Chapter 666: The Huai East Scandal

This chapter is an extra update for the book's only alliance leader "Reader Tang," owed for over a year now.

Time unhurriedly stepped into the eighth year of Qianyou. From the winter of last year to the spring of this year, what most gratified the Son of Heaven of Han was not expanding territory, adding new achievements, or taking all of Hanzhong, but rather that among the hundreds of thousands of people in the prefectures of Qing, Zi, Yun, and others affected by the Yellow River floods, not a single person starved to death—and with the relief and coordination of the various prefectural governments, they relocated, rebuilt their homes, and reclaimed farmland.

Of course, these were the glad tidings reported by the local governments and censors. As the new year arrived, Liu Chengyou did not spoil the mood—he took them at face value for now and publicized them widely to display the auspiciousness of the Great Han. However, afterward, Liu Chengyou dispatched Vice Minister of War Wang Min, bearing the imperial staff, to tour Qi and Lu, inspect the situation of the people's welfare, and dismiss or appoint local officials.

On the Lantern Festival, an edict was issued from the palace, and the whole city celebrated together. Inner and outer consorts, courtiers, soldiers, and commoners alike bid farewell to the old and welcomed the new together. Emperor Liu Chengyou personally appeared at the imperial city gate tower to receive the people's homage—a hundred thousand people of the Eastern Capital gathered before the imperial palace gates.

Given the grand scale, the Bureau of Military Affairs directly mobilized the Right Wing Longqi Army stationed in the capital to maintain order. The crowd surged like a tide, shoulder to shoulder, heel to heel, and the cries of "Long live!" rang out as loud as ocean waves, nearly shaking the city of Kaifeng.

The palace had newly crafted fireworks, released behind the city gate tower, so that the whole city could enjoy them together. The splendid fireworks lasted a full half-hour, bursting forth with beauty and brilliance, capturing every eye—seeming to symbolize the flourishing fortune of the Great Han.

That night, the Emperor held a banquet in the great Chongyuan Hall, feasting officials and nobles of the fifth rank and above. Monarch and ministers enjoyed themselves to the fullest, and the feast did not end until midnight. Liu Chengyou was also drunk and spent the night at Kunming Hall. Riding the wine's spirit, he thoroughly wore out the elder Lady Fu, forcibly making this virtuous empress try some new positions—and then she sulked for several days afterward.

After the frenzy of the Lantern Festival, everything at court and below gradually returned to normal. While officials and commoners were still immersed in the lingering joy of the festival, Emperor Liu Chengyou once again raised the Son of Heaven's sword—this time, its target was the grain transport of Huainan.

"Have all the matters been investigated thoroughly?" In Chongzheng Hall, Liu Chengyou lounged somewhat casually, glancing at the ministers standing in attendance below.

Waiting below were the three chief ministers Li Tao, Fan Zhi, and Xue Juzheng, plus the Left Chief Censor Zhao Li. Speaking of it, among these four ministers wielding real power at court, the most inspiring story belonged to Zhao Li—from a minor clerk to a censor on duty, until Liu Chengyou took notice of him, rising step by step to high office in the Censorate. Now he presided over the Censorate, still handling everything in perfect order, as if he had yet to hit the ceiling of his abilities.

"Your Majesty!" Faced with the Emperor's calm, indifferent expression, most of the ministers were cowed. It was Fan Zhi who stepped forward and said coolly: "After preliminary investigation, it was several petty clerks under the Huainan East Fiscal Commission who falsified transport losses, deceiving superiors and hoodwinking subordinates, lining their own pockets, and secretly selling off the court's official grain for private profit."

During the Later Jin period, grain transport gave no allowance for losses, and the officials in charge of the convoys often ended up executed to make up the shortfall. After the Great Han was established, it was the same—until Wang Pu investigated the matter and submitted a memorial to the court. Thus, starting from the third year of Qianyou, for every hu of grain transported, one dou of loss allowance was granted.

This was a reasonable policy, a grace bestowed upon transport officials—but it also gave corrupt ministers an opportunity to manipulate the loss allowance. This time, in the Huainan East transport affair, a group of people conspired up and down the chain, embezzling over twenty thousand shi of grain. At the Great Han's current grain prices, that was worth nearly four million cash.

"I originally thought of the hardship of the transport officials and granted them this grace in the loss allowance—and this is how they repay Me?" Liu Chengyou did not seem angry, but his tone was chilling: "A few petty clerks can hoodwink superiors and deceive subordinates and pull off a corruption case of this magnitude? I don't believe it. You are all men of outstanding learning and insight—do you believe it?"

At the question, Zhao Li stepped forward and said in a declarative tone: "Zhao Feng, the Fiscal Commissioner of Huainan East, was once reported by the common people!"

"Since he was reported, was there no investigation? No result? Hm?" Liu Chengyou immediately pressed.

"It was the Censorate's negligence. Your servant failed in his duties—please punish me, Your Majesty!" Zhao Li hurriedly said.

Liu Chengyou did not bother with whether this was a tactical retreat. He waved his hand and said sharply: "This matter has no final conclusion yet—don't be in such a hurry to beg for punishment! As for this Zhao Feng, investigate him for Me! If he is innocent, I will give him his clean name back—otherwise...

This matter must be dug into deeply. No matter who is implicated, none shall be spared. If there were not still good officials among the petty clerks, how would I ever know that such corruption already exists in the grain transport! How long has the Great Han been founded? The realm is not yet unified, and already there are embezzlement cases of this scale!"

"It seems one Meng Hanqing was not enough to serve as a warning!" Liu Chengyou muttered to himself, and as he said it, he glanced at Fan Zhi.

And Fan Zhi clearly felt the Emperor's gaze—it seemed to carry barbs—but he maintained his composure.

Liu Chengyou was clearly not finished. He continued with another question: "Such a huge shortfall appeared in Huainan East transport, and no one up or down noticed? What about the censors? What about the Huainan East Judicial Commission?"

"Once your servant returns to his office, I will investigate to the very bottom!" Zhao Li immediately gave a guarantee, his expression somewhat grim. He could feel the Emperor's dissatisfaction with the Censorate's work, and he too felt some anger in his heart—anger at those who affected his standing in the Emperor's eyes.

Fan Zhi then clasped his hands and said: "Zheng Renhui, the Judicial Commissioner of Huainan East, is ill and can hardly manage heavy affairs. Perhaps that gave some lawless and unscrupulous subordinate clerks the opportunity to collude and commit crimes!"

"So it seems—there are quite a few problems up and down Huainan East!" Liu Chengyou laughed in anger outright.

"Huainan East and Huainan West are, after all, newly conquered territories. Their time under the Great Han has not been long. That some lingering poison of the false Tang remains up and down is understandable—it needs to be gradually cleansed by the court, and then all will return to order!" Li Tao said in a low voice, whether as explanation or consolation was unclear.

Liu Chengyou then said: "Minister Li need not deceive himself on My behalf! The Judicial Commissions and Fiscal Commissions were all established by Me, and the chief officials and clerks up and down are mostly Han ministers. If we lay all the blame on the old officials of Jinling, that would be rather biased!"

"When officials and clerks of the Great Han have problems, the court and the Ministry of Personnel reflecting on themselves and conducting self-inspection to nip problems in the bud—that is the most important thing!"

"Your Majesty is sagacious; this old minister is foolish!" Hearing the Emperor's harsh tone, Li Tao hurriedly responded.

At this point in the hall, the only one not yet targeted by the Emperor was the State Finance Commissioner, Xue Juzheng. This, in turn, made his heart hang like a boulder. Before the Emperor could direct his nameless fire at him, he took the initiative to speak:

"Your Majesty, upon investigation, the dou measures used in the storage and transport of official grain across the various regions differ in size. There are wicked clerks who use small dou measures when grain enters the granary or leaves it, and large dou measures for loss allowances and transport—thus embezzling official funds. Additionally, when common people sell grain to convert it into tax money, there are often scoundrels who use large dou measures in place of small ones, taking full advantage of the poor, so that the people suffer grievances they cannot voice..."

"Ha! A mere dou measure, yet it concerns the national economy and the people's livelihood!" Liu Chengyou stared at Xue Juzheng and said: "Since you have observed this, there should be changes—set things right!"

"The State Finance Commission proposes that the court establish a standard bronze dou measure and distribute it to all circuits, prefectures, and counties. The local governments will cast and promote it according to the model. From then on, all use of dou measures shall follow the court's standard. As for the other large and small dou measures, a deadline shall be set for their abolition. After the deadline, anyone still using them—once discovered—shall be severely punished!" Xue Juzheng said immediately.

"This proposal is quite acceptable!" Liu Chengyou nodded at once. After thinking a moment, he added: "Not just dou measures—other measuring instruments should also have unified standards set by the court, for the convenience of both the people and the officials!"

"Your Majesty is wise and quick-witted, drawing inferences from one instance—your servant admires it!" Xue Juzheng made a show of sudden realization, as if hoping a bit of flattery might ease the Emperor's mood.

Taking a deep breath, he looked around at the heavy ministers who had borne his anger. Having vented and released it, his mood was already much more comfortable. But his face still showed no softening as he said: "You may all withdraw! Remember—the Huainan East affair must be investigated until the truth comes to light. Give Me, and give the court, an accounting!"

"Yes!"