousand years.

Regarding the Magistrate's reselling of grain, this lowly one does know a little. Bailiff Zhao Jing should have known the most, but he was killed by the Magistrate at some unknown time."

Chongzhen grunted an acknowledgment and asked, "Tell Us what you know."

The Assistant Magistrate stole a glance at Shen Xiuting, who was slumped paralyzed on the ground, and thought to himself: Shen Xiuting is finished for sure this time. If I don't step on him a couple of times now, I'd really be letting him down for all the 'kindness' he's shown me day to day!

Having resolved to send Shen Xiuting to his death, the Assistant Magistrate continued, "Reporting to Your Majesty, roughly two or three months ago, this Young Master Wu came to Lantian County to pay a visit to Magistrate Shen.

After that, they began ceaselessly reselling the disaster-relief grain. The two colluded together: grain received by the large measure was distributed by the small measure, and on top of that, they mixed in a great deal of sand and guanyin earth.

"This lowly one knew this would starve people to death and did voice opposition, but my words carried little weight, and I thus incurred the Magistrate's displeasure.

Bailiff Zhao Jing once openly confronted Magistrate Shen over this matter, and for that, Magistrate Shen bore him a deep grudge. Had this lowly one not played the fool day in and day out, I fear I too would have fallen victim to Magistrate Shen's murderous hand."

Chongzhen looked at the Assistant Magistrate with surprise and asked, "Then what of this county's Embroidered Uniform Guard? Did you not seek them out?"

The Assistant Magistrate gave a bitter smile and replied, "I did. The officers of the Embroidered Uniform Guard were also powerless. I fear the wounds on the Lantian County Centurion's body have not yet healed."

Chongzhen had originally assumed that the Embroidered Uniform Guard in Lantian County had also rotted through, which was why he had ordered Tian Ergeng and Cao Huachun to come, and had even commanded Wei Zhongxian to dispatch additional Western Depot personnel to Shaanxi.

But now it seemed there might be more to this story?

Curious, the Chongzhen Emperor asked, "The Embroidered Uniform Guard Centurion was also powerless? And was even injured? Explain in detail."

Hearing this, the Assistant Magistrate continued, "In reply to Your Majesty, this lowly one once sought out the local Embroidered Uniform Guard Centurion. That Centurion did help me report the matter to his superiors.

However, the Chiliarch of the Xi'an Chiliarchy is related to Magistrate Shen, so he found a pretext to have the Centurion beaten — nearly beaten to death. That is why I said the Centurion's wounds may not yet have fully healed."

Chongzhen's expression turned icy. The lower ranks of the Embroidered Uniform Guard had not yet rotted, but the higher ranks had begun to. What the hell — could he never catch a moment's peace of mind!

Beside him, Zhu Gang's face also tightened. This involved the Embroidered Uniform Guard. He too had thought the problem lay with the Lantian County Embroidered Uniform Guard; he never imagined it now implicated the Chiliarch level. The matter was growing larger and larger.

Just as Zhu Gang's mind was racing with wild thoughts, he heard Chongzhen order, "Zhu Gang, go find this place's Embroidered Uniform Guard Centurion and bring him to see Us."

After Zhu Gang departed with his orders, Chongzhen sat on the stool and continued his questioning. "What is the relation between the Chiliarch of the Xi'an Embroidered Uniform Guard Chiliarchy and this Magistrate Shen?"

The Assistant Magistrate kowtowed again. "Reporting to Your Majesty, the wife of Ma Jun, Chiliarch of the Xi'an Chiliarchy, is the younger sister of Magistrate Shen's wife. The two are brothers-in-law."

Chongzhen grunted an acknowledgment and paid no further attention to the Assistant Magistrate. He simply sat there on the stool, lost in thought.

After roughly half a shichen, Zhu Gang, who had gone to find the man, hurried back. Behind him, four Embroidered Uniform Guardsmen carried a door plank, upon which a man lay prone, his body covered only by a cloth.

From time to time, the jostling made him grimace in pain, the corners of his mouth twitching.

When they arrived before Chongzhen, the Embroidered Uniform Guard Centurion's forehead was already drenched in sweat. Seeing that he still struggled to rise and perform the ritual salute, Chongzhen stopped him. "You are excused from formalities. We summoned you here to ask about certain matters."

The Centurion, lying prone on the door plank, could only nod his head continuously. "Your humble officer Wang Yu, Centurion of the Lantian Centuriate of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, pays his respects to Your Majesty. Long live, long live, for ten thousand years."

Chongzhen grunted an acknowledgment and asked, "Just now, the Lantian County Assistant Magistrate told Us that he once sought you out regarding the disaster-relief grain. Is this true?"

Though Wang Yu was in so much pain that sweat poured down his face, he still nodded and said, "In reply to Your Majesty, this is indeed true.

About a month ago, the Lantian County Assistant Magistrate came to find your humble officer, saying that the county's disaster-relief grain was being resold by the Magistrate, and that after he tried to dissuade the Magistrate, he instead incurred his displeasure.

He therefore asked your humble officer to report this to higher authorities.

"Your humble officer then went to the Xi'an Chiliarchy to report it, but never expected to be sentenced by Chiliarch Ma to eighty heavy strokes of the military rod.

Had your humble officer not trained in martial skills since childhood and been able to endure beatings better than ordinary men, I fear I would not have survived until today.

"Fearing that Magistrate Shen would secretly harm the Assistant Magistrate as well, your humble officer assigned men from the Centuriate to provide extra protection.

Furthermore, your humble officer has already dispatched a letter to the Northern Pacification Office in the capital, seeking assistance from above. Only, I do not know why the men I sent have still not returned — presumably they have been delayed on the road."

Chongzhen grunted an acknowledgment and said, "We understand. Withdraw and rest for now. If We have further need of you, We will summon you again."

After the Embroidered Uniform Guard Centurion had been carried away, Chongzhen turned an icy gaze toward Shen Xiuting. "Did you hear all that? Could it be that all these people conspired together to frame you?"

Shen Xiuting, long since drained of all color and slumped limp on the ground, could only kowtow repeatedly. "I beg Your Majesty's mercy! I beg Your Majesty's mercy!"

Chongzhen paid him no heed whatsoever. He merely gave a soft laugh and said, "They all say this realm belongs to Us, but from what We can see, it belongs to all of you.

You treat the state as your household, squandering its resources without the slightest pang of regret, and take Us alone for a fool.

"They say an official's term should bring prosperity to one region, but from what We see, your terms bring ruin to one region.

They call you 'father-and-mother officials,' yet you ought to cherish the common people as your own children. And what have you done?

Who among you has ever cared whether the common people live or die?

"If the common people are driven by you to revolt, We will surely be dragged before the altars of heaven by those enraged masses. And you — you need only turn around, and you will be meritorious Dragon-following ministers of the new dynasty."

"Excellent. Truly excellent."

Hearing this, the look on Shen Xiuting's face had already turned ever more despairing. At this point, it seemed not a single soul from his nine degrees of kinship would be left.

But Chongzhen's words were not yet finished. The words that followed stabbed into Shen Xiuting's heart like knives: "You ask Us to show mercy, but did you show mercy to the common people under your rule?

We have already ordered men to count the bones at the mass burial mound outside the city. For every skeleton found on that mound, one person from your nine degrees of kinship shall pay with their life.

If there are ten skeletons, then ten from your nine degrees shall pay. And if nine degrees are not enough, We do not mind adding a tenth!"

Having spoken, and paying no heed to Shen Xiuting, who had fainted from terror, Chongzhen turned to Wu Qi: "And you — did that blood-soaked grain taste good? With silver stained in blood tucked against your body, do you not fear vengeful ghosts coming to claim your life?

Do not say your father knew nothing, and do not imagine We will spare them. When you profited in silver, they enjoyed brocade robes and fine food. If you have broken the Great Ming Code, then they too must follow you in death.

For your family, it shall be as with Shen Xiuting: the number of corpses on the mass burial mound shall be the number of lives your nine degrees of kinship must forfeit — adults and children all counted."

At this, Wu Qi suddenly found his courage. Striving to preserve a thread of incense for the Wu clan, he raised his head and said: "Your Majesty's words are in error.

According to the Great Ming Code, for those aged ninety and above, and those seven and below, the death penalty may not be applied except in cases of treason. Your Majesty's actions are truly the conduct of a Jie or a Zhou!"

Hearing this, Chongzhen burst into wild laughter: "The Great Ming Code? We are the Great Ming Code!

These common folk starved to death — they are the Great Ming Code! Do not speak to Us of how misfortune should not extend to one's family.

When you reaped the benefits, they shared them. When you reap the evil, they shall share that too!

Mark this well: what We have always believed in is this — when nine degrees of kinship are not enough, a tenth shall make up the number!"

(End of Chapter)