Chapter 45: Never Have I Seen People as Shameless as You!

In the side hall of the county yamen, sunlight spilled across the room; since coal was available for heating, it had long been warm as spring.

At this moment, Jiang Jiang Mingyu, a smile on his face, looked at the five wealthy local gentry before him: "Please, everyone, take a seat. What is your instruction?"

The five exchanged glances, and one spoke: "Your Excellency the Imperial Envoy, we have come for the coal."

"We heard the Imperial Envoy ordered that every commoner in the city may receive five carts of coal. Why have we yet to see any delivered to our residences?" asked the gentry named He He Dachuan, his tone accusatory.

This middle-aged man with a large belly, his eyes like mung beans staring fixedly at Jiang Jiang Mingyu, his eight-character eyebrows slightly furrowed, seemed very displeased that Jiang Jiang Mingyu had "forgotten" them.

The other four, though silent, had expressions and attitudes identical to He He Dachuan's.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu lifted his teacup, took a gentle sip, and spoke calmly: "Everyone has mistaken the matter. I only said that the poor and destitute may receive five carts, and the elderly, weak, and without support may receive seven."

"Your gentry families are wealthy, with more than enough to eat and use; do not fight the poor for their food."

"If any of you also need coal, you may purchase it; as much as you want is available. This official can even offer you a slight discount."

Hearing this, He He Dachuan's expression of displeasure grew even deeper: "Your Excellency the Imperial Envoy, this is unfair."

"We too are local commoners; how can you favor some and neglect others? We feel deeply aggrieved."

The other four also spoke up to express their dissatisfaction, while Jiang Jiang Mingyu listened silently.

"On what grounds do others get it for free, yet we must pay? This reasoning makes no sense!"

"A bunch of paupers; let them freeze to death. It would be a waste of coal otherwise."

"Your Excellency Jiang, where does this leave us gentry? Is this action reasonable?"

"..."

He He Dachuan took a sip of hot tea, a hint of a smug smile appearing on his face. He gently set down the teacup, stroked the handle, and spoke self-satisfiedly: "Your Excellency the Imperial Envoy, though we are not officials, we do have some prestige in this locality."

"Not to mention distant matters, just the taxes we pay annually are several times greater than those of the poor commoners."

"We hope Your Excellency the Imperial Envoy will consider our contributions and grant us some favor; this will also make your future affairs more convenient."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu listened calmly to He He Dachuan's threat, pondered for a moment, then slowly spoke: "If this official refuses the coal, does that mean everyone will stop paying taxes? That would seem to contradict the way between ruler and people."

He knew very well that these gentry, adorned in gold and silver, merely wanted to skim some profits.

Greedy for every advantage, yet finding it hard to bear any loss—what sort of people are these?

He He Dachuan set down his teacup: "How dare we? This humble one absolutely has no such intention."

He He Dachuan lifted his teacup again, took a sip, brushed his black eight-character mustache, his double chin trembling slightly: "If any year's harvest is poor, there is no guarantee we can pay taxes on time and in full. We beg Your Excellency the Imperial Envoy to investigate clearly."

"Furthermore, the situation in Shangmu County is clear to Your Excellency the Imperial Envoy; at any moment, foreign tribes might arrive."

"If foreign enemies invade, I fear we will still need to rely on each of you to contribute money and effort. These few carts of coal are not worth disregarding the safety of the entire city." He spoke in a sarcastic tone, his thick eyebrows slightly furrowed, a look of contempt on his flushed face.

"Of course, if you believe only those poor people can defend the county city, I have nothing more to say."

"After all, Your Excellency has a bright future ahead; do not damage it over this. Let us take a step back for a broader horizon, do you not agree?"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu listened silently, showing no fear of these gentry's threats, merely taking another calm sip of tea.

The other four waited anxiously on the side, their faces also filled with dissatisfaction...

Jiang Jiang Mingyu took another sip of tea and asked lightly: "From what everyone says, it seems that in the past, defending against foreign enemies always relied on you all?"

He He Dachuan said proudly: "It is good that Your Excellency the Imperial Envoy understands. We locals have always spared no effort to assist the government; there is nothing remarkable in that."

"We simply did not expect that now, with the county temporarily peaceful, Your Excellency the Imperial Envoy has forgotten our past merits."

"These mere few carts of coal, and you still want to charge us? That truly cannot be justified."

"To put it more plainly, without our help, would Your Excellency Jiang have had such a stable life today?"

He curled his lip, glaring with his small eyes: "Regarding the coal matter, we beg Your Excellency the Imperial Envoy to reconsider. If it is not handled well, and foreign enemies attack, the consequences will be unimaginable."

"We are merely one of the common people; we do not care who rules this land. Even if foreign tribes arrive, we can still survive in peace. We only fear that at that time, Your Excellency the Imperial Envoy will find it hard to ensure your own safety."

He He Dachuan put on a concerned expression, lifted his teacup, and said: "Whether it should be said or not, for Your Excellency the Imperial Envoy's own good, I have said everything. We beg you to reconsider." The other four also used their eyes to pressure Jiang Jiang Mingyu.

It was as if, should Jiang Jiang Mingyu refuse them now, he would surely meet a bad end tomorrow.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu curled the corner of his mouth and smiled: "Master He speaks so boldly; you have even thought of an escape route."

"You hold foreign tribes in such high regard; may this official take it that, should the foreign tribes one day breach the city, you would be a traitor within?"

Hearing this, He He Dachuan's face instantly turned pale. He stammered: "This... what is the basis for such words?"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu frowned, speaking sternly and severely: "The basis is your own treasonous words just now!"

"I have never seen people as shameless as you! As subjects of the Great Feng, for the sake of some coal, you would even betray your own ancestors. What face do you have to claim you are native-born?"

"Do you not know that, based on those words you just spoke, this official could order your head cut off?"

He He Dachuan trembled all over, cold sweat streaming down, and suddenly knelt to beg for mercy: "This humble one was momentarily confused and spoke reckless words that harm heaven and earth. We beg Your Excellency the Imperial Envoy to forgive!" Jiang Jiang Mingyu sneered: "Direct anger often reveals the true heart. Your threats just now have already proven your true intentions."

"Furthermore, do you think I have only been in office for a few days and know nothing of this locality?"

"I have already reviewed the yamen's account books. Where is any record of you building city walls or relieving the common people? Moreover, you owe several years of taxes; as gentry, you even evade taxes!"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu sneered: "You gentry who evade taxes still dare to claim you assist the government and benefit the nation and people? This is truly ridiculous!"

With their lies exposed, everyone's faces changed drastically, exchanging glances.

Where could they have expected that Jiang Jiang Mingyu had already investigated everything beforehand? Now, they would surely not escape the law.

Thinking this, the four immediately cursed He He Dachuan in their hearts: If you had not urged us to come, how could things have escalated to this point?

Now not only is the coal lost, but we have also completely offended the newly arrived Jiang Jiang Mingyu. What was the point of this?

Jiang Jiang Mingyu said coldly: "Since you have done nothing to benefit the people or the nation, and yet dare to defy the law, if you continue to be so arrogant and domineering, beware of suffering the consequences!" "These mere few carts of coal, and you dare to blackmail the government, even utter words of betraying to the enemy. What crime should be applied?"

"Those who are sensible should immediately make up the owed taxes and return home to reflect properly! If you dare to be arrogant and fail to report again, you will surely face severe punishment under national law!"

Having said this, he frowned: "Why do you not leave? Are you waiting for this official to treat you to a meal?"

The five exchanged glances, trembling as they took their leave.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu watched with cold eyes, his contempt for these greedy gentry growing even stronger.

Shangmu County, the Prince Qi's Palace Gardens.

Ever since that day when he knelt publicly before Jiang Jiang Mingyu, His Highness Prince Qi has not smiled for several days.

He felt the strange looks his subordinates gave him, and their hushed whispers made him hate Jiang Jiang Mingyu even more.

Looking at Ma Ma Defake before him, the Prince of Qi asked in a low voice, "Is everything ready?"

Ma Ma Defake nodded silently: "Just watch. This time, what will Jiang Jiang Mingyu do?"

The Prince of Qi sneered; he was determined to make this brilliant new official take office under humiliating circumstances, so he would no longer hinder his power.