The word ordinary was undoubtedly a huge blow to a beauty.
Since Gu Da ren (Minister Gu) had dismissed the matter, Liu Yiyi dared not linger any longer. She bowed, excused herself, and left, teary-eyed.
Yangzhou Prefect Liu and Governor of Liangjiang Gao were now even more uneasy. Disaster—they had intended to offer a gift as an apology, but it had not reached Gu Da ren’s heart. Instead, it might have the opposite effect, adding insult to injury.
Gu Zhao’s sudden irritation had not dissipated, and he had no patience to engage in courtly wordplay with them. He spoke directly:
“I am here by imperial decree to supervise the Lei Dawu case. From what I have seen in recent days, the checkpoints for private salt inspections across the provinces are practically nonexistent. Salt smugglers’ ships sail freely, and merchants openly sell contraband in the city. The Liangjiang region has effectively become Lei Dawu’s domain. It is no wonder he is so audacious as to attempt an assassination in public. I attend this banquet today to ask you two gentlemen on behalf of the emperor: Lei Dawu has been at large for nearly a year. What is the difficulty? Are you afraid to apprehend him, unwilling to apprehend him, or reluctant to apprehend him?”
To be afraid is cowardice.
To be unwilling is dereliction of duty.
To be reluctant is complicity.
Gu Da ren’s three understated sentences carried increasingly severe accusations, each a capital-level crime. Liu Prefect broke into a sweat and knelt immediately:
“Your wisdom is unmatched, sir. I am truly wronged, and never had such intentions.”
As a fellow second-rank official, Governor Gao did not kneel. He simply wiped the sweat from his brow with a handkerchief:
“Shouming, you do not know. Lei Dawu commands many skilled men and weapons. Capturing him is genuinely difficult. In my view, it may be better to offer him amnesty.”
Gu Zhao could not help but laugh:
“Oh? Amnesty? He is merely a rogue salt smuggler. Does he merit any recognition from the throne? Governor, you have been lingering too long in the comforts of Jiangnan, your mind muddled. The emperor placed you in Liangjiang for your military experience, for your courage and decisiveness. Today, Lei Dawu disrespects the emperor; it is only fitting to take his life as an example and establish authority. And you suggest amnesty? All officials serve the emperor. If you find difficulty, I shall deal with this rogue myself. As for how you two proceed, that is your choice.”
Lei Dawu dared to act so brazenly in Yangzhou; he must have protection within the government. Gu Zhao, assuming the worst, started with the highest-ranking official, Governor Gao, to shake the trees and reveal his backers.
Only after Gu Zhao left did the timid Prefect Liu dare to rise, tremblingly asking:
“Governor, what should we do? Gu Da ren refused both silver and the beauty. And those salt ships a few days ago, he seized them without informing anyone. Such unyielding methods—what if the emperor hears? We may not fare well.”
Gu Zhao did not accept everything; the day after Xie Ze was attacked, he arrived with the emperor’s decree and confiscated Governor Gao’s military authority.
Although the governor oversaw military and civil affairs in Liangjiang, troop deployment required the emperor’s order. Now, the power of command rested in the imperial commissioner Gu Zhao’s hands. All admirals and generals in Liangjiang were under his dispatch. Governor Gao had become a powerless general, with no troops to command, explaining his frustration.
Gao threw his nearly sweat-soaked handkerchief on the table, sneering:
“I refuse to believe there is anyone in government purely selfless. Gu Shouming cannot be a sage, can he? Not accepting gifts means you didn’t deliver them properly—didn’t reach Gu Da ren’s heart.”
Prefect Liu protested:
“Sir, I am indeed inept. I tried every method, yet I could not discern what pleases Gu Da ren. Regarding the beauty, Yiyi was the finest selected in Yangzhou, and yet it was deemed ordinary. I truly do not know who else might catch Gu Da ren’s eye.”
Gao gave Liu a meaningful glance:
“Stop pretending in front of me. Can’t you see what Gu Shouming likes? The woman downstairs, with Zhang Jingyan—do you know her background? Bring her here, and properly guide her thoughts to be more open.”
As Yangzhou’s chief official, Prefect Liu knew the city’s merchants intimately and replied immediately:
“Governor, that is Zhang Jingyan’s lawful wife, the lady of the Zhang household—not some unknown person. I heard from my wife that they are deeply devoted. Previously, she visited my office, and Zhang Jingyan personally came to receive her. I have known Zhang Jingyan for years. He seems gentle but has a firm temper. If we question him rashly and he refuses, it could cause trouble.”
Already frustrated, Gao now became furious:
“A merchant household, however many ways we try to punish him, he still has the right to refuse? And stir trouble? Liu, your hat is made of paper! If she is the lady of the Zhang household, all the better. As an imperial commissioner, to harm a married woman, to cover up a shameful act, even kill her family—if you do not remove Gu Shouming and let him continue investigating, think carefully: whose head falls first?”
Gao, a military man by training, often acted simply and brutally. He was the highest authority in Liangjiang, a figure whose word was law. Only flattery came to him; he did not flatter others, and in the arts of persuasion, he was clumsy.
Prefect Liu inwardly despised this, but being subordinate, he could only pacify:
“Governor, whether Zhang Jingyan protests or not is trivial. But we still do not understand Gu Da ren’s methods. From what I see, even if he pretends, it is for reputation and self-preservation. We must proceed cautiously, lest we make matters worse.”
Gao pondered briefly and replied:
“You are right. We must be prudent. Then tell me, what do we do?”
Liu looked around, saw no one nearby, and whispered in Gao’s ear:
“Gu Da ren is imperial kin and close to the emperor. It is always better to win over such a person than provoke him. While the true lady of the Zhang household is hard to find, a three-part likeness could suffice to try. We must first gauge the commissioner’s preferences before proceeding properly.”