271 An Zhi (1/2)
Chapter 271: An Zhi
Translator: Nyoi-Bo StudioEditor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Of the entire capital, the first to know of the Imperial Censorate’s mobilization to impeach the popular politician Fan Xian was the man himself. Before the Emperor even received those documents of his, Fan Xian knew he would be riding a riptide.
Mu Tie was sitting graciously, opposite Fan Xian. ”It was only last night. The right-hand man of the Imperial Censorate’s leader started it. Over there, they had to confirm the correct procedures, so it was only delivered today.”
The Overwatch Council’s First Bureau was in charge of observing and recording the movement of each officer. The individual censors of the Imperial Censorate jointly composed and signed a letter addressed to the Emperor. The contents of the letter were so grave and of such massive proportion, that if the First Bureau officers were unable to detect and be made wary of its existence and notify Fan Xian right away, the organization would be in need of another good scrubbing. Fan Xian nodded and began flicking a parchment, whilst saying, ”Only these crimes?”
Mu Tie noticed that the commissioner didn’t seem very much to care about the allegations held against him and he frowned sternly, telling him, ”Sir, this cannot be taken lightly…”
Mu Tie then closed his mouth and did not say any more. Fan Xian raised his head to look at him, and with eyes that suggested he was jesting, he replied, ”Do you really think I committed these crimes?”
The document created by the censors read clearly, detailing the falsified amounts of money Fan Xian had gained through bribery during his time at the First Bureau for a month. He set free criminals and even allowed and encouraged his men to rampage through the streets. What was written last upon the parchment was how Fan Xian had embarrassed and made a mockery of the government. While there may be slight truth to the latter, the first two accusations were the most grievous of crimes. There were banknotes given to Fan Xian by Lady Liu, banknotes that were traceable, and there were corroborated stories of certain officers being captured by the Overwatch Council and coincidentally being let go.
These crimes could bring down just about any officer or government official.
Fan Xian rubbed the creases of his forehead. After a long and busy day, something as troublesome as this had now happened. Although he did not let it show, this matter concerned him deeply. He then said, ”In the Qing Kingdom’s Imperial Censorate, their bark is worse than their bite. They are happy to mouth off at others, but they are just as quick to backstab another if it’ll help boost them up a few rungs of the societal ladder. Since when are they no longer afraid of those above them? Is it that my power is not grand enough? Do I not possess enough honor for them to respect me?”
Mu Tie heard what he said and wanted to laugh. It was a great strain to prevent doing so, because the Overwatch Council had always looked down on the Imperial Censorate. He also suspected that Fan Xian was waxing rhetorically, believing that Fan Xian knew exactly what had been going on. In the capital these days, everybody knew that Fan Xian was a person of honor and a true noble.
But Fan Xian, for once, did not actually understand the reason why the Imperial Censorate had now garnered the courage to strike out at him. He had actually tried to better himself lately, going about matters a touch more softly. He had never even seen the people who were after him. With Fan Xian’s growing connection with the Emperor, were they not afraid to potentially go against his wishes?
Mu Tie watched his face and knew what Fan Xian was thinking. He then explained, ”Sir, this is an ordinary tactic of the Imperial Censorate. Forever have they set their sights upon the Overwatch Council. It was the government that gave them this authority, but the Emperor has since suppressed the methods of operation we can use in the Overwatch Council. Therefore, in recent times, the Imperial Censorate has taken a liking to picking on us.” Mu Tie frowned and continued, ”That being said, even I am surprised to see they have the courage to go against you, especially with such significant allegations.”
Fan Xian, in an effort to calm down, reached for his teacup and dabbed his fingers in the tea before painting his forehead with the cool drink.
The Imperial Censorate was a very special department. In the former dynasty, the Imperial Censorate was the most important department when it came to supervision and establishment, to the impeachment and eradication of those who sought to disrupt their say. There were two primary officers, each at the side of the leader. Below them were the vice-ministers, and below that were the average officers. Within the Imperial Censorate were several smaller departments, also, which eased the workload between each other.
There was a book written by Zhuang Mohan called Notes on Officialdom. It told the tale of the Northern Wei Kingdom’s Imperial Censorate. The censors' primary task was to impeach those who were found guilty of malpractice and clarify those who may have been wronged. They were the ears of the emperor. If there were any officers that were found out to be corrupt, or in any way working against the government and warping documents in a certain way, the Imperial Censorate would be upon them and they would be stripped of all titles, stature and wealth.
The Qing Kingdom’s Imperial Censorate was not half as effective as that of the previous dynasty. They withdrew the officers who would observe and inspect each department and organization that composed the government and their authority for being a certain body or party to represent another in a court was given to the Supreme Court and Ministry of Justice. For the newly established kingdom, the Imperial Censorate had been splintered into numerous smaller departments with limited influence. The power to spy and observe others was taken away and given to Chen Pingping, who established and built the Overwatch Council all by himself. It was because of all these changes that the Imperial Censorate was now a shadow of its former self, a body that policed public morals more than they did officials of the government.
Who was eligible to be a politician? Strictly men. What do men like the most, aside from pretty woman? Power. The Imperial Censorate’s hatred toward the Overwatch Council mostly stemmed from this, for it was Chen Pingping and the Overwatch Council that indirectly ”stole” their power and influence. It was mostly jealousy and a nostalgia for the honor and glory of their past that fueled the fire of the Imperial Censorate’s disdain for the Overwatch Council. And while they knew full well of their new boundaries and limitations, they would still watch who they could and deliver as many petty reports as they were able.
But with the old crippled Chen where he was, poisonous stare and all, nobody dared supersede him. Why the Imperial Censorate, which had been quiet for some time now, would begin acting up all of a sudden was strange, and that is what bothered Fan Xian.