Chapter 415: The Puzhou Case (3)

"One Zhang Jianxiong, in Puzhou, could cover the sky with a single hand and blind the court's eyes and ears?"

Liu Chengyou's questioning voice echoed through Chongzheng Hall.

Facing the Son of Heaven's wrath, Zhao Li and Wang Jingchong lay prostrate on the chilly floor, bodies taut, even trembling. Liu Chengyou rarely lost his temper like this; such loss of composure and interrogation were seldom seen by the courtiers, but whenever such moments came, they proved that someone was about to be in trouble.

Regardless of the circumstances, Wang Jingchong did not want the one in trouble to be himself. Noticing Zhao Li prostrated beside him, then glancing up at the lofty Liu Chengyou, he gritted his teeth and reported in a deep voice: "Your Majesty, regarding the matter of Zhang Jianxiong, your minister has another report!"

"Speak!"

Wang Jingchong's gaze shifted to Zhao Li, whose expression showed hesitation. Seeing this, Liu Chengyou raised an eyebrow and said: "Within Chongzheng Hall, there is nothing that cannot be spoken frankly!"

Only then did Wang Jingchong speak: "Through my investigation, Zhang Jianxiong has been levying exorbitant exactions in Puzhou, amassing great wealth. He buys off his subordinate officers with money and silk, and any who oppose him are framed with fabricated crimes and persecuted. As for the Puzhou inspection censors and the Henan Circuit Chief Censor, all have been bribed with heavy profits..."

"Fine!" Hearing the report, Liu Chengyou had already reined in his angry expression, though his tone could not help but be sarcastic as he looked at Zhao Li: "It's only been a few years! The Censorate truly has not disappointed me!"

Hearing Wang Jingchong's accusation, Zhao Li's face had already turned pale, and at the Son of Heaven's sarcasm, his heart leaped with fright. He kowtowed repeatedly and begged forgiveness: "Your ministers are guilty! We have failed Your Majesty's expectations. Please punish us, Your Majesty!"

In fact, having personally traveled to Puzhou, Zhao Li had already sensed something amiss, knowing in his heart that there was likely a problem within the Censorate. He had originally wanted to suppress the matter, investigate slowly, and keep the impact on the Censorate to a minimum. But he truly had not expected the Son of Heaven to react so quickly, with such keen eyes, immediately connecting to the problem.

"Your Majesty, please allow your minister to speak!" Though flustered, Zhao Li still tried his best to remain calm, bowing: "The Censorate may have offending officials and corrupt clerks, but they are after all a minority. It suffices to root out the vermin. We are Censorate officials; if subordinates act improperly, perhaps there is fault in our oversight. Please punish us, Your Majesty!"

Over these three years, with Liu Chengyou's support, the court's supervisory system had continued to grow; at least the staffing inside and outside the capital had gradually been filled. In daily supervision of military and civil affairs, the Censorate's authority was also being steadily re-established.

As one of the high officials of the Censorate, Zhao Li was unwilling to lose the emperor's favor over this matter. Especially with the rise of the Wude Office, which had already greatly encroached upon a portion of the Censorate's jurisdiction.

"Moreover, this matter is merely the one-sided account of Deputy Commissioner Wang of the Wude Office. As for the specifics, they still await verification! Regarding the Puzhou affair, even with the Wude Office's thoroughness, there were still oversights..." Zhao Li was also anxious now—Wang Jingchong had set the fire on his Censorate's doorstep, and he could no longer afford to be cautious, counterattacking in kind.

As his words fell, Wang Jingchong immediately glared at him. Seeing these two actually starting to bite at each other, Liu Chengyou gave a cold snort.

Once the two had settled down, Liu Chengyou shifted his gaze to Wang Jingchong: "What about the Wude Office's situation? Is it also unaware of its own affairs?"

"This..." Facing the Son of Heaven's cold questioning, Wang Jingchong opened his mouth, then glanced at Zhao Li again, still appearing hesitant.

Seeing this, Liu Chengyou considered briefly—after all, there were many matters of the Wude Office that could not be brought to the table.

So he turned and instructed Zhao Li: "Minister Zhao, rise first. Don't crack your head open. Return to the Censorate and tell Bian Guidang of this matter. I wonder whether he, as Censor-in-Chief, is aware of it! The Censorate oversees the nation's supervision and carries my deep hopes. If one's heart is not upright and one's conduct is not proper, how can one inspect others? Go back and conduct a thorough self-investigation with Bian Guidang."

Hearing Liu Chengyou say this, Zhao Li instead breathed a sigh of relief and bowed gratefully: "As commanded! Your minister takes his leave!"

Zhao Li carefully withdrew from the hall. Liu Chengyou flicked his robe sleeve, looked at Wang Jingchong, and said in a flat tone: "There is no one else in the hall now. Rise and speak!"

Wang Jingchong did not rise, still kneeling. He took a deep breath and clasped his hands: "Your Majesty, your minister wished to submit a secret memorial. Through my investigation, there are indeed people within the Wude Office who have shielded and covered for Zhang Jianxiong."

"Who?" Liu Chengyou narrowed his eyes.

"The Capital District Commissioner, Hou Zan!" Wang Jingchong said.

"Hou Zan?" Liu Chengyou's brows knitted, cold glints flashing in his eyes as he stared at Wang Jingchong, the suspicion in his tone growing heavier: "How could Zhang Jianxiong manage to buy off someone from the Wude Office?"

Bowing his head, Wang Jingchong's nerves were taut, though a trace of cunning glimmered in his eyes.

Not daring to be slow in facing the Son of Heaven's question, he explained: "Capital District Commissioner Hou Zan was recommended to Commander Li by Commissioner of Palace Attendants and Imperial Uncle Li Ye. Zhang Jianxiong is on good terms with the Imperial Uncle, and so the two came to have dealings. This time, the reason the Imperial Uncle had such timely information was that Hou Zan leaked it to him..."

"What is Li Shaoyou doing? Hm? This Hou Zan has quite the nerve—when the Wude Office has intelligence, he dares not report it promptly?" Liu Chengyou coldly rebuked a few times.

Wang Jingchong wore a fearful expression and did not dare pick up that thread again.

"Go, summon the Commissioner of the Wude Office!" Liu Chengyou instructed Zhang Dejun.

Then, looking at the perfectly respectful Wang Jingchong, Liu Chengyou remarked in a detached tone: "You, Wang Jingchong, are indeed a capable minister. I did not misjudge you. In such a short time, you have already investigated this matter thoroughly from start to finish!"

"Your Majesty has commanded, and your minister dares not be negligent. I can only do my utmost to repay Your Majesty's favor!" Wang Jingchong prostrated himself.

"Your knees must be numb from kneeling! Rise!" Seeing him still kneeling, Liu Chengyou said.

"Thank you, Your Majesty." This time, Wang Jingchong slowly rose, and presented to Liu Chengyou the case documents compiled from the confessions and testimonies he had gathered through his investigation.

After spending some time reading through them, Liu Chengyou lightly tossed them onto the imperial desk, the gesture carrying a weight beyond its appearance.

Before long, the Commissioner of the Wude Office, County Duke of Shouyang, Li Shaoyou, entered the hall for an audience and was met with a torrent of scolding from Liu Chengyou. This was the first time Li Shaoyou had been treated this way by the Son of Heaven.

Though caught somewhat off guard, Li Shaoyou still had some preparation. He first confessed his own faults, and in passing also bit at Wang Jingchong. With such denial and counter-accusation, Wang Jingchong could not extricate himself cleanly—after all, they belonged to the same Wude Office system, and if problems arose, it was impossible for Wang Jingchong, as deputy commissioner, to bear no responsibility at all.

The two men engaged in a fierce dispute within Chongzheng Hall—shifting blame, counter-accusing, thoroughly tearing apart any pretense of civility.

Liu Chengyou watched the two like a spectator at a play, until he could no longer bear it. Likewise, having received the emperor's order to conduct a self-investigation and rectify the Wude Office, the two finally walked out of Chongzheng Hall intact.

"Fine County Duke of Ren, fine deputy commissioner, fine Wang Jingchong!" Stepping out of the hall, Li Shaoyou halted, glaring at Wang Jingchong, his handsome face now somewhat twisted: "Fine skills. This time, I was careless and you caught me off guard!"

"Duke of Shouyang flatters me!" Meeting Li Shaoyou's vicious gaze, Wang Jingchong seemed not to notice at all, as if the heated argument before the emperor had never happened, and said with a smile: "We all serve His Majesty. When a scourge appeared among the Duke of Shouyang's subordinates, your subordinate intended to help you eliminate it, to clean house for the Wude Office. Surely you wouldn't mind, would you? After all, it was for the greater good of the Wude Office, was it not?"

"Heh heh..." Hearing this, Li Shaoyou seemed to think of something, his emotions gradually calming, and he sneered coldly: "Well said. I'll remember this. We'll see!"

With that, Li Shaoyou flicked his sleeve and strode away.

"Duke of Shouyang, go slowly!" Wang Jingchong clasped his hands in a bow behind him. A smug smile curled at the corner of his lips.