gnovel Chapter 212 Censor
Chapter 212 Censor
On the fifteenth day of the sixth month of the fifth year of the Zhizheng era (1345), in Taicang, it was cloudy and rainy.
Han Yuanshan got up early in the morning and then summoned several officials under his command to discuss matters in the corridor.
He was from Bianliang, and his ancestors originated from Han Chong of the mid-Tang Dynasty. Chong served as a military officer in the garrisons of Heyang and Zhaoyi, and later was appointed as the military governor of Xuanwu Army in Bianzhou. As a result, his family branched out near Bianliang and became a large clan that continues to this day.
Han Yuanshan's current position is "Censor-in-Chief of the Jiangnan Circuits", a second-rank official position, and he has only served in this position for three months.
The "Jiangnan Circuit Censorate" (abbreviated as "Jiangnan Circuit" or "South"), together with the Censorate (Inner), Shaanxi Circuit (West), Yunnan Circuit, and Hexi Circuit, constituted the local supervisory system of the Yuan Dynasty.
The southern prefecture was located in Jiangning, Jiqing Road, and it had ten circuits under its jurisdiction, including the "Jiangnan Zhexi Circuit" (governed from Hangzhou).
As soon as Han Yuanshan took office, he was subtly marginalized by the local forces in the south, who threw him a hot potato: to investigate Meng, the leader of the "Red Headband" gang. Han Yuanshan had no objections, calmly accepted the task and left to inspect the local area and supervise the handling of cases. He had now arrived in Kunshan Prefecture and rented a private courtyard as a temporary office.
Han Yuanshan didn't have many capable people at his disposal. The Southern Court only assigned him two Censors (rank 7) from the Censorate, plus some clerks, and the rest had to be found in the local areas.
A messenger arrived from Jiangbei last night with a letter, which Han Yuanshan only received now. He opened it to read while listening to his subordinates' report. The censor Zhang Ci's voice rose and fell slightly: "The woman with the red headband committed the crime last September, and half a year has passed. During this time, local officials have been shirking responsibility and engaging in perfunctory work."
"Alright, get to the point. Stop with the bureaucratic jargon and speak properly," Han Yuanshan said, glancing at Zhang Ci. Zhang Ci then changed the subject, saying, "The methods of the Liangzhe Transport Commission may seem clumsy, but they are effective. After half a year of investigation, the three prefectures of Hangzhou, Pingjiang, Zhou, and Jiangyin have the most salted fish, and they all appeared suddenly. There must be something fishy about this."
Han Yuanshan didn't speak, but just nodded and continued reading the letter.
Zhang Ci added, "The salted fish in Pingjiang Road are mainly from Taicang and Liujiagang. Since last winter, the government's taxation has more than doubled. Upon investigation, it was found that most of them were sold by the Shen Wansan family."
Han Yuanshan raised his head and asked, "Has the matter been clarified? Where did the salt used by the Shen family to pickle their fish come from?"
"It's all government-supplied salt." Zhang Ci said, somewhat dissatisfied, and then complained, "The censor who investigated last time only cared about soliciting bribes and didn't do his job properly. However, the Shen family uses three ounces of salt per pound of salted fish, which is normal. The red headband should have nothing to do with the Shen family."
Han Yuanshan lowered his head again and said, "Continue."
"The salted fish from Hangzhou is mainly sold by the Ni family. They use five ounces of salt per pound, which is a bit too much. But I don't think the Ni family is the one with the red headband," Zhang Ci said.
"What's the reason?" Han Yuanshan asked without even looking up.
"The Ni family is extremely wealthy, with businesses spread across Hangzhou and Qingyuan Roads, and they also have overseas trade. Their wealth is rolling in, so there's really no need for them to engage in business that could cost them their lives," Zhang Ci said.
Han Yuanshan grunted and asked, "How is the prefecture?"
"The prefecture is quite suspicious." Zhang Ci's spirits lifted, and he said, "In February, the clerk Zhao Fu was sent to the prefecture to conduct an investigation, both openly and covertly."
As he spoke, Zhang Ci pointed to a middle-aged man with a pale face standing by a pillar.
Han Yuanshan glanced at Zhao Fuliu and nodded slightly.
Zhao Fuliu was overjoyed, but he still managed to maintain a calm expression.
Zhang Ci continued, "There's a children's rhyme on Yangyu Island (now part of Luqiao District), which has been around for over thirty years. It goes, 'Yangyu is green, and the sea spirits emerge.'" "What does that mean?" Han Yuanshan's expression turned serious.
"Legend has it that in that year, the once barren Yangyu Mountain suddenly became overgrown with vegetation, lush and verdant. The villagers considered it a wonder, saying that a spirit had emerged from the sea," Zhang Ci said. "And there happened to be a salt merchant from the sea in the prefecture, nicknamed 'Sea Spirit,' who was born in that year."
"Who is it?"
"His name was Fang Guozhen, the son of Fang Boqi, a tenant farmer."
"Tell me in detail," Han Yuanshan said.
Zhang Ci then offered an explanation.
It turns out that the Fang family had been smuggling salt at sea for generations, but they probably made enough money and stopped. However, by Fang Boqi's generation, something happened that caused the family to fall into poverty, to the point that they had to work as tenant farmers.
Boqi had five sons: Guoxin, Guozhang, Guozhen, Guoying, and Guomin.
Boqi was timid and cowardly, unlike the descendants of a salt smuggler. However, his five sons were from a relatively wealthy family when they were young, so they grew up to be tall and strong. The third son, Fang Guozhen, was the most outstanding, towering over his brothers and possessing great strength and vitality.
With the family in such dire straits, the five brothers took over the salt-making business.
"Wait a minute," Han Yuanshan interrupted Zhang Ci, asking in confusion, "Salt processing plants can be contracted out too?"
Zhang Ci nodded and said, "Wen did have such a thing."
Han Yuanshan remained silent.
Shouldn't salt producers be under the jurisdiction of the saltworks?
Salt stoves are the assets of the saltworks; how can they be contracted out?
So what are you saltworkers doing? Just sitting around collecting money and doing nothing?
Whom do the salt farmers listen to? The officials at the salt fields or the people who contracted the salt production sites?
"Your Excellency, this January, Fang Guoxin, the eldest son of the Fang family, fought with Cai Luantou, a local tyrant, over a salt pan. He was killed by Luantou. This shows that the Wen Saltworks do indeed have a habit of outsourcing their salt production." Zhao Fuliu added boldly from the side.
Han Yuanshan's eyes narrowed.
The term "laopen" refers to a large vessel used for boiling salt by the sea, and by extension, the "salt-boiling industry." Regardless of the meaning, it indicates that the Fang and Cai families had indeed deeply intervened in Wenzhou's salt industry, to the point that they fought each other, resulting in violence and even death.
"Fang Guoxin is dead. Who's in charge of the Fang family now?" Han Yuanshan asked.
"Fang Guozhen is in charge," Zhang Ci said. "According to our investigation, after Fang Guozhen contracted the salt-making workshops, he kept a large amount of salt for himself and also collected salt from the surrounding areas, which he then sold extensively in eastern Zhejiang."
"So, firstly," Han Yuanshan paused for a moment, then asked, "Do you think Fang Guoxin might be the leader of the Red Headband Bandits? After his death, Fang Guozhen gathered this force and committed crimes again recently?"
At this point, Zhang Ci hesitated, unsure of what to say.
"Censor Zhang, just speak your mind, why are you being so hesitant?" urged Yeljini, the fifth-rank official in charge of the Jiangnan-Zhexi Circuit's Censorate. This man was a Tangut, whose courtesy name was Shangwen. He was originally a Censor of Shaanxi Province, but this year he was transferred to the Censorate as a Censor. However, he "rebelled against the Heavenly Gang" and directly impeached his department head, the Grand Censor, Bierqiebuhua.
Bie'erqiebuhua smiled on the outside but cursed inwardly. He immediately promoted Yeerjini in name only and appointed him as the Director of the Anti-Corruption Bureau of Zhejiang West Circuit, making him take office in a hurry.
The Southern and Western Zhejiang Circuit's Anti-Corruption and Investigative Affairs Bureau was also a bit worried about this troublemaker, so they handed him over to the newly arrived Han Yuanshan, who went out to handle cases with him, out of sight, out of mind.
Yeljini's mind wasn't on the case either; he'd heard he was planning to impeach Berkebuqa again. However, being Han Yuanshan's temporary subordinate, he still had to attend the meeting. Seeing Zhang Ci hesitating, he became annoyed and made a sarcastic remark.
Zhang Ci ignored Yeljini's words and looked only at Han Yuanshan, saying, "Your Excellency, the former Assistant Commissioner of the Liangzhe Transport Commission, Sayyid Ajall, said that the red-banded men traveled from north to south collecting salt, and eventually returned north. Therefore, it is highly suspicious whether the Fang brothers, Guoxin and Guozhen, are indeed red-banded." "Just creating a diversion," Yeljini said directly, adopting a confrontational tone. "If I were Fang Guoxin, I would do this deliberately to confuse the public. For example, Wu Dalang, who recently caused a disturbance in the Lianghuai Transport Commission area, I think he was creating a diversion and is definitely not from Yidu. He might even be from Songjiang or Pingjiang."
Zhang Ci didn't want to argue with this troublemaker, so he only looked at Han Yuanshan.
Han Yuanshan neither agreed nor disagreed, but said, "Let's talk about Jiangyin Prefecture."
"Yes," Zhang Ci replied, "Jiangyin Prefecture is also quite suspicious. There is a salt merchant surnamed Cao there who is brave, fierce, and ruthless. There are rumors in the area that the deaths of salt merchants Zhu Ding and Wang Zongsan are inextricably linked to him. The amount of salted fish he has sold in the past six months is shocking, and he uses a lot of salt. If the salted fish sold in the city uses seven ounces of salt per pound, then the salted fish sold in Jiangyin Prefecture uses one pound of salt per pound, which means that two pounds of salted fish is half salt and half fish. This Cao is very suspicious. He might even be Meng, the leader of the Red Headband Bandit."
Han Yuanshan put down the letter and pondered for a long time.
The case from six months ago still hasn't been solved, not because the thieves are cunning, but because the government officials are incompetent and prone to shirking responsibility. Now that he's taken on the case, he'll naturally investigate it thoroughly.
"Has there been any conclusion regarding the matter at the sand quarry the other day?" Han Yuanshan looked up and suddenly asked.
Another censor, Du Zhigu, shook his head and said, "Your Excellency, the Liangzhe Transport Commission is covering up scandals, intending to downplay the matter and make it disappear. We are short-handed and find it difficult to investigate."
Han Yuanshan pondered for a moment and said, "Prefect Liu of Kunshan Prefecture is an old acquaintance of mine. Ask him to allocate some manpower for you to continue the investigation." "Yes," Du Zhigu cupped his hands and said.
"Your Excellency, give him a few soldiers. I'm afraid he'll die without knowing why," Yorgini said.
Du Zhigu's expression changed, and he looked over with annoyance.
Yeljini chuckled and said, "Those who know will think you're investigating the Red Headband's looting of the salt fields; those who don't will think you're investigating embezzlement. What if you find something out? The saltworks might get desperate and kill you. Who will you complain to then?"
Du Zhigu's face showed anger, and he was about to speak when Han Yuanshan stopped him with a gesture.
Han Yuanshan sighed and said, "Shangwen is right. I'll ask Kunshan Prefecture to select some archers from each of the patrol stations to accompany you. Are there any clerks needed?"
"It's missing," Du Zhigu said with a wry smile.
"Then we'll allocate some more clerks," Han Yuanshan said. "Let's set off as soon as possible, without delay."
Finally, Han Yuanshan stood up and said, "The state relies heavily on salt taxes; this is truly the foundation of the nation and cannot be taken lightly. If there's nothing else, you may leave and get back to work."
"Yes," everyone responded in unison, and they gradually dispersed.
A moment later, Han Yuanshan summoned an old servant and instructed him, "The officials of Pingjiang Road have sent some gifts, which are piled up in the inner room. Take them to the market and sell them later. Have someone take the money back to Bianliang and distribute it to your relatives and neighbors. These days, they have it tough too."
"Yes." The old servant bowed and took his leave.
Han Yuanshan stood there quietly and sighed.
For a fleeting moment, a hint of weariness and helplessness appeared on his face, but he quickly regained his spirits.
The world has come to this point, the people are in dire straits, and all those with insight cannot help but sigh with regret. But it is precisely because of this that we must uphold our principles and do what we ought to do.
As the saying goes, one should fulfill one's duties in one's position. Even if one's own strength is very small, as long as one persists in doing things that are beneficial to the country, one can have a clear conscience.