The officials from the Ministry of Rites gasped in shock.
They vaguely felt that this scene sounded somewhat familiar.
They hid behind the crowd and whispered in each other's ears.
"...Jinli County? No, has Jinli County gone mad? They'd rather have money and grain than live? They actually dared to close the case with 'ghosts stealing grain,' do they really think this person is the same Zheng Qiao from before?"
If I remember correctly, something similar has happened before.
However, Zheng Qiao was still in power at that time. The Chief of the Bureau of Receptions still remembers the fleeting sarcasm on Zheng Qiao's face.
On the surface, there was no reaction, but secretly the mastermind, along with his wife and children, were all arrested and subjected to a thousand cuts, reduced to tens of thousands of translucent "living slices," which were then distributed as a reward to those who had "solved the case." The weather was sweltering at the time, and the slices of meat had already gone bad and become infested with maggots. Those who refused to eat were executed on the spot for "disrespecting the monarch," while those who were willing were given several plates—enough to satisfy everyone.
How could a normal person withstand such torment?
Kill half, drive the other half mad.
Just hearing others recount it sends chills down my spine.
His colleagues whispered in unison, "Whether it was the previous one or the current one, these two are ruthless when they start fighting."
Actually, he personally felt that his chances of survival would be higher if he were in Zheng Qiao's hands. Because no matter how crazy and perverted Zheng Qiao was, he would still weigh the pros and cons. As long as the benefits outweighed the drawbacks, or it suited his taste, even if he caused a huge disaster, Zheng Qiao would turn a blind eye, giving him a certain chance of survival.
This current ruler is different—
She'll really crack the "ghost stealing grain case" thoroughly.
Tell me a lame joke—
In the years since Zheng Qiao came to power, only a little over two hundred officials have died at her hands. But during the last "fire dragon burning the granary," she killed three or four hundred people. Those who were lucky enough to survive had to spend their lives planting corn, picking cotton, and cultivating wasteland, working as the cheapest laborers.
If we include the officials killed by the annual inspection teams?
Haha, it must be at least two or three thousand.
Another colleague chimed in: "The situation in Jinli County, Kunzhou, is different from before; it's another major case."
Kunzhou was not completely recovered until the third year of Yuanhuang's reign.
It's not that Kangguo didn't want to recover it sooner.
In fact, Kunzhou was captured at the beginning of the second year of Yuanhuang, but the original rebel forces in Kunzhou were elusive, cunning and ruthless. They used the common people in Kunzhou as shields, and usually operated in small groups, hiding among them to avoid being surrounded and suppressed by the Zhechong Prefecture.
Once you let your guard down, they'll jump out and cause trouble again.
In an effort to cause trouble for the royal court, they also organized forces to set fire to fields during the autumn harvest on several occasions, causing heavy losses to Kunzhou County.
Besides burning fields, there were endless assassinations and poisonings, and martial arts masters were incited to become suicide bombers and self-immolate in densely populated areas. Each incident involved dozens to hundreds of innocent civilians, causing widespread panic and slowing down reconstruction in Kunzhou.
They remember that period very vividly.
Because the king criticizes people every day.
His old friends, who worked in other departments, broke down in tears, saying that working under Shen Tang was even more stressful than working under Zheng Qiao. Zheng Qiao didn't like to scold people; he liked to torment them. But his current lord tormented them not only physically but also mentally.
He even considered resigning from his official post.
Only after the rebels within Kunzhou were completely wiped out did the atmosphere in the court return to normal, and the old friend never mentioned resigning again.
After being reminded by their colleagues, the others realized what was happening.
"Could it have been done by remnants of the rebel army?"
"They didn't kill them all?"
"It's not impossible, and besides..." The person speaking glanced furtively in Shen Tang's direction and continued whispering, "Those powerful families and gentry in Kunzhou have quite a few grievances against the Lady... It's really hard to say whether this was done by the rebels or if they were secretly involved... The Lady..."
This person did not notice the subtle, frantic winks and gestures from his colleagues, and he was puzzled as to why several of them had suddenly distanced themselves from him.
"Why are you hiding so far away?" While there's a seating arrangement for formal court sessions, for remote sessions like this, location isn't so important. They simply nestled at the very back, using their speech magic to mask their chatter and slacking off, so they generally went unnoticed. Although they were officials in the Twenty-Four Departments, working in the Ministry of Rites meant they rarely had anything to say during court sessions, so no one paid them any attention.
"What's wrong with me?"
A familiar voice sounded from behind.
He felt like his scalp was about to explode.
Turning around with a deathly pale face, he indeed saw the king standing behind him with a gloomy expression. He immediately felt a bitter taste in his mouth and wished he could beg for forgiveness on the spot. Shen Tang took a deep breath and suppressed the fire in his heart: "If the Ministry of Rites is so idle, you can go to the Bureau of Astronomy and help Gong Su. You few, write a five-thousand-word self-criticism."
After saying that, he added, "Hand it in tomorrow!"
Shen Tang wasn't interested in things like salary deductions or demotions.
She prefers to punish people by making them stay up all night writing self-criticisms.
The group secretly wiped away sweat as they agreed, their minds racing to recall which of their whispered words had been inappropriate. Once Chen Tang uttered "Meeting adjourned," they left one after another, returning to reality. They exchanged glances, their faces showing worry and a slight lingering fear.
"Isn't it far enough away from the Censorate?"
The Censorate of Kangguo was a nightmare for all officials.
The Imperial Censor was Gu Chi, a man skilled in mind reading and spiritual communication. He could spot people's flaws with ease, from corruption and dereliction of duty to trivial matters within the inner quarters; it seemed there was no intelligence he couldn't obtain.
"We're close to Tanaka Sumeragi... Could it be him?"
"Surely...no way?"
They were relatively unfamiliar with Gu Chi, only knowing that this sickly man was the emperor's favorite, but the Censor-in-Chief was an acquaintance.
Tanaka no Sei, also known as Tian Cuo, courtesy name Wu Guo.
The last Imperial Censor of Xin State.
He was also the first Imperial Censor of Kangguo.
Don't let his righteous appearance fool you; he's a real troll. He's old and senior, and even their fathers would tremble at the sight of Tian Cuo, let alone them. When the Xin Kingdom was destroyed, his entire family was convicted and fled with his son, Tian Zhong, their whereabouts unknown.
It's unclear where the Imperial Censor unearthed the reclusive Tian family father and son, but immediately appointed them to the high position of Vice Censor-in-Chief. It's important to understand that without the Imperial Censor, the Vice Censor-in-Chief would be the de facto head of the Censorate. Tian Cuo initially refused, wanting only to enjoy his grandchildren and family life, but he couldn't resist Gu Chi's persuasive skills and was eventually convinced to take up the post.
There are rumors that Tian Cuo's emergence from seclusion is related to the Grand Secretary Qi Shan, but they've been watching with indifference. Grand Secretary Qi and Tian Cuo have no private dealings, and their interactions are always lukewarm, suggesting the rumor is untrue. This guy probably won't bother with them and is just slacking off.
"Alright, alright, it's come to this now. Just write a self-criticism. If you can't hand it in by tomorrow morning, the master's wrath will be..."
Although the words were not finished, everyone understood.
The thought of having to write a self-criticism and then being hung up makes my head ache even more.
Can anyone tell them how to write this self-criticism? I was just slacking off at a temporary court meeting, how can I write a 5,000-word self-criticism?
The key is—
How can I write 5,000 words in one night?
The Chief Physician of the Ministry of Personnel took a deep breath.
"Since things have come to this, let's go and seek the scriptures."
Seek advice from colleagues in other companies.
The four departments of the Ministry of Rites received fewer reprimands and even fewer punishments, but the other departments were different. They were frequently reprimanded and punished, making it easier for them to write self-criticisms. Let alone a 5,000-word self-criticism in one night, even the head of the Grain Storage Department once wrote a 10,000-word self-criticism in one night!
The Registrar of the Granary looked at the four of them and offered some guidance.
"...You know how to be indecisive, right?"
The four nodded: "We can do it, but we're not very good at it."
The four of them came from families that were neither too high nor too low in social standing. Their families had planned for them to become officials, and since the incantation "Three Minds, Two Hearts" was mostly used in military battles, they were naturally not proficient in it.
The Registrar of the Ministry of Revenue said, "This will suffice. Five thousand characters, one thousand for the main body, and two thousand each for the two literary avatars. The main body can finish writing in the first half of the night, and then catch up on sleep in the second half..."
Those who embody literary talent are not human; they are exploited without a shred of sympathy.
The four of them said, "...But this word magic is not simple..."
Being able to use something doesn't mean you're an expert.
The Registrar of the Repository performed a short act on the spot.
The two avatars of literary energy that appeared were exquisitely detailed, almost identical to the original, even possessing a certain brilliance in their eyes, as if they were alive! The presence of such brilliance in the avatars meant that the practitioner had mastered the art of "Three Minds, Two Wills" to a certain degree, undoubtedly due to considerable effort. The four asked curiously, "How can someone like you, a mere warehouse official, be so proficient in 'Three Minds, Two Wills'?"
"It's something you develop every year at the end of the year." The Registrar of the Registrar's Office had a dark expression. "Being able to be indecisive is a required skill for any official."
The four people: "..."
Although they weren't very good at understanding the concept of "half-heartedness," having help was better than having none. They dawdled and finally managed to cobble together five thousand words of nonsense before dawn. The four of them copied and translated from each other, reiterating the same nonsense in different styles.
Looking at the results of the night's battle, I breathed a sigh of relief.
He hurriedly gave Shen Tang an answer.
Shen Tang was all ready to go before dawn. She rode on the back of her snow-white motorcycle, flipped through a few pages at random, and handed them to her personal guard: "I'll send all these self-criticisms to Gong Su later."
The four people: "..."
Seeing their reaction, Shen Tang was furious: "You plagiarized and didn't even remember to change the name! Do you think I'm blind?"
Good grief, four people sharing one name, huh?
The four people: "..."
Fortunately, the emperor did not make them write a lengthy self-criticism. He waved them away, saying, "I'll discuss the issue of court discipline with you later. I need to vent my anger right now."
The four men hunched over and returned to their respective carriages.
Shen Tang suppressed her anger: "You all have too much free time!"
With Qin Li not in charge at the Ministry of Rites, his subordinates have all learned to slack off. Remembering the memorials Qin Li sent from Fengluo, Shen Tang considered squeezing some of them into part-time positions at the Imperial Observatory. Putting everything else aside, their handwriting is quite beautiful; the Imperial Observatory desperately needs someone like that.
The functions of the Imperial Observatory were similar to those of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau.
However, the Bureau of Astronomy established by Shen Tang was different.
It was more like a meteorological bureau than an imperial astronomer.
Yes, the weather bureau.
Qin Li skillfully combined the ways of the literati with her approach to the feudal lords, enabling her to use the power of the State Seal to observe the cloud formations within the territory of Kang State. The Imperial Observatory could then use the cloud formations to determine the local weather, predict wind and rain, and the accuracy of their intelligence was quite high.
Shen Tang then rationally allocated the national fortune needed by various regions based on the annual rainfall within Kang Kingdom. Water-scarce areas received more water, while areas with abundant water received less… thereby ensuring a bumper harvest throughout Kang Kingdom. A bountiful harvest would also fill the national treasury.
The Imperial Observatory today cannot function without Qin rituals.
And Qin Li?
He never expected that his scholarly way of life could be used in this way.
_(:з」∠)_
When I got busy, I forgot that I still had the Ministry of Rites to manage.
Shen Tang acted with remarkable efficiency, leading his officials straight to Jinli County in Kunzhou. Fearing they might alert the enemy, they disguised themselves and split into several smaller caravans to enter the country. Compared to the bustling activity in other prefectures and counties of Kangguo, Kunzhou was noticeably desolate and quiet.
You can walk along the official road for half a day and still not see many people.
For some reason, the closer they got to Kunzhou, the more gloomy Shen Tang's face became. Apart from the important ministers she relied on, who showed some kindness, everyone else was trembling with fear even when breathing heavily in front of her.
Shen Tang is currently disguised as the daughter of a wealthy merchant who owns a prominent family.
Her long hair was styled like that of a married woman, with a white flower tucked behind her ear and a white ribbon wrapped around her hair bun. As Shen Tang continued to promote female officials, many women in the countryside also mustered up the courage to step out of their homes. Some parents without sons also gave up the idea of adoption and tried to raise daughters to inherit their positions, but most of them were already married daughters.
There were hardly any unmarried women to be seen.
Last year, an unmarried woman, wanting to prove her determination to her parents, arranged an absurd marriage for herself: to marry a rooster. That very night, she slaughtered the rooster and held a feast for her guests, and the next day she dressed as a widow.
Many unmarried women followed suit after seeing this.
They didn't marry the rooster; instead, they skipped that step and dressed as widows. When Shen Tang heard of this, he praised their courage, but little did he know it would become fashionable. The "widow's makeup," which even the emperor approved of, began to become popular among the common people…
Shen Tang: "..."
Who would believe that? The boomerang pierced his own body.
Looking at her strikingly beautiful face in the mirror, which even her light makeup couldn't conceal, she stroked her cheek and sighed, "Sigh, this face looks like it's been through countless battles, definitely a classic example of uniform fetish..."
When the officials saw her dressed like this, their expressions were as ugly as if they had eaten shit; they just wanted to see something they had never seen before.
Shen Tang coughed lightly twice, straining his voice, and got into character.
The disguised caravan stopped for a rest at a post station outside Jinli County.
Shen Tang used the excuse of doing business to inquire about the market from others: "...My family runs a grain shop and I want to come here to buy grain...Alas, other places have either been booked by big grain merchants long ago, or contracts have been signed with royal merchants...For the sake of my family's business, I have to go to some distant places to try my luck."
"If that's the case, then the Queen has come in the wrong direction."
Shen Tang took out some loose silver and pushed it over: "What makes you say that?"
Someone looked around, saw no constables, picked up some loose silver, and said mysteriously, "The Lady is from out of town and doesn't know the local customs. A strange thing happened recently: thousands of ghosts crawled out of the graveyard and made their way to the county granary..."
Just as Shen Tang was about to ask, the person next to that person corrected her: "Wait, wasn't it said to be hundreds of Yin ghosts? How did it become thousands?"
The man said, "Is there a difference between hundreds and thousands? When so many green ghost lamps appeared that day, did you count them—were they hundreds or thousands?"
Countless, densely packed!
Just thinking about it sends chills down my spine.
Shen Tang lifted her eyelids: "The Ghost Lamp? You've seen it before?"
The man said, "I saw it with my own eyes! Those ghosts were all crying, wailing and wailing, it was terrifying to hear!"
These ghosts emerged from the cemetery, mumbling something like "hungry," and gathered together to carry away the stored grain from the granary.
"I'm not the only one who's seen it; many other people have seen it too."
"Yes! They're all ghosts!"
|ω`)
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