The Canal Transportation Office was divided into two systems: the Shore Management Department and the Transport Management Department. The highest-ranking official was the Transport Commissioner, a fourth-rank official who managed nearly a thousand people within and outside the Canal Transportation Office.
“Among all government offices, the Canal Transportation Office is the most lucrative,” Zhang Xunfu (Provincial Governor Zhang) explained as he led the way. “In the 20th year of Yuanjing, the court implemented a policy of selling official positions, primarily those related to canal transportation.”
“By the 22nd year of Yuanjing, Wei Gong (Duke Wei) and Wang Shoufu (Prime Minister Wang) joined forces to abolish the policy of selling official positions. However, in just two years, the number of unqualified individuals who had wormed their way into positions was appalling. Even today, a group of incompetent officials still occupy high positions.”
Xu Qi An (许七安) wasn’t particularly concerned about Zhang Xunfu’s indignation. Instead, he extracted some intriguing points from his words.
Who was the person selling official positions that required Wei Wuyuan and Wang Shoufu, two mortal enemies, to join forces to suppress?
Without a doubt, it was Emperor Yuanjing.
Many emperors in history sold official positions, and Emperor Yuanjing wasn’t an exception. These emperors all had one thing in common: they spent money like water.
Moreover, historical records generally didn’t speak favorably of such emperors, at least criticizing this kind of behavior.
As they arrived at the Yuzhou Canal Transportation Office, the yamen runners saw a group of people approaching aggressively, led by a high-ranking official in a crimson robe and a night watchman with a golden gong embroidered on his chest.
Without even questioning, they rushed into the yamen to report.
A few minutes later, the Transport Commissioner of Yuzhou Canal Transportation Office, a fourth-rank official, hurriedly came out to greet them personally.
This Transport Commissioner was over fifty years old, with graying facial hair and an ordinary appearance. A black mole between his eyebrows added a touch of uniqueness to his otherwise unremarkable features.
“This official is Zhang Xingying. I have come to Yunzhou on imperial orders to investigate a case. Here is the document from the Imperial Cabinet,” Zhang Xunfu said, handing over a thin booklet.
“So it’s Xunfu Zhang. My apologies for the oversight. Please, come inside,” the Transport Commissioner said respectfully after reading the document, gesturing with his hand.
The group entered the yamen, and the Transport Commissioner led Zhang Xunfu to the main hall. After they were seated and tea was served, the Transport Commissioner smiled and said, “Xunfu Zhang must be tired from the long journey. Are you planning to rest in Yuzhou for a few days?”
He discreetly observed this visiting official from the capital, finding him to be a joyless individual who hadn’t smiled since their meeting.
Are all the officials from the capital this arrogant?
…This Transport Commissioner doesn’t yet realize the gravity of the situation, Zhang Xunfu thought. He waved his hand and said, “Whether this official stays here depends on the progress of the case.”
“What do you mean?” the Transport Commissioner asked, bewildered.
Zhang Xunfu looked towards the hall entrance and called out loudly, “Bring them in!”
Sixty-two members of the Yellow Flag Gang, including the bearded man Fang He, were brought in. Their bodies bore injuries of varying severity, and their expressions were dejected.
Seeing these people, the Transport Commissioner stood up in surprise and confusion, pointing at them and looking at Zhang Xunfu. “What’s going on with these people? Why are they wearing the uniforms of our Canal Transportation Office?”
“This is precisely why this official has come to visit you, Transport Commissioner,” Zhang Xunfu replied.
He then detailed the situation to the Transport Commissioner, who listened until his face turned pale. He collapsed back into his seat, muttering, “What should we do? What should we do…”
Tsk tsk, his composure is terrible, Xu Qi An thought to himself while observing the Transport Commissioner’s expressions and subtle hand movements. Compared to the officials I’ve dealt with in the capital, this Transport Commissioner is practically a novice.
Zhang Xunfu said sternly, “Transport Commissioner, this official asks you, were you aware of this case?”
The Transport Commissioner shook his head hurriedly, trying to explain, “This official was completely unaware, Xunfu Zhang…”
Zhang Xunfu ignored him and turned to look at the white-robed mages in the crowd. The mages nodded slightly, indicating that the Transport Commissioner wasn’t lying.
After pondering for a moment, Zhang Xunfu asked, “Is the Transport Manager in the yamen?”
The Transport Commissioner, finally shifting his attention to the true culprit, angrily said, “Transport Manager Yan Kai is on leave today and not in the yamen. This official will immediately lead Xunfu Zhang to apprehend this scoundrel.”
…
Outside Transport Manager Yan Kai’s residence, Zhang Xunfu waved his hand, signaling the Imperial Guards to spread out and surround the mansion.
Yang Muhua, the Transport Commissioner who had come along, also brought twenty constables.
After the Imperial Guards dispersed, Jiang Luzhong directly led his men to break down the door, subduing all the servants and guards in the mansion.
The Imperial Guards, the Canal Transportation Office’s constables, and the night watchmen swept through the entire Yan mansion like lightning, giving the occupants no chance to react.
“Sir, he’s in the study,” one of the Canal Transportation Office’s constables reported, having been the first to discover Yan Kai.
When Xu Qi An arrived at the study with his colleagues, he was a step too late. He saw blood splattered all over the floor, thick as paint.
Transport Manager Yan Kai lay limply in a large chair, his head tilted, with a deep wound on his neck. A dagger lay on the floor to his right.
This outcome was unexpected for both Transport Commissioner Yang and Zhang Xunfu. Beyond their shock, anger filled their chests.
However, their anger differed. The Transport Commissioner’s anger was closer to impotent rage, as with Yan Kai’s death, all eyes would focus on him, making him the prime suspect.
Zhang Xunfu’s anger was more like that of losing a cooked duck that had flown away.
There are too many people here, it’s easy to contaminate the scene… and we can’t be sure that the killer isn’t among us, which could destroy crucial evidence… Xu Qi An was the calmest, and as these thoughts ran through his mind, he made a quick decision:
“Everyone, leave the study and wait outside.”
Hearing this, Zhang Xunfu’s spirits lifted. He swept his gaze over the crowd and said sternly, “Everyone, go wait outside. Leave the study.”
Soon, only Jiang Luzhong, Xu Qi An, and the two high-ranking officials remained in the study.
“Xunfu Zhang, this Yan Kai must have committed suicide out of guilt. This case has nothing to do with me,” Transport Commissioner Yang explained hastily, eager to distance himself from the situation.
Zhang Xunfu ignored him completely, looking at Xu Qi An and saying, “Xu Ning’yan, take a good look.”
Transport Commissioner Yang couldn’t help but glance at Xu Qi An, but quickly returned his attention to Zhang Xunfu, continuing to explain, complain, and proclaim his innocence.
“The blood has coagulated into clots. He died recently, but before we entered the mansion,” Jiang Luzhong said.
“He died around the time we entered the Canal Transportation Office,” Xu Qi An nodded.