diymy Chapter 38 Anti-Corruption Storm: Establishing Rules
Chapter 38 Anti-Corruption Storm: Establishing Rules
Withheld wages, extorted gate fees, and officials and foremen who frequently beat and verbally abused them.
"Sir," the guard asked in a low voice, "where do we go next?"
"Let's go to the dock," Li Ruolian said. "Let's see if that drum is standing up."
On the same day, at the Wenhua Hall in the Forbidden City of Nanjing.
Li Ce frowned as he looked at the report sent back by Li Ruolian from Huai'an.
Ni Yuanlu and Jiang Dejing stood at the lower end, their expressions also unpleasant.
"The Ten New Rules for the Grand Canal Transport..." Li Ce put down the report. "Ruo Lian has offended everyone involved in the Grand Canal transport."
"Your Majesty," Ni Yuanlu said, "Although Commander Li's actions are ruthless, the problems in the grain transport system have been accumulating for decades and can only be cured with strong medicine. However... I am worried about a backlash."
Jiang Dejing added: "There are already rumors in Huai'an that some leaders of the canal transport gangs are plotting a joint strike."
"A strike?" Li Ce sneered. "If they dare to strike, I dare to send troops to take over the grain transport ships. The grain transport workers are not slaves of their bosses. As long as they are paid well and fed, there are plenty of people willing to do it." He paused, "However... we do need to be wary."
He picked up his pen and wrote a handwritten edict:
"Li Ruolian is granted the power to make decisions on an ad hoc basis: anyone who obstructs the new policies or incites a strike may be executed first and reported later. In addition, one thousand troops from the Beijing Garrison are to be transferred to Huai'an and placed under his command."
After finishing writing, he looked at Ni Yuanlu: "How's the framework for the Anti-Corruption and Anti-Corruption Bureau coming along?"
"Your Majesty," Ni Yuanlu presented a draft of regulations, "the 'Regulations of the Censorate' have been drafted: one Director (rank four) and two Deputy Directors (rank four), with three subordinate departments: Audit, Inspection, and Appeals, totaling fifty-six personnel. As for the Director... I recommend Li Ruolian to serve concurrently."
"Is he able to manage?"
"You can take on the role concurrently for now, and then take it full-time once the grain transport administration is in order," Ni Yuanlu said. "The Anti-Corruption Bureau has just been established, and only a strong-willed figure like Commander Li can keep things under control."
Li Ce pondered for a moment and nodded: "Approved. But a clause must be added to the regulations: the Censorate has the power of investigation, but not the power of trial. Once the facts of a case are verified, it must be transferred to the Three Judicial Offices for trial—I want the rule of law, not the private punishment of the Embroidered Uniform Guard."
"Your subject understands."
Jiang Dejing then spoke up: "Your Majesty, there is one more matter. Chen Bangyan, the Director of the Guangdong Maritime Trade Office, reported that the tax regulations are being implemented smoothly, but some former officials in the Provincial Administration Commission are outwardly compliant but inwardly obstructing the process. Director Chen requests permission to use… swift and decisive measures?"
Li Ce tapped the armrest for a long time before saying, "Tell Chen Bangyan to try diplomacy first, then resort to force. Have the tax regulations engraved on a stone tablet and posted publicly so all merchants know how much they should and shouldn't pay. If any officials still extort money, investigate and dismiss them. If Guangdong doesn't work, send someone from Nanjing."
He stood up and walked to the window.
Spring rain falls softly outside the window, and tender buds have sprouted on the willow trees along the palace wall.
"Do you know what I fear most?" he suddenly asked.
The two ministers exchanged a glance and shook their heads.
"What I fear most is that these new policies, once implemented, will only result in a change of corrupt officials and a different set of excuses," Li Ce said softly. "The Ten New Regulations for the Grand Canal, the Regulations for the Anti-Corruption Bureau, the Regulations for Maritime Trade... these are all just words on paper. To turn these words into reality will take ten or twenty years, and countless people like Li Ruolian and Chen Bangyan will follow one after another."
He turned around, his eyes filled with weariness: "And I... don't have twenty years. Li Zicheng, Zhang Xianzhong, Dorgon, won't give me twenty years."
Silence fell over the hall.
The rain pattered down, like it was crying.
Seven days later, at Jianmen Pass in Sichuan.
Qin Liangyu stood atop the fortified pass, gazing down at the winding mountain path. Along the path, Zhang Xianzhong's army was setting up camp, campfires stretching from the foot of the mountain all the way to the halfway point, like a coiled giant python.
She was sixty-nine years old, her hair as white as silver, but her back was ramrod straight. She wore the cotton armor characteristic of the White-Handed Soldiers, covered by a plain white cloak. In her hand was a long white waxwood spear, its tip polished to a gleaming shine.
"Aunt," her nephew Qin Yiming walked over—he was in his thirties, his armor stained with blood, "Sun Kewang has reinforced his troops again. Judging from the banners, there are at least thirty thousand."
Qin Liangyu nodded: "How much grain do we have left?"
"The stored grain will only last for half a month."
"Where's the gunpowder?"
"If we use it sparingly, it can last for another twenty days."
Qin Liangyu remained silent. She gazed eastward, towards Kuizhou. Zuo Menggeng's 30,000 troops were stationed there, over 400 li from Jianmen Pass, separated by the treacherous Daba Mountains. Yet, for half a month, not a single soldier had come to reinforce them.
"Zuo Liangyu's son," she sneered, "is just like his father, preserving his strength and watching the outcome unfold."
Qin Yiming said in a low voice, "How about... we send someone to urge them again?"
"What's the use of urging him?" Qin Liangyu shook her head. "If he really wanted to save us, he would have come long ago." She paused, then asked, "How many days has it been since the urgent appeal to the court was sent out?"
"The urgent message should have arrived in Nanjing five days ago. However, rain and snow have blocked the mountain roads, so it may be delayed by one or two days."
"Then His Majesty should know soon." Qin Liangyu gripped her spear tightly. "If we just hold out for another ten days... in ten days, His Majesty's reinforcements will surely arrive."
But she knew how difficult those ten days would be.
Although Zhang Xianzhong's soldiers were mostly displaced people he had coerced, Sun Kewang was a fierce general with a "veteran army" under his command, which consisted of elite soldiers who had followed Zhang Xianzhong in battle for many years. Her White-Spear Army, though brave and fierce, numbered only five thousand, and their food and ammunition were running out.
"Yiming," she suddenly said, "if the pass falls, you lead the young soldiers along the Jinniu Road branch. I'm old, I'll stay behind to cover the rear."
Qin Yiming's eyes reddened: "Aunt!"
"This is a military order," Qin Liangyu said calmly. "The Qin family has guarded Shizhu for generations; we cannot let our line die out. You are my nephew, and the future head of the Qin family. You must live, lead the White-Spear Soldiers out, and wait for the day the imperial court counterattacks."
She looked towards the pass, where the setting sun was like blood, dyeing thousands of mountains and valleys red.
"Also," she said, remembering something, "bring up that junior officer Sun we captured today."
Qin Yiming was taken aback, but then he understood. Before long, a young officer who was bound was brought up to the city wall.
Qin Liangyu sized him up: "Are you Sun Kewang's personal guard?"
The junior officer held his head high: "Kill me if you want!"
"I won't kill you," Qin Liangyu said slowly. "Go back and tell Sun Kewang: Zhang Xianzhong's massacre in Hanzhong has angered both Heaven and the people, and the court will do everything in its power to suppress him. If he is willing to defect on the battlefield, I, Qin Liangyu, guarantee with my life that I will recommend him to the court for the position of general, and all his soldiers will be appeased."
The junior officer's eyes widened: "You...you're serious?"
"When people are in dire straits, they'll consider any option." Qin Liangyu waved her hand. "Let him go."
The junior officer, untied, staggered down the city wall. Qin Yiming whispered, "Aunt, will he believe me?"
"It wouldn't hurt to give it a try," Qin Liangyu said. "Sun Kewang is Zhang Xianzhong's adopted son, not his biological son. An adopted son... offers more room for maneuver."
Qin Yiming accepted the order and left.
Qin Liangyu stood alone on the city wall, the setting sun casting a long shadow over her.
She recalled her husband, Ma Qiancheng, who had been framed by the eunuch Qiu Chengyun in his early years and died in prison. She was only twenty-six years old at the time, and she took over her husband's military power, writing to the court: "I vow to serve my country to the death."
Forty-three years have passed in the blink of an eye.
For forty-three years, she fought against extravagance and corruption, resisted the Qing army, and suppressed bandits, bearing twenty-seven scars of varying sizes on her body. Now, at sixty-nine, she still faces an enemy many times her size at Jianmen Pass.
"Ma Qiancheng," she whispered to the void, "wait a little longer. After I finish this last battle, I will go down and join you."
The wind blew, lifting her silvery-white hair.
Below the pass, the enemy camp sounded their bugle.
Another round of attacks is about to begin.
The last day of the first lunar month, Nanjing.
Li Ce received three urgent reports.
The first report came from Huai'an: Li Ruolian erected a monument to implement new regulations for the Grand Canal transport, and within three days dealt with seven corrupt officials and twelve foremen, recovering 80,000 taels of embezzled silver. However, some canal gangs colluded and planned to stop transport on the first day of the second month.
The second document came from Guangdong: Chen Bangyan had the maritime trade tax regulations inscribed on a stele, which was appreciated by foreign merchants. However, two former officials of the Provincial Administration Commission instigated local thugs to cause trouble and smash the gate of the Maritime Trade Office. Chen Bangyan has already imprisoned the two former officials.
The third report came from Sichuan: Qin Liangyu fought a bloody battle at Jianmen Pass, repelling seven attacks by Sun Kewang, but the pass only had enough food for ten days. Zuo Menggeng remained stationed in Kuizhou, holding back his troops.
Li Ce spread the three urgent reports on the table and looked at them for a long time.
Then he picked up his pen, wrote a secret decree, and sealed it with sealing wax.
"Send this urgent message to Li Ruolian in Huai'an." He handed it to the eunuch and told him, "Tell him: Those who boycott the transport, kill them. Those who cause trouble, kill them. Anyone who obstructs the new policies may be killed."
Another document reads: "Send Chen Bangyan to Guangdong. The troublemaking thugs will be beheaded and their heads displayed to the public. The former officials involved will be exiled to Qiongzhou."
The last document, which he wrote the slowest, was written word by word: "Send Qin Liangyu to Sichuan. Hold out for five more days, and my reinforcements will surely arrive. If Zuo Menggeng still does not move... I grant you permission to execute first and report later."
After writing, he affixed the imperial seal.
The three secret edicts, like three arrows, shot in three directions.
Li Ce walked outside the palace. The night was deep, and the myriad lights of Nanjing City shone like stars in the rain.
He recalled his past life, the scene of hanging himself on Coal Hill on the 19th day of the third month of the 17th year of Chongzhen's reign.
That night was like this, with rain like this.
The difference was that in that life, he was isolated and helpless, abandoned by everyone.
And in this life...
Behind him were Empress Zhou stabilizing public sentiment in Beijing, Sun Chuanting implementing new policies in Henan, Li Ruolian reforming the grain transport system in Huai'an, and Qin Liangyu guarding the nation's borders in Sichuan.
There are countless people like Wang Shuan, Chen Bangyan, and Zheng Sen, who are desperately trying to right this sinking ship in their respective positions.
"In this life," he whispered to the night sky, "I am not fighting alone."
The rain is getting heavier.
But in the rain, something seemed to be stirring.
It was the sound of spring buds breaking through the soil.