Chapter Seventy-Three: The Independent Commission Against Corruption’s First Strike, Part Two

Emperor Zhu Youxiao first summoned Wei Zhongxian and asked, “The Eastern Depot was supervising the Brocade Guards in the search of Zhangjiakou Fort. How did it turn out?”

Wei Zhongxian replied, “Eunuch Tu Wenfu came back last time and said the Brocade Guards performed quite well during the search. Tian Ergeng kept a very tight rein on things, and there was no sign of anyone skimming off the top.”

Zhu Youxiao gave a soft sound and said, “How much tribute did Tu Wenfu give you?”

Wei Zhongxian immediately dropped to his knees. “Your Majesty, please inspect this closely. Tu Wenfu did not give this servant any tribute at all. After he returned, this servant merely asked him about the supervision of the operation and never saw him again.”

Zhu Youxiao let out a cold laugh. “Is that so? Deputy Commissioner Wei, Tu Wenfu is your man from the Eastern Depot. How could he possibly fail to pay you tribute?” With that, he flung the report from the Integrity Office at him.

Though Wei Zhongxian was not well educated, he could read the characters on the report. After a hasty glance, he set it down and began to kowtow. “Your Majesty, this servant truly received no benefit at all. I have always trusted Tu Wenfu, and I never imagined he would dare deceive Your Majesty. Please allow this servant to beat him to death with my own hands.”

“Oh, kill him with your own hands, will you? Silence him forever, perhaps? Do you still remember what I said to you when I gave you your name? Li Jinzhong, you have truly disappointed me.”

Wei Zhongxian was frightened out of his wits. The fact that Zhu Youxiao had begun calling him Li Jinzhong showed just how utterly disappointed he was. Inwardly, Wei Zhongxian wanted nothing more than to tear Tu Wenfu apart. I gave you a chance to earn merit, and you went and made a mess of everything. If you die, that is one thing, but if you drag me down with you, what am I supposed to do?

So he began kowtowing again. “Your Majesty, if it is found that Tu Wenfu’s affair had even the slightest connection to this servant, then please exterminate my entire clan. I truly knew nothing at all. Please send someone to investigate thoroughly and restore this servant’s innocence.”

Seeing how dramatic he was being, Zhu Youxiao grew somewhat doubtful. Could it be that this fellow really knew nothing? He then issued an imperial decree: Zhang Cheng and Liu Jingwen were to handle the investigation of the corruption case arising from the raid on Zhangjiakou Fort. Palace Guard Yang Guanggao would be assigned to assist with arrests and sealing of property. The Brocade Guards and the Eastern Depot were forbidden from taking part in any aspect of the matter.

Though this arrangement made it obvious that Zhu Youxiao did not trust Wei Zhongxian, Wei Zhongxian nevertheless let out a quiet breath of relief. Soon after, Yang Guanggao led the Palace Guard to seal the residences of Tu Wenfu and Tian Ergeng, and the two men were brought to the Integrity Office.

This was the first public trial held by the Integrity Office, and everyone was tense with excitement. Zhang Cheng and Liu Jingwen sat behind the great desk. Zhang Cheng called out, “Bring up Tu Wenfu.”

Tu Wenfu was brought in in chains. The moment he entered the hall, he fell to his knees and cried out, “Spare my life, sirs.”

Zhang Cheng said kindly, “Give Eunuch Tu a seat.”

At once, someone brought over a stool. Tu Wenfu’s face brightened. It seemed the Depot Master had already arranged matters here, and his heart settled somewhat.

Liu Jingwen said, “Bring tea for Eunuch Tu.”

Tu Wenfu was a little alarmed. He had never heard of a prisoner being allowed to drink tea in the courtroom. It looked as though even Madam Fengsheng had come to speak for him. What he did not understand was that Zhu Youxiao had once said the Integrity Office should invite corrupt officials for tea to assist in the investigation, and Zhang Cheng and the others had taken that to heart. Thus it was now a rule that anyone brought into the Integrity Office had the right to tea. That misunderstanding now led Tu Wenfu to misunderstand as well.

After Tu Wenfu drank the tea, Liu Jingwen asked with a smile, “By imperial command, I am to ask Eunuch Tu a few questions. Please think carefully before answering, and make sure there are no mistakes or omissions in your recollection. You must also guarantee that everything you say is true. Otherwise, the law is a furnace, and it does not care what kind of iron you are.”

Hearing this, Tu Wenfu became even more certain that someone above had spoken for him. He nodded and said, “This servant will naturally speak without concealment and without reservation.”

“Good.” Liu Jingwen flipped through the dossier and asked, “During this search of the eight merchant houses in Zhangjiakou Fort accused of collusion with the enemy, what was the total value of the goods seized, converted into silver?”

“A total of sixty-four million taels of silver.”

“During this search, did Deputy Commander Tian Ergeng of the Brocade Guards engage in any embezzlement?”

Tu Wenfu hesitated for a moment, then said, “There was indeed embezzlement. I warned him before, but he would not listen to my advice.”

“Then did Eunuch Tu report Tian Ergeng’s corruption to the Depot Master?”

“I did not have time to report it to the Depot Master before your honorable office brought me here. I had intended to report it tomorrow.”

“How much silver did Tian Ergeng embezzle in total? Do you know?”

“There were ten carts of it. It should have been more than a million taels.”

Liu Jingwen smiled. “Then how many carts does Eunuch Tu have?”

Tu Wenfu felt something was wrong. Weren’t the Depot Master and Madam Fengsheng supposed to have spoken on his behalf? How could they be asking how many carts he had? So he answered vaguely, “This one wanted to offer some tribute to the Depot Master and Madam Fengsheng, so I took a little as well. It was all meant for the Depot Master and Madam Fengsheng. I did not keep a single tael for myself.”

When Zhang Cheng heard Madam Fengsheng brought into it, he asked without changing expression, “You offered tribute to the Depot Master and Madam Fengsheng. They knew about it, I suppose?”

Tu Wenfu did not dare lie, so he replied, “This is but a small token of respect from me. It has not yet been presented.”

Zhang Cheng said angrily, “I asked whether they knew. Why are you beating around the bush? Answer directly!”

“The Depot Master and Madam Fengsheng were not aware of it, but this servant intended it for the two of them, not for myself.”

Zhang Cheng let out a disappointed sigh. “Take him down first. Bring up Tian Ergeng.”

Liu Jingwen looked at him worriedly and gently patted his hand. In a low voice, he said, “Do not be anxious. The Emperor said it himself: fairness is what matters most.”

Zhang Cheng looked back at him gratefully. “It is nothing, Brother Liu. Just a little artifice. Do not worry that I will frame the innocent.”

The moment Tian Ergeng entered, he dropped to his knees and kowtowed, crying out that he deserved death. He did not dare sit, and remained kneeling with tears and mucus all over his face, confessing that he had failed the Emperor’s trust, failed the Depot Master’s cultivation of him, and had not withstood Tu Wenfu’s seduction into taking things he should not have taken. He begged to be executed at once, as a warning to those who came after.

Liu Jingwen rather admired this attitude. Since trouble had already come, honest confession was the cleverest course. So he asked, “How much did you embezzle in total?”

Tian Ergeng said, “I had thirty carts taken away in all. I am not very clear about the exact amount, but it should be more than a million taels.”

“You had that many carts taken away. Did Tu Wenfu know?”

“Eunuch Tu told me to take ten carts, to distribute some hardship money to the brothers below. I was momentarily muddled and had thirty carts taken away. He thought I only had ten.”

“Did you send the money you embezzled to any other superiors?”

“No. It should originally have been sent to the Depot Master and Commander Luo, but I had not yet had time to deliver it.”

“When you went to conduct the search, did anyone hint that you should keep some of the money for yourself?”

“No. It was all because I listened to Eunuch Tu and became muddled, and then greed overcame me. I could not restrain myself for a moment. I only beg for a swift death, and this has nothing to do with anyone else.”