The Ministry of Revenue's investigation continued. Following the expansion of the battle lines and the increase in the number of people invested by the various departments, they finally found some clues that could be used in the old account books.
The officials of the investigation group finally relaxed. Regardless of how many problems the informants could uncover in the Ministry of Revenue, as long as there was a good beginning, it would break the flawless image of the Ministry of Revenue under Minister Fan's leadership.
The first problem was in the winter coat money sent to Cangzhou in the fourth year of the Qing calendar. The amount was not large.
Moving up from this line, it was like a snowball. The gap that the old officials of the Ministry of Revenue had hidden under layers of cover grew larger and larger. Gradually, it was startlingly exposed in front of the investigating officials.
The Crown Prince and Minister of Appointments Yan Hangshu were overjoyed. They did not care at all about Hu the Scholar's request to be safe. They ordered their subordinates to dig deeper and deeper. All the way from the county to the capital, they dug up the complicated lines from the root. Gradually, the evidence in their hands approached Jingdou. In other words, it approached the bodies of the high-ranking officials who could actually sign.
The left and right assistant ministers, who had been in charge of being investigated in the Ministry of Revenue, also began to tremble in fear. This account for the winter coats had originally been planned and something they had looked over. However, they had not expected that behind a mere 100,000 liang of silver winter coat, so many things would be pulled out.
Regardless of whether it was the court or the merchants, when they did accounts, they were best at shattering large gaps into countless small pieces of paper and then scattering them into the large projects. Like salt in a raging snow or water in a flood, they would disappear without a trace.
No one had thought that the burden of scattering the winter coats would not be done properly. Instead, it would give the game away.
The left and right assistant ministers stayed at the Ministry of Revenue yamen all night with ashen faces. When they were off duty that day, they were prepared to ignore the discussion and go to the Minister's manor to find an idea. Unexpectedly, the Crown Prince coldly said that before this matter was fully investigated, the officials of the Ministry of Revenue should not leave without permission. At the same time, he had moved the Overwatch Council and a few trusted aides to keep an eye on these two assistant ministers.
Ever since Fan Jian entered officialdom, he had always worked in the Ministry of Revenue. Regardless of how the name of the Ministry of Revenue changed before and after the new policies, or how the structure of personnel in court changed, he had worked his way up from a small position. Nine years ago, he was already the Left Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Revenue. At that time, the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue was old and sick at home. The Emperor favored Fan Jian, but it was not convenient for him to skip ranks to promote him. Thus, he forcibly had the sick old Minister occupy the position and did not allow other factions to send people in. This made it convenient for Fan Jian to use the position of Assistant Minister to command the entire Ministry of Revenue.
In the blink of an eye, nine years had passed. During these nine years, the Qing Emperor had favored the Fan manor greatly. Fan Jian had also used these nine years to turn the entire Ministry of Revenue into an interest group that was as solid as a metal plate.
It was a very quiet and unostentatious interest group.
So when the investigation of the Ministry of Revenue began, all of the officials in the Ministry of Revenue looked up at their Minister. They knew that as long as the Minister did not fall, nothing would happen to them.
Now, the Ministry of Revenue seemed to have sunk into danger. The left and right assistant ministers were unable to enter the Fan manor. For a moment, the officials of the Ministry of Revenue were fearful and uneasy.
— — —
The left and right assistant ministers could not come, but Fan Jian had been in the Ministry of Revenue for a long time. He completely understood the tense situation these two days. That night, he knew that the Crown Prince and the officials investigating had found a fatal weapon in the Ministry of Revenue — the winter jackets of the Northern soldiers.
"That won't move me." Fan Jian sat in the study and drank some sour berries. Narrowing his eyes, he said, "Regardless of who goes to Cangzhou to patrol, the jackets worn by the soldiers are all of the best quality. No matter how useless I am, I would not make an issue of the bitter cold of the Xu soldiers."
Today, he was not talking to a portrait. The person sitting across from him was a living person. It was the Fan manor's assistant, Sir Zheng Tuo, who had always been deeply appreciated by Fan Jian.
Back then, when Fan Xian was fighting a big underground case in the Jingdou government, the person in charge was Sir Zheng Tuo. He had previously been an old official of the Ministry of Revenue. Because he had done things efficiently, Fan Jian had him leave the Ministry of Revenue and use the more convenient identity of an assistant to do things for him.
Zheng Tuo thought for a bit and furrowed his brows. "That batch of winter jackets was not only not defective goods, on the contrary, the workmanship was very careful. The materials used were also very particular. The cotton was, of course, from the three large workshops of the palace treasury. The cotton cloth was also a first-class product of the palace treasury. Some of the other accessories were even goods from Dongyi that were used as an exception. The court could not say anything wrong about this … but …"
He wanted to say something but stopped.
Fan Jian smiled and said, "You've been with me for so many years. You should know that I do things carefully. However, when I analyze things, I am not afraid to consider the worst possible angle."
Zheng Tuo forced a smile and said, "However, the materials used for that batch of winter jackets were not bad. Later, when the Ministry of Revenue negotiated the price, they set it very high. The silver transferred from the national treasury … seems to have been a bit too much."
"Speak more directly."
"Yes, master," Zheng Tuo said. "The Ministry of Revenue took a lot of silver from that batch of winter jackets. Later, it was all used in other places."
"Correct." Fan Jian expressionlessly said, "This batch of winter jackets did indeed take some silver. That was because that month's official salary in the capital was almost unable to be paid out. The Emperor did not know of this situation, and I did not have the heart to trouble the Emperor with this matter. At that time, the silver from the palace treasury had not arrived, and we also had to prepare the rewards for the Western Expedition Army the next year. The Ministry had no choice but to take some silver from this batch of winter jackets."
He waved his hand and smiled. "However, this amount of silver was not large. It was also not used in other places."
"Yes, sir," Zheng Tuo said with a face full of worry. "The winter jackets are only one end. This time, the court is investigating the Ministry. There will be more and more things like this. Once the matter of transferring silver to fill in the deficit is brought to the capital, I'm afraid … it will ultimately point to the batch of silver that the Ministry finally transferred to Jiangnan."
…
…
Fan Jian sighed and shook his head. "There is no other way. The main reason for transferring silver to Jiangnan this time is for the palace treasury bidding. This does not have much to do with An Zhi. However, as the Minister of Revenue, I also want the palace treasury's income to be a bit better. If the court does not take money to go against the Ming family, how could the Ming family be willing to take out so much silver? "
He lowered his head and quietly said, "Actually, at the very beginning, I had already entered the Palace to talk to the Emperor about the transfer of this batch of silver."
The study was deathly silent. Zheng Tuo was dumbfounded and couldn't speak for a moment. The excuse for investigating the Ministry of Revenue was that the Ministry of Revenue was secretly transferring national funds to Jiangnan for profit. Who would have thought that the Palace actually knew about this large transfer of silver?
He calmed down with great difficulty and furrowed his brows. "Master, since it is something that the Emperor has tacitly agreed to, let's make it clear."
Fan Jian shook his head firmly. "The Emperor has his own difficulties … if the matter of the court secretly harming the wealthy Ming family in Jiangnan gets out, their reputation will be too ugly. However, right now, everyone in court is guessing that matter. The Emperor has no choice but to investigate."
He sighed and said, "Since it is so, how can we make it clear?"
"Then what do we do?" Zheng Tuo asked in shock. The meaning of these words was clear. It was originally a matter that the Emperor was in charge of. Was it just to quell the discussion and that Minister Fan didn't want to be forced to be the scapegoat?
Fan Jian's expression was calm. "As an official, of course I have to share the Emperor's burden. The Ministry of Revenue's transfer of silver this time is too big. In the end, it cannot be hidden. If in the end, the Ministry is still found out, I will have no choice but to stand up for the Emperor and end this matter."
The method the court used to deal with the Ming family was not honorable. Furthermore, there were countless court officials supporting the Ming family. For the sake of the stability of the Qing court, this method, which the Emperor had tacitly agreed to, could not be announced to the court.
Zheng Tuo's expression was moved and sorrowful. He thought to himself that Minister Fan was indeed a loyal official. At such a time, he was still thinking of protecting the Emperor's face and the court's interests.
"Sir, resign," Zheng Tuo said painfully. "It has already come to this. There is no need to continue stubbornly holding on."
Fan Jian shook his head, his interest waning.
Zheng Tuo once again tried to persuade him painfully. "I know you are not a person who longs for wealth. Looking at the present situation, the Emperor has long planned to stop investigating the Ministry of Revenue matter after you resign. As long as you resign from the position of Minister, it can be considered a conclusion to the transfer of national funds. Presumably, the Second Prince and the Eldest Princess will not continue to pursue the matter. Hu the Scholar and Shu the Scholar will also speak up for you … "
As Fan Jian's confidant, Zheng Tuo had already suggested this many times, but Fan Jian had never agreed. He faintly sighed and said, "There are some things that clearly can be done and left unscathed … but I just can't do it."
Fan Jian lowered his eyelids and said, "The Ministry of Revenue has always been managed by me. The court has been at war for many years and has used up countless amounts of silver. The great river has also been short of banks for three years in a row. In this world, no one knows better than me how empty the national treasury is, and no one understands better than me the current dangerous situation. All of the officials think that it is still a time of peace and prosperity. In reality, who knows the danger hidden under the prosperity? "
"But … Sir Fan junior has already gone to Jiangnan. As long as the palace treasury returns to the right path, the danger to the national treasury will be alleviated," Zheng Tuo said anxiously.
Fan Jian laughed quietly in his heart. If the situation in the palace treasury was not completely under Fan Xian's control, if the Emperor was not confident he could turn the situation around in the Qing Kingdom's national treasury within two years, how could that Son of Heaven be willing to let him resign?
Although he thought this in his heart, his face was incomparably pained. He said, "It is because Fan Xian has just taken charge of the palace treasury and the situation is good that I cannot leave right now …"
Fan Jian sighed and said, "First, it is because it is a crucial period from decline to prosperity. I don't dare to let go. I still want to manage it for the Emperor for another two years. Second, it is because of An Zhi. He appears calm and cold, but in reality, he is a passionate and ruthless person. If I truly resign, and it is because of the matter of transferring silver to the palace treasury … given his personality, I'm afraid he will immediately resign from his position in the palace treasury transport company and come back to the capital to seek justice for me. "
Zheng Tuo's face was full of shock. After thinking carefully, he realized that what the Minister said did make some sense.
"It's getting late. You should go back first." Fan Jian closed his eyes and said, "As for the matters of the Ministry, you don't have to worry too much. Although the sparks of the various departments have been lit and will one day burn me, or even myself, as long as I can hold out for one day, I will stay another day. Furthermore, once the fire grows, who knows how many people it will burn?"
Zheng Tuo sighed and deeply admired the Minister's dedication to the public. He didn't say anything more and left the study.
He left the Fan manor and got into his own carriage. Returning to his home, he spread out a piece of paper and wrote a secret letter. He gave it to someone in the manor and then lay on his bed. His eyes were wide open, and he could not sleep for a long time.
Until today, Zheng Tuo, the Fan manor's assistant, asked himself honestly and still could not be sure what kind of person he was.
… …
The Minister of Revenue Fan Jian actually did not know what kind of person his confidant, the assistant who had followed him for so many years, was, but he knew one thing.
Zheng Tuo was not one of his people.
Zheng Tuo was one of the Emperor's people. However, he didn't know if he had been placed by his side through the Overwatch Council or if he had gone through the internal court.
Regardless of which route it was, Fan Jian knew that his every move these years had been watched by that man in the Palace. Thus, all of Fan Jian's actions these years had been acted for that man to see.
Including tonight's painful and righteous analysis.
Fan Jian was not Lin Ruofu. He would not be beaten down by the people closest to him. From that night many years ago, amidst the sound of the drums in the west, he had made up his mind. He would never, ever trust a single person in Jingdou again.
The Ministry of Revenue had indeed moved a large amount of silver to Jiangnan. Furthermore, the movement of this silver had been tacitly approved by the Qing Emperor. Thus, when the Palace was angry because of this matter and ordered the three departments to investigate the Ministry of Revenue, Fan Jian was unexpectedly angry and felt a sense of absurd drama.
He couldn't help but laugh involuntarily.
Of course, this batch of national funds being moved to Jiangnan was not to be used against the Ming family. Fan Jian knew that his extraordinary son had long gathered a shocking amount of silver. He just didn't know where this silver had come from.
Fan Jian moving the silver to Jiangnan was actually to cover for Fan Xian. Old Fan's way of thinking was clearly more shrewd and ruthless than little Fan's. He did not believe that Fan Xian could use the excuse of the Ye family's inheritance to convince the Emperor of the sudden increase in silver in Xia Qifei's hands.
Every time he thought of this, Fan Jian couldn't help but sigh. Fan Xian was indeed becoming more and more daring in the way he did things. He dared to ally with Qing Kingdom's long-standing enemy, Northern Qi.
His son was causing trouble, and as a father, he had no choice but to cover it up. In order to ensure that his son's plan could proceed smoothly, the Ministry of Revenue had to put some silver into the money house to ensure that they could withdraw money at any time.
This was the entire truth behind the Ministry of Revenue's private transfer of national funds to Jiangnan.
In this plan, although the Ministry of Revenue moved a large amount, very little was actually spent. Most of the shares had made a circle around Jiangnan and had long returned to the Ministry of Revenue. Thus, Fan Jian was not worried at all that the Crown Prince and the Minister of Appointments could actually find anything.
Other than that, Fan Jian had purposely left some to go to the river works yamen.
If the Emperor wanted an official who did not have any major loopholes to resign, he only needed to create a ruckus and, through clever hints from certain people, have that official resign.
Even the treacherous Prime Minister Lin Ruofu had fallen into this kind of arrangement.
Fan Jian did not want to accept the Emperor's arrangements, nor did he want to return to Danzhou so early to retire. Thus, he let the Ministry of Revenue investigate. Only by muddying the waters could he better demonstrate his innocence.
At the same time, he had to use Zheng Kuo's mouth to stab the man sitting on the dragon chair.
Only that man believed that Fan Jian was loyal, foolish, and stupid, yet indispensable. Only then could Fan Jian continue to stand proudly in this dark Jingdou and watch Fan Xian's growth with the gaze of a loving father.
"It's all under control, right?" Fan Jian carefully glanced at the letter. It was addressed to his son far away in Jiangnan before he opened his mouth to speak.
A black-clothed man stood in front of him and bowed deeply. "Zheng Kuo and Yuan Bo 'an are the same. They both have no children. They are probably both people of the Overwatch Council."
Fan Jian furrowed his brows and said, "Yuan Bo 'an is really a person of the Overwatch Council? No wonder my in-laws fell so quickly. "
The black-clothed man said in a heavy voice, "But Zheng Kuo has a nephew. According to my investigations … it should be his own son. However, he was afraid the Palace would use this son to threaten him, so he has never admitted it."
Fan Jian's brows rose and he smiled slightly. "Very good, we can threaten him now."
The black-clothed man nodded silently. His hands were placed flat by his side. From the web between his thumb and index finger, there was a long callus. If Fan Xian had seen this detail, he would certainly be able to think of the calluses formed by Gao Da and the other Tiger Guards from holding long knives for many years.
Fan Jian gazed at the black-clothed man and said, "Following me, there really isn't much to do. You've been bored out of your mind these years. Don't blame me."
The black-clothed man smiled and said sincerely, "11 years ago, my defenses weren't strong enough and allowed the serving girls by the empress dowager's side to be killed by a madman. I was already a dead person. It was all thanks to you remembering our old friendship and secretly saving me. If it weren't for you saving my life, I'm afraid I would have long been playing around in the dirt. "
Fan Jian smiled and shook his head. "You have this kind of frivolous personality, not at all like a Tiger Guard. No wonder the Emperor didn't like you the most back then."
He then said, "Keep an eye on Zheng Kuo. If necessary, send his son's right hand to his room."
…
…
I had been sick for the past few days. Yesterday, I took an early flight and left home at five o 'clock. I arrived at the airport and boarded the plane. The plane flew for a long time. Then, the gentle voice of the stewardess rang out, "Yichang is snowing heavily. We cannot land." So, the plane turned back to Guangzhou. I stayed at the airport and stayed at the hotel to eat Hunan cuisine. Then, I was informed that I could land. Overjoyed, I went to the airport again and boarded the plane. The plane flew for a long time through layers of snow and clouds and landed in Yichang, which was three degrees below zero. It was very cold. I took the bus back to the city. When I got off the bus, I couldn't find a taxi, so I took the bus. It was said that Yichang's Yunji Tunnel had collapsed and the entire route was sealed. The bus took a detour to No.403. It was said that there was a traffic accident at No.403. When I returned home, it was already dark and I was very weak.
So, Yichang had snow that couldn't fall. That was why I had these problems. It wasn't because of the heavy snow in Guangzhou that my leader had mentioned when he asked for leave yesterday. If I had known that there would be heavy snow in Guangzhou, then I would have been wronged too much. At that time, Guangzhou was full of sunshine and the sky was blue. I stood in the bright sunshine of the Southern Kingdom and cursed the snow in Yichang.
It wasn't over yet.
When I returned home, there was a problem with my hard drive. I had already known about this and bought a 250 GB hard drive in Guangzhou, so I didn't think much of it. But when I installed the new hard drive, I was shocked to find that I didn't have a CD-ROM drive. How was I going to install the system? I struggled for half the night. I found my brother-in-law's CD-ROM drive and installed the new system. Then, I was shocked to find that I couldn't recognize the old hard drive when I installed it … How was I going to copy the things on it?
Don't worry, I still have the USB drive. This thing is good. But, in the end, I confirmed that the old hard drive was broken.
Finally, I stopped updating for the first time since I started writing. I felt a little strange. It was as if some record had been broken, as if the Celtics had finally lost.
Then, I was surprised. When did I become such a hardworking person?
I worked so hard that it took me a long time to sleep. I woke up very late today.
I could still use my brother-in-law's computer at home, so I had no problem writing. But I was sad and scared. I was scared that the data on the old hard drive would no longer be extracted … There were a lot of things on it. My Century of Love, my dream couple, my godfather, my alien. The scariest thing was that there were all the things I had written in the past seven years. Yingxiu, Roasted Chicken, the first draft of Qing Yichang, the beginning, and some small essays like nonsense … The scariest thing was that there were all the things I had experienced in the past few years, including my letters, screenshots, chat records, and archived files.
The USB drive was good, but there was only Qing Yichang on it.
Qing Yichang was only a small part of my life.
The hard drive contained the traces of my life in the past seven or eight years. I couldn't accept the fact that they might disappear.
So, I have to repair the hard drive. I'm feeling very down.
Tomorrow, I'm going to repair the hard drive. Please bless me, Wu Zhu. I might have written less carelessly these two days. Please forgive me.)
(To be continued, if you want to know what happened next, please go to WWW. CMFU. COM. There are more chapters. Support the author and support the original reading!)
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