Chapter 27: One Imperial Edict Transfers the Governor-General; A Hundred Thousand in Gold Again Buries the Nine Lives

Now, Magistrate Huang followed Judge Jiao and Prefect Liu into the signing room, where they exchanged the customary courtesies with Governor-General Kong and sat down according to their ranks. The Governor-General asked Magistrate Huang: "In the Liang-Ling case, how many sessions did your county hear? Were any definitive confessions obtained?" Magistrate Huang, thus questioned, reddened to his ears and replied: "I only held one hearing; the senior villagers of Tancun came and submitted a guarantee on Ling Guixing's behalf, saying he was a well-behaved student. He was released on recognizance, and I am currently pursuing the bandits by dispatch." The Governor-General then asked Prefect Liu: "Was this case brought to your prefecture as well?" Prefect Liu said: "I personally called the parties for a hearing. Weighing the situation reasonably, Ling Guixing is a purchased student (jiansheng), and he and Tianlai are first cousins on the maternal side. Even granting some ill feeling, how likely is it he would resort to such extreme measures? Furthermore, Ling Guixing is a wealthy household of Tancun — how could he have come into contact with bandits? And Tianlai's sole witness was only a vagrant — scarcely to be trusted." Judge Jiao continued: "Such unemployed wanderers, who specialize in stirring up lawsuits — the most vicious breed there is!" The Governor-General said: "The views of the three gentlemen do not accord with my own — though perhaps this reflects my own bias. Governor Xiao has been ill for more than a month, I hear, and is still not recovered; I do not know how he intended to handle this matter, but the case was apparently brought to his yamen as well. Last night I drew out some threads of this matter." He called for someone to bring Xilai. Presently Xilai was led in. The Governor-General said: "Xilai, is what you confessed last night all true? Is there any falsehood in it?" Xilai said: "Every word is true — I dare not lie!" The Governor-General said: "Repeat it from the beginning." Xilai saw three officials in the seats but did not know who they were; he looked right and left and dared not open his mouth. The Governor-General said: "Just speak — do not be afraid." Xilai had no choice but to repeat from the beginning everything he had confessed the night before. The Governor-General held the notes he had written the previous night and checked them against Xilai's words. Judges Jiao and Liu listened in astonishment; Magistrate Huang felt as if bristles were stabbing him in the back. Then when he heard Xilai mention sending a thousand taels of gold, it was like a thunderbolt from a clear sky — his hands and feet went cold, and he nearly soiled himself from fright. When Xilai had finished, the Governor-General had him taken out, then said to the three: "I trust the three gentlemen have heard it clearly. Last night when I questioned him, I used no torture whatsoever — clearly this was not extorted by force. What does the three gentlemen's advice suggest for handling this serious case?" Judges Jiao and Liu exchanged glances; Magistrate Huang went a step further and requested that charges be brought against himself. The Governor-General said: "Magistrate, do not worry! In a case of this gravity, it will naturally have to be memorialized to the throne, and the entire case file must also be transmitted to the Board of Punishments. When a verdict is memorialized, each point will have to be set out in detail. As for Governor Xiao's yamen, I dare not shield anyone — it rests with the Emperor's edict and the Board's ruling." He then raised his teacup to signal his guests' departure. The three men had no choice but to rise and take their leave.

The Governor-General then issued an official order commissioning a probationary circuit intendant to go to the Criminal Review Bureau, there to convene with the full panel of review commissioners to examine the case. At the same time, the full complement of detainees was dispatched to the Review Bureau.

In the meantime, Guixing's two concubines, Madame Yang and Madame Pan, seeing their husband arrested, were at a complete loss. There was not a single male adult left in the household — even the son Yingke had been taken. After discussion, they decided that Madame Pan would remain at home while Madame Yang rushed to the Sande Inn in the provincial city and sent a worker to find Li Feng and ask for his help. Madame Yang met Li Feng in person and begged him to devise something. Li Feng said: "Empty words are useless." Madame Yang said: "Of course! Money will be needed, however much — please do as you see fit." Li Feng, hearing this, went and found two of the review commissioners to negotiate. Those commissioners were frightened nearly enough to swallow their own tongues. The Governor-General had personally instructed them beforehand: "This case, from start to finish, has been bought with bribes. In your examination, you will certainly find people coming to intercede — do not accept a single coin in bribes; if I discover any, there will be severe charges." Moreover, the Governor-General had personally taken Xilai's confession and kept the notes — how could they dare accept anything? Li Feng, with no other recourse, went and found Kong the Governor-General's wife's brother, Gao Quan, and promised him one hundred thousand taels of silver to find a way out. Gao Quan said: "I can manage any other matter — but in this one he is unusually strict. In recent days he has been personally summoning the review commissioners every day, asking about this case and checking the confessions, correcting them point by point where they are inconsistent. I hear that two of them have already given matching testimony — how could anything be arranged?" Li Feng said: "Let us at least try." Gao Quan said: "Were it ten thousand, let alone a hundred thousand, I would not touch this nail." Li Feng said: "If this case is seriously pursued, even Governor Xiao will be in some difficulty — ask the Governor-General to consider the bond of brother officials, and speak from that angle — then there would be no trace of wrongdoing in it." Gao Quan said: "What 'bond of brother officials' would he consider! Back in the Kangxi years, when the Emperor went to pay respects at the Confucian Temple and requested the central gate be opened, he still refused to comply!" Li Feng, hearing this, grew desperate; he fell to his knees before Gao Quan: "In that case, I fear I myself may be caught up in this. Never mind Guixing's business — Brother Gao, think of it as saving me. As long as the matter can be resolved, if a hundred thousand isn't enough, we can add more!" Gao Quan quickly helped him up: "It is genuinely beyond my ability to manage — I am not merely demanding a higher price. Since Brother Li puts it this way, let me at least go and try." Li Feng was overjoyed and expressed his gratitude.

That day, Gao Quan waited until the Governor-General was at leisure, then went to him and raised the subject in a casual, oblique way. The Governor-General had already sensed what was happening, and gave a cold laugh: "I would not have thought Ling Guixing's reach so great — to have actually found his way to you to test me! I have seen too many corrupt officials in Guangdong. When this case is concluded, I intend to deal with all those who received bribe money too — could it be you wish to have your name added to the list?" Gao Quan was so frightened he fell silent and could only withdraw.

Two days later, the probationary intendant came to report that all the detainees in the full case had made their depositions, except for Xiong Aqi, You Amei, and Jian Lexian, who had not been apprehended. It was also found in the depositions that Jian Lexian was a constable of Panyu County and Li Ah'er was a constable of the Provincial Judge's yamen. The Governor-General immediately issued orders for both county courts to expedite the arrest of the three fugitives Xiong, You, and Jian, with a set deadline. While he was still issuing these orders, an imperial edict arrived: because the Yellow River had breached its banks in Shandong, Governor-General Kong was to proceed immediately to supervise the repair works, and in the meantime the seals of the Governorship of the Two Guangs were to be handed over to Governor Xiao to administer in his stead. The Governor-General dared not delay; that very day he settled his affairs and began his departure. But he was troubled by the fact that every official in the provincial city had received Guixing's bribes; he feared that once his authority passed on, someone would manipulate the case. He therefore added an official order directing that the entire complement of detainees be transferred to Zhaoqing Prefecture for secure detention. His instructions were: "When the full roster of detainees is complete, proceed immediately to pronounce sentence and carry out the execution." He further directed both county courts that once the three fugitives were captured, they were to be sent directly to Zhaoqing Prefecture to be incorporated into the case. Having arranged all these matters clearly, he invited Governor Xiao to come and receive the seals, and then departed at once on horseback.

Now, Jian Lexian had been in Zhaoqing all along, dealing in illicit salt. When he heard that Ling Guixing's case had erupted, he too was frightened. He then heard that the entire case had been transferred to Zhaoqing, and did not understand what this meant. He went himself to the prefectural prison, paid a little bribery, and went in to visit Guixing and the others. Guixing was greatly pleased: "Brother Jian, you have come at just the right moment! You have been here for many years — perhaps you can devise some plan. No matter the cost, if we can turn this case around, I will pay a hundred or even two hundred thousand — only please act quickly!" Zongkong said: "Elder Brother Jian! Have pity on me — I was nearly clamped to death along with Zhang Feng by that corrupt magistrate. My legs still ache. If you can get me out, I will worship you in my longevity shrine!" Juexing said: "Old cousin, quiet down! What is all this fuss about?" Zongkong said: "Don't talk to me! Both of us at least endured a couple of clamping sessions; it wasn't like you — for all your 'Reborn Zhuge Liang' wisdom — the moment they shouted to beat you, you immediately confessed. If it weren't for you confessing first, we wouldn't have confessed at all!" Guixing said: "Stop arguing! Brother Jian, go and find good medicine for wounds and bring some for us — every one of us has injuries. As for that corrupt magistrate — he burned a red-hot iron plate and ordered me to stand on it because I wouldn't confess. Both of my feet are festering now — I can barely take a step!" Zongkong said: "I also need the medicine — only Old Ou doesn't need it." Juexing said: "Brother Jian, quickly go and work on things outside. Fortunately the full roster is not yet complete, or this case would have already been concluded. That is a sign we have a chance of rescue. Everything else can wait — this is the urgent matter. And Brother Jian's own comings and goings must be discreet!" Jian Lexian nodded in agreement, bid them farewell, and left.

He thought this matter was grave and he needed a reliable person to consult. He went straight to the salt bureau to find a certain Secretary Du. As it happened, those engaged in smuggled salt all maintained connections with the official salt bureau's inspectors — which was how Lexian came to know this person. Lexian met with Secretary Du and asked: "Secretary, have you not been to the prefecture these past two days?" Du said: "Not for two days — I may in fact be going to Qiongzhou." Lexian said: "What for?" Du said: "I hear the Leiqiong circuit post is nearing the end of its term, and the Prefect is planning to seek a promotion — I would naturally follow him, wouldn't I?" Lexian said: "When might you go? I shall come to see you off." Du said: "It's early yet. Many people are competing, and it will come down to who has the most money. I only know we're thinking of it — the money for the arrangements is nowhere in sight." Lexian seized the opening: "Money is no worry — as long as the Prefect is willing to act." He then gave a rough account of Guixing's case and added: "Right now, a hundred or eighty thousand he is willing to put up — just to have the case turned around!" Secretary Du pondered: "What do we in the middle get?" Lexian said: "He is a generous man! The exact sum hasn't been stated, but once the matter is handled, he won't leave you short." Du said: "Let me go and consult my kinsman." Lexian said: "Time does not permit delay — act as soon as possible." Du agreed, and Lexian took his leave.

It turned out that this Secretary Du, whose given name was Qin, was a kinsman of Xu Feng, a private advisor to the Prefect of Zhaoqing. Xu Feng had followed this Prefect Lian to the Zhaoqing posting; Du Qin had then come to attach himself to Zhaoqing, hoping that Xu Feng would find him a position. Since all the available posts were taken, Xu Feng had managed through Prefect Lian to secure Du Qin a post at the salt bureau. Now Du Qin went to the prefectural yamen to find Xu Feng and explained the circumstances. Xu Feng said: "This case was sent down by the Governor-General Kong — I fear it would be difficult to handle." Du Qin said: "As long as the argument is persuasive, how could he refuse!" Xu Feng said: "And just how would you make it persuasive?" Du Qin said: "If we follow the Governor-General Kong's approach to this case, every official in the provincial city who had any part in it will be implicated. And among them is Governor Xiao — since the Governor-General handled it directly, there is no way to avoid implicating him. Now a mere prefect opposing the Governor — how could that work? And Governor-General Kong has gone to Shandong to supervise the Yellow River works — that is notoriously a grueling assignment. If it goes badly, he could face disciplinary action, or even dismissal and exile. When all is said and done, if he exhausts himself working hard on this, who benefits? Who does he earn credit from?" Xu Feng kept nodding: "Let me go and try raising it. Come back tomorrow for an answer." Du Qin took his leave.

The next day, he duly returned for the answer. Xu Feng said: "The talking is done — but money must be produced before anything can be arranged." Du Qin had his answer, went to find Lexian, and Lexian took the news to Guixing. Guixing was overjoyed, and told Lexian to go immediately that night to Tancun to collect the money.

Will the money arrive and turn the case around? Read on to the next chapter.