The Prodigal Son

Yang Jichun and Zhu Songlan were having a heated argument inside the room.

Qin Yu understood that Zhu Songlan advocated merging the local government system with the salt transport system, and incorporating salt affairs into the performance evaluation of local officials, thereby reducing the number of salt officials and the government's expenditures.

However, Yang Jichun firmly believed that the court's decision to separate the two was more beneficial than harmful.

Although there are indeed some problems with the salt administration, the reason for this is that in order to save expenses, the imperial court has allowed some local officials to concurrently serve as salt officials.

We cannot dismiss the imperial system outright because of existing problems.

Both had their own reasons, and neither could convince the other, so the argument became more and more heated.

"Looks like they're not in the mood for food. Let's go, ignore them!"

Qin Yuchong and Lü Si shook their heads and smiled, then turned and walked out.

"I feel bloated even though I haven't eaten enough!"

Lu Si snorted and quickly caught up with Qin Yu again. "Who do you think is right?"

"They each have their own reasons!"

Qin Yu smiled casually.

However, he personally agrees more with some of Zhu Songlan's views.

Some things are not a problem of the system, but a problem of human nature.

Humans are greedy!

Even if the imperial court were well-off and completely separated salt officials from local officials, eliminating any possibility of them holding concurrent positions, they could still collude together as long as there were sufficient benefits.

To some extent, merging the two can indeed reduce a lot of expenses.

But doing this will definitely create new problems.

Therefore, it's impossible to judge whether they were right or wrong.

Perhaps, when the imperial court is less reliant on salt taxes, many problems will be easily solved.

"That's just bullshit!"

Lu Si curled his lip. "If you ask me, this is all Shi Yi's fault as the Salt Commissioner of Liangjiang! If Shi Yi had been even a little bit more responsible, the salt affairs problem wouldn't be so serious."

"Um!"

Qin Yu nodded in deep agreement, "I'll find you a chance to stab Shi Yi to death later."

"I won't do it!" Lü Si shook his head like a rattle-drum. "If anyone's going to do it, it'll be you! You're His Majesty's favorite minister, and your aunt likes you. Even if you stab Shi Yi to death, it won't matter!"

"..."

Qin Yu glanced at Lü Si with a dark expression, too lazy to argue with him anymore.

Even after Qin Yu and the others finished lunch, they still hadn't seen Yang Jichun and Zhu Songlan, and they didn't know if the two were still arguing.

After the meal, Qin Yu interrogated Wang Zhaojie again.

When questioned by Qin Yu, Wang Zhaojie confessed to framing and persecuting Zhu Songlan.

He had considered dragging Zhu Songlan into the mess.

Zhu Songlan remained unmoved, determined not only to reform the salt administration but also to report their crimes to the court.

Wang Zhaojie, having reached his limit, had no choice but to join forces with others to frame Zhu Songlan.

Faced with their combined forces, Zhu Songlan, an outsider, had absolutely no power to resist.

Ultimately, they successfully confirmed Zhu Songlan's guilt.

"Was Tian Yan, the Prefect of Yuanzhou, involved in this matter?"

Qin Yu interrogated him again.

A wry smile flashed across Wang Zhaojie's face. "Does Lord Qin think this question even needs to be asked?"

"Of course we need it!"

Qin Yu nodded. "Although I know Tian Yan is in cahoots with you, I still need a definite answer!"

Wang Zhaojie lowered his eyelids. "Dealing with a mere prefectural magistrate doesn't require his involvement; all we need is his approval."

"Okay, I understand!"

Qin Yu stood up. "I'm too lazy to interrogate you any further. I'll have someone prepare paper and pen for you. Think carefully and write down anything you haven't confessed!"

After saying that, Qin Yu left the prison directly.

Before he even left the prison, his men came to report that Tian Yan, the prefect of Yuanzhou, had arrived with his men.

Qin Yu's lips curled up slightly.

Speak of the devil, and he shall appear!

Wang Zhaojie and the others have already been imprisoned. I wonder if Tian Yan is panicking now.

Qin Yu quickened his pace.

Soon, Qin Yu met Tian Yan in the main hall of the governor's mansion.

Accompanying Tian Yan were two officials, in addition to his bodyguards.

"Your humble servant, Tian Yan, Prefect of Yuanzhou, greets Your Majesty the Imperial Envoy!"

Tian Yan, accompanied by two officials, bowed.

Tian Yan was in his forties and had a long beard.

Perhaps because he was in such a hurry, his official robes were covered in dust.

Qin Yu nodded slightly, walked to a chair, sat down, and leaned back. "What brings Lord Tian to Linhai?"

Tian Yan replied with a smile, "I heard that Your Excellency the Imperial Envoy has arrived in Linhai, so I came here to pay my respects."

Qin Yu glanced at him and casually asked, "You know about what happened in Linhai, right?"

"I heard about it when I first arrived in Linhai."

Tian Yan lowered his head slightly, bowing deeply in anguish: "This humble official never expected that Wang Zhaojie and the others would be so audacious! This humble official failed in his duty and has failed His Majesty's grace..."

"Was it just an oversight?"

Qin Yu's gaze suddenly sharpened. "Wang Zhaojie instructed that he must give you a considerable amount of silver every year!"

Qin Yu did not hide anything from this.

There's no way to hide this!

He took down all the officials in Linhai in one fell swoop. Tian Yan certainly wouldn't believe that they didn't confess anything.

"Dishonorable! This is absolutely dishonorable!"

Tian Yan's expression changed. "This humble official absolutely did not receive a single coin from Wang Zhaojie! This humble official suspects that Wang Zhaojie intends to escalate the matter and drag all the officials of Yuanzhou into this mess in order to save his own life! Please investigate thoroughly, Your Excellency!"

"I will investigate this thoroughly!"

Qin Yu nodded and smiled, "After all, you are the governor of a prefecture. I can't just arrest you and torture you like I did with Wang Zhaojie."

Tian Yan's face stiffened slightly, as if he had been hit hard in the chest.

He never expected that Qin Yu would directly admit to arresting Wang Zhaojie and torturing him to extract a confession!

Is this something an imperial envoy would do?

That's just banditry!

After regaining his composure, Tian Yan said seriously, "Although Wang Zhaojie deserved his punishment, he was, after all, an official appointed by the imperial court. Wasn't it somewhat improper for you to directly torture and extract a confession from him?"

Qin Yu raised an eyebrow. "What, are you going to impeach me?"

"certainly!"

Tian Yan readily admitted, "As the Prefect of Yuanzhou, I have no choice but to impeach you, sir, for arbitrarily interrogating and forcing confessions from officials appointed by the court!"

It's good that he admitted to being tortured to extract a confession!

In this way, those testimonies that are unfavorable to oneself can be overturned!

"Feel free to submit your opinions; I won't stop you!"

Qin Yu smiled nonchalantly, "However, there's something I must remind you!"

"Please speak, sir."

Tian Yan maintained a facade of respect.

"I don't know if you'll play games with me, and I don't like to waste time with people who have no power!"

Qin Yu stared coldly at Tian Yan: "I have only one statement: if any trouble arises in Yuanzhou, regardless of the reason, I will execute you, the prefect, first!"

Well, give him a glimmer of hope to overturn his testimony, and then tighten the reins on him.

First, stabilize the core market.

They don't care how they plot against you, they don't care if they secretly sabotage or stab you in the back.

As long as they don't resort to starting a rebellion when they're desperate, it'll be fine.

Upon hearing Qin Yu's words, Tian Yan's face stiffened instantly, and a chill ran through his heart.

Threat!

Qin Yu was blatantly threatening him!

Tian Yan calmed himself down slightly, then smiled and said, "I've heard that His Majesty has bestowed upon you the Emperor's Sword, granting you the power to execute first and report later! However, I'd like to kindly remind you that this power to execute first and report later is not to be used in this way!"

"How to use it is my business!"

As Qin Yu spoke, his tone suddenly shifted, "You can make a bet with me and see if His Majesty will take my head after I behead you!"