The Crown Prince had been scolded, the scope of the investigation had shrunk, and the Ministry of Revenue was temporarily safe. The Overwatch Council could straighten its back again. This matter was very interesting. Whether or not the First Bureau of the Overwatch Council could straighten their backs depended on the angle of the Minister of Revenue's body and the ground.
Hu the Scholar slammed the table in the Hall of Governmental Affairs and pointed at the faces of the elders of the six departments, cursing these officials for their uncleanliness. In any case, he was still young and hot-tempered. He did not need to be like Shu Wu and always put on the bearing and demeanor of a senior official. What the Emperor needed was Hu the Scholar's reputation and drive. However, in the matter of investigating the Ministry of Revenue, Hu the Scholar had not completely satisfied the Emperor's requirements.
In his opinion, at least from the situation of the investigation, the Ministry of Revenue was truly not easy. What made Hu the Scholar most angry was that, even now, some officials in court still could not forget and wanted to find evidence of crimes related to Jiangnan in the Ministry of Revenue's accounts.
The sound of slamming the table rang out again. Hu the Scholar furrowed his brows deeply and stared coldly at the official beside him. In a low voice, he said, "Moving silver to Jiangnan? Where is the silver? Isn't it still in the Ministry of Revenue's treasury? In the future, if you don't have evidence, don't talk about these groundless things to avoid chilling the officials' hearts. "
He looked at the ashen-faced officials and snorted coldly, "Sirs, take care of yourselves."
After saying this, Hu the Scholar shook out his sleeves and walked out of the little room beside the Royal Palace, leaving behind many officials in the room looking at each other.
Everyone felt deep regret and embarrassment. When investigating the Ministry of Revenue, the Ministry of Revenue was clean. On the contrary, it was their faction that had countless problems found. The backers behind these officials were all inextricably linked to Jiangnan. From the situation in Jiangnan, these major figures determined that the silver Fan Xian used to clash with the Ming family had certainly been moved out of the national treasury.
It was because of this judgment that these people dared to attack the Ministry of Revenue so confidently. Since so much silver was still stored in the palace treasury transport company, then the national treasury would certainly not be able to erase it.
Yet, there was not a trace of it.
These officials gnashed their teeth in hatred. Even after being reprimanded by Hu the Scholar, they did not dare to talk back. Who told them to shout so loudly and yet not be able to find any problems?
The father and son of the Fan family were too treacherous.
It was early in the morning, and the sun in the east had not yet risen. The Hall of Governmental Affairs was only drafting the memorials for the court conference. The expressions of the officials were all a bit tired. Most of them had not slept all night. However, thinking of the fight in the court conference, everyone had to raise their spirits. The first stage of the Ministry of Revenue's investigation had clearly ended with the complete defeat of the Eldest Princess and the Eastern Palace, but … how could they salvage the situation?
Intentionally or unintentionally, these officials cast their gazes towards a young official who had been sitting in a dark corner.
This young official's name was He Zong Wei. He was one of the most popular people in the court. He had some previous connections with the Eldest Princess's Eastern Palace and was now deeply appreciated by the Emperor.
It was precisely because Hu the Scholar did not want to make a big fuss about the Ministry of Revenue that the Emperor had many intentions that could not be expressed verbally and could not be smoothly handled through the officials. This was why the Imperial Censorate's new Imperial Censor of the Left, He Zongwei, was transferred to the team investigating the Ministry of Revenue.
The officials looked at He Zongwei. Naturally, they wanted to know from this young official's mouth exactly how the Palace was going to handle this matter.
He had been specially ordered to listen in on matters in the Hall of Governmental Affairs for three days. He had been steady and proper. He was respectful and strict toward Hu the Scholar and the other officials. He did not say much and did not act rashly. He was deeply steady.
However, being stared at by these officials, He Zongwei knew that he had to show some ability. This was not only for himself but also for the Emperor.
"What a mess," he sighed and warmly said to the officials. He sighed and warmly said to the officials, "It looks like this matter will have to be slowly tormented. Hu the Scholar was a bit anxious earlier. Please do not worry too much."
Slowly dealing with it showed the Palace's attitude. The Fan manor's response was clever and unyielding. It made it so that the Palace could not find a good way to replace the Minister of Revenue in a short time. They could only wait for another opportunity.
The officials fell silent. They were dissatisfied and also faintly worried.
Since Fan Jian's position did not change, the officials who had led the attack would have to pay a corresponding price.
…
…
In the court conference after the matter, the officials belonging to the Eldest Princess and the Eastern Palace launched a final attack. It was not to kill the enemy, but to protect themselves. Even though the Ministry of Revenue was clean, the investigation team still found some problems. Under the guidance of He Zongwei, who had joined after the matter, the officials gave up on the shocking crimes and only focused on the small problems in the Ministry of Revenue. For example, some accounts were unclear, or a small sum of silver had disappeared.
Although they were all small problems, they at least showed that they were investigating the Ministry of Revenue not to hold a grudge or take revenge. They truly wanted to find the problems in the Ministry of Revenue.
In the court conference, listening to the impassioned accusations of the officials, Hu the Scholar smiled coldly in the first position on the left. Shu Wu stood beside him with a face full of worry. The Minister of Appointments, Yan Hangshu, did not say a word.
The Emperor sat upright on the dragon chair and looked at a person among the civil officials with a complicated gaze.
The Minister of Revenue, Fan Jian, had also come to the court conference.
The Emperor looked at Fan Jian's slightly grizzled hair and sighed in his heart. He opened his mouth and asked, "Where did that 180,000 liang of silver go?"
Fan Jian stepped out of the ranks. He did not defend himself or explain. Showing his old age, he bowed and directly asked for forgiveness.
The 180,000 liang of silver had long been sent to the river transport governor's yamen.
…
…
The court immediately burst into an uproar. The Ministry of Appointments and related officials who had strongly advocated investigating the Ministry of Revenue had a flash of joy on their faces. They had no idea why the experienced and ruthless Minister of Revenue would admit in court, in front of the Emperor, that he had secretly moved silver from the national treasury to the river transport governor's yamen. They knew this was an opportunity that could not be missed.
In an instant, the officials all stepped out and righteously criticized the Ministry of Revenue. They aimed the spearhead at Fan Jian.
In this world, only the Emperor's edict had the power to move silver from the national treasury. No one else could do so. Fan Jian had the Ministry of Revenue move silver into the river transport governor's yamen without the royal approval. No matter how one looked at it, it was a crime of deceiving the Emperor.
The Emperor stared at Fan Jian's tired face. A faint light flashed through his eyes. It seemed that he did not hear the voices of the officials in court asking for the Ministry of Revenue to be punished.
The Emperor did not hear it, but some officials heard it clearly. Hearing it, anger filled the depths of their hearts.
The deficit in the Ministry of Revenue was closely connected to the officials who attacked the Ministry of Revenue. Even if Minister Fan's move of silver from the national treasury to the river works was not appropriate, his intentions were understandable. This was for the court and the people, yet it became a sore spot for those shameless people to attack.
Shu Wu's brows trembled anxiously. The anger in his eyes flared. He turned his head and glared at the civil officials who had stepped out.
In reality, these elders of the Hall of Governmental Affairs all knew that if the court wanted to move silver, the procedures were very complicated. If they really had to slowly ask for an edict to move silver into the river works, the river would probably have long been short of banks. In the depths of winter, Shu Wu had once complained to the Emperor about this matter. Although he did not know the details of Fan Jian moving silver from the Ministry of Revenue into the river transport governor's yamen, he dared to conclude that this had nothing to do with personal gain.
Bullshit! Moving silver to repair the river? The Fan family had no land on either side of the river. What benefit could they possibly get?
Shu Wu forcefully suppressed the anger in his chest and stood out. He bowed to the Emperor on the dragon chair.
Seeing this virtuous and respected scholar step out of the ranks, the officials attacking the Ministry of Revenue all stopped speaking and returned to their ranks. ]
The Emperor glanced at him and said, "What is the crime of secretly moving silver from the national treasury?"
Old Shu the Scholar raised his head and straightforwardly said, "Your Majesty, if you want to ask about the Qing law, you should ask the Ministry of Justice and Supreme Court. I work in the Hall of Governmental Affairs, but I am not very familiar with the Qing law."
The Emperor gave a not-quite-there smile and said, "What does the scholar want to say?"
Shu Wu bowed again and turned around to glance disdainfully at the petty officials in the court. Only then did he slowly say, "I think that Minister Fan is not at fault in this matter."
"How so?"
"The matter of the river works has always been tight. This year, fortunately, the spring floods are not as strong as in previous years, but the summer floods are about to arrive. As for the matter of the Ministry of Revenue moving silver into the river works yamen. "
Shu Wu took a deep breath and respectfully said, "It was I who wrote the memorial in the Hall of Governmental Affairs and directly sent it to the Ministry of Revenue. Thus, I actually know about the matter of the Ministry of Revenue moving silver."
After these words were said, the court burst into another uproar.
Shu the Scholar was willing to take a great risk and tie himself to the Fan family? Why was he doing this?
Minister Fan also seemed to be surprised as he looked at the old scholar in front of him.
The Emperor furrowed his brows slightly. A moment later, he suddenly smiled and said, "Oh? Why didn't I know about this matter? "
"I am muddle-headed. Please forgive me, Your Majesty."
Shu the Scholar was not muddle-headed. Earlier, the discussion in the court was ferocious and he could not stand it. The sliver of old but firm conscience at the bottom of his heart surged. His blood rushed and made him stand out to be a guarantor for the Ministry of Revenue. Now that he had come to his senses, he knew the Emperor would certainly not like someone in his Hall of Governmental Affairs to be a guarantor for the six ministries. He forced a smile and lowered his voice. "Your Majesty, take pity on my old age. Yesterday, I drank a few cups too much and spoke with youthful frivolity. At this time, even if I wanted to shut my mouth, I can't."
The Emperor saw a dignified scholar playing the role of a clown and couldn't resist laughing. The sliver of unhappiness from being contradicted gradually dissipated.
He couldn't strip the Minister of Revenue and a scholar of their positions for a mere 180,000 liang of silver.
"Hu Xuzhi," the Emperor asked with a slight smile. "In your opinion, what crime should the Ministry of Revenue be charged with?"
Scholar Hu stepped out. After a moment of consideration, he quietly said, "The crime of deceiving the Emperor."
There was a buzz in the court.
The Emperor raised his brows and asked with interest, "Then, how should they be punished?"
"Not." Hu the Scholar lowered his body very low.
"Why?"
"The Ministry of Revenue moving silver into the river works is out of the public good and out of loyalty to serve Your Majesty. Although it is deceiving the Emperor, it is a deceiving of love for the Emperor," Hu the Scholar said lightly. Hu the Scholar faintly said, "When the Qing law convicts people, they care about understanding reason and setting the situation. A clear heart knows the reason and understands the situation. The officials of the Ministry of Revenue and the Minister are magnanimous and sincere. Your Majesty, please investigate."
"Oh?" The Emperor seemed to be very interested in this saying. He smiled slightly and said, "But, the law is here. If we don't act according to the law, how can we pacify the mouths of the people under heaven? How can we pacify the desire of the officials to abide by the law?"
"There is no need to block the mouths of the people under heaven," Hu the Scholar replied in an even voice. "As long as the breach in the dikes of the great rivers can be blocked, the people can see with their eyes, hear with their ears, have food to eat, and have a place to live, they will know of Your Majesty's painstaking efforts."
The Emperor was moved and nodded his head.
Hu the Scholar continued, "As for the officials …" A faint, bitter smile suddenly rose to the corners of his lips. "If the officials truly abide by the law, then so be it. In my opinion, although the Qing law is important, it is not as important as a word from the Emperor. If Your Majesty sympathizes with the hard work of the Ministry of Revenue and deals with them leniently, the officials in court will be grateful. "
In the end, he quietly said, "Your Majesty, it has been raining continuously recently."
This last sentence was said very quietly. Other than a few officials near the throne, no one else could hear it.
The Emperor sank into deep thought. He knew that the scholars of the Hall of Governmental Affairs closest to him were standing on the side of the Fan family for the sake of the court and the wealth of the Qing Kingdom. He furrowed his brows and thought that Hu and Shu did not know his true intentions. They had also been provoked by the matter of Xiuhe, which was why they had come out to protect the Fan family. But, was his method this time truly inappropriate?
Did all the officials in court with some conscience think Fan Jian should stay?
His furrowed brows gradually relaxed. Gazing at Fan Jian below, he quietly asked, "I don't want to hear what other people say. Tell me, why did you move the silver to the River Transport Governor's yamen without my permission?"
Fan Jian sighed and took a few steps forward. Bowing to the ground, he replied simply, "Your Majesty, I'm afraid I won't make it in time."
This amount of silver was actually a portion of the silver the Ministry of Revenue had sent to Jiangnan. The Emperor knew this, and so did Fan Jian. The Emperor knew this. In court, he had been attacked by the officials using this as an opportunity, yet Fan Jian insisted on not defending himself. He did not try to have the Emperor share the burden for him.
For the benefit of the people, he dared to move the silver from the treasury to Xiuhe River. He was truly a rare righteous official in the Qing Kingdom. No wonder he had moved the scholars Hu and Shu.
For the Emperor's face, he dared to not defend himself in the face of a serious crime. He was truly a rare loyal servant in the Qing Kingdom. No wonder the Emperor was moved.
The Emperor thought deeply and then slowly nodded his head.
After the court meeting, a clear edict came down. The Ministry of Revenue was in a serious deficit. The Emperor was furious and ordered the investigation to continue. The problems that had already been found were handed over to the Overwatch Council and Supreme Court to be responsible for investigating.
The Minister of Revenue, Fan Jian, was stripped of his second-rank title, fined his salary, and kept in office.
Speaking of which, it was funny. This second-rank title had been added by the Palace after Fan Xian had saved the Emperor in the Hanging Temple. As for the salary forfeiture, adding on to the salary forfeiture last time, Fan Jian would not receive a salary for a full two years.
However, he still sat firmly in the position of Minister of Revenue.
Correspondingly, the deficit that the Ministry of Revenue had found implicated many officials. A vigorous investigation began. The various powers were forced to cut off their own hands and feet to prevent the deficit the Ministry of Revenue had suppressed for so many years from cutting off their own heads.
The Crown Prince's 400,000 liang of silver had been filled by the empress dowager's private savings.
However, the officials of the other factions did not have such a good grandmother. Regardless of whether it was the Eastern Palace faction or the Eldest Princess faction, large numbers of officials fell one by one. Some new blood, such as He Zongwei, began to gradually enter the court.
Last autumn, because of Fan Xian's battle with the Second Prince, a group of officials had already been purged.
This late spring, because of the battle between the Ministry of Revenue and the Eldest Princess, another group of officials had been purged.
Abandonment and abandonment became the main style in the court for a time.
The origin of this story was in Jiangnan. It was because Fan Xian had created this fake situation that the people on the Eldest Princess's side thought they had caught the Fan family's greatest crime. That was why they dared to throw out so many pawns into this muddy water with the intention of pulling the Jingdou Fan family off their horse.
However, no one had thought that the silver had come from Northern Qi. The Fan family did not touch the silver in the national treasury.
Of course, the Emperor thought he knew that the Fan family had moved and had moved with his permission.
The Emperor thought he knew everything under heaven, but he was wrong.
In any case, the Fan family had found a foothold with unusual difficulty, and the Emperor's control over the officials increased a bit, making the Palace a bit more stable.
Everyone was happy.
Looking at the present situation, at least on the surface, there was no longer any power in Jingdou that could threaten that chair. For a moment, spring was bright and peaceful.
Secretly, the Crown Prince and the Second Prince were forced to form a temporary alliance. Although the Fan family had suffered some damage because of this matter, everyone knew that if Fan Xian, who was far away in Jiangnan, came back, something big was sure to happen.
…
…
To be able to force two irreconcilable dragons to unite together, this kind of might and power was enough to make everyone feel proud and elated.
However, Fan Xian, who had caused all of this to happen, did not feel the slightest bit proud.
For one, it was because news from Jingdou had no way to travel so quickly to the distant Jiangnan.
For another, it was because he could beat the princes until they didn't dare to make a sound in Jingdou. However, in Jiangnan, far away from Jingdou, faced with the Ming family that kept retreating, he suddenly found that it was strangely difficult to defeat the Ming family.
It was even more difficult than defeating his royal brothers.
…
…
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