With an indifferent expression, Shen Yicheng picked up a piece of meat and placed it in Luo Sigong's bowl.
"I heard that Commander Luo loves venison. This is a young venison that I specially asked the restaurant to carefully cook. It's extremely fresh and tender. Please have a taste."
Shen Yicheng was all smiles, like a kind and amiable old man treating his juniors. However, this attitude made Luo Sigong's hair stand on end.
When ordinary officials saw the Imperial Bodyguard, they would be scared out of their wits. Of course, these were all middle and low-ranking officials. The power held by high-ranking officials was not the same. Under the circumstances where the Imperial Bodyguard's power was far from what it used to be, the prestige of the Imperial Bodyguard Commander was really nothing in front of the high-ranking officials.
Not to mention that Shen Yicheng now had the Emperor's edict in his hands. He could deploy the Imperial Bodyguard at his discretion. Right now, Luo Sigong had to listen to Shen Yicheng's orders to a certain extent.
"I don't know what important matter Minister Shen has come for. I hope Minister Shen can speak clearly. Otherwise, I dare not enjoy such a sumptuous meal."
Luo Sigong moved his chair back, indicating that he did not dare to enjoy the sumptuous meal on the table.
"Hehehe, shouldn't you young people be energetic and have fewer worries? The Brocade Uniform Guards should be even more so. They have to worry about this and that. This is something that only I would do. You guys are different. "
Shen Yi chuckled and said, "Eat and drink as you like. This meal was personally arranged by this old man. It will enter our mouths and leave our souls. No one else will know about it. Hehehe, come, come, this is specially prepared for Commander Luo. If Commander Luo doesn't eat it, it will be a waste."
Luo Sigong forcibly suppressed the anxiety in his heart.
"I hope Minister Shen can speak clearly. Otherwise, the food will not taste good."
Shen Yicheng sighed, put down his chopsticks, and shook his head.
"Forget it, forget it. If I don't speak of this matter, I believe that Commander Luo will not be at ease. Actually, the reason why this old man has come is because I really have a question to ask Commander Luo."
Luo Sigong's heart skipped a beat, and he asked, "What does Minister Shen mean by asking for advice?"
"It's just a personal question of mine."
Shen Yicheng smiled faintly and said, "This old man isn't very clear about the assets of those officials who had their properties confiscated. Would it be enough to reward the troops at the border? Xiao Zhennan has a hundred thousand soldiers under his command, so the rewards and daily expenses required are not a small amount. "
Luo Sigong had already guessed part of the reason why Shen Yicheng had come here.
"I won't hide it from you, Minister Shen. In the past few days, we've confiscated 21 officials' properties. We've confiscated 15 people each time and 6 people each time. The silver, gold, antiques, jade artifacts, gold and silver jewelry, as well as the family's farmland, houses, and business income. A conservative estimate is about 10 million."
Luo Sigong honestly reported the real data.
Shen Yicheng's body trembled slightly. His eyes flickered as he remained silent for a while.
"Ten million? That's not right, is it? "
Shen Yicheng suddenly said.
"It's not right?"
Luo Sigong frowned and said, "This is calculated by professionals, so it can't be wrong. This number is a conservative estimate, and it may be more. After all, the means of hiding money nowadays are really unimaginable."
Hearing this, Shen Yicheng laughed, and then shook his head repeatedly.
"No, no, this number is definitely not right."
Luo Sigong didn't quite understand Shen Yicheng's meaning.
"Minister Shen, what do you mean?"
"What I mean is, how could the salary of the officials of the Daming Dynasty be so generous that one or two corrupt officials could get so much silver? There must be some misunderstanding here. Otherwise, wouldn't everyone be able to eat such a meal? "
Shen Yicheng smiled and pointed at the table of dishes.
Luo Sigong suddenly understood. He suddenly understood the fundamental purpose of Shen Yicheng's coming here.
In an instant, Luo Sigong's thoughts turned hundreds and thousands of times. But even so, it was not enough for him to make up his mind in a short time. When he finally made up his mind, it had already been a while.
Luo Sigong looked deeply at Shen Yicheng, looking at his kindly smiling face.
Then he thought of other things that made him feel unpleasant.
He made up his mind.
"Haha, Minister Shen, you are right. This number is indeed a bit too exaggerated. I just thought about it. Maybe I was wrong. It's not ten million, but eight million."
Shen Yicheng smiled again, and then shook his head.
"No, no, still not right. Even if the officials of the Daming Dynasty are devoid of conscience, they would not embezzle so much silver, right? Besides, there is no such thing as embezzling so much silver, right? "
Still not enough?
Luo Sigong pondered carefully and asked tentatively, "How about five million?"
Shen Yicheng shook his head again.
"No, no, still not right. One tael of silver can buy hundreds of catties of rice. Five million taels of silver, how much rice is that? The Daming Dynasty does not have that much rice. Commander Luo, this is obviously wrong. "
Luo Sigong pursed his lips.
"Yes, yes. I have been overworked these days. I must have made a mistake. It is clearly only three million."
Shen Yicheng still smiled and shook his head.
"The national treasury of the Daming Dynasty only earns three million a year. Commander Luo, are you joking again? If these twenty or so people can embezzle the national treasury's annual income, then what if His Majesty mistakenly thinks that every twenty officials can embezzle the national treasury's annual income? What should we do then? "
Luo Sigong took a deep breath. He thought about the Emperor, thought about Xiao Ruxun, thought about Zhang Jing, and thought about his own situation.
"Then, Minister Shen, how much silver do you think these twenty or so people have embezzled?"
Shen Yicheng stretched out a finger.
"We cannot let His Majesty have the wrong idea that none of the officials in the court are loyal to His Majesty. We are loyal to the Emperor, and it is necessary for us to help His Majesty get rid of the alarmist news. What do you think, Commander Luo?"
Luo Sigong looked at the finger and nodded slowly.
"Minister Shen, what you said is reasonable. As officials, we should share His Majesty's worries and not let His Majesty overwork himself. This is the duty of a loyal official."
With that, Luo Sigong took out the detailed report in his hand and handed it to Shen Yicheng.
"My subordinates are not skilled enough. They clearly only confiscated one million taels of silver, but they counted it as ten million taels of silver. What a joke! I have failed to manage my subordinates. Please punish me, Minister Shen. "
Shen Yicheng took the report and looked at it. He nodded in satisfaction, then took out another envelope from his bosom and handed it to Luo Sigong.
"Commander Luo, you have a deep sense of righteousness and are loyal to the Emperor. You are indeed a rare loyal official in the court. What wrong did you do? Besides, the Imperial Bodyguard is His Majesty's personal army. Apart from His Majesty, who else can punish them? I would never dare to do so. "
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