The shortage of official funds is a common occurrence in various prefectures and counties, and the reasons for this are very complicated, and it is not necessarily because the officials are enriching their own pockets. Among them, the lack of money and food, the insufficient use of official fees, and the demand for all aspects are all sources, and even some emergency unexpected expenses have to be temporarily borrowed from the treasury to meet because they are not included in the main items of sales. Guan Zhuofan has checked, taking Xianfeng five years as far as the deficit of Jiangsu Province alone has reached 1.07 million taels.

According to the regulations, once there is a shortfall, it will be compared, and part of it needs to be compensated by the relevant officials. And this compensation is not only to pay by themselves, but also to the officials up and down, left and right, and apportioned layer by layer, which is called "flow stall". In the case of a county order, if it is spread out above, then you have to pay for it with your own incorruptible silver, who is willing? It's nothing more than a change of hands and a spread.

This regulation is not bad in its original intention, but it has produced an unintended consequence, that is, it often forces officials in one place to engage in corruption, even if they want to clean themselves, they cannot get it.

And according to Qian Dingming, this Qi Bingrong refused to go down, and his own incorruptible silver was not enough to compensate, which delayed the performance appraisal of the house, if he didn't withdraw the difference, who would withdraw the difference?

However, speaking of which, isn't Qi Bingrong not only a clean official, but also a good official?

Guan Zhuofan calmed down, cleared his throat and asked, "Qi Bingrong, what Mr. Qian said is true?" ”

"Answer your lordship," Qi Bingrong replied, "It's true." ”

"Zhenyang County Order, there are 1,300 taels of silver a year," Guan Zhuofan asked in a deep voice, "Why do you get to grow vegetables by yourself." Mrs. weaving clothes is so embarrassed? ”

The county magistrate's incorruptible silver. Of course, it has to be used as a hired master. Hiring a squad leader to accompany him, distributing rewards, etc., but to say that even livelihood is a problem, that is not believable.

"The compensation in the first year is nine hundred and thirty-four twenty-seven yuan, and in the second year, it is one thousand and fifty-five twenty-two yuan," Qi Bingrong bowed his head and said, "The lower official even resigned from his follower, and he couldn't pay for it." Because my official reputation is okay. The boss was very polite, and gave a false title of a six-grade Tongzhi candidate, which can be regarded as taking care of my face. ”

"Then you ......" Guan Zhuofan was at a loss for words, thought for a while, and asked: "You are waiting for you in the mansion with the same knowledge, so don't you have any errands?" ”

"When you pick someone in the house, you must first pick someone who is beautiful and funny, like the dignity of the lower official...... Qi Bingrong still said without looking up, "The lower official is not good at begging." If you can't compare to the officials who donate classes, they rarely go. Later, Cai Yuanlong occupied Taicang. Xia Guan fled to Shanghai, and these things cannot be discussed. ”

Guan Zhuofan understood. The alternate official, although he is also considered an official, is actually not an official, and he reports to the Shangguan Yamen every day, and waits for the dispatch, which is almost like a beggar in the officialdom. Qi Bingrong was born on the right path, and judging by his temper, let him be with those officials who spent money and donated, but naturally he was unwilling.

"So what have you been doing for a living in the past few years?" Guan Zhuofan thought to himself, there is always an accumulation of eunuchs, otherwise how can he survive to this day?

"This ......" Qi Bingrong's face flushed, and he hesitated for a long time before he whispered: "Neiko went to pick up the number books of a few trading houses during the day, and the lower officials were at home at night, checking for them, and they could earn a little money." ”

The disciples of saints, in order to survive, have to do such a thing, it is extremely humiliating to say it, and for those who are officials, it is even more humiliating and embarrassing.

"Well......" Guan Zhuofan was gloomy, but there was still the most important sentence, which he couldn't help but ask.

"You said you weren't good at begging," he stared at Qi Bingrong and asked, "Why did you ask the teacher for this letter and come to me?" ”

Qi Bingrong's face turned pale, as if he had been hit by the vital point, and he was stunned for a long time before he said a word.

"Adult Mingjian, there are really three children at home, and I want to eat a bite ......"

Guan Zhuofan seemed to have been hit hard in the chest, sat on the chair, and asked weakly: "Then I allowed you to go to Suzhou to weave the yamen, why did you want to ignore it?" ”

"I've heard people say that weaving yamen is a place to raise idlers...... Qi Bingrong whispered this sentence and raised his head, "Although the lower officials are not talented, they can still do a little practical thing for the country if they ask themselves, and they don't want to sit on the salary." ”

Guan Zhuofan stopped talking, turned his mind around, and silently looked at the short and fat Qi Bingrong. Such a person, in terms of ethics, ability, and subject name, is used to fill the position of the commissioner of the anti-corruption, am I afraid it is not haode? Especially the arrogance in the bones, which is precious! The only fly in the ointment is that his official rank is too low, and he is only an alternate officer of the sixth rank.

However, thinking about it again, Huo Ran woke up - Jian pulled out in the micro end, isn't it a good opportunity to win people? The grade is low, you can protect him well, in public and private, he will naturally be especially grateful for the newspaper! If it was an official of the same rank who had been transferred to this position, maybe it would still be regarded as a rich and noble person, but it would be less grateful.

But I just had that seizure, what happened? Since when did you become so breathless?

This is something to ponder, and it is time to think about it.

After making up his mind, he no longer hesitated, stood up and walked in front of Qi Bingrong, was silent for a moment, and suddenly pulled the hem of the official uniform back, bent his left knee, and asked him to be safe.

"Cousin Ming, I'll make amends for you!"

Qi Bingrong was taken aback, the dignified marquis, kneeling in front of him, what happened when it was passed out? Deng Shi was so panicked that he had no place to put his hands and feet, and wanted to pick him up, but he didn't dare - Futai was still kneeling on the ground, and he might not dare to get up first? The few soldiers next to him were also stunned, neither standing nor kneeling - they had never seen such a thing, and they really didn't know what to do.

"This, this, I can't help it, I can't help it......" Qi Bingrong said nonsense in his mouth, and the tears in his eyes welled up again.

"So, I wronged you in vain, so you deserve my gift." Guan Zhuofan pulled him up and looked him up and down, "The top will be returned to you, and I will have another commission." ”

After speaking, he turned around and sat back behind the case, leaving Qi Bingrong, holding the top worn by the pro-soldiers, at a loss.

"Qi Bingrong!"

"Yes."

"I'll take you a clear character, and then I will take you a proud character," Guan Zhuofan stared at him and said unhurriedly, "Now I want to appoint you to be the four-grade honest commissioner of the Jiangsu Domain's Yamen, and the discipline correction of the provincial officials, do you dare?" ”

"I ......" Qi Bingrong was stunned, like a dream, and couldn't believe that this was true.

"Master Qi, Futai is asking if you dare." Qian Dingming on the side saw this scene, and his heart fluctuated, and when he saw Qi Bingrong's appearance, he reminded him in a whisper.

"Why don't you dare?" Qi Bingrong finally believed that this was true, and his face was flushed with excitement, please go down, "Bingrong Xie for the cultivation of Lord Xie!" ”

"I don't need you to say this thank you," Guan Zhuofan had calmed down, "This job is not easy to do!" From now on, most of the officials in Jiangsu Province will regard you as a thorn in the eye and a thorn in the flesh, and if you can do a good job, it will be regarded as a thank you. ”

"Those who are confidants die," Qi Bingrong raised his head, "Although he is broken, why be afraid!" ”

"I don't dare to do this, I'm pulling out talents for the country." Guan Zhuofan said with a smile, "I'll send a note to Zhao Jingxian when I turn around, and you will report to the Yamen of the Domain Division tomorrow." How to do it, Lord Zhao will naturally have an explanation, but there is one more sentence, I want to tell you. ”

"Yes, please command."

"You have served in the state and county, and you are good at auditing, and you have been in Shanghai for a few years, whether it is an official, a businessman or a citizen, you are familiar with it, I don't worry about this." Guan Zhuofan looked at the short and chubby Qi Bingrong, and said in his heart, "To do such a thing, you don't just rely on honesty, and you can't blindly rely on a brave word, there are many joints in it, you have to think about it with your heart." ”

"Yes, if you say your lordship, the lower officials must keep it in mind!"

When Qian Dingming sent Qi Bingrong out for Futai, Guan Zhuofan took a pen and wrote a commission note, and with a wave. Qian Dingming, who turned back, saw it and said with a smile: "Qi Mingtang this time, he really fell into the clouds, even I couldn't imagine that the marshal hired people, and he had such great courage!" ”

"Mr. Qian, don't compliment me," Guan Zhuofan shook his head and said, "I still have to thank you!" If it weren't for you, I would almost have made a big mistake, made an unjust case and didn't say anything, and missed such a talent. ”

"The wind knows the strength of the grass, and the board knows the loyal ministers, so you must have such a vision." Qian Dingming still praised the owner, and then said worriedly: "It's just that speaking of which, his original identity as a sixth grade suddenly took on such a position, I don't know if anyone will be unconvinced and don't take him seriously." ”

"Not convinced?" Guan Zhuofan smiled, lowered his head and brushed his knees, and said thoughtfully, "The governor of a province has knelt for him, who dares to disagree?" ”

*(To be continued......)