Seeking Truth with a Sword-Chapter 513 - 464: Nobel Family

Chapter 513: Chapter 464: Nobel Family
"Is this the result of your efforts to prevent the plague?"
In the hall, Li Ang slammed a thick stack of papers on the table, looking at the sweat-drenched Taiyuan Governor before him, and scoffed, "One million strings of coins were allocated to control the plague. The Taiyuan Government spent six thousand strings to import fifty Jianzhou Cats of superior breed, known to be exceptionally good at catching rats. They claimed this would improve the local cat breed for more efficient rat catching. Within three days, these cats succumbed to the local conditions, contracted the plague, and all died. Did they die, or did they never arrive in Taiyuan Prefecture in the first place?"
"This..."
The usually high and mighty Taiyuan Governor was now trembling with fear, not daring to breathe, stammering, "It’s the people below... they were audacious..."
"And what about this?"
Li Ang picked up another bill and coldly said, "The residences in various Government Offices are too old and rat-infested, making them difficult to clear. To ensure the efficiency of Government Office work and prevent officials from falling ill before the common people, thus being unable to serve the public, another twenty thousand strings were spent. This sum was used to hire Cultivators for urgent renovations of the Government Offices and to purchase expensive nanmu furniture, purported to repel mosquitoes and insects. Was this also a reckless decision made by your subordinates without authorization?"
"The undersigned, the undersigned..."
The Taiyuan Governor frantically wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, unable to utter a word.
"To store emergency supplies, a large storage facility was built, complete with cold storage talisman boards. After the warehouse was completed, design flaws were discovered, posing a risk of collapse, necessitating demolition and reconstruction. How much extra money was spent, and whose pockets did it fall into?"
Li Ang pressed on, not letting the governor off the hook. "A warehouse was built, needing staff for transportation and supervision, so more money was spent to hire ’talents’ from the public. And these so-called talents just happened to be related to the officials in the Taiyuan Government.
"To exterminate the rats outside the city, they conducted field research, declaring fertile farmland to be sources of rat infestation. They burned the crops in the fields, forcing the landowners to sell their lands at low prices before they would desist.
"To appease public sentiment, large sums were spent to hire Daoists. These Daoists held a three-day and three-night ritual assembly at the Medicine King Temple to disperse the Plague Demon. They also sold paintings of the Plague Demon for twenty or thirty coins each, telling the common people to buy them to burn at home, claiming this would ensure their homes’ safety.
"Inventing various pretexts, they involved rich merchants and aristocratic families to donate money and goods to contain the plague. The money from the wealthy was returned in full, while the common people’s money was divided seventy-thirty, with officials taking seventy percent."
With every incident Li Ang mentioned, the Taiyuan Governor’s face turned a shade paler, and his figure wobbled as if he might collapse, barely able to stand.
"You don’t have the courage to contain the plague, but you do have the courage to amass wealth under the guise of containing it—and quite a lot of it, too."
Li Ang looked at him dispassionately. "Tell me, how should I deal with you?"
"Observer Li, Observer Li,"
The once-powerful Taiyuan Governor suddenly fell to his knees with a thump, his voice trembling. "It is the undersigned’s fault. The undersigned has only been the Taiyuan Governor for a year and is still unfamiliar with the local situation, unable to command the officials below or give orders to the local powerhouses. This has led to grave mistakes."
"I know that if you hadn’t taken office just over half a year ago, I would have stripped you of your position during the day. I wouldn’t have waited until now," Li Ang said calmly. "Nevertheless, you are the governor. Taiyuan is incompetent, and you failed to what you knew. You cannot be absolved of responsibility. After this matter, I will submit a proposal to the court suggesting they send you to Leizhou, Yazhou, or Liuqiu for a few years of ’refinement.’ Get up."
Leizhou and Yazhou, located at the southernmost tip of Yu Country, had a hot climate and were rife with venomous insects and snakes. Of the officials banished there, three or four out of ten died in service.
However, no matter how terrifying, it was better than being made a harsh example of now.
The governor, as if granted a great pardon, unsteadily rose from the ground, not daring to look directly at Li Ang.
At this moment, a servant knocked on the door from outside. "Observer Li, Wang Bo Fan of the Taiyuan Wang Family requests an audience."
Li Ang glanced at the Taiyuan Governor, who quickly explained in a low voice, "Wang Bo Fan is a candidate for the next Clan Chief of the Taiyuan Wang Family; he holds no official position."
Hmph.
Li Ang sneered. It was often said that Taiyuan belonged to the Wang Family. Here he was, trying to stop the plague in Taiyuan, yet he couldn’t avoid dealing with the noble family.
"Let him in."
Li Ang poured himself a cup of cold tea and drank it in one gulp to keep himself alert.
After a moment, Wang Bo Fan walked into the hall with measured steps and bowed respectfully. "Wang Bo Fan of the Taiyuan Wang Family greets Observer Li."
Li Ang put on a smile. "It’s quite late. What important matter brings Wang Jushi here?"
Wang Bo Fan, who had overheard the reprimand from outside the door, began with some pleasantries to try and establish a connection.
For instance, Li Ang’s instructor at the Academic Palace, Doctor Wang Wenlun of national history, was from the Taiyuan Wang Family.
Li Ang’s classmate at the Academic Palace, Pei Jing, also had a mother from the Taiyuan Wang Family.
Li Ang’s teacher, Pu Liuxuan, had even been roommates with Wang Bo Fan’s elder brother when they were students at the Academic Palace, though that Wang Family member had died of illness years ago.
The upper echelons of Yu Country’s society were neither too large nor too small. If one really wanted to make connections, one could always find some sort of family tie.
As Li Ang and Wang Bo Fan exchanged small talk, Li Ang gradually lost patience, his expression growing colder. "Wang Jushi, my time is limited. If you have something to say, please be direct."
"It’s like this," Wang Bo Fan paused, then continued, "Taiyuan Prefecture is the heart of Hedong Road and the transportation hub for the regions inside the pass and Hebei Dao. It absolutely cannot fall to the plague. My Wang Family is willing to donate two million strings of coins in money and materials. We can also dispatch manpower, including Cultivators, to assist the Taiyuan Government in containing the plague. However, our family residence is densely populated with clan members, and I fear it may become a target for the plague. Therefore, I earnestly request that Observer Li issue a certificate allowing the Wang Family members to leave the city first..."
"I do not allow it," Li Ang suddenly stated.
"What?" Wang Bo Fan blurted out, not immediately comprehending.
"I said, I do not allow it," Li Ang repeated calmly. "It’s very good that the Wang Family is willing to donate money and materials. But your Wang Family wanting to flee Taiyuan Prefecture—that, I do not accept."
"Why?" Wang Bo Fan asked anxiously. "The Wang Family strictly adheres to the plague prevention strategy and is more proactive in exterminating the rat problem than any other family in the city."
Li Ang raised one finger. "First, the city lockdown applies to the entire city. Common people and noble families are to be treated equally. How can we be strict with the common people, enforcing tight controls, while turning a blind eye to the noble families?"
He raised a second finger. "Secondly, the plague does not distinguish between rich and poor. Members of noble families can also become infected. Letting people leave would only increase the possibility of the plague spreading."
"As for the third point," Li Ang said, raising his third finger.
"The Wang Family belongs to Taiyuan, and Taiyuan belongs to the Wang Family. I already submitted a to the court half a month ago and published an article in the newspapers detailing the strategy to contain the plague. If the corrupt and incompetent Taiyuan Government officials bear four-tenths of the responsibility for Taiyuan’s current dire state, then the remaining six-tenths lie with you—the thousand-year-old noble families entrenched in local affairs, disregarding the court’s orders."
Wang Bo Fan still wanted to argue, but Li Ang cut him off. "Fourteen days ago, after newspapers published that the source of the plague was rats and marmots, your Wang Family’s business continued to transport several carriages of fur via Spiritual Energy Locomotive to other regions. They removed the Wang Family business’s labels and sold the furs at a discounted price.
"Ten days ago, a merchant from another region who had dealings with your Wang Family’s business coughed up blood, suspected of having the plague. You secretly rushed him out of the city that night. Furthermore, you moved those in your family who had contact with him out of the city and isolated them privately, all without ing the situation.
"Seven days ago, a Doctor claimed that a vegetable farmer who delivered vegetables to your Wang Family’s Prince Manor died suddenly, his death suspected to be from the plague. That very night, his house was set on fire. He himself was beaten unconscious by a gang of unidentified ruffians and has yet to recover.
"Three days ago, the Taiyuan Government finally realized the situation was out of control and tried to temporarily shut down the locomotive station. Yet, it was you who instructed other families, scholars, and merchants in the city to jointly protest and reject that decision."
Li Ang said coldly, "You treat the plague like child’s play, the court like dirt, government edicts like waste paper, and the common people like trampled grass. As a result, efforts to contain the plague were delayed again and again. You continually took chances, only to finally witness the horror of the plague. Realizing disaster was upon you, only then did you think to cut your losses and flee. Tell me, how can I agree to that?"