CHAPTER 427: CHAPTER 427: INSPECTOR (PART 4)

This newly appointed Pingzhou Governor is surnamed Huang, originally a seventh-rank imperial censor.

The position of an imperial censor, although low in rank, wields significant power. Being promoted from a seventh-rank imperial censor to the Governor of a state means ascending several ranks. For Imperial Censor Huang, this is undoubtedly a great stroke of luck, akin to a pie falling from the sky.

For Prime Minister Wang, choosing Imperial Censor Huang to fill this troublesome position was also a decision made after much deliberation. Indeed, with Nanyang County effectively controlling Pingzhou, the role of Pingzhou Governor is a hotbed of trouble. It’s obvious that within Pingzhou, the Nanyang County Princess holds sway, and Lu Cong, the Liaoxi County Magistrate, is the de facto Governor of Pingzhou.

However, Prime Minister Wang absolutely cannot bow and admit defeat; at the very least, he maintains an upper hand publicly. After securing the position of Pingzhou Governor, Prime Minister Wang found that none of his subordinates were willing to take it. He had no choice but to choose Imperial Censor Huang, whose stubbornness and recklessness made him fall for it.

Imperial Censor Huang, full of enthusiasm, set off from the Capital City. Accompanying him were dozens of skilled house servants, carrying the ceremonial insignia of the Pingzhou Governor. The journey initially was smooth, but as they traveled halfway into the North, the number of vagrants and bandits on the road began to increase incrementally.

Following consecutive assaults by two groups of bandits, resulting in the deaths of several house servants, the previously triumphant Imperial Censor Huang began to tremble and regret deeply. He even entertained the thought of immediately turning back.

However high the position of Pingzhou Governor, one’s life must be preserved to fulfill any official duties!

Unfortunately, once the journey is embarked upon, there’s no turning back. Having accepted the court’s orders, no matter how perilous the journey, he must press on to Pingzhou.

Imperial Censor Huang, trembling with fear, prayed day and night not to encounter any more vagrants. Unfortunately, what one fears is bound to come; after entering Xiangzhou, over a thousand bandits emerged from nowhere, swarming like locusts.

The dozens of house servants were scattered and lost without a trace.

Imperial Censor Huang was trampled by the bandits, bleeding from the seven apertures, and in his dying moment, he exclaimed, "Prime Minister Wang has wronged me!"

The bandits who attacked the court officials were unfazed, looting all the gold, silver, and grain Imperial Censor Huang had with him, before fleeing, leaving behind dozens of gruesome corpses.

This major case immediately shook the court.

The unfortunate Inspector of Xiangzhou promptly submitted a memorial to apologize. Emperor Taihe, furious, immediately ordered the Ministry of Justice to send someone to conduct a thorough investigation. Minister Dai of the Ministry of Justice, with a stern face, immediately summoned everyone in the Ministry of Justice, asking who was willing to travel to Xiangzhou to investigate.

With the precedent of Imperial Censor Huang, no one dared to go to Xiangzhou; each kept their head down, silent.

Minister Dai’s gaze fell on Vice Minister Tang: "Vice Minister Tang, you take people for a visit."

Below the Chief of Staff of the Ministry of Justice are the Left and Right Vice Ministers. Vice Minister Tang is the Left Vice Minister, and court officials consider the left superior. This means Vice Minister Tang is above Vice Minister Yang.

For Vice Minister Tang, nothing is more important than life. He frowned and sighed, "I should be the one to go for this matter. But two days ago, I had a recurrence of old ailments, and a few steps make my knees swell with unbearable pain, making it impossible to endure long journeys."

Since Vice Minister Tang refused to go, it was impossible to make the over-sixty-year-old Chief of Staff of the Ministry of Justice travel a thousand miles. Thus, only Vice Minister Yang could lead the people from the Ministry of Justice to investigate.

Minister Dai glared angrily at Vice Minister Tang, who was shirking his responsibilities. Vice Minister Tang shrank his neck like a quail, pretending not to notice. With no other options, Minister Dai had to turn to Vice Minister Yang: "Vice Minister Tang’s health is unfit for travel, so I’ll have to trouble Vice Minister Yang."

Vice Minister Yang did not refuse, standing straight and accepting the task.

The next day, Vice Minister Yang set off with several people from the Ministry of Justice.

Upon hearing of this, Prime Minister Wang was quite annoyed, immediately summoning both Minister Dai and Vice Minister Tang, pointing at Vice Minister Tang and angrily berating him: "Vice Minister Yang has long been colluding with the Nanyang Prince Mansion in secret. If he investigates the case, what results can be found?"

"Why didn’t you go? Are you afraid the Nanyang County Princess will secretly send assassins against you?"

Vice Minister Tang thought that Imperial Censor Huang was already dead, without even having a whole corpse, isn’t that enough for me to be fearful? Whether the bandits were instructed by someone, no one can say for sure. But I can’t just risk my life for the face of Prime Minister Wang, can I!

Prosperity and fame, wealth and future, all require a life to enjoy.

Prime Minister Wang scolded Vice Minister Tang until he was left embarrassed and frustrated, venting his anger. Then he submitted a memorial, requesting the Emperor to appoint another person as Governor of Pingzhou.

Emperor Taihe nodded and agreed: "This matter shall be entrusted to Prime Minister Wang for decision."

Prime Minister Wang, scanning his own pot for choices, picked Tan Langzhong.

Tan Langzhong had joined Prime Minister Wang’s faction more than ten years ago, progressing from a seventh-rank chief clerk to a fourth-rank chief doctor. A few years ago, he achieved significant merit by collecting taxes from Jiangnan. With the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Industry being long-term ill, Tan Langzhong had been eagerly awaiting the promotion to Vice Minister!

Unexpectedly, he was suddenly to be sent out to become the Governor of Pingzhou.

This was truly unexpected and thrilling.

Tan Langzhong spent a night sighing in his study, unable to shake off his gloom. The next morning at court, with bags under his eyes, Tan Langzhong gratefully accepted the appointment. After receiving the Ministry of Personnel’s orders, he quickly packed his luggage and set out.

Who would have thought, just two days after leaving the Capital City, he had an accident and fell from his horse, breaking his leg? There was no way to proceed to Pingzhou; he could only return to the Capital City to recuperate.

Prime Minister Wang personally went to visit the Tan Family; Tan Langzhong’s broken leg was genuine, beyond doubt. Besides sighing at the bad luck, Prime Minister Wang had no recourse.

Duke An gleefully asked Prime Minister Wang during the court assembly: "With Governor Tan’s leg injured, it will take at least half a year to heal. During this time, with the Pingzhou Governor position vacant, what should be done?"

Prime Minister Wang replied with an expressionless face: "Let County Magistrate Lu manage Pingzhou affairs for the time being. When Governor Tan recovers, he will take up his post in Pingzhou."

Duke An, having watched a good show, was in high spirits. After returning to Duke An’s Mansion, he smiled and said to his son Zheng Chen: "This time, Prime Minister Wang has truly suffered a great loss and looks terribly embarrassed."

Zheng Chen’s face, however, showed little joy. He looked at Duke An and slowly said: "Father, Vice Minister Yang went to Xiangzhou to investigate the case but found no clues about the origin of the bandits, ultimately concluding the case as vagrants and bandits assaulting a court official. Father shouldn’t believe this was merely coincidental!"

Duke An raised an eyebrow: "If not, then what?"

Everyone knows this matter isn’t simple and is likely related to the Nanyang County Princess.

The Grand Empress Dowager in the palace doesn’t care, and the Emperor Taihe on the Dragon Throne remains silent, so who would investigate this matter for an insignificant Imperial Censor Huang?

Zheng Chen’s expression was somewhat gloomy, and after a pause, he said: "Pingzhou has already fallen into Jiang Shaohua’s hands. She is ambitious and aims at the court. Father should remind the Grand Empress Dowager and the Emperor to be more cautious."

Duke An raised an eyebrow again: "Don’t forget, both you and I are surnamed Zheng, and we are of foreign relatives. Jiang Shaohua is surnamed Jiang, a Princess Jiang. In the eyes of the Empress Dowager and the Emperor, she is more reliable than you and me."

Zheng Chen remained silent.

Duke An sighed softly, saying quietly: "The Nanyang County Princess is ambitious and capable, and trusted by the Emperor. It’s unwise to fall out with her."