Great Song Dynasty Writer

Chapter 366 Chain Plan

After Jia Changchao returned to his train, the hall fell into a brief silence.

The fragrance of sandalwood wafted gently, yet it could not suppress the undercurrents stirred up by the previous exchanges of music.

Lu Beigu witnessed this silent contest on his first day in court, and he was now secretly pondering the various details involved.

Before the atmosphere could ease, another person stepped forward, holding a tablet; it was Zhang Fangping, the Commissioner of the Three Departments.

"Your Majesty, I hereby submit a memorial regarding the matter of the Grand Canal transport in the southeast."

His face was calm, and his voice was loud: "Last year, Huainan, Jiangzhe, and Jinghu had a bumper harvest, but some of the grain transported north suffered heavy losses along the way. There were frequent reports of embezzlement by granary officials and shipwrecks. This spring, the Grand Canal thawed and the grain transport began. If we do not strictly regulate the situation, it may jeopardize the important military and national plans. I request that capable officials be dispatched to inspect the grain transport routes, strictly check the records, punish those who embezzle, and order the Huainan, Jiangzhe, and Jinghu Transport Commissioners to optimize the organization of grain transport ships and reinforce the dikes in dangerous sections, so that the fertile lands of the southeast can be effectively transported to the capital."

Zhao Zhen nodded slightly: "The grain transport is vital to the nation and cannot be taken lightly. I approve your suggestion to select honest and upright officials to inspect the grain transport. If any illegal acts are committed, they will be severely punished without exception."

Zhang Fangping accepted the imperial decree, but continued, "Your Majesty, the problems with the Grand Canal lie in personnel and the legal system. I have observed that many of the old regulations of the Grand Canal Administration are outdated. For example, the rewards and punishments for officials in charge of transporting grain prioritize speed over cost, causing the grain transport vessels to often travel at high speeds and risk capsizing. Furthermore, the responsibilities of the prefectures and counties along the river in assisting with the transport are unclear, and many shirk their duties. I earnestly request Your Majesty's permission to have the Three Departments take the lead in revising the Grand Canal regulations, clarifying responsibilities and powers, and making rewards and punishments more practical."

This proposal touched upon the very foundation of the Grand Canal transport system and involved the interests of many government departments, immediately eliciting hushed murmurs within the hall.

Wen Yanbo and Fu Bi exchanged glances, unsure of what kind of deal they had made with Zhang Fangping, but soon Wen Yanbo spoke up in support: "The Canal Transport Regulations have been in place for many years and have accumulated deep-seated problems. It is indeed necessary to formulate new regulations for the benefit of the long term."

"The Grand Canal transport is of great importance, and the revision of the regulations should be carried out with caution."

Jia Changchao frowned slightly, but said, "Although the current regulations have minor flaws, they are generally complete. If we suddenly change them all, it may cause chaos in the grain transport, which would be undesirable."

Jia Changchao's statement was very hasty. Lu Beigu hadn't figured out what his connection was with the canal transport for the time being. However, there was no doubt that Zhang Fangping's proposal, besides giving the Three Departments more power, was largely aimed at personnel matters. Otherwise, he wouldn't have specifically pointed out the issue of official corruption.

The two sides then argued about the urgency of reforming the canal transport system.

Zhang Fangping insisted on his opinion, citing data and examples to strongly argue for the necessity of reforming the canal transport system; Jia Changchao emphasized stability, worrying that rash reforms would cause turmoil; Han Qi, Fu Bi, and others supported Zhang Fangping from different perspectives.

Another round of heated debate erupted inside the hall.

Lu Beigu stood quietly and listened, and soon he caught some key information.

Zhang Fangping said, “Your Majesty, the position of Commissioner of Transportation and Logistics in Huainan, Jiangzhe, and Jinghu has been vacant for a long time since Zhou Zhan was promoted to Vice Commissioner of Revenue. As a result, the southern grain transport lacks unified management. I request that Gao Liangfu, a judge of the Ministry of Revenue, be appointed to this position.”

Gao Liangfu was Zhang Fangping's confidant. The two had gone through thick and thin together in Sichuan, dealing with the rumors of the "Sichuan Rebellion of 1894" three years ago.

Before Zhang Fangping was reinstated as Minister of the Three Departments, Gao Liangfu had already been transferred back to the capital to serve as a judge in the Ministry of Revenue.

Zhang Fangping's actions, ostensibly for the sake of the Grand Canal, were in reality an attempt to use the situation to his advantage. On the one hand, he was indeed fulfilling his duties as the Commissioner of the Three Departments; on the other hand, he may have wanted to use this opportunity to further extend his influence into the local Grand Canal system.

Jia Changchao said, "Your Majesty, I believe that Wang Kui, who has served as the Transport Commissioner of Jiangnan West Circuit and Huainan Transport Commissioner, is well-versed in the affairs of grain transport and is capable of undertaking this important task."

Han Qi immediately retorted, "Wang Kui has just returned to the capital for investigation after the defeat in the campaign against the Xi Dong barbarians. The responsibility has not yet been clearly determined. How can he be given a new position?"

The reason Han Qi made this statement was that last winter, the Xi Dong barbarians harassed the Jinghu region, and the imperial court ordered local officials in Jinghu, such as Li Suzhi, Song Shouxin, and Jia Shixiong, to lead troops to suppress them, while Wang Kui was responsible for military supplies.

However, in order to suppress dissent and prevent Li Suzhi and others from achieving merit, Wang Kui secretly embezzled a significant portion of the military supplies. Not long after the Song army entered the mountains, their logistical support could not keep up. In addition, due to their unfamiliarity with the terrain, they were relentlessly pursued by the Xidong barbarians, resulting in the deaths of more than forty soldiers and the wounding of hundreds more.

As a result, both sides began to send letters to each other accusing each other.

The result was a lose-lose situation. The court appointed Wang Chuo, the Director of Criminal Justice and Assistant Director of the Revenue Department of Jiangnan West Circuit, as the Transport Commissioner of Jinghu North Circuit and Commander of Military Affairs, replacing Li Suzhi. At the same time, Wei Guan, the Vice Minister of Works and Academician of the Jixian Academy, was appointed as Academician of the Longtu Pavilion and Prefect of Jingnan, replacing Wang Kui.

Li Suzhi and Wang Kui were both ordered to return to the capital to await investigation.

Lu Beigu was quite familiar with this Wang Kui; he was the Jiangling prefect who had been forcibly taken to a banquet when he arrived in Jiangling last autumn after traveling down the Yangtze River from Luzhou.

Wang Kui was originally Chen Zhizhong's man, but now Chen Zhizhong's ally Jia Changchao seems to be interested in recruiting him.

After a brief debate, Zhao Zhen raised his hand to stop it: "The matter of the Grand Canal Transport Regulations is of great importance and cannot be decided overnight. The Three Departments should first propose specific strategies to rectify the current malpractices in the Grand Canal Transport. The revision of the regulations can be discussed jointly by the Secretariat, the Privy Council, and the Three Departments. Revise one regulation at a time as it matures. There is no need to rush to achieve results, nor should we follow the old ways and act perfunctorily."

"As for the position of the Commissioner of Transportation and Logistics in Huainan, Jiangzhe, and Jinghu, it is of great importance, so let's consider it carefully before discussing it further."

This ruling was a typical example of Emperor Zhao Zhen's balancing act, which affirmed the necessity of rectification while avoiding an immediate and intense personnel dispute. It temporarily set aside the conflict, allowing things to be resolved gradually in the future.

The emperor had spoken, and Zhang Fangping, Jia Changchao, and the others had no choice but to obey.

Subsequently, several officials stepped forward to report on matters, some mentioning local disasters, others requesting repairs to river works, and still others recommending talented individuals, all proceeding in order.

Emperor Zhao Zhen either made a decision immediately or referred it to the relevant officials for detailed discussion.

Lu Beigu listened attentively throughout, observing the expressions and tones of each person making a report, trying to decipher their unspoken meanings. At the same time, he kept his duties in mind, scanning the ranks to observe any improper behavior.

"This charcoal pencil isn't very good to use."

Since it was a court assembly, he couldn't bring his writing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone like he would for normal writing, and a carving knife was even more impractical.

In fact, the Imperial Censors in the Palace always carried an embroidered pouch containing charcoal pencils.

If someone misbehaves, they can take out a charcoal tablet from inside and write it down. Because the tablet is not large, the notes are usually very brief symbols or keywords, similar to meeting shorthand.

For example, a surname, an abbreviation of an official title, and a word representing the mistake, such as "speech," "rushing," or "improperly wearing a hat," can be used to record specific instances of misconduct.

To put it bluntly, these are only to help the censors remember things. After court, when they return to the Censorate, they will organize these keywords into a formal memorial.

Time passed, and it was already bright outside the palace.

Finally, Deng Xuanyan, the Chief of the Inner Palace Secretariat, seeing that no more officials stepped forward to present their cases, announced loudly: "Speak again if you have something to report, otherwise, the court may adjourn—"

Zhao Zhen waved his hand, looking slightly tired.

The master of ceremonies, Zhang Shizhong, stepped forward and announced loudly, "Court is adjourned—"

As the whip cracked again, civil and military officials bowed in salute like a tidal wave.

Zhao Zhen rose, and surrounded by eunuchs, left his seat and rode away in his imperial carriage. After the imperial carriage departed, the civil and military officials exited the Wende Hall in order.

Lu Beigu followed at the end of the procession and walked out of the palace gate. The spring morning light hit him and was almost blinding.

He took a breath of the cool morning air, which slightly dispelled the oppressive and tense atmosphere in the hall.

Once they exited the Wende Gate, the ranks of court officials dispersed, and the morning court session officially ended.

Wen Yanbo, Fu Bi, and others were escorted by their respective officials from the Secretariat to the Hall of State Affairs. Jia Changchao was walking and talking with several officials when he turned around and his gaze seemed to casually sweep over Lu Beigu.

Lu Beigu gripped the tablet in his hand, straightened his back, and followed the crowd out of Duanli Gate and Xuande Gate, walking towards the Censorate.

His political career officially began on this turbulent morning.

Back to the Censorate.

Following Ouyang Xiu's instructions from the previous day, Lu Beigu went straight to the flower hall to prepare for the meeting.

He took the first meeting very seriously and certainly wouldn't keep his two superiors waiting for him, so he walked very quickly. He had just seen Ouyang Xiu and Wu Zhongfu talking to people at Duanli Gate, so he had some time to prepare.

Lu Beigu and the clerk in charge of the flower hall at the Censorate had prepared paper, pens, and tea when they returned.

Ouyang Xiu's posture, which had been upright in the Wende Hall, visibly slumped. He leaned back in the main chair, took a sip of hot tea, and then, after catching his breath, asked, "Did you gain anything from today's court assembly?"

Lu Beigu respectfully replied, "Your Excellency, having witnessed the discussions among you gentlemen, I now understand that matters of the court are interconnected and far-reaching. Each proposal, though seemingly independent, actually carries profound meaning, concerning the national economy and the people's livelihood, and also implying the ebb and flow of power."

Ouyang Xiu nodded and said, "If you can see this, then your trip wasn't in vain."

At this moment, Wu Zhongfu said, "Remember, as an imperial censor, one must not only be discerning and see through the undercurrents beneath the surface, but also maintain integrity and impartiality. In future memorials, one should base one's arguments on facts and adhere to the law of the land, without being swayed by personal feelings or yielding to power."

"Your humble servant will keep that in mind," Lu Beigu replied solemnly.

Then they fell silent.

Ouyang Xiu and Wu Zhongfu sat down and began to drink tea and rest, which left Lu Beigu completely bewildered.

You see, Ouyang Xiu had told him yesterday that the Censorate would be holding a meeting after the morning court session to discuss something very important. After finishing his cup of tea, Ouyang Xiu lazily began to speak: "The matter to be discussed today is very important."

"Yes, it's very important."

Wu Zhongfu nodded in agreement, a sense of relief and joy showing on his usually serious face.

"What important matter is it?" Lu Beigu asked somewhat nervously.

Ouyang Xiu said, "It is like this. Previously, the general affairs of the Censorate were temporarily handled by Censor Wu. However, Censor Wu is focused on important matters and does not have much energy. Now that you have entered the Censorate, from today onwards, the general affairs of the Censorate will be under your command."

Lu Beigu paused for a moment, then asked, "May I ask, Your Excellency, what exactly does the General Affairs of the Imperial Censorate cover?"

Ouyang Xiu took a sip of tea and counted on his fingers: "First, the archives must be checked before the first and fifteenth of each month. All documents must be numbered and stamped according to the 'Regulations of the Censorate' to prevent tampering; second, you are responsible for the initial review of the performance evaluations of the censors. Currently, the Censorate has twelve clerks and four secretaries, and you must sign off on their pay disbursements and leave records; third, the latest 'Official Gazette' must be promptly sent to all censors within the Censorate; fourth, you are responsible for verifying, signing off on, and distributing the rice, flour, meat, oil, and other food supplies, as well as the silk, cotton, and other clothing materials, tea, wine, firewood, wormwood, charcoal, salt, and fodder issued by the court; fifth..."

Lu Beigu understood.

Files, payroll, clocking in and out, newspapers, benefits... So that's all the work of an office manager?

"That's all for now. I'll leave the rest to you."

After Ouyang Xiu finished speaking, he acted as if he were a hands-off manager.

"Yes, Your Excellency will do your utmost!"

Seeing that Lu Beigu had agreed, Wu Zhongfu breathed a sigh of relief.

He really doesn't like doing these trivial things; his only hobby is bringing down important figures.

Then, Lu Beigu asked him the question he was most concerned about: "I am new to the Censorate and do not know who I should impeach in my first memorial?"

“The censors can submit their reports independently, and you decide for yourself who to impeach,” Wu Zhongfu said.

"What are your thoughts?" Ouyang Xiu asked instead.

Lu Beigu cautiously said, "Wang Kui has a bad reputation and seems suitable for impeachment."

"The idea is not wrong."

Ouyang Xiu said, "However, the matter of Wang Kui involves many complexities. I suggest that you do not act rashly and observe the court's movements for a few more days."

Wu Zhongfu said in a deep voice, "We must plan carefully before we act. The situation is still unclear, so we must be cautious and not act rashly."

Lu Beigu nodded.

Although he wanted to remove Jia Changchao immediately, he knew that impeaching such a cunning old fox like Jia Changchao without solid evidence would not achieve anything and would only weaken his authority as an imperial censor.

Therefore, he decided to start with Wang Kui.

However, Ouyang Xiu and Wu Zhongfu seemed to know something, but they didn't want to tell him directly, so they didn't advise him to immediately launch an impeachment against Wang Kui.

Lu Beigu was a person who listened to advice, so he held back for the time being.

Afterwards, he convened a meeting of the clerks of the Censorate to formally begin undertaking the general affairs of the Censorate.

While Lu Beigu spent a day familiarizing himself with the various affairs of the Censorate, Jia Changchao was not idle either. Not only did he meet with a large number of officials in the Privy Council during the day, but he also continued to receive guests even after returning home in the evening.

When Wang Kui, who had been waiting for a long time, was led in by a servant, Jia Changchao was sitting behind a sandalwood desk, tapping the surface of the desk with his fingertips, as if he was thinking about something.

Wang Kui stepped forward quickly, bowed, and said with some urgency, "Prime Minister Jia, I heard that during the morning court session, you proposed that I be appointed as the Commissioner for the Transportation and Logistics of Huainan, Jiangzhe, and Jinghu?"

"Have a seat. You're quite well-informed."

Jia Changchao raised his eyelids, his gaze lingering on Wang Kui's face for a moment before he slowly spoke.

He pointed to the chair next to him, and after Wang Kui sat down nervously, he continued, "It was I who suggested it, what's wrong?"

Wang Kui was even more puzzled: "Lord Jia, isn't this move too risky? Han Qi, Wen Yanbo and others are watching me closely. If I suddenly get this important position, I'm afraid I'll become the target of everyone's criticism."

"My move, though ostensibly a recommendation, is in reality a strategic retreat."

Wang Kui was stunned for a moment, then suddenly realized, "Is this a feint to resolve the current predicament?"

"That's exactly right. Your current situation is too passive, with you returning to Beijing to await investigation."

Seeing that he wasn't stupid, Jia Changchao picked up the Ding kiln white porcelain teacup beside him, gently blew away the foam, took a sip, and then said unhurriedly, "If I were to place you in that seemingly prestigious but actually hot-button position, Wen, Fu, and others would definitely oppose it with all their might. In the end, the result would most likely be that someone else is chosen. But for your current situation of being 'under investigation,' this could actually alleviate some of the pressure and create some room for maneuver."

Wang Kui flattered, "Prime Minister Jia is a man of profound wisdom and foresight."

Jia Changchao grunted in acknowledgment, put down his teacup, but his face showed little relief, instead revealing a hint of irritation: "However, finding you a new position is indeed tricky. These days, every position is filled, and the connections we can use and the favors we need to cultivate will take a considerable toll."

Wang Kui understood perfectly well that verbal pledges of loyalty were useless; it was time for him to demonstrate his loyalty.

He immediately rolled to the ground and kowtowed, saying, "If you, Lord Jia, have any orders, I will gladly die for you!"

Jia Changchao leaned forward slightly and lowered his voice: "Do you have a relationship with Liu Hui, who is in charge of investigating rumors in the Imperial City Guard?"

This matter was mentioned by Chen Zhizhong during a casual private conversation before he retired from office.

Apart from Jia Changchao and Wang Kui themselves, no one in the current government knows this secret.

Wang Kui's heart skipped a beat, and he nodded, saying, "Yes, Liu Hui does indeed have a past with me."

“Alright.” Jia Changchao said in a low voice, “Go find Liu Hui and have him secretly report to the Emperor that tens of thousands of people drowned during the Liutahe River project last year, and the resentment was overwhelming. Moreover, the digging of the river and the excavation of the earth disturbed the earth’s veins and violated feng shui taboos, which led to a series of natural disasters. Most importantly, there is a village at the river mouth whose name is similar to the Emperor’s name, and the shovels and baskets are also shaped like funerary objects, which is not a sign of a prosperous country [Note].

Wang Kui was horrified. The Liutahe Project was a political achievement project led by Wen Yanbo and Fu Bi, but it was also one of their biggest failures.

This was meant to force him to completely sever ties with all the other bigwigs besides Jia Changchao, and from then on, he could only become Jia Changchao's lackey.

But he dared not disobey Jia Changchao, so he had no choice but to bite the bullet and agree: "I understand, I'll get on it right away."

Jia Changchao repeatedly instructed: "It is imperative to keep this a secret."

Wang Kui said with a wry smile, "My life and fortune are at stake, so I dare not be careless."

Jia Changchao nodded. Although Wang Kui was a cruel official, he had been reliable in doing dirty work for Chen Zhizhong over the years and had never made a mistake.

Not long after Wang Kui left the study, Jia Changchao's second son, Jia Gui, emerged from behind the screen with a worried expression on his face.

“Father, you sent Wang Kui to incite the eunuchs to secretly report the matter of Liuta River. Even if the Emperor believes him and issues an edict to send an imperial envoy to investigate and prosecute, will the factions of Wen Yanbo and Fu Bi in the outer court sit idly by? They will definitely oppose it fiercely, criticizing that this order did not leave the State Affairs Hall and that it was an opportunity to slander ministers. They will certainly demand that their own people investigate.”

Jia Changchao was already troubled by many things, and when his son came to question him again, his impatience was immediately evident, and he scolded him.

"Fools! So short-sighted! What I want is for them to object, and for them to send people to investigate!"

Jia Gui was taken aback by the scolding: "What does Father mean?"

Jia Changchao snorted coldly, a shrewd glint in his eyes: "The Liutahe case is a quagmire; anyone who steps in will get filthy. The more Wen Yanbo and Fu Bi's men try to stop it, the more guilty they appear. The emperor is inherently suspicious; how could he not be suspicious? Besides, Wen Yanbo now practically holds absolute power; the emperor needs a pretext to suppress him. As long as this matter is investigated, no matter who investigates, it will uncover even more."

"Moreover, this is a complex scheme! I already laid out a trap within a trap in Daming Prefecture. No matter how you investigate, it will eventually lead to a situation unfavorable to them. I had Wang Kui use his connections as a palace eunuch because this matter is quite risky. I don't want an important ally like Wu Jilong to get involved too early and lose strength. A lone ghost like Wang Kui is just a good test. Even if he fails, it won't hurt. Do you understand?"

Jia Gui was stunned by his father's series of words. After thinking about it carefully, he realized that there was a series of interconnected schemes involved.

He quickly lowered his head and said, "Your child is foolish, but Father is far-sighted."

Jia Changchao waved wearily, signaling him to leave, then leaned back in his chair, gazing at the flickering candlelight, and murmured to himself.

"In this turbulent spring, not a single mistake can be made."

(End of this chapter)