Chapter 400 - 238: Pressure

Chapter 400: Chapter 238: Pressure

Li Dangsen, the Prefect of Songjiang Prefecture, turned deathly pale and nearly fainted.

"He’s insane! He’s truly insane!"

Li Dangsen paced back and forth like an ant on a hot pan.

Zhang Luzhong was also pale, his face twisted in a bitter smile.

"I never thought he’d actually dare."

He said with a bitter smile, "Pillorying hundreds of people in public... Those scholars are frail. If they’re really made to stand there for three days, there’s no telling how many will die.

Lord Prefect, this situation has spun out of control."

"You think I don’t know that?"

Li Dangsen retorted.

These scholars don’t exist in a vacuum. They have families, teachers, and classmates.

Angering even one of them is like kicking a hornet’s nest.

And now Su Mu has pilloried hundreds of them. This is tantamount to grinding the faces of every scholar in Xiangzhou into the dirt.

The scholars of Xiangzhou are all intricately connected. Their teachers, their teachers’ teachers...

All those old-timers holding high positions in the imperial court...

The very thought of it gave Li Dangsen a splitting headache.

"How can we possibly fix this now?!"

Li Dangsen let out a long sigh. This was no longer a matter of his performance evaluation. His career as Prefect was finished.

"Lord Prefect, the most urgent thing to do is return to Songjiang Prefecture. If you can rescue those scholars from Governor Su, there’s still a chance to turn this situation around. Once you’ve saved them, their teachers and mentors will owe you a great debt."

Zhang Luzhong’s mind raced. He said in a low voice, "Su Mu knows how to exploit a situation, but so can we.

This is a crisis, but it is also an opportunity.

As long as we stand firmly with the scholars, Lord Prefect, you can build an image for yourself as someone who isn’t afraid of authority and who champions their cause!"

After hearing Zhang Luzhong’s words, Li Dangsen gradually calmed down, a thoughtful expression appearing on his face.

’Those hundreds of scholars will never endure being pilloried for three days.’

’If they’re forced to stand for three days under the scorching sun while wearing pillories that weigh dozens of pounds... out of several hundred men, they’ll be lucky if half survive.’

’If I step in and save them from Su Mu, I’ll be the savior of all the scholars in Xiangzhou. A hero.’

’These scholars may not have high status themselves, but all their mentors hold lofty positions.’

’Winning the goodwill of so many influential people at once... this is an opportunity that comes once in a lifetime!’

A look of delight appeared in Li Dangsen’s eyes. He mused, "Do you think Su Mu will grant me this favor?"

"Lord Prefect, you are the Prefect of Songjiang Prefecture."

Zhang Luzhong said, "The Taiping Bureau Governor and you, Lord Prefect, are of equal rank. He has no authority over you. The responsibility of supervising officials doesn’t fall to the Taiping Bureau anymore, but to the Inspection Bureau.

The Inspector for our Songjiang Prefecture’s Inspection Bureau is Wu Yiqi of the Wu Family. He has a grudge against Su Mu, so he certainly won’t side with the Taiping Bureau.

You don’t have to worry about him refusing you.

In fact, it would be even better if he refuses you. It would do more to demonstrate your unyielding integrity, Lord Prefect.

The more he resists, the greater the debt those scholars will owe us!"

"Su Mu... he wouldn’t kill anyone, would he? He’s the kind of madman who would behead a scholar in public."

Li Dangsen asked worriedly.

"Are you a commoner, Lord Prefect? Unless he’s truly lost his mind, he would never dare to touch a single hair on your head."

Zhang Luzhong said with confidence.

"That’s true."

Li Dangsen nodded. ’Even if I’ve taken bribes and bent the law, that’s a matter for the Inspection Bureau. The Taiping Bureau has no jurisdiction over me.’

"Back to the city! I’m going to have a little meeting with this Su Mu."

Li Dangsen declared, "And we’ll let that Su Mu see the backbone of Xiangzhou’s literati!"

...

"Governor Su really did it?"

「In the Xiangzhou Capital City」

Fu Qingzhu’s eyes widened.

"It’s the absolute truth!"

A Taiping Captain said between sips of water, "The gates of Songjiang Prefecture City are packed with people. The sight... tsk, tsk... it’s spectacular!

That Yang Yungzhong fellow was punished by Governor Su, too. He’s out there standing in a pillory with the rest of them."

"Son of a bitch!"

Fu Qingzhu couldn’t help but curse.

"I have to admit," the Taiping Captain said, "the way Governor Su handles things is damn satisfying!"

The Taiping Captain continued, "A bunch of cowards who wouldn’t even dare to kill a chicken. They think reading a few books gives them the right to run their mouths about everything, and then they have the gall to storm the Taiping Bureau?"

"It might be satisfying, but how do we clean up this mess?"

Fu Qingzhu said helplessly, "Hundreds of scholars... do you have any idea how many teachers and elders they have behind them?

How many fellow students? He’s really gone and caused a catastrophe this time.

No, I can’t handle this. We need to notify Lord Li immediately. Get him back here to put out this fire!"

Before the words were even out of his mouth, a voice called from outside.

"Lord Fu, the Censor, Elder Yu, along with the former Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice, Lord Lu, and the former Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, Lord Li, are here together requesting an audience."

Fu Qingzhu sighed and glanced at the Taiping Captain. "See? The trouble’s already starting."

These were all high-ranking officials who had already retired. Their students and proteges had also been pilloried by Su Mu.

’Out of hundreds of people, this is just the first group. There’s no telling how many more will show up at our door.’

This incident was no longer confined to Songjiang Prefecture. It involved Xiangzhou, and even the Da Xuan Capital City. It was entirely possible that someone would soon be lodging a complaint before the Emperor himself.

"Why the hell should we be afraid of them! They’re the ones who stormed the Taiping Bureau. You think they’re the ones in the right?"

the Taiping Captain grumbled.

"They were in the wrong, but the punishment doesn’t fit the crime."

Fu Qingzhu said, "Forget it. Come with me. We’ll deal with them first. We’ll handle what we can. We can’t let a bunch of misguided scholars walk all over the Taiping Bureau!"

He, Fu Qingzhu, might not have the audacity of Su Mu to pillory hundreds of people in public, but anyone who thought he would betray his own people was sorely mistaken.

...

Where there was one, there was soon another.

The Xiangzhou Taiping Government Office had never been so bustling.