Chapter 90: Interrogation
Editor: Atlas Studios
Mu Yangling broke free from Mu Shi’s hand and pushed through the crowd to stop the person who was about to take out his title deed. Looking at Magistrate Wu with bright eyes, she raised her voice to ask, “Magistrate, forgive me for being impudent, but I really have some questions to ask you. As the magistrate, you’re supposed to be like our parent. We can empathize with you and don’t dare to ask you to treat us like your children. All we want is a fair and honest treatment.”
Then, without waiting for Wu Shancai to answer, she continued solemnly, “Sir, although I’m ignorant, I know that every prefecture and even every county has a warehouse storing relief grains. Every autumn harvest, the old grains would be replaced with new ones, and the old grains would be sold. If Mingshui County’s defense is breached, even if the relief grain warehouse is robbed, there will still be the grain warehouses of the two subordinate counties. Furthermore, the relief grain warehouse of the prefectural capital is three times that of the county. Even if the other prefectures and counties are unwilling to lend Mingshui County grains, the prefectural capital should take out some to help the refugees. Why are we the commoners asked to mortgage our land deeds in exchange for grains? Then where did the tax grains we paid in the past go?”
As soon as this was said, everyone looked at Wu Shancai suspiciously.
‘That’s right! There’s still grains in the grain warehouse. Grains that came from us. Why isn’t he taking them out?’
Wu Shancai’s expression did not change. Minister Liu, who was standing beside him, took a step forward and scolded, “Ignorant child, hurry up and leave. How can you be so impudent in front of the magistrate? What are you waiting for? Quickly chase her away.”
“Minister Liu is right. I’m indeed ignorant. That’s why I’m asking the magistrate. As Old Sage Kong says, ‘If you don’t know, you have to ask. Otherwise, you’ll never know if you don’t learn’. Besides, the magistrate loves the subjects as if they were his own children. Why would a minister like you exceed your authority when he hasn’t even chased me away?” Mu Yangling looked at him sharply and glanced around. “But I also have a few words to ask Minister Liu and the other Minister Counselors.”
“Young lady.” Magistrate Wu interrupted her with a smile. “If you have any questions, you can ask me in private. Let’s not waste everyone’s time. You have to know that their families are still waiting for them to bring back the grains.” As he spoke, he sighed sadly. “It’s my incompetence that didn’t allow the people under my rule to live and work in peace.”
“Magistrate Wu, what I’m asking is related to everyone present. I believe they also want to know. How am I wasting anyone’s time? As for the incompetence you mentioned, that’s finally something truthful that came out of you.” Ignoring his pale face, Mu Yangling continued, “I heard that the county magistrate who fled Mingshui County, Qian Shu, is your favorite disciple. Back then, it was you who recommended him to be promoted to county magistrate. He abandoned the city and fled, leaving the citizens to fend for themselves. I heard that he’s hiding in your residence now. I wonder how you plan to deal with him?”
“Also, Magistrate Wu said that the Minister Counselors are lending us their stored grains out of the kindness of their hearts. However, we don’t know how much the interest on the borrowed grains is, and when we’re required to finish repaying. After we mortgage the land deed, will the land belong to us or the masters? When will the land deed be returned to us? When spring comes, do we get to farm our land, or are the masters going to use these lands? Before you explain these things clearly, we don’t dare to borrow the grains.”
As she spoke, she smiled. “However, since our prefectural capital has a relief grains warehouse, we might not need to mortgage our title deed in exchange for grains.”
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone put away their title deed and begged, “Sir, we’re at the end of our rope. Please take pity on us and open the warehouse to provide disaster relief.”
“That’s right. It’s understandable that Mingshui County has no grains since its defense has been breached, but the prefectural capital and other county cities’ defense has held. Sir, you can’t leave us to perish.”
Wu Shancai said loudly, “Fellow villagers, I know that it’s difficult for everyone, but the grains in this food relief warehouse are meant to deal with natural disasters. Without the imperial court’s decree, I don’t dare to open it. The best course of action now is for everyone to mortgage their title deed first. Meanwhile, I’ll immediately write a letter to request for the opening of the grains relief warehouse. How’s that?”
With Mu Yangling’s lead, a few elders stood up and asked, “Sir, before we mortgage our title deed, please answer this young lady’s questions. We also want to know the answers. In addition, must we return the grains next autumn or do we have a few years’ grace? Sir, you also know that we poor commoners rely on the heavens to survive. We have no idea if the heavens will bless us with good weather next year. I doubt we can finish repaying within one year! Since this land is our lifeblood, it’s better for you to make things clear to us.”
The expressions of the squires standing behind Wu Shancai sank. Minister He snorted coldly and said, “We’re lending you grains to let you live out of the goodness of our hearts, but you’re interrogating us instead.” With that, he flung his sleeves and said, “Whether to borrow or not, it’s your choice.” With that, he cupped his fists at Wu Shancai and said, “Magistrate Wu, we’re only willing to lend them grains on your account. Since they don’t appreciate it, there’s no need for us to be annoying here. Men, raise the tables. Let’s go.”
After exchanging a look, the other Minister Counselors also instructed their servants to pack up the tables and chairs and leave. Everyone couldn’t help but panic, fearing that they wouldn’t have any grains to eat if they left. It had to be known that they had been hungry for a long time. They might be able to withstand the hunger for a few more days, but their parents, wives, and children couldn’t take it anymore.
“Sir, our questions aren’t difficult. Why are you and the masters unwilling to answer? Or is it really as the outside world says? Did you collude with the masters to plot against us to obtain our title deeds?” A burly man stepped forward and shouted.
Wu Shancai pointed at them with a trembling finger. “Unruly commoners! Unruly commoners! A group of unruly commoners! Everything I did, I did it for you. Yet here you are, slandering and insulting me like this. Men, arrest them. Arrest them all!”
Mu Yangling said with a smile, “Sir, you’re so muddle-headed. Don’t you know the law that even a nine-year-old child like me knows? Emperor Shizong once legislated that officials are not allowed to punish the people for their speech. We’re just asking you a few questions. Not only did you not answer, but you’re also punishing us? Do you not want to answer, or are you unable to?”
“That’s right. Can’t I scold a mere magistrate like you when I even dare to scold the emperor?” An old woman walked out with a walking stick and said, “These masters don’t have to scare us. There are tens of thousands of refugees affected. Surely the magistrate can’t let all of us starve to death?”
“Cut the crap. You just have to tell us if there are grains in the relief grain warehouse. Although we’re uneducated, we know that one should be adaptable in times of emergency. I don’t have any housing land nor farmland. Although I am strong, I don’t wish to become a slave. Besides, we have also paid a lot of tax grains in the past years. Just tell us if you’re going to open the warehouse.” A burly man asked Wu Shancai aggressively.
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone cheered. Who would be willing to mortgage their title deed if they could receive grains for free? They all surrounded Magistrate Wu and demanded an explanation.
Wu Shancai was furious, yet he could not do anything to these unruly people. He could not help but blame Emperor Shizong in his heart. Back then, when he wrote the legislation, he was too tolerant of these unruly people. Now, they could not be beaten nor arrested.
Seeing this, Advisor Huang said in a low voice, “Sir, let’s avoid them for the time being. Let them starve for another two days and they’ll know how to behave.”
Wu Shancai snorted and glared at Mu Yangling, then turned around and flung his sleeves. “Chase them away. Go and find out who that child is.”