Great Song Dynasty Writer

Chapter 368 The decision is yours
End of March.

Lu Beigu was in his office, and although the spring sunshine was bright outside the window, he had no time to appreciate it.

When I first took charge of the general affairs of the Imperial Household Department, there were countless things to do. From file numbering to the evaluation of officials, from the verification of materials to the circulation of documents, I had to do everything myself.

Zhang Mao stood to one side, occasionally explaining the details of the process in a low voice.

Although this old official was cautious in his speech, he was extremely capable in his work and had a thorough understanding of the internal workings of the Censorate, which helped Lu Beigu a great deal.

"Imperial Censor Lu, these are the performance evaluation records for the clerks in the Imperial Secretariat this month."

The names, duties, and evaluations of the scribes and officials came into view.

He observed carefully, occasionally asking questions, since he hadn't been there for the first half of the month.

Zhang Mao answered fluently, showing that he had been diligent in his studies.

After confirming that the leave requests of certain individuals were correct, Lu Beigu took the copper seal and solemnly stamped it in the designated position.

The application of the vermilion seal signifies the completion of this month's assessment, which must not be altered without a specific procedure.

"Have the spring gifts of clothing, tea, wine, firewood, and charcoal distributed by the imperial court been delivered to the treasury by the Three Departments?"

"Yes, Imperial Censor Lu, this is the list. Please take a look and verify it. We haven't returned the signed documents to the Three Departments yet."

Zhang Mao presented a long list.

Institutionally speaking, all of these should be signed for on the spot. However, the Three Departments were very busy, and the various supplies they sent to the various government offices in the capital could not all arrive at the same time in the same batch.

Therefore, the reality became that after all the monthly supplies were delivered, they were counted and verified together, and then the signed receipts were sent to the three companies.

Lu Beigu took it and examined it closely.

The amount of clothing was considerable, and the supplies such as tea, wine, firewood, and salt were also quite substantial. There were even special fodder ration coupons issued to officials, which allowed them to collect feed from the pasture north of Yongtai Gate.

He stood up and said, "Take me to the storeroom."

"Yes."

Zhang Mao led the way, and the two crossed the courtyard to a row of storerooms behind the Censorate.

Upon seeing that it was the newly appointed Imperial Censor Lu, the storehouse clerk hurriedly opened the storehouse door.

Inside the warehouse, supplies were neatly stacked, with clothing placed on separate rows of cabinets, and other supplies also having their own designated places.

Lu Beigu checked the list item by item, verifying that the types and quantities were correct and the quality was fine before signing his name on the receipt document.

"Make a note of this. In the future, rules should be established for the receipt, storage, and distribution of these supplies. If they can be received in time, they should be received in time. Supplies that have not been distributed for a long time should also be checked regularly to avoid unexplained losses and deficits."

Lu Beigu gave instructions to Zhang Mao.

"I understand," Zhang Mao replied, bowing.

By the time he finished dealing with all these messy administrative tasks, it was nearly noon.

"Imperial Censor Lu, this is the newly delivered official gazette."

A minor official came in and placed three copies of the "Official Gazette" on his table.

"understood."

Lu Beigu nodded, his gaze sweeping over them.

The printing time of the Imperial Gazette is not fixed. This new one mainly contains recent news from the court and local reports, and there are no particularly noteworthy events at the moment.

He knew in his heart that beneath the calm surface, turbulent currents were brewing.

In the past few days, Jia Changchao and Wen Yanbo have been fiercely clashing over various issues.

Subsequently, Lu Beigu personally delivered two copies of the "Official Gazette" to Ouyang Xiu and Wu Zhongfu.

He had just rounded the bushes in the courtyard and hadn't even reached Wu Zhongfu's duty room on the opposite side when he saw the other man hurrying towards him from the corridor of the front hall.

"Imperial Censor Lu? I was just about to come looking for you."

Wu Zhongfu said urgently, "Come with me now to see the Grand Chancellor. I have important matters to discuss."

Lu Beigu felt a chill run down his spine and followed in his footsteps.

The two quickly arrived at Ouyang Xiu's duty room.

However, after Wu Zhongfu knocked on the door, Ouyang Xiu did not immediately let them in; instead, a rustling sound came from inside.

"Enter."

The two entered Ouyang Xiu's duty room. Lu Beigu had sharp eyes and noticed a stack of papers lying face down on Ouyang Xiu's desk.

"Is he writing a book while he's at work and has nothing to do? It shouldn't be the 'New Book of Tang,' otherwise he wouldn't need to cover it up."

The New Book of Tang was an official history compiled by imperial decree, and the main work in it, namely the biographies section, was entirely written by Song Qi.

The Zhihe Biao was compiled by Fan Zhen and Lü Xiaqing respectively, while Ouyang Xiu was responsible for proofreading and revising the Zhihe Biao. Therefore, Ouyang Xiu's workload was not as heavy as Song Qi's.

This is why Ouyang Xiu had the time and energy to do other things. Judging from his appearance, the material he was working on was probably his privately edited "New History of the Five Dynasties".

"what happened?"

Seeing Wu Zhongfu's serious expression, Ouyang Xiu asked.

"The news from a few days ago has yielded results."

Wu Zhongfu placed a document that the Secretariat had just sent to the Censorate on Ouyang Xiu's desk and said in a deep voice.

"Didn't His Majesty previously intend to send an imperial envoy to investigate the Liutahe project after hearing many ominous rumors circulating among the people of Hebei? In the past few days, the chief ministers have repeatedly submitted memorials, and His Majesty has finally agreed not to send an imperial envoy. I just went to the Hall of State Affairs, and the Minister of Personnel gave me the document directly, ordering the Censorate to send someone as the chief envoy and the Ministry of Justice to send someone as the deputy envoy to Hebei to investigate together."

Ouyang Xiu glanced at the document; the seal on it wasn't completely dry yet.

Upon hearing this, Lu Beigu's heart stirred.

Liutahe Project!
This was a major blunder in the early years of Wen Yanbo and Fu Bi's administration, wasting public funds and causing a huge disaster, the repercussions of which are still being felt today.

Now that the old matter has been brought up again, and the initial plan was for the eunuchs of the Inner Palace to lead the investigation, the meaning is self-evident. However, the chosen angle is rather cunning. Instead of directly pursuing the responsibility for the decision-making errors or the project itself, they start from the angle of rumors, which are ethereal yet easily touch the nerves of the emperor.

"The chancellors are doing the right thing."

After reading the document, Ouyang Xiu said, "The key to this matter lies in the leadership of the investigation. If the imperial envoy is to investigate the case with a secret decree, the authority is unclear and the process is not transparent. It is very easy for people with ulterior motives to take advantage of it, fabricate charges, and create a false accusation. At that time, not only will the two prime ministers, Wen and Fu, be unable to escape responsibility, but the entire Hebei officialdom will probably be thrown into turmoil and chaos."

"Not bad!"

Wu Zhongfu said, "Even if an investigation is to be carried out, it should be done in this way: the imperial court should issue an imperial edict to dispatch central officials and local authorities to investigate the case together, so as to show fairness and prevent the imperial envoy from abusing his power and causing trouble."

"This matter is of great importance and is extraordinary."

Ouyang Xiu spoke slowly and deliberately: "On the surface, it is a matter of investigating rumors and taboos, but in reality, it affects the political landscape of Hebei and even the imperial court. The person in charge must be bold and meticulous, able to withstand pressure to find out the truth, and also know how to weigh the pros and cons to avoid being used by others and causing unnecessary trouble."

As Lu Beigu listened to the discussion between the two superiors, he was also analyzing the situation in his mind.

The investigation surrounding the aftermath of the Liutahe case is very complex, and the Censorate, being in the vortex, is clearly unable to remain completely uninvolved.

However, he wasn't too nervous. From a normal perspective, the task of leaving Beijing to oversee an investigation in Hebei shouldn't fall to him, a newcomer who had just joined the company.

Even if it was inconvenient for Ouyang Xiu to go in person, the experienced Wu Zhongfu should have led the team.

however.

After pondering for a moment, Ouyang Xiu's gaze first swept over Wu Zhongfu, but finally landed on Lu Beigu.

"—Therefore, let's leave this matter to Imperial Censor Lu."

Lu Beigu nearly dropped his jaw upon hearing this.

It's fine for Heaven to bestow great responsibilities upon this person, but isn't this a bit too fast?
Ouyang Xiu smiled at his surprised expression and then asked, "What? This trip to Hebei to investigate the case is certainly arduous, but it is also a rare opportunity for training. Is Censor Lu unwilling to take on this important task for the Censorate and for the court?"

"Yes! Of course I do!"

Lu Beigu quickly replied, "I was quite surprised to hear that the Censor had entrusted this important task to me. I am deeply grateful for the Censor's trust. Although I am not very talented, I will do my utmost to investigate the truth in Hebei and fulfill my responsibilities as a censor!" "Good! That's more like it!"

Ouyang Xiu clapped his hands, his eyes showing admiration: "I knew I hadn't misjudged you."

Wu Zhongfu then explained to Lu Beigu, "This kind of investigation is too high-ranking for the Censor-in-Chief to handle; it would be against the rules for him to go. I should have gone myself. However, I have an important matter to prepare and I simply don't have the time, so I can only trouble you."

"I know, Imperial Censor Wu's matter is of utmost importance."

Wu Zhongfu was very frank, and Lu Beigu also agreed readily.

Wu Zhongfu has indeed been very busy lately. Although we don't know exactly what he's been busy with, we can guess that he's definitely up to something big.

Ouyang Xiu handed the document to Lu Beigu, indicating that he should take a good look at it.

"Remember, the primary task of this trip is to ascertain the origin and veracity of the so-called 'rumors,' especially details such as village names and the shapes of objects. On-site inspections and interviews with villagers are necessary to ensure certainty."

Ouyang Xiu then instructed, "As for the gains and losses of the project itself, the conclusion has already been reached. It is not the focus of your investigation this time, so there is no need to delve into it, lest it cause unnecessary complications. If you encounter any difficulties, you can discuss them with the deputy envoy sent by the Ministry of Justice, or you can send someone to submit a report to the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection at any time, and I will report it on your behalf."

"I understand."

As Lu Beigu looked at it, he spoke solemnly.

He casually placed the copy of the "Official Gazette" that was originally meant for Wu Zhongfu into Ouyang Xiu's duty room. After coming out, he felt quite heavy-hearted. This was not a job to gain prestige, but rather a serious wading into troubled waters.

After returning to his office, he sent another copy of the "Official Gazette" to Wu Zhongfu, then picked up the document again and studied it repeatedly.

"Power struggles in the imperial court are like sailing a boat in the dark; the slightest misstep can lead to capsizing."

Lu Beigu sighed, somewhat helplessly.

The bad news is that his little boat had barely set sail when it was already caught on the edge of this unfathomable whirlpool.

The good news is that the document states departure is tomorrow morning, giving him more than half a day to prepare.

Although this trip was supposed to be a business trip from the capital to Hebei, the destination, Chanzhou, was not far away. Going northeast from Kaifeng Prefecture, you would reach Huazhou, which borders the capital, and then continue northeast to reach the territory of Chanzhou.

It's essentially like retracing the route that Emperor Zhenzong personally led during his campaigns back then; the entire journey is only a little over two hundred li.
That evening, Lu Beigu first visited Song Xiang to ask him what advice Song Xiang had for his trip.

After receiving instructions from Song Xiang, he returned to Chengmingzhai to pack his luggage for the business trip.

The next day, before dawn, Lu Beigu rode in his newly bought carriage toward Jingyang Gate, which was located in the northeast of the city, with Huang Shi driving the car.

At Jingyang's gate, Cui Taifu, the deputy envoy dispatched by the Ministry of Justice, was already waiting for him.

This man was nearly forty years old, with a thin face and sharp eyes; he was clearly a shrewd and capable person.

Cui Taifu bowed and asked, "Are you Imperial Censor Lu? I am Cui Taifu, a judge of the Court of Judicial Review."

"Exactly."

Lu Beigu returned the greeting with a cupped hand: "Prospective Secretary Cui, you have been waiting for a long time."

He noticed a mule cart loaded with boxes of documents behind Cui Taifu, indicating that preparations were thorough.

After exchanging greetings and pleasantries, Lu Beigu gained a general understanding of him.

Cui Taifu, courtesy name Pingshu, was a graduate of the Ming Dynasty's Ministry of Justice, specializing in criminal law. He served successively as a judge in the Court of Judicial Review and a deliberative official in the Court of Criminal Justice. He was currently serving in the Court of Criminal Justice, but his official position was nominally held by the Ministry of Justice. So, nominally, he was sent by the Ministry of Justice. Does that sound a bit confusing?

In fact, the Court of Judicial Review was established in the second year of Emperor Taizong's Chunhua reign. Its initial purpose was to strengthen the emperor's control over judicial power, thus replacing the Ministry of Justice as the core of the judicial system.

But the problem is, what to do with the officials in the Ministry of Justice? They are all professional bureaucrats, and there's no way to dismiss them, let alone abolish the Ministry of Justice altogether.

Therefore, after a long period of evolution, the Court of Judicial Review and the Ministry of Justice have now become a "one team, two names" relationship. Most officials overlap in these two departments, while the Ministry of Justice is mainly responsible for distributing salaries and benefits, and is used in external exchanges.

Since the others had not yet arrived, and Cui Taifu was a very focused person, he simply discussed the matter with Lu Beigu under Jingyang's tutelage.

He took out several documents borrowed from the Ministry of Justice from the box of documents in the mule cart and handed them to Lu Beigu.

"Imperial Censor Lu, these are copies of case files related to the Liutahe River project retrieved by the Ministry of Justice, including the inspection records from last year's breach, the list of casualties and beneficiaries, and the summary of the audit of materials and work. I have already reviewed them. Regarding the matter of 'village name taboo,' the case file only states that 'there was originally a village called Zhao Village, fifteen li northeast of Puyang County, Chanzhou,' without mentioning any details that might be considered inappropriate for the imperial name."

Lu Beigu took the document and carefully read through the key points.

"I would appreciate it if Mr. Cui could provide a detailed explanation first. The so-called taboo regarding the name requires on-site inspection to determine the truth. In addition, there are rumors that the shovel resembles a funerary object, which also requires examination of the actual object or consultation with experienced craftsmen."

"That is indeed the case."

Cui Taifu nodded in agreement, and after careful consideration, suggested: "In my humble opinion, we should first go to the Chanzhou government office to consult the local chronicles and inquire with the officials to verify the history of Zhao Village. Then, we should focus on visiting the villagers near the breach site to investigate the transmission of rumors. Finally, we should examine the sealed-off remaining machinery or interview the officials who supervised the construction and the craftsmen who participated in the project."

In the officialdom of the Song Dynasty, those who passed the imperial examination were far superior to those who passed the examinations of Mingjing or Mingfa. In addition, Lu Beigu was the top scholar in the imperial examination, so even though the two were of the same rank, Cui Taifu was naturally inferior to Lu Beigu.

In addition, Cui Taifu was the deputy envoy, so he was very careful with his words.

During the conversation, Cui Taifu had to be careful, afraid that Lu Beigu would think he was lecturing him, but he also had to make things clear so that he wouldn't end up taking responsibility if things went wrong.

However, although Lu Beigu was young, his composure far exceeded Cui Taifu's previous expectations.

"Cui Xiangyi's opinion was well thought out."

Lu Beigu agreed, but added, "However, this trip is sensitive. Many officials in Chanzhou and even Daming Prefecture are likely involved in last year's project. We need to be strategic when questioning them to avoid alerting them. In particular, we must be careful to see if anyone is deliberately spreading or exaggerating rumors to implicate high-ranking officials in the court."

Cui Taifu's gaze sharpened slightly, and he asked in a low voice, "Does Imperial Censor Lu mean that someone is trying to use this as an excuse to make trouble?"

Although he had long served in the criminal justice system and held a low official position, as a Beijing official, he had heard about the power struggles within the court.

Lu Beigu did not answer directly, but said only: "Before the truth is clear, anything is possible. We just need to investigate impartially and report back truthfully. On this trip, we still need Cui to rely more on his experience in criminal cases to distinguish the authenticity of the confessions."

"I will do my utmost."

Cui Taifu solemnly promised that his initial concerns about the unreliability of this young top scorer gradually subsided.

He felt that Lu Beigu spoke very steadily and did not seem like a reckless person. For him, the fact that Lu Beigu would not hold him back had already greatly increased the chances of success on this trip.

As the two were talking, the dozen or so clerks who had been assigned to assist them on this trip also arrived.

Although several clerks arrived later than the appointed time, Lu Beigu did not reprimand them.

Because of these cross-departmental business trips, the transportation is the responsibility of each department and is not centrally allocated.

Officials can choose to ride in their own private cars or official vehicles provided by the government, or they can ride horses, mules, or donkeys if they wish.

But the clerks were in a worse situation. They weren't officials, so they weren't allowed to use the government's transportation. They either had to bring their own or rent it at their own expense. If they were so poor that they couldn't even afford to rent a donkey, then they had no choice but to walk.

In addition, most of the clerks lived in the outer city. If they lived in the south, they would have to get up very early to arrive at Jingyang Gate in the north city on time, which was quite difficult.

We're all just working people, so if we put ourselves in each other's shoes, Lu Beigu wouldn't bother to use his official authority with questions like, "Why can everyone else arrive on time but you can't?" or "Why didn't you leave earlier when you knew we were meeting at this time?"

Looking at the several anxious, late clerks, Cui Taifu felt more confident when he saw that Lu Beigu did not reprimand them.

Lu Beigu then checked the names on the roster. Most of these clerks were sent by the Ministry of Justice.

“Imperial Censor Lu, it’s getting late. Shall we set off immediately? If we can reach Chenqiao Post Station, which is forty li away, before noon, we can avoid traveling during the hottest part of the day.”

There's a reason for this: although there's funding for business trips, it's not much.

Therefore, if you eat at an official post station along the way, it's free and everyone can get a decent meal.

But if they hadn't arrived at the post station by mealtime, they could only eat at restaurants along the main road or in the market town, and they could only eat cheap food... After all, there were more than a dozen people, and if they ate at normal prices, they wouldn't need much, and the budget would run out after a few meals.

Lu Beigu looked up at the sky; the east was already showing the first light of dawn.

Because the distance from Kaifeng to Chanzhou was not far, and there were soldiers patrolling the official road, and the county towns along the way would send yamen runners to escort them, and because their rank was not high enough, the team itself was not assigned to the Imperial Guards for protection.

"lets go."

Immediately afterwards, he and Cui Taifu each boarded their respective vehicles.

Horse-drawn carriages and mule carts, one after the other, drove out of Jingyang Gate in the morning mist and headed north along the official road.

Behind them were the clerks riding mules, donkeys, or walking.

The wheels rolled over the official road, raising fine dust, and the group quietly disappeared into the gradually brightening dawn.

(End of this chapter)