Taichang Ming Dynasty

Chapter 457 Old Troubles and New Troubles

Huang Kezan's workload seemed to pile up like a mountain. One didn't need to look beyond the seventeen-character title that preceded his name—Assistant Director of Military Affairs of the Beijing Camp and Minister of Public Security and Justice of the Capital—to understand the magnitude of his workload. Huang Kezan was accustomed to juggling multiple tasks. During the Wanli reign, he frequently served in various ministries and departments, yet managed his various tasks with impeccable order.

For example, the assignment of assisting the military administration of the Beijing Camp wasn't particularly busy, and wouldn't significantly impact the Ministry of Justice. The Beijing Camp's training was overseen by the military governor, Marquis of Taining, Chen Liangbi. Huang Kezan only needed to bring the censors to the military administration and the various camps once or twice a month to inspect the training and weapons storage, and to randomly question a few officers and soldiers, keeping Marquis of Taining and the other camp commanders on the alert. That was all that was needed. As long as the emperor was wise enough to approve the funds and actively respond to memorials, without holding them back or playing the game of "letting go today, then tomorrow," issues like unpaid salaries, slack military equipment, and lack of training were minor concerns.

However, the newly added responsibility of managing the capital's public security was a significant challenge. This assignment directly involved six government offices: the Ministry of Justice, the Censorate, the Military Administration, the Ministry of War, the Military Department, and the Criminal Department. Because it related to maintaining public order and organizing the baojia system, it also occasionally involved dealing with the Shuntian Prefecture and the Imperial Guard. Furthermore, the trial of major criminal cases hadn't officially begun yet; if it did, the Dali Temple would undoubtedly intervene.

These government offices were either on either side of the Qianbu Corridor, such as the Imperial Guard and the Ministry of War, or in the Imperial City, such as the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Justice, or in some inexplicable places, such as Shuntian Prefecture and the Military Government. Only the Censorate, the Dali Temple, and the Ministry of Justice were close together, all in Fucaifang.

Whenever Huang Kezan needed to communicate with other government offices besides the Dali Temple and the Metropolitan Procuratorate, he had to send errand boys or visit them in person. Although Huang Kezan's personal visits were tiring for the sedan chair bearers, and the old man didn't have to walk much, no matter whose legs were used, the round trip would always waste a lot of time.

If it weren't for the reasonable Duke of Ying, Zhang Weixian, who was willing to join him in submitting a joint petition to the Emperor, requesting permission to move the headquarters of the Commission for the Restoration of Public Security in the Capital from the Military Government to the Ministry of Justice, and to share the same office with him, the old man would have wasted an hour or two every day on the road. After all, the distance between the Military Government and the Ministry of Justice was more than ten miles, and the round trip was nearly thirty miles.

Zhang Weixian's kindness paid off. The most serious issue in the entire capital right now wasn't the need to improve public order, but the three major cases involving the Marquis of Wuqing, which involved a number of noble relatives. The noble relatives directly implicated in these cases, as well as those potentially implicated, all held or had held official positions in the Five Military Commandery. Working in the Ministry of Justice, far from the Five Prefectures and the Six Departments, meant less noise. To avoid being disturbed, Zhang Weixian even stayed away from home and rented a house near Huang Kezan's home in Fucaifang. He said it was to make things easier, but in reality, he just wanted to get away from that area. Zhang Weixian had already decided that unless there was an imperial decree summoning him back to the rear residence, he would stay in the Ministry of Justice. He wanted to avoid the spotlight for the time being.

It’s a pity that if people don’t go to the mountains, the mountains will come to them.

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When the unlucky centurion, who was called by his superiors to escort Li Guochen because he did not help Wei Chao to hold the horse, dragged this gentleman to the door of the criminal department, Zhang Weixian and Huang Kezan were discussing an important matter - asking someone for money.

On the day of the crackdown, the General Affairs Committee took in a total of 9,452 "vagrants" wandering around the capital. Although 2,421 more were subsequently released after verification, 7,031 remained in custody. Of course, some of these individuals were criminals who would be tried and sentenced, or even executed, but the majority were homeless people who survived by begging or doing odd jobs.

Before their arrest, the imperial court didn't have to provide for their food. It wasn't uncommon for the Wucheng Military Commission to collect two or three bodies a day, those who died of starvation or freezing. Excessive, useless people would always be automatically cleared out in some way. But now that the court had arrested them, it had to provide them with food, otherwise it would undermine the court's majesty and the emperor's virtue. Essentially, this was like trading food rations for the safety of the capital.

Until now, this ration has been provided by the patrol battalion responsible for detaining prisoners. However, the battalion has already sent a letter to the General Affairs Committee stating that its food reserves are running low. If this continues, not only will the refugees not be fed, but the battalion itself will run out of food before the next batch of food arrives. How to replenish the battalion's rations before they run out and how to continue to increase their supplies has become a serious problem that needs to be solved urgently.

Of course, the Ministry of Justice couldn't contribute a single cent of silver or a single grain of rice. Before the first year of the Longqing reign, the Ministry of Justice still had silver from the treasury for fines and corruption to draw upon, but since then, the treasury had been transferred to the Ministry of Revenue. However, the Ministry of Revenue wasn't part of the rectification committee, so asking for money from it required a petition.

Logically speaking, it was only natural for the imperial court to ask the Ministry of Revenue for funds for major events, and the rectification committee could justifiably ask for them. However, it was well known that the Ministry of Revenue was short of funds. Not only were the various treasuries under its jurisdiction chronically empty, but the use of every penny received by the Ministry of Revenue was restricted at the annual Imperial Finance Conference. It was foreseeable that, at least until the Liaodong war was over, the Ministry of Revenue would be in a state of constant expenditure.

In other words, even if the emperor approved the loan, and Wang Ji, the current acting seal holder of the Ministry of Revenue, was willing to give it, it would essentially be taking food and wages from other government offices to feed the refugees, and those affected would certainly not be happy about it. What did maintaining public order and detaining refugees have to do with them? Each government office had its own affairs to attend to.

Huang Kezan believed that the best solution was to directly ask the emperor for an additional temporary budget, or to submit a petition requesting the imperial treasury. After all, the rectification committee was a temporary government agency established by imperial decree, and since the emperor was concerned about Beijing's public security, he should continue to care about it.

Zhang Weixian, however, believed that whoever benefits should pay the price. Improving public order in the capital would obviously benefit the entire population, so every household in and around the capital should contribute. There must be at least 150,000 households in the capital and its surrounding areas; two taels of silver per household would be sufficient.

Huang Kezan disagreed, saying it was too disgraceful. A well-regarded cause, praised by the people, would be immediately distorted if tax collection were to interfere. Furthermore, merchants and civilians in and outside the capital paid their taxes. Firearms and armor duties, shop labor service, and other levies were collected annually. If this precedent were established, it was feared many complications would arise in the future. Furthermore, the treasury was not without money.

Just as the two were arguing about each other's views, a howl from far away interrupted their discussion.

"Stop!" The gatekeeper stopped the centurion of Zhishangwei and a group of breathless guards as expected.

"Get out of the way!" The captain was very angry.

Along the way, Li Guochen kept howling those same words, attracting the attention of passersby and driving the centurions and guards to their knees. If the men escorting him hadn't been wearing official uniforms, passersby would have mistaken them for daytime robbers.

If it were anyone else, the centurion would have at least had a smelly rag stuffed into the man's mouth to silence him. But this was, after all, the unconvicted young master of the Li family, so the officers and soldiers didn't dare treat him roughly, not even daring to use the ropes. The young master's mere struggles were considered cooperative. The group could only hold back their anger as they carried the immortal from outside Dong'an Gate across the entire imperial city all the way to the Ministry of Justice, ten miles away.

"Who is this? Who are you?" Of course the bailiff would not let them in just because of an angry look.

"Wu Zhen, Captain of the Left Guard of the Imperial Guards!" Wu Zhen pulled out his badge and thrust it in front of the yamen runner. "By order of the Imperial Household Department, I'm escorting the serious criminal suspect, Li Guochen, to the Ministry of Justice for questioning. Let me in!"

"So you're Captain Wu. My apologies." The yamen runner acknowledged his badge and gave him a slight bow, but still refused to let him in. "But when did the Jinwu Guard start interfering in criminal cases?" Huang Kezan's management was extremely strict. If he was let in so carelessly, the yamen runner's job would be ruined.

"What do you care about me?" Although Wu Zhen didn't carry Li Guochen himself, he was exhausted from the journey. He didn't want to explain anything further. He just wanted to hand him over, find a place to have tea, and then hire a car to take him back. Ten miles here, naturally ten miles back. It was really infuriating!

"Please be patient and wait a moment," the yamen runner said, not wanting to offend the Jinwu Guards. Who knows if any of them have any friends in the Jinyiwei? "Let me go in and ask." "Then go quickly!" As the saying goes, "Don't hit a smiling face." Wu Zhen's anger subsided a little. But not by much, because Li Guochen was still screaming, even though his voice was hoarse.

The bailiff's legs were swift, and he reached the main hall of the Ministry of Justice in a matter of moments. "Director Huang!"

"What's going on outside?" Huang Kezan frowned.

"Teacher Huang," the yamen runner reported, bowing, "There's a captain named Wu claiming to be from the Jinwu Left Guard. He says he's been ordered by the Imperial Household Department to bring the suspect, Li Guochen, to the Ministry of Justice for questioning."

"Who!" Huang Kezan and Zhang Weixian exclaimed in unison.

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"The criminal Li Guochen pays homage to Minister Huang and the Duke of Ying!" Li Guochen was a little surprised. He really didn't expect to see Zhang Weixian in the lobby of the Ministry of Justice.

Zhang Weixian wanted to leave, but Huang Kezan kept him with the words "As long as you have a clear conscience, there is no suspicion to avoid."

"I, Wu Zhen, a captain of the Left Guard of the Imperial Guard, pay my respects to Huang Butang and the Duke of Ying." Wu Zhen's breathing had become much smoother, at least not as heavy as before. Furthermore, the two men before him were not ones he could treat harshly.

"Captain Wu," Huang Kezan waited for a moment, and seeing that Wu Zhen was still not announcing the decree, he took the initiative to ask, "Where is the decree?"

"There is no decree." Wu Zhen shook his head.

"Since there was no imperial decree, why did the Imperial Household Department ask the Jinwu Guard to bring the suspect to the Ministry of Justice?" Huang Kezan was a little confused.

"He wasn't captured." Wu Zhen shook his head and explained, "My brothers and I were originally tasked with escorting the Liaodong military pay to the grain transport dock. Chief Wei of the Imperial Household Department was also ordered to accompany us for supervision. But as soon as our men left Dong'an Gate, they were stopped by this Young Master Li. He said he wanted to surrender himself. Chief Wei tried to persuade him to go back, but he not only refused to listen, but also grabbed Chief Wei's thigh. Chief Wei had no choice but to let me escort him to the Ministry of Justice, as escorting the pay was more important."

"Is there such a thing?" Huang Kezan turned his head to look at Zhang Weixian, but saw that he was lost in thought. He obviously had no intention of asking or answering.

"Why would I lie to you? Young Master Li is right here. You can ask him." Wu Zhen glanced at Li Guochen with dissatisfaction, then bowed to Huang Kezan and said, "Mr. Huang, Duke of Ying, since the person has been brought here, I will take my leave."

"Captain Wu," Huang Kezan raised his hand to stop him and said, "This is a major case. Without an imperial decree, how can the Ministry of Justice conduct an investigation on its own? You should send Young Master Li back to his home."

Huang Kezan had always assumed that this case had little to do with him. After all, cases involving nobles were always handled by the Northern Pacification Office, and the outcome was entirely up to the emperor. Even if the emperor wanted to send the case to the civil service, it should have been handled by the Censorate, the first to make the remonstration. Now, Wei Chao had inexplicably sent the case directly to the Ministry of Justice. What was this all about?
"How can this be possible! It's only natural for the Ministry of Justice to investigate the case. The suspect has been brought here. I'm taking my leave!" How could Wu Zhen possibly take this hot potato back? With that, Wu Zhen turned around and looked after himself.

"Wait a minute!" Huang Kezan was anxious. He had been an official for so many years and had never encountered such a thing.

"Oh, please don't embarrass me!" Wu Zhen turned back and said bitterly, "Chief Wei specifically requested that I bring him to the Ministry of Justice. If I send him to the Marquis's residence, wouldn't that be contrary to Chief Wei's wishes?" Between offending the Imperial Household Department and the Ministry of Justice, Wu Zhen decisively chose the latter. "Well, now that the man is here, if you don't wish to try him, you can send someone to send Young Master Li back yourself." With that, Wu Zhen led his men away without looking back.

Li Guochen had been very cheerful all the way, but when he entered the Ministry of Justice, he fell silent. He spoke again only after the footsteps of Wu Zhen and his party faded away: "Mr. Huang, the Duke of Ying..."

"Don't talk first!" Huang Kezan frowned and interrupted him directly.

Huang Kezan glanced sideways at Zhang Weixian, but the Duke of England still looked dazed and absent-minded, completely lacking the heroic demeanor he had when he was discussing the issue of food and wages.

"Someone come! Someone come!" Huang Kezan shouted.

"Huang Butang." Soon two yamen runners came over in response.

"Go to the Censorate and the Dali Temple and invite Grand Censor Zhang and Grand Justice He over!"

"Yes!" The bailiff took the order and turned away.

(End of this chapter)