Taichang Ming Dynasty

Chapter 343: Contract and Disagreement

Hui Jingao picked up the blank contract and a thin copy of the Provisional Banking Regulations. Before leaving the teller's office, he said to the branch's regular manager, "You take care of the counter."

"Yes." The shopkeeper replied.

"Hello, Hui Si Zheng." Hui Jingao came to the tea room, and Li Tingyuan, who had already sat down, hurriedly stood up and saluted him.

"Mr. Li, you're welcome." Hui Jingao gestured for Li Tingyuan to sit down. "This is the imperially approved 'Provisional Banking Regulations.' All our bank's rules are written here. Mr. Li, please take a look." Hui Jingao placed the booklet on the table and pushed it toward Li Tingyuan. He then pulled out a stool and sat down across from Li Tingyuan.

"Okay." Li Tingyuan picked up the "Regulations" and discovered that most of the content was about restricting the "legal person" called "Bank." The Hui Sizheng sitting before him was merely one of the representatives of the "legal person" of the "Bank." Moreover, this "representative" could only represent the Zhengyangmen Branch and was responsible for the branch's business. Beyond these matters, Hui Sizheng had no authority.

Li Tingyuan felt that the contents of this "Regulations" closely resembled the powers assigned to governors-general in imperial edicts when appointing them. However, compared to broad powers like "execute first, report later," "control military commanders," "governor of grain transport," and "supervisor of military affairs," the powers of the "legal representative" were both narrow and limited.

After reading it, Li Tingyuan returned the "Rules and Regulations" to Hui Jingao and said, "Hui Sizheng, I have finished reading it."

"Okay." Hui Jingao put away the "Rules" and placed the blank contract in front of Li Tingyuan in the same way. "Mr. Li, please take a look at this."

This blank contract was very different from the one in Li Tingyuan's hand. The contract in Li Tingyuan's hand was simply a white sheet of paper with a printed border, all written on it. The blank contract Hui Jingao provided was already densely packed with information, requiring only the necessary information to be filled in the blank spaces.

"Hui Sizheng, I have finished reading it." Li Tingyuan returned the blank contract to Hui Jingao.

Just then, the door of the tea room opened and two waiters came in carrying trays.

One of them brought tea and cakes, the other brought pens, ink, paper, and inkstones. They walked to the table and silently placed the contents of the tray in front of Hui Jingao and Li Tingyuan.

"Now let's confirm this transaction. Mr. Li, please listen carefully. If it is right, you should say yes. If it is wrong, please correct it." Hui Jingao picked up the pen, dipped it in ink, and scraped out the excess ink from the concave edge of the inkstone.

"Okay." Li Tingyuan nodded.

"The seller, Li Tingyuan, is selling a three-courtyard quadrangle located at No. 3, Huifeng Lane, Nanxunfang, for three thousand taels of silver. Is that right?" Hui Jingao used emphasis and pauses to highlight the key information of the transaction.

"Yes." Li Tingyuan took out the red deed and compared every detail. "Li Tingyuan. Three thousand taels. No. D, Huifeng Lane, Nanxunfang. Three-story courtyard."

Hui Jingao nodded and continued to ask, "Mr. Li, this house."

The blank contract was split into two parts, with a distinct line running down the middle. The information on both sides of the line was identical. Hui Jingao filled in the blank on the left side with the information he had obtained, while the right side remained blank.

As they filled in the form, Li Tingyuan continually gave affirmative or corrective responses. After half a cup of tea, Hui Jingao had completed most of the information, but some blanks remained.

"Alright." Hui Jingao put down his pen and handed the contract to Li Tingyuan. "Mr. Li, please take a look at what I wrote to make sure it's correct."

"Yes." Li Tingyuan took the contract and read it over from beginning to end. "No problem. But there are still a lot of blanks left to fill in."

"Master Li, although I've already asked for these details, I still need to see the place in person before filling them out." Hui Jingao pulled out a piece of paper next to the contract and said with a smile, "The Grand Tutor is a high-ranking official who can ride in a sedan chair in the palace. His credibility is naturally unquestionable. However, business is business, and the necessary formalities must be followed."

In order to prevent fraud, avoid disputes, and determine the true value of the subject matter, every transaction involving real estate must be inspected by a dedicated person. For example, for the real estate mortgage with a total value of fifty taels, the branch sent two clerks to go with the guests to determine the specific location of the house, the width and depth, the number of rooms of different levels, and even the materials used in the house, the age of the materials, and many other details.

"I understand." Li Tingyuan expressed his understanding.

Hui Jingao handed Li Tingyuan the ink-dipped pen. "Mr. Li, please fill this out. Then I'll go with you to your house to take a look. If there are no problems, we'll go to the Shuntian Prefecture Office to pay the deed tax. If we're quick, we can have it handed over today."

"The palace's properties have to pay taxes to the government?" Li Tingyuan didn't quite understand.

"It's business." Actually, Shi Jingao didn't quite understand this practice of transferring money from one hand to the other. But since it was written in the imperial regulations, he followed it.

Li Junyuan nodded, took the pen, and filled in the other side according to what Hui Jingao had previously filled in. "Done."

Hui Jingao carefully examined the contents of the contract again. After confirming that they were correct, he said, "Normally, this contract would cost you three cents in processing fees, but since you are a distinguished guest who can enter the teahouse, this three cents in processing fees will be waived."

"Is there anything special about this?" Li Tingyuan asked.

"Yes. If you handle business with us worth over one thousand taels, you can meet with the manager in the tea room. All expenses for writing, ink, and paper will be waived." Hui Jingao put away the contract and asked, "Are you leaving now, or are you staying for a while?"

"Let's go now."

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Ding-bell. A young man in eunuch robes walked into the lobby of the Zhengyangmen branch.

The clerk heard the noise and hurried over to greet him. "What business does this gentleman have?"

"I don't do business." The young eunuch looked around and asked, "Where is your President Hui? Take me to see him."

"The boss is here to accompany the guests to see the house." Compared with titles like "bank president" and "chief executive", the guys are more accustomed to calling the person who pays them "boss".

"What house are you looking at?" The young eunuch turned around and looked at the man.

The clerk replied, "The Grand Tutor is returning home. His son is selling his house. The house is in Nanxunfang and is worth a lot of money. So the boss has personally taken people to inspect it."

"Yes." The young eunuch nodded. Although he hadn't been the one to deliver the imperial edict to the Li Mansion, he was aware of the situation. "How long would it take to go back and forth?" the young eunuch asked.

"It's hard to say." The eunuch could only estimate. "Nanxunfang isn't far. If we're just inspecting it, we'll be back within an hour. But if we need to go to Shuntianfu for the circumcision, it'll probably take two or three hours." "Hmm, two or three hours," the young eunuch thought, thinking this would be a good opportunity to take some time off, so he said, "I'll wait here."

"Okay, this way please."

--------

Shuntian Prefecture Office.

The newly appointed Shuntian Prefecture Governor, Shen Guangzuo, was sitting behind the scenes in the inner custody room, handling seemingly endless trivial matters. A month ago, he was still serving as the Left Provincial Governor in Shandong.

In terms of rank, the left and right provincial governors were both second-rank officials, while the Shuntian prefect was only a third-rank official. However, in terms of actual power and confidentiality, the Shuntian prefect held much greater power than the Shandong provincial governor, so he was still promoted.

After all, the Shandong Provincial Governor also had the title of Shandong Governor, who was in charge of farming, river management, and military affairs. The Shuntian Prefecture Governor directly controlled the six ministries and could submit memorials directly to the emperor.

But the job of Shuntian Prefecture's governor was a difficult one. As the prefecture's most powerful, Shuntian Prefecture's jurisdiction encompassed not only ordinary citizens but also countless high-ranking officials, eunuchs, and lowly and insignificant censors. The governor lacked absolute authority over them. Dealing with these individuals tested not administrative prowess but the ability to socialize and negotiate. If discontented individuals refused to tolerate it, they wouldn't hold back like ordinary citizens would; they might even file a petition to the emperor.

It's fine if the emperor is wise, but if he's not, going to the yamen is as painful as visiting a grave. Therefore, the first thing most prefects do upon taking office is to seek connections and promotions. During the Wanli reign, which spanned forty-eight years, Shuntian Prefecture saw a revolving door of over thirty prefects, an average of one every eighteen months. Few could complete their terms and be transferred normally.

Shen Guangzuo considered himself somewhat capable, but upon arriving in Beijing, he encountered a case that, even with his skill, he found himself struggling to handle. Recently, several unnatural deaths had been reported in the suburbs of Beijing. Initial inquests by coroners revealed that the victims had all committed suicide. Having served as a prosecutor in Kaifeng Prefecture and an inspector in Shandong, Shen Guangzuo had witnessed numerous murders disguised as suicides. The problem was that almost all of the victims had been castrated.

A yamen runner rushed to the inner signing room. As soon as he entered the door, before he even reached Shen Guangzuo, he shouted, "Master Zanfu, the Jinyiwei are here again."

Hearing the words "Jinyiwei", Shen Guangzuo's brows instinctively frowned. He put down his pen and looked up at the yamen runner. "Where is Tan Tuifu?"

"We are already dealing with them." said the bailiff.

"Okay. I understand." Shen Guangzuo sighed and walked towards the reception room.

In the reception room, Shuntian Prefecture Magistrate Tan Shijiang faced a group of unfriendly people. Although he had met these imperial guards yesterday, he still felt nervous when he saw Zheng Shiyi, a centurion of the Imperial Guard, again.

Zheng Shiyi was here because his previous assignment had been completely snatched away by the Northern Pacification Office. Yesterday, Yang Huan and his men had seized the Jesuit headquarters, but his efforts to seize their food proved fruitless, so he returned to the yamen and reported the matter to Admiral Liu Chengxi. Liu Chengxi had instructed Zheng Shiyi to go to the Censorate to investigate, while Liu Chengxi went to the Commandery to "complain."

The Commandery reacted quickly, immediately posing a stance of support for the Eastern Office, submitting a very tactful letter of protest to the Imperial Household Department that same day. The Imperial Household Department's reply came even faster: the case involved treason, and the Eastern Office was ordered to transfer the case to the Northern Pacification Department for handling.

In short, the protest is dismissed.

Meanwhile, Zheng Shiyi's situation was also not going well. He rushed to the Censorate, but the Censorate refused to sync the information with the Eastern Office, claiming they had not received the imperial edict.

One road, blocked at both ends. Liu Chengxi was completely helpless and had to find another way for Zheng Shiyi to go. And the way Liu Chengxi found for Zheng Shiyi was to take this newly received major case.

When assigning this case to Zheng Shiyi, Liu Chengxi had told him that as long as he could handle this case successfully, even if the Northern Pacification Office used the Jesuit case to cause trouble, it would "offset their mistakes." However, Zheng Shiyi was well aware that the gift from the admiral was likely poisoned.

Any case involving the palace was a major one. Regardless of whether it was easy to investigate, even if it was, the palace could potentially drown it out for reasons like favoritism. And when the case was drowned out, the investigators could also be killed along with it.

However, the Jesuit case wasn't over once it was dropped. Zheng Shiyi felt that if it escalated, it would become extremely serious. Furthermore, he could foresee that if Luo Zhangwei and Tian Tongzhi came to blows over the Jesuit case, he would likely be left as the scapegoat.

When faced with two evils, Zheng Shiyi chose the lesser. He wasn't the type to just cower and wait for death. No matter which way the case went, he would at least get the favorable conditions first.

Zheng Shiyi didn't have to wait long before Shen Guangzuo arrived. He stood up and saluted, saying, "Greetings to Mr. Shen Zan."

"Zheng Baizai is too polite." Since Zheng Shiyi used an elegant ancient name to address Shen Guangzuo, Shen Guangzuo also responded with an elegant ancient name.

"All of you go out." Shen Guangzuo waved his hand to dismiss the yamen runners.

"Yes."

"Go out and guard it." Zheng Shiyi said to the Jinyi captain he brought with him.

"Yes."

After the yamen runners and captains left, only Shen Guangzuo, Zheng Shiyi and Tan Shijiang were left in the reception room.

Zheng Shiyi said straight to the point, "The car carrying the body has arrived. Please ask Mr. Shen Zan to hand the body over to us."

"Zheng Baizai. I told you yesterday that if Shuntian Prefecture wants to transfer evidence, it needs approval from the Ministry of Justice or the Dali Temple." Shen Guangzuo knew from the look on Zheng Shiyi's face that he came empty-handed.

"When Chen Yintai was still in office, he never asked us for these things," said Zheng Shiyi.

The previous prefect of Shuntian Prefecture, Chen Dadao, was promoted to the position of Tongzhengshi in the Ministry of Public Security, and the ancient elegant name of Tongzhengshi was Dayintai.

Shen Guangzuo replied calmly, "Chen Jingqing doesn't want to approve the document. That's his business. I'm the prefect now."

"It was you, Shuntian Prefecture, who took the initiative to hand the case over to my Dongsifang. Now there are so many additional details." Zheng Shiyi was a little unhappy.

"It's customary to inform the Imperial Guard of cases that might involve the palace. Shuntian Prefecture needs approval from the Ministry of Justice or the Supreme Court before handing over evidence to other agencies. It's a rule," Shen Guangzuo said. "This isn't a formality."

(End of this chapter)