Chapter 88.2 - Collapse (Part II) (1/2)
In the Eighth Prince fu, Xuan Li smashed the nine-dragon patterned coloured glass tea cup to the ground in one fierce movement, and it shattered into a myriad of sparkling fragments. His muscles were all taut with tension, and his usual mild and gentle appearance had absolutely disappeared, replaced by a furious wrath that sank deep into his bones.
“How did this happen? Didn’t they say there was nothing wrong with the dam? If there was nothing wrong then how could it collapse?” He threw the book in his hand at the advisor who was standing nearest him.
Even though the advisor was terrified he did not even dare to exhale. This was the first time the ever-gentle Eighth Prince had lost his temper with him; he had always controlled his emotions very skillfully. Even if he had a deep-rooted hatred for someone, he would smile at his enemy as if the two of them were enjoying a warm spring breeze in a pleasant environment.
No one knew the irritation in Xuan Li’s heart at this moment.
Why did it have to be at this time!
When he was finally about to achieve all that he desired! He was popular with the people, he had the favour of the Emperor- all that was left was this final contribution to society- and he would shine more clearly in the eyes of the Great Jin dynasty. The majority of the officials would naturally give him their support and, with more people in the palm of his hand, he would have more clout and bargaining power in future.
Recently, he had poured his heart into the matter of the reservoir, thinking that it was a surefire endeavour. How could it all fall to pieces at the final stage!
Xuan Li was a person who was unwilling to admit defeat, and something like this had happened. It was as if someone had slapped him in the face in full view of everyone else. Although he appeared generous and good-natured, he was actually proud and arrogant. How could he tolerate this failure!
In a towering rage, he ordered, “Get Li An here!” Then, as something else came to mind, he said, “Find some people to guard that monk, and bring him here as well.”
His subordinates received their orders and left.
Overnight, the winds of fortune had changed direction. The once brilliant, wise, and outstanding Eighth Prince, who had rendered great service in flood control, had suddenly become an incapable, obstinate, and self-opinionated man who cared not one iota about the lives of the common people, and was even disrespectful to a senior monk.
Bo Chang reservoir had completely collapsed, and all the homes in the lower reaches were totally destroyed. If it were not for the actions of the city garrison’s Zhao Yi from the General fu and General Guan Liang Han who had recently returned from the border, who had worked through the night to evacuate the people, who knew how many innocent lives would have been lost due to this disaster.
The people praised the Zhao family soldiers and the Guan family soldiers as practically being living Buddhas who rescued the suffering and the distressed. In less than no time, they had become the objects of the love and admiration of the people in the capital city.
Moreover, Great Master Hui Jue, who had prophesied that Bo Chang reservoir would collapse, was being worshipped with great reverence. Everyone had witnessed for themselves that the rain was gradually dying down over the past few days, such that it appeared to be stopping soon, so who could have imagined that a heavy rainfall would descend upon them out of the blue that morning. If not for the Zhao and Guan family soldiers, the capital city would now be haunted by thousands of vengeful spirits.
Gossip in this vein swept rapidly through the streets and alleys, spreading to the homes of the nobility, to the air above the Great Jin dynasty, and finally to the imperial court.
The supporters of Fifth Prince seized this opportunity to justify their ruthless criticism of Eighth Prince’s methods, and petitions by the Imperial Censor to impeach Eighth Prince flew like snowflakes onto the Emperor’s table.
Even then, the situation did not come to a close.
A rumour had quietly begun in the capital city that the dam had been built by a subordinate of Grand Councillor Li Dong whom he had promoted to take charge of the project, and this subordinate had embezzled much of the money allocated for the construction of the dam. A large portion of the embezzled money had then found its way to the Grand Councillor fu. It was precisely because the Second Young Master of the Grand Councillor fu, Li An, was afraid that this would be discovered that he made a supreme effort to cover it up, disregarding the lives of thousands of people in the lower reaches of the reservoir. Eighth Prince and Li An had always been on close terms, which was why Eighth Prince had helped him with the cover up.
All the authorities in the world know that fish cannot survive when the water is too clean[1]. Thus, if the court officials, no matter at what level, were to practise graft on a small scale, that was a matter of little concern. However, Bo Chang reservoir had been the largest reservoir in the Great Jin dynasty. The people residing in the capital city had relied on its water for drinking and daily usage, and it was also the source of the water for irrigating thousands of acres of fertile land. Graft on a small scale was no big deal, but if the extent was too large, then it would be like termites boring into the heart of the country.
[1] Shui zhi qing ze wu yu ( 水至清则无鱼 ) – part of the saying, 水至清则无鱼, 人至察则无徒 lit. when the water is too clean, there are no fish; when one is too critical, one has few friends/ followers.
In particular, Li An’s method of handling the situation at this critical juncture was tantamount to killing people in order to prevent them from divulging a secret. What’s more, he had planned to silence thousands of lives at one fell swoop. The entire kingdom was in shock and the Emperor was furious. Without hesitation, he issued a decree – the Grand Councillor fu was corrupt and in flagrant abuse of the law, the damage to the dam was an unforgivable crime, and the fu’s people were to be escorted to prison to await trial.
At this time, Li An was at Eighth Prince’s fu talking to Xuan Li. Xuan Li said, angrily, “How on earth did this happen? How could what the monk said be true?”
Li An was also somewhat baffled for the first time in his life. After some thought, he said, “This was obviously well planned, and it must be connected with the Zhao family. Last night, Your Highness’ imperial bodyguards all vanished into thin air, and it can be assumed that they succumbed to the vicious attacks engineered by the Zhao family and Guan Liang Han. However, in the end, their soldiers are all from the army. How is it possible that they did not leave behind even the slightest trace?”
“What’s the use even if they did leave traces behind?” Xuan Li said, “I can’t possibly tell anyone about this situation, so I will just have to suffer all this pent-up grievance alone. Besides, since our opponents have no scruples slaughtering people, they have definitely prepared counter-measures.” He clenched his fist and said, “The Zhao family? I’m surprised that they would throw their lot in with Fifth Prince.”
“Your Highness, I still think there’s something very fishy about this situation; it may not be the doing of Fifth Prince,” Li An said.
Xuan Li looked at him contemptuously and said, “Li An, this prince[2] has already trusted you many times, but this time, you have failed.”
[2] Ben dian ( 本殿 ) – as Irisu explained in Ch 71, this literally means this palace hall, but often it refers to a royalty (who owns their own palace, which in and of itself signifies immense status and power) referring to themselves.
“Your Highness, please punish me!” Li An hurriedly knelt down to seek forgiveness, but in his eyes there was a flash of mockery.
“Enough,” Xuan Li said as he waved his hand. “At present, Father Emperor is certainly in a rage. I have to beg for forgiveness, otherwise we will be left with no way out.”
Just as he said this, an imperial bodyguard suddenly rushed in. When he saw Xuan Li, he quickly knelt down and said, “Your Highness, something has happened.”
Xuan Li frowned. “What is it?”
The imperial bodyguard eyed Li An. Xuan Li said, “Speak.”
“His Majesty, the Emperor, has issued an imperial decree that the people of the Grand Councillor fu be imprisoned to await trial.”
“What?” Li An abruptly stood up.
The imperial bodyguard swiftly narrated the entire series of events. Xuan Li’s brows were tightly knit. This situation looked to be a really great misfortune for the Grand Councillor fu, but his own fu was linked with his in innumerable ways. Even though the Emperor had yet to say anything at present, Xuan Li was afraid that he had already fallen out of favour.
Li An was totally dumbfounded, and had no clue what to do. A vague premonition unexpectedly arose in his heart. It was not as if the Emperor had no idea what the Grand Councillor fu was up to in the capital all these years, it’s simply that he had closed one eye to the proceedings because the situation in the imperial court required balance. There was a need for the Grand Councillor fu, for once this balance was disturbed, the current excellent situation in court would be destroyed. The Emperor knew this, and so did the Grand Councillor fu. Since they had a strong backing, as long as the relevant people behaved appropriately within the understood norms there would be no issue.
But, now, the Emperor had actually imprisoned the people of the Grand Councillor fu. For a person who had achieved unbounded glory, being imprisoned only had one significance – that he would never again regain his previous position. The Emperor was unshakeable in his resolve to punish the Grand Councillor fu, thus what could anyone do about it?
Xuan Li frowned and said, “Father actually believes such a preposterous story?”
“The rumours circulating outside are very fierce,” the imperial bodyguard said cautiously, “and they are very persuasive. The men the Emperor sent to seize the Grand Councillor fu really did find countless precious stones and jewels as they searched.”
Li An stood rooted to the spot in a daze.
Bo Chang reservoir had indeed been built by the person Li Dong had promoted to the position. Of course there had been graft, but it should not have been to the extent that the dam would collapse so easily. At the very least, the foundations should have been stable. There was a tacit understanding within the imperial court about what would happen to the silver for the construction project, but to have the dam suddenly collapse was absolutely unexpected. Hence, the numberless rumours swirling about.
To say nothing of the great amounts of gold, silver, and precious stones found in the Grand Councillor fu.
Although the majority of these valuables had nothing whatsoever to do with the reservoir building project, under present circumstances, people would definitely associate them with the silver that was allocated to the reservoir project.
A few days ago, Xuan Li had even hinted to the Emperor that the state treasury was empty, and that it would be possible to find a ‘solution’ in the fus of the higher level ministers. His intention was to target the Zhao family but, out of the blue, they had started distributing congee, making it difficult for the Emperor to move on them. Right now, the great amount of valuables in the Grand Councillor fu were like a ready-made meal that had opportunely appeared before the Emperor.
So much wealth, how could the Emperor not be tempted? What’s more, with the damage caused by the flood disaster, the state treasury would be in even greater need of replenishing.