Han Ji

Chapter 133 The Du Heng Murder Case

"Make sure it's done thoroughly," Liu Bei said. "Li Shun, go ahead and investigate. Report back to Su Gu truthfully after you've finished. The accounts must be clear, and there's no embezzlement."

"If Su Gu doesn't believe it..."

"He definitely won't believe it." Liu Bei looked towards the prefectural government office. "Because what he wants isn't the truth, but an attitude. If you investigate and report it, it will naturally create a rift between us."

Li Shun seemed to understand, but nodded, "This humble official understands."

The investigation lasted ten days. Li Shun, accompanied by officials from the prefecture, examined the account books, checked the granaries, and questioned the witnesses. The account books were meticulously prepared by Jian Yong; the witnesses were arranged by Zhang Wu, and their testimonies were consistent.

On the tenth day, Li Shun reported to Su Gu.

"Upon investigation, it was found that the grain and funds handled by Liu Ping and the other four individuals were actually seized during the bandit suppression campaign and temporarily stored. Their destination was clear: to provide relief to the families of fallen soldiers, to reward meritorious officers and soldiers, and to repair the military equipment camp. The accounts were clear, and all expenditures were documented with witness signatures, and there was no embezzlement."

Su Gu smiled after hearing this.

His laughter was cold.

"What an incorruptible captain!" He tapped his fingers on the table. "That traitor Li Cao investigated so thoroughly?"

Li Shun bowed his head: "This humble official only knows to report the facts."

"The truth is..." Su Gu repeated, then suddenly asked, "What were you in charge of when you were in the Commandant's Office?"

"Accounting and document processing."

"The accountant knows the books best." Su Gu stood up and walked to Li Shun. "Then tell me, aren't these accounts... a bit too clean?"

Li Shun's heart pounded like a drum, but his face remained impassive: "The account books should be clean."

Su Gu stared at him for a long time, then waved his hand: "Go."

Li Shun withdrew. Chen Lun emerged from behind the screen and whispered, "Prefect, this man seems utterly loyal to Liu Bei."

"I know." Su Gu sat back in his chair. "But he checked it out and reported it, so it worked. But after using it for a long time... naturally, gaps will appear."

Chen Lun was puzzled.

At the end of the month, a murder occurred in Nanzheng.

Du Heng, the only son of the wealthy merchant Du Xi, beat a minor official to death in the street of a tavern. Many witnesses said that Du Heng went mad after drinking, smashing the man's head with a wine jar seven or eight times until his brains splattered out.

The deceased, surnamed Wu, was a servant of Su Gu's nephew.

Upon hearing the report, Su Gu slammed his fist on the table: "A life for a life! Execute him immediately as a warning to others!"

The case file was transferred to the Gongcao Office. Li Shun investigated carefully and discovered something suspicious: the deceased, Wu, had repeatedly extorted money from merchants by relying on his master's power, and the Du family had been extorted for more than one million yuan. On the day of the incident, Wu came to the door again to demand money, and his words insulted Du Heng's deceased mother. Du Heng was enraged and attacked, accidentally killing him.

According to the law, if a servant extorts his master and the master kills the servant, the crime does not warrant death.

Li Shun secretly reported to Liu Bei overnight.

"Du Xi is a prominent merchant in Hanzhong, known as one of the Three Merchants along with Wang Chun and Yang Song." After hearing this, Liu Bei pondered, "Su Gu wants to cut the Gordian knot quickly, both to demonstrate his authority and to curry favor with his nephew."

"Captain, this case..."

"Act impartially," Liu Bei said, "but don't overturn the case directly. Send a copy of the case file to Chen Jiao, the Chief Advisor. Chen Jiao is upright and will surely question it."

Li Shun agreed.

The following day at the county council meeting, Chen Jiao indeed launched an attack in court.

"Wu, as a servant, repeatedly extorted money, thus violating the Household Law. Although Du Heng committed murder, there was a reason for it, and it was excessive self-defense." Chen Jiao held up the law, "According to the law, he should be sentenced to three years of imprisonment. Execution is excessive!"

Su Gu's face turned ashen: "Chen Yicao, murder is murder!"

"Law is law, and sentiment is sentiment," Chen Jiao insisted. "If we impose a harsher sentence simply because the deceased was a relative of the prefect, where is the law? How can the people accept this?"

The officials below whispered among themselves. Du Xi was quite prestigious among the powerful and influential, and many nodded in approval.

Su Gu gritted his teeth and finally conceded: "Then... a retrial."

After a ten-day retrial, the sentence was changed to three years imprisonment. Du Heng was spared the death penalty and sent to the north to repair the city walls.

Du Xi was deeply grateful and secretly visited Liu Bei that very night. The carriage drove directly into the back gate of the military camp. Du Xi got out of the carriage and was about to kneel down when Liu Bei helped him up.

"Lord Du, there's no need for that."

"Commander, you have shown me such great kindness!" Du Xi cried, tears streaming down his face. "The Du family has only one son, and if it weren't for your secret intervention, my family line would have ended!"

He took out a wooden box from his pocket, opened it, and found it filled with gold coins: "This is just a small gift, nothing to show my respect."

Liu Bei closed the box and pushed it back.

"Master Du, if I accept money, this case will be distorted."

Du Xi was stunned, then became even more respectful: "Commander, your righteousness is admirable! Well... I, Du, have no other skills, only some family wealth. Commander, if there is any need for your service, my entire family of a hundred will be at your command!"

"Indeed, there is something," Liu Bei said. "The prefecture wants to repair the official road, but it needs fifty fine horses and ten artisan households."

"Send it to the military camp tomorrow!" Du Xi said without hesitation.

When he took his leave, Liu Bei saw him off at the camp gate.

Before getting into the carriage, Du Xi suddenly turned around and whispered, "Commander, Lord Su has recently... been meeting secretly with Yang Song."

Liu Bei nodded: "Understood."

The carriage drove away. Guan Yu emerged from the shadows and whispered, "Brother, is Du Xi usable?"

"It's usable." Liu Bei gazed at the night sky. "Merchants are driven by profit. They may be grateful today, but their attitude might change when their profits run out. However... for now, it's enough."

That same night, Chen Jiao was drinking with his colleagues at home.

In the midst of the drinking, someone asked, "Brother Chen, why did you dare to contradict the Prefect in court today?"

Chen Jiao put down his cup and remained silent for a long time.

"You really think I held them back?" He smiled bitterly. "It was Commandant Liu who used me. If he had rescued them directly, it would have been favoritism. By using me, he both upheld the law and won people's hearts. His methods... were brilliant."

Everyone fell silent.

Outside the window, the May night breeze is warm.

But the undercurrents within Nanzheng City are more swift than the wind.

In June, rumors suddenly began to circulate in the streets of Nanzheng.

First, someone in the grain shop let slip: "Have you heard? Prefect Su is going to increase land taxes by 30% and build a villa to take in concubines!"

Then the cloth shop clerk whispered, "That's not all! The county government's accounts are a deficit of a million; this money will fall on our shoulders sooner or later!"

Whispers filled the teahouses, taverns, and markets. The local gentry, unable to sit still any longer, gathered at Du Xi's residence to inquire about the matter.

Du Xi, holding his teacup, smiled wryly: "I don't know if it's true or not. But taxes are a major issue; if they are indeed increased..."

"We can't increase taxes!" Wang Chun slammed his fist on the table. "We just suffered from bandits last year, and this spring there's a drought. If we increase taxes again, how will the people survive?"

Yang Song sat in the corner, stroking his goatee, his eyes darting around: "Gentlemen, there's no smoke without fire. I, Liu, spent a year in Hanzhong suppressing bandits, repairing canals, and opening trade markets. Where did the money come from? It all came from exploiting the land! Now that it's all been exploited, naturally, taxes have to be increased to fill the hole."

Some hesitated: "Commander Liu doesn't seem like the type to embezzle..."

"You can't judge a book by its cover!" Yang Song sneered. "His soldiers from Zhuojun eat meat every day and get paid every month. Where does the money come from? There are countless accounts that you and I can't see!"

The rumors intensified. An old farmer ran to the gate of the prefectural government office and cried out, but was driven away by the prefectural soldiers. Su Gu fell ill and stayed at home, which fueled the rumors even more.

When the news reached the military camp, Liu Bei was playing chess with Xun Cai.

Black and white pieces locked in a fierce battle on the chessboard. Xun Cai placed a piece and whispered, "Husband, these rumors..."

"This is Su Gu's doing." Liu Bei responded with a zi. "He can't touch me, so he's trying to ruin my reputation. This Su Gu is just making some foolish moves."