Chapter 292 How the case is decided depends on your performance

Chapter 292 How the case is decided depends on your performance

Chapter 292 How the case is decided depends on your performance
The imperial envoy and his entourage were arranged to stay in an inn in the city.

In the afternoon, all the local officials came to the temple and held a banquet to welcome the imperial envoy.

At the banquet, Gao Lian and others wanted to bring up the case several times, but were interrupted by Zhao Duan, who had an ambiguous attitude and did not express any opinion on the case.

After the banquet, the imperial envoy went back to his room to rest, saying that he was tired from the journey, and only said that the case would be discussed tomorrow.

The gentry and wealthy families in the city, who were paying close attention and sending people to investigate the situation, as well as the officials from various government offices, were greatly confused.

I don't understand what this imperial envoy's ways are.

……

After the banquet, outside the inn.

Censor Chen Hong personally escorted a group of local officials out, but the atmosphere was far from harmonious.

"Censor Chen, what exactly is the attitude of the imperial envoy? Could you please give us some advice? We would be very grateful."

He had an elegant demeanor, as if he was the top official in Linfeng Road, and the governor deliberately walked behind.

When he arrived near the gate of the posthouse, he waited for the other officials to leave and then stayed behind to ask bitterly.

The autumn wind blows.

The old osmanthus tree that has been planted for many years at the entrance of the post station casts a swaying shadow.

The green-robed censor and the red-robed governor stood side by side, with no one around them.

"You are joking, sir. I cannot give you any advice. Although I am the deputy envoy, it was the Imperial Envoy Zhao who made the decision when I came to Taicang. I can only give you some suggestions at best."

The middle-aged censor, who was missing two teeth and had drunk a lot of wine at the welcoming banquet, had a flushed face and waved his hands repeatedly.

Pan Tai is a respectful title for the governor, the censor is called Neitai, and the prefect is called Futai.

These “three masters” are the three giants of the civil service in Taicang City.

But at this moment, Gao Lian, a dignified second-rank official, still did not dare to be arrogant in front of this young censor.

Although Gao Lian had drunk a lot, his eyes moved at this moment and he said:
"We have lived in the countryside for a long time and don't know the temper of this Imperial Envoy Zhao. Censor Chen should try to figure it out so that we can cooperate and complete the tasks assigned by the Saint as soon as possible."

The middle-aged censor glanced at him and sighed:

"No wonder the imperial envoy is unhappy. How do you gentlemen do things?
The capital sent out an order a few days ago, asking you to start the operation, but what happened? Both the criminal and the witness disappeared. If His Majesty knew about this, I'm afraid he would want to take off your official hats."

Gao Lian looked worried and said bitterly:

"It was indeed our oversight, but by the time we took action, the person had already disappeared.

Regarding this matter, I implore Censor Chen to report it to Your Majesty truthfully. It is not that we are not diligent, but we are just one step too late. "

The middle-aged censor neither agreed nor refused, but just rolled up his sleeves and sighed:
"It's too early to talk about this now. The most urgent task is to bring the suspect to justice. Besides, what you said to me is not valid. How His Majesty views you all depends on how Imperial Envoy Zhao reports back."

Gao Lian said solemnly: "We just can't figure out what the imperial envoy means..."

Censor Chen, who served as the deputy imperial envoy, pondered for a moment. He did not look at the governor, but only glanced at a sweet-scented osmanthus flower falling above his head.

The rich fragrance of osmanthus trees lingers in the air in autumn.

When the wind blew, petals fell one by one and were evenly sprinkled on the shoulders of the two men's official robes.

The censor put his hands in his sleeves and said softly:

"In my opinion, the imperial envoy has two main intentions.

First, the letter of accusation had already been delivered to the Censorate, alarming the saint.

Now that we have come here with such a big fuss, no matter whether the Taicang County Magistrate can be found or not, and whether he has committed the crime of stealing the country and corruption... the imperial envoy's trip cannot be in vain.

We must find out something and catch the officials who committed the crime, so that we can report to His Majesty. Your Excellency, do you understand?"

understand?
But I understand it so well...

How could Gao Lian, who came from a Jiangnan noble family and rose to the position of governor of Linfeng Province, be a stupid person?
As soon as I heard it, I understood what Chen Hong meant:
You officials who have been appointed to serve in the capital should not think that you can use the “no evidence after death” tactic just because the prisoners are missing.

Lord Zhao has come here with great difficulty. If nothing is found out, how will he explain to the Emperor when he returns to Beijing?
"The Imperial Envoy can rest assured about this. Since the Magistrate of Taicang County has already fled for fear of crime, there is no need to find any more evidence. The Imperial Envoy only needs to report to His Majesty, issue a warrant of arrest, and capture the criminal.

As for us, as the chief officials of the temporary enfeoffment area, we have committed the crime of negligence and should be punished. Liu Ancha, Sun Zhifu and I will personally plead guilty to Your Majesty and will not implicate the imperial envoy. Gao Lian gave a solemn assurance. This was already discussed earlier.

The imperial envoy has arrived, and it would be too good to think that we won't have to take any responsibility at all.

Gao Lian and others were blamed for negligence.

Although it is painful, it is not fatal and is an acceptable outcome.

In this way, the imperial envoy does not need to exert any effort. He can easily complete the emperor's order by just taking a tour and returning to Beijing to receive his orders.

Gao Lian and other local officials took the responsibility together, and all parties received an explanation.

Gao Lian said this in the hope of reaching a tacit understanding with Zhao Duan and adopting this version that would make everyone happy.

At the cost of the local officials in charge bearing certain punishments, this case was characterized as the personal behavior of the Taicang County magistrate.

"Master Fantai, I have to remind you that the imperial envoy has not yet investigated. What do you mean by deciding the case in advance?"

Censor Chen glanced at him.

Gao Lian's eyelids twitched, and he said calmly:

"You have misunderstood, the censor. I just think that since the Taicang County Magistrate has escaped, it is equivalent to admitting his guilt and accepting punishment."

Censor Chen said quietly:

"It's fine for the Taicang County Magistrate to plead guilty, but is he the only one who embezzled the silver mine, or does he have accomplices? Who are the accomplices and who are not... This depends on the performance of the gentlemen."

See our performance?

Gao Lian hesitated for a moment, then thought of a possibility, with a strange expression:
"There are only two of us here. The censor may as well make it clear. The imperial envoy wants to..."

Chen Hong looked like, "Do you think I'm really drunk?"

He raised his hand to brush off the osmanthus flowers on his shoulders and answered the question irrelevantly:

"The Imperial Envoy is very dissatisfied with you. He is not satisfied with your accommodation, food, and even more dissatisfied with your ineffective work... Think about it carefully."

After saying this, the green-robed censor inlaid with silver teeth turned around and returned to the inn.

After taking two steps, he added as if remembering something:
"Of course, what I said just now is just my personal speculation on the imperial envoy's thoughts. It is definitely not a message for the imperial envoy. Your Excellency, please don't misunderstand me."

"..." Gao Lian was silent for a moment, then bowed slightly:

"Take care, Imperial Secretary."

……

Taicang government office, inside the three-person meeting hall.

"What? Did Chen Hong really say that?"

The dark and thin Magistrate Sun widened his eyes.

Staring at the top leader Lin Feng, who was as calm and steady as Mount Tai.

Gao Lian said nothing, but just picked up the teacup to moisten his throat.

Liu Ancha, who is over sixty and already in his 60s, looks unhappy:
"Court Envoy Zhao, could it be that he is not satisfied with our reception?"

This is still putting it mildly.

The three people present could clearly hear that the intention of Zhao Duan to ask Chen Yushi to convey the message was clearly "extortion of bribes"!
The conversation under the osmanthus tree can be translated into one meaning:
You, the local officials, want to push all the blame onto a county magistrate who fled for fear of punishment, and just take the punishment for negligence?
Yes, but what are the benefits for the Imperial Envoy?

If you want this imperial envoy to help you “make a big thing small”, it won’t work just by talking. You have to pay more!

Openly asking for a bribe... this was a little beyond everyone's expectations.

Although, in order not to give Zhao Duan the opportunity to find fault and establish his authority, today's reception strictly abided by the court laws and did not exceed the specifications... it was indeed a bit shabby.

But asking for money so blatantly is really...

"Haha, they're treating us like fat sheep."

(End of this chapter)