Chapter 96: Listening to the People with the Complaint Drum
Is he alright?
Is he still alive?
Thinking of Fu Jun again, Wei Wanlan’s heart was filled with both joy and worry.
He found that after Fu Jun disappeared without a reason, he missed and worried about him even more. Fu Jun had undoubtedly given Wei Wanlan an infinite sense of security.
Many images flashed through Wei Wanlan’s mind:
Him feeding Fu Jun water and food in the carriage, begging Fu Jun to carry him on the roof, the stone bridge, the narrow alley, the detoxification… Now Wei Wanlan smelled the woody fragrance from the Regent King.
The two scents were very similar, making Wei Wanlan feel confused. This dislocation left Wei Wanlan at a loss. It made him want to approach because of the reunion with an old friend, but he was forced to keep his distance by those overly sharp and cold eyebrows and the other party’s powerful identity as the Regent King.
Hero…
Big Bad Guy…
Suddenly, a light flickered before his eyes.
Drawn by the flickering light, he snapped out of his thoughts.
Turning around, he saw an old man setting up a stall selling fried cakes diagonally across from him, smiling and saying:
“Young master, fresh fried cakes, would you like a portion?”
“Eh?” Wei Wanlan tilted his head.
He saw a fried cake stall surrounded by a dozen people. The stall owner’s eyes were full of joy, greeting Wei Wanlan through the gaps in the crowd.
Wei Wanlan: “Why do you want to give me fried cakes, uncle?”
Other customers in front of the stall also laughed: “Oh, it’s not just for you, young master. Uncle Feng has been giving them away here for several days.”
“Uncle Feng’s fried cakes are crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, with plenty of sugar. Everyone on this street knows!”
“You flatter me, you flatter me,” the praised Uncle Feng chuckled, his hands continuing to pinch the dough and wrap the cakes. The cakes quickly expanded in the oil pan, becoming round and full like a full moon. “My wife’s family is from Fenggu Village. Since my father-in-law’s accident, my wife hasn’t been in good health since the beginning of spring. Thanks to the court sending people to eradicate the traitor Yuan, my wife is happy, and her illness is cured.”
The old man selling fried cakes had bulging cheeks. His slightly flushed face glowed. That was a joy difficult to fake.
Wei Wanlan asked obediently: “So these fried cakes are for everyone?”
“With the traitor Yuan eradicated, everyone can share the joy, and the days ahead will be sweet…” Saying this, he scooped up the freshly fried cakes and distributed them to everyone.
Some people joked:
“The one who knew Uncle Feng was giving away cakes for several days just now, did you eat for free twice? Greedy.”
“Greedy as old ghost Yuan!”
“Hahahahaha…”
The crowd burst into laughter again.
Wei Wanlan took the cake. The cake, wrapped in a lotus leaf, warmed his palm.
Uncle Feng wanted to hand another fried cake to Su Jingzhi, but due to the Regent King’s cold aura making him unapproachable, Uncle Feng didn’t dare to step forward.
Wei Wanlan couldn’t bear to see others embarrassed, so he thanked him on behalf of Su Jingzhi and tied a beautiful lantern to the old man’s stall. The exquisite lantern swayed gently.
Wei Wanlan said softly: “A return gift for your kindness.”
“Thank you, young master, thank you, young master.”
“The Son of Heaven is in our Luoyang City. I think you shouldn’t give away cakes in the market, but go to the Son of Heaven’s door. Maybe you can even deliver them to the Son of Heaven.”
“Great Wei’s laws do not forbid gazing upon the Holy Countenance. I heard from relatives in Chang’an that the Son of Heaven is just a teenager, at the age where he likes sweets and playing!”
“The lantern seller over there is also offering discounts recently. Why not go do business outside the posthouse together?”
“Maybe the Son of Heaven will even buy your lanterns!”
Don’t treat me like a child QAQ
Actually, Wei Wanlan only occasionally felt childish himself, although he often did childish things, like loving sweets and buying toys. But feeling childish in others’ words was a different feeling. Wei Wanlan’s small face flushed.
He held two warm fried cakes in his palm. Beside him, the Regent King was carrying the four lanterns bought for him.
It… it felt a bit like the Big Bad Guy taking him out shopping…
He quickly retreated from the fried cake stall.
Su Jingzhi didn’t understand but just followed.
Behind them, the commoners suddenly said something, carried by the peach blossom-scented night breeze:
“It would be great if the Son of Heaven established the capital in our Luoyang.”
“It would be great if ordinary people could talk to the Son of Heaven.”
“The Son of Heaven could know early on which of his ministers are good or bad. We can all tell the Son of Heaven.”
These words drilled into Wei Wanlan’s ears.
Suddenly, Wei Wanlan stopped in his tracks.
He didn’t turn around, but at this moment, it was as if a ray of light shone into his mind, clearing his clogged thoughts.
Wei Wanlan paused, then said to the Regent King: “Can We think of a way to directly hear the opinions of the people in the future?”
If officials supervising officials represents the court and professional assessment.
Then people supervising ministers represents the voice of the people, and everyone will keep their eyes open on local officials for their own rights.
This way, the emperor can have more than one pair of eyes supervising the officials. Everyone is the emperor’s eyes supervising the ministers… Thinking excitedly like this, Wei Wanlan unconsciously grabbed the Regent King’s arm: “Can We?”
Four lanterns swayed simultaneously.
“Yes.”
Early the next morning.
Birds chirped outside the Luoyang Posthouse. The warm spring sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, leaking down bit by bit like many glittering golden stars.
A large drum was set up in front of the posthouse gate.
The drum was red. It was about half a zhang in diameter, the drum surface made of bleached cowhide, taut. A hammer-like drumstick rested on the drum stand.
“What is this drum for…”
“It’s so big.”
The large drum attracted many passersby.
The Luoyang Posthouse was located in the center of the city, with pedestrians coming and going, quite lively.
But the onlookers only stopped far away around the large drum.
Because the Son of Heaven’s carriage was in Luoyang, few dared to approach. The little emperor’s location should have been kept secret, but the posthouse hadn’t been open to the public recently, and there were so many soldiers standing guard outside. Through rumors and guesses, many people knew.
More and more people gathered.
A thick wall of people formed around the drum surface. The discussion became a bit loud as the number of people increased.
Suddenly, the main gate of the Luoyang Posthouse opened—
Everyone’s eyes turned to the door.
A heroic man in heavy armor came out. Li Jiucheng strode down the steps, walked to the giant drum, picked up the drumstick with one hand, and cupped his fists with the drumstick to the surrounding people, saying:
“Let it be known to all fellow folks, this drum is called the ‘Complaint Drum’ (Dengwen Drum), set up by the Son of Heaven to directly listen to public opinion.”
“Complaint Drum?”
“Directly listen to public opinion?”
“Can we talk to the Son of Heaven by beating the drum!”
The people were gradually attracted by Li Jiucheng’s voice, and the wall of onlookers tended to become thicker.
Li Jiucheng’s voice was like a giant thunder bell, drowning out the chatter outside the Luoyang Posthouse. Li Jiucheng said: “Of course, you can’t say just anything to the Son of Heaven. The Son of Heaven is also very busy. What the Son of Heaven wants to hear is—petitioning (shangfang)…”
“Upper room (shangfang)? What room?” The people were confused. “Whose room are we going to? To remove tiles?”
“Hey!”
What a mess.
Li Jiucheng himself was confused by this term.
Before leaving, Wei Wanlan had explained petitioning to him: “The way people express their demands, bypassing lower-level organs to report situations to higher-level organs.”
Although the little emperor spoke in Great Wei official Mandarin, when put together, Li Jiucheng felt he understood but didn’t quite understand. The little emperor mumbled that he had learned it in law class, and the two were talking past each other.
Li Jiucheng had to rely on his understanding and shouted loudly:
“It’s just asking you if you have any dissatisfaction with any court official, or feel wronged. The Son of Heaven will stand up for you.”
This was plain and direct enough.
Expressions of solved doubts appeared on the people’s faces, nodding: “Oh. So that’s it.”
Li Jiucheng hurriedly added: “But you must ensure the content is true, otherwise you will be punished, and make those waiting in line for justice wait a few more days…”
After speaking, Li Jiucheng looked at the people.
He seemed to be waiting for the first brave person to open the Complaint Drum, but looking around with his copper-bell eyes, he saw everyone had the same reaction, looking at each other to find the first person to test the effect of the Complaint Drum, but no one stepped forward to beat the drum.
Li Jiucheng couldn’t help but feel a little anxious.
He stayed by the little emperor’s side and didn’t return to the garrison for the time being. It was precisely because the Prince was busy that reports from various places were redirected to Luoyang. The Regent King arranged for him to take care of the little emperor.
How could he let the little emperor’s hope fail?
Li Jiucheng raised his voice again and asked: “Do you really have no petitions?”
The onlookers shook their heads.
“Really none?” Li Jiucheng asked again, obviously a little anxious.
But the onlookers shook their heads again.
Clearly, some people intended to approach the Complaint Drum, even taking steps, but everyone just stayed at the observation stage, and no one dared to step forward to beat the drum.
This made Li Jiucheng very depressed.
“General Li.” At this time, Xiao Ji walked out from the posthouse, fanning himself with a folding fan, falling flowers still on his shoulder.
Seeing it was Xiao Ji, Li Jiucheng’s eyes lit up a bit.
Xiao Ji folded the fan one by one and said slowly: “Look at these passing people. None of them knew in advance that a Complaint Drum would be placed here. Moreover, those with real grievances wouldn’t wander in this market early in the morning. Besides…”
“Besides what?”
“In ancient times, Shang Yang moved a wooden pole to establish trust. Why didn’t the people dare to move that pole before? It was all because they were afraid the court wouldn’t keep its word, afraid of traps ahead, and afraid the new system was useless. It’s just that the publicity wasn’t in place, plus no pioneer came.”
Xiao Ji analyzed logically.
Li Jiucheng listened with half-understanding, scratching his head: “That moving wood to establish trust (Ximu Lixin), is he Japanese? Where can we invite him?”
Xiao Ji: “…” Talking past each other again!
Xiao Ji tapped his palm with the folding fan, making a clear sound, and decided not to explain anymore: “Go post notices in Luoyang, let soldiers beat gongs and shout throughout the entire Eastern Capital. When the momentum is big enough, there will surely be a first person to beat the drum.”
After Xiao Ji finished speaking, Li Jiucheng hurriedly did as told.
These scholars from Chang’an had many ideas. He chose to believe, and soon the matter of “beating the Complaint Drum to complain to the Son of Heaven” spread throughout Luoyang city.
Li Jiucheng waited eagerly in front of the drum.
Some idle people in the Eastern Capital followed to watch the excitement, also waiting in front of the Complaint Drum outside the posthouse.
The waiting process was somewhat boring.
But finally, in the afternoon, the wall of people outside the Complaint Drum separated left and right. People’s eyes first jumped with anticipation, then made way for a narrow path leading to the Complaint Drum.
Everyone looked at a woman in the center of the path.
Seeing the young woman was beautiful but dressed in snow-white mourning clothes, her face full of sorrow, like a flower soaked in ice water. She was a beauty.
Everyone has a love for beauty.
So people’s compassion slowly rose, and the thought of watching the excitement gradually subsided. Everyone gasped slowly facing the woman. Such a beautiful woman should be cherished at home. Why did she appear here, in front of the Complaint Drum?
The beautiful woman looked straight ahead, ignoring the surprised and suspicious glances from others.
She took a few steps, knelt down, and kowtowed.
Took a few more steps, knelt again, and kowtowed again.
She came to the Complaint Drum from afar with three kneels and nine kowtows, holding the drumstick tightly with her delicate hand, and beat the drum heavily:
Dong——
Dong——Dong Dong!
“Common woman Zhang sues the Ruyang County Magistrate and County Sheriff for causing my husband’s wrongful death. My late husband’s bones are not yet cold. I implore the Son of Heaven to avenge my late husband!”
Saying this, Zhang bowed again.
Blood flowed from her forehead, her mourning clothes not hiding her brightness.
The main gate of the Luoyang Posthouse opened.
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