"Senior-apprentice-brother Zhang, Senior-classmate Zhang, please do forgive me for interrupting for a moment." Prefect Xu stared at this official renowned for his uprightness, smiling faintly. "You are acting on an imperial decree, and normally I ought not to pay a visit, but as the prefect of this commandery, matters concerning the granaries and grain routes also involve me."
"Might you share your strategy for inspecting the grain?" Prefect Xu smiled as he glanced over. "That way, I can actively cooperate with you."
"Oh?" Zhang Dai's expression softened slightly, yet he was long since no longer some green youth fresh out into the world. No matter how smoothly these polite formulas were spoken, he still had to produce actual deeds.
He mused for a moment before saying, "In truth, my strategy for inspecting grain has nothing extraordinary about it—nothing more than investigating conscientiously and verifying meticulously."
"Even a single catty of grain will be pursued to the end. Only thus can those corrupt officials and avaricious magistrates be brought to justice under the law."
"What you say is right; toward corrupt officials and avaricious magistrates, there can be no leniency. Since you are the imperial envoy, whatever commands you issue I will surely obey. Otherwise, I would fail the imperial court."
Upon hearing this, Prefect Xu stood up, steadied himself, and spoke again. "Junior-apprentice-brother has come from thousands of li away this time, staying at post stations all along the road and bringing only a single personal retainer. It has been especially arduous."
"I know Junior-apprentice-brother is upright, but your official duties are heavy, and you must still preserve your health. I have brought one hundred liang of silver; I ask only that Junior-apprentice-brother accept it to supply your clothing and food, or even just for tipping your followers on ordinary