Chapter 1509: Madness

Hai Rui ultimately did not touch a single bite of the lavish wine and dishes on the table.

Tian Youlu persuaded, "Your Honor, it is just some wine and food; it does not matter."

"It matters, it matters greatly! If I eat this mouthful today, will I not be eating people tomorrow?" Hai Rui snorted, yet he did not forget to continue glaring at Wang Yan, who was gobbling down food with grease dripping from his mouth.

Wang Yan felt helpless: "Great Master, if you do not eat, that is your affair, but you cannot forbid me from eating. Second Master, from now on, we two brothers will eat together without inviting the Great Master."

Tian Youlu accompanied his words with a smile: "It is better for the Third Master to enjoy; I still have a wife and children, so I truly cannot keep the Third Master company anymore."

Before Hai Rui arrived, Tian Youlu had been eating and drinking with him every day; indeed, he not only ate and drank himself but also took food home for his wife and children to eat. It was as if he had transformed his grief and indignation into appetite, acting as though every extra bite he took meant one less bite for Wang Yan.

Wang Yan shook his head with a smile, ordered someone to prepare a bowl of plain noodles for Hai Rui, and then changed the subject: "What is Your Honor's view on converting rice fields to mulberry?"

"It must not be changed! If changed, the common people will lose their livelihood. Speaking of making the people plant mulberry, raise silkworms, reel silk, and weave textiles, is this not still allowing the great households to exploit them? In this way, within three to five years, the people of Chun'an are bound to rebel."

"This subordinate holds the same thought: as long as the common people have land, they can always live steadily. If most people possess land, there should never be any major turmoil. This is what is meant by 'those with constant property have constant hearts.'"

Wang Yan said, "Several major silk households from the province have come to the county, yet they have suppressed the grain price far too low, at only ten stones per mu. For ordinary fields worth forty or fifty stones per mu, they offer merely ten stones, claiming that since this area suffered a disaster, this is the price. Damn them! Do they not know clearly how the disaster occurred?"

Hai Rui frowned, looking at Wang Yan: "So, does Master Wang know the inside story of destroying the dikes to flood the fields?"

"Your Honor is overthinking it; it is merely this subordinate's speculation. It must be the schemes of Zheng Michang, He Maocai, and others; otherwise, how could such a coincidence occur? The court promotes converting rice to mulberry, troops trample the seedlings, provoking the people's fury and making progress difficult, and then, coinciding with the Dragon Boat Festival flood season, the newly repaired Xin'an River from last year bursts its banks? How could there be such a coincidence?

Those who repair rivers and build dikes are not fools; the Xin'an River has a flood season every year. Even if they embezzled river-repair funds, the dikes would not fail within a single year. That is not greed for wealth; that is actively seeking death. The former magistrate was a fool, pushed out to serve as a scapegoat.

As for me, I happened to uncover the embezzlement of public river-repair funds; they, having a guilty conscience, killed Luo Zhengwen, the Vice Prefect of Hangzhou. This matter is no small affair; I estimate that the investigators are already on their way and will arrive in a few days. Then, there will be quite a spectacle to watch."

In truth, Wang Yan's side had already secured evidence regarding the case of destroying dikes to flood fields. After all, they had captured an officer from the River Course Office, who was one of He Maocai's subordinates; these men had all participated in destroying the dikes and flooding the fields. Once interrogated by Zhu Qi and others, they confessed everything like spilling beans.

Wang Yan did not participate in the interrogation; it was Zhu Qi who privately disclosed the details to Wang Yan...

"If we persist in opposing them like this, what shall be done about converting rice to mulberry? And what shall be done about the court's deficit?" Hai Rui let out a long sigh.

"Your Honor, these are not matters we ought to consider. Regardless of the original intentions of the court or the Grand Secretariat, the conversion of rice to mulberry imposed upon our locality is not a good thing and is extremely difficult to implement. As for the court's deficit, it was not caused by our losses, nor did the lost silver enter our homes. Worrying so much about such idle concerns is truly exhausting. Only when one holds a position can one plan its affairs, Your Honor."

Wang Yan took a large gulp of wine; this inelegant manner made Hai Rui frown repeatedly, yet Wang Yan remained completely unaware, continuing to eat and drink with relish on his own.

"Heretical fallacies! If everyone thought as you do, then my Great Ming would be finished!"

"Your Honor, holding one position while plotting the affairs of another leads to losing one's life. This subordinate seeks only to make money and enjoy life; having reached this stage and offended so many people, I have already hit the limit. If I do any more, I fear I will truly be beheaded. This matter is beyond this subordinate's planning; let Your Honor handle it. The Second Master may not have explained in detail, so let me describe specifically to Your Honor the current situation in our county..."

Thus, this welcome banquet prepared for Hai Rui turned into a work report meeting held by Wang Yan.

Wang Yan spoke in great detail; apart from matters he truly could not reveal, he told Hai Rui almost everything, including the fact that Zhu Qi and others were here interrogating soldiers and officers of the River Course Office, hiding nothing.

He was a man of his word; having said he would return authority to Hai Rui, there would be not the slightest hitch. Hai Rui was a good official; he might fail to accomplish things well, but that was due to his own limitations, and he would certainly not do anything too terrible.

Currently, there were only two matters in Chun'an: first, converting rice to mulberry, and second, restoring production and daily life in the county. Hai Rui effectively handled the affairs related to converting rice to mulberry, the operation of the county yamen, and part of the work to restore production and daily life.

What Wang Yan managed, for the time being, was entirely focused on restoring production and daily life.

It was precisely because this was Hai Rui that Wang Yan relinquished power. If someone else had come, Wang Yan would naturally also give them a chance; Hai Rui was no more special than anyone else. After all, since it was Wang Yan who released the power, he could naturally take it back. To get things done, one needed his approval.

However, Hai Rui was unaware of these facts, or rather, had not yet had time to think so deeply; he had been bewildered by Wang Yan's such frank and direct actions, resulting in his feelings toward Wang Yan being very complex and torn.

He admired Wang Yan's attitude of working for the common people, yet he was dissatisfied with Wang Yan's comfortable enjoyment, even his extortion of wealthy households to fund such leisure, not to mention his mouth full of heretical fallacies...

Regardless, everyone was coexisting peacefully.

As Hai Rui exercised his authority, and provided Wang Yan did not oppose him, every order could be fully implemented.

Of course, there were no instances where Wang Yan opposed, because after taking over, Hai Rui discovered that all affairs were already in good order; there was no necessity for him to intervene and change anything. Indeed, his intervention would only cause destruction, so he might as well let Wang Yan proceed.

Therefore, the work Hai Rui performed mainly concerned converting rice to mulberry; he organized personnel to re-survey and measure the farmland. Leveraging the situation Wang Yan had already tidied up, he cleared the lands and registered populations of all the great households.

Wang Yan had not done this himself; he left it for Hai Rui to establish his authority. The Divine Sword of Great Ming was no joke. Later, when Hai Rui went to Yan Song's hometown to confront the old Yan family, one could say that such an idea was something ordinary people would not even dare to imagine. Furthermore, Hai Rui had other achievements: after Xu Jie was dismissed and returned to his hometown, Hai Rui clashed with the old Xu family, forcing Xu Jie to spend money to smooth things over—an utterly awesome feat...

Of course, ultimately, Hu Zongxian was right: the reason Hai Rui could bring down Xu Jie was that there were people behind Hai Rui who wanted to bring down Xu Jie...

"The province has issued an official document ordering us to release the soldiers and officers of the River Course Office, stating that they have already reported to the Grand Secretariat," Tian Youlu read aloud from the document.

Wang Yan shook his head: "Your Honor, the men cannot be released."

"Why can they not be released?"

"Colluding with Japanese pirates and harming the common people, as I previously told Your Honor."

"I heard that the breach of the Xin'an River dike was related to them?" Hai Rui stared wide-eyed at Wang Yan.

Seeing Wang Yan's gaze fall upon him, Tian Youlu trembled and slapped his own face, neither too lightly nor too heavily: "Third Master, I was merely too quick with my tongue and could not hold it back."

"Second Master, behaving like this will cost you your life." Wang Yan glanced at him, then turned to Hai Rui and said, "Indeed, it is related to them; they are considered He Maocai's trusted confidants. I wonder what Your Honor intends to do?"

"Naturally, to expose the evil deeds they have committed!"

Wang Yan fully understood Hai Rui's integrity; this was a man who called one thing one and two things two, distinguishing right from wrong very clearly.

"Your Honor, I believe you can understand the relationships involved here. This matter was uncovered through interrogation by the Embroidered Uniform Guard; do you think Jingcheng is unaware? The Prefect of Hangzhou and the magistrates of two counties have already been beheaded; the breach of the Xin'an River was their problem. What use is there in lifting this lid? It brings no benefit whatsoever to affairs in Zhejiang, only harm.

Currently, the problem in Zhejiang boils down to one point: converting rice to mulberry. Or, to put it more simply, it is about covering the court's deficit. If the deficit is covered, a major incident becomes a minor one; if the deficit is not covered, Zheng Michang and He Maocai are definitely dead, and besides them, people from top to bottom, even up to Grand Secretary Yan and the Young Grand Secretary, may all suffer disaster."

"But one cannot still fail to distinguish right from wrong, can one?"

"Then let me ask Your Honor: ultimately, is distinguishing right from wrong more important, or are seven million taels of silver more important?"

"Both are important!"

Wang Yan shook his head with an air of helplessness: "In matters concerning Zhejiang, these two are contradictory. Seven million taels of silver can save more people than this issue of right and wrong, far more than the disaster-stricken people of Chun'an. Your Honor, let it go; it is not too late to settle old accounts after all affairs are concluded."

Hai Rui frowned: "Do you think it can succeed?"

"It cannot succeed." Wang Yan laughed heartily, "By now, Zheng and He are already trembling with fear; I estimate they even wish for death. Fortunately, we seized this leverage; otherwise, we would now be facing military suppression."

Hai Rui did not laugh: "Why can it not succeed?"

"Even if fifty thousand mu of fields are all planted with mulberry trees, fifty thousand bolts of silk cannot be woven before the end of the year. Does Your Honor mean to say the Weaving Bureau still has stockpiles? Does Your Honor truly believe there are any? Officials in Zhejiang, officials in Jingcheng, eunuchs in the palace—so many hands from top to bottom are scooping silver from this Weaving Bureau? To gather seven million taels of silver is absolutely impossible!

Moreover, there are Japanese pirates causing chaos in the Southeast, and furthermore, great households colluding with Japanese pirates; the situation is complex and unclear. War requires military supplies; once hostilities begin, silver flows out like water. Governor Hu, as the Governor-General of Zhili and Zhejiang, naturally has military supplies arranged by the two provinces of Zhili and Zhejiang. There are many matters here, Your Honor; let us just remain steady and simply prevent them from buying land."

"But our grain will eventually run out; what shall we do then?" Tian Youlu asked with a face as if mourning, as if he could already foresee his own death.

Wang Yan shook his head calmly: "It will not happen. Mulberry saplings must be planted by June; otherwise, there will not be enough time, the yield will be insufficient, and then everything will be ruined. Within the next ten days or so, a result must emerge."

Hai Rui was, after all, a reasonable man and did not make matters worse at this juncture.

But although Hai Rui did not stir up trouble, this did not affect Zheng Michang and He Maocai's desire to die.

"Bastards!" Zheng Michang angrily slammed the table.

"Old Zheng, the Wang fellow didn't clash with Hai Rui; instead, he yielded authority. Now it isn't the Wang fellow pressing us; it is Hai Rui, this seventh-rank principal official, pressing us! What do you propose we do!" He Maocai sat there, spreading his hands, his face radiating, "It's all your fault."

"What to do! What to do! You only know to ask me what to do! You are also a Provincial Administration Commissioner!"

"Haven't we always let you make the decisions? And now you say these things to me?" He Maocai grew displeased.

Zheng Michang wore an expression of wanting to die, speechless and choking back sobs, lost in deep thought for a long while.

He Maocai said, "Old Zheng, the investigators for the Xin'an River embezzlement case are about to arrive. Among them are people from the Prince of Yu; they specifically oppose Grand Secretary Yan and the Junior Grand Secretary. Once they arrive here, they will certainly oppose us as well, hindering our affairs."

"Do you think I don't know that?" Zheng Michang said impatiently. "At this juncture, we can only expedite the land purchase matters and ensure they are settled. Regardless of anything, we must plant the mulberry saplings this month. Once that is accomplished, one excellence will cover a hundred faults, and you and I shall safely pass this crisis."

Zheng Michang lifted his head and sighed deeply, "That Wang fellow truly deserves death. Who would have thought that one day, we two brothers would be caught by the weak spot by a mere ninth-rank principal clerk."

"At this moment, the Xu fellow has surely sold us out," He Maocai sighed in lament as well.

"Do you think the Wang fellow is a fool? He detained people, but he certainly will not conduct interrogations. For a subordinate to override a superior, even when interrogating military officers, is not something a mere ninth-rank principal clerk can undertake."

Zheng Michang snorted, rose to his feet, and said, "Let us go find Shen Yishi and urge him to purchase the land immediately. Furthermore, have Gao Hanwen pacify Hai Rui and Wang Yongji; they must sell this land!"

"If they simply refuse to buy, what can we do?"

"We, of course, are powerless, but what if the Imperial Manufactory Bureau takes the lead?" Zheng Michang said with a sinister tone.

"Have you gone mad?"

"If we do not go mad, we shall die! At this critical moment, where is the time to worry about so much? Let us first cross this immediate crisis before discussing anything else!"

Immediately, the two rushed to find Shen Yishi, a great merchant working for the Jiang Nan Imperial Manufactory Bureau, the leader of the Jiang Nan silk trade...

Thus, another three days passed. Just as the investigators for the corruption case arrived in Hangzhou, Shen Yishi also arrived in Chun'an by boat, flying the banner of the Imperial Manufactory Bureau.

Tian Youlu ran happily into the yamen: "Honorable Magistrate! Excellent, excellent! The people from the Imperial Manufactory Bureau have come to buy land."

Hearing this, Hai Rui, who was writing official documents, stopped his brush and involuntarily lifted his head to ask, "What did you say?"

"People from the Jiang Nan Imperial Manufactory Bureau have come to buy land, Honorable Magistrate. With this, the matter of converting rice fields to mulberry fields is finally resolved. Henceforth, we can live our lives in peace and stability. I shall immediately send someone to notify the Third Master!"

Under Hai Rui's inscrutable gaze, Tian Youlu jumped up and down, ordering someone to fetch Wang Yan, who was playing with dirt and sand, back, and instructing the cook to prepare wine and dishes to entertain the people from the Imperial Manufactory Bureau...

When Wang Yan returned, he met Hai Rui's icy cold gaze.

"Principal Clerk Wang, surely you have heard? People from the Jiang Nan Imperial Manufactory Bureau have come to buy land! What is your view on this matter?"

Hearing Hai Rui's question, Wang Yan smiled and waved his hand: "It is certainly that Zheng Michang and He Maocai have panicked in their desperation. Unable to suppress us, they have invoked Your Majesty's name to force us into selling the land."

Saying this, he turned to look at Zhu Qi, who had rushed in hurriedly: "Seventh Master, do you see? Zheng Michang and He Maocai have gone mad; they even dare to splash filth upon Your Majesty's head!"

Zhu Qi's face turned green with shock: "Where are the people from the Imperial Manufactory Bureau? Who has arrived?"

At this moment, Tian Youlu realized the situation; the relief he had hoped for had not materialized, and instead, an even greater disaster had emerged.

Knowing the identities of Zhu Qi and the others, and seeing the murderous look in Zhu Qi's eyes, he trembled with fear and replied, "Replying to Seventh Master, there are no inner servants from the Imperial Manufactory Bureau among the arrivals. The one who came is a merchant handling affairs for the Bureau, named Shen Yishi, the largest silk merchant."

Wang Yan said, "Seventh Master, do not be anxious, and Honorable Magistrate, do not be angry. Let us first see what this Shen Yishi has to say. Being able to handle affairs for the Imperial Manufactory Bureau, he is certainly no fool; he understands the consequences of such actions better than anyone. If he does not wish to die, he must have some other explanation..."

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