Chapter 142: When there is a conflict of interest, everyone only thinks about themselves
Cheng Jin was wearing a golden butterfly-shaped flower cloud skirt, a gilded jadeite crown on her head, and gold hairpins all over her head. She looked so rich and noble, and there was no sign of her being wronged.
She turned in front of Cheng Yishou, tilted her head and smiled at him.
"Dad, I'm fine."
Cheng Yishou nodded, and his tight brows relaxed a little, and his always tense face became gentle and kind.
Seeing Cheng Jin like this, Cheng Yishou was relieved.
"I'm glad you didn't suffer any injustice in the palace."
Cheng Jin nodded fiercely, and the gold hairpins on her head swayed with Cheng Jin's movements.
Cheng Jin wore this outfit on purpose to prevent Cheng Yishou from worrying.
As an outsider, Cheng Yishou rarely entered the palace, and as Cheng Jin's father, it was hard for him not to worry about how Cheng Jin was doing in the palace.
Cheng Yishou didn't talk to Cheng Jin for too long in the hall, and he said goodbye to Chu Chengye and returned to the mansion to perform for the officials who were staring at him.
Cheng Jin accompanied him all the way to a long place and told Cheng Yishou about Cheng Sheng, "Don't worry about my brother, Dad. He left the capital this time secretly under the instructions of the emperor, and the emperor asked him to dispatch the Bai Ce Camp. He will be fine. The soldiers on the border will surely win a great victory this time."
Cheng Yishou nodded after hearing what Cheng Jin said, "Dad knows that your brother is very strong. I am not worried that he will get hurt on the battlefield, but he has always been a little careless. I'm afraid that he will fall into the trap of the traitor."
Cheng Jin thought about it carefully. In the book, Cheng Sheng was framed for treason and collaborating with the enemy. Now that Wang Dong is dead, she doesn't know who will do such a thing again.
Cheng Jin said, "I think brother has understood a lot since he was sent out of the capital by the emperor to the border this time." It
is impossible to say absolutely now, but Cheng Yishou has indeed seen Cheng Sheng's growth from the family letters that Cheng Sheng sent back recently.
Cheng Sheng is too sentimental. At first, he would rather suspect that he heard it wrong than believe that it was Wang Dong who wanted to kill him.
After meeting Wang Dong, Cheng Sheng really gave up and cut off his friendship with him. They became enemies when they met.
Wang Dong joined the army to make a living and had no real skills. He just happened to save Cheng Sheng's life, and the two became friends for life.
Since Wang Dong saved Cheng Sheng, Cheng Sheng regarded Wang Dong as his own brother, standing in front of Wang Dong every time and seeking an official position for him after winning a battle.
This time, Cheng Sheng saw through Wang Dong. He did not kill Wang Dong himself, but let Wang Dong go to the battlefield with him.
This time, as a subordinate, Wang Dong blocked Cheng Sheng in front of him. He had no real skills and would die soon.
Cheng Sheng just watched Wang Dong die in front of him.
Wang Dong saved him once, and Cheng Sheng didn't know how many times he had saved Wang Dong, and he had already repaid him.
After Wang Dong's death, Cheng Sheng changed the previous sluggish atmosphere of the army. After fighting the enemy for several days, he still did not lose the upper hand, which greatly boosted morale.
He said in the letter that he must take Yingzhou back.
However, the Yingzhou area is easy to defend and difficult to attack. If it is just an attack, it is unknown how long it will take to fight the enemy, so the return date is uncertain.
Cheng Jin nodded and could only hope that Cheng Sheng is fine.
The plan of confiscating property proposed by Cheng Jin was really feasible. Chu Chengye did confiscate a lot of money from those officials, which solved the urgent problem.
However, the court’s opinions on Chu Chengye were getting stronger and stronger. If there were any hesitant neutral parties before, they would have almost all joined Chu Huaian.
Chu Chengye didn’t care too much. Those who had always been loyal to him would never change, and those fence-sitters couldn’t do anything big for him.
After this was done, Chu Chengye began to implement the policy of state-run wine industry and coastal trade.
Some officials strongly opposed it because they had made a lot of money from it before. Now that it would be under the unified control of the state, they would not be able to act recklessly like before.
But this was exactly what Chu Chengye wanted. The less money they had in their hands, the easier it would be to control.
Chu Chengye was determined to implement the policy of government-run liquor industry, and he did not even blink an eye no matter how much the censors talked.
Seeing that there was really no other way, they had to focus on the position of Ningzhou Maritime Customs, which was responsible for the management of coastal trade.
Chu Chengye only mentioned it once, and they all volunteered.
"Your Majesty, I am from Ningzhou, and I know the local customs and folkways of the coastal areas best. Please assign this matter to me."
Someone else immediately stood up.
"Your Majesty, I think I can do it."
"Isn't Lord Li from the Central Plains? How come you know about Ningzhou?"
The man did not back down at all.
"As far as I know, you grew up in the capital, right? Your hometown is Ningzhou? It must have been hundreds of years ago."
Everyone knows that the job of Ningzhou Maritime Customs is a rare and lucrative job. If it is assigned to oneself, it will be a lifetime of glory and wealth. Who doesn't want to seize this opportunity? Even
if it is a colleague, no one is willing to take a step back.
Chu Chengye looked at the officials who were arguing in front of him coldly, and suddenly found it interesting.
These people, it is estimated that they have all expressed their loyalty to Chu Huaian, and they should have been of one mind, but they ignored everything because of this little benefit.
It is not a bad thing for them to follow Chu Huaian.
Chu Chengye sat on the dragon chair, propping his head up to watch the drama unfolding below. The officials below seemed to have noticed Chu Chengye's gaze, so they restrained themselves and saluted Chu Chengye respectfully.
"I am just suggesting that the position of the Maritime Customs Office be decided by the emperor."
Chu Chengye smiled without any emotion on his face.
"Your Excellency is right. I will think about this matter more."
"If you have suitable candidates, you can also submit a memorial to me, and I will choose one from them."
The ministers looked at each other, not knowing whether what Chu Chengye said was true or false.
But if it was true, it would be a lifetime of endless glory and wealth.
Although they did not show it in front of them and pretended to shirk each other, they had already calculated in their hearts how to maximize their own interests.
Chu Chengye left the court after leaving this sentence.
These officials could not help arguing as soon as they left the palace.
The previous emperor was greedy for pleasure during his reign. In order to avoid the invasion of pirates at sea, he blocked the port of Ningzhou early.
Ningzhou has an excellent location and is not far from other countries. It is the best for trade, and the official positions of the Ningzhou Maritime Customs are also top-notch.
They are unwilling to let go, nor are they willing to trust others. They cater to others on the surface, and secretly contact other officials to form multiple camps.
Chu Chengye looked at the memorials handed up in the Yangxin Palace and read out the names one by one. He couldn't help but chuckled.
Sure enough, when there is a conflict of interest, everyone will only think about themselves.
Even if Chu Huaian is behind them, they still fight for this little interest.
Chu Chengye threw the documents on the table casually, and the pile of documents was smashed into a mess.
Wei An stepped forward to help Chu Chengye sort them out.
Chu Chengye asked: "Wei An, do you think there is anyone in this court who can take the position of Ningzhou Maritime Customs?"