Chapter 34: The Fire at the City Gate Affects the Fish in the Pond
Zhao Yucheng, the Ministry of Revenue official, glared viciously in the direction Li Fan had left.
He had received orders from Master Liu Bowen, bringing a team of Jinyiwei to Fengyang to audit the accounts.
Auditing was something he did often, and he was very experienced and at ease with it.
Whenever he went to a local place, he was treated as a distinguished guest, receiving good food, drink, and numerous benefits.
If people were sensible, he could be lenient.
If they were not, they couldn’t blame him for being harsh.
But today’s experience in Fengyang made him very angry.
Master Liu ordered him to rush to Fengyang overnight.
He had long heard of Fengyang’s prosperity, and today he saw it was indeed extraordinary!
The bustling streets surpassed those of Jinling, but the tax revenue was minimal.
Although the emperor had ordered the exemption of Fengyang’s land tax, other taxes still needed to be collected.
Fengyang had not paid its full taxes for three consecutive years, always claiming poverty.
Every year, the Ministry of Revenue sent someone to audit, but all returned without results.
This time, Master Liu sent him to thoroughly investigate the matter!
But he didn’t expect the county magistrate, Li Fan, to ignore him.
This was simply audacious.
Master Liu had specially assigned Jinyiwei to him, so he could arrest Li Fan at the right time and opportunity.
Then, he could handle Li Fan however he wanted.
Even if Li Fan was the top scholar personally appointed by the emperor, so what?
As long as he fabricated some evidence of corruption, given the emperor’s decisive nature, he would show no mercy.
At that time, he would have rendered great service, and Master Liu would certainly recommend him to be the prefect of Fengyang.
Then, boundless wealth would follow.
Li Fan’s behavior was courting death, something he had never seen before.
So, he couldn’t be blamed for being ruthless.
Zheng Kaishan was just an ordinary Jinyiwei commander, assigned to protect Zhao Yucheng and follow his orders.
When he entered the gate, he noticed Jinyiwei around Fengyang County, and knew it was not a simple place.
Seeing Li Fan ignore Zhao Yucheng, he concluded that Li Fan was not an ordinary person.
Now, hearing Zhao Yucheng order him to arrest Li Fan, he felt quite helpless, but had to follow orders.
He led a few Jinyiwei soldiers to catch up with Li Fan, blocking his way.
They saluted him and said:
“Lord Li, please come with us. We apologize for any offense.”
A few officers saw the Jinyiwei trying to arrest someone, and quickly stepped forward to stop them.
The leading constable drew his official knife, pointing at Zheng Kaishan and said:
“You won’t take Lord Li today!”
Li Fan looked at the blocking Jinyiwei, seeing their polite manner, he knew they were also in a difficult position.
But stepping up at this time, he couldn’t blame them for their bad name!
He directly rebuked:
“You are just a Jinyiwei commander, do you really think you can defy everything? You are Jinyiwei, and not listening to the emperor’s orders, but following Liu Bowen’s orders. Are you tired of living?”
Li Fan saw the arrogant demeanor of the Ministry of Revenue official, coupled with the Jinyiwei escort, and it was obvious that Liu Bowen had sent him.
Liu Bowen was not only the Prime Minister of the Secretariat, but the emperor had also given him the title of Commander of the Jinyiwei to sever the dragon veins across all of Ming.
He could command the Southern Town Patrol Division.
So, that Ministry of Revenue official was definitely Liu Bowen’s man, and there was no need to show him any courtesy.
When Ministry of Revenue officials came to audit before, they were always polite, respectful when necessary, doing their job, enjoying themselves in a harmonious atmosphere, eating, drinking, and taking whatever they wanted, and then returning happily to Jinling.
But now, this Ministry of Revenue official was acting arrogant, and Li Fan wouldn’t indulge him.
Now they even sent the Jinyiwei to arrest him, which was simply intolerable.
“Take that official and get out, do your proper job!”
Zheng Kaishan looked at the brazen Li Fan, starting to worry.
He also glanced at the fierce constables, knowing they were not ordinary people.
If a fight broke out, it would be hard to control!
Although the emperor had given the Jinyiwei the power to arrest people, they still needed to follow higher orders.
If he followed Zhao Yucheng’s order to arrest someone, he would be dragged into it.
If Li Fan had no backing, Liu Bowen could easily frame him.
But if Li Fan did have backing, it would be troublesome.
Zheng Kaishan was caught in a dilemma, unsure how to proceed.
Li Fan saw him standing still, realizing he wasn’t completely siding with Liu Bowen, so he advised him:
“This is a high-level power struggle; as a mere commander, you shouldn’t get involved. When the city gates catch fire, the fish in the moat suffer. When gods fight, it’s the little devils who suffer. Do your proper job, follow the orders from above, don’t listen to a mere sixth-rank official’s nonsense, or you’ll be their scapegoat!”
After speaking, Li Fan took Zhu Yuanzhang to the backyard, and had the constable lead his men away to resume their duties.
The constable glared viciously at Zheng Kaishan, made a throat-slitting gesture, and then left with his men!
At this moment, Zhu Yuanzhang’s eyes were fierce.
Liu Bowen’s influence had grown too much.
Originally, he gave him the title of Commander of the Jinyiwei to better sever the dragon veins.
But now, he was using public office for private gain, turning the Jinyiwei into his private army.
This was indeed outrageous, and it seemed time to deal with him.
A subordinate saw Li Fan leave, and asked worriedly:
“Sir, should we still arrest him?”
Zheng Kaishan’s face was dark, this was beyond what a mere commander could handle.
He was only tasked with escorting and protecting Zhao Yucheng, not with making arrests.
Hearing his subordinate’s question, he slapped him across the face, and said darkly:
“If you want to die, go ahead and arrest him!”
After speaking, he hurried to the front hall.
Zhao Yucheng was surprised to see that Li Fan hadn’t been arrested, and looked at Zheng Kaishan in astonishment.
“Where is he? Why wasn’t he caught? Arrest him or execute him on the spot!”
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