Chapter 14: Official Authority

Pang Yu swept his gaze across the entire hall — this was the grassroots government of the Ming Dynasty.

In the Ming Dynasty, the county yamen was the grassroots government. The whole country had 1, 38 counties; though some were large and some small, grassroots affairs were all quite complicated. When Zhu Yuanzhang founded the Ming Dynasty, he was unwilling to spend money, so each county only had a few authorized positions. Later, when they truly could not handle the workload, they slowly increased the number of personnel.

Even by the late Ming, those in the entire county who could be called officials numbered only three to five. The County Magistrate was the top leader. Then came the Assistant Officials, whose number was not fixed — generally, a County Vice-Magistrate and a Zhubu were established, but the exact number depended on the county's size. Tongcheng was a small-to-medium county of forty-seven li, so it did not even have a Zhubu; its only Assistant Official was a single County Vice-Magistrate. Assistant Officials had their own separate yamen, which were staffed with a certain number of clerks, runners, and laborers.

Apart from these was the Chief Clerk. In the early Ming, the Chief Clerk assisted the County Magistrate, but later the position's status fell lower and lower, until it finally became a role in charge of catching thieves and bandits — a Miscellaneous Official outside the formal ranks. Nominally still the head of the clerks, commonly called the Chief Officer, he also had his own yamen.

Below them were all kinds of personnel: clerks, miscellaneous staff, the Document Receiving Office, the Jiage Fang, the Six Offices, the Three Squads, Grooms, Weimafu, the Yin-Yang Office, Medical Officers, gatekeepers, Jailers, Xunlan, Relay Station, Dufu, Xunjian, Zhaifu, Saodianfu, Gufu, Gengfu, Dihou, Instructor, and so on. Pang Yu could not count all the various position titles even using both hands.

When you added up all the odds and ends in a county, it could not function without one or two hundred people. Including Auxiliaries and the like, those who made a living off the county yamen often numbered several hundred, and the large counties of the Suzhou-Songjiang region even reached over a thousand.

In Tongcheng, over two hundred people worked at the county yamen. Some miscellaneous workers like Zhaifu and Saodianfu were not permitted in the Main Hall, but there were still over a hundred and several tens of people below, packed densely together throughout the hall.

The Shengtanggu sounded, and everyone composed their expressions and stood properly. Tang Chengfa also straightened his clothes and took his place in the Main Hall. On the left, at the very head, was the Chief Clerk, a member of the leadership circle; then the Six Offices Clerk, the Archive Repository Clerk, the Chief Clerk of the Document Forwarding Office, the Yin-Yang Official, and other mid-level cadres equivalent to section-chief rank stood in order within the hall.

The deputies of each office were commonly called Archive Clerks — one character different from Chief Clerk, but two full ranks lower. They were equivalent to deputy section-chief rank and stood below the hall near the platform.

Ordinary civil servants like Pang Yu stood further back below the hall. Around them, many runners were hunched over, their clothes disheveled, which made Pang Yu shake his head despite himself — where was any trace of Ming Dynasty civil servant bearing?

Pang Yu was slightly taller than the others. Raising his head, he saw the County Vice-Magistrate ascend the hall and stand at the County Magistrate's main seat. The mid-level cadres all bowed together with hands clasped, though he did not see anyone kneel. The County Vice-Magistrate cupped his hands at chest level toward the Chief Clerk but gave no return salute to anyone else, then sat down in the official seat.

This County Vice-Magistrate was only temporarily handling affairs. Normally he stood below; under ordinary circumstances, he could not locally convert into County Magistrate. As it happened, Tongcheng's Magistrate Gu had left his post, and the New Magistrate had not yet arrived. The Acting Magistrate, Yang Fangzao, was originally the Susong County Magistrate, and a pile of matters in Susong had not yet been handed over, so the County Vice-Magistrate had to be put in charge of Tongcheng's daily affairs.

Now, having the rare chance to sit in the County Magistrate's seat, the County Vice-Magistrate dawdled for quite a while, savoring it, before finally saying with satisfaction, "Open the Morning Session."

Tang Chengfa shouted loudly, "Yin-Yang Official, announce the time!"

The Yin-Yang Official stepped forward one pace. "Today's Morning Session hour is Maoshi Erke." Having spoken, he withdrew back.

Tang Chengfa spoke again, "Zaozhuangkuai, report on the city gates, all yamen gates, and the conditions of the streets and markets throughout Guanxiang."

A runner came out from the back and said: "The North Arch Gate closed and opened on schedule. On night duty at the North Arch Gate: one man from the Fast Squad and two from the Zhuang Squad. On Beidajie: one Gengfu. At Qingfeng Market: one Gengfu. On Qijiajie: one Gengfu. Last night there were no fires, nighttime thefts, strange occurrences, or other incidents."

A second one stepped forward. "Night duty at Dongzuo Gate: three men from the Zhuang Squad…"

Several runners on duty stepped forward in order and reported on the conditions of the six city gates and the various yamen gates; the content was identical in every case.

The Document Receiving Office had the responsibility of compiling the summary. Tang Chengfa came forward and said: "Today, across all offices and squads, there should be 216 people; 186 are actually present. Of the 30 absent: three have happy family occasions, three are injured or ill, two are in mourning leave. Nineteen have been dispatched with License Tickets to the countryside to press for tax payments and have not returned. One dispatched with a License Ticket to patrol the Ferry Crossing has not returned. Two patrolling the relay stations in the direction of Anqing have not returned."

The County Vice-Magistrate, his face solemn, gave an "Mm." "What matters are to be handled in today's Morning Session?"

Tang Chengfa paused noticeably before saying, "Reporting to His Honor, the most urgent matters in the yamen are Rations and Pay and lawsuits at the top. After Magistrate Gu's promotion, 31 lawsuits have accumulated. Three case files were delivered to Your Excellency's yamen the day before yesterday. On Rations and Pay, there are still considerable arrears in the Spring Tax; some crafty Tax Household need to be dealt with promptly. However, which to prioritize, I must still request Your Excellency's instruction."

Hearing this, Pang Yu thought that what the Village Elder and Jiao Guozha had said yesterday was indeed the truth — with Magistrate Gu gone, no Public Hearings were held, and over thirty cases had already piled up. At most nine cases could be heard per ten-day period, and with the Document Receiving Office suppressing things further, Shopkeeper Zhou truly could not get out for two or three months.

The County Vice-Magistrate now slightly raised his eyes, looked at Tang Chengfa, and asked, "Have the 31 lawsuits been listed?"

"They have been listed and are in the Document Receiving Office."

"Bring them to this official."

Tang Chengfa froze again. He had never imagined the County Vice-Magistrate would say such a thing. He hurried back to the Document Receiving Office to retrieve the document register. The runners behind him began buzzing, a Low Murmur rising. Normally, when the Document Receiving Office arranged Public Hearings, it would submit the case files to the Zuotang Guan in advance; the Zuotang Guan would first understand the case details so as to have a thorough grasp of the matter.

But the priority order for queuing cases for Public Hearings was always controlled by the Document Receiving Office. The County Magistrate never inquired how they were arranged, at most just confirming the number. Yet judging by the County Vice-Magistrate's manner, he was not buying the Document Receiving Office's account. And when he had received the case files, he had raised no Objection; only now, having reached the Main Hall, did he suddenly strike — clearly this was deliberate.

Tang Chengfa quickly returned, his expression somewhat sour. He stepped forward and handed the register to the County Vice-Magistrate. The County Vice-Magistrate took the register and read it slowly, asking him no questions. Tang Chengfa stood beside the desk; if he wanted to leave, the County Vice-Magistrate had not spoken — what if he was about to be questioned? If he wanted to stay, his position was not here. Under everyone's gaze, he was extremely awkward.

Jiao Guozha now leaned in close and said in a low voice, "When Magistrate Gu was here before, Tang Chengfa only listened to Magistrate Gu. The County Vice-Magistrate and the Chief Clerk have found him an eyesore for a long time."

Pang Yu had been thoroughly scolded by Tang Chengfa first thing that morning. Now, seeing Tang Chengfa eat dirt, he felt quite pleased in his heart. His impression of the County Vice-Magistrate was rather good, and he gained a new understanding of how a single rank higher could crush a man. The County Vice-Magistrate merely picked up a register and caused Tang Chengfa to lose face greatly.

"Being an official really is better," Pang Yu sighed inwardly. But then he felt a bit of Regret — had he known Tang Chengfa was due for a scolding today, he wouldn't have needed to give him so much silver.

The County Vice-Magistrate read for a while like this, then raised his head and asked Tang Chengfa, "Does the Document Receiving Office consider Rations and Pay the priority, or lawsuits the priority?"

Tang Chengfa sensed things were going badly. The County Vice-Magistrate seemed to have come prepared, and Tang Chengfa himself had shady dealings in today's Public Hearing arrangements. After thinking it over, he decided not to state his own plan — as long as no decision was made, there was no target. So he replied, "This subordinate is dull-witted and will follow Your Excellency's instructions in all things."

The County Vice-Magistrate gave a "Ha," turned his head left and right to look at the various Office Clerks standing in the hall, and said, "Who will tell this official — arranging the Morning Session is the business of which office? The Household Office's? The Punishment Office's? Or perhaps the Military Office's?"

With each one he asked, the Clerk below shook his head. Of course, they could only shake their heads.

The County Vice-Magistrate turned again to the Archive Clerk of the Jiage Fang. "Or perhaps it is the business of the Jiage Fang?"

The Archive Clerk of the Jiage Fang smiled awkwardly and shook his head.

The County Vice-Magistrate swept his gaze across the hall below and continued, "Each office has its own duties. What you are supposed to do, you must do well. The Hall Officer is already seated, yet you still do not know what matters are to be handled in today's session, waiting for the superior officer to instruct you on everything. What use are you?"

This was a slap in the face with open fire. Tang Chengfa's face could not help but turn ashen; he dared not pick up the County Vice-Magistrate's thread.

The County Vice-Magistrate, as an Assistant Official acting in county affairs — Tongcheng had only one Assistant Official, not even a Zhubu — was now the highest authority in Tongcheng. So apart from still needing to give the Chief Clerk, who barely counted as a member of the leadership circle, some face, everyone else was someone he could punish at will.

Tang Chengfa had previously not bought the Assistant Official's account, first because he relied on the County Magistrate's influence, and second because he was quite certain an Assistant Official was unlikely to be promoted to top leader within the same county. How could he have anticipated a situation where the County Magistrate post would fall vacant?

Seeing Tang Chengfa silent, the County Vice-Magistrate pressed the attack relentlessly: "Does the Archive Clerk of the Document Receiving Office have anything to say? If this official chose Public Hearings, plaintiffs and defendants must all appear in court, and all witness testimony and material evidence must be prepared. In addition, the local Village Elder must appear in court to testify. If this official chose Tax Grain Comparison, are the Ward Constable, Village Elders, Li Ce Shu, Tax Household, and other such persons all waiting outside the hall?"

Tang Chengfa saw the situation clearly — he could not get off easily even by staying silent. Moreover, today he had only prepared for Public Hearings; not a single person related to Rations and Pay had come. If the County Vice-Magistrate truly chose Rations and Pay, he would be even less able to account for himself. Tang Chengfa wiped the Sweat from his forehead, steeled himself, and said, "This subordinate requests that Your Excellency first adjudicate the lawsuits — namely those three cases whose files were delivered. All relevant persons are already waiting outside the Ceremonial Gate."

The County Vice-Magistrate fixed his eyes on Tang Chengfa and asked, "Since the Document Receiving Office has confirmed that these three cases are to be heard today, has the date and time been publicly posted on the Eight-Character Wall? Are the plaintiffs, defendants, witnesses, and material evidence all present?"

Tang Chengfa saw the County Vice-Magistrate's confident, well-prepared manner and knew in his heart that things were amiss, but he could not tell exactly where the error lay. Even if there were some shady dealings in his queuing of Public Hearings, thirty cases were currently backlogged — the County Vice-Magistrate could not possibly have summoned the people from all the cases to verify the order.

Being pursued with questions by a superior officer right in open court, Tang Chengfa's heart was in great panic. Public Hearings indeed had to be done as the County Vice-Magistrate said: a date had to be set and publicly posted on the Eight-Character Wall, and all relevant parties notified to appear in court for trial. But Tang Chengfa had not done it this way before, so that he could adjust the Public Hearing order at any time and reap benefits from it. This was a loophole, but merely a procedural omission, not a serious problem.

Tang Chengfa nervously thought it over; there seemed to be no particularly large blunder. Even if there had been no public posting, the County Vice-Magistrate could not severely punish him on those grounds. With that reassurance, he replied, "It is indeed those three cases. Everything has been fully prepared."

The County Vice-Magistrate nodded, then suddenly turned toward the Chief Clerk. "When His Excellency Yang, Acting Magistrate, arrived, he issued an explicit order: except for urgent homicide lawsuits, all litigation must wait until the New Magistrate takes office before it can be heard in court. Officer Xu, is this so?"

Chief Clerk Xu had been watching the excitement the whole time and had not expected the County Vice-Magistrate to suddenly question him. He shot a glance at Tang Chengfa, then said, "There is indeed such a matter."

The moment these words were spoken, the situation reversed violently. Tang Chengfa was dumbstruck; these words were like a bolt from the blue to him. Disobeying a Zuotang Guan's explicit order was a major crime.

"Yesterday, it was clearly…" Tang Chengfa spoke urgently, but halfway through, his mouth hung open, unable to continue. Yesterday, a runner from the County Vice-Magistrate's yamen had come to notify him, saying that Public Hearings could be held today. Now it seemed this had been a pit dug entirely for him. Poor Tang Chengfa had initially thought the handle was the choice of lawsuit cases, when in fact the very act of holding Public Hearings was itself the pit.

Tang Chengfa had been completely unaware of Magistrate Yang's instruction not to hold Public Hearings. In reality, Magistrate Yang had privately instructed the County Vice-Magistrate. Because lawsuits and litigation were profitable, leaving the lawsuits for the successor was an unwritten rule — one of the concessions made to the incoming official to facilitate the smooth handover of many other matters difficult to account for. So on this kind of matter, Magistrate Yang naturally would not speak of it in public.

At the time, only the County Vice-Magistrate and the Chief Clerk had been present. The County Vice-Magistrate was acting in county affairs; Chief Clerk Xu, not being in that position, would not take the initiative to go advise the handling office. So as long as the County Vice-Magistrate did not tell the Document Receiving Office, Tang Chengfa could not possibly obtain the information.

And Tang Chengfa had never experienced a County Magistrate handover. Yesterday, he had received that runner's verbal notice and was exploited by the County Vice-Magistrate, who had neatly pinned on him the major crime of openly defying a Zuotang Guan's explicit order.

Yet the Acting Magistrate had indeed said those words. Even if Tang Chengfa wanted to complain to the County Magistrate, he would not know how to phrase it. Even if he threw caution to the wind and appealed beyond his level to the Anqing Prefectural Office, the matter would implicate the Acting Magistrate and involve the unwritten rules of official concession. Tang Chengfa absolutely could not win; on the contrary, he would be severely punished by the Anqing Prefecture.

And now, in full public view, the County Vice-Magistrate was clearly out to deal with him. Even if he mentioned the runner coming yesterday to notify him about Public Hearings, there was no proof or evidence. The County Vice-Magistrate could flatly deny it and, conveniently, slap another hat on him — that of making false accusations.

In other words, no matter how Tang Chengfa responded today, he was bound to fall into this pit the County Vice-Magistrate had dug. He could only blame himself for not asking the runner for a written document.

The County Vice-Magistrate, watching his prey fall into the trap, still looked as composed as ever and said, "The Archive Clerk of the Document Receiving Office treated the Hall Officer's explicit order as wind past his ears. Such dereliction of duty cannot be forgiven and must be punished to warn others. Guards, twenty strokes of the cane!"

With great authority in hand, the County Vice-Magistrate gave the order. Several runners came forward and smoothly took Tang Chengfa down. These runners were all men from the County Vice-Magistrate's yamen; they did not fear retaliation from the Document Receiving Office. Moreover, they ordinarily had Dissatisfaction with this Tang Chengfa. Without the slightest mercy, they stripped off Tang Chengfa's pants in public, raised the Water-Fire Staffs, and struck at his buttocks.

Tang Chengfa let out a piercing wail after just two strokes. The sharp smack of the rod striking flesh rang out continuously until the full twenty strokes were delivered. Tang Chengfa lay slumped on the ground like mud, the flesh of his buttocks a bloody blur.

Apart from Tang Chengfa's ragged breathing, one could hear a pin drop in the hall. The clerks and runners below the hall were silent as winter cicadas. The early Ming Dynasty emphasized checks and balances on power; the County Magistrate's authority was limited — he could not even appoint or dismiss a clerk. Yet a clerk's evaluation and punishment rested entirely with the County Magistrate. After the mid-Ming, the County Magistrate's power became more complete. Apart from showing some courtesy to the Assistant Officials, some County Magistrates even dared to cane the Chief Clerk.

Needless to say, the runners' status was even lower. The County Magistrate's judicial punishment of criminals could only go as far as flogging, but the Ming Dynasty was extremely harsh toward clerks and runners. The County Magistrate's punishment of his subordinates did not fall under the law but was considered an internal procedure, so he could cane them at will. In the Ming Dynasty, runners beaten to death by Hall Officers were all too common. From this perspective, a runner's status was even lower than a criminal's.

"Tang Chengfa is finished. The County Vice-Magistrate still has three years in Tongcheng, and now he's torn all face with him. A new County Magistrate won't offend an Assistant Official for the sake of a Tang Chengfa." Jiao Guozha shook his head as he spoke, his face full of schadenfreude.

"Tang Chengfa is finished?" Pang Yu felt a twinge of heartache over the silver he'd given that morning. "Damn it, if I'd known, I'd have delivered it later. That silver didn't even last ten minutes."

Pang Yu did not fully understand Ming Dynasty yamen, but Tang Chengfa had been publicly humiliated this time, and his prestige in the yamen had absolutely plummeted. If he lacked strong backing in the future, he would find it nearly impossible to recover in Tongcheng.

The County Vice-Magistrate's smug voice rang out from the hall: "Take him away. Let his family dependents collect him. He is to reflect on his errors at home for ten days."

The County Vice-Magistrate's official authority flared mightily as he pushed his power to its limit. It was fortunate that county officials lacked the power to directly appoint or dismiss clerks; otherwise, Tang Chengfa's position would absolutely not be secure.

The County Vice-Magistrate did not even glance at Tang Chengfa on the ground. He let three runners drag him down from the hall, leaving Tang Chengfa to pass through the crowd below the hall with his buttocks bared.

Tang Chengfa had been beaten limp all over, his consciousness already blurred. He hung soft and unable to bear his own weight. As he passed by Pang Yu, the runner on the left let his grip slip, and Tang Chengfa's body nearly dropped to the ground.

Jiao Guozha saw only a blur before his eyes — Pang Yu had already rushed over to that side and was helping the runner carry Tang Chengfa. "Careful, brother, I'll help you," he said.

The runner released his grip. "Then you do it, Pang Ersha."

Pang Yu did not take offense. He nodded and bowed obsequiously in agreement.

Since clerks had dedicated living quarters in the yamen, the few of them only needed to dump Tang Chengfa outside the Ceremonial Gate and wait for his family to come collect him.

Taking advantage of the moment when the trees beyond the bridge blocked the view of the crowd in the Main Hall, Pang Yu quietly surveyed his surroundings. Seeing that the other two were not paying attention, he freed one hand and reached toward the spot where Tang Chengfa had earlier stowed the silver. The unconscious Tang Chengfa noticed nothing.

In a short while, Pang Yu was back in the Main Hall. Jiao Guozha whispered to Pang Yu, "That Tang Chengfa never did a good deed in his life. When did he ever give us a kind face? Why be so kind-hearted as to carry him? He deserved to fall and die."

Pang Yu touched the silver in his bosom and said righteously, "Elder Brother, don't blame your little brother for saying this, but a man should be a bit more generous. I've told you — in this life, I'm going to be a good person."

Jiao Guozha assumed Pang Yu's foolish streak was acting up again. He could not help but sigh and shake his head.

With Tang Chengfa carried off, the atmosphere in the hall remained extremely heavy. The County Vice-Magistrate sat high in the hall without uttering a word. No one knew what his next move would be.

At last, the County Vice-Magistrate spoke again, coldly: "Punishment Office!"

The Punishment Office Clerk's whole body shuddered. He stepped forward trembling with fear and replied, "Th-this humble one is here."

The County Vice-Magistrate casually picked up a prepared detention slip. "Where have Punishment Office runners Xie Kunshu and Wang Shan gone?"

"Th-this, this..." The Punishment Office Clerk was drenched in sweat and stammered, "Went... went to Qingjing Xiang, to compare... rations and pay."

The County Vice-Magistrate raised the detention slip in his hand. "Rations and pay fall under the Household Office. Sending someone down to the villages to press for tax grain comparison and check the Tax Household — in every case, the Zuotang Guan writes the chengtou, submits it to the Household Office to issue the license ticket, and the Document Receiving Office signs and applies the seal. Only then may a Household Office runner on duty be dispatched. When the Household Office is short-handed, only then are the Three Squads separately assigned. At present, the Household Office still has runners to spare. I wonder which Tax Household is so troublesome as to require Punishment Office runners to go, or even..."

The County Vice-Magistrate slapped the detention slip onto the desk with one palm. "... r even the license ticket was issued by the Punishment Office! Just now I said the Document Receiving Office should do well what it ought to do. The Punishment Office, however, is so brilliantly capable — it has done well what it ought not to do."

The Punishment Office Clerk's body jolted. He dropped to his knees with a thud, panting heavily. "This humble one knows nothing of this."

Even Pang Yu now felt somewhat tense. He had never imagined encountering such an intense scene on his very first day at work. The County Vice-Magistrate had come prepared to settle personal scores under the guise of official business — this was a thoroughly premeditated attack. He just did not know whether the old Pang Yu had ever offended him. If that Er Shazi really did have a grudge against the County Vice-Magistrate, and now he himself had to suffer in someone else's place — wouldn't that be a crying injustice?

As he was thinking this, he suddenly heard Jiao Guozha beside him breathing heavily. Pang Yu lowered his head and glanced sideways. He saw Jiao Guozha's face was deathly pale, seemingly terrified as well. Ever since Pang Yu had met this sworn elder brother, he had only ever seen the man blustering and charging about recklessly — he had never seen him in such a state.

Pang Yu did not ask him about it. The Fast Squad's daily affairs were often entangled with the Punishment Office. Going down to the villages to compare rations and pay was a lucrative assignment. He had heard Jiao Guozha mention it before, saying one could buy license tickets from the Punishment Office and would certainly earn it back down in the villages. It was only natural that Jiao Guozha was afraid now.

The County Vice-Magistrate's shout rang from the hall: "It bears your Punishment Office's seal, and you, the seal-holding Clerk, dare claim ignorance? Your Punishment Office is so capable — why not simply tear down the other five offices and leave only the Punishment Office standing?"

"This humble one, this humble one, this humble one now remembers. It was the copyists who did this behind this humble one's back."

"Point out which copyists!"

The Punishment Office Clerk pointed out two men. The County Vice-Magistrate shook his head. "Wrong."

The Clerk knew the County Vice-Magistrate meant to settle personal scores under official cover — he had to strike at the Clerk's trusted confidants, and he was making the Punishment Office Clerk identify them himself, so that in the end the Clerk would be utterly isolated. But if he did not find a substitute scapegoat, Tang Chengfa was the ready-made example. And the Punishment Office Clerk did not have the courage to endure those twenty strokes.

He had no choice but to switch to a copyist somewhat closer to himself. After the County Vice-Magistrate gave his nod, several runners ignored the man's pleas and dragged him straight up to the hall.

The County Vice-Magistrate added, "There are more."

The Punishment Office Clerk was forced to identify two more men. The County Vice-Magistrate still deemed it insufficient; he was determined to wipe out every last one of the Punishment Office Clerk's trusted confidants in one sweep.

The Punishment Office Clerk threw caution to the wind. His fingers trembling, he pointed out yet another. The County Vice-Magistrate seemed unsure whether this man was truly one of the Clerk's confidants. He hesitated a moment before nodding.

"Drag up Punishment Office copyist Jiang Guoyong."

Three of the County Vice-Magistrate's men came forward to seize him, but this time it did not go so smoothly. A chorus of yelps rose from the crowd below the hall. Pang Yu craned his neck to look and saw a tall, lean runner lashing out fiercely at those trying to grab him. Though his blows were wild and flailing, his ferocious style won out — he had the first man who tried to seize him staggering left and right.

Even as he fought, Jiang Guoyong shouted, "I didn't write it! County Vice-Magistrate, my lord, this humble one is wronged..."

Two more men from the County Deputy Magistrate office came over from below the hall. They swarmed him together, throwing Jiang Guoyong to the ground and pummeling him with fists and kicks. Only after a good while did they manage to drag him up.

Jiang Guoyong was lean and frail of build, but his temper was anything but small. He had just taken a severe beating, yet even as he was dragged up to the hall, he was still shouting at full volume: "County Vice-Magistrate, my lord, this humble one is wronged! All the Punishment Office license tickets were written by Zhang Changyu himself! He wanted to embezzle the copyists' and runners' wages and provisions, saying one year's wages and provisions for one license ticket. This humble one refused and reported him — this is retaliation..."

The moment these words were spoken, a wave of uproar erupted below the hall.