Chapter 288: Reporting Back

Liu Zuo, who was past forty, sat upright in an armchair wearing a loose Daoist robe, sipping fragrant tea while listening to Liu Xingwen's account, his fair-skinned face wearing an expression of utter calm throughout. His aide Li Junshan stood at his side with hands clasped behind his back, carefully observing Liu Xingwen's words and demeanor.

When Liu Xingwen finished speaking, Liu Zuo slowly set down his teacup and said: "Jiayue, what is your view of this matter? Cousin, please sit a while longer—you have been wronged these past two days, and this matter absolutely cannot be left at that. I will by all means think of a way to seek justice for you. In broad daylight, under the clear heavens, a legitimate transport operation was openly called black and white reversed, falsely accused of smuggling private goods—is there no justice left? Is there no law?!"

By the end of his speech, Liu Zuo's expression had turned solemn, taking on an air of grave dignity, appearing very much the image of an official standing up for the people.

"My esteemed master, pray do not be angered. Your student believes that first we must determine whether this matter is directed at you, and only then consider how to understand it—otherwise we may easily fall into another's trap without knowing it. From what Master Liu has just said, this matter was most likely a spur-of-the-moment action by the Embroidered Uniform Guard at the customs house, not a deliberate interception after someone leaked word of the official vessel's movements. Therefore my first judgment can be ruled out. As for how to handle this matter, that depends entirely on what my esteemed master wishes to do!"

Li Junshan stroked his beard as he spoke.

Li Junshan, a juren by examination, was a fellow townsman of Liu Zuo's from Kunshan. Having failed the metropolitan examinations twice after earning his juren degree, he had been hired by Liu Zuo three years prior when Liu Zuo took up his post in Yangzhou Prefecture. During that time he had diligently planned Liu Zuo's social dealings in officialdom, and thus enjoyed Liu Zuo's deep trust.

"Jiayue, please take a seat. There are no outsiders here—this matter requires your careful deliberation, and my cousin and I will listen with rapt attention!"

Li Junshan unhurriedly walked to the chair opposite Liu Xingwen, made a cupped-fist salute toward Liu Zuo, and sat down.

"Jiayue, you said just now that resolving this matter depends entirely on my own wishes—what did you mean by that? Surely you don't mean this matter is entirely within my control? As things stand, the ship and its cargo are all detained by the Embroidered Uniform Guard; unless we pay the full customs duties, recovering the official vessel and supplies will not be easy. Everyone in the world knows that the Eastern Depot and the Embroidered Uniform Guard have never been on good terms with civil officials. Though I hold the fourth rank, I have no daily dealings with the Son of Heaven's personal guard—they will hardly be willing to grant me a favor!"

In the nearly one year since the Embroidered Uniform Guard had established its chiliarchy in Yangzhou, Liu Zuo and Liang Qi had never once met. To go seeking a connection now would likely be inviting humiliation; moreover, the dignity of a civil official made it impossible for him to bow his head to the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Although up to now the Embroidered Uniform Guard had not arrested a single official of the Yangzhou prefectural office, and although outside rumors spoke of how the Chiliarch surnamed Liang was greedy for wealth, Liu Zuo had always felt that the current situation did not mean the Yangzhou chiliarchy was weak and easily bullied—for all anyone knew, this seemingly gentle tiger might be lurking in the shadows, quietly waiting for its prey to appear.

"What my esteemed master says, your student understands well. I have no intention of having you appear in person. In truth, if we did not consider your reputation, the simplest course would be for Cousin Liu to quietly return to Huai'an and then pay the back taxes according to regulation—at most giving them a bit more silver to avoid unnecessary trouble. But if word of this spread, I fear it would damage your standing among the scholarly circles of Jiangnan!"

The so-called Jiangnan scholarly circles were in reality the alliance of officials and gentry behind the merchants. With the gradual flourishing of Jiangnan commerce over the past century or more, civil officials and merchants had merged into one—nearly every civil official from Jiangnan had merchant support behind him, and most officials' own families were themselves of merchant origin.

Everyone knew perfectly well who the true master behind the Liu Family Trading Company was. That Liu Xingwen had used an official vessel to smuggle private goods was hardly a secret either. Many people were watching this matter, hoping to see whether various means could be used to evade commercial taxes. If the Liu Family Trading Company meekly paid the back taxes, that would deal no small blow to Liu Zuo's prestige and influence.

Hearing Li Junshan's analysis, Liu Zuo gave it a moment's thought and understood—by now, this matter was not as simple as he had imagined. Even if he wanted to pinch his nose and swallow this insult, it seemed he no longer could.

"It seems this matter cannot be settled peacefully after all. Then in your view, Jiayue, what should be done? This concerns my reputation—I can no longer afford to retreat even half a step!"

Liu Zuo said in a low voice, his expression turning serious.

"My esteemed master, ever since the court resolved to levy additional commercial taxes at the Grand Canal customs houses, resentment has been boiling among the people of Jiangnan. You must have heard the sentiments of the populace. In every dynasty, when wise rulers of prosperous eras governed, they made keeping wealth among the people the cornerstone of their rule—rarely was there such evil governance as competing with the people for profit. At present, when the realm has just been pacified and the people should be allowed to recover, who would have thought the court would openly defy the will of all under heaven and, at the very foundation of the Great Ming's survival, do such a thing as draining the pond to catch the fish? Such perverse, people-defying conduct truly goes too far! If this can be endured, what cannot? Your student believes that since my esteemed master governs a region, you should follow the will of the people, unite with like-minded colleagues to pressure the court together, and petition for the abolition of the additional commercial tax policy, so as to preserve the prosperity of Jiangnan. Moreover, my esteemed master should emphatically point out that if the court continues to stubbornly pursue this course, the fiscal foundations of the Great Ming may face the danger of upheaval—that would not be a blessing for the state!"

Li Junshan, moved by his own words, unconsciously rose to his feet, clasped his hands behind his back, and gazed upward, bearing the air of a sage worrying for his country and people.

"What Jiayue says accords perfectly with my own heart. In my correspondence with fellow classmates and old friends, I too have discussed the topic of taxation—nearly all Jiangnan men serving in office are indignant. Some with fierce words even point directly at the originator of this policy, saying that this person seems to be following in his elder brother's footsteps, and predicting that he may well meet his elder brother's fate! Of course, I by no means endorse such talk, but I understand their hearts are devoted to the people—their words are merely somewhat excessive. Since Jiayue has raised the matter of submitting a memorial to the court today, I will naturally not shrink from my duty. Shortly I shall write to like-minded colleagues to coordinate, reporting the sentiments of Jiangnan's people to the court, urging it to awaken and repent, to withdraw this harmful policy, and to ensure the peace and safety of the Jiangnan region! Having studied the books of the sages, I naturally must plead on behalf of the people—for the sake of all living beings in Jiangnan, even if I must sacrifice this black gauze cap of office, what is there to regret!"

Liu Zuo wore an expression of fervent righteousness and high principle—anyone who didn't know better would have thought he truly meant it.

Had Zhu Youjian heard those words just spoken, even though he came from a later age that valued life above all, he would still have unhesitatingly issued an edict to have Liu Zuo's head chopped off.

Was this not plainly cursing that he would be as short-lived as Zhu Youjiao?

"My esteemed master's act of pleading for the people fills your student with admiration! But this alone is far from enough! Some people will not shed tears until they see the coffin! Unless they feel the pain themselves, the righteous actions of you court officials will not make them change course! Now that countless merchants of Jiangnan deeply detest the commercial tax, they should express their will through deeds and words! The capital and the great cities of the north all depend on supplies from Jiangnan. If the myriad merchants of Jiangnan successively close their shops, and the flow of Jiangnan goods northward is suddenly cut off, then when the memorials of my esteemed master and the other court officials arrive at the court, I dare to predict that the commercial tax policy will be abolished immediately! This is what is called attacking on two fronts!"

"Excellent plan! Jiayue, you are truly my Zifang! Hahaha!"

Liu Zuo clapped his hands and laughed heartily. Li Junshan wore a smug smile, making a cupped-fist salute to Liu Zuo, carrying himself like a reincarnation of Zhuge Liang.

Liu Xingwen, listening from the side, felt his heart pounding with alarm. He too was a man of learning who held the xiucai degree, and if the words Liu Zuo had just used to praise Li Junshan were to spread, they would be enough to cost a man his head.

You compare Li Junshan to Zhang Liang—then who are you? Your surname is Liu—could you be trying to emulate that village head who overthrew Xiang Yu?

"Sixth Brother, Master Li's plan is good, but is it not going too far? What if the court hardens its heart and sends a large army—what then? I think if it truly comes to it, we should just swallow this insult and be done with it. I hear that Chiliarch surnamed Liang of the Embroidered Uniform Guard is greedy for money and lustful—why don't we take out five thousand taels of silver and give it to him, have him release our ship and cargo, and let this matter pass? If it blows up into something big, I fear it will be hard to clean up!"

Liu Xingwen, who had remained silent all along, could not help but speak up in persuasion.

Although with Liu Zuo as his backing, the Liu Family Trading Company's business ran smoothly, Liu Xingwen was after all not a man of particularly broad vision or magnanimity. The unguarded words and actions of Liu Zuo and Li Junshan just now had filled his heart with an inexplicable fear.

"Cousin, pray set your mind at ease. From what I know, instances of righteous Jiangnan commoners resisting taxation in this dynasty are too numerous to count, and scarcely any have failed. The court has never used forceful means to suppress them. Moreover, this shop-closing movement will be the broadest in terms of participants ever seen. As time goes on, when the capital and other places face acute shortages of various goods, their prices will surely soar. Once popular resentment boils over, what good options does the court have besides compromise?! Today's plan still has need of you, cousin—you can quietly contact and converse with the wealthy merchants you are friendly with, and together discuss this grand undertaking!"

Li Junshan's eyes rolled, and he stroked his beard with a smile.