Chapter 178: Miao Chu Chapter 179: Crying Injustice

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Protagonist:

Song Miao

Dutou Ding had not yet left; hearing these words, he opened his mouth and rebuked: "The roads aren't even open, I personally went to greet every grain shop in the city, where does 'nothing but grain' come from? You must be dreaming, spouting nonsense here!"

That petty clerk wished he could grow mouths all over his body; at this moment, eager to help explain, he hurriedly said: "This lowly one saw it with his own eyes, that grain-carrying convoy was enormously long, outside it was nothing but people — once Dutou goes out for a look, he'll know!"

Dutou Ding, half-believing half-doubting, turned his head to Qian Zhongming: "Kongmu, could some family have secretly sold grain?"

Qian Zhongming's face darkened.

Although he had not personally seen what the situation was, Han Li had only been gone two days, and the roads were blocked everywhere; bringing back grain, one could guess it must have been swindled from some county or town down below.

He had long since given the order: whether inside the city or outside, no one was allowed to sell grain or lend grain; at this moment, whoever was secretly selling it, most likely either couldn't resist the lure of profit or was coerced by threats, wanting to turn traitor.

If such people weren't dealt with harshly — killing the chicken to warn the monkeys — and others followed suit, how could he still establish his authority?

He let out a cold snort and said: "Send someone to investigate which family sold it, find a pretext, arrest the person in charge first, make his master come find me himself!"

And to the clerk on the side he said: "Go report to Tongpan Cen, just say I'm busy recruiting corvée laborers and have many miscellaneous duties, truly unable to clone myself; now that Han Li has brought back some grain, tell him to find someone else to count the numbers and arrange the storerooms."

The yamen's current situation: he gave the word not to handle it, and naturally no one else would dare take it on.

Without people, just watch how Tongpan Cen Dezhang, who normally only knows how to move his mouth, will manage to get things done!

A student from the Capital, not even fully grown, actually wants to order him to work — truly a daydream!

His thinking was simple: did he think that just because there was grain, everything would be fine?

Wait until the grain arrives and they find no one to receive it, no place to store it, later no proper cooking done; even if it's cooked, they can't recruit people, and there's no one to eat — at that time they'll naturally realize that without him, this old clerk, leading the bunch of petty clerks below, the Hua Zhou Zhong Government Office simply cannot operate!

Qian Zhongming dispatched his subordinate clerks, then went himself to the side hall to see that so-called Transport Commission Ganao.

That Ganao Feng had waited half a day; seeing the visitor arrive and hearing him report his name and identity, he immediately frowned in displeasure and asked: "Where is Hua Zhou Zhong Tongpan Cen the official?"

And said: "Our Deputy Transport Commissioner was seized and put in handcuffs by your prefecture's yamen runners; such an absurd matter, and he doesn't even show his face??"

Qian Zhongming, worldly-wise, one look at the man sitting opposite and he knew he wouldn't be easy to dismiss; secretly annoyed at the man's aggressive tone, yet able to bend and stretch, he both forced a smile and offered pleasant words, only saying he knew nothing of what had happened, and right in front of Ganao Feng shouted loudly: "Someone come!"

Presently a yamen runner entered; Qian Zhongming angrily berated: "What's going on? How did you offend Deputy Commissioner Wang staying at the official post house? Why haven't you brought someone to report back!"

So a yamen runner came in, trembling with fear, and said: "For Kongmu to know, it's because commoners came to accuse, accusing that someone outside the official post house was impersonating the Directorate of Waterways to recruit commoners and swindle money; Zhang Tou and his men went to arrest them on the accusation, but didn't know how such an accident occurred — perhaps there was a mistake somewhere??"

Qian Zhongming finally said: "The Tongpan has been too busy lately, busy with river-dredging and canal-digging; right now another batch of grain has arrived, and he doesn't know how to arrange it; at this moment he's not in the yamen, he's out on official business — but it's not right to keep Deputy Commissioner waiting long; how about this lowly one first goes to apologize on the Tongpan's behalf, and when the Tongpan returns, have someone pass word to invite him to come make amends in person?"

This mix of delay and evasion, on an ordinary person, would have long since worked.

But Ganao Feng had come solely to curry favor with his superior, intending to bring back a Tongpan to give Wang Shuji face; now the Tongpan wasn't there, bringing back a lowly Kongmu — in his view, this wasn't giving face, it was losing face!

He sat unmoving, but sized Qian Zhongming up and down, and asked: "What surname is Hua Zhou Zhong's Tongpan?"

Qian Zhongming froze, only feeling it strange, but hurriedly said: "Tongpan Cen, surname Cen."

Ganao Feng let out a cold laugh, instantly turned hostile, and snorted: "So you do know it's surname Cen? Are you surnamed Cen? Since you're not surnamed Cen, what are you blathering about?"

He slammed his cup onto the table and cursed: "I'm at least a Ganao, with proper official identity; for no reason I come to your door, asking for a Kongmu to go back? You think you're worthy??"

And stiffly said: "Since Tongpan Cen is busy, I'll wait right here until he's done being busy, then come demand an explanation!"

Perhaps in his youth he had suffered some grievances, but ever since he'd seen off several prefecture officials in succession, Qian Zhongming simply got wind when he wanted wind, rain when he wanted rain; when had he ever suffered such a humiliating insult?

He was so angry his teeth ached!

But seeing this man was no easy sort, not someone to be dismissed in a short while, and knowing that if this matter blew up badly it would likely invite trouble, he hurriedly ordered his subordinates to arrange a banquet reception, and forcibly suppressing his anger, used every trick in the book, trying to persuade Ganao Feng.

Leaving aside Qian Zhongming here, both angry and resentful and busy; in the rear yamen, upon learning that a large amount of grain had arrived, Qian Zhongming threw down the burden, and Tongpan Cen Dezhang was both anxious and busy.

At first he only felt it was troublesome; after summoning several groups of people, this one said he didn't know where to arrange so much grain, no suitable storerooms; that one said all his men had been dispatched, recently there were many refugees, the city was chaotic, and there was the corvée recruitment matter, everyone already had assignments; someone else said last time the Tongpan ordered intensified patrols, they'd sent many clerks out to patrol the streets, and so on — for the moment, they couldn't be recalled.

Cen Dezhang was merely weak of character, not stupid; how could he not see this was Qian Zhongming baring his arms and drawing his bow to show him that rock-hard stone meat?

They say the most fearful thing is an honest man pushed to the extreme.

He was, after all, a double-lists jinshi, had served as an official abroad, and had a few staff members under him; this time, regarding Wu Gong's affair, he and Han Li worked together—one had been squatting from morning to night at the river valley outside the city analyzing terrain and water lines to plot the best new river course, while the other had rushed back and forth; although the roads were clearly impassable, he had striven to find grain from outside.

Things having reached this point, Cen Dezhang wasn't that ungrateful sort.

He gritted his teeth, and no longer cared how his subordinates made excuses; since he couldn't move Qian Zhongming, he still knew to divide and conquer.

Having been here over half a year, Cen Dezhang had a general impression of the people inside the yamen; he sought out one who was usually the most obsequious, squeezed out by others, personally summoned him before him, and had this man survey the situation of the various storerooms.

That petty clerk was so frightened his face went white; he hurriedly said: "Tongpan, it's not that this lowly one won't do it; those storerooms are scattered in different places, running to each one and verifying their inventory — not to mention half a day, even given ten or eight days it couldn't be tallied clearly! And right now there's only me alone……"

This time Cen Dezhang was no longer as easily dismissed as before; he said: "I'll give you twenty students transferred from the Zhou Zhong School!"

Speaking, he immediately arranged for a staff member to issue a requisition order.

That petty clerk went "putong" and knelt on the ground; he thought for a long while, not knowing what to do, then solidly toppled sideways, looking for all the world like he'd fainted.

He fell so stiffly; before falling, he even let out an overly deliberate "ah" from his throat — one look and it was fake fainting.

But the person had already reached this state; Cen Dezhang truly could no longer bring himself to force the matter.

He swallowed his anger, angry at himself for being unable to be tough and overbearing, angry at this bunch of crafty clerks and slippery clerks; in the end it all turned into a single sentence to the retainer below: "Forget it, find someone to send him back; if that really won't work, find a doctor to take a look."

That retainer had served under Cen Dezhang for a long time; he had advised and spoken, but in the end he was just a retainer and couldn't be bothered to nag further; he went out, called a miscellaneous servant, and together they helped the man away.

But after seeing the man off and returning, seeing Cen Dezhang, he still couldn't help saying: "Sir is truly too good-natured! Clearly knowing that scoundrel was just putting on an act, you still gave him face like this — once sent back to his room, the doctor hasn't even been called yet, he says he's much better, drank a cup of tea, and right now he still has the mood and leisure to eat fruit!"

Cen Dezhang was also helpless: "There's no way; if I push too hard, everyone will resent me for being harsh as a superior, and if it reaches the inspectors' ears, it won't be good in the end……"

"If everyone fakes fainting, then no one has to work? Right now the grain has already entered the city; Han Li sent people to ask where to put it — he instructed before leaving, and two days ago I also told you to urge them to clear out the storerooms; two days have passed, people and grain will arrive any moment, no place to put them! When Han Li finds out, even if he's not angry, won't his heart turn cold??"

Cen Dezhang was momentarily speechless, only sheepishly saying: "I did arrange it; because I thought most likely we wouldn't find much grain, the rear yamen would be enough, so I didn't press hard; and I thought even if there was a bit more, temporary rearrangement would suffice — who expected these crafty clerks wouldn't exert a single bit of effort……"

That retainer didn't even want to speak anymore.

Such a superior, ordinarily is extremely good; but once something happens……

Cen Dezhang hurriedly placated: "Once this matter passes, I'll definitely put in great effort to rectify things!"

"Sir isn't rectifying now; how will you rectify later?"

Cen Dezhang also knew he had gone too far; in the end he wanted face, and had no choice but to say: "When matters come to a head, a thorough dealing-with is unavoidably troublesome; at that time whoever does the work must take the overall situation as paramount!"

Just as they were speaking, they heard someone outside the door walking into the room, asking aloud: "What 'no one to do the work,' 'overall situation paramount'?"

That retainer looked up, saw the person entering the door, immediately stood up, called out "Young Master Han," and didn't give Cen Dezhang any face either, recounted the matter just now in full detail, and then said: "Just worrying about where to put all that grain — yet don't know how much you've raised in total this time, where has it all reached by now?"

Han Li listened to the end, pondered briefly, first reported this time's numbers, then said to Cen Dezhang: "My temperament is impatient, and I'm not good at waiting; the grain will arrive in succession as we speak, and I can't wait either — if the Tongpan doesn't mind, I'll handle the trouble, just need to ask for your approval."

Cen Dezhang had no reason to refuse, and agreed immediately.

Han Li then said: "Right now we still don't know the storeroom situation; today and tomorrow are not to be counted on; thinking to build momentum, the grain delivered today was accumulated for a day before having people transport it into the city in formation simultaneously, precisely to let the grain merchants and commoners in the prefecture see clearly; since it's like this, there's no need to send it to any grand warehouse or storeroom."

He paused, and asked: "I saw there's a Mingfu Temple on Zhenjiu Street, heard it was built during the Chu Dynasty, the Buddha hall is very large and there are many buildings; why not temporarily requisition the buildings and the monks inside — after this matter passes, trouble the Tongpan to report merit to the Court for that Abbot, don't know if there's any difficulty?"

It's just writing a memorial; what difficulty could there be?

Cen Dezhang agreed at once, and couldn't help showing a smile on his face, saying: "Right! Mingfu Temple occupies much land, and there are many monks inside; transporting the grain over, we can even make them help count it bit by bit!"

Han Li then said: "Can't trust outsiders; please have the Tongpan write the document and arrange your own people to go — besides the monks, also need ten students; later when the yamen runners are counted, in groups of three, counting together, to avoid things being unclear."

Cen Dezhang didn't dare be negligent; he immediately wrote a requisition order, summoned a staff member, and had someone take the document and go.

With this matter settled, Han Li didn't delay at all; he first asked for the yamen's roster and today's duty roster, immediately rang the bell to summon several miscellaneous servants, and instructed: "Except those on duty at the front yamen, also Qian Kongmu, Ding Dutou..."

He rattled off three or four names in one breath, all were Qian Zhongming's confidants, and then said: "Apart from these people, all the rest on duty today are to be summoned; just say the Tongpan has important matters to assign; if they don't come within one incense stick's time, they needn't come tomorrow!"

Also said: "Must notify thoroughly; even the toilet doors must be opened and checked one by one."

These words, one listen and you know they didn't come from Cen Dezhang's mouth.

Cen Dezhang listened, only felt his body very ill at ease, was just about to open his mouth, but was grabbed by that retainer at his side, who shook his head to signal him, and he closed his mouth again.

Han Li turned his head and said: "Trouble the Tongpan to watch the incense."

Cen Dezhang was indeed easy to manipulate, and honestly went to light the incense.

Before long, the clerks who had received the order began arriving one after another.

Han Li held a brush in one hand, pressed the roster with the other; one came, he asked the name, and circled the corresponding name.

The arrivals came in twos and threes, and upon entering the door first went to salute Cen Dezhang.

Some pressed to ask what exactly the matter was, and also said they had many things piled up on hand, anxious to go back and work.

Some whispered to each other, buzzing away.

Some stretched their necks looking around, as if searching for someone, walking from one end of this large room to the other.

But gradually, because Han Li kept standing there, not saying a word, not only him, but even Cen Dezhang who was usually easy to talk to also said nothing, and that retainer at the side was even more silent, until someone unknown pointed it out, and only then did everyone discover that on the table in the hall there was actually an incense burner, with a stick of incense lit, already nearly burned out.

The clamor inside the room finally slowly died down.

When the incense burned out, the ever-silent Han Li turned to Cen Dezhang and said: "Tongpan, time's up."

Cen Dezhang hurriedly agreed, saying: "Just act according to what Zheng Yan said before."

Han Li first pointed out the eight names on the roster who hadn't arrived, and asked their whereabouts one by one.

Among them three had taken official business outside, which was routine; another one's wife at home had given birth, and had requested leave; the remaining four, however, had unknown whereabouts.

Han Li then said to the two miscellaneous servants standing outside the door: "Trouble you two to go look for them."

A moment later, two people finally rushed over in haste.

Upon entering they first looked for excuses.

This one said his belly hurt, went to the toilet, squatted for an hour, didn't hear the summons at the time, so missed it.

That one said he had business on hand, was in the storeroom checking last year's account books and the zong volumes.

Han Li listened to what the two said, didn't even acknowledge it, but pointed at the chair to the side, and said: "You two have worked hard; take off these clothes — no need to come tomorrow."

The two cried injustice one after another, each louder than the last.

Han Li said: "How so? Just now three people went to the toilet to find people, all doors were pushed open, inside clearly not a single person — which toilet did you squat in for an hour?"

And to the other said: "The bound account books and zong volumes require two people present to be accessed; you went alone, who supervised? Already violated regulations, so don't clamor here!"

That man's face went green then purple, wanted to argue, but if he said he wasn't in the storeroom, then where was he, why didn't he come?

If he said he was in the storeroom, then he violated regulations.

Truly, being there won't do, not being there won't do either; plainly these clothes after today can never be worn again.

?? It's month-end again, I'm here begging for monthly tickets again! If Food Friends have extra monthly tickets and no special arrangements, can you give them to Xiao Miao? Thank you thank you!