In October of the fourth year of Jingyou's reign, Tianchang County Government was established.
Bao Zheng opened the "Caoliang Incoming and Outgoing Calendar" that was delivered yesterday, and his brows gradually furrowed.
"Gongsun Tiesi," he called the lean clerk, "In the third year of Jingyou's reign, the county's grain quota was 30,000 shi, and the actual harvest was 28,000 shi, and the loss was 2,000 shi. Is this the real number?"
Gongsun Ce bowed: "Back in the Ming Dynasty, the accounts are like this. However, I checked the warehouse and saw the item of 'extra consumption'. One bucket and five liters per stone were charged more, which is three times the quota. Also, the 'ship's money', as usual, is one hundred cents per stone, and the account is one hundred and fifty cents..."
"Look here." Bao Zheng's fingertips fell on a line of small characters: "'In September of Bingxu, the canoe ship 'Anji' sank in Baimadang, with a loss of 800 stones of food, and three boatmen drowned.'"
"What's weird?"
"I have checked the water records," Bao Zheng opened another volume. "In September of Bingxu, there was no wind on the Huai River, and the white horses were as level as a mirror. And -" he paused, "the three boatmen who were 'drowned' were seen working at the Yangzhou dock yesterday."
The autumn wind suddenly rose outside the window, rolling up the fallen leaves in the courtyard.
Gongsun Ce whispered: "Ming Mansion, this matter may involve... Caosi."
Bao Zheng closed the book, and the stains on the book cover were vaguely shaped like butterfly wings.
"Prepare the boat." He stood up, "Go to Baimadang. I want to see the sunken ship in person."
"If the Chief of Staff is held accountable..."
""Song Xingtong: Laws of Fraud and Falsehood": 'Anyone who cheats on boarding an official ship will live for two years.'" Bao Zheng adjusted his blue uniform, and the quail pattern on the patched uniform dimmed in the morning light, "If the ship is not sinking but it is cheated, what crime should be punished?"
The answers are scattered in the wind.
There are wings inside the bell, and its sound is like weeping.
