HLnovel Chapter 1147 Then let me lend you a hand!
Chapter 1147 Then let me lend you a hand!
On the afternoon of the day the case was closed, the government sent people to control the gentry and wealthy merchants who had offered bribes. They also posted a notice on the bulletin board detailing the bribery case and dispatched government soldiers to search Huai Prefecture.
Huai Gongwang, Huai Zhizhen, and others were taken to Caishikou to be tortured, and thousands of people watched, cheering and applauding.
As the sun set, Shen Zheng, who had been busy all day, still couldn't catch her breath and resignedly wrote the "case closure report" in her study.
"Knock knock knock—" There was a knock on the door.
Shen Zheng didn't even look up and said, "Go in."
"Squeak-"
The door was gently pushed open, and Jiang Zhiming stood outside, propping his neck up as he said, "Lord Shen, this humble official is preparing to return to Fuzhou Prefecture..."
"Lord Jiang?" Shen Zheng put down her pen, patted her forehead, "I'm so sorry, I was so busy today that I completely forgot..."
"It's alright, it's alright, it's alright!" Jiang Zhiming didn't even let her finish her apology, and stood at the door with a sheepish smile: "This humble official never comes in person. After watching you handle the case this time, I gained a lot, so I thought I'd hurry back and do some self-examination!"
If he could catch two corrupt officials and ask Lord Shen to put in a good word for him, wouldn't it be easy for him to get promoted in the future?
Looking at the smile on his face, Shen Zheng suddenly had a thought flash through her mind and hurriedly said, "Lord Jiang, actually I have another request. If you are not in a hurry to leave, may we go inside and talk?"
Jiang Zhiming's hand, which was trying to pry open the door, stopped.
Did he hear it correctly?
Lord Shen had something to ask of him?
"Oh dear, I'm not in a hurry, not in a hurry, not in a rush to leave!" He nimbly slipped into the study, rubbing his hands together, and said, "Lord Shen, you can just tell me what you need. How could you use the word 'beg'? That would be too much for me..."
Shen Zheng chuckled, gestured for him to sit down, and then got straight to the point: "Lord Jiang, if I remember correctly, the provincial judicial commissioners of the surrounding prefectures are located in Fuzhou Prefecture, right?"
The Provincial Surveillance Commission was a local supervisory office established by the imperial court. It was not subordinate to any ministry, but it had the power to supervise local examinations, conduct judicial oversight, and hold officials accountable.
An Provincial Surveillance Commissioner can supervise multiple prefectures. Apart from regular inspections, the Commissioner will not actively interfere in the affairs of the prefectures. The Commissioner will only be mobilized when major corruption, loss of life, or cross-prefecture cases are involved.
"The Provincial Surveillance Commission?" Jiang Zhiming was slightly taken aback upon hearing this, but still nodded: "Yes, it is located in Fuzhou Prefecture. But... I have only recently taken office and have not yet met the officials there. Lord Shen, do you... intend to hand over Huai Gongwang and the others to the Provincial Surveillance Commission? That's not right... Didn't you say during the court session that you would hand them over to Minister Luo?"
“It’s not about Huai Gongwang.” Shen Zheng paused after speaking, then smiled and said, “But it did arise because of Huai Gongwang.”
As she spoke, Shen Zheng took out a letter and a pen, ground ink, and said, "Lord Jiang, I would like to ask you to deliver a letter to the Provincial Surveillance Commissioner when you return to Fuzhou Prefecture."
Jiang Zhiming watched Shen Zheng put pen to paper, completely bewildered, but dared not ask any questions.
As Shen Zheng wrote, she said, "Along with Huai Gongwang, the local gentry and wealthy merchants who bribed him were also arrested. The case seems to be closed, but in the hearts of the people... a seed of distrust of the prefectural school has been planted. The only way to nip this seed in the bud is to hold a re-examination."
After listening, Jiang Zhiming was stunned for a moment, then suddenly slammed his hand on the table.
"Lord Shen, you are truly insightful!" Jiang Zhiming's eyes were full of admiration, and his lips moved quickly: "Please don't blame me for speaking so bluntly... I have served as an official in the local area for so many years, and I understand the people's thoughts very well. Although you have caught all the bribe-givers this time, people's hearts... are actually very complicated, especially the common people."
As he spoke, Jiang Zhiming lowered his voice slightly, as if afraid of being overheard by outsiders: "...Most people resent the rich, really. Even if they know that no one has escaped the net, in the days to come, they will still look down on those students from good families, and some will even deliberately spread rumors...saying that their academic achievements were bought. So for the sake of peace in the prefecture, I also support you in holding a re-examination."
"Really?" Shen Zheng feigned surprise, beginning her trap: "I wonder if Lord Jiang's 'support' has been accompanied by any concrete actions?"
Practical actions?
Jiang Zhiming was stunned.
This means... he's asking for financial assistance?
"Is there...?" Jiang Zhiming asked cautiously, his voice tinged with both pain and trepidation. "Lord Shen, how many... do you want?"
He carefully inventoried his belongings, his face contorted with pain: "To be honest, when I first arrived in Fuzhou with my wife and children, we bought quite a few things. Now, the only cash we have left is probably..."
He paused for a moment, then underreported the amount by fifty taels: "Around three hundred taels... Is that enough for you?"
Shen Zheng never expected that her short sentence would trick Jiang Zhiming into revealing his family's wealth.
But... the prefect's household only had three hundred taels of silver.
Isn't that a bit too...poor?
Shen Zheng strongly suspected that Jiang Zhiming had made a false report.
She suppressed her laughter and shook her head, saying, "Lord Jiang, you misunderstand. I don't want you to sponsor the re-examination, but rather I would like to invite you... to be the examiner for the prefectural examination."
"Huh?" Jiang Zhiming felt dizzy.
Who set the questions?
him?
Does he fit too?
"This humble official is no good..." Jiang Zhiming shrank back, his face full of insecurity: "Lord Shen, how dare this humble official show off in front of you? No, no, no."
Shen Zheng began to recall Jiang Zhiming's "resume" in her mind: "If I remember correctly, Lord Jiang is a graduate of the imperial examination, isn't he?"
Jiang Zhiming's thoughts were immediately drawn back to his youth.
The preliminary examinations, the prefectural examinations, the autumn examinations, the spring examinations, and the palace examinations—each one was a stepping stone in his journey.
"You even remember this?" Jiang Zhiming suddenly became embarrassed and scratched his head, saying, "It happened many years ago. To be honest, I was lucky and was appointed to an official position not long after the palace examination. But in terms of aptitude, I am certainly no match for you and Lord Yu. Lord Shen, why don't you set the questions yourself?"
As soon as the question was asked, Jiang Zhiming had his answer: "Look at me, I'm dumbfounded. You're trying to avoid suspicion, aren't you?"
“Exactly.” Shen Zheng nodded with a smile: “Lord Yu will be setting off soon. This time, both I and the Earl need to avoid suspicion, so we can only ask officials from outside Liuyang Prefecture to set the questions. Lord Jiang, please don’t refuse. The students of Liuyang Prefecture need you.”
Hearing the words "The students of Liuyang Prefecture need you" warmed Jiang Zhiming's heart.
Shen Zheng added fuel to the fire: "You yourself came from the imperial examination system and have served in local positions for many years. Your understanding of the prefectural examination must be better than mine. Lord Jiang, I also need your help."
Jiang Zhiming saw expectation in Shen Zheng's eyes.
His temper flared, and he exclaimed excitedly, "Then let me lend you a hand!"