Chapter 405

Jia Zheng likewise felt a myriad of emotions, looking at Jia Jing and said:

"Jing brother, you see matters deeply; governing the army and managing the household, you can make just and clear decisions—I am far inferior! It's truly hard on you, putting in such painstaking effort……"

Just as Jia Jing and a few others were speaking, Xuanwu had already walked up to the people in the courtyard, holding a document in his hands, unfolded it, and began to read it slowly and calmly.

His voice was not loud, yet it could let every person in the courtyard hear clearly:

"Jia Baoyu, as a member of the Jia clan, often flies into a temper, willfully smashing jade for no reason, repeatedly causing trouble in the household, angering relatives, disturbing elders, his frivolous nature unchanged!"

"Jia Qiang, in the eastern city set up a theater troupe, nominally for singing operas, actually to pull strings as a matchmaker and defraud people of money; six victims, defrauding a total of 1,200 taels of silver."

"Jia Qin, in the southern city grain shop, deducted workers' wages, threw his weight around, embezzled funds, resulting in a shortfall of 430 taels of silver."

"Jia Rui, in the name of the Jia clan, ran up tab for flower wine, owing 300 taels; creditors repeatedly came to demand payment, ruining the family reputation."

"Jia Jun, invoking the title of the Duke, bullied others, colluded with the eastern city canal gang to set up a gambling den, defrauding people of money."

"Jia Ping, took over a lawsuit at the Iron Rail Temple, lent money at high interest……"

……

As Xuanwu read out each offender's crimes one by one, clearly stating them to the crowd, the clan members in the courtyard finally understood the reason for Jia Jing's punishment.

Many clan members never expected that those who seemed fine on the surface, like Jia Qiang and others, would actually engage in such deceitful schemes behind the scenes!

In this light, the punishment is completely deserved!

And after Xuanwu closed the document, he continued:

All of the above, according to Articles 17, 19, and 23 of the clan regulations, shall be punished with thirty strokes of the cane.

The defrauded property must be returned within three days; any gambling debts owed are to be repaid personally; all duties held are to be revoked and reassigned to others.

For the offenses committed, one must locate the victims and compensate them individually, seeking their forgiveness……

After Xuanwu finished speaking, the caning carried out by the personal guards here was basically over.

After thirty strokes, the trousers of those punished were basically unrecognizable in their original color; dark red blood seeped out layer by layer from the fabric, spreading in the sunlight into a sticky, dark patch.

Where the skin and flesh were turned up, white meat mixed with blood froth, like torn old cotton batting.

Everyone could no longer make a sound; only breath leaked from their throats, one puff after another, like a chicken with its throat stepped on.

People lay prone on the long bench; their backs still rose and fell slightly, but the motion was shallow and rapid, as if it might snap at any moment.

Especially Jia Baoyu and Jia Rui, one was delicate-skinned and precious-fleshed, having received few beatings; the other, from indulging in flowers and wine, had a weakened body.

At this point, after thirty strokes, they were already as faint as a spider's silk and had fainted!

Jia Jing glanced over, said nothing more, then faced the crowd in the courtyard and lectured loudly:

Everyone has seen what happened this time; from now on, whoever dares to violate the clan regulations will take these people as an example!

No matter who, regardless of closeness or distance, as long as he is a member of the Jia Clan, he will surely be severely punished without leniency!

This time, considering the serious consequences they caused and that they are first-time offenders, we give a light punishment as a stern warning—just a few strokes and a fine on their ill-gotten wealth.

If next time anyone dares to commit illicit acts, break the law, and disrupt order, this lord will certainly not show leniency—do not say I did not warn you in advance!

Furthermore, from now on, I hope each of you will thoroughly study the Da Han Statutes and the clan regulations, knowing what should be done and what should not.

If you want to succeed, work diligently—study, practice martial arts, attend to affairs; I can give you opportunities! Just don't act recklessly!

Know that the foundation of our Jia family's wealth and honor for a hundred years was built by the two dukes of Rong and Ning with sword and spear, not by petty cleverness or crooked ways.

Today we rectify the clan customs to return to the root and purify the source, for the family's long-term prosperity. When the family thrives, each of you will prosper!

I do not demand that each of you achieve great deeds for the state and family, but you must be able to establish your own household and conduct yourselves uprightly, so as not to bring disgrace upon the family and ancestors.

Enough! That's all for today; go back and think it over well!

After delivering the lecture, Jia Jing said nothing more and announced the dismissal.

After the clan members had all left, Jia Jing separately retained Jia Zheng; as for Jia Baoyu, someone would send him to the Western Mansion.

The two sat on chairs; Jia Zheng's refined visage bore a hint of doubt as he asked:

Brother Jing, is there something you need to tell me?

Jia Jing pondered for a moment, then told Jia Zheng about yesterday's palace coercion, the major prison case, and the capital inspection.

He is about to go to the Twelve Regiment Camp to take command; on the Jia family's official front, only Jia Zheng remains. To prevent him from being exploited, Jia Jing thought it necessary to give him a heads-up first.

It must be said that while Jia Zheng is fairly upright in personal conduct, in official duties he truly lacks some political acumen and adaptability.

As later commentators on the original work have said:

He wishes to be a good official, but he is ignorant of worldly affairs, knowing only to bow and scrape; he sits in office all day like a clay statue, easily deceived, and ends up with a notorious reputation.

Upon hearing Jia Jing's words, Jia Zheng's face suddenly changed dramatically, and he exclaimed in alarm:

How could this be? With such a major prison case and capital inspection, does the court no longer have any peaceful days?

Jia Jing said:

This is exactly what I wanted to tell you, Uncle Two; from today onward, the capital Shenjing will surely have turbulent undercurrents, with high winds and rough waves.

I am about to go to the Twelve Regiment Camp to take command; I will not return within a ten-day period. Uncle Two, while remaining in the capital, you must act cautiously and avoid getting involved in these matters!

This time the Son of Heaven's wrath shows he has resolved to thoroughly rectify the bureaucracy and cleanse the officials!

Jia Zheng wore a sorrowful expression and sighed deeply:

Brother Jing, rest assured; I understand the gravity—I will not and dare not meddle recklessly in this!

To speak frankly, if it were not for fear of imperial blame, I would have long resigned and returned home; I am not particularly attached to my post in the Ministry of Works, and my own abilities are merely average.

Jia Zheng did not speak those words idly.

In the original work, he himself had said: 'In my heart I would rather not be an official, but I dare not ask to retire.'

Here, the 'dare not' likely stems both from fear of imperial reproach and from fear of Lady Jia's displeasure.

After all, Jia Zheng's office was granted by the posthumous memorial of Jia Daishan; although only a fifth-rank post, it is a substantive position, not easily obtained.

As Zi Xing Leng said in his speech at the Rong Guo Mansion:

The second son, Jia Zheng, loved reading from childhood; his grandfather favored him most, originally intending for him to enter officialdom through the imperial examinations. Unexpectedly, when Jia Daishan lay dying and submitted his memorial, the emperor, out of sympathy for the late minister, immediately ordered the eldest son to inherit the post, then asked how many other sons there were, summoned them at once, and consequently bestowed upon this Mr. Zheng an additional post as a chief clerk, promoting him to Vice Director of the Ministry of Works.

Jia Jing said:

Uncle Second, just understand! This matter is of great importance; the officials of Shenjing will surely covertly coordinate and secretly resist the imperial majesty.

"Whether they intend to jointly submit a memorial or gather to criticize the court and the emperor, you just ignore it."

"For my sake, as long as Second Uncle you do not voluntarily join in, Grand Secretary Zhang and the Senior Vice Minister of Works will not make things difficult for you!"

"As for the officials of the Works Ministry, you first act as one; later, when an opportunity arises, I'll see if I can secure you a post as an external provincial education commissioner."

Given Jia Zheng's temperament, being a clean and noble official is undoubtedly more suitable than a practical one!

Originally somewhat worried and anxious, Jia Zheng, upon hearing these words, instantly turned his worry into excitement, looking at Jia Jing, he said emotionally:

"Jing'er, you've gone to such trouble for me; I don't know what to say..."

……