Chapter 305: The Eating Habits Are Worse Than One Another

In the official office, the Warden of the Thunder Prison met with all the jailers, introduced himself, and smiled throughout, displaying an exceptionally kind demeanor.

Before assuming office, the Warden had clearly reviewed the dossiers of all the jailers and understood that the Warden of the Heavenly Prison needed only to focus on the three major prisons—Jia, Yi, and Bing. As for logistics, neither his predecessor nor the one before him had ever dared interfere, and he had no intention of doing so either. He would follow the old ways without deviation. This was the wisdom of navigating officialdom.

Only those with sufficient backing and sufficient greed would dare break the established rules. Clearly, while he had backing, it was not enough to rewrite the rules.

The jailers, well-versed in protocol, presented him with generous welcome gifts.

The Warden's private secretary collected the cash gifts on his behalf. A simple heft in the hand confirmed they were substantial and heartfelt.

No wonder everyone said the Warden of the Heavenly Prison was a fat post, no wonder the position was fiercely contested, no wonder a new warden replaced the last every two or three years.

The Warden mused that he would likely serve only two or three years in this post. He must seize the time to make money! He owed loyalty to his patron who had promoted and nurtured him, and he owed it to his own efforts.

After exchanging pleasantries and words of encouragement, he dismissed all the jailers—except Chen Guanlou, whom he kept behind.

Chen Guanlou stood at attention, posture straight, bearing the demeanor of a subordinate ready to receive his superior's instructions. Regardless of his inner thoughts, his outward attitude clearly pleased the Warden.

The Warden nodded inwardly: a man who understood the game. Excellent.

"The Jia-class prisons hold officials convicted by the court—this is the heart of the Heavenly Prison. Before my appointment, the head of the Ministry of Justice instructed me to ensure absolute stability in the Jia-class prisons. I do not wish to see another incident like last year's."

"Your Excellency speaks truly. Last year, the Jia-class prisons suffered many mishaps—it was our failure to perform our duties properly. The streets were unsettled, and everyone was fearful. Now that Your Excellency has arrived, the entire Jia-class prison complex feels like parched earth finally receiving rain. From this day forward, under Your Excellency's wise leadership, the Jia-class prisons will surely transform, redouble our diligence, and never disappoint our superiors."

Chen Guanlou declared his resolve with firmness, subtly flattering the Warden without a trace of overt sycophancy.

The Warden felt a sudden warmth spread through him. He had read little in his life, knowing only slightly more characters than most jailers. In his past, he had rarely interacted with scholars. This subtle, refined form of flattery—he had never experienced it before. The flattery he'd received in the past had been crude, so blunt it made him blush. Scholars truly knew how to speak—pleasant, soothing, perfect.

He laughed heartily, forming an excellent first impression of Chen Guanlou: "Before I came, many said you were the most capable man in the Heavenly Prison—that any difficult task entrusted to you would be completed flawlessly. I had my doubts, but today, I see they spoke no falsehood."

"Your Excellency flatters me. I merely fulfill my duties—all credit belongs to the wise leadership and constant guidance of my superiors."

Chen Guanlou, without a word of overt praise, also complimented the two previous wardens. It was a cardinal rule of officialdom never to badmouth a former superior in front of a new one. All had to be praised—unless there was an irreconcilable feud between them, in which case a different strategy was needed.

"Excellent!" The Warden's smile vanished. "Now, give me an overview of the Jia-class prisons."

Chen Guanlou's eyes flickered slightly. "Which aspect would Your Excellency prefer—personnel or finances?"

"Oh?" The Warden's interest stirred instantly; they understood each other. "Then let us begin with finances. Every office is crying poverty these days—the Ministry of Revenue's allocations grow slower each year. What is the situation here? Are there shortfalls in expenditures?"

Chen Guanlou understood at once: another money-seeker.

Good.

A money-seeker was the easiest to handle. A warden who cared nothing for profit and only sought to make a name for himself would be the Heavenly Prison's true misfortune—exhausting to appease, and likely to slash everyone's income.

Thus, Chen Guanlou began detailing the financial state of the Jia-class prisons.

Meanwhile, the other jailers worked half-heartedly, barely glancing at the prisons before hurrying to the east wing office for tea, their eyes darting toward the Warden's office, guessing at the nature of their conversation.

When Chen Guanlou finally emerged from his meeting with the Warden, an hour had passed.

As soon as he stepped into the east wing office, every jailer's gaze locked onto him—like cats spotting fish, eyes gleaming.

"What's the situation?"

"What's the Warden like?"

"Did you find out his intentions?"

They spoke all at once, voices hushed yet urgent—old hands all, they could not show the impatience of green youths.

Chen Guanlou sat at his desk. Before he could reach for tea, a cup was placed in his hand.

These jailers knew how to serve—when they chose to. Otherwise, one had to watch carefully for poison in food or drink.

Chen Guanlou drained half the cup, glanced around, and waited until their impatience grew unbearable before speaking: "Relax. We follow the old rules."

"Ha! Good, good—stick to the old rules!" The jailers sighed in relief.

Money-seekers were good wardens. A warden who took money was a good warden.

"How big is his appetite?"

"I spoke with the Warden, then had a few words with his secretary. He seems burdened by debt, so we must be patient in the early days. The share ratio stays the same, but the amount must increase."

"You mean raise the levies on the prisoners."

Chen Guanlou smiled. "It benefits us too, doesn't it? We raise the levies slightly, improve the prisoners' living conditions, and the officials respond favorably. When collecting, we make small improvements—surely the prisoners will understand and cooperate."

"Those who don't cooperate get sent to the interrogation chamber for blood." The jailers felt no guilt in squeezing the prisoners. As long as they satisfied their superiors, their posts remained secure.

Torturing prisoners was protocol. As for the Jia-class prisons, it was none of their concern—Chen Guanlou always found ways to achieve results without bloodshed. Scholars were truly devious!

"How much of an increase?" Xu Fugui asked.

Chen Guanlou said solemnly: "A ten percent increase would be best."

"That much? Isn't that too greedy?" The jailers frowned, already missing the days of Magistrate Fan. He was a proper scholar who took money with dignity. Magistrate Niu, at least, was an old hand who understood the value of steady gains. But this Warden—a thug with no education—his greed was the most vulgar yet.