"On the back, we’ll inscribe the names of the designer and builder of this Songjiang Prefecture Bailu Academy, Master Zhang Tongxiang and the principal craftsmen..."
THUMP!
Before Su Mu could even finish, Zhang Tongxiang dropped to his knees in front of him.
With his hair and beard streaked with gray, tears streamed down Zhang Tongxiang’s face.
’To have his name inscribed on the stele... this was a chance for his, Zhang Tongxiang’s, name to be celebrated for millennia.’
The Songjiang Prefecture Bailu Academy was destined to become a great institution that would last for a thousand years. In the future, every student who came to study here would see his name: Zhang Tongxiang.
"Such benevolence, my lord!"
Zhang Tongxiang said, kowtowing.
"Master Zhang, you are too kind. This is what you’ve earned."
Su Mu smiled and pulled Zhang Tongxiang up. "I’ve always believed that when people put in the effort, they should receive what they are due."
...
After news of the Songjiang Prefecture Bailu Academy’s completion reached the Da Xuan Capital City, it sparked a debate in the imperial court of Da Xuan.
"To have successfully built the Songjiang Prefecture Bailu Academy in just a few short months, and without spending a single tael of the court’s silver... I never thought our Taiping Bureau Governor would be such a capable and effective official."
The Emperor of Da Xuan appeared to be in his forties, with a dignified appearance.
He looked at the memorial before him. Beside the memorial was a blueprint of the Songjiang Prefecture Bailu Academy.
The design on that blueprint filled him with admiration.
"Everyone, tell Us, how should We reward Governor Su?"
The Emperor of Da Xuan said with a smile.
"Your Majesty, I believe he should not be rewarded."
A minister said in a deep voice. He was Da Xuan’s Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, Xu Sheng.
Xu Sheng said with a serious expression, "The reason Su Mu was able to complete the construction of the Songjiang Prefecture Bailu Academy so quickly is that it was built on a foundation of extortion and abuse of power for personal gain."
"Not only should he not be rewarded, but he must be punished—severely punished!"
"Otherwise, if everyone acts as he has, where is the Da Xuan Law? Where is the authority of the imperial court?"
"Xu Qing, what is the meaning of this?"
The Emperor of Da Xuan was taken aback for a moment, asking in confusion.
"Your Majesty may have granted Su Mu the discretionary authority to raise silver from the local Government Offices, but as far as I know, the silver he spent on building the Songjiang Prefecture Bailu Academy was all extorted from the various families of Songjiang Prefecture."
"He framed them with false charges to force each family to give him money."
"Furthermore, he abused his power for personal gain, privately selling public assets held by the Government Office."
"As the saying goes, ’All land under heaven belongs to the Emperor.’"
"What right does a mere Governor have to sell off the government’s land?"
Xu Sheng said.
A flash of embarrassment crossed the Emperor of Da Xuan’s face.
The treasury of the Da Xuan Kingdom was empty. He had sent Su Mu to oversee the construction of the Songjiang Prefecture Bailu Academy without giving him a single copper coin, so he already felt a little guilty.
Su Mu had completed the task, and he actually thought Su Mu had done a brilliant job.
Especially those fundraising methods—when he first received the report, he had exclaimed with delight and even ate two extra bowls of rice.
However, there was some truth to what Xu Sheng said.
This generation’s Emperor of Da Xuan had perhaps been born in an era of peace, and so his character was somewhat soft and indecisive.
"We believe the flaws do not obscure the virtues..."
The Emperor of Da Xuan said, pondering.
"Not so!"
Another minister spoke up, "Your Majesty, strict adherence to the law is the foundation of a well-governed state."
"Merit is merit, and a fault is a fault. They cannot be lumped together."
"Moreover, I have heard that Governor Su lent one million taels of silver to Songjiang Prefecture, which was then invested in the construction of the Songjiang Prefecture Bailu Academy."
"Your Majesty, that’s one million taels of silver!"
"How much is Governor Su’s annual salary?"
"As far as I know, Governor Su comes from a background of refugees and has no family support. He has only been with the Taiping Bureau for a few short years. How could he have accumulated such a massive fortune?"
"I believe that he, Su Mu, must be guilty of corruption!"
"Your Majesty, this must be investigated thoroughly!"
"Absurd!"
Before the Emperor of Da Xuan could speak, a minister shouted, "That is all malicious speculation!"
"You know full well what those families in Songjiang Prefecture are like!"
"Su Mu did a brilliant job!"
"As for why he could come up with one million taels of silver, does he need to explain himself to you old coots?"
"Have you ever been to the Demon Court? Have you ever seen demons with your own eyes?"
"Do you know how many fiends he has slain, how many devils he has beheaded?"
"If he wanted silver, would he need to resort to corruption? Do you have any idea how much silver the demons he has killed are worth?"
His spittle sprayed across the faces of those civil servants.
The Emperor of Da Xuan secretly approved, but on the surface, he could not show favoritism to either side.
"Everyone, please calm yourselves."
The Emperor of Da Xuan said.
"Your Majesty, I admit that Governor Su has merits, but we cannot allow him to act recklessly because of them. If everyone were to follow his example, wouldn’t everyone in the realm live in constant fear?"
"Those families work diligently to manage their affairs, only for the court to casually find a pretext to confiscate their property and exterminate their clans. Who would want to live in Da Xuan then?"
"This is shaking the very foundation of the kingdom."
"If Governor Su’s contributions are as great as Lord Zhou claims, then what is there to fear from an investigation?"
"If every tael of his silver was obtained legitimately, wouldn’t this be a perfect opportunity to show the world?"
"If this matter is not clarified, Governor Su will continue to bear the suspicion of the entire world. This is not good for Da Xuan, nor for Governor Su."
Xu Sheng said with a sincere expression.
Lord Zhou, who had just spoken up for Su Mu, frowned deeply. There was some logic to what Old Man Xu was saying.
’These civil servants are useless at everything else, but they’re more enthusiastic than anyone when it comes to slinging mud.’
’Although Su Mu might not be afraid of this, a good reputation is always better than a bad one.’
"Lord Xu, what are you suggesting?"
Lord Zhou said coldly.
"I believe that since the Songjiang Prefecture Bailu Academy is now built, the imperial court should dispatch someone to inspect and approve it."
"At the same time, Your Majesty could send a few people to sort through the finances of the Bailu Academy’s construction."
"The origin and destination of every single tael of silver should be investigated clearly."
"And, where Governor Su’s silver came from."
"Only by doing so can we clear Governor Su’s name and also put the people of the world at ease."
Xu Sheng said slowly.
A thoughtful expression appeared on the Emperor of Da Xuan’s face. After a long while, he finally spoke, "Lord Xu, if the investigation reveals that Governor Su’s silver was obtained legitimately, what then?"
"Naturally—"
Xu Sheng hesitated for a moment. "He should be rewarded."
"In that case."
The Emperor of Da Xuan pondered for another moment before saying slowly, "Then We shall do as Xu Qing suggests. Let’s investigate."
"We will have Prince Gong lead a party to Songjiang Prefecture. If there is guilt, the punishment will be severe."
"If there is no guilt, the reward will be great."
"Also, Beiting has heard that Da Xuan is allowing the Demon Court to send students for education, and they also wish to send some people to study in Da Xuan. What do you all think?"
"I believe..."
The officials all began to voice their own opinions, and a discussion broke out.
...
「Xiangzhou, Songjiang Prefecture.」
From within a quiet courtyard came the CLANG CLANG sound of hammering.
"It’s done."
With a SIZZLE, white steam billowed up.
Su Mu pulled a longsword from the water. After wiping it with a piece of demon beast hide, the blade immediately shone brightly.
He casually glanced at the system panel and saw that his Points had increased by five thousand. Su Mu was overjoyed.
’This part-time job as a Weapon Master is really great.’
"Xiaoyuan, how is business at the Celestial Craft Pavilion?"
Su Mu handed the longsword to Xiang Xiaoyuan, who was waiting nearby, and asked with a smile.
That’s right, the name Su Mu had chosen for the weapon shop he opened for Xiang Xiaoyuan was the Celestial Craft Pavilion.
A name that the ancestor of the Divine Weapon Pavilion had been too embarrassed to use, Su Mu had taken for his own.
Huo Zhen Court had expressed serious opposition to this, but his objections were invalid.
It was just a shop, not the founding of a new sect or school. The Divine Weapon Pavilion couldn’t concern itself with such matters.
If it were an ordinary person, the Divine Weapon Pavilion could have used its connections to apply pressure and make Xiang Xiaoyuan change the name. But behind Xiang Xiaoyuan was Su Mu, and behind Su Mu was the Taiping Bureau.
In the end, they could only pinch their noses and let them be.
"Demand is far outstripping supply."
Xiang Xiaoyuan said with a smile, "Our Celestial Craft Pavilion is now a perfect example of that old saying: go three years without a single deal, and one deal will set you up for the next three."
"As soon as one of the Mortal Weapons you forge is put on display, husband, it’s snatched up immediately."
"It’s just that our Celestial Craft Pavilion only has you as its one Weapon Master, husband, producing only one weapon every few days. Otherwise, I think Huo Zhen Court would truly go insane."