Lin'an Never Night

Chapter 308: Qiao Zhen, the Clever Officer (for the failed class leader, Mi Chong)
The Transportation Department was responsible for the transportation of grain and taxes, local finance, judicial supervision, inspection of local officials, maintenance of public order, investigation of criminal cases, and recommendation of talents...

With so many responsibilities, the senior officials of the Liangzhe East Route Transport Bureau were almost wiped out, leaving only Qiao Zhen, and the Transport Bureau was still able to operate smoothly.

Not only did the Transportation Bureau continue to operate smoothly, but Qiao Zhen was also able to slack off every day and go home early to carve walnuts.

From this we can see that many people only noticed Qiao Zhen’s irresponsibility but failed to discover his powerful abilities.

Compared with Pang Tong, the Phoenix who handled more than a hundred days of backlogged cases within half a day, and Di Renjie, the Dali Temple Secretary who settled more than 10,000 cases a year without any appeals, this Qiao Zhuanyunshi is probably not inferior.

This person is very capable, knows the priorities, and knows how to focus on the big and let go of the small. The entire transportation department is maintained by him alone, and it remains orderly without causing any chaos.

"This table method is really amazing."

Qiao Zhen was holding a statistical form that had just been issued by the court, on which was marked some strange numbers.

There is only one form, but the accompanying instructions are seven pages long.

However, this thing is not difficult to understand, which means that before finishing reading, Qiao Zhen has already completely understood it and can't help but exclaim in admiration.

A deputy officer asked, "Sir, do you need to distribute this form to all departments immediately?"

Qiao Zhen shook his head, handed it back to the bailiff, and said, "Keep it for now, and wait until all the officials of the Transportation Department are fully staffed."

The bailiff was obviously one of his confidants, and asked in confusion: "Since Si Gong thinks this thing can greatly reduce tediousness and improve efficiency, why not promote it when Si Gong is in charge of the Caosi alone? This is also a political achievement."

Qiao Zhen smiled and said, "I will temporarily lead the entire department. If nothing unexpected happens, I will take charge of the official seal when the officials are fully staffed. Now is the time to seek stability rather than advancement."

Qiao Zhen took a sip of the best Longjing tea and praised: "This tea is good, it is refreshing and soothing. Qingming will lead the tea ceremony from now on."

Then, he gave his confidant a heads-up, saying, "Furthermore, in each department and even in the various government offices under it, the clerks are of varying quality and have varying levels of education.

Now is the critical time for collecting autumn grain taxes. Can they all understand the new law as quickly as you and I?"

The bailiff was enlightened and agreed, "What you are worried about is right, sir."

Qiao Zhen's eyes darkened, and he continued, "In the midst of the chaos of the transition from the old to the new, if someone takes advantage of the opportunity to make some mistakes and mess up the accounts by saying they are not familiar with lowercase numbers or the statistical method of tables, even if I have three heads and six arms, I am just one person, how can I handle it?"

The officer said admiringly: "Mr. Si is very far-sighted. I admire you."

At this time, a yamen runner came to the court and reported: "Qiao Caosi, Longshan Wang Er wants to see Caosi."

As he said this, he handed over a visiting card.

Qiao Zhen frowned, opened the visiting card and saw that there was a letter inside.

When Qiao Zhen opened it, she saw that it was written by Lu You from the Lu family.

After reading it, Qiao Zhen ordered, "Please let him in." Then he waved to the bailiff.

The bailiff took the sample form and instructions issued by the court and returned to file them.

After a while, Yang Yuan was brought in.

Qiao Zhen warmly invited him to sit down, asked someone to serve tea, and introduced it with a cheerful face: "This is a new way of brewing tea in Lin'an. Since you came from Lin'an, I think you have tried it. Please."

Yang Yuan took a sip and found the taste just average. He would tell Shishi later that when the supply was insufficient, it would be better to supply less to ensure the quality.

Of course, it is also possible that Qiao Caosi bought this from someone else. In any case, it was much worse than the high-quality roasted tea he had tasted.

Qiao Zhen smiled and said, "Wu Guan is leaving for Ningde to take up his post today, right? I am busy with official duties and was unable to see you off.

"I have read Wu Guan's letter of recommendation. Since Master Wang is a good friend of Wu Guan, I will try my best to help him. I just wonder what difficulties Master Wang has encountered?"

Yang Yuan then told him that he wanted to transfer craftsmen from the Duzuoyuan to help him build the house.

Yang Yuan said: "I am not trying to save a few dollars, but building a house is a long-term project, and the craftsmen from the workshop are highly skilled, which makes people feel more at ease.

As for the wages that should be paid, rest assured, Qiao Caosi, it will not be less than a penny."

Qiao Zhen smiled and said, "That's nothing, but, hey, if you want to borrow craftsmen from the Capital Works Office, you have to get the approval of the commander of the Capital Works Office. And the commander of the Capital Works Office is a person from the Ministry of Justice who also holds the position.

I have been working as an assistant officer in the Transportation Department, and have always focused on the affairs of this department, and have had little contact with the Criminal Department."

Qiao Zhen looked embarrassed. "We are very familiar with the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Justice. You were introduced by Brother Wuguan. Even if I don't have that connection, I should ask my superior to introduce you. But something happened in my Ministry of Transport recently. I'm sure you, Master Wang, have heard about it..."

Yang Yuan was a little disappointed and said, "So, Qiao Caosi can't help here?"

Qiao Zhen shook his head and said resolutely: "Forget it, today I am off duty and I will go to the Ministry of Justice to mediate for you. If there is any sign of this matter, I will introduce you to the commander of the Capital Works Court.

This kind of thing is actually quite common. With me here, I think it shouldn't be a big problem. Prince, just listen to me."

Yang Yuan was overjoyed and hurried to thank Qiao Zhen.

Qiao Zhen smiled and said, "For Brother Wuguan's sake, I have to help with this matter. Besides, you and I are old friends right away.

Now, Qiao is the only one who is in charge of the Transportation Department, and I am really busy. I don’t know where Young Master Wang lives now. After I am done with these two days, I will hold a banquet to welcome Young Master Wang. "

Yang Yuan hurriedly said, "How dare I trouble Qiao Caosi to invite me? It should be Wang who invites Caosi."

"No time, no time..."

Qiao Zhen waved her hands, looking painful: "The affairs of more than a dozen senior officials in the Transportation Department are now all on Qiao alone, and I really can't get away from it.

Qiao has been staying out all night these past few days, sleeping in the public housing. Alas, I will have some free time when the court is fully staffed."

Yang Yuan smiled and said, "Since I am going to buy a house in Shanyin, I will naturally stay here for a while. Then I will host a banquet for you when Qiao Caosi is free."

"Haha, you're welcome. You're welcome."

Yang Yuan stood up to say goodbye. Qiao Zhen was very enthusiastic and accompanied him to the ceremonial gate. Yang Yuan repeatedly asked him to stay, and only then did Qiao Zhen stop.

Qiao Zhen smiled and said, "Don't worry. I'm off duty tonight, so I'll put aside my work and go to the Criminal Division for you. If there's any clue, I'll send someone to inform you right away."

"Thank you, Caosi."

Yang Yuan bowed deeply, then turned and left the Transportation Office.

The Transportation Department is quite powerful and has the right to control and supervise the Criminal Department, and this deputy envoy is obviously going to be promoted to a regular position.

With him coming forward, the Ministry of Justice will not refuse to give him face, and the matter will be settled.

Just wait for the contact with the Chief Justice, and then see how to cleverly get at least a few of the craftsmen on his list.

Now that he had nothing to do, Yang Yuan thought about it and decided to go to "Miaoxiu Temple".

Wentian brought a builder with him and is currently conducting an on-site inspection. If he has any ideas, he can go and talk to the builder.

Although the house was built for fishing, since it was built, we have to put some effort into it.

When Qiao Zhen returned to the signing room, she crumpled up Yang Yuan's visiting card and the letter of recommendation and threw them into the "trash bin" beside her.

He would not go to the Ministry of Justice. Master Qiao never asks for help from others, and no one should ask him for help. Official craftsmen were mobilized to build a private house. Official craftsmen were paid by the court. Who would get the money they paid?

This kind of thing is common, but just because it's common doesn't necessarily mean it's legal.

Mr. Qiao loves money, but he won't make money that has hidden dangers.

Wait for two days, and then he will go to see Wang Ershao again and say that the Ministry of Justice did not give him face.

In order to help Wang Ershao, he was humiliated by the Ministry of Justice, so Wang Ershao owed him a favor.

He didn't care whether it was a favor or not. Anyway, he didn't plan to ask this Mr. Wang for help in the future. As long as he didn't offend anyone and didn't arouse jealousy, it would be fine.

Then, he opened a file sent by the Ministry of Justice and began to review it.

The file contained thousands of words, but Qiao Zhen was already familiar with the officialdom routines. He read ten lines at a glance, picked out the essentials, and soon understood it.

He Hongying, a tyrant in Wuzhou, colluded with officials, set up a private court, ran rampant in the village, and allowed his gang to beat four people to death and force two people to death, and extorted thousands of strings of cash.

This person also relied on his power to cut down other people's trees, occupy other people's mountains, fields, and houses, and refused to pay back his debts.

Because a murder occurred, the matter became a big deal and the local authorities arrested him.

Now, the Liangzhe East Route Judicial Department has made a judgment. The main culprit, He Hongying, was sentenced to 20 strokes of the cane on the back and exiled to the city.

Considering that he was from a famous family, he was given a lighter sentence, a 100-stroke cane and a military garrison. All the money he had extorted must be returned.

After reading it, Qiao Zhen frowned. He found many problems in the file transferred from the Ministry of Justice.

The accomplices were all severely punished. Not to mention the scoundrels who had killed people, even the clerks who had shielded He Hongying were all given 20 strokes of the cane and sent to the army 2,000 miles away.

But He Hongying, who was clearly the principal offender, was only sentenced to twenty strokes of the cane, and his sentence was even lighter, changed to caning for inspection, which means that it will not be executed for the time being.

Moreover, he was originally going to be sent to exile, but now after his sentence was reduced, he has been placed under "residence under surveillance", which means residential surveillance.

Also, the files mentioned that this person had been making wine for a living.

The Song Dynasty wine industry was government-run. If a private individual wanted to sell wine, he had to obtain the winery's operating rights and tax collection rights through bidding.

Anyone who can get this bid is definitely not a mortal with low energy.
Moreover, since private brewing affected local and imperial tax revenues, the imperial court gave contractors the power to capture private brewers.

He Hongying took advantage of this fact, recruited ruffians, gathered thugs, and gradually became rampant.

Qiao Zhen looked at the file and shook his head. Six lives were lost. It must be that their group was too arrogant and bullied others, and the other party could no longer bear it and rose up in resistance. A fierce fight broke out between the two sides, and they were killed on the spot.

Otherwise, when one life died, the matter would become a big deal and he would not be allowed to kill people one after another.

But now, even though the verdict has been made, it is as good as no verdict. Those are six lives involved, and they are only sentenced to residential surveillance?

As the government agency responsible for supervising the judiciary, if he signs and seals his name, the case will be settled.

But..., for six lives, the sentence given to the main culprit is too light.

What if the family of the deceased is dissatisfied and goes to Lin'an to file a complaint, and the matter becomes a big deal and no one can handle it? Then, as the person who signed the contract, wouldn't I also be implicated?
Of course, what if I appeal for a heavier sentence on the grounds that it is too lenient?

Qiao Zhen thought of the reason for commutation of sentence mentioned: being from a famous family.

Which famous family does he come from?

His last name is He...

Qiao Zhen thought for a moment and roughly guessed what family it was.

Hiss~, the powerful are so awe-inspiring!

I am the deputy envoy of the Liangzhe East Route Transportation Department. If I offend these local powerful families and they refuse to cooperate with me in everything, how can I complete the government affairs that I am responsible for?

The old wily man neither wanted to do anything to harm others nor to bear the pressure from the local tyrants. He was considering what reason to refute him when the bailiff came to report that Master Shenxi had arrived.

Upon hearing this, Qiao Zhen put the file aside for the time being and stood up to greet Shen Xi.

Shen Xi went straight to the point and asked as soon as he sat down whether Wang Er from Longshan had been there just now.

He told Qiao Zhen bluntly that this person had a grudge against him and hoped that Qiao Caosi would give him some face and not help the man from Lin'an.

Qiao Zhen had a smile on his face as if he was blessed by heaven. While listening to Shen Xi compiling all the faults of Wang Er, one leg had quietly stretched out from under his official robe, and he hooked the "wastebasket" with his official boots, quietly hooking the wastebasket to his feet.

While Shen Xi was drinking tea as he said he was thirsty, Qiao Zhen quickly picked up Yang Yuan's visiting card and Lu You's recommendation letter from the trash can and hid them in his sleeves.

Shen Xi moistened his throat and raised his head and said, "Qiao Caosi, Wang Er is just a foreigner. You won't refuse to give me this favor, right?"

Qiao Zhen sighed and said, "Wang Er is a foreigner, but... Lu Wuguan is not a foreigner!"

Qiao Zhen took out the visiting card and the letter of recommendation from his sleeve and placed them on the table: "Lu Wuguan has entrusted me with the request, and he has gone to Fuzhou to take up his post. If I do nothing, how can I face my old friend when Wuguan returns to Shanyin in the future?"

Shen Xi's expression suddenly changed: "So he has already gone through Lu Wuguan's connections, no wonder..., so, you, Qiao Caosi, can't help me with this favor?"

"But it's not the case!"

Qiao Zhen quickly tore Lu You's letter of recommendation into pieces, threw it into the "trash bin" and clapped his hands.

Qiao Zhen said in a deep voice: "Can't Qiao even tell the difference between close and distant relatives? Not to mention that Wang Er is just a person entrusted by Lu Wuguan, there is a level of relationship difference.

Even if Lu Wuguan came in person, compared to you, Master Shen, I am still closer to you."

Shen Xi was so happy that his face flushed red.

The reason why he was so resentful towards Yang Yuan was not really because he had to get Emmanuelle Belle.

What this spoiled young master of a wealthy family cares most about is his face.

Yang Yuan rejected him, and his rejection was very blunt, which made him lose face. That's why he was so resentful and wanted to get back at her.

As a person who loves face the most, someone now gave him a huge face and chose him without hesitation between Lu You and him, which made Shen Xi very happy.

"Okay! Qiao Caosi, Mr. Shen was not wrong about you. Face is given to each other. If you give me a bit of respect, I can give you a lot of respect in return."

Shen Xi patted his chest and said generously: "In the future, if you, Qiao Caosi, have any problems, I, Shen, will not frown even if I have to go through mountains of swords and seas of fire!"

Qiao Zhen laughed happily: "You are too kind, too kind. How could it be possible for you, Master Shen, to go through fire and water?"

He picked up the file and said to Shen Xi, "What a coincidence, there is a case here with many strange things in it.

I want to get to the bottom of this, but as the Inspector of the Canal Administration, I cannot take action without evidence.

Mr. Shen is a famous person in Shanyin, and he is highly respected. Qiao would like to ask Mr. Shen to do a small favor and help me to open up the situation! "

(End of this chapter)