After Shu the Scholar finished speaking, the Emperor nodded his head. Even if he had other thoughts in his heart, he could not say anything at this time. Because of Fan Xian's ruckus at the Ministry of Justice last year, the court had sent the Imperial Censor of the Left far away to Jiangnan Road. The excuse they used was that he was overzealous and had bad morals.
Naturally, the words that the Emperor had said could not be taken back. However, at that time, the Emperor wanted to appease Fan Xian. Now, the Emperor wanted to use Guo Zheng's memorial to do something. Being blocked by Shu the Scholar, he couldn't help but laugh self-mockingly in his heart. He wondered if this was a pit he had dug and jumped into.
"Isn't there another eunuch who went to Jiangnan?" At this time, the Crown Prince jumped out to show his stupidity and chuckled. "Father, although we can't believe Imperial Censor Guo Zheng's one-sided words, once that eunuch comes back and says it, we'll know exactly what happened in Jiangnan."
These words appeared to be steady, but in reality, they were sinister. How could eunuch ruin Fan Xian? It was all because of a word from the empress dowager in the Royal Palace. The Crown Prince had confidence in this matter.
The Emperor glared at him and said in a cold voice, "How can the words of a eunuch be trusted? The ancestral teachings are here, don't forget! "
The Crown Prince was timid and didn't say anything more. Serving to the side, Eunuch Yao was silent. His expression did not change.
"Wait for Xue Qing's memorial." The Emperor closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
Everyone in the royal study nodded their heads, thinking that the words of a proper governor had to be more trustworthy.
Hu the Scholar, who had not expressed his opinion, finally opened his mouth and said, "Since it is so, then the Jiangnan matter can be put aside for now. If there really is such a thing, I … truly cannot believe it. Just as the Second Prince said earlier, if there really was someone secretly moving national funds to Jiangnan for profit, it would be close to rebellion. I believe that Minister Fan is not such an insane person. However, since the Jiangnan Road Imperial Censor and some local officials have sent memorials, the court cannot ignore it. The investigation of the Ministry of Revenue should indeed begin. First, it has to convince all the civil and military officials of the court. Second, it has to wash away the accusations Minister Fan has received. "
The Qing Emperor still maintained a superficial respect for these scholars of the Hall of Governmental Affairs. After a slight silence, he nodded. Suddenly, he laughed self-mockingly and said, "Even if they did something like this, it can't be considered crazy. However, I am curious. Have the officials thought about how to investigate?"
Although a faint self-mocking smile rose to the corners of his lips, everyone in the royal study felt an involuntary chill in their hearts. They could hear that the Emperor indeed had a strong opinion of Minister Fan. However, no one understood. Why had the Fan manor, which had always been deeply favored by the Emperor, suddenly become a place the Emperor did not like to see? How had Fan Jian offended His Majesty?
The Emperor's last question made the officials speechless. They didn't know how to respond.
There were two systems used by the Qing court to supervise the governance of officials. One was the Imperial Censorate, which was the Imperial Censorate who were used to being flogged. The other system was, of course, the Overwatch Council, which held incomparable power.
The Imperial Censorate was an organization to prevent corruption. It had the power to report rumors and memorials. That was why Jiangnan Road Imperial Censor Guo Zheng dared to report Fan Xian using the national funds without any evidence, allowing it to enter the treasury, and competing with merchants for profit.
The Overwatch Council was an organization that investigated after the fact. It had great power. After being authorized by the Emperor, it could interrogate all the civil and military officials of the court.
Under normal circumstances, if there was a problem in one of the six ministries, the one to investigate the matter would be the Overwatch Council. They could invite all officials under third-level to the square, gray-black building to drink tea. If the matter reached the level of vice minister or minister, they would ask for an edict again to ask for special privileges and investigate one level at a time.
The Ministry of Revenue had a deficit. Logically speaking, it should be handled according to this plan.
The problem was …
Presently, the Overwatch Council had the Director above and the Eighth Bureau below. Director Chen Pingping, who was incompetent and terrified all officials, had not personally handled a case for a number of years. In the past year, he had basically been in the Chen Garden outside the capital and no longer oversaw matters. Presently, there was an additional position between the Director and the Eighth Bureau. It was a very powerful and special position.
The Commissioner of the Overwatch Council, Fan Xian.
Fan Xian already had the power to mobilize the entire Overwatch Council. Other than the appointment and removal of personnel, his power was not much different from Chen Pingping's. If he had the Overwatch Council investigate the deficit in the Ministry of Revenue …
The officials in the royal study all shook their heads, thinking, If you let your son investigate your father, it would be a miracle if he could find a problem. If this matter got out, Northern Qi, Dongyi, and all the people under heaven would probably treat this matter as the biggest joke in Qing officialdom.
Shu the Scholar smiled bitterly and said, "Looks like we have to have the Overwatch Council avoid suspicion this time. However, at this moment, I don't know how to arrange the investigation of the Ministry of Revenue."
The old officials beside him repeatedly nodded their heads. Since they were going to investigate the Ministry of Revenue, they had to investigate it seriously. Regardless of whether they wanted to bring down Fan Jian or wash away the suspicions on Fan Jian's body, they had to be treated with a serious attitude and not turn it into a child's play.
At this moment, the Emperor laughed coldly and said, "Why not follow the old rules?"
"This …" Shu the Scholar repeatedly cried out bitterly. He thought to himself, Why must the Emperor pretend to be confused about something so clear? After hesitating for a moment, he finally summoned his courage and said, "Your Majesty, Sir Fan junior is, after all, the Commissioner with full power in the Overwatch Council. If we have the Overwatch Council investigate the Ministry of Revenue and this matter gets out, I'm afraid the impact will not be good."
"Then let the Overwatch Council investigate," the Emperor coldly said. "At the same time, the Ministry of Appointments, Ministry of Justice, and Supreme Court will send people to assist. You can also choose a leader to take charge of this matter. Since we are investigating the Ministry of Revenue's deficit, how can a few people do it?"
The officials in the royal study understood. The so-called sending people to assist was actually just to keep an eye on the Overwatch Council. However, no one understood. Since the Emperor had already decided that the Ministry of Appointments, Ministry of Justice, and Supreme Court would investigate the Ministry of Revenue, why did he have to drag the Overwatch Council into this mess?
As for the choice of the Minister of Revenue to lead the investigation, the officials were also muttering to themselves. They knew that this mission would greatly offend the Fan family and related officials, but they also knew that if they could actually find a problem, it would be a heavy blow to their reputation under heaven. Weighing the two, in the end, no one dared to take the risk and take on this hot potato.
Even the Fan family's enemies, the Minister of Appointments and the Second Prince, were silent.
It was impossible to see the Emperor's mood. He smiled slightly as his gaze slowly swept across the faces of the officials and his son. In the end, it landed on Hu the Scholar's face.
Hu the Scholar sighed quietly. He knew he could not avoid this disaster. He had entered the capital at the beginning of the year and had been promoted by the Emperor to be a Grand Scholar of the Hall of Governmental Affairs. Although he had the protection of his literary reputation from many years ago and his reputation as an official in various places, he did not have any clear achievements in the central government. The Emperor favored him because he had only been in the capital for a short time and had not become entangled with various powers. He also wanted to use the matter of investigating the Ministry of Revenue to establish his own authority in court.
Hu the Scholar was grateful for the Emperor's trust and importance. He was faintly resentful that the Emperor wanted him to offend the Fan family's father and son.
The Great Prince, who had only sent one sentence and then returned to silence, coldly said before Hu the Scholar, "Father, I am willing to be the one to offend people."
The Emperor chuckled and waved his hand. "You … cannot."
"Why?" The Great Prince furrowed his brows. "I dare to use my head to guarantee that I will investigate fairly and not be biased. Father, please believe in my loyalty."
The smile on the Emperor's face gradually faded. "If I say you cannot, then you cannot. You are the Commander of the Imperial Army, yet you are investigating the Ministry of Revenue. Do you want to set an example of the military interfering in politics? "
The Emperor's last words were said very harshly. The Great Prince was depressed and could not continue to argue. Although the Emperor had always liked his straightforward personality, since he had been given the heavy hat of the military interfering in politics, he could only mumble and retreat.
Hu the Scholar left his seat and asked, "I am willing to lead the investigation of the Ministry of Revenue matter."
The Emperor nodded and then turned to look at the Crown Prince. Coldly, he said, "Crown Prince, also go. Learn from Hu the Scholar. Hu the Scholar will lead the investigation. You will be a runner."
"I will obey."
The Crown Prince's expression was calm, but he couldn't contain his joy. Although he was only a runner in name, once he sat in the Ministry of Revenue yamen, who would not fear him, the Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace? Other than Hu the Scholar, he was also a leader. The Crown Prince was a bit happy. It looked like after the Hanging Temple, his father's indifferent attitude toward him had finally changed.
The officials accepted their orders and left. The royal study became quiet again. The Emperor took a sip of tea with a grave and stern expression and rose to leave the bed.
Eunuch Yao quickly draped a windbreaker over him. Seeing that the Emperor was not in a good mood, he carefully asked, "Your Majesty, shall we return to the palace to rest?"
"No." The Emperor walked out of the royal study and said, "To the little building."
Eunuch Yao quickly followed. He didn't say anything, but he felt strange. Recently, the Emperor had been going to the little building more and more often.
… …
Outside the Palace, a few uneasy court officials raised their hands in farewell. Some proudly prepared to go back and announce to their henchmen that the Emperor was preparing to take action against the Ministry of Revenue. Some were worried and prepared to return home to think about how to face the future of the court. Some were still confused and wondered how the Emperor's mind had changed in one day.
"Xiao Hu, come to my manor for a drink or two." Shu Wu was not afraid of anything. He pulled Hu the Scholar, who was preparing to leave first, and spoke straightforwardly.
Hu the Scholar's head was full of complaints. How could he drink? He repeatedly begged for mercy, "Old Shu, can't you see that my luck is pretty good today? I don't have the mood to write poems. "
These two liked literature and were the leaders of the civil officials. The Emperor did not strictly forbid private interactions between officials, so their relationship was very good. Although there was a large difference in age, they often mingled together.
Shu the Scholar made a look. Hu the Scholar's heart jumped and he agreed to this suggestion.
…
…
"The Emperor's heart is hard to fathom."
Shu Wu's manor was also in the south of the city. It was famous for its seclusion and was not very large. However, the two drunk people were talking under the pavilion. They didn't need to worry about the spring wind blowing their taboo topic out of the wall and being heard by others.
Shu Wu sighed and said, "I'm afraid this task of yours will be difficult. It really is following your brother's wishes and losing your sister-in-law's wishes."
These words compared the Emperor to a brother and the Fan family to a sister-in-law. Inevitably, it was a bit out of place. Hu the Scholar laughed loudly and said, "What nonsense? Your surname is not Hu. Have you drunk too much? "
"It's not nonsense." Shu Wu's expression was serious. He lowered his voice and said, "What do you think you can do? Looking at the Emperor's intentions, he must find out that there is a problem with the Ministry of Revenue before he will let it go. If there really is a problem with the Ministry of Revenue, what will happen to Minister Fan? "
"Right now, the key question is whether or not there is a problem with the Ministry of Revenue." Hu the Scholar's expression became worried. "You've explained Sir Fan junior's personality in detail to me. Looking at his clear-headedness with some ruthlessness and his cultured and refined manner of doing things, in order to stabilize Jiangnan and increase taxes, he moved money from the Ministry of Revenue down to Jiangnan … perhaps it is true!"
"Regardless of whether it is true or not, in any case, as long as the Jiangnan governor Xue Qing does not express his stance, the court will not know the situation over there. As for the Ministry of Revenue's deficit … "
Shu Wu smiled coldly and said, "The Ministry of Revenue is the yamen that manages money. Fighting wars requires money, repairing rivers requires money, disaster relief requires money, repairing gardens requires money, and opening the spring examinations requires money. Everyone in the world is stretching out their hands to the Ministry of Revenue to ask for money. Adding on to the fact that the princes and officials occasionally borrow some, it is truly a mess of accounts! Throughout the dynasties, how could there be a Ministry of Revenue whose accounts are completely clear? "
"The Ministry of Revenue is fated to not be clean," he continued in a cold voice. He continued in a cold voice, "This Minister Fan of the Qing court started as a low-level official in the Ministry of Revenue and has worked in the Ministry of Revenue his entire life. To be fair, the Ministry of Revenue under his rule is already the cleanest and clearest since the founding of our court. Even so, if one truly wanted to find faults in it, how could it not be found?"
Hu the Scholar slowly nodded his head. He was different from the previous Prime Minister Lin Ruofu and the current arrogant Fan Xian in Jiangnan. Although this Minister of Revenue Fan Jian's hands might not be clean, his conduct was unusually low-key and down-to-earth. In terms of ability, there was absolutely nothing to complain about. His good official reputation was also rarely seen in the court.
If such a Minister of Revenue fell in this political struggle, these two scholars would feel it was a great pity.
However, this time, it was the Emperor who had revealed his intention to have Fan Jian become an official.
Why was this?
"Why is this?" Shu Wu furrowed his old brows and straightforwardly asked the question that had been on the minds of the officials in the royal study for a long time.
Hu the Scholar was silent. Raising his wrist, he raised a cup of strong wine produced by the palace treasury and poured it into his mouth. He didn't speak for a long time.
Shu Wu stared into his eyes. He knew that this colleague, who was much younger than him, had judgment in certain areas that was worthy of trust.
Being stared at by the other party for a long time, Hu the Scholar sighed and slowly said, "When no one expected it, the Emperor had this thought. It is truly …"
He seemed to be unable to find any adjectives to describe this Emperor. He could only force a smile and say, "It is truly admirable. The Emperor investigating the Ministry of Revenue appears to be because of rumors in officialdom and the doubts in his heart. In reality, this is a good plan to kill three birds with one stone. "
"Which three little birds?" Shu Wu's beard was covered in wine as he asked with a lisp.
"The first bird is, of course, the Ministry of Revenue. It is Minister Fan. If the investigation of the Ministry of Revenue is powerful, Minister Fan will have no choice but to resign and return home."
"The second bird is the official on the Eldest Princess's side who initiated this matter." Hu the Scholar forced a smile and said, "The matter of the Ministry of Revenue and Fan Jian's resignation, how could Fan Xian let it go? Don't worry, the Emperor will not allow this matter to implicate Fan Xian. After the matter is over, Fan Xian will still be the Commissioner of the Overwatch Council. Thus, the Overwatch Council will carry out revenge against the officials on the Eldest Princess's side. At this time, the Emperor will no longer be forced by the Palace to be a mediator. Instead, he will watch as all of this happens. He might even act as if he wants to appease Fan Xian and be forced to remove a few officials. "
"Pressure from the Palace?" Shu Wu sighed. "Why is it that the Emperor can ignore the pressure from the Palace after the matter? Can he no longer continue to be a mediator? "
"The reason is simple. Minister Fan's departure and Fan Xian's anger can all be pushed onto the Eldest Princess's side. As an Emperor, the most important thing is to maintain the balance between the officials in court. Fan Xian's side first lost the Prime Minister and then Minister Fan. In order to maintain the balance, the Emperor will have to cut off a large chunk of the other side. "
Hu the Scholar continued, "This excuse, this Emperor's heart, is the best method to convince the old man in the Palace. Everything is for the Qing Kingdom, isn't it?"
He smiled and laughed at himself.
Shu Wu continued to sigh and asked, "Then what is the third bird?"
Hu the Scholar gazed at him with a not-quite-there smile. "The third bird is you and me."
Shu Wu was shocked and said, "What kind of explanation is this? You have accepted this order. Everything you discuss in the royal study is fair. Fan Xian is not a muddle-headed person. How could he have a grudge against us? "
"What you said is exactly what I wanted to say," Hu the Scholar said. "Who told us to reveal in court that we wanted to pull Fan Xian into the Cabinet? The Emperor's established policy has long been set. In the future, you and I are one side, and Fan Xian's Overwatch Council is another. Since we have other thoughts, the Emperor will destroy our thoughts. Even if Fan Xian doesn't hold a grudge against us because of this matter, how could he not hold a grudge against the civil officials who have written to impeach Minister Fan? Once this matter comes out, Fan Xian will certainly give up on the idea of a proper official career. You, I, and he will no longer have the possibility of sitting together in the Hall of Governmental Affairs. "
"It is just a guess." Shu Wu laughed in spite of himself. "Even if the Emperor's heart is difficult to predict, there is no need to make it so complicated."
Hu the Scholar sighed helplessly. "It is you who wants to say it. In the end, it will be you who will laugh. These words are enough for the two of us to have our heads chopped off 10 times. Don't go around saying it after drinking. "
"No matter what, I am a scholar." Shu Wu chuckled. "It is just to accompany the wine."
Suddenly, his expression froze. He furrowed his brows and asked, "No, the first bird you said is wrong. You have to explain clearly to me why the Emperor does not want Minister Fan to continue managing the Ministry of Revenue and why he is forcing Minister Fan to resign."
Hu the Scholar faintly sighed. "The reason is actually very simple. It is because the Emperor does not want to see Minister Fan's face in court every day."
The two leaders of the Qing court civil officials fell silent at the same time and sighed in their hearts. They felt unfair for Fan Jian. It looked like it was best not to casually raise a dragon child.
… …
Before the two scholars felt wronged for Minister of Revenue Fan Jian, they had also thought about whether or not they should quickly notify the Fan manor of the matter of the court preparing to investigate the Ministry of Revenue. Later, they thought about it. The Fan manor had many connections in the Palace. How could they not know? So, they gave up on this thought.
Indeed, not long after the meeting in the royal study ended, Fan Jian, who had said he was sick and had returned to his manor, had already received the news. He knew that the Emperor would officially begin an investigation into the Ministry of Revenue in the court conference the next day.
However, he was not very worried. His serious face had long lost the romantic air of the past. It was only calm and composed.
"It is not a plan to kill three birds with one stone. It is a plan to kill four birds with one stone." Fan Jian smiled slightly and said to the other side. "As an official who has been loyal to the Emperor for nearly 30 years, my admiration for the Emperor has never wavered. Today's matter is truly … admirable, admirable."
Regardless of whether it was in front of or behind others, whenever the Emperor was mentioned, Fan Jian would always draw back his brows, calm his spirit, and respect him without a doubt. The two words of admiration in the study were said very disrespectfully.
"What is the fourth bird?"
Fan Jian extended his right palm and opened it in front of him. Curling his thumb, it was as if he had learned a wondrous palm technique from somewhere. His four fingers pointed firmly and unyieldingly toward the sky.
"The fourth bird is the Overwatch Council."
"The Emperor wants to see if his order can still smoothly command the terrifying Overwatch Council organization like it did in the past years and not if, as he fears, it is already in Fan Xian's hands."
"Xian 'er's progress is too fast." Fan Jian thought of his son far away in Jiangnan and sighed. "If the Emperor can't even command the Overwatch Council, then the power in the Fan manor's hands is a bit too great."
The corners of his brows suddenly rose frivolously. Smiling merrily, he said, "Furthermore, the Emperor wants to see just what the true relationship between Chen Pingping and me is. All these years, the Emperor has incomparably trusted me and the old cripple. You know why. It is because before Fan Xian entered the capital, the old cripple and I were never on good terms. What he wanted to do, I resolutely did not do. What I wanted to do, he resolutely opposed. “
Fan Jian's expression darkened. "Now that I think about it, it was probably me and Chen Pingping who suspected each other. We suspected that the other had played a dishonorable role in that incident many years ago."
"But Xian 'er entered the capital." He continued to explain in a quiet voice. "The suspicion between Chen Pingping and I lessened greatly. Naturally, the Emperor's suspicion of us increased. Most importantly, Xian 'er is becoming more and more brilliant. Each time Xian' er becomes more brilliant, the Emperor thinks of what happened in the past and sees me a bit less pleasing to the eye. "
"The Emperor is jealous."
"That is why I am resigning."
The Minister of Revenue, Fan Jian, finally came to a conclusion.
He immediately used a frivolous expression that was rarely seen on his face these days and mockingly said, "However … you know me. I have always been silent and good at acting. But, in my bones, I am a very stubborn and ruthless person. He wanted me to follow Lin Ruofu and ask for my resignation so that no one would shed all pretense of cordiality. However, I refused to resign. In any case, the Emperor always cares more about the problem of face than his officials."
(To be continued, if you want to know what happened after, please log on to WWW. CMFU. COM. More chapters. Support the author. Support original reading!)
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
