Unexpected!
This is really unexpected!
No one expected that Su Che would investigate the funding issues of the military treasury based on the accounts of the Council of Legation.
At that time, they all thought that it would take the procuratorate several months just to sort out these accounts, so they were a little surprised that Su Che filed a lawsuit so quickly.
Little did they know that Su Che had not even looked at those accounts, but directly investigated the accounts of the Legation, because the Legation also had some relationship with military expenditures, especially in terms of rewards and pensions. The Procuratorate just went to get some accounts as usual.
In order to prove its innocence, the diplomatic corps cooperated very well and stated that its funds were also in deficit.
But who knew that the drunkard's real intention was not to drink.
But why did Su Che immediately think of the Council of Ministers at that time? It was indeed because he was an official.
This is truly an unwritten rule. If you are not an official, you really don't know about this.
According to the accounts presented by all parties at the time, the finances of Hezhong Prefecture were indeed very tight. It was already spending more than it earned and had a fiscal deficit. How could there be a surplus?
...
...
This is absolutely true. No matter how much money the diplomatic corps can spend, it cannot turn the Hezhong Prefecture's finances into a deficit.
Before, everyone, including Zhang Fei, had been wondering how Su Che would prove that the finances were in surplus.
It cannot be said that as long as there is money in the fiscal accounts, it should be allocated to Chen Guang.
This is also unreasonable.
After all, annual expenditures are well planned and cannot be easily disrupted. Matters also have priorities, and the key is that the government has not said that it will not give the money, but just said that it will be owed first.
Under the current system, this is reasonable.
Since Su Che was accusing himself of withholding and misappropriation of military pay, he would have to prove that there was surplus money in the military treasury but he just refused to pay.
But as we all know, how can there be any surplus despite this fiscal deficit? The central government still needs appropriations to subsidize military expenses.
But Su Che made a breakthrough directly from this inconspicuous government office, the Council of Legation.
This Legation is not an ordinary government office. It concerns the vital interests of every official. The public funds for eating and drinking all depend on the funds of the Legation!
This is why, when the diplomatic corps asks for money, all government offices will actively cooperate. They are officials too, and this money is equivalent to being allocated to themselves. At least they can get a free banquet.
Urgent!
This time the officials were completely anxious!
"How can he bring this up? Hasn't he ever used the money from the Legation?"
"How ridiculous! How ridiculous! I didn't expect this guy to be even more hateful than Zhang San."
"Does the procuratorate want to be the enemy of all officials?"
There were constant whispers and curses in the VIP seats on both sides.
There have been many unpleasant moments since the opening of the Hezhong Prefecture Imperial Court, but never like today, when officials from both sides cursed each other out loud.
It's like stirring up a hornet's nest.
The atmosphere suddenly became quite violent.
Chen Qi and Wang Shen both lowered their heads, which showed that this was within their expectations.
But they thought, we asked you to reconcile but you were unwilling to do so and you even tried every way to make things difficult for us, can we blame us for that?
What’s funny is that the soldiers watching the trial in front of the gate were also cursing.
It turns out that you took our military pay and used it to give to officials for food and drink at public expense. This is really too much!
Only the military generals remained silent, with confused expressions.
They also used the money from the Legation, but the arrears of military pay were obviously not in their favor.
What a dilemma!
For a moment, there was a buzz inside and outside the imperial court.
"quiet!"
Zhang Fei slammed the gavel hard a few times. "Silence! Silence! If anyone makes any more noise, I, the chief judge, will expel them from the Imperial Court, and they will not be allowed to enter the Imperial Court to watch the trial for three months."
Under such intimidation, the courtyard inside and outside gradually became quiet.
Zhang Fei then said to Su Zhe: "Chief Prosecutor Su, you can continue."
"yes."
Su Che bowed slightly and then looked at Tang Zhongwen again.
At this time, Tang Zhongwen lowered his head, sweating profusely, and felt very uncomfortable.
“Ahem!”
Two loud coughs were heard from the VIP seats.
Anyone could tell that there was a strong threat in the voice.
Zhang Fei just glanced but said nothing.
Since Su Zhe had decided to take this step, he must have fully considered the consequences. He had already come to this point, how could he not continue? He had no way to retreat, so he asked Tang Zhongwen again: "Manager Tang just said that it has always been like this, I wonder what this means?"
After a while, Tang Zhongwen remained silent.
Zhang Fei said, "Manager Tang, please answer Chief Prosecutor Su's question."
Tang Zhongwen raised his head, his eyes wide open, and glared at Su Che fiercely, and suddenly said fiercely: "This is the rule set by Mr. Fan."
Zhang Fei was startled when he heard this, and interrupted to ask, "Is the Mr. Fan that Manager Tang is talking about the Prime Minister Fan Zhongyan?"
"Exactly."
Tang Zhongwen suddenly straightened his back.
Wow, this melon is quite big! Zhang Fei was also surprised and looked back at Xu Zhiqian.
Xu Zhiqian shook her head, indicating that she didn't know.
They had not expected Su Che to break through from the Council of Legations, and they did not have first-hand information.
Zhang Fei asked the four little golden men in front of him curiously, "Do you know?"
All four of them shook their heads.
However, when Su Che heard Fan Zhongyan, he seemed a little hesitant, obviously he knew about this.
Tang Zhongwen also saw this and immediately took the initiative to say: "In the fourth year of the Qingli period, an imperial censor impeached the governor of Weizhou, Zhang Kang, for excessive use of public funds, including using the public funds to support visiting scholars, and Fan Gong defended him at the time.
Afterwards, Emperor Renzong issued the "Edict to the Four Border Military Governorates of Shaanxi Province", which stipulated that as long as the money was not used by the envoys for their own benefit, they would be given leniency."
After hearing this, Zhang Fei asked again: "Is there such an imperial decree?"
Shangguan Jun was not sure, "It should be possible, because as far as I know, the expenses of this ambassador's money are indeed quite high."
Ye Zuqia whispered: "This is the welfare of our officials!"
Zhang Fei smiled bitterly and said, "It turns out that I am not an official!"
"!"
When Ye Zuqia heard this, he thought, that’s right, we in the royal court didn’t enjoy any of it at all!
How outrageous!
It’s okay if you don’t mention it, but I get angry when I do!
At this time, whispers were also heard outside the courtyard.
Zheng Xie suddenly stood up and said, "What nonsense! Mr. Fan was only targeting the use of the envoy's money. Many honest and upright officials could not afford the money to be appointed in Beijing, so they could only seek help from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The key point is that what Mr. Fan said at the time had nothing to do with military expenses."
Zhang Fei glanced at Zheng Xie and said, "Mr. Zheng, I hope you won't interfere with the interrogation. If necessary, we will ask Mr. Zheng to testify in court."
Zheng Xie said: "I just helped to explain this point clearly."
"Thank you for your kindness, Mr. Zheng."
Zhang Fei smiled and nodded, then said loudly to the Four Little King Kongs and the court recorder, "What Zheng Xueshi said is just talk outside the court, so ignore it."
Several people nodded.
Zheng Xie's face turned red with embarrassment and he sat down angrily.
Zhang Fei said to Su Zhe again: "Chief Prosecutor Su, you can continue."
Su Che nodded slightly, and asked Tang Zhongwen expressionlessly, "I am not asking about how the ambassador's money is used, but about your military treasury. Is there a regulation that the military treasury will bear the expenses of the diplomatic corps?"
"!"
Tang Zhongwen was stunned for a moment, and suddenly realized that he was in charge of the military treasury, not the diplomatic corps. He said awkwardly, "The diplomatic corps has a lot of expenses. What can I do?"
He could only push the responsibility to the Council of Legation, otherwise the Military Supply Department would have to bear everything, and he couldn't afford it!
Su Che asked again: "Are there any regulations?"
Tang Zhongwen shook his head awkwardly.
Su Che continued to ask: "Is there a clear stipulation that the funds of the Legation House and the Military Treasury cannot be borrowed from each other?"
Tang Zhongwen's eyes lit up when he heard this, and he hurriedly said, "No! No! What I just said was wrong. In fact, our military treasury and the diplomatic corps can borrow money from each other. This is clearly stipulated in the regulations."
Zhang Fei smiled when he heard this and muttered, "It seems like he has made great progress!"
Xu Zhiqian asked in a low voice: "What do you mean?"
Zhang Fei leaned back slightly and said with a smile: "You will know later."
Then Su Che continued to ask, "Manager Tang just said that the reason why the military treasury allocated funds to the diplomatic corps was because the diplomatic corps' expenses were too high."
Tang Zhongwen nodded.
Su Che said: "Is this a long-term plan or a temporary expenditure?"
Tang Zhongwen immediately said: "This is of course temporary."
Su Che nodded and said, "As far as I know, before the military fund treasury allocated these two sums of money, the application list for the pension had already been sent to the military fund treasury."
Ouch! It's over! This guy is so cunning, he actually tricked me. Tang Zhongwen was startled and started to pretend to be confused again, saying casually: "I don't remember."
Su Che picked up a document and said to Zhang Fei, "This is the list of pensions that the military camp handed over to the military supply warehouse. It clearly states that it was handed over on December 16 last year."
Zhang Fei said: "Present it."
After the copy was submitted, Zhang Fei read it and then clicked
He nodded and said, "Regarding Chen Guang's pension application, it was indeed delivered to the military supply warehouse on December 16th of last year."
Then he handed it to Cai Jing and others.
Su Che asked Tang Zhongwen again, "Manager Tang, you just said that the military treasury did not have much money at that time, and the military expenses in the accounts were all planned, such as giving priority to soldiers who died in battle, but the money allocated to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was not planned. I wonder how Manager Tang would explain this."
Tang Zhongwen blinked guiltily and said, "It seems to be planned again. I don't quite remember it."
Su Che asked, "Does Manager Tang know why Censor Li was transferred?"
Tang Zhongwen's eyebrows kept twitching. After a while, he scratched his head and whispered, "I remember now. It was a temporary call."
It turned out that the censor Li Hao was transferred by Wang Anshi because he submitted a memorial to impeach Xue Xiang. It was not a regular transfer, so how could this be planned?
He himself doesn't believe it!
Su Che asked, "But I wonder what this money was originally planned to be used for?"
Tang Zhongwen stammered, "No plan, this is extra money."
Su Che asked again, "But just now, the Transport Commissioner Yuan Xueshi said that the current financial situation is difficult, and the funds allocated by the Transport Department are also based on the funds of previous years. And Manager Tang also emphasized the same point, that the financial situation is difficult and there is no extra money, so the pension for Chen Guang and others can only be postponed to next year."
"I."
Tang Zhongwen opened his mouth and looked at Su Zhe with a pleading look in his eyes.
Su Che looked at him doubtfully, with a spark in his eyes.
Come!
Come on!
Making things difficult for us!
Give us a look!
Aren’t you very arrogant?
In fact, Su Che was very annoyed about this matter. He went to negotiate with the Council of Legation because he had evidence from them. He didn't want to take off the fig leaf. It was unreasonable for you to force me to this point.
Seeing that his plea for mercy was fruitless, Tang Zhongwen could only say, "This is a surplus of money, because our military treasury has to keep some money to deal with emergencies, and we know that when the soldiers are stationed, the military camp will give them a sum of food, so we usually calculate it next year."
He had two choices: either admit to misappropriating military funds, because if the money in the military treasury was within the plan, it must be military expenditure. If it was spent on the Council of Legation to provide food and drink for officials, it would be misappropriation of military funds. Or he could admit to deliberately withholding military pay, saying that he had the money but would not pay it.
The former is a fatal crime, but the punishment for withholding military pay is relatively light.
Su Che asked: "So, is this the unexpected situation that the military supply depot has to face?"
Tang Zhongwen was also desperate, "I have always done this before, and I am just following the routine."
.
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