"Minister."
"Sir Hu."
Hu the Scholar's face was full of smiles as he welcomed Minister Fan in.
The officials responsible for investigating the Ministry of Revenue also gathered around and all expressed their comfort to the sick Minister. Even the Minister of Appointments, Yan Hangshu, could not stay out. His old face was full of sincere worry and concern. The people of the Overwatch Council investigating the Ministry of Revenue had long carefully helped Minister Fan block the wind blowing in from outside the door. They were very eager.
Regardless of whether or not the court truly wanted to investigate the Ministry of Revenue, regardless of whether or not the Emperor truly wanted Minister Fan to resign, as long as Fan Jian was in court, as long as the Emperor did not tear apart this layer of brotherly affection, as long as Fan Xian, far away in Jiangnan, was still alive, these officials in court did not dare to slight Minister Fan.
Thus, the scene at this moment had an absurd sense of comedy. The Minister of Revenue who was being investigated was being cared for and carefully protected by everyone, particularly the investigating officials of the Overwatch Council.
In particular, the investigating officers of the Overwatch Council were all from the First Bureau, led by Mu Tie. The First Bureau was still under Fan Xian's direct control, and Fan Jian was their superior's father. What else could they do?
The Crown Prince's face alternated between green and white. Looking at the scene in front of him, a great sense of unease welled up in his heart. Fan Jian had said he was sick and had not come to the Ministry of Revenue for many days. Now that he had arrived, he seemed to have attracted everyone's gaze. This official, who usually did not show himself, seemed to have some kind of aura about him.
Although he was the Crown Prince and the future ruler of Qing Kingdom, facing Minister Fan, he still had no choice but to stand up. Piling a warm smile on his face, he comfortingly said, "Minister, are you feeling better?"
The Crown Prince was not afraid of Fan Xian or concerned about the Overwatch Council. However, as a member of the royal family, particularly the successor to the throne, he had to display a certain bearing. The relationship between the Fan family and the Li family was too deep. In Danzhou, there was still an old woman watching from afar. The Crown Prince did not know what kind of feelings the Emperor still had for that wet nurse.
Fan Jian smiled shamefully and said, "The Ministry of Revenue matters were all started by me, yet I have to trouble Your Highness and Sir Hu. It is truly my fault."
After exchanging a few pleasantries, everyone took their seats. Although Fan Jian belonged to the side that was being criticized, he had always been targeting the Minister of Revenue. Thus, he openly sat in the middle of the room, not wanting to pass on his responsibility.
This was the Ministry of Revenue, Fan Jian's territory.
…
…
After everything had calmed down, everyone turned their gazes to the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, Fang Li, who was still in his original spot.
Everyone had a different look in their eyes. Yan Hangshu was gloating, the Crown Prince was hesitant, Hu the Scholar was cold, and the Overwatch Council furrowed their brows. Only Minister Fan's face was calm. It was as if he had not thought that this person called Fang Li would implicate so many people.
At this point, the Crown Prince naturally understood everything. Fan Jian was a shameless, cunning, and silent old fox!
When the court began to investigate the Ministry of Revenue, no! It should be said that as early as a few years ago, when the Crown Prince extended his hand to the Ministry of Revenue, Fan Jian had already been watching this scene with cold eyes. Then, he used extremely shrewd and ruthless methods to quietly cover up this matter without anyone noticing. However, on the other hand, he purposely left behind a small tail that did not draw attention. With a light flick, it was thrown to one of the seven bureaus …
In this way, not only did they cover up for the Crown Prince, but they also had the Crown Prince's weakness. Most importantly, this kind of cover also covered up the officials on the Crown Prince's side. Thus, this 400,000 liang of silver turned into nothingness and was wiped clean. It was so clean that even Fang Li thought there were no more problems.
In addition, there was the collapse of the Ministry of Rites and a sliver of the Crown Prince's stupidity.
In the entire world, only Fan Jian knew the entire process. This Minister, with unusual shrewdness, did not directly throw it out to attack the enemy. Instead, he left a trace of the head of the thread in the weeds.
For example, the winter clothes worn by the soldiers in the snowy North or the siege machines that were not needed on the South Yue battlefront.
When the court began to investigate the Ministry of Revenue, they would find the head of the thread and gently pull on it. In the end, they would pull on their own belts.
This was a trap that had been buried for a few years.
Fan Jian did not need to do anything. He only needed to wait for the moment he was threatened and create a certain situation so that some people would grab onto the belt they had long forgotten and pull it hard.
A good trap.
— — — —
The investigation into the Ministry of Rites had already begun. Although the Ministry of Rites had undergone a major change after Guo You was tied to death in the Celestial Prison and all of the documents were a bit messy, under the powerful investigation of the court's investigation team and the Overwatch Council's careful search, the transfer order the Ministry of Rites sent out matched up with the receipt that the Ministry of Revenue had secretly kept.
The 400,000 liang of silver had indeed been sent to the Ministry of Rites. The problem was, the Ministry of Rites had moved 400,000 liang of silver to repair the school buildings and the autumn school. Where did they go?
Grand Scholar Hu had been inspecting all over the world for a long time and then entered the Hall of Governmental Affairs to oversee matters. Of course, he knew that the schools in the various provinces were still broken. In many places, the autumn school offices would still leak rain. Thus, his expression became increasingly ugly. He faced the official of the Ministry of Rites in front of him and asked, "Who can tell me where these 400,000 liang of silver went?"
Hu the Scholar lightly turned his body and glanced at the Crown Prince. He sighed in his heart.
In reality, everyone in the hall was well aware of the situation in the court over the past few years. The Ministry of Rites had always been the backyard of the Eastern Palace. The Ministry of Rites did not have the guts to move 400,000 taels of silver around. Everyone could guess that the silver had flowed to the Eastern Palace.
However, since the investigation had reached the Eastern Palace, it seemed that this matter would be difficult to continue.
Hu the Scholar was silent for a moment and then said, "The most important problem right now is to find out the whereabouts of these 400,000 liang of silver."
The Crown Prince's heart jumped, but he smiled warmly on his face. "Sir Hu's words are reasonable."
Mu Tie of the First Bureau of the Overwatch Council did not have the right to sit beside these officials. He had been standing to the side the entire time. He looked at the expression of Minister Fan sitting in the middle and suddenly said, "The silver did reach the Ministry of Rites. However, the official who handled this matter died in the spring examination case the year before last."
The Crown Prince was silent to the side. Guo You had already died, and Guo Baokun had been lost. Now that the Overwatch Council had confirmed the specific death of the person who handled it, even if the Eldest Princess knew of his connection to the 400,000 liang of silver, she would not be able to find any evidence to give to Hu the Scholar. Thus, his heart felt slightly at ease. While he felt slightly at ease, he couldn't help feeling sorrow and anger. Aunt! Why are you doing this?
Unexpectedly, Mu Tie's next words chilled the Crown Prince's heart.
In a serious voice, he said, "However, there are always some clues that can be investigated. Scholar, do you think we should have the Overwatch Council investigate the Ministry of Rites? "
Investigate the Ministry of Rites?
Everyone in the hall was startled. They thought, Have this group of wolf-like Overwatch Council investigate the Ministry of Rites? If the court investigated the Ministry of Revenue, it would clearly make Sir Fan junior far away in Jiangnan angry. If the Overwatch Council investigated the Ministry of Rites, under Sir Fan junior's remote control, the pitiful officials of the Ministry of Rites would probably not survive.
However, Mu Tie's request seemed very reasonable.
Fan Jian lightly stroked his long beard. His face was expressionless, but in his heart, he was thinking that An Zhi's trusted aide seemed to have a much better brain than before to be able to guess his thoughts.
Fan Jian's thoughts were very simple. Didn't the court want to investigate the Ministry of Revenue? If the Ministry of Revenue wanted to protect itself, it had to open up the battle lines and drag in more departments … the Ministry of Rites was only the beginning. Once all six ministries were found to have problems, the wise Emperor would not be able to remove all the Ministers of the six ministries from their positions.
The Minister of Appointments, Yan Hangshu, glanced at Fan Jian and greatly admired this old fox. He quickly shook his head and refuted, "The court has clearly ordered to investigate the Ministry of Revenue. It is not good to spread it too widely."
Fan Jian smiled insincerely and said, "Reasonable, reasonable."
Everyone could hear the mockery in these two words of reasonable. Yan Hangshu's face blushed. He knew his suggestion was unreasonable. Since the Ministry of Revenue's deficit involved the Ministry of Rites, they should continue to investigate.
Hu the Scholar's expression was also awkward. He persuaded, "Let's discuss it for a while, let's discuss it for a while more."
If they let go and asked for an edict for the Overwatch Council to investigate the Ministry of Rites, in the end, they would certainly investigate the Crown Prince. Thus, before entering the Palace to ask for an edict, Hu the Scholar did not dare to make such a decision.
The Crown Prince gritted his teeth and said, "The matter of the Ministry of Rites has to be investigated. However, there is a priority. The matter of the Ministry of Revenue's deficit has not been clearly investigated. If we expand it too widely, I'm afraid it will hinder the Emperor's edict. "
Fan Jian continued to smile slightly and said, "The Crown Prince is reasonable, reasonable."
Hu the Scholar sighed in his heart and said, "Concerning the matter of the Ministry of Rites, please enter the Palace in a moment to listen to the imperial edict. According to the Crown Prince's intentions, the Ministry of Revenue should continue."
…
…
If they continued to investigate, the Ministry of Revenue would certainly find more problems. In the end, the 400,000 liang of silver was only the tip of the iceberg. The Crown Prince did not believe the Fan family would be so clean in the Ministry of Revenue.
Of course, the Ministry of Revenue was not clean. Minister Fan had set up a trap, and the Crown Prince was not the only one buried in it.
As the investigation gradually deepened, a few more departments were successfully dragged into the water by the Ministry of Revenue. The Supreme Court bore the brunt of it. The expression of the long-silent official of the Supreme Court immediately changed. He felt incredibly awkward.
The Ministry of Revenue did not have bad accounts, but there were too many hidden accounts. Each deficit pointed to a certain side in the court.
In the end, even a small yamen like the Imperial College could not escape.
The Minister of Appointments, Yan Hangshu, began to be cautious. Although the Ministry of Revenue had found a problem, it did not involve the Eldest Princess or the Second Prince. Because he was on his side, the money always flowed through the palace treasury. But seeing how well prepared Fan Jian and the Ministry of Revenue were, who knew if he would not be so sinister as to use some kind of excuse to trick the Second Prince?
"Let's stop here for now," Yan Hangshu furrowed his brows and said. "After entering the Palace to ask for an edict, we'll continue tomorrow."
"Reasonable." Fan Jian continued to smile as he said these two words.
Hu the Scholar's face was cold. He looked at the officials in the investigation group and thought, How could the court become so corrupt? If the Emperor truly had the determination to continue investigating, Minister Fan would have to resign. As long as the investigation didn't reach Jiangnan, he would not have to take too much responsibility. However, the other officials in court would probably be mostly unlucky.
… …
In the Royal Palace in late spring, red apricots occasionally appeared on the low walls of the inner palace. The green trees and beautiful flowers contrasted against each other. The beautiful scenery entered one's eyes and did not want to be taken away.
It was already dusk, and in the blink of an eye, it was dark. The door to the royal study opened and closed, closed and opened again, and a few ministers came and went in succession. In the end, there was only the lonely Emperor left in the room.
There was also the old eunuch and a bright candle.
"Pa!" Anger flared in the Qing Emperor's eyes. He slammed his palm on the wooden table, but not a drop of tea spilled out. In a cold voice, he said, "What a Ministry of Revenue, what a Eastern Palace. Do you really think I don't dare to kill?"
The officials who had entered the royal study to discuss matters were the officials responsible for investigating the Ministry of Revenue after receiving the edict. Hearing their reports, the Qing Emperor's anger gradually grew. His original intention was only to investigate the Ministry of Revenue and use the matter of the Ministry of Revenue moving silver to Jiangnan to persuade Fan Jian to abdicate. He used this relatively open method to reestablish the balance in court.
However, he had never expected that the Ministry of Revenue was much cleaner than he had imagined. Fan Jian was much cleaner than he had imagined. On the contrary, it was the other five ministries and three temples in court who had benefited greatly from the Ministry of Revenue, particularly the Eastern Palace.
Earlier, Hu the Scholar had already secretly reported on the matter of the Ministry of Rites and sadly hinted that it was best not to continue investigating the Ministry of Revenue matter. Otherwise, it would truly make the court restless. Before the Ministry of Revenue could bear the blame they deserved, the other officials of the other ministries would probably start eating prison food.
While the Emperor was angry, he couldn't help but feel chilled by the Ministry of Revenue's methods. That was why he had flown into a thunderous rage earlier. In his view, since Fan Jian had long known about these matters, why did he continue to hide it? It was not until he was prepared to move against the Ministry of Revenue that he suddenly threw it out and caught the officials off guard. Wasn't this also catching him, the Emperor, off guard?
He and Fan Jian had grown up together, so he knew the abilities of his housekeeper. He was not surprised at the Ministry of Revenue's deep and scheming response. He was angry that the officials in court had failed to live up to expectations and had been tied onto this big boat by the Ministry of Revenue. He was even more angry that the Crown Prince was so stupid. How could he dare to pass the world to him?
Of course, the Emperor was even more angry at Fan Jian's sharp counterattack because this "comrade" was …
"He is threatening me!" The Emperor furrowed his brows and said coldly.
Old Eunuch Hong, whose face was covered in age spots, shook his head and sighed. "Your Majesty, I'm not afraid to say too much. People are always selfish. Even a loyal official like Minister Fan would have to think of some way to protect himself in such a dangerous situation."
The Emperor's voice was slightly sharp. With a mocking smile, he said, "Playing with schemes like this is considered a loyal official?"
Old Eunuch Hong sighed and said, "Director Chen loves to play with schemes, but in terms of loyalty, I'm afraid even I do not dare to say I am above him."
The Emperor slowly closed his eyes and said, "Chen Pingping has saved my life countless times. How can Fan Jian compare?"
"Minister Fan has managed the Ministry of Revenue these years and quietly smoothed out all the hidden dangers. Why? Is it not for the peace of the court? " Old Eunuch Hong sighed. "If Minister Fan truly had any disloyal intentions, the evidence in his hands would be enough for him to do many things. However, he still hasn't done anything. This means that he just doesn't want the court to be shaken."
"He should at least tell me first," the Emperor said coldly.
Old Eunuch Hong said quietly, "Based on the news the Fan manor has sent back these years, the reason Minister Fan has never entered the Palace to report in detail is because he doesn't want Your Majesty to waste your energy … Your Majesty should still remember the news that came a few days ago."
The Emperor thought of the news Zheng Ta had reported. His mood gradually calmed. He recovered some of his good feelings toward Fan Jian. He furrowed his brows and said, "However, the Ministry of Revenue still has to continue investigating. Otherwise, if it ends hastily, what will happen to the face of the court?"
"What is important is Your Majesty's current attitude toward Minister Fan," Eunuch Hong asked with his head lowered.
The Emperor shook his head. "He can no longer be Minister of Revenue. I can give him other compensations … but he can no longer lead the Ministry of Revenue. An Zhiyuan manages the palace treasury in Jiangnan. No matter how you look at it, An Zhiyuan is not suitable to continue holding the position of Minister of Revenue."
A sense of sorrow rose in old Eunuch Hong's heart. He felt some sympathy for the Minister who had racked his brains these years. Probingly, he said, "There is something I don't know if I should say or not."
"Speak."
Eunuch Hong said in a slightly sharp voice. "Sir Fan junior is a genius. Your Majesty has arranged for him to take over the palace treasury and the Overwatch Council. As for Minister Fan, according to common sense, he should indeed no longer be in charge of the Ministry of Revenue. Perhaps Your Majesty still remembers that in the first year of the Qing calendar, Fan Jian, who was still an assistant minister at the time, had once made a ruckus with Director Chen in this royal study. Minister Fan, in his bones, does not wish for Sir Fan junior to control the Overwatch Council. "
"Hmm, continue." The Emperor furrowed his brows tightly. He knew what Eunuch Hong's words implied.
"After all, Minister Fan was once a distinguished scholar," Eunuch Hong said with a slight smile. Old Eunuch Hong smiled slightly and said, "He is an affectionate person. I have always thought that any affectionate person can become someone's fetters. With Minister Fan staying in the capital and Sir Fan junior acting in Jiangnan, it will be much safer."
The Emperor's expression was calm. A moment later, he said, "Earlier in the empress dowager's Palace, the empress dowager also said the same thing. First, for the sake of Danzhou's mother, the Palace has to give the Fan manor more support. Second, if Fan Jian stays in the capital, Fan Xian will indeed feel more at ease doing things in Jiangnan."
What did it mean to feel at ease? It was nothing more than a secret precaution and threat.
"He can be a duke or a marquis." The Emperor finally said with a cold face. "I will not mistreat the Fan family, but I will also not let the matter of the Ministry of Revenue end like this."
Using the title of duke and marquis to trade for the position of Minister, it was unknown whether Fan Jian would be at a disadvantage or gain an advantage.
…
…
In the Fan manor.
Fan Jian closed his eyes and drank a sour berry, enjoying Lady Liu's massage from behind him. He sighed and said, "I'm afraid the Emperor will mistakenly think I am threatening him. That won't be good."
Lady Liu's expression darkened slightly. She knew this matter would be difficult to resolve. Although the Palace would not go too far toward the manor, it looked like the old master would eventually have to step down from the position of Minister of Revenue. The Emperor's intentions had already, through Yi Guipin, once again accurately and cautiously reached the Fan manor.
These few days, the Ministry of Revenue's investigation continued unhappily. It had implicated even more people, turning the entire court into a pool of muddy water. The civil and military officials were all panicking. The Overwatch Council had already arrested a number of people, and the Ministry of Revenue itself had also been found to have some problems. However, the efforts of some factions had not yet achieved results. No one had been able to uncover the secret silver route between the Ministry of Revenue and Jiangnan.
Many people, including the Eldest Princess, began to feel a strong sense of unease. Was the silver Fan Xian used in Jiangnan truly not from the Ministry of Revenue? As long as there was no major crime, even the Emperor could not forcefully ask Fan Jian to resign and confess.
"The summer flood is about to arrive," Fan Jian smiled slightly. "The court needs silver, so the matter of investigating the Ministry of Revenue will slow down. I will waste it with the Emperor. As long as it lasts until Fan Xian returns to the capital next year, there won't be much of a problem."
Lady Liu smiled. Only now did she know that what the old master had been waiting for was nothing more than a flood that the heavens would send down.
Using the might of heaven against the might of heaven, the Emperor was not an incapable ruler. He knew which was more important.
"I just don't know what the situation is on Fan Xian's side," Fan Jian said with some worry. Fan Jian said with slight worry, "Transferring money to the river works took away a lot of his confidence. The Ming family is not so easy to swallow."
(Still tangled with the hard drive. Thank you for everyone's concern. Also, Ying Xiu was written by me. I can't make money, so I stopped. I thought everyone already knew this. PS: The female section is currently holding a selection for the best works of the year. Presumably, there are many brothers and sisters who read books who are monthly subscribers. Please vote for what I wrote at the end of the tunnel … even immortals have jianghu. Thank you everyone.)
(To be continued, if you want to know what happened after, please go to WWW. CMFU. COM. There are more chapters. Support the author and support the original reading!)
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