Chapter 208 Stabbing in the Back

Huai’an prospered due to its water transport, and was crowded with industrialists and businessmen, and small vendors. The docks were busy and prosperous, but behind every prosperity, there were countless sorrows.

The gate of Huai’an government office was closed.

The open space in front of the government office was already crowded with people, and people continued to arrive from time to time, most of them were old people and women with children.

There were constant shouting and crying:
“Who will take care of our lives——”

“If you have the guts, go arrest the officials—”

“Please, Master, give us a way to live—”

The door opened, and a yamen runner came out, saying in a hoarse voice: “Everyone go back. Gathering a crowd to cause trouble and besieging the yamen is against the law. If you really anger the imperial envoy, you will either be beaten with a stick, put in the detention room, or even beheaded! We can’t stay here for long–“

Before he could finish his words, things like broken straw sandals and rotten vegetable stalks were thrown at him.

The bailiff could only flee in embarrassment and slammed the door shut.

Li Hu and Lin Ruhai, both in plain clothes, stood in the mixed crowd, both wearing bamboo hats.

Li Hu shook his head and looked at Lin Ruhai, who also slowly frowned.

As we all know, the canal transportation was very lucrative because while transporting grain and other items, the canal transportation offices often carried various private belongings.

However, only a small number of people were really getting rich. The life of those transporting grain and doing endless dirty and tiring work was extremely difficult and they were always struggling on the poverty line.

When things are bad, people try to change. The grain transport workers not only smuggled goods but also stole and sold the grain.

A fire burned everything. Perhaps out of fear of punishment, or perhaps to cover up a case, more than a dozen officials, both big and small, hanged themselves.

After all the hard work, the Imperial Household Department failed to find any evidence against the Governor of the Grain Transport Administration and other officials, but did discover that the grain transport workers were stealing and selling the grain.

Shui Rong ordered the arrest of people as soon as he got off the boat. Not a single corrupt official was arrested, but a large number of grain transport workers who stole and sold grain were arrested. It was said that the prison cells in Huai’an Prefecture were almost full!
I guess the emperor never imagined that such a situation would occur.

These people are all family members of those who were arrested for conscription.

Lin Ruhai sighed and said, “This is just another incident!”

Li Hu: “The court must have chosen the wrong person.”

Lin Ruhai nodded. Shui Rong refused to cooperate, and the people from the Imperial Household Department were also helpless. Without an imperial edict, they had no right to interrogate local officials, let alone go to those officials’ homes to search for evidence.

Lin Ruhai: “Shui Rong has a good plan!”

Li Hu smiled. Shui Rong was trying to defeat the emperor. If the emperor did not take action and let Shui Rong continue to arrest him, Huai’an might have a big riot. This was not a rebellion led by an official, but a desperate grain collector who was forced to start a business. The boatmen and sailors were involved in the theft and sale of grain. Together with their families, there were at least 70,000 or 80,000 people!

If the emperor takes action, Shui Rong will be able to get away from this case unscathed.

No matter what choice the emperor makes, Shui Rong wins this round.

In addition, along the way, Li Hu and Lin Ruhai discovered a more serious problem. There were very few farmers who owned land. Almost all the land was in the hands of local gentry and wealthy families. Moreover, these lands produced almost no food and were only used to grow cash crops!

There was a commotion behind the crowd, and then the sound of horse hooves and wheels rolling came from the distance.

Li Hu looked back and saw a team of Jinyiwei from the Northern Pacification Division divided into two rows leading the way, followed by a red-robed eunuch from the Imperial Household Department leading a dozen or so men from the Imperial Household Department, and finally a line of more than a dozen prisoner vans.

Someone recognized him immediately: “It’s the Governor of the Grand Canal!”

The Cao Ding family members were immediately in an uproar.

Li Hu and Lin Ruhai looked at each other, and the emperor took action!
That’s right. What evidence do we need for these corrupt officials? What does it mean to be an emperor? A word is an imperial decree, and everyone in the world must obey it. That’s what it means to be an emperor!

Thinking of this, Li Hu smiled in his heart. The emperor still lacked confidence. Otherwise, he could just go with the flow and let Shui Rong force the Caoding to rebel. Then he could use the excuse of suppressing the rebellion to send troops south, take the opportunity to wipe out the gentry and wealthy families in Lianghuai, and chop off Shui Rong’s head. Killing two birds with one stone!
Just then, the sound of horse hooves was heard, and a group of more than twenty riders galloped towards the government office.

Li Hu frowned. The one riding on the horse in front was the dusty Wang Ziteng. Why was he here?

Both groups of people pulled their reins to a halt in front of the government office and dismounted together.

Wang Ziteng stepped forward and whispered a few words to the eunuch, then stood in front of the crowd, quickly glanced around, cleared his throat, and said loudly: “Dear elders, fellow villagers, I heard about the Huai’an incident a little late. No matter what it is, as the governor of Liangjiang and three provinces, I cannot escape the blame. I would like to apologize to you first.

“You all came here for your families and for your livelihood. You are helpless. I feel the same way. Just sitting here is not the best solution. Besides, this is the government office, representing the face of the government. If we investigate, the charges will be serious. So, everyone, please give me some face and go home for the time being. Give me some time, and I will give you an explanation. How about that?”

As soon as he finished speaking, the family members of the grain collectors gathered to discuss privately, and the front of the government office was in chaos. Wang Ziteng pointed at the prison car and said, “The corrupt officials who stole and sold grain have been caught. What else do you have to worry about?”

Someone shouted, “Thank you, Mr. Qingtian!”

The Cao Ding family members all shouted in unison, “Thank you, Master Qingtian!”

Wang Ziteng’s face glowed red, and he said loudly: “Go home and prepare the food, and wait for your family to come back for a reunion.”

The Cao Ding family responded like thunder: “Thank you, my Lord!” Then a large group of people knelt down.

At this time, Li Hu and Lin Ruhai, who were still standing, were very conspicuous.

Everyone’s eyes turned to them.

Li Hu understood that if they didn’t take off their hats and identify themselves, they would have no chance of leaving here.

He took off his hat and looked at Wang Ziteng.

Wang Ziteng was stunned at first, then came over with a smile on his face.

The Cao Ding family members were all shocked and stood up and stepped back.

“Why are you here?” Wang Ziteng raised his hands from a distance.

Li Hu folded his hands and said with a smile: “I stopped by to take a break. Seeing that there are many people here, I came over to join in the fun.”

Wang Ziteng was slightly startled and looked at Lin Ruhai: “Taiwan Governor Lin.”

Lin Ruhai bowed with both hands: “Wang Duxian.”

“No, no, this is too tiring for me.” Wang Ziteng hurriedly returned the greeting.

Lin Ruhai smiled.

Li Hu: “Why are you here?”

Wang Ziteng gave a bitter smile and said, “I am ordered to accompany Prince Beijing to try a case.”

After hearing this, Li Hu couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

Wang Ziteng first glanced at the eunuch, then whispered: “This is really unlucky for eight lifetimes.”

Li Hu smiled. The emperor definitely had no good intentions.

Lin Ruhai was a down-to-earth person, and he reminded him quietly, “This is related to whether you can continue to sit in the position of Governor-General of Liangjiang.”

Wang Ziteng was greatly surprised, and seemed to understand something. His expression became serious: “Thank you, Governor Lin!” He bowed deeply to Lin Ruhai.

Li Hu blinked his eyes and said, “You can only feel comfortable when Shui Rong is not doing well. If Shui Rong is feeling well, you will be in trouble.”

Wang Ziteng was not a fool. After a moment’s pause, he understood: “Don’t worry, I will never let him off easily.”

Li Hu smiled: “Rolling meat.”

Wang Ziteng also laughed: “Okay, let’s be the meat on the cutting board!”

Lin Ruhai looked at Li Hu. This guy had stabbed him in the back many times!

Wang Ziteng looked up at the sky and said, “It’s time to eat. I’ll treat you.”

Lin Ruhai spoke: “No need to bother.”

Li Hu: “Maybe next time. I have to hurry back to Beijing.”

Wang Ziteng: “Okay, I won’t keep you any longer.”

Li Hu nodded, put on his hat, and walked away with Lin Ruhai.

Looking at the backs of Li Hu and Lin Ruhai going away, Wang Ziteng sighed: “What a pity, we are not on the same path.”

(End of this chapter)