The Upright Officials spoke...
Sima Zhao's intentions were known to every passerby!
Though the Upright Officials struck first, Shen Duan alone remained unmoved.
His hands stayed tucked within his sleeves, his court tablet held as before, his expression unchanged.
He merely turned slightly and glanced back at Wei Zi.
That glance held the amusement of a spectator.
Sure enough, no sooner had Qi Zhao withdrawn than another man stepped out from the Ministry of Revenue's ranks.
Thin and long-bearded, he was Ministry of Revenue Vice Director Xu Bingwen, a capable lieutenant under Kou Yuan, long renowned for his integrity.
Xu Bingwen walked to the center of the hall and first bowed toward the Imperial Throne.
Straightening, he did not look at Wei Nisheng. His voice was measured and low, yet his opening words carried throughout the hall:
"Your Majesty, I have something to say, and cannot rest until I say it."
Emperor Jing of Zhou nodded.
Only then did Xu Bingwen turn toward Wei Nisheng, his expression solemn.
"Director Wei's investigation of the silver in Suzhou was certainly a great service, accomplished through great toil.
But I believe that, having personally gone among the people and witnessed women hidden within temples, and a Just Judge's umbrella sheltering evil,
the merchants' exploitation and the suffering of displaced commoners, Director Wei must understand one thing better than anyone present..."
He paused briefly, then raised his voice a fraction.
"Silver piled in a treasury cannot save people.
Silver allocated to government offices cannot save people either.
Only when silver flows among the people, becoming farmland,
becoming seed grain, becoming dikes, becoming schoolhouses...
Can it truly benefit the people!!!
Having witnessed their suffering, how could Director Wei bear to let this silver
Fall into one private treasury, for one man's use!?"
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