Hu stayed in Yanzhou for quite a while. The local officials invited him ashore several times, but he was fascinated by a certain prized possession and couldn't bear to leave. He continued to live on the boat, creating his own little boat-palace. Later, he received orders from his superiors to return to the province, so he quickly wrapped things up and prepared to depart.
This time, the total amount for the bandit crackdown was thirty-eight thousand taels—some had already been spent, while others needed to be reimbursed upon returning to the province. Hu felt very pleased about it but also a bit guilty, so he took out two thousand taels. One thousand taels were distributed to his men to make them happy and keep them quiet. Although Zhou was not very fond of Hu, he was in charge of the matter, so he specially received three thousand taels. The remaining money was distributed to others based on how much they'd helped, even Useless Zhao got one hundred and fifty taels. Although it was not as much as Hu's favorite gatekeeper, Cao, he was still very happy.
Another ten thousand taels were handed over to Zhou by Hu, who said, "That rich guy Wei Zhugang is trying to shake me down for thirty thousand taels. I can't come up with that much for a while, so please help me with this ten thousand taels to prevent them from spreading rumors. If it's not enough, you can advance a few more thousand taels for me. If that's not possible, then I have no choice."
Zhou calculated in his heart, "Ah! If he had given me the money a few days earlier, I wouldn't have asked Wei Zhugang to write a letter to the capital. Now, giving more money is useless; I'll keep it for myself and won't have to give it to Wei Zhugang. With this money, I have other plans after returning to the province; maybe I'll go to Shandong again. Even if they complain and the imperial envoys come to investigate, it has nothing to do with me." So, Zhou put on a respectful look and said to Hu, "I'll do my best to carry out your tasks, sir. They've eased up these days, so ten thousand taels should be enough." Hu replied, "Those guys are greedy! If you don't pay attention to them, ten thousand taels will be enough. If you comply with them, thirty thousand taels won't be enough." Zhou just smirked.
Commander Hu said again, "I've given the money, but where is my 'public umbrella'? It's just a matter of appearances; they can't slight me, can they?" Master Zhou replied, "Of course not." Commander Hu insisted he didn't want a few cloth umbrellas bought with a fortune. "I want satin ones. One for the city, four for the countryside—at least five." He added, "I don't really care about this; it's just for show. If the higher-ups find out, they'll say I've put in a lot of effort for the local area but don't even have a public umbrella. It'll reflect badly on me." Master Zhou agreed. After speaking, he left. As he walked, he thought to himself, "I need to persuade the wealthy merchants to provide the umbrellas. These people are very hostile towards the Commander; if I talk to them, not only will they not listen, but they'll also give me a hard time. I'd better go see Magistrate Zhuang first." So, he immediately took a sedan chair to the county to visit Magistrate Zhuang and explain the situation. Magistrate Zhuang said, "As a local official, I can't force them on this matter; they gotta want to. And I can't talk to them about this either. Go ask Constable Dan; he's got a good relationship with the local wealthy merchants. Let him talk to them. If it works out, great; if not, he's resourceful—let him figure out a way to get a few umbrellas and have a few people send them over, just to keep the Commander happy." Master Zhou said, "I know Constable Dan; I'll go now." And with that, he left.
The police chief is on the east side of the county government office, so there's no need to take a sedan chair; you will arrive shortly. Mr. Dan warmly received him, and after exchanging pleasantries, he asked, "Mr. Zhou, when are you and Commander Hu leaving? I hope you can make it to dinner tomorrow." Mr. Zhou modestly replied and then explained his reason for visiting. Mr. Dan said, "The impression of those wealthy gentlemen and merchants towards Commander Hu is not good. Now asking them to send tribute umbrellas, even if you give them money, it's probably best to drop it. If you're worried about Commander Hu's reputation, frankly, unless he pays for it himself, it's unlikely. In the current situation, even if Commander Hu makes the umbrellas and plaques himself and gives them to them, they may not necessarily send them over because they would have to kowtow. If you want to handle this matter now, in my opinion, no one will be willing to pay. If you make the umbrellas yourself and cover the costs, I can hire a few people to help you deliver them, which would be easier. But where can we find those who pretend to send the umbrellas?" Mr. Zhou did not speak, thinking to himself, "It's a good thing I took ten thousand taels of silver from him. I can spend one or two hundred taels to make a few umbrellas and plaques to make do." So, he said to Mr. Dan, "I'll cover the costs; you don't have to worry. But please arrange for a few friends to deliver the umbrellas. You're well-connected here; a word from you carries weight." Mr. Dan replied, "I do have a wide network of contacts, but it depends on the situation. I'll think about it for you. Those soldiers you brought, those officials on the naval vessel, they can be quite haughty. Discuss with them, pick a few who don't usually see Commander Hu, have them wear decent clothes to deliver the umbrellas, and say they are local gentlemen. Just kowtow at the door and leave; no one will be the wiser." Mr. Zhou thought this was a good idea and praised, "You're right, I'll definitely do as you say..." He entrusted Mr. Dan with the task of making the tribute umbrellas and plaques. Mr. Dan asked, "What kind of umbrellas should they be?" Mr. Zhou said, "They should be made of satin." Mr. Dan was surprised and said, "Satin is too expensive, isn't it?" Mr. Zhou replied, "If not satin, at least damask. You figure it out, how to save money and make it look good; just do it. Don't worry about the expense." He then asked, "How many days will it take to make? When can they be delivered?" Mr. Dan counted on his fingers and said, "In two days, they can be made, definitely delivered by the third day." Mr. Zhou returned to the city, first went to find Mr. Zhao and Mr. Lu, discussed and selected the people, then returned to the big boat to report to Commander Hu, who naturally had no objections. They planned to receive the tribute and leave for the province after breakfast on the third day.
The next day, all the city officials held a farewell banquet for Commander Hu at the government office. They also invited Mr. Zhou, Zhao, and other attendants and elders to join them, along with an opera troupe to perform. Commander Hu sat in the middle, with officials on either side. He wore a fancy robe—missing a collar—over which he sported a striking golden monkey-and-horse jacket. In front of him was a large brazier burning bright red charcoal. About a dozen servants in their best clothes were serving food and pouring wine on the side. The feast went on from two in the afternoon until nightfall.
Commander Hu was drinking and watching the opera, completely captivated, when suddenly a gust of wind blew a piece of colored silk on the stage onto a candle, causing it to catch fire! Although someone immediately tried to put out the fire, the wind was too strong, and the flames spread rapidly, even burning the colored silk on the eaves. Everyone was terrified, and pandemonium erupted—some were throwing water, while others tried to use bamboo poles. The drums on the stage stopped, and the actors also helped put out the fire. Fortunately, a nimble clown climbed a pillar, pulled down the colored silk, and the fire was extinguished. It was a near miss; water was all over the ground, and the servants quickly cleaned it up. The banquet resumed, and the opera continued.
During the fire, Commander Hu went as white as a sheet and immediately sent for his sedan chair to go home. After the fire was put out, the officials tried to persuade him to stay and have a few more drinks to calm his nerves. But Commander Hu was a bit touchy about such things and felt unhappy in his heart; he reluctantly had a few more drinks before returning to his ship, and the rest of the guests soon left.
Back on the ship, Commander Hu said, "Today everyone threw me a nice farewell, and we almost had a fire. What kind of omen is this?" No one dared to speak, only Mr. Wen said, "A fire means a promotion!" Commander Hu's mood improved upon hearing this, and he started talking and laughing again.
Early on the third day, the subordinates began to be busy. They put up festive awnings at the dock because Commander Hu was returning to the province today. The county folks hung up brand-new silk lanterns. Every boat, big and small, flew its flag in the breeze. Military officers, swords at their sides, packed the dock. Behind them was a line of troops that stretched for miles, some with bayonets, others with rifles, with a sergeant supervising every fifty men. At ten o'clock in the morning, they were to take the Dezheng plaque and umbrellas to the ship. Zhao and Lu had sent officers to Shan's house early that morning, to pose as city gentlemen and keep Hu safe. Shan thought it wasn't grand enough with so few people, so he brought in a few of his merchant friends—the owner of the rice shop, the manager of the southern goods store, and two clerks—all in hats, riding in Shan's sedan chairs. Shan was careful, not wanting to attract attention, so he quietly collected five umbrellas and four fans from the shops and gathered at the city gate. He also called a team of drummers in advance. Once the sedan chairs of the officials and merchants arrived, they opened the umbrellas and followed the drummers and the Dezheng plaque in a lively procession out of the city. Not far outside the city, soldiers were stationed on both sides to maintain order.
Around nine o'clock, everything was ready, and all the civil and military officials in the city trickled in to the official hall outside the city to wait. At around half past ten, three cannon shots were heard from the shore, and music was played from both sides of the bandstand. Commander Hu was resplendent in a red-topped sable hat, a blue sable stole, and a crimson leopard-trimmed robe, all topped off with a peach-colored sable jacket and green leather boots. His stewards were also dressed appropriately. The official decree and umbrella had already arrived at the gazebo on the shore. After the person delivering the umbrella presented a note to Commander Hu for inspection, three cannon shots were heard on the shore again. Sixteen bodyguards were dressed in red feather and black velvet-trimmed robes, holding gleaming steel halberds wrapped in red silk, followed by eight constables. Although the ship was very close to the shore, according to customs, he still sat in a large green sedan chair carried by four men, with a person holding an umbrella in front and a group of attendants following behind. When the sedan chair reached the gazebo on the shore, he humbly said a few words to the person delivering the umbrella. A red carpet was laid on the ground, and everyone prostrated themselves. He returned each bow, thanked everyone, and invited them to board the ship for tea. After they declined, he sent them away. At this time, all the artillery boats fired simultaneously, deafening, while the soldiers on both sides played musical instruments. He remained seated in the sedan chair, surrounded by constables and bodyguards, as they returned to the ship. Just as the sedan chair was being carried onto the gangway, a group of mourners suddenly rushed to the riverbank, crying and shouting towards the big ship. Commander Hu's bodyguards and local constables with whips tried to drive them away, but these people were undeterred, crying and cursing, accusing the officials and soldiers of being bandits and causing them suffering. Chaos erupted, drawing a growing crowd of onlookers. Although he heard some of the curses, he pretended not to hear and, turning a deaf ear, ordered the ship to set sail and leave the dock.
Officials from the prefecture and county heard that the commander was about to set off, so they hurriedly came out of their offices and ran to the dock to give him a send-off. When they arrived at the shore and saw many people gathered there, they asked what was going on. They spilled the beans. The prefect remained silent, while the county magistrate began to scold the staff, asking them, "This looks terrible for the commander! Why didn't you clear out these people earlier?" The staff members dared not speak. The magistrate then ordered, "Grab that constable!" When the constable heard that the master was angry, he quickly separated the crowd, intending to grab the person in mourning attire who was crying the most and bring him in front of the master. Unexpectedly, this person was not afraid at all. Instead, he picked up a mourning staff and hit the constable's head, shouting, "My mother and brother, they murdered them! They burned my house down! What am I supposed to do, huh?!" At that time, the magistrate was standing on the dock and heard all these words clearly, knowing that they were not directed at him. Although he was angry, it eased his mind a bit. He quickly ordered the constable not to argue with that person, but just get rid of them. Following the orders, the constable, with seven or eight bailiffs, one by one, hauled them away. Those people were still cursing loudly, but they had already walked far away, and both the commander and the magistrate could no longer hear them, so they let it go. Officials of all levels went to see the commander, then returned to their own ships, following the commander's ship for more than ten miles. Only after the commander repeatedly refused did the officials finally leave. The military officers lined the riverbank, fired a salute, and knelt in a grand farewell. The local commander stationed in Quzhou had been ill since September and had been on sick leave for more than three months. Because he had someone to take care of him in the capital, he was not replaced. Even if there were issues in the area, it seemed as if they had nothing to do with him. From Commander Hu to Yanzhou, all the way back to the province, the two of them never met. Commander Hu also knew his background, so he did not pursue the matter.
That's how it is; short and sweet. Commander Hu spent several days on the ship, and by the time he returned to the province, it was already the end of the year. According to the rules, he first went to report to the Provincial Government, one to update on the situation of suppressing bandits, and two to thank the court for their commendation. These official duties were just a formality. After that, it was time for colleagues to throw a welcome party for him, and then he would be busy for a while during the New Year. We'll skip the office politics.
The two accompanying staff members, Huang and Wen, each went home. Zhou originally had a job in the government office, and the Governor had a good relationship with him, so he had never let him leave. After returning to the province, he could have continued his job, but because he had clashed with Commander Hu multiple times in Yanzhou, not only did he get someone in Beijing to complain, but he also extorted ten thousand taels from him. This matter was bound to explode sooner or later, and he couldn't stay in Zhejiang. He figured he'd better get his cut before things went south, so after returning to the province, he continued to take leave and stayed at a friend's house. After the Lantern Festival, he went to the Provincial Government, saying he was visiting family, to see the Governor, and said, "My father is old and sick, hoping for me to return, and has urged me in letters multiple times. Now that the bandits in Yanzhou have been wiped out, and I have no unfinished business, I would like to take half a year's leave to visit my hometown. After the leave, I will definitely return to serve the court." Liu had a good relationship with him, and after hearing this, he was very concerned and had to agree. However, he felt that half a year was too long, so he only gave him three months of leave, saying, "I have only recommended Hu Dao for promotion, which has been approved. The Emperor will also let everyone recommend deserving men for awards, and the imperial edict will be issued soon. As for your matter, there’s no need for me to say more." After Zhou thanked him again, he bid farewell to his superiors and colleagues. He packed his bags, hopped on a steamer to Shanghai, and left it at that for now.
Dai Dali heard that Commander Hu had returned to the province, so he went to the mansion to see him. After some small talk, Commander Hu thanked him for his mediation and mentioned Lord Zhou, expressing great dissatisfaction. Dai Dali took the opportunity to speak ill of Lord Zhou and said, "This time, not letting him get a share was also my doing." Commander Hu said, "Not only will I not let him get a share, when the big case is reported, I will also have to speak to the Minister and have his name removed." Dai Dali was very happy to hear this.
Time flew by, and shortly after, the big case was reported. Although Commander Hu and Lord Zhou were not on good terms, and both spoke ill of him in front of the Minister, and Dai Dali was also pulling strings, the Minister, considering their past relationship and the effort put in this time, refused to remove his name and recommended him. After the report was submitted to the court, a letter from the ministry soon arrived, instructing them to sort things out. It was simply a matter of determining the amount of money based on their rank; those with money approved, those without money rejected. After negotiations, it inevitably took time, so despite the imperial decree being issued three months ago, there was still no reply from the ministry. This was how things were done around here, so it was not surprising.
A year passed in the blink of an eye, and it was early May. One day, Minister Liu was receiving some officials from the department and provinces when an urgent telegram arrived from the telegraph office. Upon opening it, it turned out that the court had dispatched two high-ranking officials, along with their attendants, to rush to Fujian to investigate an incident. After reading it, Minister Liu informed everyone. The local governor said, "There doesn't seem to be any trouble in Fujian that requires reporting, so why send inspectors to investigate?" The department official, who had experience working in the military department since childhood, thought for a moment and said, "Based on the information from the department, they are probably not investigating Fujian. Typically, when inspectors are sent to investigate secretly, they target Shandong, but the imperial decree states it is Shanxi, to lower people's guard; once they reach Shandong, the inspectors do not continue. But they definitely won't wait for the inspectors to arrive; they must have received information in advance, with insiders and someone writing and informing them." Minister Liu said, "There shouldn't be any trouble in Zhejiang that would get people talking." The officials from the department and provinces remained silent.
After seeing off the guests, Liu rested for a few days and received a letter from the capital, written by a low-level official in the military secretariat with whom he had a good relationship. The letter stated clearly that three imperial censors had impeached him three times, prompting the court to send inspectors to investigate. Liu was taken aback. The next day, he received an imperial edict specifying that the investigation would focus on Zhejiang, and two inspectors were dispatched. However, the edict only mentioned that there had been a report, without identifying the three imperial censors involved. This was standard operating procedure in the officialdom—nothing much to say about it. The edict also did not specify the exact reason for the impeachment. Although some officials in the province suspected something, they were puzzled for a while. A few days later, the low-level official from the capital wrote again, likely explaining the reasons for the impeachment; although not in detail, it was somewhat clearer. It's worth remembering that having someone to cover for you in the capital while serving as a governor in a distant province is the best scenario. Even without such support, it is crucial to maintain good relations with those officials, bribing them with winter coal and summer ice each year, and making preparations in advance to ensure peace of mind. Although Liu had many friends in the capital, they all avoided him upon hearing about his impeachment, afraid of getting into trouble. Some wanted to inform him but did not know the specific reasons for the impeachment, so they dared not say much. Some officials in the provincial capital knew the inside story but, out of respect for Liu, felt that things would eventually become clear and it was not convenient to speak out at present. Due to these three reasons, a month had passed since the inspectors arrived in Zhejiang, and Liu still did not know what mistake he had made. Late June brought news via telegram that the inspectors were nearing Qingjiang, prompting officials from the Zhejiang provincial capital to be sent to welcome them. By mid-July, the inspectors arrived near Hangzhou. Scouts reported that the inspectors were approaching. From governor to general, every official was at the reception hall awaiting the inspectors' arrival.
Shortly after leaving the city, a steamboat whistle tooted twice in the distance, on the river. Soldiers on both banks fired a volley, and two small steamers could be seen towing more than twenty boats carrying the imperial envoys and their attendants, charging through the waves. After the boats docked, three cannon shots were fired, and two imperial envoys in casual clothes were seen sitting in sedan chairs and being carried ashore. After getting off the sedan chairs, they stood by the incense table. From generals and governors to commanders and officials, all officials who needed to pay their respects knelt down. The governor and the general led the way, saying, "Your humble servants, [names], respectfully greet the Imperial Envoy." Then they bowed. The imperial envoys returned the courtesy as usual. After the ceremony, the two imperial envoys exchanged a few words with the general and the school official, barely acknowledging the other officials before entering their sedan chairs. The governor's mansion had been prepared as the envoys' headquarters. This investigation was of great importance, as it involved the affairs of the province, so all officials were extra cautious. Fearing the county might be neglected, they sent a magistrate and two county magistrates to assist in handling the matter.
When the imperial envoys arrived at the headquarters, they were strictly guarded because the imperial edict required them to act justly and thoroughly investigate the matter. Officials who came to visit were not received, and attendants were prohibited from going out or meeting guests. A police officer and a clerk were stationed inside the gate, checking the people coming in and out all day, and everyone had to register. News of this sent shivers down the spines of provincial officials.
The next day, the imperial envoys sent word again, asking the county to prepare ten sets of new torture instruments—chains, sticks, boards, and clamps—all were required. They were also asked to prepare thirty pairs of handcuffs and leg irons, ten pairs of wooden hooks, and four standing cages. The county was ordered to rush to make them overnight and deliver them to the headquarters early the next morning. This news sent the officials into a fresh wave of terror. After the torture instruments were prepared, there was no movement for two days, leaving the city's officials even more on edge. The governor received constant updates on the envoys' activities. The lack of activity this time naturally caused even more concern.
On the third day, the Imperial Inspector suddenly issued a document to Zhejiang Governor Liu Zhongcheng. Liu Zhongcheng opened it and saw that it essentially stated: "Investigate the case as ordered; all persons involved will be handled by your office, including dismissal, suspension, and detention," and so on. There was also a list, including two Dao-level officials whose positions were vacant (one from Ningshaotai prefecture and one from Jinquyan prefecture), to be dismissed first; two acting Dao-level officials (one is the director of the Supply Bureau, and one is the commander of the Defense Army, Hu Daotai), to be suspended first; five county magistrates; and fourteen lower-ranking officials (including the magistrate of Jiande County, to be dismissed first and handed over to Shouxian for supervision); in addition, there are three others who have been dismissed, suspended, and handed over to the county for supervision; among the other personnel, eight have been dismissed or suspended; there are also many military officers involved. Another list noted the arrest of two disgraced aides (one of whom is even an aide to the Governor); three gatekeepers (two are from the Fan Tai, and one is from the Transport Department); as well as a local gentleman and a county clerk… The list totaled over 150 names, far too many to count. Liu Zhongcheng looked at it; everyone else was fine, but unfortunately, his own aide was also on the list, which was really embarrassing. The senior officials of the Sidaoduan were also implicated, indicating that the matter was serious. However, the document only mentioned dismissal, suspension, and detention, without specifying the exact crimes committed. Because it was an Imperial Inspector's case, he dared not reject it, nor did he dare to inquire further, so he could only follow the orders. The news terrified provincial officials, leaving them anxious and desperate for information they couldn't obtain, causing a great deal of distress!
So, after the two imperial envoys sent out official documents, the vigilance at the headquarters loosened considerably. Some accompanying officials would occasionally go out at night to visit friends and guests, but they would only leave after dark, staying at home during the day. Everyone wanted to curry favor with the envoys' staff. When they came out to visit, there were naturally people rushing to make connections; some had relatives, some had old acquaintances, and the conversations were warmer than usual. At first, it was just inviting them to dinner, but later on they started showering them with gifts, and gradually more people came and went at the headquarters. The two envoys looked the other way. Among these attendants, there was a Manchu named Lada, a minor official at the Ministry of Justice and a student of the main envoy. The relationship between teacher and student was very good. There was also a probationary magistrate in Hangzhou, responsible for city security, who was also a scholar, Guo Fu, and studied with Lada, being in the same examination class as him and also a student of the main envoy.
So, this imperial commissioner, see, he was from the Manchu banner, currently a big shot in the Ministry of War, and also a minister in the Imperial Household Department. This assignment was actually a deliberate favor from higher-ups, meaning to say: "This guy's a solid bet, having worked in the government office for so many years, now sending him out also lets him line his pockets." Before he could even thank for the imperial decree, he went to inquire at his father-in-law's house about the specifics of this assignment. His father-in-law said: "Look, this job was supposed to go to someone else, but hey, we're family. I pulled some strings for you with the Emperor." Upon hearing this, the imperial commissioner was over the moon and just blurted out: "This matter seems quite troublesome; I should ask what the higher-ups really mean." His father-in-law let out a dry chuckle and said: "Is there anything difficult to handle now? Look, there ain't no honest officials in this whole darn country. But as long as the censors keep quiet, I'll turn a blind eye. And even if they do complain, we'll just have a quick investigation, make an example of a few guys, and that's that. It's a never-ending game, so what's the point of making a big fuss?" That's how the Emperor rolls! When you go to Zhejiang, although things are not easy to handle, I will teach you a method called 'draw the bow, but don't release the arrow.' It means, 'make a big show of doing something, but don't actually do it.' First, do not disappoint the emperor's cultivation of you; second, maintain a good reputation, so as not to be scolded behind your back; third, you can also gain benefits for yourself. You are getting older, with many sons, and grace from above, why not hurry up and gain some returns?" The commissioner, he didn't care about anything else after hearing those eight words, 'draw the bow, but don't release the arrow.' That was his game plan.
After leaving the capital and arriving in Hangzhou, he always followed what his father-in-law told him to do. Although word on the street was that they were arresting people and using torture devices, causing a lot of commotion, the old guy just sat in his yamen all day long, doing nothing but snorting snuff and puffing on his opium pipe. In his spare time, he'd sing with his guys to kill time. He didn't bother questioning or investigating anyone who came, and he didn't even glance at the case files brought to him, directly instructing his subordinates. His deputy, a Han Chinese, let the censor run the show, never stepping out of line. Among the staff brought along, many knew the law and were serious about their jobs, but seeing the censor's attitude, they were stumped. Only Lada, his right-hand man, was the censor's student, and they were thick as thieves. The censor trusted him, and they'd been prefects together and looked out for each other.
This former prefect, from a wealthy family, was a jinshi who had passed the exams in the same year as the censor, and his ancestors had connections with the censor's family. After arriving in Zhejiang Province, he had been there for seventeen years. In the past, several governors had given him tasks because of his family connections, but he always screwed things up or caused problems. Therefore, the governors were all too scared to give him any work in the past seven or eight years, just letting him guard the city gates and paying him a hundred taels a month. During festivals, it was just for show; he never actually saw them. The guy was blacker than coal!
Just when things looked bleak, Zhejiang Province caused trouble, facing repeated accusations from his superiors, and the situation escalated. An imperial envoy was sent to investigate, and this envoy turned out to be his fellow jinshi and also his teacher. On the first day of the visit, the guard said the envoy was not seeing guests. At first, he did not know that Lada, his old classmate, had also come. A few days later, Lada visited him with a greeting card, and the two old friends realized they were from the same class, forming a close relationship. Lada was carrying out the envoy's orders to win over the governor, and the two met almost every day. The envoy's activities couldn't be kept secret from the provincial officials. After the two became close, the news quickly reached the governor.
These days, the governor was worried about this matter. After receiving this news, he immediately summoned his subordinates to discuss. The experienced Nietai had many ideas and suggested, "Since the provincial governor is the envoy's student, he will have to take care of him in the future. Why not send a favor to him first: firstly, the provincial governor will be grateful for the governor's cultivation and will do his best in everything; secondly, let the envoy see that the governor takes care of him everywhere, and he will not forget the governor's favor; thirdly, if the provincial governor and the envoy's followers have a good relationship, he can also help them communicate. Currently, the positions of logistics, military camps, and the defense commander are all vacant. Why not appoint him to one or two of these positions first? This is a calculated risk, but the rewards outweigh the risks!" The governor thought it made sense and agreed immediately. After his subordinates returned, they delivered the appointment documents to the governor's mansion before dark.
As for the provincial governor, he'd fallen on hard times and was short of cash. Now that his old classmate had come, he had to treat him to a meal, and he also wanted him to put in a good word with his teacher and ask the high-ranking officials in the province to find him a good job. Fortunately, he was an honest person and only wanted his old classmate to say a few words for him, without any intention of taking advantage of the situation. That day, he was thinking in his mansion, "I will invite my old classmate to visit West Lake tomorrow, just rent a boat. When we get to West Lake, we can find a place to have a few drinks casually, spend a couple of dollars, and that would be considered being a good host." After being poor for so many years, even owing money to restaurants, he could only make this small plan—such were his humble circumstances.
He was just thinking when two documents arrived. Guo Daotai hadn't had a promotion in ages. Two documents out of the blue? He was flabbergasted. Upon opening them, he realized he had been appointed to two important government jobs. This was a great joy! The next day, he went to express his gratitude, practically kissing the ground in gratitude, saying many words of appreciation. Governor Liu also patted his shoulder and said, "Old friend, I've always known you were a star. Just haven't had the chance to use you till now. I'm gonna be relying on you a lot more from now on." Guo Daotai was loyal, and from then on, he threw himself into helping Governor Liu—working hard for him—but those are stories for another time.
A colleague told him about this. Lada understood in his heart and told his teacher when he returned. The Imperial Commissioner got it right away, and when there was no one around in the evening, he pulled Lada aside and gave him the lowdown on how to handle the situation. Lada said, "I'll do my best, teacher. However, we must remain calm, observe the situation, and wait for them to come to us. If I jump in, I'll just cheapen myself." The Imperial Commissioner said, "You've got this. I've got your back!"
Early the next morning, Lada went to visit the Daotai. The gatekeeper said, "Our Lord was called by Deputy Liu early this morning and will be meeting guests later. He won't be back for a bit." Lada had no choice but to return for now.
So, the boss was indeed summoned to the office early in the morning by Liu. Liu played sick, ordered the gate closed, and said no visitors would be received that day; only the boss was called in alone and invited into the inner room, making it clear how much he valued him. After the boss entered, Liu was already waiting there. The two greeted each other and sat down. Liu was dressed in casual clothes and didn’t wear his official hat. When they met, he first asked the boss to put on his hat and then asked, "Did you bring your casual clothes?" The boss said he didn’t. Liu then told his attendant, "My clothes are just right for the boss. Go quickly and bring my new gauze robe for him to wear." The attendant hurried to fetch it. Before the boss could even sit down properly, Liu said, "It's still early; you probably haven't had breakfast yet, right?" He then asked the attendant to bring some snacks for them to eat together.
As they ate snacks and chatted casually, before they could get to the main point, the snacks were finished. At this time, Liu noticed sweat pouring off the boss, big drops like soybeans, so he quickly asked him to take off his outer robe and even his inner clothes, instructing the steward to bring a towel to wipe his back. Just as they were busy, a gofer came back and said, "Captain Hu Dao from the patrol camp is seeking an audience." Liu narrowed his eyes, "Do I have time to see him? I said no visitors today, didn’t I?" The gofer replied, "Captain Hu said it’s urgent." Liu shot back, "What’s so urgent? Tell him to go find Judge Dai!" The gofer was at a loss for words and dared not speak, so he had to go tell Captain Hu to go find Judge Dai. Hu just hung his head and left.
The prefect enjoyed the favor from Liu Zhongcheng, feeling completely overwhelmed and flustered, not knowing what to do. After the ritualistic display of hospitality, he sat down to drink tea. Liu Zhongcheng slowly said to him, "The inspector is here to investigate the case, and we don't know when it will end. We'll have to treat them to a meal afterwards. When I went to see the emperor in the past, I met them a few times. I heard that the inspector is actually Lada's teacher." The prefect quickly replied, "Yes." He added, "There has been no progress in the investigation these past few days. Lada goes to the inspector's place every day. If you have any matters, you can ask him."
Liu Zhongcheng said, "What do I have to fear from others? Lada is the inspector's teacher, not my relative or friend. Let him stay if he's useful; otherwise, send him packing. It has nothing to do with me. I'm worried that if things get out of hand, it will affect the whole mess. If the situation is chaotic, it will be difficult for officials in Hangzhou to work, and the tasks will be hard to carry out. I'm doing this for everyone, not just for myself." The prefect was very impressed. Thinking back to Liu Zhongcheng's hospitality just now, he was even more moved and determined to do his best. He immediately promised, "The inspector is Lada's teacher, and Lada and I were at the same academy. The current investigation concerns the overall situation. Anything you want me to do, if I can help, I will do my best. I will convey your intentions to Lada, and I believe he will also help."
Liu Zhongcheng said, "Since we've troubled him, we can't let him work in vain. As long as I speak, do I still need to pay? This investigation is about Zhejiang's affairs, using Zhejiang's money. Whether more or less, it doesn't matter, as long as everyone can maintain appearances. Let’s talk to Lada first, take a look at their reports, so we can have an idea; even if they can't find anything, I will help them search." The prefect kept agreeing. Seeing that Liu Zhongcheng had nothing else to say, he took his leave. He wanted to change into different clothes before leaving, but Liu Zhongcheng insisted that he leave in the silk robe. He also said, "Just take this silk robe to wear." The prefect thanked him again. Liu Zhongcheng added, "I'll rely on you in the future; it's nothing, really!" Then he had his men take the prefect's clothes and hat out.
Governor Guo came out of the yamen, did not return to the official residence, and went directly to the envoy's office to find his old colleague Lada. Lada explained that he'd called earlier but hadn't found him, and Governor Guo quickly apologized, saying, "Sorry I missed you." After exchanging a few pleasantries, Governor Guo fully explained Liu Zhongcheng's thoughts to Lada. After listening, Lada smiled and said, "Liu Zhongcheng runs the whole show; he has to sign off on everything. How is this matter not related to him?" Governor Guo said, "Not everything is unrelated to him. The main point is that old teacher who's been reported – a holdover from the previous administration." Lada said, "Since he's not good, he shouldn't have been kept in the first place. Why not dismiss him earlier? Now that something has happened, even if he wasn't playing favorites, he's still on the hook for not noticing sooner." Governor Guo said, "Liu's a good guy, why are you being so hard on him? Sometimes you just gotta know when to quit. Just give him a hand, and he'll look after you."
Lada said, "My old friend, this can't be blamed on you. You and he are old friends, of course you hope he's okay. But the imperial inspector is here on official business; can we just drop it like this and not ask anything?" Guo Daotai was initially flustered when he heard Lada pointing out his weak point, his face turned crimson and he couldn't speak for a while; later, after hearing the rest of Lada's words, he said, "This is an imperial case; how can it just be ignored? In the end, there must be an explanation. Even if a few key figures are removed from office, there shouldn't be any problem handling it, right?" Lada said, "In the end, the lower the official, the unluckier they are. Do I not understand how things really work around here? Anyway, I won't consider our long-standing relationship in this matter; my brother and I definitely won't agree. I must go back and report to the imperial inspector and get to the bottom of this. Firstly, with your full help as an old friend, isn't our relationship enough? Secondly, you just got this good position; are you afraid of losing it if you change supervisors? Is that the reason?" Guo Daotai's face turned red again, saying, "With your help as an old friend, even if I get transferred, it's not the end of the world. Being a minor official is no big deal." Lada said, "I was just joking; don't be angry." Guo Daotai said, "Do you think I'm a fool? We're just joking around; how can you take it seriously?" Lada said, "I'm serious; I can't make the decision on this matter either. What exactly they mean, I'll inform you after reporting to my superiors."
Guo said, "Sure thing. But can you show me the specifics of the report first?" Lada replied, "I can show you—what's between us is between us. But two of our colleagues are really gossipy. If I show you, they won't know our relationship and will think I've received some kind of kickback from you! Just thinking about it makes me mad!" Guo said, "As long as you're willing to bring it out, this little matter, the boss has instructed us to handle it with care." Seeing that they were getting along well, Lada invited Guo to sit in his room, even offering him a spot on the edge of the bed. Lada leaned in and whispered, "I can hide this from others, but not from you, my old classmate. The teacher has said the total amount is this." He held up two fingers. Guo asked, "Two hundred thousand?" Lada replied, "Not even close!" Guo said, "Two hundred thousand?" Lada shook his head and said, "Only ten percent." Guo exclaimed in surprise, "How can it only be ten percent?" Lada explained, "The teacher said the total is two million. Two hundred thousand is only ten percent!" Guo listened, silent for a long moment. Lada knew he thought it was too much, so he added, "This isn’t my problem; you’re just the middleman. As long as the higher-ups agree and the lower ones comply, why worry about it?" Guo said, "Since you brought it up, I’ll help you get it done. But you have to let me see the materials first." Lada responded, "This is a matter between colleagues; I can’t make the call alone. But since you, my old classmate, said so, I can’t just not show you. Now that I’m in charge, if you agree to pay fifty thousand silver, I’ll make a copy for you. It’s all good between us; I’ll have your back." Guo thought there would be more. After some haggling, it was finally settled at twenty thousand silver—any less wouldn’t do. Guo had to agree. Lada then asked him to write an IOU, saying, "It's not that I don’t trust you. If others find out we’re classmates and you don’t write this, they’ll still suspect how much I’ve benefited from you. If you write this, it’ll just keep the gossip at bay."
