With a look of sincerity, Wang Chong's words seemed heartfelt, each sentence seemingly coming from deep within. When Chu Ge first reached the second stage of the trial, he was genuinely taken aback, unable to think of a counterargument, which ultimately led to his failure.
But this time, things were different.
Chu Ge sneered, "So, Lord Wang, you paint yourself as a selfless minister with the people's best interests at heart? Have I, Yang Yan, misunderstood you all along?
"I may be a lowly official, but I have witnessed the sufferings of the common folk. I'm not so easily deceived. Lord Wang, don't think you can fool me with the same tricks you use on other scholars; you'll only make a mockery of yourself.
"Are you suggesting that for every hundred catties of grain allocated by the court, you turn it into three hundred catties of chaff to save three times as many people? Not only increasing the quantity but also eliminating the layers of corruption? Is that truly the case?
"Or is it more likely that out of a hundred catties of grain, your faction skims seventy off the top, leaving only thirty catties to be converted into a hundred catties of chaff?
"Do you honestly believe that simply replacing grain with chaff and fodder prevents corruption at every level? Lord Wang, how exactly did you amass your wealth? It certainly didn't fall from the sky. You lead the way in embezzling relief funds, setting a precedent, so naturally, your followers do the same. The true reason why relief aid is never enough is the system of bribes and profit-sharing that sustains your faction!
"Your explanation conveniently absolves yourself of guilt, as if corruption is solely the fault of local officials, while you share the spoils reluctantly. But Lord Wang, as the highest-ranking official in Wei, are you truly so powerless? That's surprising!"
Wang Chong was silent for a moment.
The room was dimly lit, but Chu Ge could tell that the initial self-assured aura around Wang Chong had noticeably faded.
This indicated that Chu Ge's words had hit their mark!
Wang Chong's argument sounded convincing, especially to scholars with little experience in public administration.
If it were an average scholar, Wang Chong's sophistry might very well have shattered their ideals, which was exactly his goal: to paint Yang Yan as an idealistic failure. Once Yang Yan bowed to reality and admitted his mistake to the Emperor, Wang Chong's objectives would be achieved.
But to his surprise, Yang Yan showed no hesitation. Instead, he seized upon the flaws in Wang Chong's argument and counterattacked!
Still, Wang Chong was no ordinary man. He had held his position for decades, weathering numerous political storms. It would take more than that to defeat him.
With a faint sigh, Wang Chong said, "And do you know how much remains in the treasury? You speak of my wealth, but compared to the kingdom's yearly deficits, it's a drop in the ocean.
"Throughout history, how many honest officials have there been compared to corrupt ones? Honest officials are as rare as phoenix feathers, while corrupt ones are like sand in a river. If I relied on men like you, I'd have been jailed long before you.
"With an empty treasury, I'm forced to act as a patcher, using what little resources I have to save as many as I can. Chaff or fodder—it's all the same to the disaster victims. They aren't truly people; saving a few is better than saving none."
Chu Ge lowered his head, chuckling coldly.
"Lord Wang, I hear the sincerity in your voice, and I understand that your high position truly is taxing.
"You orchestrate grand strategies, portraying yourself and your faction as benevolent officials. But I have only one question: what will you do if you provoke an uprising?
"How will you handle that?
"If you're aware of the empty treasury, the extravagance at the top, the suffering at the bottom—if you truly understand how close we are to ruin—then why do you remain complacent?
"You say disaster victims are like animals, but animals will fight back when cornered!
"How can you be certain that they'll accept eating chaff while watching you dine in luxury?
"How can you be sure that these desperate people, seeing their food replaced with fodder, won't harbor resentment?
"How can you be sure that, in a time of revolt, these furious people won't strip the flesh from your bones and hang you and your officials from trees?
"Your reasoning might sound plausible within a small circle, especially among your faction, who might revere it as doctrine. But on a national scale, don't you see how absurd it is?
"Every dynasty has had both honest and corrupt officials. Yet some dynasties enjoyed prosperity, while others fell into poverty and chaos. What is the difference?
"In my view, it lies in the balance between men like you and men like me.
"Feel free to remain lost in your delusion. But when those angry people storm your manor and hang you, remember the words I've spoken today!"
Wang Chong opened his mouth to speak, but Chu Ge continued, cutting him off.
"Lord Wang, you claim that you have no choice but to rely on corrupt officials, and I find that astonishing.
"I recall my time as county magistrate in Lian County. The surrounding counties suffered the same drought. The other magistrates probably faced similar 'compromises' and 'hard choices,' filling the bellies of their clerks with relief grain.
"In the end, only Lian County under my governance was spared from rebellion. The other counties, each of them, experienced uprisings, with some magistrates dismissed and others executed.
"Back then, I was just a lowly magistrate, yet I knew how to keep my subordinates in check. You, on the other hand, have risen so high but claim you're powerless without these corrupt officials?
"If you truly feel so inadequate, why not retire and let me take over? Let's see how I fare."
Chu Ge raised his head, his gaze proud as he looked into Wang Chong's eyes.
"You say you have no other choice? Let me show you that I can handle it!
"I'll take your position and prove that I don't need these corrupt officials to deliver aid!"
Chu Ge's confidence came from the fact that everyone knew Yang Yan wasn't just an idealistic scholar; he was a capable and responsible official.
His method of countering Wang Chong lay in Yang Yan's own record. All he had to do was highlight it.
Wang Chong's expression shifted as he struggled with how to respond, eventually standing up silently and leaving.
His scheme had been thoroughly exposed.
Indeed, Wang Chong's argument was persuasive, and anyone else might have been swayed or even recruited.
In a choice between a "useful corrupt official" and an "incompetent honest official," the corrupt one would undoubtedly win.
But, fortunately, Yang Yan wasn't an incompetent honest official. He was both principled and effective!
Wang Chong's tricks, like morning dew under the rising sun, vanished without a trace.