From Hoarding to Time-Travel: My Supplies Saved Him

Chapter 661: Chapter 663: Governor Liang

When Governor Liang Shi arrived, Wenheng had just finished a meal he had bought on the fly.

Looking at the white-haired Governor Liang, Wenheng quickly joined the others in bowing.

Liang Shi curiously sized up this legendary young man, then clapped him on the shoulder and said approvingly, "The new generation truly surpasses the old. A fine young man indeed. I have long heard of your great achievements in Lu City.

From now on, you must put your heart into the affairs of Yi Province and help the people here live good lives."

Being in their position, his sources of information were certainly more extensive than others’. He approved of Wenheng’s abilities.

Now, he was getting old and approaching the age of retirement, so he naturally had a more philosophical outlook.

Wenheng replied humbly, "I still have many shortcomings and much to learn from my seniors. I’m afraid I will have to trouble Lord Liang often in the future."

"Of course. As long as it is for the good of the people, you can come to find me anytime.

I heard from your men that there are some problems here. Now that I have arrived, speak freely."

After speaking, Liang Shi glanced at Liu Xuan. Seeing the man cower, he knew that the new broom was sweeping clean, and the previous official was feeling the heat.

Wenheng detailed the problems discovered in the ledgers and the storerooms, even laying out the list that Ming Xiang and the others had just compiled on the table.

"This matter is truly immense. I am not capable of handling it alone and can only ask for Lord Liang’s help."

Wenheng glanced at Liu Xuan. ’What is this man thinking? Lord Liang is here, yet he can still remain so composed.’

Liang Shi looked at the final numbers, a fire of rage igniting in his heart. "What is the meaning of this? Mr. Liu, you will explain."

Liu Xuan replied, "I have nothing to say."

He wanted to argue, but the evidence was irrefutable. The trap was sprung, and there was no way out. It was better to just confess and avoid being tortured.

"A fine ’nothing to say’! You’re being frank now, but can you bear the consequences?"

Liu Xuan, "..."

"Where did you divert all this silver? You should know that even if your house is ransacked and your clan exterminated, you will still have to make up this shortfall." After Liang Shi said this, the color finally drained from Liu Xuan’s face.

Liu Xuan said, "Do not bring my wife and children into this. I alone am responsible for this matter."

Liang Shi replied, "You sound like a real man, but you’ve applied your courage in all the wrong places.

Your life is not that valuable. Before this matter blows up, you should be thinking of ways to remedy the situation. You might even be able to reduce your punishment."

Liu Xuan clenched his jaw and said no more. Wenheng looked at him and said, "Mr. Liu, are you truly unaware of the law? If the Holy Emperor becomes enraged, it won’t just be your wife and children—your entire clan will have to answer for this."

’Even an outsider like me has to bow to imperial authority in this place. I never expected to see someone so obstinate today. I just don’t know if he’s truly tough or just putting on an act.’

Liu Xuan’s pupils contracted. He had just been bluffing after all.

"You are truly muddled." Liang Shi, who sent an accountant to audit the books every year, instantly realized. "Did you bribe the people I sent as well?"

Liu Xuan neither admitted nor denied it.

However, Wenheng spoke a fair word. "These ledgers were doctored covertly. If not for a few of my guards who had been studying accounting for some time, we might not have discovered the deception.

My lord could make a copy and have someone else examine it; they might well be fooled too."

’So that’s why he kept trying to obstruct me. He must have been afraid of this exact ’what if’ scenario.’

’He just never expected that ’what if’ to actually happen to him.’

Liang Shi, "..."

The evidence of his guilt was irrefutable, and Liu Xuan didn’t even try to argue much.

However, he stubbornly refused to reveal where the silver had gone.

Liang Shi even resorted to torture, but the man was impervious. He had no choice but to write a memorial to the throne about the matter and send it to Shangjing by express courier.

Wenheng didn’t have many capable people under him. He accepted all those who came over to his side, and he was unsparing in ordering them to get work done.

As for the Deputy Envoy, Cen Gaosong, who had not been present earlier, he only arrived belatedly on the third day.

"I greet you, Mr. Gu." Cen Gaosong bowed. "Previously, Mr. Liu sent me to inspect several cities under our jurisdiction. I was unable to welcome you, Mr. Gu, for which I ask your forgiveness."

Wenheng said, "It’s no matter. It’s good that you’ve returned, Mr. Cen. Tell me about the current state of the cities under Yi Province’s jurisdiction."

Facing his superior, Cen Gaosong naturally wanted to get on his good side. Besides, inspections were part of his job, so explaining the situation to Wenheng was his duty.

"Besides Yongchang County, where we are now, there are five other commanderies under our jurisdiction.

In addition to the four commanderies of Hedong, West, South, and North, there is also Cross-border County.

These commanderies are not large, but they are quite distant from each other, and the roads are difficult to travel.

I took a local guide with me on this trip; otherwise, I wouldn’t have returned so quickly.

The entire region of Cross-border County is mostly mountainous. On this trip, I even encountered a pack of wild wolves there.

Fortunately, I had brought enough men to scare them away.

The people here truly have it hard. Their lives are quite difficult."

Wenheng believed him; he even felt that Cen Gaosong had probably sugarcoated the reality.

Before coming here, he had learned that the area had little arable land and many mountains. The people were frequently harassed by wild animals from the mountains, and a year’s hard work might not even yield enough harvest to pay the tax silver.

This was precisely why he was even more furious that Liu Xuan had managed to amass hundreds of thousands of silver taels in just a few short years.

After asking a few more questions about what Cen Gaosong had seen on his journey, Wenheng’s expression grew increasingly grave.

’I knew being assigned to this place wouldn’t be simple. It seems it’s going to be even harder than I imagined.’

After Cen Gaosong left, Wenheng remained lost in thought. When he came to his senses, he felt as if he had forgotten something.

But with such a huge mess on his hands, he had no time to dwell on it. He turned and threw himself back into his work.

「governor’s mansion」

Liang Shi rubbed his temples. "This Liu Xuan is audacious indeed, daring to embezzle so much silver."

Chen Wen Shu, the clerk at his side, said, "The yearly ’tributes’ from below are already a considerable sum. Add to that these hundreds of thousands of silver taels... he still hasn’t said where it all went. He couldn’t have sent it all back to the Liu Family, could he?"

Liang Shi said, "I have already dispatched troops to pursue Liu Xuan’s family.

I hear his accountant is with them. I hope we can make a breakthrough there.

You should also make a proper record of everything. It will be sent to Shangjing along with the memorial."

"Yes, sir," Chen Wen Shu replied, then asked, "My lord, do you think Mr. Gu had already sensed something was amiss here? He brought so many accountants with him this time."

Yes, in their minds, Wenheng’s sudden and unexpected appearance meant he must have caught wind of the situation early on. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have brought so many exceptionally skilled accountants and managed to take down Liu Xuan.