When Xiao Chiye entered the room, he pulled open the bamboo curtain, and Fei Sheng stepped back to avoid him. A cold breeze followed him in. He placed the opened letter on Shen Zechuan’s desk and said, “In the second trial of the Dancheng case, the Pan family is trying to shift the blame onto a vicious servant from one of their estates. Citing Pan Yi’s alleged negligence in supervision, they want to first remove Pan Lin from the case.”
Shen Zechuan read the letter and said, “The Pan family embezzled public farmland. Dancheng was left with almost no households intact. Anyone who checks the Yellow Registers of Dancheng will know that the number of displaced civilians last year reached into the thousands. A single scapegoat cannot cover such a gaping hole. Pan Lin was in charge of the taxation of eight cities under the Ministry of Revenue—he could not possibly have been unaware of the shortfall.”
“All those officials in charge of land and tax affairs from the Pan family have already been imprisoned,” Xiao Chiye said, blocking the light. “They are all insisting they acted on their own corruption, not under any instruction from the Pan family.”
Shen Zechuan lightly rubbed his fingertip across the paper. “That old fox, Pan Xiangjie.”
Pan Xiangjie had already seen through the capabilities of Hua Siqian and Wei Huaigu. To prepare for this day, he had long since arranged his defenses. The officials in charge of Dancheng’s land taxation were all household-born retainers tied entirely to the Pan family’s interests. At this critical moment, protecting Pan Lin meant protecting their entire families. Naturally, they would keep their mouths shut and take the blame.
Xiao Chiye said, “Since Vice Minister Xue Ruozhu has chosen to strike now, he must already hold leverage over the Pan family.”
“He even managed to bring Kong Qiu and Cen Yu onto his ship. It’s not impossible that he has the true account books of Dancheng,” Shen Zechuan said after thinking for a moment. “But he hasn’t revealed them yet.”
The case had already reached a joint trial by the Three Judicial Offices, and Pan Lin had been dismissed and investigated. According to procedure, once Xue Ruozhu signaled Liang Cuishan to present evidence, they would secure victory. Even if only Pan Lin was removed in the end, it would still significantly shift the balance in the capital.
“The only thing I can think of that could stop Xue Ruozhu from making his move right now is the spring plowing,” Xiao Chiye said as daylight slipped from behind them and spilled across Shen Zechuan’s profile. Xiao Chiye raised his arm slightly, blocking it away. “The thirteen cities of Yuxi are about to begin cultivation.”
“But Yuxi had no disasters last year, and the granaries of the thirteen cities are well-stocked,” Shen Zechuan said, as if unaware of Xiao Chiye’s gesture. “They did not allocate military grain to the five northern counties during winter, only replenished the capital’s granaries. They should still have reserves for spring plowing. What is Xue Ruozhu afraid of?”
“The original plan would naturally have been fine,” Xiao Chiye said, sitting on the edge of the desk and looking at Shen Zechuan. “But what if something goes wrong?”
Shen Zechuan understood immediately. He set down his brush. “So the Empress Dowager intends to use General Qi Zhuyin’s mobilization as an excuse to drain Yuxi’s granaries.”
The only way the capital could drain Yuxi’s grain stores at this moment was through military grain requisition. If Xue Ruozhu pressed forward, Yuxi would be unable to support spring plowing. The issue of feeding tens of thousands would hang over his head, forcing him to retreat.
“This move by the Empress Dowager is one of delayed retaliation,” Xiao Chiye said. “If Xue Ruozhu agrees to the requisition, Yuxi’s granaries will be emptied. To secure spring planting, Yuxi will have to borrow grain from the eight neighboring cities that still have reserves. At that point, Xue Ruozhu cannot afford to offend the aristocratic families and must pause the investigation into land taxation and reconcile with the Empress Dowager’s faction. If he refuses the requisition, the five northern counties will lack military provisions, and Qi Zhuyin cannot march.”
Yuxi not only had to support the capital’s granaries but also the military supplies of the northern counties. If grain shortages arose during spring plowing, prefectures would have to report deficits to the Bureau of Revenue. As the governor of Yuxi, Jiang Qingshan would be forced to find a way to make up the shortfall.
Under normal circumstances, the Ministry of Revenue would coordinate adjustments based on harvests in surrounding regions. Jiang Qingshan could borrow grain from neighboring prefectures, repaying later through crops or silver. But now, only the Eight Great Cities had surplus grain. To persuade the Empress Dowager to lend grain after Yuxi was drained by military requisition, Xue Ruozhu would have to abandon the investigation into Dancheng’s land taxes—or even let the matter go entirely.
“Even money cannot buy grain now. The land tax case has already stirred the alarm. If it is missed now, it will be even harder to investigate later. Moreover, this case has already drawn the attention of the Imperial Academy—if Xue Ruozhu backs down, the students will denounce him in writing and ink,” Shen Zechuan said slowly, leaning over the desk. “The Empress Dowager’s plan is very skillful. With a single move, she has placed Xue Ruozhu in a position where neither advance nor retreat is possible.”
She had even borrowed Shen Zechuan’s influence. The grain Shen Zechuan had previously used to support the northern counties had been secretly transferred from the grain reserves of He Ruyun and Yuxi. Now, if the capital requisitioned grain from Yuxi again, it would amount to two major drains within half a year. The granaries would not be able to withstand it.
Xiao Chiye covered the top of Shen Zechuan’s head with his hand. “Even the ever-calculating Xue Yanjing has fallen into a deadlock.”
“There is still a way,” Shen Zechuan said, lifting his eyes with an almost gentle expression toward Xiao Chiye. “If it were me, I would simply remove the Empress Dowager.”
In the capital, the snow had been melting quickly these past days. Water dripped from roof eaves along the streets, but fortunately the drainage channels had been repaired the previous year, so no flooding occurred. The Xue residence was not in a remote location, but its walls were too close to neighboring houses, and both courtyards’ foundations had partially collapsed.
Xue Ruozhu had been staying at the Dali Temple recently. When he returned to fetch a change of clothes and saw the repaired courtyard wall, he asked, “When was this repaired?”
The steward replied respectfully, “The Madam came a few days ago to visit Young Master Jin. She saw the wall had collapsed and mentioned it to the Eldest Master, who then ordered it repaired.”
A faint shadow passed through Xue Ruozhu’s eyes. After a moment’s thought, he found it strange. His elder brother, Xue Xiu Yi, had long been estranged from him, had squandered most of the remaining family assets, and only held a minor post in the Ministry of Revenue by relying on Xue Ruozhu’s name. Where would he have the spare funds to repair the courtyard wall?
“Reimburse him in full from the accounts,” Xue Ruozhu said. “Also, tell the Madam not to visit Jin’er again without necessity.”
Jin’er was Xue Ruozhu’s nephew, eight years old that year. After the family split, Xue Ruozhu had taken the child under his care and never returned him to his parents despite repeated requests.
The steward acknowledged the order.
Xue Ruozhu packed lightly. He wore no luxurious robes—his most ornate garments were official uniforms, easy to carry. He often stayed at the administrative compound and had only a mute attendant to handle writing materials. He lived simply, accustomed to fieldwork from his years as an officer.
After finishing his preparations, he left for the compound. At the gate, the mute attendant took the umbrella. Xue Ruozhu nodded slightly and walked into the drizzle.
When he arrived at the compound, Liang Cuishan was already waiting.
“Vice Minister Xue,” Liang Cuishan greeted him and bowed.
“Come inside,” Xue Ruozhu said.
Inside the room, the lamps were lit but the charcoal brazier was empty. Liang Cuishan felt the chill as he sat down. The room was plain, the only notable item being an old brush left behind by the late Elder Yao on the wall.
No one would guess that this man was responsible for military provisions for the northern counties.
“Let us not be formal,” Xue Ruozhu said as he opened the window and sat down. “You are here for the Dancheng land tax case?”
“Yes,” Liang Cuishan replied, placing a carefully wrapped account book on the table. “This humble official has come precisely for that matter.”
Xue Ruozhu waited.
Liang Cuishan continued, “The Empress Dowager has issued a decree summoning the Third Miss Hua to return home. The Commander must accompany his father. In my humble opinion, this is pressure being applied to Your Excellency.”
The Empress Dowager’s summoning of Qi Zhuyin at this moment was clearly meant to force Xue Ruozhu’s hand. The military grain requisition still hung unresolved—time was not on their side.
Xue Ruozhu said, “The Inner Cabinet has already drafted approval for the Commander to march against the Qingshu tribe. The Empress Dowager has yet to stamp it. Now that the Commander is entering the capital, it is not entirely a bad thing.”
Liang Cuishan said, “But the military grain requisition remains undecided. If this continues, it may delay Yuxi’s spring plowing.”
Xue Ruozhu had also not rested for days, and this was precisely where the difficulty lay. He and Jiang Qingshan had painstakingly reconciled Yuxi’s thirteen-city accounts to prevent another Dancheng-like disaster of mass displacement. The Empress Dowager was targeting his weakest point.
Even if Liang Cuishan had not come today, Xue Ruozhu would still have sought him out.
“Vice Minister Liang oversees salt taxation in Heluo and Yuxi,” Xue Ruozhu said. “Tell me about Heluo.”
He intended to borrow grain from Heluo.
Liang Cuishan looked troubled. “To be frank, this is difficult. Heluo did have a good harvest this year, but official grain has already been submitted to the capital. The remainder is reserved for spring plowing. At most, one could borrow private grain from the Cheng family—but Madam He is extremely difficult to deal with. Even offering silver may not work. If she takes the opportunity to demand other concessions, it could destabilize Heluo entirely.”
Xue Ruozhu fell into thought.
What he lacked was grain, not money. And at present, money could not buy grain at all.
If this had been about military pay, he could still raise funds through tariffs on Heluo and Yuxi. But grain shortages were another matter entirely.
According to Hai Liangyi’s original plan, if Jiang Qingshan were transferred to Zhongbo to restore production, some grain could still be recovered. But Zhongbo was now under Shen Zechuan’s control, and the grain routes had already been heavily disrupted.
“Once the Commander enters the capital,” Xue Ruozhu said slowly, “I will speak with him.”