Chapter 723

It was clear they had tried hard—the ledgers were completed in no more than two days.

Yu Qian skimmed through them at a glance, then closed the ledger and asked: "Wasn't the granary completely looted? Where did this grain come from?"

Cai Cheng's body stiffened; he felt Yu Qian's gaze on him like blades embedded in his skin, and hurriedly said: "It was donated by local gentry, wealthy merchants, and temples and monasteries."

Yu Qian: "That's rare—you actually got temples and monasteries to donate money and grain."

During famines, temples and monasteries always solicit donations, then distribute relief grain; to extract funds from them reveals the true nature of your image as county magistrate.

Cai Cheng bowed his head: "It's because the temples and monasteries trust the county office and your humble servant, so they were willing to…"

Yu Qian slammed the ledger down: "Set this aside for now—let's talk about the increased corvée labor and the additional two-tael silver tax imposed this year in Yushan County."

Cai Cheng's knees buckled, and he collapsed onto the ground.

Was Yu Qian unwilling to give him even three days?

Three days, Yu Qian had given him—he hadn't arrested Cai Cheng, but the investigations were underway.

For instance, the missing ledgers were gradually being recovered.

Yushan County was peculiar: the county office claimed the ledgers had been burned, yet whenever they searched, more ledgers kept turning up.

Even more peculiar: most ledgers from three years ago were gone, but those from the past three years remained largely intact—especially those since Cai Cheng's appointment, including everything Ming Ren handed over to him upon departure, not a single sheet missing.

In addition, the household registers and land deeds of Yushan County were also nearly untouched—these were the most critical documents.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard brought in several large chests and placed them in the main hall, whispering to Yu Qian: "All were seized from the Registrar's home. He claims that on the night the rebels stormed the city, the County Commander ordered them moved to his house; since the chests were sealed, he didn't know what was inside."

Yu Qian: "What a fine 'didn't know what was inside.'"

The Embroidered Uniform Guard glanced at Cai Cheng, who stood dazed nearby, and said: "After Cai Cheng led troops to retake the city, he had no time to inventory anything and immediately set fire to the buildings. Later, out of caution, he made several excuses to visit the County Commander's home to investigate, but found nothing unusual—unaware the County Commander had hidden the ledgers in the Registrar's house."

Yu Qian idly picked up one ledger and flipped through it; seeing the countless gaps and falsifications, he laughed bitterly.

He slammed the ledger down in front of Cai Cheng: "Cai Cheng, you're truly a magistrate abandoned by all."

Cai Cheng collapsed to his knees, forehead striking the ground, wailing: "My lord, your humble servant is guilty—please forgive me—"

Yu Qian, face grim, asked: "Let me ask you once more—how is the pacification negotiation progressing?"

Cai Cheng's lips trembled, unable to speak.

Yu Qian leaned close to him: "Cai Cheng, if pacification succeeds, you might only lose your official hat. If it fails, your life…"

The Emperor doesn't hesitate when executing corrupt officials, especially ones like you—somewhat rooted, but not deeply so.

He won't even blink.

Cai Cheng shuddered and immediately said: "It's succeeded, it's succeeded, it's almost succeeded—please, my lord, give me a few more days."

Yu Qian's face remained grim: "You said three days—there's still one day left, yet I've seen you lounging these past two days. Cai Cheng, I don't have time to waste with you. If you can't resolve this within the five-day limit you originally stated…"

Cai Cheng bowed his head repeatedly: "I can do it—I'll go meet Song Dalin right away."

After Cai Cheng and Wu the Secretary left, Lu Yuan asked, puzzled: "My lord, you could have claimed this achievement yourself—why hand it to him? With Pan Yun as intermediary, there's a high chance the negotiation could succeed."

Yu Qian said: "We're officials from Jingcheng—we'll stay awhile, then leave. Local governance still depends on local officials."

Today I could seize this credit, but what happens after I leave? If the next county magistrate is like Cai Cheng, the people of Yushan will merely jump from one pit into another."

Lu Yuan: "Will handing the credit to Cai Cheng really avoid this pit?"

"Not necessarily—but the odds improve," Yu Qian said. "I am an imperial envoy; whether to exempt the two-tael tax or reduce corvée, I can directly petition the court and request an imperial decree. But once the decree reaches the locality, how it's implemented—and to what extent—is entirely up to the local officials."

Today they obey the imperial order and waive taxes and corvée; tomorrow they invent new names to collect money again. And corvée remains under the control of the local government office—unless the Emperor issues a direct order mandating the abolition of certain corvée duties, this will never end.

It's unrealistic to ask the Emperor to issue such an order.

It's not that the Emperor is unwilling—he simply can't. Corvée labor involves too many interests; even during great famines, the Emperor usually waives tax levies but never interferes with corvée.

Corvée can only be hoped for through the moral character of local officials.

Like Ming Ren.

When he was in office, corvée was still harsh, but the annual labor quotas were minimal: short-term corvée drew one from every ten households; long-term corvée drew one from every thirty; widows, widowers, and the elderly were exempt.

How unlike Cai Cheng—short-term corvée demands one person from every household, and those selected for long-term corvée are still forced into short-term labor, so some households must send two able-bodied men, each serving both long and short corvée.

Wang Xiaojing's family went from prosperous farmers to destitute peasants, and finally, with no way out, rebelled—precisely because their household was forced to supply both short and long corvée, leaving them no breathing room.

Thinking of this, Yu Qian's eyes flashed with cold light—officials like Cai Cheng, utterly devoid of compassion, are a disaster for the common people!

Cai Cheng rushed into the charity clinic, shoved aside the villagers waiting in line, and snapped irritably: "Why are there still so many people?"

The villagers turned to look at him, their gazes cold and indifferent.

Wu the Secretary wiped sweat from his brow and whispered: "The Imperial Envoy ordered the city gates opened to let the people in for free medical treatment…"

Cai Cheng, unnerved by their stares, pushed through the crowd and hurried to find Pan Yun.

Pan Yun was still half-dead, handing out medicine to patients.

Cai Cheng pulled her aside and whispered: "Have you arranged a meeting with Song Dalin? When will he agree to see me?"

Pan Yun replied slowly: "Why the rush? The message has been delivered, but they haven't replied yet. Have you even settled on the terms for pacification?"

Where could he possibly settle them?

After returning, Cai Cheng discussed for hours with Wu the Secretary and realized he had authority to agree to only one thing: reducing corvée labor.

Everything else required reporting to Guangxin Prefecture for the Prefect's decision.

Cai Cheng was afraid to meet the Prefect, so he hadn't moved.

Pan Yun shook her head: "Magistrate Cai, this won't work. Your heart isn't sincere, and you have no concrete terms to offer. Song Dalin won't meet you—and if he does, and finds you have nothing to offer, he might fly into a rage and cut your head off."

"He dares!" Cai Cheng said. "I demand the negotiations be held only with him and Wang Xiaojing—no guards allowed."

Pan Yun shook her head and sighed: "Magistrate Cai, Song Dalin may be illiterate, but surely he's heard old folktales? Is the Hongmen Banquet story so obscure?

Besides, Wang Xiaojing is educated—Song Dalin may not understand, but can he not?"