Chapter 414: The Puzhou Case (2)

The censors and the Wude Office sent their people to Puzhou's Juancheng one after another to investigate, while here in the Eastern Capital, the affair gradually stirred up waves. Many court officials joined in the discussion, focusing mainly on two places—one was Chongzheng Hall, the other the Guo residence.

And the murmurs surged like a tide after Guo Rong returned to the Eastern Capital three days later—he came back in a prison cart, clad in convict's garb and shackles. Upon arriving in the Eastern Capital, he received no audience with the Son of Heaven, but was taken directly to the imperial prison, with word that he would be dealt with once the investigation results were clear.

As a result, bold rumors began to surface at court, saying the Guo family was about to fall. Among the founding elders, the only regent minister personally designated by Gaozu left was Guo Wei, and combined with the fact that Guo Wei had been lying ill at home for over a month and that Guo Rong was now implicated in a case, this further corroborated the speculation.

In times past, faced with such a situation, Liu Chengyou would have sternly put a stop to it. But this time, he made no statement of attitude, merely letting the tide of discussion run its course. The Son of Heaven's ambiguous stance only made the courtiers more suspicious.

During this period, while awaiting the results of the Juancheng investigation, Liu Chengyou also quietly observed Guo Wei's response.

Both to his surprise and within his expectations, Guo Wei remained extremely calm—only at the first moment he learned the news did he, "dragging his sick body," enter the palace to beg Liu Chengyou for punishment, telling Liu Chengyou to simply handle it according to the laws of the state.

Afterward, he returned to his residence, shut the gates, and declined all visitors. Though the court's public opinion raged, many of Guo's old subordinates and former officials could not resist calling on him, but Guo Wei refused them all, seeing no one.

Guo Wei's conduct left Liu Chengyou somewhat unable to fathom his thoughts, yet this cautious approach that left no handle to grasp was also worthy of admiration. Liu Chengyou even considered whether he should sentence Guo Rong to death, just to see how Guo Wei would react... Of course, that was merely a passing thought—Liu Chengyou couldn't bear to part with him.

As for the Imperial Uncle, Commissioner of Palace Attendants Li Ye, he was hopping about busily throughout this storm with not a shred of tact, rallying a group of court officials to memorialize Liu Chengyou, insisting that Guo Rong be severely punished—looking every bit like he wanted him dead.

Liu Chengyou was in fact deeply displeased by this, because Li Ye made him feel a sense of being pressured, though that pressure was not strong, nor could it really influence him. Still, it irritated Liu Chengyou—why would Li Ye dare act so? Nothing more than his status; and where did his confidence come from? From the Empress Dowager in the inner palace.

As for why Li Ye was so zealous in this matter, the Wude Office's intelligence gave Liu Chengyou one explanation.

First, Li Ye did indeed have dealings with the slain Puzhou Prefect Zhang Jianxiong. As Commissioner of Palace Attendants, one of Li Ye's duties was to inspect tribute and precious items presented from within and without. As early as the second year of Qianyou, when Zhang Jianxiong sent famous local products as tribute to the Eastern Capital, the two had established contact. Thereafter their connection continued unbroken—at festivals and holidays, gifts flowed between them without fail.

Second, Li Ye targeted the Guo family so specifically because of an old grudge with Guo Wei. During the period when Guo Wei headed the Bureau of Military Affairs, Li Ye had been one of his retainers and sought an official post from Guo Wei, only to be refused; later, an officer friendly with Li Ye broke the law, and Li Ye again went to Guo Wei to plead for him—Guo Wei still showed no face. With these two incidents, Li Ye harbored deep hatred for Guo Wei, and now that his son Guo Rong had committed a crime, how could he not seize the opportunity?

Third, there was what was heard by rumor—recently, Li Ye hosted a banquet for guests at his residence, and deep in his cups, he spoke to those around him. He said he harbored great ambitions that could not be realized, that many at court did not respect or even despised him, and that this time he would take the opportunity to rectify the Guo family, letting the court officials see the might of Imperial Uncle Li.

Receiving such a report resolved part of the confusion in Liu Chengyou's heart, yet his impression of this maternal uncle grew even worse.

Compared to uncles like Li Hongxin and Li Hongyin, Li Ye's personal ability might be somewhat greater, but sometimes, talent did not match ambition—he liked to meddle and show off his presence, and the results he produced were often worse. And Li Ye was, to all appearances, a man who thought himself extraordinary, with ambitions higher than heaven.

It was not until ten days later that Zhao Li and Wang Jingchong returned one after another from Puzhou, bringing back their investigation results and reporting to Chongzheng Hall.

"Your Majesty, after your servant conducted inquiries in Puzhou among the relevant clerks, runners, officers, soldiers, and commoners, the matter of Governor Guo killing Prefect Zhang Jianxiong has reached a conclusion—witness testimony and confessions are all in hand!" Zhao Li presented a case file, narrating as he did so:

"On the second day of the second month, Governor Guo led his retainers to inspect the spring plowing in Fan County of Puzhou, and discovered that the people could not farm in peace, while the government did nothing but instead promoted miscellaneous levies. Governor Guo, enraged, rushed to the prefectural seat at Juancheng, where conditions were the same as in Fan County. Commoners blocked the road to lodge complaints, saying Prefect Zhang Jianxiong had seized land and persecuted the innocent. When questioned at the prefectural office, Zhang Jianxiong was most insolent. A conflict then broke out in the hall, and Zhang Jianxiong actually mustered prefectural troops to resist. Governor Guo, in fury, ordered him seized, and in the fierce struggle, Zhang Jianxiong lost his life!"

Zhao Li gave a brief account of the situation, but from his words one could sense a certain bias, a faint intent to exonerate Guo Rong. Liu Chengyou couldn't help but glance at Zhao Li—this man had originally entered Liu Chengyou's field of vision precisely because he was upright and unyielding, unafraid of the powerful, and spoke frankly in remonstrance. That was why, within three years, he had been repeatedly promoted to the weighty post of Vice Censor-in-Chief.

But this time, Liu Chengyou did not know whether he was being deferential to the Guo clan, or because he was guessing and catering to the Emperor's own intentions, that he showed this bias.

While Liu Chengyou was reviewing the case file, Zhao Li produced another document and said respectfully: "Your Majesty, through your servant's investigation, there are further crimes committed by the former Puzhou Prefect Zhang Jianxiong during his tenure. First, he defied the authority of the court—since Your Majesty ascended the throne, not a single new policy issued has been implemented. The tax reductions and exemptions Your Majesty's benevolent policies granted all enriched his own person, going into his private purse."

"Second, under the name of supplying tribute to the court, he arbitrarily apportioned levies throughout his jurisdiction and plundered the people. He set up private checkpoints to extort money from scholars, commoners, artisans, and merchants."

"Third, he accepted bribes and shielded wrongdoers, allowing vicious thugs and tyrants to run rampant within Puzhou's borders."

"Fourth, he indulged his relatives and household servants in seizing land and bullying the countryside, and dispatched rapacious clerks to intercept those who came to lodge complaints."

"Fifth, he did not abide by the Criminal Code, and whenever he personally handled cases, he abused cruel punishments."

"......"

"Thus, his crimes and misrule are too numerous to record—I beg Your Majesty to judge clearly!" Zhao Li said.

Hearing this report, Liu Chengyou digested it for a moment, then said: "From what you say, Minister Zhao, between the lines—was this Zhang Jianxiong a man who deserved death after all?"

Zhao Li's body stiffened for a moment, then he clasped his hands and said: "Given his deeds, even ten thousand deaths could not atone for his crimes!"

When the Son of Heaven's gaze fell upon him, Wang Jingchong also stirred, reporting in a deep voice: "Your Majesty, according to your servant's investigation, due to matters of governance, Guo Rong and Zhang Jianxiong had long been at odds. Guo Rong, in three years at Chanzhou, brought about harmonious governance and a thriving populace, with all industries revived. Yet Puzhou, though also under the jurisdiction of the Zhenning Army, operated as its own separate entity. During his tenure, Zhang Jianxiong had always rejected and ignored Guo Rong's governance. The conflict between the two sides had been building for no mere day—this eruption was simply a matter of timing!"

"As for the crimes Vice Censor-in-Chief Zhao reported that Zhang Jianxiong committed during his tenure in Puzhou, your servant's investigation found virtually no omissions!"

After hearing Wang Jingchong's report, Liu Chengyou fell into thought, not speaking for a moment. His head remained buried in the two case files.

After a long while, Liu Chengyou raised his head and asked the two men: "How far is Puzhou from the Eastern Capital?"

At the question, both Zhao and Wang were startled, at a loss. It was Zhao Li who answered: "To answer Your Majesty, the Puzhou prefectural seat at Juancheng is less than three hundred li from the Eastern Capital."

"A mere three hundred li, and it could shut me off and deafen me, to such a degree?" Liu Chengyou suddenly flared, tossing the two case files onto the imperial desk, and said coldly: "That Zhang Jianxiong carried out his misrule in Puzhou, ruining the court's reputation—why have I never heard a word of it? Where were the censors of Henan? Where were the Wude Office agents of the capital region? Hm?"

"The territory of the Great Han spans far more than a thousand li—and what of the situation beyond that thousand li? I am truly chilled down my spine right now!" Liu Chengyou's voice was not particularly loud, but echoing through Chongzheng Hall, it made people feel the fury within it, dangerous and terrifying.

Zhao Li and Wang Jingchong, almost in unison, knelt to the ground and kowtowed, pleading: "Your servants failed in their supervisory duties—we beg Your Majesty to punish us!"