112. Extra 2
"none"
In order to keep the country stable before fighting the enemy, Qi You prepares to thoroughly investigate the rampant corruption in the Imperial Household Department.
After appointing the crown prince, Kangxi watched over him for a while, and when he was completely assured, he gradually stopped taking charge of affairs, and Qi You basically governed the country.
However, before doing anything, Qi You would discuss it carefully with Kangxi and only start after convincing him.
Kangxi would definitely not allow his wallet to be stolen, and Qi You quickly got his consent.
The Imperial Household Department was the royal family's own business. Kangxi thought of his idle sons and said, "Give the task to the eighth son and let the fourteenth son help out."
Qi You quickly agreed, called over Lao Ba and Lao Shi Si, and gave them the task.
Ever since Qi You became the crown prince, Lao Ba and the others have been making a fuss in private, but in the end they found that it was not only useless, but also made them look like clowns.
The officials who follow them are not stupid. Wealth and glory are tempting, but the key is to have the life to enjoy them.
The main reason was that Kangxi was getting older and lived in Changchun Garden all year round, rarely intervening in state affairs, so Qi You became the undisputed decision maker.
There is also a more important point, following Qi You is not necessarily worse than following Lao Ba and his group.
Qi You doesn't care who they are. As long as they have ability and are willing to work hard, they will be valued and respected.
Respect is a mysterious thing. When you don't have it, you don't feel much. But once you have experienced it, and are treated like a slave and ordered around, and ignored, respect becomes even more valuable.
Qi You's demeanor and broad-mindedness were beyond reproach even by hostile forces. In private, he could talk and laugh cheerfully, making people feel at ease.
When he spoke before the courtiers, he was clear and convincing, and he always managed to stir up people's emotions, whether it was excitement, excitement, or fanaticism.
The Eighth and Fourteenth brothers felt bored, and gradually gave up and lived a passive life.
When they heard that Qi You wanted to meet them, Lao Ba and Lao Shisi thought a lot in an instant, and came to Qi You's Wuming Manor with complicated feelings.
Qi You did not move into Changchun Garden, but continued to live in his original manor. The manor remained the same size as when it was bestowed upon him, having not expanded in accordance with his position as crown prince. He made only minor modifications, inspecting it annually for leaks and patching up dilapidated areas.
The two men dismounted in front of the gate and subconsciously looked at the blank plaque on the eaves of the gate. This plaque was too famous, novel and inspiring, and almost everyone in the world knew it.
The guards and the doorman came out quietly, and judging from their behavior, it was clear that they were not ordinary.
Fourteen looked at Eighth, and the two of them looked at each other and smiled awkwardly.
Several people stepped forward and paid their respects respectfully. The guard's eyes were sharp and piercing. He scanned the two of them calmly and made a gesture to the doorman.
The concierge, with a perfectly composed smile on his face, led the two into the farm. Along the way, the flowers, plants, and trees were thriving, and except for branches that blocked the way, they were left to grow freely without any careful pruning.
Old Eight looked around and saw shades of green, and a riot of colour. He saw nothing precious, only prosperity and joy.
Fourteenth was visiting Wuming Manor for the first time, and he too was fascinated. He walked up and excitedly said to Eighth Brother, "Eighth Brother, we won't take care of the manor from now on. We'll just leave it like this, letting the flowers and grass grow freely."
Lao Ba glanced at Shi Si and said something perfunctorily with a smile.
Fourteen's farm was filled with precious flowers and plants. Precious flowers, like precious people, were always delicate. If they weren't carefully cared for and tended to regularly, they would quickly wither.
Aside from the butterflies and bees dancing in the late spring sun, the surroundings were quiet, with almost no one in sight. The two followed the gatehouse along the path and arrived at a nondescript courtyard.
The gatekeeper asked them to wait and knocked a few times on the half-closed gate. Soon, after the sound of very light footsteps, the gate silently opened and Degao walked out, greeting them: "Please come in, gentlemen."
Eighth and Fourteen nodded in return and followed Degao into the courtyard. Before them lay a Jiangnan-style courtyard, complete with an exquisite bridge, flowing water, and a profusion of flowers.
Degao stopped in front of the door. Guihe, who was standing solemnly at the door, stepped forward to greet him. He nodded and bowed, saying, "The Crown Prince is waiting for you two in the study."
As he walked, Lao Ba felt a strange feeling. He didn't know if it was because the surroundings were too quiet, or if the people serving Qi You were too taciturn and measured. He felt an invisible pressure that made him walk and talk more quietly.
When they entered the study, Eighth Brother was fine, but Fourteenth Brother couldn't help but let out a short exclamation.
It looks unremarkable from the outside. It is a five-room house with all the walls demolished and opened up except for the load-bearing columns.
Inside the spacious and airy room, bookshelves lined the walls, reaching the same height as the caisson ceiling. The shelving was imposing and breathtaking. However, there were very few books on the shelves; instead, they contained documents, official correspondence, and other materials, arranged in categories.
In the empty space in the center of the room, there were tables, chairs, and desks. The light coming in from the glazed tiles, the glazed caisson, and the glazed window lattices illuminated the room brightly.
There was no incense in the house, but in the simple and ordinary vase, there were large bunches of colorful flowers and plants, which looked lively and interesting, with bursts of fragrance.
Qi You was buried in his desk, piled neatly with documents. He looked up at the noise. His face was gentle and thin, and his eyes were bright as the morning sun, yet hazy and indistinct.
When Lao Ba and Qi You's eyes met, they couldn't help but lower their eyelids and walked forward with Fourteen to greet each other.
Qi You nodded in return and invited them to sit. De Gao and Gui He served tea and quietly left, closing the door behind them.
Qi You didn't beat around the bush and directly told Xuan and the other two why they came. He took their reactions in stride and said with a smile, "Eighth brother, Fourteenth brother, I'll leave this mission to you."
Since the defeat of the Eighth Clan, there has been almost nothing to do. Qi You knew that the two of them had been assigned a task suddenly. In addition to being surprised, he was also frightened, fearing that it was a trap.
Qi You carefully stated his request: "You must all know that the corruption in the Imperial Household Department has reached a point where it must be corrected. As for where the flaws occurred and why it has persisted for so many years, Eighth Brother, you and Fourteenth Brother, should clarify this matter together and come up with practical and feasible measures for improvement."
Investigating corruption is an offensive job, Lao Ba smiled bitterly. He knew that there was no such thing as a free lunch, and no good thing would fall on his head.
Fourteenth couldn't hold back any longer and said without hesitation, "Your Highness, I'm a straightforward person, so I'll be frank. I'm afraid we can't do the job Your Highness has assigned to me and Myna. Those people in the Imperial Household Department are not easy to deal with. One move could affect the entire body. How exactly should we investigate and to what extent should we investigate? Please let Your Highness tell us clearly."
Qi You leaned back in his chair, folded his hands in front of him, and said casually, "Fourteenth brother, this is a good question. Before we get down to business, I want to talk about my own thoughts first, and you'll just listen. Generally speaking, if someone says they are straightforward, what they are going to say next will definitely not be so pleasant to the ear. It is a reminder to the other party. If the other party feels uncomfortable, please don't blame them, it's all because of their nature. If the obedient person cares about it, it means that they are narrow-minded. Fourteenth brother, do you think this is the truth?"
Fourteen looked uncomfortable, shifting in his chair and saying awkwardly, "I'm a straightforward person by nature."
Qi You stared at Fourteen and said slowly, "Being straightforward isn't a reason to talk nonsense. Why would the other person forgive your straightforwardness? Is it because they don't dare to refute you and have to forgive you? Or is it because you think they can afford to offend you, so you use your words to flatter them and try to be nice even after getting the upper hand?"
Old Eight was stunned, and Fourteen's face flushed red. He wanted to argue, but there was nothing he could do, so he stood up and apologized.
Qi You waved his hand and said, "Sit down. I don't need to kowtow and apologize."
Fourteen sat back stiffly, with his head hung, feeling frustrated and angry, secretly criticizing Qi You's aggressiveness.
Qi You ignored Fourteen's emotions. He was not Kangxi, not Fourteen's father, and he was too lazy to take on the responsibility of teaching him. In order for the two of them to get along smoothly in the future and listen to less of his nonsense, he said a few more words.
"My advice is, think twice before you speak. If you feel like you're saying something hurtful or insulting, don't say it. And if you feel like you're being impulsive, think twice before you speak. Think about the consequences of saying it."
Fourteen was so embarrassed that his breathing became rapid. Finally, he could no longer endure it and said with his neck stiff, "Your Highness is right. My words may have been a bit harsh, but this is the truth. Your Highness, tell me, how can Myna and I handle this job?"
Qi You's expression suddenly became a little dull, and Fourteen's heart became uncontrollably nervous, making him feel uneasy and his scalp felt tight.
"To be honest, based on my previous understanding of you, I don't think you can do this job well." Qi You was very blunt and expressed his opinion directly.
This time, Fourteen not only felt weak, but also felt embarrassed.
Qi You said in a deep voice, "First, what kind of job do you want? Do you want a job that will bring you great achievements without any effort? Secondly, I clearly stated my requirements and suggestions, asking you and your eighth brother to go to the Imperial Household Department first to find out what's going on. You denied it without even moving a muscle, shouting that it's not possible. Whether it's feasible or not, you must first understand it and know where it's not possible. Only then will your suggestions be convincing."
He turned to look at the silent Old Eight, who lowered his eyes, and said directly, "You are responsible for this matter. I won't say any more to him. Do you have any questions?"
Old Eight opened his mouth and finally agreed honestly, then left together with Fourteen, who had a pale face.
Qi You looked at the backs of the two people as they walked out, and his brows couldn't help but frown.
Sure enough, within two days, the two of them came to Qi You again and complained to him, describing the difficulties they encountered.
For example, how cunning the people in the Imperial Household Department were, how disorganized the account books were, and how messy the accounts were, making it impossible to find out anything.
In order not to waste time, Qi You simply said to Lao Ba directly: "Last time I asked you if you had any questions, but you didn't mention anything. The people in the Ministry of Internal Affairs are cunning and the accounts are not clear. This is a problem known to everyone. You spent two days to figure this out. If you were an official or a court official, I would give you a bad grade in the official evaluation."
Lao Ba was so embarrassed by Qi You's merciless words that he blushed, lowered his head in shame, and said nothing.
After Qi You became the crown prince, the assessment of court officials was comprehensively revised. Specific and detailed quantitative standards were introduced for various aspects of the economy and people's livelihood.
On a scale of one to five, if you achieve all of them, give five points; if you don't achieve them completely, give four points, and so on, gradually decreasing.
Finally, the total score is calculated: three points or less is poor, three points is acceptable, four points is good, and the best is five points. So far, no official has ever received a five-point score.
Once this assessment method was introduced, officials who wanted to protect each other and get promoted based on their connections would have to either directly appoint someone from the Kangxi government or falsify their scores.
Kangxi was now largely in charge of affairs, and few people had connections strong enough to reach the emperor. As for false reporting, they could be more vague about local public security cases. However, public security cases were a very low priority in the assessment process, so concealing them wouldn't be of much use.
Other issues, such as the economy and people's livelihood, are directly related to taxation. To brag, they had to pay real money to the court. To pay more to buy themselves a good life, they had to pay for it themselves. Another option was to force the people to pay, risking imprisonment.
Even boasting has its limits, and the Ministry of Revenue is no pushover. Under Qi You's supervision, the Ministry of Revenue is fully aware of the land, shops, and other commercial taxes in various places.
If a place suddenly increases taxes, even if it's not much, the officials in the Ministry of Revenue who are trained in mathematics will be able to spot it immediately with their sharp eyes.
Even in a good year, the per-acre yield of grain was limited to a certain amount. There was a maximum per-acre yield. If the per-acre yield exceeded the highest annual yield by a few hundred kilograms, local officials would report it directly to the imperial court and receive an immediate reward.
As for the commercial taxes on shops, Qi You had already ordered the local industries to be categorized. Aside from coastal areas where merchant ships returned to port, the income from products produced elsewhere was relatively stable.
If commercial taxes suddenly increase or decrease, it means that there is a problem with local products or that prices are fluctuating, which will attract the attention of the Ministry of Revenue.
The Ministry of Revenue then initiated supervisory measures, and officials immediately set off to the local area to investigate thoroughly.
Officials who go to investigate do not need to worry about collusion. After the investigation is completed, they must write an investigation report.
If one could write a flawless investigation report, conceal the truth, and use accurate data, and pass the questioning of the Minister of Revenue, the Vice Minister, and the Grand Secretary, then that person would be truly a genius and would have reached the highest position in the government long ago.
Old Eight took out a handkerchief, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and calmed himself down. He said, "It's my fault. Please forgive me, Your Highness. Your Highness, I really don't have a clue. I'd appreciate your guidance."
Qi You looked directly at Lao Ba, and seeing his relatively sincere expression, he explained in detail, "Since you want to investigate corruption, you don't have to think too much. Just follow the rules and investigate from top to bottom or from bottom to top. If the account books are messy, you can ask for help and ask the accounting experts to help you investigate. Carefully investigate step by step, you will definitely find out where the problem is. Is it that the rules are unreasonable or there are loopholes in the rules? If the rules are unreasonable, propose improvements. If there are loopholes, add rules to fill them. As for who embezzled money, we will arrest them according to the rules. There are rules, and you are the Jueluo family. The Imperial Household Department is the Jueluo family's purse. What are you worried about? Who are you worried about? Are you worried about the Khan's thoughts? The Khan agreed to the investigation, and it was the Khan who appointed you to do this. If you continue to worry too much, you will be trapped. It's really hard to explain."
Fourteenth was now quite confident, and Eighth was equally fearless. This was mainly because over the years, they hadn't been able to reach out that far, not even the Imperial Household Department dared to, and they absolutely refused to bear the stigma of corruption.
After hearing Qi You's words, Lao Ba felt enlightened, but also bitter at the same time.
For the first time, he truly understood Qi You's style and way of doing things, and he knew more clearly than ever where he had lost.
Qi You was meticulous, focused, and clear about his goals. He investigated corruption when ordered to do so, adhering to the rules. He didn't consider minor details or demons, nor did he consider them primarily.
Lao Ba deeply realized that to accomplish something, one must not only have the determination to burn his boats but also have to have brains and a pure mind.
With Qi You's help and guidance, Lao Ba and Lao Shisi are full of energy and grow rapidly.
In the past, Lao Ba had always done things verbally, sometimes even writing them down. This time, he discovered a loophole in the rules and regulations, and was able to come up with a way to fix it, so he went to Qi You to report back as he had done before.
Qi You's requirements were different, so he was taught patiently and meticulously how to make a plan. The wording of the plan was clear and precise, stating the inadequacies of the original rules, the improved and supplemented rules, and the advantages they had.
Lao Ba tried to write it himself. The more he wrote, the more problems he found in the middle, and the more he saw the shortcomings of the plan.
All those found guilty of corruption in the Imperial Household Department were punished or dismissed according to the rules. The atmosphere in the Imperial Household Department was unprecedentedly good and a new awe-inspiring atmosphere.
Kangxi watched calmly from the side, once again demonstrating his benevolent and merciful character as a ruler, letting bygones be bygones for those who were no longer in office.
After the matter came to an end, Kangxi summoned the Eighth and Fourteenth Brothers and asked with a smile, "After all this busy time, what have you learned?"
Fourteenth always wanted to save face, so he stammered awkwardly, "It was under the guidance of the Crown Prince that I completed the mission."
The Eighth Brother was silent for a moment, then said, "Khan Ama, if it weren't for the Crown Prince's careful guidance and unstinting help, my fourteenth brother and I wouldn't have been able to handle this mission. I can't hide it from you, Khan Ama. I used to work in the Imperial Household Department and heard about their practices. I chose to avoid them and turn a blind eye."
Kangxi saw that Lao Ba's voice trembled, he lowered his head and blamed himself, and hummed to signal him to continue.
The Eighth Elder took a deep breath and said, "I did this to protect myself, and secondly, I knew my own limitations and feared I didn't have the ability to investigate thoroughly. Even if I did, what good would it do? The same thing would still happen if I replaced some people. But this time, it's different. The Crown Prince didn't just replace people. Under his guidance, he redesigned the account books and recording methods, improved various loan and borrowing methods, and clearly defined the responsibilities of each official position. He governed people and affairs according to the rules. If there's a mistake in any link, it will be discovered quickly."
Kangxi's eyebrows rose higher and higher as he listened, his face flickering with pride and a smile. After listening, he looked at Fourteenth Brother, his face darkening. He said, "Fourteenth Brother, you need to change your temper. Go back and think carefully about what the Crown Prince said to you. If you can't figure it out, you can ask the Crown Prince for advice, or you can ask Eighth Brother."
Fourteenth agreed sullenly, "I understand, don't worry, Khan Ama. If I have any questions in the future, I will ask the Crown Prince. His Wuming Manor is very beautiful, I love it. Walking in it is not only cool, but also calming."
Kangxi had visited Wumingzhuang countless times and knew it was just a collection of worthless flowers and plants. Qi You loved quiet and the wildness of nature. He was so busy that his only way to relax was to personally prune the flowers, plants, and trees in the manor.
Kangxi glanced at Fourteen with disdain. He checked the clock and saw it was almost lunchtime. Qi You was going to join him for lunch, so he waved his hand and unceremoniously dismissed them, saying, "If you have nothing else to do, go back. I won't keep you any longer."
Fourteen stood up. Eighth thought for a moment and said, "Khan Ama, I have something else to report to you."
Kangxi looked over, and the Eighth Brother quickly said, "It's about Hongwang. He wrote back from Shunyi School, saying that he wasn't used to the school and wanted to return to the capital. I ask Khan Ama for permission."
Kangxi pondered for a moment and said, "You should ask the Crown Prince about this matter. After listening to his advice, you can make a decision."
It didn't matter where Hongwang studied; Qiyou didn't care. It was customary for the Eighth Brother to report to Kangxi.
However, Kangxi pushed the matter onto Qi You. The Eighth Old Man was stunned, puzzled, and became uneasy.
The author has something to say:
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