Qiang Jin Jiu (Author : Tang Jiuqing 唐酒卿)

Chapter 56 : Blowing The Fire

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The lights of the Imperial Army’s office compound remained lit until dawn. The men from the Ministry of Revenue audited until their heads spun. At long last, they sorted out the problematic accounts and handed them over into Fu Linye’s hands.

Shen Zechuan reviewed them all. Fu Linye attached the memorial and submitted them together with the progress of the assassination case to Li Jianheng’s desk. 

The Grand Secretariat then discussed this matter before the Emperor. 

Fu Linye said, “Your Majesty, one can know the flavor of the entire pot by sampling a morsel. It can be seen from this case that Xiao Chiye has been taking bribes for a long time. The power and authority of the Imperial Army has been in Xiao Chiye’s control over these years. I’m afraid there are still many more falsified accounts like this one. The state treasury is now hard-pressed for money to disburse, and the local tax arrears owed have been piling up one after another. Keeping this kind of people around is like putting a fire under a pile of firewood—a danger whom I fear will jeopardize the state.”

Kong Qiu had looked through the books too. But he said, “The assassination case is still pending. It’s really not fitting to complicate matters at this time. In this subject’s opinion, the investigation for the bribery case can be postponed. At present, we must focus on the assassination case.” 

“How strange.” Wei Huaixing scoffed. “It’s all related to him, Xiao Chiye. So why should we investigate the cases separately? We might as well pull out the radish along with the mud and make use of this opportunity to conclude the cases together!”  

Kong Qiu remained unwavered and said, “This case has already deviated from the main point. The way I see it, you people do not want to expose the mastermind behind the assassination, but to use this chance to root out dissidents!” 

Fu Linye immediately retorted, “The bribery case is the melon we followed the vines to dig out. Why is it that when Minister Kong investigates, he is investigating the case; but when we do it, we are attacking his faults? The duty of the Chief Surveillance Bureau is to supervise. Was it wrong of me to impeach him for taking bribes?!”

Kong Qiu said, “Wang Xian has not yet been put on trial. If we can pass a judgement on the bribery case just based on your words alone, then what need is there for the Joint Trial by the Three Judicial Offices in the future? We might as well let Your Excellency Fu make the rulings alone! What the Ministry of Justice has to investigate now is to verify the confession statement presented by His Excellency Wei. By the end of the night, I have not even examined the witness testimony and you people are already so anxious to convict him. What’s the hurry? Even if he was at fault that you want to sentence him, you still have to follow the rules and regulations! Otherwise, where does the law stand?!” 

The three men began to quarrel before the Emperor. Unable to get a word in, Li Jianheng could only look at Hai Liangyi. Hai Liangyi sat and listened with his head inclined. Once he finished listening to what everyone had to say, he gave a slight nod of his head. 

Li Jianheng hurriedly asked, “What does the Secretariat Elder think?”  

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“What did the Secretariat Elder think?” Shen Zechuan fiddled with the copper coins. “Naturally, he would dismiss the memorial for the bribery case. Hai Liangyi has been stringent for so long that everyone regards him as a straightforward minister who is his own man. But he’s the first one who brought down Hua Siqian and supported Li Jianheng. It’d be strange if he still can’t tell something’s up. Xi Hongxuan and the others want to use him as a shield to make their move this time. Little would they imagine that the Secretariat Elder has long been sitting on the fishing boat keeping a constant eye on the brewing storm.”