Chapter 164: Open Visits and Covert Inquiries

Yanzhou? In Gou Ye's impression, Yanzhou was a place very far away from the capital, yet its location was quite unique. Bordering Northern Qiang, it could be said to be a vital military stronghold for the capital. Furthermore, the people of Northern Qiang frequently engaged in regular trade with the Great Ming here. Therefore, although the place was not large, it could well be called a commercial metropolis.

Because of its remote location, it was far from the emperor's immediate reach, which had led to numerous corruption cases occurring there over time. In addition, because the local customs were fierce and martial, making it a complex melting pot of all sorts of people, the public security was exceptionally poor. For many years, this region had been a persistent headache for the reigning emperor.

Gou Ye looked at Zhu Houzhao and could not help asking, "Then how did your imperial father handle this?"

Zhu Houzhao curled his lip and replied, "How else could he handle it? He sent people to investigate, of course. But you wouldn't know—for many years, quite a few officials have been sent there to investigate, yet none of them yielded any results. Although imperial secret agents reported clearly knowing that illicit trade with Northern Qiang was taking place there, for all these years, no concrete evidence has ever been seized. There is nothing to be done; Yanzhou is simply too far from the capital, and administrative oversight inevitably suffers from negligence."

Hearing this, Gou Ye could not help imagining just how dire the situation in Yanzhou truly was, and the corruption must have been extremely severe; otherwise, the emperor would not have been so furious.

Observing Gou Ye's thoughtful expression, Zhu Houzhao asked, "Teacher, what are you thinking about?"

Hearing this, Gou Ye turned back and said, "I am wondering why, since corruption has happened so frequently in Yanzhou over all these years, the imperial court hasn't simply sent a capable and trustworthy person there?"

"Teacher, you are oversimplifying things. What kind of place is Yanzhou? It is an area with close and extensive dealings with Northern Qiang. It's not that the court never thought of sending someone of both ability and moral integrity; it's just that the local temptations are simply too immense. The officials sent there invariably succumbed within a few years. But this time is different."

"Oh? How is it different?" Gou Ye asked.

"The current prefect of Yanzhou is an official named Zhou Ning. Prior to this, he also served as an official in other prefectures. Because of his outstanding performance over the years and his freedom from any suspicion of corruption or law-breaking, and most importantly, because this man possesses considerable talent, he has handled many thorny cases. Even my imperial father once praised him for being diligent in official administration and strict in upholding the law. Yet, who could have ever imagined that a man like this would now engage in illegal activities?"

Hearing this, Gou Ye remarked, "So once such a shrewd and capable man becomes a corrupt official, the difficulty for the imperial court in investigating the case increases even further, is that right?"

Zhu Houzhao nodded and said, "Indeed. Compared to other incumbent officials, this Zhou Ning is far thornier. The imperial court has sent people several times, only to return empty-handed. This time, my imperial father probably has no idea who to send next."

The two of them conversed for a long time. Seeing that it was almost time for the midday meal, Eunuch Bai arrived at the Crown Prince's Mansion, stating explicitly that he was looking for Gou Ye.

The moment he saw Gou Ye, Eunuch Bai wore a flustered expression as he urged, "Official Gou, please hurry and come with me to the Imperial Study. His Majesty is summoning you immediately."

The emperor is summoning me? Could it be that he wants me to come up with a solution for the Yanzhou corruption case? Gou Ye felt a trace of misgiving in his heart.

"Eunuch Bai, do you happen to know what His Majesty is calling me for?"

"Oh, my goodness! How could someone like me possibly know everything about His Majesty's affairs? His Majesty told you to go, so you must go. However, His Majesty is in a rather poor mood today. When you get there, you must remember to watch your words and actions carefully. Watch your words and actions!"

"Very well, thank you, Eunuch Bai, for the reminder."

With that, Gou Ye bid farewell to Zhu Houzhao and accompanied Eunuch Bai to the Imperial Study.

Upon entering the Imperial Study, they saw the emperor standing with his back turned, deep in thought as he gazed at the map on the wall. He did not even turn around upon hearing the sound of Gou Ye and the eunuch entering the room.

"Gou Ye, did Zhao'er tell you about what happened during the morning court session today?" the emperor asked in a solemn voice.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, the Crown Prince has already informed me about the matters of the morning court."

At that moment, the emperor turned around, looked at Gou Ye, and asked, "Then do you have any thoughts on the current situation in Yanzhou?"

As expected, his guess was correct; the emperor had summoned him specifically for the Yanzhou affair. Gou Ye pondered for a moment before replying, "Your Majesty, I have only recently entered the imperial court and am naturally not very familiar with matters of officialdom, especially detailed issues like trying legal cases. Your humble servant truly does not know how to answer Your Majesty."

"Just speak your mind freely. There is no need for any reservations."

Hearing the emperor speak thus, Gou Ye had no choice but to respond according to his inner thoughts: "Your Majesty, the events in Yanzhou have not just been going on for a day or two. Your humble servant believes that for such a long time, the imperial court has repeatedly sent officials to investigate, yet all have returned empty-handed. The primary reason for this is simply that over all these years, Yanzhou has long formed its own entrenched faction. Its network has already been woven tightly together. The interlocking web of corrupt officials surely extends far beyond just a single Zhou Ning. In fact, your humble servant suspects that this network must be vast, even... even..."

"Even what? Go ahead and continue. As I said, you may speak freely without any misgivings," the emperor said softly.

"It may even have penetrated into the interior of the imperial court itself. The reason why preparations are always made there whenever officials are sent for investigation must be because movements on the court's side were leaked beforehand. Therefore, if Your Majesty truly wishes to investigate this case thoroughly—and bring to light every last detail—Your Majesty must prepare your heart in advance."

After listening to Gou Ye's words, the emperor contemplated in silence for a moment before saying, "Your assessment is correct. The trouble in Yanzhou has already festered to the bone. To cure it is not only difficult, but it will also inevitably require drastic measures. I am already past sixty years of age, and I originally hoped to hand over this Great Ming securely to the Crown Prince during these peaceful years. But looking at the current state of affairs, if this is allowed to fester and grow, Yanzhou will one day become a critical vulnerability for our Great Ming. By that time, it will no longer be as simple as merely rooting out a few corrupt officials. The reason I am so furious this time is not merely hearing about officials in Yanzhou being corrupt; it is because they have extended their reach into weaponry and military supplies. This is my bottom line, and it is the bottom line of the Great Ming. Therefore, no matter the cost this time, I am determined to root out this entire web once and for all."

"Thus, I have made a decision: rather than sending those veteran ministers of the court, it would be far better to send you new officials. For one thing, you have no party affiliations in the court and can never be anyone's protégés. Furthermore, as newly appointed officials, you still possess a driven zeal that those older officials have long lost. Therefore, this time I intend to send you and Qian Ning together to Yanzhou to conduct both open investigations and secret inquiries!"