Peasant Woman’s Decreed Life as a Wife-Chapter 2312 - 2309: Lapses

"Your Majesty, your servant has verified and cross-checked according to the account books provided by the Jiangnan officials; there are absolutely no issues with the tax revenues on these records."

"Moreover, it was Minister Qi who submitted the account books to me, and we both confirmed them. There should be no mistakes."

The underlying implication is that the authenticity of these account books is uncertain.

But upon saying this, it’s evident that Zhang Zhi also bears responsibility for not doing his job well; many officials are genuinely unsure of what he intends to do.

Emperor Xuanming angrily shouted, "Minister Zhang, are you admitting that you have been negligent in your duties!"

"I am ashamed to betray the Emperor’s trust, having failed to fulfill his instructions. I could only further investigate some Jiangnan port goods traffic and some testimonies from the commoners, obtaining some practical data in hopes of redeeming my fault." Zhang Zhi cooperated excellently with Emperor Xuanming. He knelt on the ground without rising, holding a memorial as he read out data from an investigation on Jiangnan’s market situation.

From the price increases over the last three months, and the emergence of some new fronts in Jiangnan, the income of the commoners, etc. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

These all seem like minor issues.

But once a series of them is read out.

They provide real insight into some of Jiangnan’s current economic conditions.

After listening.

The great hall was silent.

No official stepped forward to speak.

Minister Qi’s forehead was sweating. He truly hadn’t expected that Zhang Zhi wouldn’t find evidence of embezzlement, but instead found loopholes through practical examples, proving that the situation of several state offices in Jiangnan could certainly yield more than just this amount of tax revenue.

It’s not evidence, but the facts are laid bare, inexplicable; no matter what is said, it’s direct evidence of the Prefect’s negligence.

The Governor of Jiangnan is even more incapable of passing the buck, conspicuously neglecting duty, requiring no evidence to directly incur the Emperor’s displeasure.

"Minister Qi, what do you say, is what Minister Zhang said the situation in Jiangnan?"

Emperor Xuanming’s anger was restrained yet unspoken, which instead made Minister Qi anxious.

"Your Majesty, there is no issue with what Magistrate Zhang said, however, to determine precisely what circumstances caused this development, we need detailed verification. After all, the opening of maritime trade has brought a lot of commercial traffic; now many merchants from various places are also going to Jiangnan to get goods, then selling them nationwide. Thus, it is very likely causing a labor shortage and rising wages. However, from this perspective, opening maritime trade indeed can bring Great Chu a continuous source of wealth."

"Is it the wealth of Great Chu or the wealth of certain individuals, what do you think, Minister Qi?" Emperor Xuanming ambiguously asked.

Minister Qi suddenly kneeled to the ground: "Your Majesty, I absolutely bear no divided allegiance, and this trip to Jiangnan, I have exerted every effort to verify and cooperate with Lord Zhang. Currently, the Maritime Merchants have all been thoroughly investigated, and there are absolutely no discrepancies, much less evidence of embezzlement. I dare not act rashly but will knock on every door, ensuring they dare not violate the law."

"So, you mean to say that these families earned their maritime vessels and trade through their own abilities?" Emperor Xuanming sneered.

Zhang Zhi has already uncovered the details of several families in ties with Jiangnan’s state officials, who have grown during this time.

The expressions of the subjects varied.

This kind of collusion between officials and merchants is something that no family is truly clean of in private; it’s just that they dare not make it so obvious.

After all, once uncovered and seized upon, one would be exploited, and details of one’s demise unknown.

Minister Qi gritted his teeth.