Do You Know?: I, the Little Cabinet Elder, Regent of the World

On that very day, Jiang Zhao summoned more than forty officials from the Transport Department.

"This humble official greets Lord Jiang."

In the Transport Commissioner's Hall, Jiang Zhao sat in the main seat.

More than thirty officials, led by Sima Guang, and thirteen Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) specially summoned from the prefectures and counties, all bowed in salute.

Perhaps because the Liu family of Yanzhou did not resist taxes, Sima Guang's eyes occasionally flashed with some worry.

"Please sit down," Jiang Zhaoping said with a smile, gesturing for them to sit.

As soon as he finished speaking, the pageboy Hesheng stepped forward and announced the results of the tax collection.

"Guangzhou and Jizhou are 60% behind, and Tongzhou is 20% behind."

The implementation of the Two-Tax System has taken root in people's hearts. Officials at all levels know when to pay taxes and will naturally set aside some time in advance to collect taxes.

When officials from the transport bureau went down to collect taxes, it usually only took them one or two days to count the amounts, which didn't take much time at all.

Therefore, when the tax collection results were announced, many people looked to Sima Guang, including the officials under him.

They were unaware of their superior's tax evasion.

This is a grave sin!

Sima Guang remained calm.

No rush, there are still ten days before the deadline.

The one who should be worried about not being able to collect taxes is the official in charge, Jiang Zhao, not him.

however.

Just then, Jiang Zhao suddenly smiled, looked at everyone meaningfully, and asked inexplicably, "How many offices does the Transport Commission have?"

A government office is a building where official business is conducted.

"Thirty-two places combined!" Judge Chen Xin, somewhat puzzled, replied.

The officials in the Transport Office were almost all responsible for a single task.

If he were placed in the Transport Department, he would definitely be a minor official.

But if this were outside, even a low-ranking official like the ninth-grade official in the Transport Bureau would have people of county magistrate rank begging to "call him brother".

As an official government office responsible for the administration of a region, it certainly wouldn't lack government offices; it was practically one office per person.

If we're talking about differences, there's no way to distinguish between large and small.

The transfer hall of the transfer judge is twice the size of a regular government office.

The Transport Commissioner's Office was much larger than the Judge's Office.

The Transport Commissioner's Office could easily accommodate a hundred or so people without any problem, and it was almost three or four times the size of a regular government office.

Thirty-two locations!

Jiang Zhao stood up, paced back and forth, weighed his thoughts, and nodded.

"The Transport Commissioner has always had the duty of supervising local officials," Jiang Zhao said slowly, glancing at the crowd. "But who will supervise the Transport Commissioner?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the dozens of officials exchanged glances and all lowered their heads in silence.

The world is bustling with activity, all for profit. The Transport Commissioner's Office is no clean government office. Which official hasn't taken care of some people?

"In order to rectify official corruption and clean up the yamen, former transport officials were each given a private office, and they were to write a secret letter with their own pen and ink. This could be either a mutual denunciation or a self-reproach."

"The thirteen newly arrived officials of the Transport Office set up tables and chairs and wrote secret letters in a gap in the government office wall."

As he spoke, Jiang Zhao glanced intently at Sima Guang, then looked at the thirty-odd officials who had previously worked at the Transport Department: "I have given you all the opportunities. If you still can't seize them, don't blame me for being ruthless if you suffer repercussions in the future."

After saying that, Jiang Zhao walked back to the main seat and waved his hand: "Start writing letters of denunciation now, everyone go ahead."

This self-criticism was launched with a very loud tone, in order to rectify official corruption.

However, anyone with a discerning eye could see what Jiang Zhao meant.

Sima Guang!

The thirty-odd officials on Sima Guang's side looked at each other in bewilderment.

Lord Sima, it seems you intend to resist taxes!

What a terrible crime that must be!

Having served as an official in one region for a full eight years, it's impossible to say that Sima Guang had no problems.

Everyone has moments when they act out of self-interest.

As Sima Guang's men, they must have known some inside information about Sima Guang's favoritism.

But, do I really have to write it?

If I remember correctly, Judge Liu has been recommended by Lord Jiang and Lord Sima and is about to be promoted.

How could Lord Liu have been recommended by Lord Jiang?

Has he already disclosed some issues?

Sima Guang noticed the changes in the expressions of the people below.

Sima Guang's face turned pale, and his demeanor became quite unsettled.

More than thirty people wrote their own reports separately; the chain of suspicion is truly terrifying.

In theory, if even one person finds evidence against him, he will be severely damaged.

When he suffers a major setback, his subordinates suffer, either being demoted or dismissed from their posts.

The only way to escape punishment was to write a letter of denunciation to prove innocence and curry favor with Jiang Zichuan.

No one can guarantee whether Sima Guang will fall from power or not.

If he falls from power and fails to write a letter of denunciation to curry favor with Jiang Yunshi, wouldn't he be doomed?

This chain of suspicion, which concerns human nature, is simply unstoppable.

Sima Guang was well aware that this was a chain reaction brought about by Liu Ping's recommendation.

Once Liu Ping left, Jiang Zhao's side was no longer at a disadvantage.

A combination of a transport commissioner and a judge would definitely be able to defeat a combination of a deputy transport commissioner and a judge.

Furthermore, there were thirteen officials who came specifically to "assist in government affairs." Even if the more than thirty Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) under his command were of one mind with him, they would probably only be evenly matched.

He and Jiang Zhao, one served as deputy envoy for eight years, while the other had only been in office for less than a month.

On the surface, they seem to be indistinguishable in terms of superiority and inferiority, but in reality, they have already been

His promotion speed is too slow, and the people below him are losing their morale!

The crucial point is that he still couldn't stop the whistleblowing.

First, the tone of this whistleblower letter was very loud.

Secondly, a whistleblower letter is something that can be written anywhere.

Once subordinates have such thoughts, they'll write even if they don't write at the yamen, they'll write at home, and there's no way to stop them.

Instead of trying to stop it, we should think about a way out.

The thirteen successful candidates in the imperial examinations, who had been coordinated by the prefecture and county, looked relaxed and occasionally scrutinized the remaining thirty-odd officials.

Lord Jiang said: He wrote the secret letter in a secluded spot in the government office.

The vacant lot in the courtyard of the transport office.

These open spaces happened to face various government offices.

By deliberately placing them in an open space facing the government offices, the purpose was undoubtedly to monitor them and prevent the officials from greeting each other.

When you're alone, a chain of suspicion forms, and you're not afraid to say anything.

More than forty officials subsequently withdrew.

Jiang Zhao held a cup of honey water and glanced out a few times.

It's about time this farce ended!

More than forty officials spent an afternoon nervously writing their whistleblower letters.

No one knows what anyone actually wrote.

After He Sheng received the letter of complaint, the forty-odd officials finally dispersed.

When they parted, they would exchange a glance, both seemingly wary of each other.

Trust is gone!

Chapter 81 A Feast at Hongmen: Sima Guang Confesses His Crime!

After the court session ended, the thirteen successful candidates in the imperial examinations searched together for the letters of complaint written by the remaining thirty-odd people.

Among them, the one written by Chen Xin, the transport judge, was the most extensive, totaling ten pages.

Unsurprisingly, it points to Sima Guang's plan to address taxation.

The memorial to the emperor is in twelve volumes, and his name is in every volume.

"Where is Sima Junshi's letter?" Jiang Zhao asked with great interest.

"A blank sheet of paper." Wang Shao handed over the letter.

Jiang Zhao shook his head.

"A blank sheet of paper—"

At the same time, Sima Guang, Chen Xin, and Liu Ping gathered together.

Sima Guang's face was somber as he asked, "Have either of you written anything that shouldn't have been written?"

"Don't worry, sir, I didn't write anything," Chen Xin assured, patting his chest.

"This is a plan to sow discord, please rest assured, sir," Liu Ping replied calmly.

Sima Guang glanced at the two men, then waved his hand, and the three parted ways.

After the two men left, Sima Guang sighed deeply.

He couldn't believe what the two of them were saying!

At this point, he was truly in a difficult situation!

Jiang Zhao's practice of having officials write their own complaint letters thwarted his plan.

The timing was perfect.

It was precisely after Liu Ping was recommended that he was exposed for his intention to resist taxes, a period when the two sides were almost evenly matched.

How could the officials below withstand the pressure?

This is tax evasion!

If Chen Xin and Liu Ping report his tax resistance, he will likely face at least dismissal from office, or at worst, exile.

Even the three clans might not be able to survive.

But if he doesn't continue with the plan, it seems like he's just wasting his time.

Anxiety and resentment intertwined in Sima Guang's heart.

Three clans!

Sima Guang's heart sank.

Just as it was impossible for more than thirty officials to trust each other, he also didn't quite trust Chen Xin and Liu Ping.

These two men were his confidants.

However, the connection of interests is not as deep as one might imagine.

He was only a fifth-rank official, and these two had not even been promoted by him.

Jiang Zhao's timing was so perfect that he must have known about his plan through someone.

Otherwise, if a new official can't collect taxes, his first priority should be to urge them to pay.