Chapter 138: Yuan Granary Inspector

"Second Brother, Mr. Ma has gone to Qianshan." In the Runner Room of the county yamen, Pang Ding reported to Pang Yu in a low voice. "Every official in Tongcheng sent silver. I hear Zhou County Deputy sent the most."

Pang Yu stood up after listening. "Zhou County Deputy must be angling for a County Magistrate post off this great victory. What about Xu Chief Clerk?"

"The Fast Squad couldn't find out. He's the Chief Officer — he'd probably go through the Regional Inspector's channels."

Pang Yu grunted. "Anyone else send a lot?"

"The Punishment Office Clerk and the Military Office Clerk both just finished their term evaluations. They sent some silver, hoping to move up to the Anqing Six Departments."

He paced two circles around the room. Aside from those two officials, the other clerks and such had little credit to claim from the great victory — at most, a promotion up to Anqing.

Thinking it over, he found it all rather pointless. The Ming bureaucratic system was still fundamentally built on the imperial examination. One's track was set from the start according to one's background. A yamen runner like Pang Yu had no upward path at all. Fortunately, the Ming Dynasty's finances were not what they should be, leaving an opening like the Imperial Academy Student route.

"Those clerks only gave two or three hundred taels at most. Young Master, you sent him five hundred taels — that's enough for three months' pay for our entire Zhuang Squad. We won the battle, killed so many Roving Bandits, so why give him silver? What a waste."

"Who told Nanzhili to be a wealthy region? He's the trusted man of the Grand Coordinator of the Jiangnan Ten Prefectures. Too little would be useless. When you beg at someone's door, you're lucky if they'll even take it." Pang Yu reached out and smacked Pang Ding. "Keep your mouth shut. You know it's only three months' pay for the Zhuang Squad. Once he gets the matter handled properly, what comes after will be enough."

Pang Ding ducked his head. Pang Yu glared at him and cursed, "Killing over a thousand Roving Bandits is killing them, but who the credit finally lands on depends on how the Grand Coordinator Yamen writes the memorial to the Emperor. I'm just a Squad Leader — if the Grand Coordinator Yamen gives me nothing, what can I do about it? Besides, there are other matters I need Mr. Ma to handle. This five hundred taels might not even be enough."

After cursing, Pang Yu returned to his seat and sat down. Mr. Ma had come to Anqing on this trip and likely collected quite a bit in the Prefectural City. Tongcheng had also come through nicely. As for the places after that — Qianshan and Taihu — the officials there had all been killed, so he would get no silver from them. Susong had only Chen Ten Prefectures left, and even if he was willing to spend, one man alone could not produce too much.

Judging by how boldly Mr. Ma dared to take money, the Grand Coordinator Yamen was probably fairly optimistic about the situation ahead. Zhang Guowei had, after all, only suffered damage in Anqing; Yang Yipeng had lost even the Imperial Mausoleum. Pang Yu also hoped Zhang Guowei would not be affected. At least with Zhang Guowei, there was still a Mr. Ma he knew. If a new Grand Coordinator were appointed, he would not even know where to begin.

He casually opened the window a crack, just enough to see the Yamen Runner Room across the way. Zhang Daiwen was just coming out of Wang Dazhuang's Duty Room, waddling toward the Main Hall with his head swaying, humming a little tune. He looked to be in fine spirits.

The moment he spotted Pang Yu in the window, he stopped humming at once, bowed and scraped, and said, "Greetings to Pang Squad Leader."

"Dog." Pang Yu cursed under his breath. He did not acknowledge Zhang Daiwen and simply shut the window again.

Pang Ding had seen the scene too. Once the window was closed, he said to Pang Yu, "Today I took over Ruan Jin's shift. The Foot Runners over there said Zhang Daiwen has gained quite a good reputation on Dongzuo Gate Street. They say it's thanks to him catching the Xi Ren Spy that day — otherwise Dongzuo Gate Street would have been burned to the ground."

"The wicked live a thousand years. Keep an eye on Zhou Yueru's shop. Don't let anyone give her trouble."

Pang Ding acknowledged the order. Because Ruan Jin had been sent out on business, Pang Ding had recently been acting in his post, commanding the Fast Squad for the area from Dongzuo Gate to Xiangyang Gate. The Zhou Family's shop was in that area.

He studied Pang Yu's expression, then said, "When I went there, I heard the neighbors are still suspicious of Zhou Yueru. She wasn't in the city when the Roving Bandits came, and she came back after they left. No one knows where she went those few days. Some say she went outside the city to meet them."

"Meet them my ass. If she were meeting them, it would be inside the city. What use is going outside? It's not like the Roving Bandits couldn't find the road."

"They say she and her father worked one inside, one outside. They also say that beggar who got away must have had her help…"

"It does hold together, but it's still wrong." Pang Yu waved his hand. "No matter what they're saying, keep an eye on the Zhou Family shop. I'll have a word with the Village Elder and have him keep those neighbors in line. If anyone still sticks their neck out to stir up trouble, arrest the ringleader. The Roving Bandits have retreated. Order must be restored in the city. No one is permitted to pick a fight on their own."

"Understood. Anyone who dares make trouble, I'll take them in for sure. Young Master, rest assured, I can handle this." Pang Ding puffed out his chest and raised his head. Acting in Ruan Jin's post as Team Leader, commanding a large swath of Tongcheng, with the Runners under him fawning and currying favor — Pang Ding was quite enjoying the taste of it.

Pang Yu rolled his eyes at him. He did not feel like saying more. He looked at the doorway impatiently. "Why isn't Tang Clerk here yet? Surely dealing with one Yuan Granary Inspector doesn't require preparation."

Pang Ding knew Pang Yu was waiting for Tang Weimin to go deal with Yuan Granary Inspector together. Tang Weimin had specifically asked Pang Yu to bring a few Runners along.

Pang Ding went into the Main Hall to scout around for a moment, then came out and said Tang Weimin had gone to the Second Hall and had been talking with Yang Erming for nearly half a shichen. Pang Yu guessed it was about the granary matter. Tang Weimin needed to first soothe Yang Erming's anger. After all, during the city's defense, the granaries had been empty, and later even the relief congee had required soliciting donations from the gentry, making Yang Erming lose face. This matter would certainly be pursued.

He waited nearly another half a shichen before Tang Weimin finally appeared at the door. He had brought one Auxiliary. Pang Yu called over Pang Ding, Xu Lengzi, and two Runners from next door. The group of seven set off together for the Reserve Granary.

A few months ago, the two of them had also gone to Patrol the Granaries. Back then, Pang Yu had only been thinking about how to squeeze a sum out of Yuan Granary Inspector. Today, his purpose was entirely different — and so was Tang Weimin's.

"Little Brother Pang may know, Yuan Granary Inspector was originally at the Kongcheng Town granary. He has worked this Reserve Granary for a few years now, and Tang certainly knew him long ago. When the late County Magistrate Gu was here, Yuan Granary Inspector and Magistrate Gu's Advisor were the closest of friends. Zhao Clerk therefore showed him much favor. Who knew that a little indulgence would lead to this, beyond all remedy."

Hearing Tang Weimin shift the blame onto Zhao Clerk, Pang Yu quickly chimed in, "A thousand-li dike collapses from an ant hole. Zhao Clerk was indeed in the wrong."

"Only today did I learn that after he came to the Reserve Granary, he took two more concubines and purchased three residences in the city. Granary Commissioner Yuan is quite the romantic, too — in his leisure time he would go to the Hongyue Troupe at the South Gate and dally with the top courtesans there. Where did all this silver come from? Tang never imagined he could be so greedy."

Pang Yu naturally did not believe it, but seeing Tang Weimin's calm and composed manner, he had probably already secured Yang Erming's understanding. The black pot, of course, had to be carried by Yuan Granary Inspector.

As they spoke, the group had already reached the Reserve Granary. This was likewise a formal inspection with a document issued by the Document Receiving Office. Yuan Granary Inspector was waiting uneasily outside the granary gate.

The moment he saw them, he hurried over and bowed to Tang Weimin. "Tang, you have worked hard. This…"

Tang Weimin cut him off without the slightest courtesy. "The Household Office sent a Dispatch the day before yesterday. Tang is here on His Honor's orders to inspect the grain reserves of every granary in the county. The grain reserves bear on the very survival of Tongcheng. His Honor has given explicit instructions: not the slightest personal consideration is to be shown."

Granary Commissioner Yuan smiled ingratiatingly. "This humble one has prepared some modest wine at Imperial River Tower. I invite you both to first…"

"That will not be necessary."

Tang Weimin was all business, not giving Yuan Granary Inspector a single pleasant look. Yuan Granary Inspector knew things were bad. His expression grew even more tense.

After they entered the main gate, a few granary guards were waiting inside, watching Pang Yu and the others warily.

"So, tell Tang which granary rooms have grain."

"Room Jia-1 has some, and… and also Jia-2. This… Tang, you…"

"Then we will look at Jia-1. We will inspect them one by one."

They opened the door to Room Jia-1. Inside, stacks of grain sacks were neatly arranged against the walls. This completely defied Pang Yu's expectations. The last time he had come, the Reserve Granary could have starved a rat to death.

Pang Yu tilted his head to look at Yuan Granary Inspector. The man actually seemed somewhat more at ease now, showing no obvious panic.

Tang Weimin asked expressionlessly, "How much grain is stored in Jia-1?"

"Room Jia-1 holds three hundred and forty shi, all grain tax in kind collected before the festival. Room Jia-2 still has a small amount of grain in storage. Would Tang also like to inspect it?"

Tang Weimin did not commit. He walked through the granary, looking around, patting the grain sacks one by one. Pang Yu carefully watched Granary Commissioner Yuan and saw his expression shift slightly.

Seeing that Tang Weimin intended a thorough inspection, Pang Yu also began patting other grain sacks. They did indeed feel like unhulled rice inside. He lowered his head in thought for a moment, then observed how the grain stacks were arranged.

Pang Yu said to the two Runners, "Get up there and look. Move a few sacks out from the middle."

Granary Commissioner Yuan's face indeed changed as he tried to stop them. "Pang Squad Leader, you mustn't! Don't trample and ruin the grain sacks."

Pang Yu ignored him. Pang Ding immediately led the two Runners up onto the grain stack. Standing high up and looking down, they saw the difference at once. Only the outer layer of grain sacks was new in color. Inside, they were all old and worn. Without climbing up to look, one would never have seen it.

Tang Weimin's Auxiliary also jumped up after them. The men lifted a grain sack to the edge. Beneath it, wooden blocks and stones were exposed. Xu Lengzi then used his sword to cut the sack open. Inside, too, rice husks wrapped around stones. With a heave, he sent the entire sack of stones clattering and crashing down.

Yuan Granary Inspector's face went white. Terrified, he could not keep his feet. He collapsed limply to the ground, staring blankly at Tang Weimin.

Pang Yu told the two Runners, "Go outside and guard the gate. Not a single granary guard is to leave."

The two men left upon hearing the order. The sound of the main gate closing followed from outside.

Tang Weimin strolled leisurely, looking at Yuan Granary Inspector on the ground with great amusement. "The Document Receiving Office issued the Dispatch the day before yesterday. There were two days in between. Tang heard that someone went around to the various grain shops trying to borrow grain — wanted to borrow three hundred shi. I do not know who it was. But this person clearly did not take my Household Office seriously at all. You see, every grain shop in the city now collects interest and releases grain — which one of them does not watch the Household Office's mood? Whatever the Household Office says cannot be done, no shop would dare do it. Otherwise, when the autumn grain comes in, they can be sure they will not get any cheap grain."

Yuan Granary Inspector's teeth chattered. "I… it was not this humble one."

Tang Weimin continued, "Since the grain shops would not lend, and two days was not enough time to go to Zongyang and back, someone was forced to think up a scheme to deceive heaven and cross the sea. But they still did not take my Household Office seriously."

Tang Weimin's tone was filled with authority, the likes of which Pang Yu had rarely seen in him. This was the true power of Ming administrative authority. He had always heard that locally, the Household Office ranked first, but Pang Yu had never felt it clearly — today was a direct, visceral lesson.

From the moment he issued the Dispatch, Tang Weimin had been prepared to deal with Granary Commissioner Yuan. Today, after soothing Yang Erming's anger, he set about executing the plan.

When the Roving Bandits besieged the city and grain could not be brought in, Yuan Granary Inspector knew he might be held accountable. At first he still harbored some wishful thinking, but once he caught wind of the trouble, he focused entirely on plugging the hole. Yet with such a huge quantity, and with grain scarce after the disaster, prices had doubled. He could not produce that much silver to buy it, nor could he borrow it, so he had no choice but to resort to some counterfeit goods.

Tang patted a grain sack beside him. "This is a sack from the Ye Ji Grain Store outside the city. Only they seal their sacks with the left side high and the right side low, and tie the string at one corner. That man asked all over the city, and only Ye Ji lent him fifty shi. Would I be wrong in saying so?"

"Tang, this lowly one accepts punishment. Please, sir, give your instructions." Yuan Granary Inspector flipped over and knelt on the ground, sweat pouring from his forehead like rain.

"What qualifications do I have to give instructions? I and Pang Squad Leader came here on orders from His Honor to inspect the granary stores. Our duty is to report the truth to His Honor, and let the law take its course. What I have seen today is shocking — far beyond anything I could presume to instruct upon."

Yuan Granary Inspector heard this, and in his terror he could not help but clutch Tang's feet, weeping, "Tang, have mercy on this lowly one! I have never dared slight you, sir. Please, for the sake of my aged mother above and my young children below, grant me one chance to make amends."

"Make amends?" Tang gave a cold laugh. "Before the Spring Festival, when grain tax in kind was levied, three hundred and fifty shi entered the reserve granary. You had the dog-hearted audacity to leave it untouched through the first month, until not a single grain remained."

"Sir, those three hundred-odd shi — could they... could they be deemed Jia Hao? Once grain prices fall, this lowly one will immediately make up the shortfall."

Tang stood tall before Yuan Granary Inspector, looking down at him coldly. "The Tongcheng reserve granary has a fixed quota of nine hundred and eighty shi. Under Nanzhili reserve granary regulations, stored grain may lose one-tenth in one year, two-tenths in two years, and no Jia Hao is added in three years. How long did it take for your three hundred and fifty shi to be consumed? Granary stores exist for times of urgent need — making them up afterward is of no help."

"Sir, I..." Yuan Granary Inspector could no longer speak.

Tang said icily, "When the Roving Bandits besieged the city, His Honor would certainly have needed that grain. Even if you had to sell your concubine, you should have replenished the grain at once. Yet you lay comfortably at ease — you have brought this on yourself! No one can save you!"

Yuan Granary Inspector gasped a few breaths, then suddenly raised his eyes and glared at Tang fiercely. "Tang! Who are you putting on this righteous act for? All of you in the Household Office, colluding with the various grain shops to suppress prices when buying grain, fleecing those Tax Household — every lean season you drive prices up, selling granary stores at high prices to grainless Tax Household. If you can sell it, why can't I? This little bit from the reserve granary of mine — and what about the Tribute Grain you handle every year..."

"Seize him!"

Pang Yu gave a great shout. Pang Ding and Tang's Auxiliaries rushed forward, punching and kicking. Xu Lengzi stood frozen for a moment before joining in. He had not understood a single word they said and had no idea why Pang Yu had suddenly ordered the man taken.

Yuan Granary Inspector was beaten until he wailed to the heavens. Pang Ding's face flushed red with excitement. After Yuan Granary Inspector could no longer move, he even added two more kicks.

Pang Yu crouched before Yuan Granary Inspector and patted him as he clutched his head. Yuan Granary Inspector cautiously released his hands and looked at Pang Yu in terror.

"So you think embezzling granary stores makes you in the right?" Pang Yu looked at Yuan Granary Inspector mildly. "Taking you into custody is inevitable. Once inside, you had best think clearly about what to say. That will help me decide where to put you. Right now there are two places to hold prisoners. One is the Ye Family Old Residence — all Tongcheng offenders are there. The other is the South Prison, full of vicious Roving Bandits from elsewhere. Whether anyone walks out of there alive, no one can say. Now then, Granary Commissioner Yuan, have you thought it through?"