The Prime Minister saw that the Minister of Revenue was also frustrated, and then looked at the Zhong family which had been ransacked and turned into a mess.
He snorted coldly and walked away. After the prime minister left, Zhao Ji immediately asked the guards to close the door of the mansion.
This Lord Zhong looks honest on weekdays, but it turns out that all the things he uses in his house are valuables.
"A gilded jade bi and a purple gold cup in the side room of the west hall..."
"The warm room is filled with the fragrance of smoke and clouds, with a gauze curtain..."
"A complete set of exquisitely carved mahogany lacquer furniture in the main hall..."
Zhao Ji took the bill reported by his subordinates and read it line by line. He couldn't help but sigh: "This Minister of Revenue is really a rat raised by the dynasty!"
By the time the house search was over, it was already dark. After lighting the lights and using candlelight, Zhao Ji saw the yard full of boxes and couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
"Reporting to the Chief Seal, a total of 51 boxes of gold and silver treasures were seized, 35 boxes of various jewels, 20 boxes of valuable calligraphy and paintings, 23 boxes of rare antiques... In addition, there were 25 sets of valuable furniture and 37 boxes of luxurious clothes!"
Even those book-makers who had seen the world were shocked.
This is just a small assistant minister of the Ministry of Revenue. What if he is the Minister of Revenue or even the Prime Minister?
What a huge number that is?
Zhao Ji stroked his chin and looked at the countless treasures in the yard, and couldn't help but sigh in his heart.
"Pack up and go into the palace." Zhao Ji turned around in a casual manner, but his sleeve was quietly grabbed by the clerk.
Zhao Ji understood and said, "The Imperial Guards will return to the palace first. The bookkeepers still need to register. You stay here first..."
After the guards had gone far away, Zhao Ji called the bookkeeper aside and asked him, "Why did you call me just now?"
Seeing that it was dark and no one was around, the bookkeeper whispered, "Your Excellency is truly a great man. Why didn't you leave behind so many confiscated items?"
Zhao Ji hadn't thought of this just now. After all, it was his first time to search a house, and there were so many guards and other people watching, so he overlooked it for a moment.
Zhao Ji pretended to be deep, put his hand on the bookkeeper's shoulder, and patted him pretentiously: "But these are all the emperor's things..."
The bookkeeper said nothing, but he was thinking:
[How can someone confiscate a property without leaving something for themselves? Besides, the previous confiscation ate meat, and we can still drink some soup...]
[Is this Master Seal so honest? Then we won't even get any money for our hard work today? ]
[Alas, but it is rare to find such a person in the court. I am afraid that such an upright and honest person will be targeted in the future. No, I have to remind this lord...]
[Even if it's just a token of appreciation, what if he took something? Anyway, once the property is confiscated, even if he didn't take anything, everyone in the court would assume that he did. The emperor would turn a blind eye to this matter...]
[I admire your integrity, Master. Forget it, I will think of a tactful way to remind you...]
As Zhao Ji listened, he couldn't help laughing. He didn't expect that he didn't think of it for a moment, and in the eyes of this bookkeeper, he became an upright and selfless adult.
However, Zhao Ji was extremely happy with this little misunderstanding.
So Zhao Ji deliberately said: "The refugees in Hua'an County are still displaced. If these things are added to the national treasury, I'm afraid that only then can they solve the urgent needs of the people..."
The bookkeepers are so anxious that they are scratching their heads...
[With the Emperor enjoying himself in the nest of beauties, how can he care about the refugees? ]
[The reason why the capital is in such decline is because there are too few people like the Master Seal Holder and too many people like the Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Revenue! Alas...]
After hearing this, Zhao Ji looked the scribe up and down carefully.
Zhao Ji could see a patriotic yet helpless emotion in him.
"What's your name?" Zhao Ji suddenly asked.
"Your Excellency, my name is Wang Zhengrong."
"Zhengrong...what's your name?" Zhao Ji asked again.
"My name is Fuzhi!"
Zhao Ji smiled softly, "Fuzhi, I am new to the court and my first time working for the emperor. There are indeed some things I don't understand. I think the proceeds from the confiscation of property should be added to the national treasury to help the refugees in Hua'an County... From your reaction, it seems that you don't agree, but what's the hidden story?"
Wang Zhengrong widened his eyes in surprise. He never expected Zhao Ji to be so approachable and even call him by his nickname.
If I had known this word earlier, only elders or close relatives would call me by it directly.
In addition, Zhao Ji took his feelings into consideration in his words, allowing him to express himself freely.
Wang Zhengrong was instantly impressed by Zhao Ji's personality charm. He said directly: "Since you are in the court, you must be very aware of the complicated procedures of the Ministry of Revenue and other departments. After they finish the procedures, this batch of confiscated items will probably be broken down into pieces and given to countless other assistant ministers of the Ministry of Revenue..."
Zhao Ji touched his chin and nodded. Now he finally understood how these people in the Ministry of Revenue became so rich...
There is so much room for maneuver here, no wonder so many people are scrambling to get into the Ministry of Households.
"You are so outspoken, do you think I won't spread what you said today?"
Zhao Ji asked this deliberately, and even pretended to be a little angry.
The book keeper Wang Zhengrong gritted his teeth and knelt on the ground: "I believe in the seal, the seal will not do that!" After saying that, he raised his eyes with a sharp gaze.
Zhao Ji was silent for a moment, then suddenly burst into laughter: "You are a promising talent. You are a promising talent, why do you condescend to the position of a small book maker?"
Wang Zhengrong had also made a gamble just now, and now he knew that he had won the bet!
"I am willing to sacrifice my life for the seal..."
When Zhao Ji and the book clerk came out of the darkness again, the only ones left in the Zhong Mansion were Zhao Ji's confidants in the Imperial Household Department.
"These twenty boxes of gold, silver and treasures will be moved to No. 32, Fulu Lane. This box is a reward for your hard work and sincere search today..."
Wang Zhengrong spoke, and the eunuchs from the Imperial Household Department subconsciously looked at Zhao Ji. After Zhao Ji nodded, they accepted it.
Wang Zhengrong took all of this in and couldn't help but sigh: "Your Excellency's rule is strict!"
Zhao Ji had just talked to the newly conquered Wang Zhengrong, saying that it was he who arranged it, but Zhao Ji had not yet bought a house outside the palace, so No. 32 Fulu Lane was actually a private residence of Wang Zhengrong.
Zhao Ji trusts people he employs, and does not employ people if he does not trust them. Since he trusts Wang Zhengrong, he will naturally make use of him.
Zhao Ji still wants to laugh when he thinks of Wang Zhengrong's endless admiration and praise when he heard that he was going to hand over all the gold, silver and treasures to Wang Zhengrong.
However, Zhao Ji was also very happy to have this helper outside the palace, because it would make it much more convenient to do things outside the palace in the future.
Zhao Ji looked at the list of confiscated property re-made by the bookkeeper Wang Zhengrong, and suddenly said: "Believe it or not, I can send all these gold, silver and jewelry to Hua'an County!"
Wang Zhengrong was stunned. Although he had just had a heart-to-heart talk with Zhao Ji, at this moment he inexplicably felt that Zhao Ji was serious and could do it!