Wu Kun's loud shout startled Tian Zhi so much that his legs went weak and he almost knelt on the ground.
However, at that moment, Mu Zian grabbed his collar, preventing him from kneeling down.
Looking at the gazes cast upon him by the officials of the Ministry of Revenue, Tian Zhi seemed somewhat at a loss.
Mu Zian looked calmly at the people from the Ministry of Revenue and said.
"My lord has come here today for only one purpose."
After saying that, Mu Zian took the account book from Tian Zhi's hand and threw it at him.
"All the salary and allowances owed to the Ministry of Works over the years will be returned in full."
As Mu Zian's voice fell, the officials waiting outside for the funds to be approved all gathered to watch the spectacle.
The once quiet and deserted back hall of the Ministry of Revenue was now even more lively than during the New Year.
After all, getting money was harder than climbing to heaven under normal circumstances; everyone had to be mindful of the Ministry of Revenue's wishes.
If the Ministry of Revenue is in a bad mood today, you can't take the money even if it's right in front of you.
Today, the Ministry of Revenue, a prestigious institution, has been attacked on its doorstep. This scene is truly a once-in-a-century event!
Li Ping, the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, stepped forward, picked up the accounts, glanced through them briefly, and then spoke with a nonchalant expression.
"I hope the Duke of Zhenguo understands that our Great Li's annual tax revenue is really insufficient to cover our expenses, and the whole country needs money and grain."
"Last year, Huaizhou suffered a great flood and Yuzhou suffered a severe drought. The national treasury has long been emptied. Now, the Spring Festival has just passed and taxes from various places have not yet arrived in the capital. We are like a skilled cook without rice to cook."
As soon as Li Ping finished speaking, the other officials from the Ministry of Revenue also chimed in.
"Yeah yeah!"
"The national tax revenue is only so much in a year, and every government office needs money. We are not magicians; how can we conjure up money out of thin air?"
“That makes sense. The Duke of Zhenguo should also understand our difficulties.”
Immediately, everyone in the Ministry of Revenue began to complain.
Mu Zian understood their true colors; their so-called lack of money was just an excuse to fob people off.
You can delay paying your debts to a government office once or twice, but the third time it's not that the national treasury is broke; it's just that they're taking advantage of your weakness.
Among the six ministries, the Ministry of Works has always been at the bottom, and over the years everyone has become accustomed to the Ministry of Works being bullied.
What did a few unpaid wages mean to them? At most, they were just lowly craftsmen.
For them, there are countless craftsmen in the world, and the fact that one or two or eight or nine of them starve or freeze to death is nothing to worry about.
That's the situation right now. To illustrate the bigger picture, these people from the Ministry of Revenue dare to boss Tian Zhi around right in front of him.
If Mu Zian hadn't been there, Tian Zhi, a mere physician from the Smelting Bureau, probably wouldn't have been able to even get through the gates of the Ministry of Revenue.
Since these people are so ungrateful, there's no need for me to explain myself further.
Mu Zian suddenly stepped forward and sneered.
"You have quite the airs of authority!"
"May I ask, Your Excellency, what are the responsibilities of the Ministry of Revenue?"
Upon hearing this, Wu Kun stroked the goatee on his chin and laughed.
"He was in charge of all financial and expenditure matters, including land, taxes, household registration, military supplies, salaries, and provisions."
Wu Kun made no attempt to hide his pride as he spoke.
Mu Zian sneered upon hearing this.
"Since it is your duty to manage the salaries and expenses of all officials."
"Then aren't you all just occupying positions without doing any work, owing me three years' worth of salary and funding for the Ministry of Industry's Smelting Bureau?"
“You hold high positions, yet you readily give up when faced with difficulties, without seeking solutions.”
"Full of knowledge but narrow-minded, spouting benevolence and morality but harboring nothing but thievery and debauchery!"
"Looking around at you all, does Your Excellency mean that the Ministry of Revenue is full of incompetent people?"
Upon hearing this, everyone present gasped in shock.
The officials who were watching were also looking at each other in bewilderment.
The most important thing for an official is to maintain a respectable image.
Regardless of how fiercely people fight each other behind the scenes, they still need to maintain a basic level of decorum in public.
However, Mu Zian's resounding words today have completely broken ties with the Ministry of Revenue, directly pointing at their faces and cursing them for their incompetence!
Li Ping, Wu Kun, and a group of Ministry of Revenue officials immediately turned pale and their breath caught in their throats.
Wu Kun, in particular, began to tremble, and his breathing became rapid.
Mu Zian looked at Wu Kun, who had just been spouting wild words.
"Just now when I came in, I heard that this Minister Wu has taken a new concubine. I wonder if this is true?"
Upon hearing this, the onlookers couldn't help but burst into laughter.
Taking a concubine is a common thing, but unfortunately Wu Kun's hair is already completely white.
It's really hard to imagine what the wedding night scene would actually be like.
At this moment, Wu Kun seemed to feel the mocking looks from those around him, and immediately said angrily.
"This is a matter for my family! There's no need for the Duke of Zhenguo to concern himself with it!"
Mu Zian smiled upon hearing this.
"Since we are all officials in the same court, how can I not offer my congratulations when a colleague takes a concubine?"
"It just so happens that the Duke has just composed a new poem and presented it to Vice Minister Li."
Upon hearing this, everyone present perked up.
After all, Mu Zian's literary talent is undeniable.
On that day, at the poetry gathering on the painted boat, timeless verses rained down, still astonishing people today.
The couplet "Smoke locks the willows by the pond" presented at the recent year-end banquet is considered an absolute masterpiece for all time!
No one expected that today they would not only witness the Ministry of Revenue being disrupted, a rare occurrence in a century, but also witness the Great Li Poet Immortal composing poetry.
Upon hearing Mu Zian's words, Wu Kun immediately sensed something was amiss. However, before he could stop him, Mu Zian had already begun chanting with his hands behind his back.
"At sixty, he became a groom, and withered flowers entered the bridal chamber."
Upon hearing the first sentence, everyone present, whether officials who had come to ask for money or people from the Ministry of Revenue, immediately fell silent.
It wasn't that the poem was too amazing, but rather that they were afraid they would burst out laughing if they didn't shut up.
Wu Kun's face turned pale upon hearing this, but he was powerless to stop Mu Zi'an from continuing to speak.
The cold wind howled, and Mu Zi'an's voice was like a death knell from hell, or like a flood bursting its banks, sweeping towards Wu Kun.
"Gathering like swallows in autumn, even the healthy mandarin ducks are sick."
"Too weak to play in the water, too weak to carry mud up the beam."
"The goddess's heart is troubled in vain, and rain falls beside Gaotang."
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