Mirage

17. Wu Biyuan lays his complaint before the censor | Su Jishi flees to Qingyuan to escape danger

After Jishi won the court case, he told his men to give the runners twenty taels and invited Wen Zhongweng, Shy Yannian, and Shr Bangchen back to his house, where they enjoyed a long drinking session. The next day he went to the Panyu county yamen to thank Magistrate Ma, who told him, “Although Prefect Shangguan is a man of great rectitude, the outcome of this case has to be credited to the governor. Lately he’s been eager to find something to use against the superintendent, and that’s why the case went so smoothly.” Jishi took his leave and visited the prefect’s yamen, where he handed in a card expressing his gratitude. He then went on to the Wu household. Biyuan did not dare defy the prefect’s ruling that his son should return to his native place, but he treated the runners handsomely and begged them to ask their superior whether they could wait until Daiyun’s welts had healed. He also took note of what the prefect had told him to do. On the one hand, if he didn’t bring the charge, he was afraid of the endless complications he would be involved in, but on the other hand, if he did bring it, he would regret the loss of his treasury position. It was a case of “damned if you do, and damned if you don’t.” Just then Jishi arrived, and Biyuan welcomed him in. “Daiyun was treated unfairly yesterday,” said Jishi. “I had already left, and I didn’t like to go back and plead for leniency, but I do feel badly about it.” “The swine was out of control,” said Biyuan. “The fact is I asked the prefect to punish him, and now he wants to send him to our native place 17 Wu biyuan lays his Complaint befoRe the CensoR su Jishi flees to Qingyuan to esCape dangeR Mirage-FA02_13Jan2014.indd 255 15/1/14 11:30 AM 256 | Mirage under guard. There’s just one thing: I’d like you to persuade the Wen family to let his wife come back and go with him.” “That’s only natural, but I wonder how Daiyun would feel about it.” “He’s always been so stupid, but of course I’ll tell him he has to change his attitude. There’s one other thing: yesterday the prefect told me to quit my treasurer’s post and return to my original position. He also told me to inform the authorities that the superintendent was unjustly forcing me to pay the dues money; if I did, he said he’d back me up. But when I think how powerful the superintendent is, if by some chance he does make trouble, it’s not the high officials who would be affected, just the lowly ones like me. Moreover, if I can’t get out of the fifty thousand debt, and if I leave this position, how am I ever going to repay the people I’ve borrowed money from? What do you think I should do?” “In my opinion, you would be doing the right thing by bringing the charge. Since you were given a direct order, you can certainly go ahead with it.” While Biyuan hesitated, unable to make up his mind, the lieutenantgovernor issued a directive ordering him to return to his river police position ; Salt Inspector Xie Jiabao of Shiqiao would take his place temporarily at the treasury. He also ordered Bi Qingru, the records secretary of Guangzhou prefecture, to supervise the transfer. This was the subject of the prefect’s report that morning to the governor; in fact he had directed Biyuan to leave his post precisely so that he could inform the superintendent of it. His order providing for supervision of the transfer showed an even greater attention to detail. Biyuan read the directive, then saw Jishi out. Afterward Xie Jiabao and Bi Qingru arrived and together reported on this new development to the superintendent. Heh was not greatly concerned; he simply issued an order that the fifty thousand taels should be paid immediately. Biyuan consented to the transfer, then handed over the duties of his post. Fortunately, he had not embezzled any money, and Xie Jiabao duly received the documents and accounts belonging to the post, wrote out a receipt, and reported to the superintendent. Meanwhile Biyuan packed up and returned to his original position, where he consulted an experienced clerk. Within five or six days eight...