Chapter 140 Okay, let's confiscate the

property Chu Chengye listened to these cunning old men in front of him with an expressionless face, nodding his head from time to time to show his agreement.

But Chu Chengye didn't know that they were a group of old guys who were hypocritical and had as many tricks as a wasp's nest. Who would believe them if they said they had no money?

They didn't know how much money they had taken from places where Chu Chengye couldn't see.

But now is not the time to force them to spit it out.

Chu Chengye lowered his head and took a sip of wine, staring at the chattering people in front of him.

"My dear ministers, get up quickly, what are you doing?"

"I won't force you. If you are willing, take some. If you are not willing, it's fine. I just invite you to reminisce and talk."

Everyone looked at each other, not knowing what Chu Chengye was up to.

They answered, "It is our duty to work for the emperor and for Nanqi, but we are short of money and cannot help the emperor."

Chu Chengye waved his hand and asked them to sit down.

"Okay, okay, I know you are all loyal."

After saying that, Chu Chengye did not look at them again, as if he had really forgotten the whole thing.

But based on their understanding of Chu Chengye, how could he give up so easily? He must have tried every possible way to get some money from them.

Everyone was puzzled and kept paying attention to Chu Chengye's state.

He was able to sit still. After being rejected by so many people, he was not angry at all. He stared straight at the door, as if waiting for something.

Suddenly, a middle-aged man in plain clothes came in from outside the door. When he entered the hall, he stood in front of Chu Chengye and saluted.

Everyone wondered, who is this person who has invested so much money?

Looking closely, isn't it Cheng Yishou?

At this moment, he was only wearing a simple coarse cloth robe and a wooden hairpin on his head. If they hadn't seen Cheng Yishou's usual appearance, they would definitely not recognize him.

They knew why Chu Chengye called them here, so they made preparations to escape early.

The clothes were deliberately made to look old, and the weak look of Lian Lian was also acted out. Compared with Cheng Yishou, it couldn't be more fake.

Cheng Yishou's outfit must have been made by selling everything that could be sold in the mansion.

When Cheng Yishou saw Chu Chengye, he bowed respectfully, took out a stack of banknotes from his sleeve, and raised it to the level of his head.

Cheng Yishou said, "Your Majesty, this is all the money I have earned while serving as an official in

the court in the past two years. Knowing that Your Majesty needed it, I sold everything that could be sold in my family, just to relieve Your Majesty's worries." These words were not spoken to Chu Chengye, but to everyone present.

Cheng Yishou went to this extent for Chu Chengye, which was a slap in the face of everyone present.

Everyone lowered their heads and dared not speak.

Wei An took it up to Chu Chengye. Chu Chengye touched the thick stack of banknotes in his hand, and he felt indescribable in his heart.

He had negotiated with Cheng Yishou a long time ago, and asking Cheng Yishou to come later today was just to let Cheng Yishou set an example for those people and make them bleed more.

It was just an act. Even if Cheng Yishou took out a stack of fake money, he would not say anything. But Cheng Yishou actually took all the money in the family.

Chu Chengye felt the thickness of the silver in his hand and estimated that Cheng Yishou did not leave him even a penny.

Chu Chengye could not help but think of what Cheng Jin said in his heart at the beginning, that Cheng Yishou fought the enemy to the death and died in front of the enemy. Cheng Yishou treated him like this, but he ignored him and hated him.

He must be blind to do such a thing.

Before Chu Chengye opened his mouth to criticize those people, he heard Cheng Yishou speak first. He turned around and faced everyone, without any regard for face.

"Who are you showing off to by acting like this? As officials of Southern Qi, you receive salaries from the court, and you do your job and serve the emperor loyally. You should behave yourself."

"You say you don't have money to fight for the court. Ask the people around you if they believe you. This war is not fought by the emperor. We fight it for the people of Southern Qi."

"I am a civil servant and I don't agree with the court's continuous wars. But now that foreign enemies are invading, how can we not fight back? If we really withdraw our troops and stop fighting as you said, how many days do you think you can live?"

Everyone looked at each other, unable to refute.

Cheng Yishou snorted at the person in front of him, then turned to Chu Chengye and said, "I am not saying this to support the emperor's war. The border has been at war for years, and the people on the border are displaced and miserable. If the emperor continues to fight like this, I am afraid that the Southern Qi will not last for many days."

Cheng Yishou said this without caring about anyone, even Chu Chengye.

Chu Chengye stood up and raised a glass of wine to Cheng Yishou, "I remember what Master Cheng said."

After Chu Chengye finished speaking, he said to the officials who had been silent, "Do you have anything else to say, my dear ministers?"

Knowing that they could not hide it any longer, some of them were already thinking about settling the matter and took out some money to appease Chu Chengye, but some of them were stubborn and refused to change their words.

Chu Chengye's face suddenly changed, and he smiled sinisterly, "I'm afraid that some of my dear ministers are old and have forgotten something."

Some of them knelt down, "Your Majesty, I can only do my best. Even if my house is confiscated, I can't give the corresponding money to Your Majesty. Your Majesty is going to force me to death..."

Chu Chengye interrupted the man's defense with cold words, "Okay, then confiscate the house."

Chu Chengye smiled, "But I'm not unreasonable. My dear ministers, please record the money you already have in your house in the book so that I can know it clearly. If I know it, I won't wrongly accuse anyone."

"Don't worry, I will only take the extra money."

This statement blocked all their retreats.

They are definitely not as poor as they say, but they just don't want to pay Chu Chengye.

Chu Chengye is no longer willing now, and only said to hand over the extra money.

In this dynasty, which had experienced the chaos during Chu Chengye's ascension to the throne, who was really clean?

Some of them were trembling and unprepared.

"Your Majesty, is this inappropriate? This confiscation of property..."

Chu Chengye said, "Why are you so nervous? I have already said that I will not force you. Since your family is poor, I also have a responsibility. I can compensate you after the investigation."

"Since it has been brought up, it must be true. How can I bear to let you live such a life of hunger and clothes?"

"I am really ashamed."

Everyone was speechless.

Some people secretly rejoiced that they had been prepared, and exchanged glances with each other.

Chu Chengye ignored them. These people were the hardest-mouthed. Let alone being beaten, they would not utter a word even if they were tortured.

But since they dared to embezzle the money, they would naturally reveal their true colors.

He had been sending people to follow the officials who usually behaved the most extravagantly in the past few days. He had already set them as his key observation targets and investigated them thoroughly.

None of them could escape.