Chapter 178: Trying to slip away? Dream on!

Zhao Ming, a ninth-rank chief clerk, was considered a key figure in Anqiu County, but in the prefecture office of Qingzhou, he was hardly better than a servant. Although he had accompanied successive county magistrates to meet with higher officials several times and would occasionally visit to offer gifts during festivals, the prefect, being a fourth-rank official, wasn’t someone he could simply meet at will. Usually, it was only the steward who dealt with him. Today, with no other choice, he resolutely handed the steward a red envelope containing 300 strings of cash before being allowed inside.

Of course, the gift he asked the steward to deliver to the prefect was nothing modest either—it was a string of pearls from the South Sea that he had acquired years earlier. Each pearl was of top quality and uniformly sized. Without this gift, he wouldn’t have dared to come or even be seen by the prefect.

Sitting slantingly in a chair, he pretended to remain calm while scanning the room. On the large kang by the window lay a cyan-green blanket, along with matching dark green backrests and cushions. There were three chairs on each side of the room, with a low table between each pair, adorned only with small vases and similar trinkets. The table by the corner had intricate carvings and was different from the others; on it stood a jade screen carved with peony patterns.

It was his first time waiting in such a serene place for such a purpose, and Zhao Ming felt deeply uneasy. After serving as a chief clerk for so many years, this was the first time he truly understood the meaning of the phrase “a corrupt county magistrate who brings ruin upon his family.” Now, with no other options left, even though approaching the prefect might not work, he had to give it a try while Zhang Yue was away. After all, thanks to a message from the prefecture office before the New Year, he had managed to cover up that case thoroughly—so he could consider himself lucky.

“The prefect has arrived.”

Hearing this, Zhao Ming quickly stood up. As the plump prefect slowly entered, he rushed forward to greet him. Only after the prefect sat down on the seat on the east side of the kang did Zhao Ming hesitantly state the reason for his visit, vaguely mentioning that Zhang Yue was on good terms with Commander Liu Zhong and so on. To his surprise, after he finished speaking, the prefect looked at him with extreme mockery.

“Chief Clerk Zhao, I usually don’t interfere in the affairs of Anqiu County. It’s not that I don’t want to, but I’m too lazy. After all, you haven’t caused much public resentment, and you pay the taxes on time every year. There’s no need for me, the prefect, to get involved too much, right?”

After the prefect spoke these words in a leisurely manner, seeing Zhao Mingcheng stand up in fear, ready to pay his respects, he ignored him completely and then calmly said, “Your mistake lies in misjudging things—taking a swan for a sparrow—that’s why you offended that young County Magistrate Zhang. Since you’ve come to me, I might as well tell you the truth. You consider Anqiu County a treasure, but do others even value such a small place? County Magistrate Zhang is the nephew of the Duke of Yingguo—how could he treat you the same as others? Assist him well, and if you achieve some results, do you really want to stay in the position of clerk for life?”

The prefect then gave further instructions and reminders, but Zhao Ming barely understood anything. Even after leaving the prefect’s office and getting into the carriage, his head still felt dizzy. Back in the Imperial Academy, the place he feared the most was the Hall of Punishments, as the head of the academy was the highest official in his eyes. After serving as a clerk for a few years, the prefect became an even more unattainable superior. Who would have thought that the person they thought they had offended was someone like this?

“Duke of Yingguo…”

Muttering to himself as he returned home, his mind gradually cleared, and he finally thought of a question—although Luo Wei was a distant relative of that vice governor, did he know about this? If so, what would he do? After much consideration, he decided not to consult Luo Wei again, lest the new county magistrate, who was now more alert, think they were still colluding, which would be disastrous. He now regretted it deeply—had he known Zhang Yue had such strong connections, why had he acted as he did before?

The prefect was absolutely right. If he could win over this county magistrate, what did his current insignificant status matter? With this thought, Zhao Ming immediately sent two servants to investigate, planning to show his loyalty as soon as Zhang Yue returned. He was determined that even if it meant bruising his head, he would prove his sincere willingness to reform. He assumed the new county magistrate would just make him suffer a bit when hiring people.

Yet before the county magistrate returned, he received an official document from the Ministry of Personnel. The items that should have been given to the county magistrate were instead assigned to him and Luo Wei. Naturally, he felt uneasy when receiving one document each. After reading it, he was stunned, his whole body turning as cold as ice.

According to the household registration records in Anqiu County, it is considered a lower-level county and should not have a county magistrate or clerk. Shouldn’t such officials be transferred to higher-level counties? Damn it, they’ve been in charge here for seven or eight years—how come no one said anything until now? Why suddenly arise such a problem?

Zhao Ming and Luo Wei exchanged glances, both seeing fear in each other’s eyes. They had initially thought they could easily handle the new county magistrate with force, but who would have expected him to silently strike at their weak points? What could they do now? Just then, they suddenly heard a voice.

“County Magistrate Zhao, Clerk Luo, the master has returned. He says there’s an important matter he wants to discuss with you two in the study.”

Before they could see who the messenger was, the man turned and left in a hurry. Thinking of how those messengers used to treat them with utmost respect and smiles, only to now side with the other party, they felt extremely displeased. But this was not the time to worry about personal gains or losses. They quickly put away the official document and rushed to the back office study.

At the entrance of the study, besides two servants, Peng Shisan was also standing there. Seeing these two men, who often made excuses to avoid being summoned before, now running over quickly, he couldn’t help but smirk. Then he personally pushed open the door and said, “My lord, County Magistrate Zhao and Clerk Luo have arrived.”

Stepping inside, they saw Ma Cheng sitting clearly on the second chair at the west end of the room. Luo Wei and Zhao Ming, who thought they had arrived fast enough, suddenly felt a pang of anxiety. Remembering how Ma Cheng had always refused to meet them before, only to now pledge loyalty first, they were filled with rage.

But Zhang Yue didn’t care what these two thought, nor could he afford to smile at the moment. Seeing Peng Shisan close the door and two more servants standing outside to prevent anyone from overhearing their conversation, he cleared his throat and got straight to the point: “I’ve called you all here today because there’s an important matter I need to discuss with you. ‘Mud arises from chaos; the white lotus brings an era of prosperity.’ Have you three heard this saying?”

Although Ma Cheng was more confident than Luo Wei and Zhao Ming, he still didn’t know why Zhang Yue had rushed to gather them. Hearing this phrase that seemed like a nursery rhyme yet not quite, like a couplet yet not entirely, he was confused. It wasn’t until he heard Luo Wei utter a few words that he was suddenly shocked.

“My lord, is this a prophecy couplet from the White Lotus Sect?”

“Not bad,” Zhang Yue nodded slightly before asking, “These days, there are widespread rumors in places like Anqiu that the reincarnation of the Buddha Mother, the Peacock Great Bright King, has come to lead people to paradise. Whenever this reincarnated Buddha Mother preaches in a new place, hundreds or even thousands of people flock there to worship her devoutly. There are many such rumors among the people, and local officials hardly ever mention it. I’m new here, but today I was fortunate enough to witness it. Because of this, I suspect it might be the White Lotus Sect. That’s why I brought you two here—to ask what strategies you have.”

All three of Luo Wei had heard of the term “Buddha Mother” before but never paid it much attention. After all, there were countless folk beliefs in fox spirits, stone Buddhas, and the like; surely the so-called Buddha Mother was just a fabrication by simple-minded people to deceive others. Yet hearing that Zhang Yue had actually gone to see it and concluded it was the White Lotus Sect gradually made their faces pale. Though they wanted to refute the idea as exaggeration, the two who thought they fully understood Zhang Yue’s identity ultimately stayed silent, already planning to leave.

Although Emperor Yongle, Zhu Di, was not as strict in governing his subordinates as Emperor Hongwu, Zhu Yuanzhang, he was ruthless when it came to killing. During previous invasions by Japanese pirates, any officials in coastal areas who allowed them to enter and plunder faced certain death. Local officials who failed to respond properly to rebellions or disasters were often dismissed and barred from future employment, with many even executed. If the White Lotus Sect really caused trouble here and they mishandled it, wouldn’t they also lose their lives? Compared to their lives, what was their career worth?

At that moment, the two finally remembered the thin piece of paper in their hands. The news that had once filled them with fear now became a lifeline.

So, after exchanging a subtle glance, Luo Wei respectfully handed over the official document he had just received, followed by some flattering words. Zhao Ming had also completely forgotten what the prefect of Qingzhou had said, acting only with utmost deference and humility, hoping to leave Shandong to seek better opportunities. He thought that even if Zhang Yue was the nephew of the Duke of Ying, if he managed to transfer him to Huguang, Zhang Yue’s influence wouldn’t reach far.

Hearing such words as “Your humble servant is foolish but wise; your servant wishes to serve you wholeheartedly,” Zhang Yue felt endless disgust after his initial shock. These two had reaped plenty of benefits locally and now, instead of sharing responsibility or atoning for their crimes, they thought they could just get away by saying nice words?

Though he didn’t know who had prepared this order to add more glory to him, if the intention was to use it to escape, it was a shrewd move! If he let them go, he wouldn’t have to remain as the county magistrate anymore!
Suppressing his anger, Zhang Yue spoke a few words to the two of them indifferently. Only after Luo Wei and Zhao Ming took their leave and the gate closed again did he glance at Ma Cheng, who sat motionless, and ask with a half-smile, “Does Magistrate Ma have anything to say?”
Ma Cheng suddenly stood up, stepped forward, and bowed deeply. “My lord, I believe County Assistant Luo and Clerk Zhao are timid and fearful. It’s understandable that they tried to avoid this matter by using those two official documents, but since this is a serious matter, we must not let them leak any information! In my opinion, my lord should make arrangements as soon as possible; otherwise, with so many people in their families who talk too much, things in Anqiu might ruin my lord’s plans!”
Under Zhang Yue’s piercing gaze, he wore an expression of utter impartiality.