Chapter 322 — Frustrated
Purple Streets of Chang'an · Page 2 of 4
Song Cen was speaking with the bailiff of the Tianjin garrison. "The hills and woods at the granary mouth brought two thousand taels last year. How is it only eight hundred this year?"
At Zeng Wu's words, a fire leaped up in his heart, and it kept blazing higher and higher.
He snatched up the account book and hurled it at the Tianjin bailiff's head. "Fool! You cannot even answer a question put to you. What use are you?"
All at once the Tianjin bailiff's legs shook like a winnowing basket, and he dropped to his knees with a thud. "Calm your anger, Lord Defender of the State. Last year the weather was fair, but this summer there were great winds. Some trees were torn up by the roots—there are fewer trees this year than last, so the yield is less than last year's."
Why was it that great winds blew over his hills and woods, while the Thirteen Hongs sailed calm and smooth, with never so much as a whirlwind the whole year round?
Song Cen's face was ashen, but out of the corner of his eye he happened to catch Tao Jun's face—a flicker of surprise had passed through Tao Jun's eyes. Song Cen was a suspicious man by nature; his heart gave a jolt, and he opened his mouth and shouted, "Men!" pointing at the Tianjin bailiff. "Drag this fellow who spouts nonsense away and give him twenty heavy strokes of the plank. Then we shall see whether he tells the truth!"
At this the Tianjin bailiff's whole body went limp on the floor, and he wept and wailed for his life. "It was not the great winds—it was that I wished to curry favor with the Lord Defender of the State, so last year I sold every tree that could be sold, and this year there are only saplings left, which fetch no price… I did not lie. If the Lord Defender of the State does not believe me, ask Liu Da; he knows better than anyone."
Liu Da was the former bailiff of the Tianjin garrison. Song Cen had been dissatisfied with the garrison's yield, and his personal servant had recommended his own cousin; seeing that the man talked plausibly enough, he had let him replace Liu Da… never expecting him to be one of those who talk of war on paper!
He trembled with rage, stepped forward, and gave the bailiff several kicks. "Get out! Never let me see your face again!"
The bailiff scrambled up and fled outside, his face full of terror.
Tao Jun could not help giving a soft cough.
Song Cen came to his senses and hurriedly called to the attendants about him, "Throw that fellow into the firewood shed. If he does not give a clear account of the books, send him straight to the yamen."
Several guards waiting outside the door rushed in and dragged the bailiff away.
Zeng Wu shrank back, hunched with fear.
Song Cen had lost all appetite for continuing the audit; he waved his hand and drove everyone out.
The Lord Defender of the State was all wind and rain at a word; he must save a little silver while he was still at the Lord Defender's side, so that even if he fell on hard times, he would not end up destitute.
Zeng Wu thought for a moment and called a trusted servant. "Go and see what Steward Zhong is doing."
The servant slipped away. Toward noon he came back to report. "Steward Zhong has finished his business; every day he only sits in the side hall chatting with people. The heir is auditing accounts with the bailiffs of several estates."
Zeng Wu decided to go and see Zhong Bingxiang now. If he waited until evening, he might not get to see the man at all, and might instead find himself bound hand and foot by the people of Yizhi Hall and handed over to the Lord Defender of the State.
The gatekeeper of Yizhi Hall stopped him at the door with a half-smile. "Whom does Master Zeng Wu seek? Let us announce you. You are a honored guest!"