Four hundred and twentieth chapters on this request
Before his death, Shangshu Liao handed over the whereabouts of a total of 800,000 taels of silver.
This is hard to understand.
Liao Shuming was interrogated by the Ministry of Punishment and Dali Temple, and his family property should have been thoroughly investigated, but only 10,000 taels of silver were found.
Xia Hu, a weak woman, managed to get 800,000 taels with only a box of needlework. The reason behind this is really hard to explain.
Liao Shuming's silver was hidden in nine places. Emperor Changle personally went to dig out each place and dug out a total of more than 760,000 taels.
Are there more than 30,000 taels left?
Xu Zhiqiong, as an official of the imperial court, naturally cannot guard and steal.
But it was Xia Hu who did this.
Xia Hu is just a civilian girl, why should she contribute to the imperial court? Shouldn't she receive some hard-earned money?
However, Liao Shuming's character is indeed extraordinary. He does not eat alone. The dozen or so officials who followed him in exile all gave up a lot of money. For example, Zuo Shilang handed over hundreds of thousands of taels. Even the youngest Dian Shi and Deputy Historian, it’s no big deal to take out a thousand taels of silver.
The Ministry of Industry is such a great place!
Xia Hu took the servants to move for a whole day and moved more than 30,000 taels of silver to Zhonglang Courtyard.
Xu Zhiqiong said: "Why are they all hiding in Zhonglang Courtyard? At least take some and put them in Zhonglang Pavilion!"
Xia Hu said: "The Zhonglang Pavilion is too eye-catching. If a guy like the Punishment Secretary sees that I have so much money, he won't explode!"
Xu Zhiqiong said: "How did you deal with Liao Shuming?"
"I didn't do much, I just helped him sew. He has thick skin, so it's hard to sew!" Xia Hu picked up a dozen sin karma, "It's time for me to go to the Yin Division to receive meritorious service. If this business is good, give me more. Find some."
Silver piled up in a wing room, Xu Zhiqiong said: "Madam, we are so rich, we should not sell oranges in the future!"
Xia Hu nodded seriously: "Oranges are out of season, so it's time to get rid of the folding fans I had stocked up on."
Xu Zhiqiong said helplessly: "Can't we just do business?"
"But how many times have I told you that nothing will happen, don't you understand?"
"Then let's get a shop at least!"
"What are you doing with that thing? You still have to pay taxes."
"Don't you pay taxes when setting up a stall?"
"Run faster and you can avoid it!"
Xia Hu took his crime karma and went to the Punishment Division first, and then to the Yin Division. After getting his merits back, when he arrived at Zhonglang Courtyard, Xia Hu said to Xu Zhiqiong: "There are many people in the Yin Division asking you questions. The news is that Yan Jun named Du wants to find you."
Du Yanjun is looking for me.
It must be for Emperor Zhaoxing's sins.
If you come to me, I will definitely not go.
If the fifth grade is promoted to the fourth grade, I don’t need to eat beans. Why go to the Yin Division?
"Madam, when you go to the underworld from now on, ask a servant to go on your behalf. If the servant is detained, come to me directly. Don't argue with them yourself!"
Xia Hu blinked his eyes and said: "Otherwise, you should hand over the sins of the Bird Emperor to the Underworld. This matter must be settled."
"How can this matter be casual..." Xu Zhiqiong suddenly raised his head and said, "Do you still remember the matter of biting the teeth?"
Xia Hu covered Tao Zi and said, "What are you going to do again?"
"Show me first!"
"What do you think? Don't, you, you, just look at it, but don't bite me again!"
…
After verifying his identity, Xu Zhiqiong took Xia Hu back to the Marquis Mansion.
Han Di sent news that the emperor invited Xu Zhiqiong to enter the palace.
Xu Zhiqiong said solemnly: "Liao Shuming has more than 700,000 yuan, and other officials together have more than 200,000 yuan. I got him one million silver. If you want the 20,000 silver again, don't blame me for falling out." !”
Xia Hu said: "It's not like we don't have money, so let's return the 20,000 silver to him."
"I can't pay it back, I don't know how much money I have!"
Xu Zhiqiong rushed to the palace angrily, but Emperor Changle did not mention repaying the money. He was worried about another important matter: "Brother, do you know about river affairs?"
Xu Zhiqiong shook his head and said: "I don't understand!"
Emperor Changle sighed: "Those who know about river affairs in the Ministry of Industry are all greedy. We cannot let them take charge. At most, let them help. Now the river embankment in Fuzhou needs to be repaired, and the river embankment in Huazhou also needs to be repaired." It needs to be repaired, but the river embankments in Yunzhou are not reliable either.
Zhiqiong, Yunzhou is your fiefdom. If there is a flood this year, the money in the food will be gone."
Why are you saying this? It’s useless for you to threaten me!
"I really don't understand river affairs. It won't help if you hack my money!"
Liang Yuyao said: "I do know a person who understands river affairs, but I don't know if this person can be reused."
Emperor Changle asked: "Who is it?"
"Censor, Zhang Zhuyang."
Emperor Changle waved his hand and said: "No need! I know this man. He is talented and learned, but he is very greedy for money.
I checked the previous account books of the Ministry of Industry and found that 200,000 silver was allocated to build river embankments. It would be great if 50,000 could be put to practical use.
If Zhang Zhuyang were to take charge, he would be even more greedy than those in the Ministry of Works.
I don’t have any extra money on hand now, so I have to spend every penny on it, and I have to find a truly honest person to handle this matter.”
"Really honest people..." Liang Yuyao was in trouble, "People like Wang Yanyang and Qiu Dongcai are really honest, but they don't understand river affairs."
Emperor Changle picked up the roster and evaluations submitted by the official department, read them one by one and said: "I have announced so many ministers, but I don't believe that I can't find a suitable person!"
After searching for a while, I found that those who knew about river affairs were not honest officials, and none of the honest officials knew about river affairs.
The more Emperor Changle thought about it, the more annoyed he became, and said angrily: "As long as the river embankments are repaired and officials are promoted, their benefits will inevitably be indispensable. Why not just ask them not to be greedy this time?"
Liang Yuyao sighed: "There is no one who is not greedy for things like river affairs, road construction and disaster relief. I have to leave some money for them no matter what!"
"I can't keep it. I really can't keep it this time. You know how much money I have on hand. Fuzhou still needs money for disaster relief..."
The two were arguing, and Xu Zhiqiong said: "For disaster relief, think of a good candidate, and for building river embankments, leave it to Zhang Zhuyang."
Emperor Changle said: "Didn't I just say that I don't have money to feed him?"
Xu Zhiqiong said: "I went to talk to him. He is a sensible person and he can understand what I say."
…
Wang'an River, on the painting boat, Xu Zhiqiong told Zhang Zhuyang about the construction of the river.
"I recommended you, you must know the pros and cons!" Xu Zhiqiong poured a glass of wine and handed it to Zhang Zhuyang.
Zhang Zhuyang was so flattered that he quickly picked up the wine glass and drank it all in one gulp: "Zhang was promoted by the Marquis, and the kindness of knowing and meeting him will never be forgotten."
"It's nonsense to say that you will never forget it!" Xu Zhiqiong poured another drink for Zhang Zhuyang, "I recommend you because you have real ability, not only the ability to manage river affairs, but also the ability to understand The ability to tell the truth,
You must listen carefully to what I am telling you to be honest. If you can fix the river affairs, you will be indispensable for promotion and promotion. But when doing things, you must not be greedy, not even a penny!"
Zhang Zhuyang smiled and said: "Master Hou, you are joking, Zhang is not the person who is corrupt and perverts the law."
Xu Zhiqiong did not laugh.
Zhang Zhuyang pursed his lips and said: "There were some things before that I broke some rules, but I can still tell the difference between right and wrong."
Xu Zhiqiong still looked cold.
Zhang Zhuyang bit his lip and asked cautiously: "Master Hou, please give me a clear explanation. What do you mean by what you just said?"
Xu Zhiqiong lowered his voice and said: "That's what it means. I tell you not to be greedy, not even a penny."
"But building a river embankment is not easy to do without moving a single cent. Of course I don't lack the money, but it's hard for the people under me to say..."
Xu Zhiqiong looked at Zhang Zhuyang silently.
Look at the sins on his head and his troubled expression.
According to Xu Zhiqiong's temperament, Zhang Zhuyang should have died long ago.
The reason why I have kept him till now is because he can understand human speech and can also handle some human affairs.
"Don't be greedy. I will know if you are greedy for a copper coin. You don't have to worry about other people. Just mind your own hands. Do you understand?"
Xu Zhiqiong left a bag of silver on the table, which was enough for boat money and food.
This is the first time Xu Zhiqiong invites Zhang Zhuyang to dinner.
Holding the money bag, Zhang Zhuyang carefully weighed its contents.
Three days later, Emperor Changle appointed thirteen officials. Seven of them were commanded by Zhang Zhuyang to build river embankments in various places. Three officials were commanded by Jia Xingbang, a doctor from the Ministry of Household Affairs, to go to Fuzhou for disaster relief. The remaining three officials were commanded by the Yushi.
Wei Dongliang is in command and is responsible for supervising the use of assets.
In addition, Emperor Changle also appointed Xu Zhiqiong as the Imperial Envoy Minister, with a vacant post to supervise river affairs and disaster relief matters.
Xu Zhiqiong did not go south with the officials. This was Emperor Changle's order. After all, Xu Zhiqiong had not fully recovered yet.
Before leaving, Xu Zhiqiong summoned thirteen officials together. He should have invited them to have a glass of wine and say a few words of encouragement, but Xu Zhiqiong was not in the mood.
He stared at these thirteen people, looked at the sins on their heads, and recorded them one by one.
Zhang Zhuyang's criminal karma has been reduced from five inches to three inches and seven. He has indeed done a lot of personnel work recently, and his criminal karma has been reduced a lot.
Jia Xingbang's criminal karma was very high, and he was a veteran in making money, but he had a reputation for being honest, so Emperor Changle asked him to direct disaster relief, hoping that he, like Zhang Zhuyang, could do something for others.
Wei Dongliang, who has a huge criminal record, is considered a clean stream among this group of officials. He is the right person to supervise the resources.
The criminal karma of the thirteen people was tested one by one, and Xu Zhiqiong only gave two instructions: "When you come back after you have settled the matter, I will ask the emperor for credit on your behalf, and each of you will be promoted to one level.
But don’t be greedy, don’t be greedy, even if you are greedy for a copper coin, I will make your heads fall to the ground!”
The conditions have been explained clearly, and they should understand them.
Wei Dongliang, the censor, was very displeased: "Marquis Yun, what are you saying, but do you look down on my character?"
Jia Xingbang, a doctor in the Ministry of Household Affairs, sighed: "As a humble official, I only know how to do my best to run errands for the court. But these words from the Marquis made me feel cold.
This time we rush to Fuzhou, and we don’t have to pay for a porridge or a meal from the court. We are responsible for it ourselves. As long as the victims can get through this difficulty, Jia will be willing to spend all his family wealth!"
"Brilliant!" Xu Zhiqiong praised him, "I can trust Jia Langzhong!"
Zhang Zhuyang said nothing.
Don't be greedy.
He knows the weight of these two words.
He knows how difficult these two words are.
Thirteen officials took advantage of the Yin and Yang magic circle and took the lead in arriving at Fuzhou.
Jia Xingbang led his people to count the number of victims, which was actually easy to do. When Xu Zhiqiong was in Fuzhou, he had already counted the victims. There were more than 13,400 registered victims alive, and the lists were all ready.
But the numbers counted this time were different.
He Jianzhong, the head of the Ministry of Household Affairs, presented a list: "Sir, this is the list of victims recorded overnight by my humble servant. Please take a look. There are more than 48,000 victims in Fuzhou."
"More than 48,000?" Jia Xingbang was startled, "This is far from the number Yunhou said."
"Skills have specializations. Sir, our household department is in this business. Marquis Yun has underestimated the number, and many old, weak, women and children have not been included!"
Did Xu Zhiqiong count the number of people as few?
How can it be!
Several onmyojis who were good at calculations set up a magic circle. How could the number of victims counted together with Xu Zhiqiong be considered small?
Falsifying the number of people is only the first step.
Another manager, Bao Dexing, said: "This is a list of rice grain purchases. Please take a look."
Jia Xingbang looked at it, frowned and said, "Why is the price of rice so expensive?"
Bao Dexing said: "Last year's harvest was not good, and the price of rice in the surrounding counties increased several times. I worked hard to find a few conscientious grain merchants. Sir, I will never lie to you."
Jia Xingbang sighed and said: "The imperial court allocated one hundred thousand taels of silver for disaster relief. It was originally thought that there were only more than 10,000 victims. Counting the headcount, each person received nearly seven taels of silver. At least it was enough for them to eat twice a day, buy some clothes, and still have some money.
A place to live, but if you calculate it like this..."
He Jianzhong said: "Sir, don't think about dry rice. Don't think about anything else. One meal of porridge a day may have to be mixed with some chaff."
Bao Dexing said: "Sir, our errand is not going to be easy."
Jia Xingbang sighed: "It's hard to do, but it has to be done. Don't forget the Marquis's instructions. This is not the first time I have come out to provide disaster relief. There are some things that you just know in your heart!"
The two principals looked at each other and smiled: "I understand my humble position."
Bao Dexing asked: "Wei Dongliang, the censor, should we also..."
"What do you think?" Jia Xingbang frowned, "If he doesn't talk things over, how can this matter be handled cleanly?"