Chapter 979: Supply Volunteer Merchants, the Governor Opposes
Chapter 979: Supplying Yishang, the Governor Objects
"Master Tian, it's okay to say so!"
Shen Tang responded.
Tian Guanhua said respectfully, "When floods occurred before, in addition to me and others under the guidance of the adults, we also had philanthropic merchants in Chengdu Prefecture to participate in the disaster relief! Everyone knew the situation at that time, not only money and food, but also various kinds of disaster relief. All kinds of supplies are in extremely short supply.
However, there are righteous merchants in the city who brought grain, rice, tents, lumber, and cloth at all costs! This can be said to have relieved our urgent need."
"Shao's store, in particular, not only set an example, but also transported countless supplies!"
"We are a government, and we should be proud of having such righteous businessmen! However, they are righteous, but we cannot let these people feel cold!"
"Before, our Chengdu Prefecture was in short supply of money, food, and materials! But now, whether it's money, food, or other things, everything is extremely abundant. Therefore, the official thought that it was time to make up for the money and materials donated by Yishang before! Their help without hesitation We, we can't let them down! Before the New Year, the official has ordered the household to check the amount of money and materials donated by the merchants and convert them into silver!"
Hearing this, Shen Tang nodded slightly, "Master Tian is right, this is indeed my negligence!"
Tian Guanhua signaled to Tofang Jingcheng, and then Tofang Jingcheng took out a stack of documents and put them on Shen Tang's desk!
Shen Tang glanced through it briefly, and then nodded, "Well, Master Tian and Hufang have done an extremely thorough job this time. In that case, everyone should take a look. If you have no objections, just follow the instructions of Master Tian." Do what you want! Our yamen are officials, and they are the people. Officials should not let the people feel cold."
The document was passed down, and everyone looked at it one by one! The general magistrate took out this document, and the prefect also nodded. What can the rest of the people say?
After everyone had finished reading, the officials hurriedly said in unison, "Sir, this matter is as it should be! Moreover, more than two months have passed, and these compensations should be distributed as soon as possible."
Shen Tang nodded with satisfaction, "Okay, that's it, Mr. Tian, I'll leave this matter to you..."
"Sir, wait!"
At this moment, a sudden voice suddenly interrupted Shen Tang! Everyone looked over in shock, only to see that the person who spoke was the governor of the prefecture, Li Tairan.
It is said that since Shen Tang came, although he has not been in the Yamen for a long time, anyone with a discerning eye can see that this prefect is different from the previous chief officials. Although he did not express satisfaction with this prefect However, he had no intention of replacing him! Therefore, Li Tairan did not dare to say that he was prosperous in the yamen, but his status and other people's attitudes towards him were also very different!
The prefecture governor can be regarded as someone close to the prefecture master. If this frustrated Mr. Li can really catch the eyes of Shen Tang, his future prospects will be limitless.
Therefore, even Shangguan was somewhat polite to him.
However, when everyone suddenly spoke to him at this moment, there was something different! Did what he said next represent the prefect, or did it have other meanings?
"Governor Li, do you have a different opinion?"
Shen Tang asked calmly.
Li Tairan said seriously, "Exactly!"
Under the gaze of everyone, Li Tairan said word by word, "The official has no objection to this matter, but he has objections to the amount of silver converted into it!"
"oh?"
Shen Tang frowned slightly, then listened to Li Tairan continue to say, "In the documents, the converted silver of grain and various supplies is nearly double the normal market price! Some even double or triple the price! Excuse me Lord Magistrate, was the converted price determined by the household itself, or was it directed by some superior official? The converted silver that was originally less than 100,000 taels has now reached as much as 260,000 taels. The lower official would like to ask your Excellency, this is Isn’t this considered as harming the public and enriching one’s private life?”
"Of course our government cannot dishearten righteous businessmen, but this is not a reason to harm the public and enrich private interests!"
Wow...
Li Tairan's words immediately caused a commotion in the lobby! Originally, everyone secretly speculated that the prefect was not satisfied with the converted price, so he hinted to Li Tairan to increase the converted price.
If this is the case, no matter whether it is reasonable or not, everyone will praise it.
After all, do you need a reason to flatter the prefect?
As long as they are not stupid or too dull, by now, anyone who knows a little bit about Shen Tang will know that Shen Tang's second wife is the eldest lady of the Shao family.
This Shao family's shop is, to put it bluntly, the connection behind the magistrate! It's just a way to get more silver. What does it mean?
Moreover, in the eyes of these officials, the prefect is already very conscientious and even as incorruptible as water.
First of all, all the materials and money were shipped over, not just a document. Moreover, these materials really helped the Yamen a lot at that time.
In this case, if the compensation is converted into money, even if it goes to the court or in front of the emperor, absolutely no one can say that this matter is the prefect's attempt to make money!
However, no one expected that Li Tairan, the governor of the prefecture, and a close minister of the prefecture, would speak out against it when everyone agreed! What on earth is going on? Is Li Tairan crazy?
Or is it that you have become a fool?
After a while, Hu Jingcheng from the household department suddenly singled out Li Tairan and shouted angrily, "You are a little scribe, what do you know? This document was not instigated by anyone, it was drawn up by me personally! What do you think I did?" The proposed injustice?”
“Last year when there was a flood, you don’t know how much the price of supplies increased?
I can say with my conscience that the converted silver is not over-counted, but under-counted! In addition, in your eyes, Li Tairan, except for yourself, everyone is a corrupt official?
Moreover, don’t say that we didn’t calculate too much, even if we gave more money, what would happen?”
"Do you know how much these righteous businessmen helped the government at critical moments?
Do you know how many people have died as a result?
Huh, if you really follow what I want, you should double the money! If the money is gone, you can think of another way, but if those people died at that time, all the people in our yamen would have their backs stabbed. You will be punished by the imperial court!"
"It's just that the money given is too little!"
"There was a flood at that time, so the prices were naturally different from normal times!"
"As for Li Tairan, in my opinion, he is just fake and aloof!"
For a time, Li Tairan became the target of public criticism, and everyone present wanted to step on him!