Zhang Fengyi entered the cabinet, and then entered the Qianqing Palace with Zhou Yanru.

Deliberation came and went, but there was still no way - it was difficult for a good woman to cook without rice.

The imperial court has no money and food, but the bandits are just around the corner, so it is still the old way - donations.

Chongzhen personally issued an edict for donations, and notices were posted all over Chang'an Street.

East of the city, Mo Fu.

Mo Yuan is the former Langzhong of the Ministry of Works, in his sixties, and has been in office for many years, he came back from outside in a hurry, called the housekeeper, and asked directly: "How much silver is there in the house?" ”

The housekeeper was stunned, and the master didn't usually ask, but he hurriedly said: "Master, there are more than three thousand taels, do you want to be of any use?" ”

Mo Yuan put his hands behind his back, his old face was full of determination, and said, "Sell the things at home and give me five thousand taels." ”

The housekeeper was taken aback and said, "Master, why do you need so much silver?" ”

Mo Yuan did not hide it, and said: "Kong Youde rebelled, and the imperial court lacked money and food to suppress bandits, and an announcement of donations has been issued, and I want to donate to the imperial court." ”

The housekeeper looked hesitant, but he knew that Mo Yuan usually didn't care, and if he really wanted to take care of it, he couldn't object, so he had to say, "Master, let me do it for two days." ”

Mo Yuan said: "Be fast, the court can't wait." ”

The housekeeper hurriedly agreed and went out to prepare.

Mo Yuan waited at home, and it didn't take long for his wife to come over and stand in front of him.

Mo Yuan looked at his wife for decades and said, "Are you reluctant to give up silver?" ”

After the old wife came out of the scholarly fragrance, she looked at Mo Yuan and said, "I have been with the master for decades, how have you ever seen me reluctant to give up money?" I only ask the master, do you really want to donate 5,000 taels? ”

Mo Yuan was a little confused, and said: "The court is in a tight situation, as a courtier, isn't it natural to do a little bit?" ”

The old wife said, "Do you know how much other people donate?" ”

Mo Yuan said: "I only care about mine, how can I control others." ”

The old wife said: "If others only donate a few hundred taels, and the master donates 5,000, what should they do?" Does the lord think this is brilliance? ”

Mo Yuan has also been an official, how can he be a fool for so many years, what kind of brilliance is this, he is simply roasting himself on the fire, and he can't help but be speechless for a while.

The old wife said again: "Besides, in comparison, if the court asks the lord where he got so much silver, is it the proceeds of corruption?" Can the master argue? Although I don't understand political affairs, I also know the horror of the officials. ”

Mo Yuan frowned when he heard this, and his face hesitated for a while.

The old wife said: "My lord knows, I have never cared about gold and silver all these years, I don't bring it in life, I don't bring it in death, I just want to live for a few years, and my children and grandchildren are safe." ”

Mo Yuan's expression moved, sighed helplessly, and said, "I know." When the time comes, I'll see how much they donate, and I'll donate as much as they want. ”

The old wife said: "Everything is up to the master." ”

Mo Yuan didn't speak again, and his face was in a trance.

At this time, the Ministry of Industry.

A class room is very busy.

Not long after, these people dispersed, and a person ran in from outside, closed the door, and said in a low voice: "My lord, it's okay, they take the lead in donating, and when the time comes, they will return it as it is, and the rest, three transactions will be given to the imperial court, seventy percent and three seven, they are seven, and we are three." ”

The adult immediately said in a low voice, "Well done!" Do it carefully and don't show flaws. ”

"Don't worry, I've done it several times."

"That's good, and besides, find a good replacement for the dead ghost."

"I've found it, it's that Zhao Langzhong who handled this matter, haven't you been dissatisfied with him for a long time? If anyone was to track it down, he would have done it! ”

"It's better if no one tracks it down."

"Yes, the villain understands."

……

Chongzhen issued an edict to donate to hundreds of civil and military officials, and I don't know how many people were induced, and countless pairs of eyes stared at this silver.

Zhou Zheng couldn't sit idly by and invite Liu Liuzhe.

"If I donate, can I give it directly to the Ministry of War?" Zhou Zheng asked Liu Liuzhe, he knew that when the silver arrived in the household, he was afraid that there would be no one out of ten, and there were very few people who could use it to defeat Kong Youde this time.

Liu Liuzhen shook his head and said, "Second Young Master, if you give 200,000 to the Ministry of War in one go, let's wait to be raided." The Ministry of War cannot accept anonymous donations, and besides, the Ministry of War may not be cleaner than the Ministry of Households. ”

Zhou Zheng is also a person who has been in officialdom for a long time, and asked: "Is there any way to use the silver to suppress bandits?" ”

Liu Liuzhen smiled bitterly and said, "Second Young Master, you know these things better than me, and it's useless to ask me." ”

Zhou Zheng looked unwilling, he didn't know, he just wanted to know if there were any roads he didn't know.

After all, he was still a little unwilling, Zhou Zhengdao: "In this way, you tell my father-in-law and ask him to prepare 50,000 taels of silver and give it to Bi Shangshu in person." ”

Liu Liuzhen said: "Second Young Master, even if it is given to Bi Shangshu, it still has to be operated, and if it is transferred, as long as it is done twice, there will be at most five thousand taels left." ”

Although he was angry that the silver of such a big event was exploited by a group of corrupt officials, Zhou Zheng could only say: "It's better than nothing, go ahead." ”

Liu Liuzhen had no choice but to respond, and said, "Okay, I'll go find the shopkeeper of Shangguan." ”

As soon as Liu Liuzhen turned around, he saw Zhou Qingli standing outside the door, and hurriedly said, "Master." ”

Zhou Qingli walked in, waved her hand at Liu Liuzhe, sat opposite Zhou, and said: "Liuzhen said five thousand taels, I'm afraid it's less than three thousand taels, and no matter how much you give, you can't feed them, just have this heart." ”

Zhou Zheng poured a cup of tea for Zhou Qingli, shook his head, didn't want to mention this, and said: "Dad, I think it won't be long before I have to go to Tianjin Wei, and then lead the troops to Shandong, and the eldest brother also has to go to Yongping Mansion, there is only you at home, be careful in everything, write to me and discuss with the eldest brother before deciding." ”

Zhou Qingli heard the subtext in Zhou Zheng's words, smiled, and said: "I don't have such a big official addiction, and I won't come back just because I entered the cabinet." ”

Zhou Zheng listened to Father Zhou's words, and only then did he feel a little relieved.

……

While waiting for the imperial court's order, Zhou Zheng ordered Meng Hezhou to step up intelligence collection and infiltration in Shandong, especially Denglai and other places, and be ready to enter Shandong to quell the rebellion at any time.

Cao Bianjiao, Zhang Cunren, He Kegang and others in Tianjin Wei were already reorganizing the army, counting the soldiers, and waiting for Zhou Zheng to go to Tianjin Wei to lead the troops to Shandong to quell the rebellion.

However, in ten days, a big thing happened in the imperial court again, that is, the cat greasy of this donation was exposed, the government and the opposition were shaken, the officials were impeached wildly, and Chongzhen was furious, but he did not deal with it immediately for a while.

Because there are not only many high-ranking officials involved, but also some noble ministers are also involved, for example, the father of Empress Zhang of the Apocalypse, Taikang Bo Zhang Guoji is involved, he donated 10,000 yuan in the morning, and was sent back in the evening, and he got an extra 3,000 taels!

Bi Ziyan, who is the secretary of the household department, sealed the donated silver as soon as possible, entered the palace to ask for sin, Zhou Yanru, and Wen Tiren are naturally indispensable.

Chongzhen, who was extremely angry, looked at so many people, and there was no way to deal with it, so he was at a stalemate for a while.