Chapter 94: Plum Blossoms 4: Uneducated
Song Yanze could only see the part of the Ministry of Revenue's account book that was reported by the internal treasury, and could not see the important national accounts in recent years.
But it is enough to see many problems.
It is a foregone conclusion that the Ministry of Revenue was involved in corruption, but the difficulty lies in proving it. We need evidence and confessions, and only after a trial can we order a house search and arrest.
In addition, the whereabouts of the stolen money is also a rather tricky issue.
There are so many clues, and we need to unravel them one by one.
"Let's go to the Ministry of Revenue first."
For both public and private reasons, he had no intention of going to the imperial prison first.
Personally, I didn't want to be with Jiang Tingyuan today. Publicly, it was useless to go find Luo Jian now.
In order to get Luo Jian to cooperate with them and defect, they had to come up with something that was certain, or know some inside information and use it to trick him.
All of these need to be carefully checked from the accounts first.
Thinking of this, Song Yanze suddenly jumped up, not caring about his disgust for Jiang Tingyuan, and grabbed his robe.
"Commander Jiang! I'm afraid the residences of the officials in the Ministry of Revenue also need to be watched."
After today's morning court session, there is no guarantee that someone will not sell the stolen money or destroy the evidence.
Seeing the relaxed look on the spy chief's face, Song Yanze understood that it must have been arranged long ago. He loosened his grip, glanced at him again, and pulled at his wrinkled official robe.
Jiang Tingyuan slightly moved his leg and bumped into him. Song Yanze's eyebrows jumped, but he pretended not to know.
"There's a fork in the road ahead, why don't we just say goodbye here?"
Song Yanze felt his whole body go numb when facing him. He had some dignity to restrain himself from jumping out of the car.
Jiang Tingyuan raised his eyebrows: "Aren't you going to the Ministry of Revenue?"
"This is just a small matter, I will handle it..."
"Your Majesty asked the two of us to go investigate. Should I go there?"
Song Yanze frowned. Was Jiang Tingyuan worried that he would look at the account book behind his back? Yes, he was not on the same page with him, so there was no reason for him not to look at it.
Jiang Tingyuan hit him with his leg again. He didn't know how to control his strength and thought he had restrained himself, but in fact Song Yanze was knocked back.
He kept his eyes downcast, pondering by himself, his mind more serious than when he was a child.
Jiang Tingyuan leaned his head, and was more pleased to see him being irritated, angry, and saying some sarcastic words. Unfortunately, he was in a good mood now, or he was simply being wary of him, so he stopped saying sarcastic words.
I can bear it.
"Commander Jiang!" Song Yanze almost gritted his teeth, and then took a deep breath. "What did I do to displease Commander Jiang? Please tell me."
"Think for yourself."
He said this again, with a half-smile in his voice, and Song Yanze almost believed that he had done something to let him down.
The carriage slowly stopped, and Jiang Tingyuan stood up and got off first. Song Yanze came back to his senses, and everything had to wait until this matter was resolved.
He got out of the car holding his official hat. Jiang Tingyuan naturally grabbed his belt to support him, but let go before he noticed.
The Ministry of Revenue used to be bustling with people coming and going, but today its doors were completely closed.
But the main reason should be the imperial envoys surrounding the place.
Song Yanze straightened his robe and official hat, wondering when these people were arranged by Jiang Tingyuan. This guy's methods were swift and decisive.
"Master Jiang, Master Song."
Soon someone came back to reply. It was Jiang Tingyuan's imperial envoy.
"All the officials of the Ministry of Finance in Kyoto are here. All the account books have been seized..."
The two walked in side by side. Rows of officials were kneeling in the hall of the Ministry of Revenue, all of them in a state of panic. Luo Jian was detained, and Hu Zhong had been taken to the Imperial Court, led by another assistant minister named Shi.
Song Yanze walked up to them, raised his voice slightly, and looked calm, looking much kinder than Jiang Tingyuan beside him.
"My Lords, please do not panic. Lord Jiang and I have been ordered by the Emperor to check the account books and bills of the Ministry of Revenue. If there are any misunderstandings, we can clear them up and everything will be fine."
He said this gently, as if he didn't want to get involved. Many people breathed a sigh of relief, and several doctors and assistant doctors exchanged glances with each other.
Jiang Tingyuan didn't say much, just followed behind Song Yanze. The two came to the courtyard in the back hall, where there were more than a dozen large boxes, and when they were opened, they were all account books and bills.
Shi Shi stepped forward and bowed his head: "Here are the account books and tax returns from the past five years."
He was a third-rank left vice minister, and he acted very humble, but in fact he was waiting for them to embarrass themselves.
The financial situation of the past five years is not easy to sort out, especially to find problems therein.
Not to mention the sheer number of them, you also need to have a certain understanding of the affairs of each department. Not only that, you also need to be clear about the actual situation in each place.
Otherwise, there is no obvious problem and it is just a waste of time and energy.
A mere fourth-rank imperial censor, who was only transferred to Jiangnan as an official, what ability could he have? Even if he was asked to find fault with him, he would not be able to find any fault with him.
"Someone come here!" Song Yanze was calm and composed, without any difficulty on his face.
He lifted his sleeves and stood in the courtyard, with the bright sunlight enveloping his whole body. He had a pure and elegant temperament, and between his brows was a self-conceited smile of a young man.
"Move a large table here, and a chair, and I'll have you guys sort the account books, the draft bills, and the reports to the Thirteenth Bureau of Clearing Officials."
Jiang Tingyuan folded his arms and looked at him, the corners of his lips curled up unconsciously, and he raised his chin to let him do as he was told.
The imperial envoys were all strong men eight feet tall, and they had no difficulty lifting the large wooden tables and chairs.
As soon as Song Yanze got into the mood, he forgot about Jiang Tingyuan. He could see through the affairs of officialdom, but he really couldn't play with power like Jiang Tingyuan did.
Doing practical things is his field.
"Where are the doctors of the Thirteenth Bureau of Civil Servants?"
Minister Shi had a bad feeling ever since he moved his desk to the lobby and ordered everyone to clean up the documents one by one. How could a prefect know so much about the structure and functions of the Ministry of Revenue?
Song Yanze took out the pen, ink, paper and inkstone, spread out a blank piece of paper, put the pen aside, and slowly ground the ink with the inkstone.
The doctors were brought out by the imperial envoys, trembling with fear, and knelt in the corridor beside the courtyard.
He raised his eyelids and took a quick look, then continued in a deep voice, "Two stewards from the steward's office, come forward."
His tone was not harsh, and even warm and gentle, but all the officials in the Ministry of Revenue shuddered, as if he was the King of Hell calling his souls.
Behind him were the imperial emissaries in red shirts and black clothes, who were busy sorting things back and forth. They moved very quickly, each of them carrying a knife and looking bloody and murderous. They were sorting those deadly documents in an increasingly clear and organized manner.
What was even more frightening was that this gentle and handsome Mr. Song would sometimes glance over, point and select a few books and ask them to be marked...
"Where are the other eight supervisors of the eight departments of the External Treasury?" He lowered his eyes and continued to call out names slowly.
Jiang Tingyuan suddenly came forward and wanted to take the ink stick from his hand to grind ink for him. Song Yanze clenched the ink stick tightly and didn't want to pay attention to him.
Jiang Tingyuan suddenly leaned close to him, and his rough fingers rubbed between his fingers frivolously, rubbing back and forth ambiguously.
"Lord Xiao Song is so majestic, I am really impressed. Please let me do this little thing for you."
Song Yanze was so disgusted that he threw the ink stick to him and got goosebumps all over his body.
"Sir, all the documents have been sorted."
"Sir, everyone is kneeling in the corridor waiting for your orders."
Song Yanze couldn't help but nodded and chuckled, looking a little naughty, and spoke to them softly.
"You are all the heads of various departments in the Ministry of Revenue. I think you must be familiar with the situation of each department."
"Don't worry, just answer my questions as I ask them."
He was good-looking and made people feel comfortable when he was friendly. But now no one thought he was easy to mess with. Song Yanze stopped smiling, put on a serious face and laughed in a low voice.
"However, everyone should think carefully before answering, and be truthful and detailed. If there is any mistake, or if there is an error after verification..."
Jiang Tingyuan's eyes swept over his exposed neck and profile, then he looked up and laughed, and with one hand pulled out the Embroidered Spring Sword from his subordinate behind him.
There was a metallic humming sound that made one's teeth ache.
He threw the knife with one hand, and the sharp blade flashed, directly grazed Shi Shilang's official robe, cutting his clothes, and nailed it to the tree behind him with a line of blood.
Minister Shi immediately collapsed to the ground, holding his arm, and nervously tried to adjust his official hat.
"My lords, please take care of yourselves. Cherish Master Song who listens to you carefully, and don't let him fall into the hands of a rough man like me."
Song Yanze subconsciously looked up at him. There was no smile on Jiang Tingyuan's deep and three-dimensional face, which was really scary. In fact, he was handsome, but his whole aura was cold and bloody.
These days Jiang Tingyuan always loves to tease him, and sometimes he almost forgets that this is the so-called "Jade-faced Rakshasa". It is Jiang Tingyuan who walked out of the sea of blood and corpses in Yanzhou and won military merits with heads in his hands.
"Report submitted by the Thirteen Departments in the thirty-fourth year of Baoguang."
Song Yanze waved his sleeves, gave instructions in a calm voice, and soon the report was brought up.
Each of them was nervous, but they didn't think that such a young, newly appointed censor would be able to see anything.
Song Yanze flipped through them one by one, reading them very quickly. Soon he pulled out a few pictures, picked up the brush beside him and started to draw with red ink.
"Linping Province, Fukou Province, Jiangnan Province."
He reported slowly, enunciating each word, and three doctors were grabbed by their collars and dragged to his feet.
The empire was divided into thirteen provinces, and the Ministry of Revenue had thirteen Qinglisi, which were officials responsible for reporting grain tax revenues from various places. A Langzhong was the head of a department.
"Tell me now, what taxes were collected in each territory in the 34th year of Baoguang? How much was collected? Please report in detail, how much was sent to the inner treasury and how much was sent to the outer treasury."
The Inner Treasury was a private treasury for the royal family, and the Outer Treasury was the national treasury.
"I am from Jiangnan Province, and you were the governor at that time... You shouldn't need to..."
"Answer whatever I ask you." Jiang Tingyuan held the ink stick and glanced at it casually.
The man immediately lowered his head to wipe the sweat off his face, and the other two were also startled.
"The taxes back then were nothing more than grain, silk, and people. Jiangnan Province alone paid... 200..."
As he spoke, he glanced at Song Yanze, who looked at him expressionlessly, his black eyes calm and still. He suddenly broke out in a cold sweat.
Yes, this young Lord Song was once the governor of Huaizhou, which was under the jurisdiction of Jiangnan Province. What taxes did he collect...
No, how could he remember it clearly? That was five years ago. There were so many things to do in the jurisdiction, and unless it was a disaster or famine, tax revenue was the number least worth remembering.
"Jiangnan Province paid a total of 230 dan of grain..."
"Master Doctor." Song Yanze shook the paper in his hand and sighed, then looked at him again: "Master Doctor, are you sure?"
"Not to mention other jurisdictions, during my tenure, every tax revenue in all counties in Huaizhou was recorded."
Jiang Tingyuan waved his hand, and the imperial eunuch beside him roughly lifted his hair and dragged him out by the collar. The man immediately cried and struggled with his hands and feet, but it was just like an ant trying to shake a tree.
The amiable Lord Song just frowned, turned around and said one word to Jiang Tingyuan.
"Quarrel."
Jiang Tingyuan raised his eyebrows and waved his hand casually, and the imperial eunuch was about to stuff his mouth.
The man suddenly cried out, "Sir! Sir! Four and a half million dan! It's four and a half million dan!"
Song Yanze smiled and said, "My Lord, it's over now. Just make it clear."
After this incident, the other two doctors were almost exhausted. They had low official ranks to begin with, and did not make much money from it, not to mention they had to take risks for their superiors.
He was originally a local official, there was no need for him to lose his life for something that was handled carelessly. The one who should be in real trouble should be the minister who was about to faint.
There is also the Minister Luo who has been arrested, and even the Shangshu Lord...
All the doctors and treasurers below became obedient. Some of them thought that although he knew the situation in Jiangnan Province, he might not be familiar with the situation in other provinces, so they said less.
But he was dragged out the next moment.
Song Yanze spread out a piece of paper with ease, picked up the brush and dipped it in ink, writing beautiful and elegant characters. Jiang Tingyuan leaned over to watch him, fascinated, with a serious expression.
Song Yanze was drying the ink and blowing it gently. He tilted his head to look at him with a frown and asked him subconsciously.
"Master Jiang, is there anything wrong?"
Jiang Tingyuan came back to his senses and coughed lightly: "What is written here?"
Song Yanze took a look at the latter part and saw that he used a lot of uncommon words. He didn't think much about it and said, "Didn't Lord Jiang read it..."
"Huh?" Song Yanze choked and realized that he didn't understand the second half of the word.
"Uneducated." Song Yanze couldn't help but curl the corners of his lips and muttered.
Jiang Tingyuan was a real military officer, so it was normal for him not to understand some obscure words, but Song Yanze just couldn't help but want to laugh at him.
Who made him so fond of flirting?
"What?"
Jiang Tingyuan didn't hear it carefully, he just saw him smugly smirking with his lips pursed, and thought it was a little cute.
Song Yanze ignored him and asked them to come up and sign.
"From the 34th year of Baoguang to last year, the total shortfall was as much as 23 million dan of grain." Song Yanze frowned and clicked his tongue twice.
This only includes the grain tax, there are also taxes on silk, people, and even currency.
This one item alone is enough to execute nine generations of the clan.
Song Yanze turned around and saw that Minister Shi, who had just woken up, had his eyes rolled back again. This time he was probably really fainted.
Jiang Tingyuan sneered, and Song Yanze pulled him and said softly, "Someone, go get a doctor to take a good look at the master. Don't let anything happen to the master."
It was already late, past noon, and enough food had been collected.
"It's getting late, let's just..."
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
If they want to investigate, they won't do it today. The amount is already large enough and involves enough people.
Besides, other things are not like food, you can’t just ask and find out the amount.
Song Yanze glanced at the eight supervisors of the outer treasury and took in all their little thoughts.
"Let's serve tea to the eight people first. We can ask questions while we drink."
Song Yanze looked at their faces which turned suddenly pale and smiled with his hands tucked into his sleeves.
"Eight supervisors, should we start with the theft and sale of government grain, or the private production of paper money, or the so-called bamboo basket tax?"
The two people who were lifting the teacups dropped and fainted on the spot.
He knew all about stealing and selling government grain, making private money, and collecting more taxes under false pretenses. This young Master Song was going to rob the Ministry of Revenue!
Jiang Tingyuan was busy glaring at his subordinate who was holding a teacup and was about to serve tea to Song Yanze. He was so tactless that he didn't even bother to give it to him and asked him to serve it?
He handed the teacup to Song Yanze, leaned over and whispered, "Master, have some tea."
Song Yanze's expression collapsed, and he turned his head away and ignored him. He then pointed at a few more account books and flipped through them. It was obvious that he had known there was a problem and came prepared.
At the door of the household department, an inconspicuous servant slipped out and bowed to the imperial envoy who was stopping him, smiling and explaining: "Master Song inside asked me to invite a few more doctors."
Soon his identity was verified and he was released. The servant ran all the way to the clinic, but turned around and ran straight to a wine shop and went straight to the private room on the third floor.
He bowed and knocked three times, then lowered his head and went in, knelt down and described the situation inside in detail.
There was silence for a long while, and soon a low cough was heard from inside, and another voice said anxiously in a low voice: "Teacher, this little Song has deceived us all."
"It seems that the person who secretly investigated some time ago was him."
"We can't keep Song Yanze any longer."
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