Chapter 386: Greedy Officials and Corrupt Officials

Zhu Yong stops his horse, squints and looks for a while: "Ahead is Jizake County."

Zhu Biao also stops his horse, looking at the city. The city is not large, but it is livelier than he imagined.

Soldiers guard the city gate, checking those entering and leaving.

As the party approaches, the soldiers at the gate see the large banner of Prince Wu, their faces change, and they hurriedly kneel to pay respect.

Zhu Yong waves his hand, signaling them to rise.

He flips off the horse and leads Zhu Biao into the city.

Jizake County town is slightly larger than Katakurgan, and its streets are a bit wider.

But after Zhu Yong walks only a few steps, his brows knit together.

There are not many people on the Street, and they all keep their heads down, hurrying.

Several Shops are closed, dust settled on the doors, looking as if they haven't opened for some time.

A few beggars squat by the roadside, in tattered clothes, their faces yellow and bodies thin.

Seeing their party, the beggars lift their heads, their eyes full of numbness.

Zhu Yong's pace slows.

He turns his head toward Zhang Wu, whose complexion is also unpleasant.

"Prince, this is wrong," Zhang Wu lowers his voice.

Zhu Yong nods.

He, of course, knows it's wrong.

Jizake County was established last year; a county magistrate was sent from Yingtian Prefecture, allocated land, repaired canals—anyway, it shouldn't look like this.

He quickens his steps toward the county yamen.

The county yamen is in the city center, a three‑courtyard compound, with two stone lion statues at the gate, polished to a glossy shine.

Compared with the city's decay, the yamen is quite imposing.

At the gate stand two yamen clerks, wearing brand‑new white robes, knives at their waists, looking very spry.

Seeing Zhu Yong's party, the two clerks are first startled, then hurriedly kneel to pay respect.

Zhu Yong ignores them and strides inside.

In the main hall of the yamen, a middle‑aged man in seventh‑rank official robes sits on a grand master chair, drinking tea.

He is white and plump, with three long tufts of beard, looking rather like a kindly old gentleman.

Seeing Zhu Yong enter, he is first startled, then hurriedly stands and kneels to pay respect.

"I, Zhao Wenhan, magistrate of Jizake County, request an audience with Prince Wu."

Zhu Yong looks at him, saying nothing.

Zhao Wenhan kneels on the ground, his forehead pressed to the tiles, daring not to lift his head.

He does not know why Prince Wu arrived suddenly, but he knows the visitor is ill‑intent.

"Rise..." Zhu Yong finally speaks.

Zhao Wenhan scrambles to his feet, head lowered, standing cautiously to the side.

Zhu Yong walks two steps in the main hall, his gaze scanning the furnishings.

Rosewood tables and chairs, blue‑and‑white porcelain tea set, and renowned calligraphy and paintings hung on the walls.

The yamen's grandeur surpasses even the Governor's Office of Samarchan.

"Magistrate Zhao, how long have you been here?"

"Your Prince, I... I arrived last year, and have been here for over a year now."

"Over a year, over a year, you have let this county become like this?" Zhu Yong repeats, turning to look at him as he says.

Zhao Wenhan's complexion changes.

"Your... Prince, I..."

"Why are there so many beggars on the Street?" Zhu Yong interrupts him.

Zhao Wenhan opens his mouth, unable to speak.

"Why are the Shops closed?"

"Why are the common folk so yellow‑skinned and thin?"

"Now you tell me."

Zhao Wenhan's forehead begins to sweat, his lips tremble, and he cannot utter a single word.

Zhu Biao walks in from outside and sits on a chair.

He says nothing, just watches Zhao Wenhan with a calm gaze, but Zhao Wenhan feels that gaze is even more frightening than Zhu Yong's interrogation.

Zhu Di also enters, standing at the doorway with arms crossed, his face grim.

A few children follow behind; Zhu Xiongying and Zhu Qiong Jiong stand at the door, watching the scene, silent.

Zhu Huanhuan holds Zhu Gaochi's hand, standing under the pomegranate tree in the courtyard, not entering.

Zhu Yong steps before Zhao Wenhan, looking down from a height.

"Magistrate Zhao, my patience is limited."

Zhao Wenhan collapses with a thud to the ground, trembling all over.

"Your Prince, I... I am wronged..."

"Wronged, then tell me, what is the situation with the beggars on the Street, why are the Shops closed, why are the common folk yellow‑skinned and thin?" Zhu Yong's voice is low but ice‑cold.

Zhao Wenhan kneels on the ground, kowtowing repeatedly as if pounding garlic.

"Your Prince, I... since taking office, I have labored day and night, daring not a moment of slack, this Jizake County is remote, the people are obstinate, I... I am truly powerless..."

Zhu Yong says nothing, just continues to stare at him.

Zhao Wenhan's kowtowing sounds echoed in the main hall, one after another, like drums.

Zhu Biao suddenly spoke, replying, "Zhao Wenhan, a jinshi of the eighteenth year of Hongwu, native of Yingtian Prefecture, appointed as magistrate of Jizake. Your record, this Prince has reviewed."

Zhao Wenhan lifted his head, his complexion ghastly.

Zhu Biao continued, "When you were waiting in Yingtian Prefecture for your appointment, you once said at the Ministry of Personnel office, you said, 'In Tie Mu Er Prefecture the sky is high and the Emperor far away; going there makes one a local emperor.'"

"Is that what you said...?"

Zhao Wenhan's face grew even whiter, his lips trembling, unable to utter a single word.

"This Prince asks you, is it so?" Zhu Biao's voice was still low, but the oppressive feeling made everyone present feel suffocated.

"Servant… servant…" Zhao Wenhan collapsed onto the ground, shaking all over.

Zhu Yong looked at him, the fire in his heart could not be restrained.

The sky is high, the Emperor far; going there makes one a local emperor.

To dare speak such words.

"Zhang Wu..." he called out.

Zhang Wu strode in, clasping his fists, saying, "Your servant is here!"

"Go, bring all the Account Books, household registers, and tax ledgers of this county here."

"Yes!"

Zhang Wu left with his men.

Zhao Wenhan lay on the ground, shaking all over, his complexion ashen, like a fish hauled onto the shore.

Zhu Yong turned, walked to the chair and sat, lifting the teapot on the table to pour a cup of tea.

The tea was premium Longjing, very fragrant.

He took a sip, then set the cup down.

"Zhao County Magistrate, your tea is fine."

Zhao Wenhan trembled, daring not to reply.

After about half an hour, Zhang Wu returned with his men.

Several people carried large boxes; the boxes were opened, and inside were all Account Books.

Zhu Yong picked up a volume, flipped through it, then set it down.

He is not Zhu Gaochi; accounting is not his strong suit.

He looked at Zhu Gaochi, the youngster standing at the doorway, clutching that little notebook, his eyes sparkling.

"Gaochi, come over."

Zhu Gaochi entered, bowing properly, "Second Uncle."

"These accounts, take a look for me."

Zhu Gaochi responded, squatted beside the box, opened an Account Book, and began reading.

He reviewed the accounts swiftly, flipping page by page, his eyes scanning, the numbers committing to memory.

A junior clerk beside him assisted, grinding ink and handing the brush, daring not to breathe loudly.

The main hall was very quiet, only the sound of pages turning and Zhu Gaochi's occasional murmurs.

After about half an hour, Zhu Gaochi stood, walked to Zhu Yong's side.

"Second Uncle, the accounts don't match..."

"Where is the discrepancy?"

"The household register lists 3,200 households, but only 1,800 actually received grain; where did the shortfall of 1,400 households go?"

Zhao Wenhan's face grew even whiter.

Zhu Gaochi continued, "There's also tax: last year the whole county should have collected 32,000 shi of grain, but only 18,000 shi actually entered the storehouse; the shortfall of 14,000 shi is recorded on the accounts as 'loss.'"

He paused, then opened another Account Book.

But on the Ministry of Works' accounts, Jizake County allocated 5,000 taels of silver last year for canal repairs.

In reality, only 1,200 taels were spent on the canals.

The remaining 3,800 taels are recorded as 'material costs.'

Yet the Ministry of Works' material list shows no such expenditure.

Zhu Gaochi closed the Account Book, looking at Zhu Yong. "Second Uncle, every entry in these accounts fails to match."

The main hall was so quiet one could hear a heartbeat.

Zhu Yong looked at Zhao Wenhan. "Zhao County Magistrate, what do you have to say?"

Zhao Wenhan lay on the ground, shaking all over, his lips trembling, unable to utter a single word.

Zhu Biao stood, walked to Zhao Wenhan's side, and lowered his head to look at him.

"Zhao Wenhan, how much did you embezzle?"

Zhao Wenhan knelt on the ground, kowtowing as if pounding garlic.

"Prince… Prince, I… I was momentarily confused… I beg the Prince for mercy…"

Zhu Biao said nothing, just stared at him.

Zhu Yong stood, walked to the doorway, and looked at the pomegranate tree in the courtyard.

The sunlight was fine, shining on the leaves, making the green gleam.

But in his heart it felt as if a stone were pressed down, heavy.

He recalled last night in Katakurgan County, that white‑haired old man grabbing Zhu Biao's hand, saying, "A commoner's life is worth it."

Both are county magistrates; one lets the people live in peace and prosperity, the other leaves the people displaced.

"Zhang Wu."

"Your servant is present."

"Strip Zhao Wenhan of his official robes, lock him up, confiscate his household, and not a single copper coin may be missing."

"Yes!"

Zhang Wu, with his men, dragged Zhao Wenhan down.

Zhao Wenhan kept shouting "Prince, spare me," his voice growing fainter until it finally vanished beyond the courtyard wall.

Zhu Yong turned around and looked at Zhu Biao.

"Brother, this kind of person cannot stay."

Zhu Biao nodded and said, "Proceed according to the law."

Zhu Yong looked again at Zhu Gaochi.

"Chi Er, go check again and see how many accounts still don't match."

Zhu Gaochi replied with a sound, squatted down, and continued flipping through the Account Book.

Zhu Xiongying stood at the doorway, watching the scene, his complexion a bit pale.

It was his first time seeing a corrupt official with his own eyes, and also his first time witnessing his father and second uncle dealing with a corrupt official.

"Xiong Ying," Zhu Biao called him.

Zhu Xiongying walked over and stood before his father.

"Did you see it?" Zhu Biao asked.

"I saw it."

"Remember today; when you become Emperor in the future, this kind of person cannot stay."

Zhu Xiongying remained silent for a long while, then finally nodded.