In the main hall of the Ministry of Justice, the Minister was interrogating the personnel involved in the case.
Since the issue lay with the government salt, the Salt Transport Commissioner was inextricably linked to the matter, no matter how one looked at it. Under the Minister’s relentless questioning, he wept piteously, tears and snot streaming down his face, yet he provided no useful information.
The Crown Prince and the others had been sitting in attendance for two days. Having found no leads, they were feeling irritable and stifled.
Ye Zhao fanned himself rhythmically with his folding fan. His expression remained unreadable, but a sense of frustration was brewing in his heart.
The Minister of Justice appeared composed, showing no signs of haste. Clearly, having handled many cases, he possessed ample patience.
However, Ye Zhao did not wish to waste any more time. He stood up and cupped his hands. "Lord Minister, may I ask him a few questions?"
As someone personally appointed by the Emperor to assist, asking a few questions was only natural. After a brief moment of consideration, the Minister nodded. "Very well."
Ye Zhao then turned around, moved a chair directly in front of the kneeling man, and sat down with total composure.
The others were taken aback. The Salt Transport Commissioner, seeing this young man seat himself right before him, also froze, his expression mirroring the confusion of the onlookers.
"Tell me, how many official salt production sites are there in the State of Wei?"
The Salt Transport Commissioner was a slightly portly, middle-aged man. To have remained safely in this position for nearly ten years, he might not have been brilliant, but he certainly wasn't stupid. Unable to gauge the identity of the young man before him, he instinctively asked, "And you are...?"
*Smack!*
The sound of a fan striking a face rang out.
A red mark visibly appeared on the Commissioner’s pale, fleshy cheek.
He was stunned.
Immediately after, Ye Zhao’s voice sank low. "I am the one questioning you. Since when was it your turn to question me? Answer what you are asked. My patience is limited."
The others gasped.
Once the Salt Transport Commissioner regained his senses, he flared up in sudden rage. "You dare—!"
*Smack!*
Ye Zhao proved that he dared exactly that.
He sat as steady as Mount Tai, his eyes not even blinking as his hand whipped back for another strike.
"Speak!"
"You actually dare to hit me?" The Commissioner was incredulous. He wondered which high official’s profligate son this was.
Ye Zhao didn't strike him again this time. His gaze lingered on the man for two seconds. "Someone, drag him out and execute him."
The Crown Prince and the two princes were startled. The Minister of Justice instinctively stood up. "Ye Zhao!"
As a second-rank official of the court, even if the Salt Transport Commissioner were to be executed, it would require a personal decree from Emperor Wei.
Yet, the Yulin Guards outside actually followed the order and marched in. Seeing that he was truly about to be dragged out, the Commissioner finally broke. "Wait... Wait! I am a second-rank official of the court! You cannot kill me!"
Ye Zhao acted as if he hadn't heard a word. His expression didn't shift in the slightest, projecting a peerless coldness that seemed to say, *Watch me and see if I can kill you.*
"Ye Zhao! What are you doing!" The Minister of Justice shouted in annoyance, not expecting the youth to actually attempt an execution.
Was this Ye Zhao sent to help or to cause chaos?
The Crown Prince also spoke up. "Ye Zhao, do not be hasty. The matter has not been fully interrogated yet."
Prince Rong said nothing, though a faint look of approval seemed to flicker in his eyes.
Ye Zhao glanced indifferently at the Crown Prince and said unhurriedly, "I have heard enough of his nonsense. We can audit the ledgers ourselves. If that is the case, what use is there in keeping him?"
"No, no, no! I am useful! I am useful!" The Salt Transport Commissioner clung to the doorframe, refusing to let go. He finally realized who the person before him was and saw that he truly dared to kill him. Most bizarrely, the Yulin Guards were actually obeying his command!
In truth, Ye Zhao was only saying it to scare him; he hadn't expected anyone to actually follow his order. But since things had reached this point, he had to keep up the act.
He only hoped that someone would come along to persuade him otherwise.
Fortunately, someone arrived at that moment.
"Ye Zhao? What is going on here...?" Song He had just reached the main entrance. Seeing the scene, he stood rooted to the spot, his face filled with confusion.
"Lord Song! Lord Song! Save me!"
Song He glanced at the man pinned to the ground. It took him a long moment to recognize who it was. He asked suspiciously, "What happened to you?"
In terms of friendship, the two didn't have much, just the usual interactions within officialdom. He had only asked out of curiosity, but the other man immediately poured out the entire story.
After listening, the expression of Minister of Works Song He was as follows:
"..."
"?!"
Whatever he was thinking, he went from stunned to suspicious and uncertain. He looked at Ye Zhao with a bizarre expression—every emotion was present except for sympathy or pity for the Salt Transport Commissioner.
"Lord Song? Why have you come...?" the Crown Prince asked.
Only then did Song He shift his gaze away from Ye Zhao. Regaining his composure, he bowed to the Crown Prince and the others. "Oh, this old official heard of the case and came to take a look after finishing my shift..."
Having said that, he gave a reminder to the Salt Transport Commissioner, who was waiting desperately for a lifeline: "This case is of great importance. Do not speak any more nonsense. Just answer Young Master Ye’s questions honestly."
Song He looked at Ye Zhao as if pleading for mercy.
Ye Zhao thought: *Of course I’ll take this exit! Otherwise, was I really going to have him dragged out and beheaded?*
Though that was his thought, his face remained impassive. He sat back down unhurriedly.
The intent was clear.
Knowing he had escaped death, the Salt Transport Commissioner was moved to tears by Song He’s intervention. Just as he was about to offer words of gratitude, he saw Ye Zhao’s cold, clear gaze sweep over Song He. Though no words were spoken, everyone present felt the underlying meaning.
The Commissioner shuddered. He scrambled over and knelt properly before Ye Zhao.
The question Ye Zhao had asked earlier immediately flashed through his mind, and he answered hurriedly, "The official salt of Wei has one major production site in Yingzhou. Besides that, there are Yangzhou and Pingzhou."
The Minister of Justice and the others sat back down, even arranging a seat for Song He to watch the proceedings.
Ye Zhao asked, "Only these three sites produce official salt?"
"Yes." The Salt Transport Commissioner felt a secret sense of relief, understanding that the youth’s willingness to speak meant he was truly letting him off the hook for now.
Ye Zhao remained expressionless. "I have already reviewed the ledgers for the salt production, output, and transaction volumes of these three regions over the past years."
The Commissioner’s heart leaped into his throat.
"Mhm, there are no problems."
*No problems is good, no problems is good...*
The Commissioner’s nerves were stretched tight, his heart fluctuating with the youth’s ambiguous tone.
"Then where did this extra salt sold to Xiaofeng come from?" Ye Zhao continued, seemingly murmuring to himself in thought. No one answered him.
The Commissioner was even more tense, not daring to let his mind wander for a second.
The hall was so quiet that only the sound of breathing could be heard. After a long while, Ye Zhao said, "Once official salt is produced, there are only a few channels for distribution. First, transactions with legitimate merchants to flow into the civilian market; second, transport to local government offices to supplement public needs; and third, military supplies."
"Of course, there is a fourth channel." Ye Zhao leaned down, lowering his head to smile at the man before him. "And that is you falsely reporting the actual salt volume, embezzling a portion to sell on the black market."
*Gasp!*
The Salt Transport Commissioner was instantly terrified, shaking his head repeatedly. "No, no, no! How would this lowly official dare!"
Straightening his back, Ye Zhao said nonchalantly, "Of course you wouldn't dare to be so blatant. But if the transaction volumes are correct, then there must be a problem with the transaction partners. You cooperate with one or two merchants, intentionally recording a smaller transaction volume this time, while actually selling the surplus salt to the black market. Then, you use the money gained to create a dummy transaction. This way, the salt numbers match up, and you can pocket the price difference. How about it? Isn't it quite profitable?"
The price of salt on the black market was higher than the market price. The reason it was profitable was simply the advantage of scarcity. Because some places were remote and legitimate salt merchants were unwilling to go there for meager profits, these black-hearted smugglers were able to charge a high price.
The Salt Transport Commissioner trembled, his face deathly pale. He hurriedly prostrated himself, his voice shaking. "This lowly official... this lowly official..."
Ye Zhao smiled and finished his sentence for him: "You want to say that you haven't done this sort of thing many times, right?"
"Young Master... Young Master Ye, I... I really didn't embezzle much!"
The position of Salt Transport Commissioner was a lucrative one. Many used such methods to skim off the top. He usually didn't dare to be too greedy, only daring to make some small change. He never expected Ye Zhao to expose the truth in a single sentence. At this moment, he was both regretful and terrified.
The smile on Ye Zhao’s face vanished. He said sternly, "I do not need to know how much you have earned through these petty tricks over the years. I only know that you have committed this crime, and being punished according to the law is the only outcome."
"Young Master... Young Master Ye..."
"Shut up." The Commissioner wanted to beg for mercy again, but Ye Zhao’s fan came down once more.
"Have you conducted transactions using these methods with any officials in the court?"
"No... no."
"Still not telling the truth?" Ye Zhao raised an eyebrow slightly, and the fan in his hand came down again.
The Commissioner was ready to weep but had no tears. "This lowly official truly hasn't! Doing that would be like handing one's own weakness to someone else on a silver platter!"
Ye Zhao thought about it; that seemed to make sense. However, his hesitation lasted only a moment. With a profound expression, he said, "You naturally wouldn't take that risk with those who have real power. But there are always small fry who come to you for cooperation, aren't there?"
The weight of those last few words made the Commissioner’s body go numb.
He was too terrified to speak, cold sweat pouring down his forehead. He tried to struggle one last time, forcing out a smile. "You certainly know how to joke. What profit could I possibly gain from cooperating with them?"
Heh...
Ye Zhao laughed. Just as the Commissioner thought he might have escaped, the fan struck his face again in the next second.
"You tell me. Do you not know what you gained?"
Ye Zhao leaned against the back of the chair, lowering his eyelids to look down at him. "Write the list for me. If there was money to be made together, then naturally, the punishment must be shared as well. Or do you intend to bear all these bitter fruits alone?"
That single look made it seem as though everything was already within his grasp.
The Salt Transport Commissioner knew this matter had been uncovered; he likely wouldn't meet a good end. He lowered his head, shrinking his neck. After a long while, he whispered a response. "...Yes."
*Hmm?*
Ye Zhao thought to himself: *There really are accomplices in the court?*
He had only seen that the man had confessed to the previous matter, so he had dared to try a higher-level "partner" to bluff him.
Ye Zhao’s guesses were hitting the mark every time, causing the Minister of Justice and the others to look at one another, the surprise clear in their eyes.
Ye Zhao lowered his eyelids and added, "However, this current incident truly wasn't caused by your petty greed."
That volume of salt wasn't something that could be moved through such small-scale dealings.
*Eh?*
The others were stunned, not understanding why Ye Zhao’s tone had shifted again.
But regardless, the Salt Transport Commissioner was happy. He wanted as few charges against him as possible; he didn't want to lose his life over this.
"I ask you, besides the channels I mentioned earlier, are there any other ways salt can be distributed?"
The Commissioner immediately replied, "None!"
Ye Zhao didn't believe him. "Truly none?"
"Truly none!"
Ye Zhao carefully observed his reaction. "You oversee salt transport. Have you never provided any convenience in salt matters to officials you are close with in the court?"
The man paused. Seeing this reaction, Ye Zhao struck him again with the fan and barked, "Confess the truth at once!"
He had learned this line from Lord Chen a few days ago and felt it sounded quite imposing.
The Commissioner felt wronged. Covering his face, he poured out all the old personal matters he could remember. "There were some... it was just lowering the price for salt merchants associated with their families, and some formal conveniences. Besides that, nothing else."
In other words, he had just given his friends a "friendship price" for buying salt. This truly wasn't a major issue.
But Ye Zhao had dug even this out. The Salt Transport Commissioner felt as though his very foundation had been stripped bare.
Ye Zhao said calmly, "Write me a list of the officials who have sent you gifts over the past ten years, ranked from highest to lowest based on the total value of the gifts accumulated. You know what I mean."
He gave the man a faint glance.
Caught off guard, the Commissioner looked up and met that gaze.
Fine, now every last bit of his secrets was gone...
His heart felt like dead ashes...
The Commissioner could already foresee that even if he survived this ordeal, those former "friends" would likely beat him to death.
Ye Zhao acted as if he didn't see the man’s miserable expression. He stood up calmly, straightened his robes, and suddenly turned back. "Oh, right..."
The Commissioner’s heart jumped. He was beyond nervous, only hoping this ancestor wouldn't say anything else life-threatening.
His secrets were truly, completely gone!!!
Ye Zhao said with a smile, "Include the marital connections between your family and court officials, within five generations. Write them all down for me. Naturally, I want both the public ones and the hidden ones. After all, the Yulin Guards cannot truly be expected to be perfectly thorough."
Seeing that smile, the Commissioner’s face turned as white as a wall. His shoulders slumped, and he collapsed onto the floor, looking like a figure from a black-and-white film.
His current mood could only be described as having swallowed arsenic.
What did "public" mean? What did "hidden" mean?
It meant that even those concubines and mistresses kept in the shadows, not officially acknowledged, had to be written down.
By the time the Salt Transport Commissioner tremblingly finished writing, he had only one thought: *Fortunately, my family won't see this, or there would be no peace in my house!*
As for those colleagues whose names he had listed, at this moment, he could only say: *When disaster strikes, it's every man for himself. My apologies.*
***
Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation
--- | --- | ---
瀛洲 | Yingzhou | A major salt-producing region.
洋洲 | Yangzhou | A salt-producing region.
平洲 | Pingzhou | A salt-producing region.
盐运使 | Salt Transport Commissioner | An official in charge of the salt trade and transport.
工部尚书 | Minister of Works | Head of the Ministry of Works.
