novelSusiti Chapter 8 A Mess
Chapter 8 A Mess
Qingcheng County is located northwest of Chengdu.
The journey wasn't too far; at a fast horse's pace, a day was enough for a round trip. However, if one were to bring people, documents, a few scribes temporarily drawn from the Crown Prince's palace, two cartloads of account books, and a squad of accompanying soldiers who seemed more like decorations than guards, then it would be more than just "going to the county to take a look."
This is called—
They took on an even worse mess, leaving behind the mess they were assigned.
Meng Xuanzhe sat in the carriage, lifted a corner of the curtain, and looked at Chengdu gradually receding outside the city gate.
Chengdu truly lives up to its name as the "Land of Abundance".
As the morning light shines, the city walls stand majestically, and the streets are bustling with activity. Wine flags, tea banners, silk shops, and incense shops line the streets, one after another, all arranged with great pomp and circumstance. Vendors carrying loads hurry along the roadside, and boats laden with goods line the riverbanks. From afar, it truly resembles a magnificent painting with gilded edges.
If we only look at this superficial appearance, everyone would say: Later Shu was prosperous and Bashu was peaceful.
But Meng Xuanzhe had just seen those nearly empty porridge pots by the city gate last night. Looking at the bustling scene before him, he felt that this grand spectacle was like a patient with too much makeup on—it looked quite energetic from a distance, but upon closer inspection, it was all just a mask of exhaustion.
Gao Chengli rode a horse that was clearly not suited to his physique, and he was jolted so hard that his face was almost distorted, but he still tried to maintain the dignity that the Grand Eunuch of the Inner Court should have. From a distance, he looked like a plump white quail that had been forcibly tied to the horse's back.
Seeing Meng Xuanzhe lift the curtain and look outside, he quickly spurred his horse closer and lowered his voice, saying, "Your Highness, about thirty li northwest of the city lies the territory of Qingcheng County. I just had someone ask again, and the county government should have already received the news, so presumably—"
"I presume everything is ready?"
Meng Xuanzhe glanced at him.
Gao Chengli coughed and said, "Probably... yes."
Meng Xuanzhe smiled.
He knew all too well what it meant to be "ready".
It's not about preparing real accounts, real grain, and real heads; it's about preparing the colorful tents at the entrance, the incense table in the hall, the smile on the magistrate's face, and a set of standard rhetoric ranging from "This humble official eagerly awaits His Highness the Crown Prince's arrival" to "Everything in the area is generally stable, with only minor minor issues that are not worth worrying about."
Before leaders went to the countryside, grassroots units loved doing this kind of thing.
The roads need to be swept in advance, banners need to be hung temporarily, and reports need to be revised repeatedly. Ideally, even the rules about which chickens can roam freely in the yard and which chickens need to be locked up in advance should be uniformly arranged.
Meng Xuanzhe spoke highly of this.
If a place still has the energy to put on such a meticulous appearance, it means it's not completely rotten yet.
In truly rotten places, even perfunctory work is done carelessly.
He's now a little curious about just how badly rotten Qingcheng County has become.
Gu Chengyan rode alongside the carriage, holding the booklet he had compiled overnight. He had barely slept a wink last night, yet when he set off this morning, he was still as energetic as if he had just devoured a whole page of account books. Even the dark circles under his eyes showed a hint of excitement, as if he were saying, "Finally, it's my turn to see the real stuff."
"Your Highness," Gu Chengyan said softly, "I have reviewed the old files of Qingcheng County once again."
"explain."
"On the surface, this county isn't the poorest, nor does it have the least land," Gu Chengyan said. "But the irrigation system has been neglected for two years, the mountain roads are intermittently open, and many powerful families have seized land. The county's granaries are nominally replenished every year, but in reality, they produce very little grain. And looking at the military register, that garrison of soldiers registered under the jurisdiction of Qingcheng—"
He paused here.
Meng Xuanzhe glanced at him: "What, it's hard to say?"
"It's not that it's hard to say," Gu Chengyan carefully considered his words. "I'm afraid that if I say it too lightly, it will seem like I'm covering up for the Ministry of War; if I say it too heavily, it will seem like I'm joking."
Gao Chengli, who was listening nearby, felt his eyelids twitch.
The fact that Gu Chengyan, who usually speaks as if he's just copying from a book, was forced to make such a comment shows that the soldiers must actually be quite something.
Meng Xuanzhe became interested: "Then just say it."
Gu Chengyan said, "The list lists 120 men, but the actual number is usually less than 70. The weapons are mostly damaged, the armor is incomplete, and the inspections are perfunctory year after year. Of the last three captains who led the troops, one retired due to illness, one claimed to be injured, and one simply remained on the roster but did not actually participate in the camp."
Meng Xuanzhe nodded: "Very good."
Gu Chengyan: "..."
Gao Chengli: "..."
What's good about it?
Why don't you listen to what you're saying first?
Meng Xuanzhe laughed and said, "The fact that it's rotten so evenly means it's not a coincidence, but rather a sign of a mature system. A mature system is actually easier to investigate."
Gao Chengli, mounted on his horse, had a look on his face that said, "Although I don't quite understand what you're saying, I have a feeling this isn't a good omen."
The convoy continued forward.
Once you leave the outskirts of Chengdu, the bustling atmosphere on the road gradually fades away.
First, there were fewer shops.
Furthermore, the leisurely expressions on pedestrians' faces have diminished.
Further on, the number of people standing in the fields noticeably increased; many were engrossed in their work, while others stopped to watch the convoy. Their gazes weren't exactly fervent, but rather a numb curiosity—as if they were seeing a group of people from a world clearly different from their own passing by.
Meng Xuanzhe observed everything very carefully.
In some fields, the irrigation ditches were broken, and it was obvious that someone had temporarily blocked them, but the blockage was not very good, and water was slowly leaking out from the gaps.
Some slopes have thatched huts, which are not filled with grain, but with firewood and bamboo that have not yet been converted into money.
There were a few houses along the roadside with their roofs patched up haphazardly, as if they had leaked last year and were still making do this year.
This scene does not qualify as a famine.
But they were very poor.
They are poor in a typical way, poor in a stable way, so poor that it seems to have become part of the cycle of the seasons.
It's not the kind of sudden poverty that follows a flood or a drought.
It's the kind of poverty where you can clearly see the land, the people, the cattle, and the grain, yet you still know they won't have any extra savings throughout the year.
This kind of poverty is harder to cure than temporary hunger.
Because it's not tragic enough to alarm those above; yet it lasts long enough to gradually dull one's senses.
Gao Chengli was clearly not comfortable with this view.
He stood beside them for a while, watching, and finally couldn't help but whisper, "Your Highness, these people may not be rich, but they are still farming, and their houses are still standing. Qingcheng is closer to Chengdu after all, and by all accounts, they are much better off than those refugees by the city gate."
Meng Xuanzhe glanced at him: "Do you know what the most troublesome thing is?"
"This servant is dull-witted."
"It's not a severe drought, not a major disaster, and it's not like everyone's fighting over a pot of porridge at the city gate," Meng Xuanzhe said calmly. "It's this kind of thing."
He raised his chin, gesturing to several farmers in the distance who were bending over to repair the irrigation ditch.
"The land isn't barren, the people haven't fled, the houses haven't collapsed, and the accounts will probably still say 'People's livelihoods are normal.' But look at their faces, don't they look like they could be knocked down by just one more kick?"
Gao Chengli was stunned for a moment, then remained silent.
Meng Xuanzhe continued, "Major illnesses are easy to take seriously, but minor illnesses are the most dangerous. The court loves to deal with life-threatening matters the most, because if it doesn't, people will really die; but these minor illnesses that leave you half-dead are best left to drag on, and if you drag them on, in the end, an entire region will be wiped out."
Gao Chengli silently shut his mouth.
He understood a little.
This prince doesn't judge a place by whether there are dead people on the surface.
He was looking at how long this place could hold out.
After traveling for about an hour, someone ahead announced loudly, "Your Highness, we have arrived at Qingcheng County!"
Meng Xuanzhe lifted the carriage curtain.
The county town was small, and the city walls were not very high. The gate tower was old and somewhat gray. There were no colorful tents and drums and music in front of the gate as he had imagined. There was only a group of county clerks standing crookedly, barely forming a "welcoming" formation.
well.
This is the first message—
Qingcheng County is not the kind of place where even superficial appearances can be made to look good.
Several people were standing in front of the door.
The man in the middle, dressed in a blue official robe, had a fair complexion and no beard. He appeared to be around forty years old and was smiling broadly, though sweat was clearly visible on his forehead. This must be Zhou Ling'an, the magistrate of Qingcheng County.
Standing to his left was a round-faced, fat man dressed in fine clothes, with a jade pendant dangling prominently at his waist; he was clearly not someone from the government office.
On the right is a thin old man with droopy eyelids. His clothes are neither new nor old, and he doesn't look particularly striking, but you can't help but feel that he knows how to live a good life.
Meng Xuanzhe laughed as soon as he saw it.
County magistrate, powerful local magistrate, and veteran official.
Fully equipped.
Even the people standing at the entrance to greet people in this place can give a rough idea of who has the real power here.
As soon as the carriage stopped, Zhou Ling'an strode forward, bowed deeply, and shouted in a loud voice as if he wanted to express his lifelong loyalty all at once.
"Your humble servant, Zhou Ling'an, the magistrate of Qingcheng County, respectfully welcomes His Highness the Crown Prince! I was unaware of His Highness's arrival and have failed to greet him properly; I deserve to die for this!"
Meng Xuanzhe got out of the car and glanced at him.
He was dressed very presentably, his clothes were clean, and his official hat was straight, but his smile revealed a pretentious effort to maintain composure that he could never quite achieve.
This type of person is very common.
They are not inherently bad, nor do they necessarily dare to be extremely greedy.
But he will definitely be afraid.
They were afraid of their superiors, afraid of their subordinates, afraid of getting into trouble, afraid of taking responsibility, and afraid that their official hats would be more easily torn off than a manure bucket in the county.
Therefore, his first instinct is never to solve problems, but to prevent problems from getting to him.
Meng Xuanzhe had seen many such low-level officials in his previous life.
To put it bluntly, they are professional "muddlers" who try to smooth things over.
Trying not to offend either side usually results in offending everyone in the end.
"Magistrate Zhou, you've worked hard." Meng Xuanzhe smiled warmly. "On my way here, I saw that Qingcheng Mountain and its scenery were beautiful and the fields were not overgrown. I was worried that Prime Minister Han might be trying to scare me. But now I see that Magistrate Zhou has governed the area well."
Zhou Ling'an's smile froze even more.
He was clearly unsure whether the new crown prince was genuinely praising him or trying to probe him.
Fortunately, the greatest skill of people in officialdom is being able to handle things even when they're unsure.
"Your Highness flatters me; I am humbled. Qingcheng is but a small, insignificant county, barely able to survive thanks to the imperial court's benevolence..."
The words "barely managing" made a mental note of him.
Not bad.
This Magistrate Zhou at least had some self-awareness, knowing that Qingcheng was not a place of "political harmony and abundant harvests".
At this moment, the round-faced fat man next to him stepped forward with a smile, cupped his hands and said, "This humble citizen, Lu Yuanfeng, is a lowly merchant and gentry in this county. Hearing of Your Highness's arrival, I have prepared a small gift as a token of my respect."
As he spoke, his servants brought up two lacquer boxes.
The lacquer box wasn't big, but it looked heavy.
This is hardly a "small gift"; it is clearly the first round of tentative efforts by local powerful figures to appease the newly appointed pilot leader.
Meng Xuanzhe almost laughed at the familiar process.
Regardless of time or place, when meeting a prominent figure in a local area, the first reaction is always:
Try sending it first; if you can send it, then don't let him actually investigate.
"Master Lu is very kind." Meng Xuanzhe glanced at the box, "It's a pity that I had a very bumpy journey and didn't have a good appetite today, so I can't handle something so heavy."
Lu Yuanfeng's smile faltered.
That's a brilliant remark.
He neither directly said "Get out, I won't accept this," nor did he give him even the slightest chance to slip the gift in.
Gao Chengli, who was listening nearby, was secretly astonished.
Your Highness is speaking more and more convincingly these days.
Lu Yuanfeng, being a seasoned local, paused for a moment before immediately forcing a smile: "It was my rudeness. Let's leave it at the county office for now, and Your Highness can come later when you have time—"
"I have already said," Meng Xuanzhe said with a smile, "that I cannot accept this. If Master Lu is truly kind, he should convert this small gift into rice for the county's granary, record it in the accounts, and let the people also benefit from Master Lu's kindness."
Lu Yuanfeng: "..."
That stab was very precise.
Want to give a gift? Sure, convert it to rice, keep an account, and make it public.
In an instant, personal friendships were transformed into public donations.
Gao Chengli almost couldn't help but shout "Good!" in his heart.
Lu Yuanfeng's face twitched, and he could only lower his head and reply, "Your Highness is so righteous, this humble subject... will obey your orders."
"Okay." Meng Xuanzhe nodded, then turned his gaze to the thin old man. "And who is this?"
The old man immediately stepped forward and bowed deeply: "I am Shen, a lowly clerk, serving as the county clerk and handling the county government's accounts and documents."
really.
When Meng Xuanzhe saw his "I'm just an insignificant clerk" demeanor, he knew that this man was probably someone who really knew the ropes in the county.
This kind of old official may not hold a high position or wield much power, but he knows exactly how everyone's land is managed, which account book should be turned to which page and which shouldn't, which rice is missing on the road, and which soldiers are on the roster.
If a county truly has connections and influence, it's often not in the words of the county magistrate, but in the sleeves of people like him.
"In that case," Meng Xuanzhe said, "then I will trouble Shen, the clerk, to prepare the granary accounts, household registers, and military registers of Qingcheng County for the next three months. I need to see them."
Upon hearing this, Zhou Ling'an's smile visibly froze.
Lu Yuanfeng's eyes flickered as well.
Shen, the clerk, remained the most composed, still respectfully replying, "Yes, I will have someone tidy it up as soon as I turn around."
"Not looking back." Meng Xuanzhe raised his eyelids slightly. "It's now."
The air fell silent for a moment.
Zhou Ling'an hurriedly smiled and said, "Your Highness has come from afar and must be tired from your journey. Why don't you come into the office and rest first? I will have someone take care of the account book matter immediately. It won't take long—"
"I'm not tired," Meng Xuanzhe said. "I'm more worried about the accounts; they'll come up with something else soon."
Zhou Ling'an: "..."
That's impossible to respond to.
He couldn't tell for a moment whether the Crown Prince was joking or had already seen through something.
But there was one thing he understood—
This prince is not here to attend the banquet.
By this time, a crowd of onlookers had gathered by the city gate.
Qingcheng County was small, but news traveled fast. The moment word of the Crown Prince's arrival entered the town, it spread like wildfire, bubbling everywhere. The people dared not get too close, watching from afar as if they were watching a mythical beast that had come to pray for blessings or to demolish houses.
Meng Xuanzhe didn't linger and headed straight for the county government office.
The county government office wasn't too dilapidated; it had all the necessary features, including the lintel, ceremonial gate, and passageway. However, once inside, the feeling that "everything was still there, but everything felt like it was just made do" became apparent.
The paint on the pillars has faded and worn.
Grass grows in the cracks between the bricks in the yard.
The desk was polished to a fairly high shine, but there was a chip on the corner, as if no one had really replaced it in a long time.
What's even more amusing is that the guards at the door of the duty room were all standing very loosely, but when they saw the Crown Prince come in, they hurriedly straightened themselves up.
The spirit and energy of a county are often reflected in this.
You don't need to check the accounts or inspect the warehouses; just by looking at how the people at the entrance stand, you can roughly tell what this place usually relies on to operate.
Clearly, Qingcheng County's success is not based on discipline.
It's mostly a habit.
Upon entering the main hall, Zhou Ling'an immediately ordered people to serve tea, change cushions, and add ice basins, demonstrating a very skilled hospitality routine. Meng Xuanzhe, however, did not sit on the soft cushion specially laid out for him next to the main seat. Instead, he went straight to the desk and casually flipped through the several files spread out on it.
The paper pages are replaced.
The characters are also neat.
It's clear that the county government wanted to put on a show.
Unfortunately, it wasn't detailed enough.
Meng Xuanzhe casually picked up a book, which was a recent disaster report. It read, "Although the people are somewhat uneasy, the grain reserves are still sufficient and the situation is not critical." After reading it, he put it down and picked up another book, which read, "The military households' pensions have been verified and are awaiting disbursement from higher authorities."
well.
The handwriting is beautiful.
It was so beautiful that it reminded him of a phrase: high-class nonsense.
"Magistrate Zhou," he said, placing the booklet on the table, "your handwriting is quite good."
Zhou Ling'an quickly smiled apologetically: "These are just routine tidying up by your subordinates; they are hardly worthy of Your Highness's approval."
"The characters are beautiful," Meng Xuanzhe nodded, "but his fate was rather unlucky; he just happened to write them on lies."
The air in the hall suddenly froze.
Gu Chengyan's eyelids twitched slightly, but he lowered his head and remained silent.
Gao Chengli thought to himself, "Oh dear," thinking that His Highness's knife was too swift; before he could even drink a sip of tea, half of his face had been torn off.
The smile on Zhou Ling'an's face almost shattered on the spot.
"Your Highness, why do you say that? If I have been negligent in any way—"
"It's not that it's not thoughtful," Meng Xuanzhe interrupted him, "it's too thoughtful. So thoughtful that you can tell at a glance that these things are specifically for my preparation, not for everyday use."
He raised his hand and patted the two volumes of documents.
"I don't like reading newly copied texts."
"Bring me the old debts."
This time, Zhou Ling'an really couldn't hold on any longer.
He had originally hoped that the Crown Prince, being young, could first be appeased with the superficial gestures of the county government, and then he could slowly observe and maneuver along, perhaps delaying the most unsightly issues. But he never expected that the prince, upon landing, wouldn't even give him half a day to adjust before immediately demanding old grievances.
Are old accounts something that can be shown to just anyone?
Old grievances are like the ashes that have accumulated under the stove for three years—if you don't usually look at them, you can pretend there's no smell in the house; but once you do, it's no wonder they choke you.
"Your Highness," Zhou Ling'an said, forcing a smile, "the old accounts are scattered and messy, and I fear they will offend your eyes. Perhaps I could excuse you—"
"Didn't I come to Qingcheng just to offend your eyes?" Meng Xuanzhe said indifferently.
This seemingly ordinary statement completely stumped Zhou Ling'an.
Yes.
The Crown Prince was thrown into Qingcheng just to take over a mess, wasn't he?
They've already taken on a mess, what's there to complain about?
Lu Yuanfeng watched for a long time before finally understanding.
This new crown prince is unlike the nobles who used to come to the regions for "inspection".
In the past, people preferred to see neat and respectable structures, memorial arches for filial piety and brotherly love, and plaques for charitable granaries. Ideally, they'd also like to see a few commoners crying and expressing their gratitude to their officials. If you really asked them to dig up old accounts, smell moldy granaries, or check military registers, most of them would find it tedious after flipping through a couple of pages.
But this one isn't.
This man's eyes seemed to always be looking into the corners of the room, under the stove, and between the pages of the ledger.
They specifically target the dirty.
This is troublesome.
Lu Yuanfeng's eyes darted around, and he was just about to find a reason to change the subject when a constable suddenly came to report:
"Your Excellency, the granary official reports that the keys haven't been collected yet and we'll have to wait a bit—"
Before he could finish speaking, Meng Xuanzhe raised his eyes.
"What key?"
The constable hesitated for a moment: "The key to the... the government granary..."
"When did I say I was going to the warehouse?"
The constable was stunned.
Zhou Ling'an's heart skipped a beat.
broken.
I spoke too quickly.
They had already secretly sent a message to the warehouse department, telling them to quickly tidy up the storefront, repair what needed repairing, and move what needed moving. But they didn't expect that the Crown Prince hadn't even mentioned inspecting the warehouse yet, and they had already exposed themselves.
This is very awkward.
It's like you were trying to pretend you didn't steal the meat, but the first thing you said was, "I didn't eat that piece of meat."
The hall fell into a deathly silence.
Meng Xuanzhe looked at Zhou Ling'an and suddenly smiled.
"Magistrate Zhou," he said slowly, "I really want to go and take a look at the granary now."
Zhou Ling'an's back was immediately covered in sweat.
Meng Xuanzhe gave him no further chance to refuse, turning to instruct, "Gu Chengyan, write this down. In Qingcheng County, before the Crown Prince even mentioned inspecting the granaries, the granary administration has already descended into chaos."
"Yes."
Gu Chengyan picked up his pen and began to write, the words flowing swiftly and without the slightest hesitation.
Shen Bushu stood to the side, his eyes twitching as he watched.
He had initially thought that even if the crown prince was difficult to deal with, he would at least say a few words to appease the situation before slowly going through the items. But now it seemed that the issue wasn't whether the prince was slow or not, but that he had no intention of following the usual path at all.
This is hardly a training exercise.
This is clearly a case of someone coming to tear down the wall.
Moreover, he was holding a ruler, disassembling each section and noting it down.
Meng Xuanzhe had already turned and walked out.
"lead the way."
Zhou Ling'an panicked and hurriedly chased after him: "Your Highness, the warehouse is messy and dusty. Why don't we tidy it up a bit first—"
"Then we should watch it even more." Meng Xuanzhe continued walking. "What I fear most is not its chaos, but its perfect chaos, as if it were specially prepared for me to see."
Gao Chengli followed behind, and seeing the magistrate's face turn green, a strange sense of pleasure suddenly arose in his heart.
The people from Qingcheng County had just tried to deceive the Crown Prince with smiles and gift boxes at the city gate, but in the blink of an eye, before His Highness had even settled in, they had already been forced to expose themselves.
How should I put it...?
It's like someone bringing a new broom into an old, run-down house; before the first broom even hits the ground, the dust has already started to rise up.
The group walked through the side corridor toward the warehouse.
Along the way, Meng Xuanzhe saw things that became increasingly interesting.
There were old, moldy books piled up at the entrance of the duty room, as if no one had taken the time to clean them up for years.
When the constables saw them, they hurriedly stood up straight, but their eyes subconsciously looked at Shen Bushu and Zhou Ling'an first, rather than at the Crown Prince;
In another corner of the courtyard, several bundles of obviously high-quality new grains were drying, but they were not being stored away, as if they were waiting for some explanation.
The more Meng Xuanzhe looked, the more reassured he felt.
What's stable isn't the overall situation.
It is a judgment.
The problem in Qingcheng County is not that a single place suddenly collapsed.
It's the entire operating logic; we've long been accustomed to living this leaky and unpredictable life.
What's the most frightening thing about this kind of place?
What I fear most is someone from outside who refuses to pretend they can't see me.
Unfortunately.
That's him.
Kuraji has arrived.
The door was an old wooden door, the brass rings somewhat blackened. A minor warehouse clerk stood at the door, his face as pale as if he had just swallowed half a book of incorrect accounts. Beside him stood two other people, each clutching a bunch of keys as if they were their ancestral tablets.
Meng Xuanzhe stopped, glanced at the door, and then at the faces that clearly said "it's all over."
"Go ahead," he said.
Nobody moved.
The granary clerk knelt down with a thud, his voice trembling: "Your Highness, the granary has indeed been a bit damp lately, and I'm afraid it might harm your health. Please allow me to go in and tidy it up first—"
Meng Xuanzhe looked at him and smiled.
"Now you know you're afraid of harming your health?"
"The porridge at the city gate last night wasn't this elaborate."
After saying that, he stopped talking and walked towards the door.
Two guards immediately stepped forward and reached out to snatch the key.
The clerk in charge of the warehouse was almost in tears. He loosened his grip, and the key clattered to the ground, as if what was locked behind that door wasn't the warehouse, but his fate for the rest of his life.
Zhou Ling'an looked ashen.
Lu Yuanfeng's eyes darkened.
Shen Bushu lowered his head and silently took half a step back.
He knew it was open.
The warehouse door wasn't opened.
It seems the lid on Qingcheng County is about to be lifted.
The brass lock clicked open.
The door slowly opened.
A musty, damp smell mixed with the aroma of grain wafted over.
Meng Xuanzhe stood at the door and glanced inside.
The next moment, his eyes darkened slightly, and he suddenly smiled.
The smile was very faint, yet it sent chills down the spines of the people around him.
He pointed to the warehouse, his voice not loud:
"Magistrate Zhou."
"Now I finally understand why you were in such a hurry to collect all the keys."
He took a step forward, his shoes crunching through the dust on the threshold, his gaze falling on the rows of seemingly full but clearly problematic grain bins in the warehouse.
"This warehouse—"
He paused, and the smile on his lips finally vanished completely.
"It's not just empty anymore."
"Even how empty it is, I've almost turned it into an article."