Xu Liang's words suddenly entered Luo Yangxing's heart. Since Emperor Chongzhen ordered the execution of Wei Zhongxian, Emperor Chongzhen has been extremely interested in the huge wealth left by Duke Wei. And the heavy task of finding the five scriptures was handed over to the East Investigation Factory and Jinyiwei. This has also become a battlefield where the East Investigation Factory and Jinyiwei secretly compete. It's just that since the fall of Wang Tiyan, the third head of the East Factory, there is almost no sound on the side of the East Investigation Factory. However, Luo Yangxing won the trust of Emperor Chongzhen because he found two scriptures one after another.

However, trust is trust, the scriptures are left outside, Emperor Chongzhen is uneasy, and in the same way, Luo Yangxing also feels a lot of pressure.

Mao Wenlong had nowhere to start with the scripture in his hand for the time being, but Xu Liang suggested at this time that Wei Zhongxian's granddaughter, Li Ting, should be in his hands first.

Shaanxi is indeed too far away. Even if the Jinyi Guard spies all over the world, it is difficult to grasp the situation in the northwest.

"Xu Liang's words are very much in line with me." Luo Yangxing nodded. "This governor will secretly play Your Majesty tomorrow, and ask Yang He, the governor of the three sides, to immediately escort Li Ting into Beijing."

"The Governor is wise." Xu Liang's big fart was immediately patted. In his heart, he sneered again and again, Yang He, the governor of the three sides, was so annoying that he had to arrange something for him to do, so that he would not have to use his brains on Xu Liang's descendants.

Early in the morning, Xu Liang and the officials who sat in the morning court were waiting outside the noon gate, and saw from a distance that Sun Yuanhua, the squire of the military department, accompanied Xu Guangqi, a scholar of Dongge University, to come over, so he stepped forward to salute, pulled Sun Yuanhua aside, and asked in a low voice: "I said Brother Sun, Your Majesty's agreement to the disarmament of Yang He, the governor of the three sides, has been going down for five or six days, when will the recruitment preparations on your side begin?" ”

Sun Yuanhua sighed helplessly: "Lord Xu, this matter is not in a hurry. Sun Ge is far away in Liaodong. If he doesn't return to Beijing, there is no way to do this. ”

Xu Liang stomped his feet and said, "Then you have to hurry." In my estimation, the urine of Yang He, the governor of the three sides, will get the holy decree. He will attack my Liang army. ”

Sun Yuanhua said: "It's almost there." In mid-April, His Majesty told the Taimiao that Sun Chengzong, together with the cabinet scholars and important ministers of the Son of Heaven, will rush back to Beijing. When the time comes, I will mention this matter to Sun Ge Lao. ”

Xu Liang arched his hand and said, "Please." ”

At this time, there were more and more officials, and Xu Liang was inadvertently separated from Sun Yuanhua. Unfortunately, Li Tengfang, the secretary of the Ministry of Rites, had long been paying attention to Xu Liang and saw Xu Liang coming to the crowd. stepped forward and pulled the corner of Xu Liang's clothes.

Xu Liang turned around and saw that it was Li Shangshu, and he was busy giving gifts.

Li Tengfang asked in a low voice: "Lord Xu, how are you preparing for the sacrificial plan that the old man wants you to draft?" ”

Xu Liang's heart jumped suddenly, and he hurriedly said: "Guanglu Temple has sorted out a first draft, and after the official disperses the dynasty, he will personally send it to Lord Shangshu." ”

Hearing Xu Liang say this, Li Shangshu's face softened a lot. Nodding his head, he said, "That's good." The old man will wait for you in the yamen after he disperses. ”

"Yes." Xu Liang said helplessly. Xu Liang didn't open his eyes and say nonsense, two days ago, Ma Sicheng and they did come up with a draft, but when they looked at the amount on it, it was only 20,000 taels. Xu Liang was greatly dissatisfied. After these two days, I don't know what happened to the people below.

During the court meeting, Emperor Chongzhen really asked about the preparations for the sacrifice of the Taimiao. Li Tengfang, the secretary of the Ministry of Rites, couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat, and carefully placed the Ministry of Rites. Taichang Temple, Guanglu Temple some preparations were reported. Emperor Chongzhen was noncommittal.

Treat Li Shangshu like a schoolboy who is being questioned. After replying in fear, he retreated into the queue, and kept sweeping Xu Liang and Taichang Siqing Fu Yu with his eyes.

Being stared at like this by an old man who was nearly sixty years old, Xu Liang suddenly felt uncomfortable. For the things that followed the meeting, I didn't listen to a single thing. After finally hearing it, the eunuch Wang Chengen swept away the dust and shouted: "Retreat from the dynasty!" ”

Xu Liang's back was already dripping with cold sweat.

Li Tengfang, the secretary of the Ministry of Rites, stopped Xu Liang and Fu Yu, and after the three of them waited for the adults of the previous dynasty to leave, they stood in the empty Jinluan Palace, and Xu Liang and Fu Yu were ordered by Li Shangshuer again.

In the end, Li Shangshu gave Xu Liang and Fu Yu a death order, and they must see the plan before it gets dark today. After Xu Liang said goodbye to Li Shangshu, he didn't dare to put it off, and hurriedly rushed back to the yamen of Guanglu Temple, summoned Shen Congliang, the Shaoqing of Guanglu Temple, and Ma Xiangyang, the temple Cheng, and asked, "How is the plan I want prepared?" ”

Ma Sicheng glanced at Shen Congliang, then carefully presented the plan, and arched his hand: "My lord, this time Xiaguan and Lord Shen, Ji Yinku referred to the expenditure records of the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Households in previous years, and redrew up the list. ”

Xu Liang turned directly to the last page and read: "Forty-six thousand taels? ”

Shen Congliang arched his hand and said, "Exactly." ”

Xu Liang asked, "Is the number wrong?" ”

Shen Congliang and Ma Xiangyang both shook their heads and said, "My lord, you can't be wrong." The lower officials and others first checked the purchase records of the Ministry of Rites, and then checked the account books of the Ministry of Households. In previous years, the cost was about 50,000 taels, and the lower officials and others drafted 46,000 taels, which was enough. ”

Xu Liangqi said: "I heard that the head of the household department is very strict under the rule of the self-strict, unless His Majesty personally approves it, even if it is a cabinet note, he will not want to get silver from the household department." How dare you go and check the accounts of the household department? ”

Ma Sicheng said with a wry smile: "My lord, it's not." For this trivial matter, Xia Guan and Lord Shen grinded with Lord Hubu Lang Zhongzhou for an afternoon to find out these numbers. ”

Xu Liang groaned, thought for a long time, looked at Shen Congliang and Ma Xiangyang, but asked faintly: "In other words, this 50,000 taels is the amount of silver actually spent by the household?" ”

Shen Congliang and Ma Xiangyang both nodded, looking at Xu Liang inexplicably.

Xu Liang patted the back of his hand lightly, his eyes rolled wildly, and he suddenly stared at Ma Sicheng, smiled, and asked, "Master Ma, since the second year of Chongzhen, how many times have you received money?" ”

Ma Sicheng was stunned for a moment when he heard this, and said eatingly: "My lord, the money is distributed every month, but it is not paid every month, half of it is distributed, and half of it is donated." ”

Xu Liang nodded, threw the plan back into Ma Sicheng's hand, and ordered: "The amount of this silver, double it again, and report a list of expenses according to 92,000 taels." Well. This matter is urgent, and it is after noon. The officer wants to see things. ”

Ma Sicheng seemed to have been stung on his whole hand, and exclaimed, "What? Nine...... Ninety thousand taels? ”

Shen Shaoqing was dumbfounded. looked at Xu Liang, gestured with both hands and said, "Big, my lord, we can't spend so much?" ”

Xu Liang stroked his forehead with both hands and looked at the two Shaoqing and Sicheng of Guanglu Temple who were used to living a poor life. Ninety thousand taels can scare these two like this! How can you make a fortune with everyone in the future?

Xu Liang glared at him and said in a calm tone: "After noon, this official wants to see something." ”

Bombed Shen Shaoqing and Ma Sicheng, who were still to be explained, out, Xu Liang sat on the Taishi chair and ordered someone to serve a pot of tea. Savor it carefully. Seeing that it was time for lunch, Xu Liang leisurely paced out of the office and prepared to go back to the Dongjiang Courtyard for lunch.

In fact, it seems that the Ministry of Officials, the Ministry of War, and the Ministry of Households are powerful and powerful, and there is an internal canteen in the yamen. And Guanglu Temple, although it is in charge of feasting, itself is so poor that it is a high-end configuration of the internal canteen. Naturally, don't even think about it.

When Xu Liang left the yamen of Guanglu Temple, he glanced into Shen Guangqing's office and saw that there were several people crowded in the room, nervously dialing the abacus. Ji Zhong, the silver treasury official standing at the door, inadvertently saw Xu Liang pacing out. I couldn't help but be taken aback.

Xu Liang looked up at the sky, and without urging, he returned to the Dongjiang Courtyard. Had lunch with the two ladies.

When he returned to Guanglu Temple, Shen Shaoqing. Ma Sicheng and the Ji Yinku were already waiting in Xu Liang's office.

Seeing Xu Liang enter the house with a full dose of wine and food, the faces of the three of them couldn't help but move.

Xu Liang saw a book on the desk. Then he smiled and asked, "Three adults, have the things been made up?" ”

Shen Shaoqing smiled very reluctantly, and arched his hand: "Back to the adult's words, Ji, it's basically good." ”

Xu Liang snorted, flipped straight to the end, and couldn't help but look at it, his eyes sank, and he asked, "What's the matter?" This official told you plainly that the budget should be increased to 92,000 taels, but how could it be that after noon, the reported figure was only 73,000 taels? ”

Seeing this, Shen Shaoqing smiled bitterly and explained: "My lord, stop being angry! Xiaguan and the others also wanted to change it according to the wishes of the adults, but after counting, even if the original utensils in the temple were replaced, they would not be able to reach the number of nine taels. ”

Ma Sicheng and Ji Yinku also joined in fear.

After Xu Liang heard this, he pointed at Shen Congliang, Ma Xiangyang, and Ji Zhong one by one, and scolded: "A bunch of elm heads!" "Anyway, I don't care about the three of them anymore, and I put a pen on the plan and point a few strokes.

Shen Shaoqing, Ma Sicheng, and Ji Yinku looked at Xu Liang curiously.

Soon, Xu Liang put down his smile, smiled on his face, and looked at the plan in his hand with satisfaction. Nodding his head, he said, "That's it!" After that, he passed it to Ji Yinku, and instructed: "According to this, transcribe another copy and store it in the temple for record." In addition, is the 20,000 taels plan still there? ”

Ji Yinku took it and nodded: "If you go back to your lordship, it is still in the hands of the lower officials." After that, he glanced down at Xu Liang's modified plan, and couldn't help but widen his eyes, looking at Xu Liang, his lips trembled, and he looked like he wanted to speak and stopped.

Xu Liang glared at him at a glance, waved his hand and said, "Dare to copy it tightly, it's not early, and the official has to hurry to send it to Lord Shangshu." ”

Ji Yinku hurriedly replied, and retreated in a disorderly manner.

When Xu Liang rushed to the Ministry of Rites with Shen Congliang, the Shaoqing of Guanglu Temple, Li Tengfang, the secretary of the Ministry of Rites, and Fu Yu, the secretary of Taichang Temple, were already waiting for Xu Liang. Seeing the plan submitted by Xu Liang, Li Shangshu took a closer look, frowned slightly, looked at Xu Liang, and said, "Lord Xu, the cost of Guanglu Temple this year is a bit too much?" ”

Hearing this, Shen Congliang, the young secretary of Guanglu Temple, turned red and lowered his head. Then, when he heard Xu Lianghong's heart not beating, he replied calmly: "Lord Shangshu Mingjian, the sacrifice to the Taimiao is a major event of the country, and it is not allowed to be hasty. Xia Guan thought that it would not be wrong to be well-prepared. ”

Li Tengfang, the secretary of the Ministry of Rites, nodded slowly. Fu Yu, the Taichang Siqing on the side, glanced at it curiously, and then was speechless: Damn, I will quote 50,000 taels of silver, and my hands are shaking, but I didn't expect this to be even more ruthless, and the opening is 90,000 taels!

Li Tengfang was still not at ease with Xu Liang, so he asked Shen Congliang, the Shaoqing of Guanglu Temple, and said, "Shen Shaoqing, did you report this plan to Lord Xu?" ”

Shen Shaoqing didn't expect Li Shangshu to ask himself, so he couldn't help but suddenly raise his head, look at Li Shangshu, and then look at Xu Liang. After a moment's hesitation, he lowered his head and said, "Yes, my lord." ”

Li Tengmang, the secretary of the Ministry of Rites, nodded slowly, and said to Xu Liang and Fu Yu: "Put the old man first, after the old man sees it, there is no problem, and the old man will present it to His Majesty." ”

That's what the title meant in the first place. Xu Liang and Fu Yu didn't have any opinions, and said yes.

On the way back to Guanglu Temple, Shen Shaoqing followed behind Xu Liang and walked slowly. Xu Liang looked back at Shen Shaoqing and asked, "Are you afraid?" ”

Shen Congliang was taken aback, shook his head in panic and said, "No, I'm not afraid." ”

"I'm not afraid of your feet shaking or anything!" Xu Liang asked.

Shen Congliang trembled, caught up with Xu Liang in a few steps, looked around nervously, and saw that no one was paying attention, so he pulled the sleeve of Xu Liang's official robe with one hand, and said tremblingly: "Great, the cost we reported is too scary!" If this is found out, it will be greedy for selfishness, but it will be killed! ”

When Xu Liang heard this, he paused, holding Shen Shaoqing's collar in one hand, and the vigorous power in his hand almost lifted Shen Shaoqing, who was almost the same size as Xu Liang, off the ground.

Shen Congliang's face suddenly turned red from lack of oxygen, and he looked at Xu Liang in horror.

"My lord, what are you going to do, what are you going to do?"

Xu Liang stared at Shen Congliang viciously, and asked, "Lord Shen is also a person who has read the books of sages!" Be careful when you speak! The budget cost of 90,000 taels, the cost of each tael and each article on the plan is clearly written and clear! All of this is for the purpose of sacrificing the Taimiao! Have you ever seen a penny or two fall into the hands of you and me?! ”

Shen Congliang grabbed Xu Liang's hand vigorously with both hands, but Xu Liang's hand was like an iron hoop, holding Shen Congliang's collar without moving.

Shen Congliang opened his mouth wide and shook his head in horror.

When he felt that Xu Liang let go of his hand, he fell back again and again, coughing loudly on his knees, and gasping for breath.

Xu Liang walked in front of Shen Congliang and frightened him back two steps. Xu Liang smiled coldly, stretched out his hand and gently patted Shen Congliang's official robe a few times, and said gently: "Since you and I didn't take a penny from it, even if Your Majesty blames us for spending too much, it can only mean that this official is young, inconsiderate, and calculating." Who dares to assert that Xu Liang is greedy for ink? ”

Shen Congliang somewhat understood, looked at Xu Liang with a fearful expression, and said dejectedly: "My lord is very right. Fang Cai was speechless. ”

Xu Liang said in a deep voice: "Lord Shen has been working with this official for a short time, and he doesn't know me very well as a person. Let me tell you this, those who follow me Xu Liang have basically been promoted and made rich. And I don't want to go with Xu Liang......"

Shen Congliang's expression was awe-inspiring, and he asked in a low voice, "What?" ”

Xu Liang sighed and said, "The grass on the grave is three feet high. ”

Shen Congliang was shocked, and then fell to his knees with a snap, kowtowing like pounding garlic: "The lower officials must only look at the head ......of the adult and the horse, and the adult will point to the east, and never go to the west."

While speaking, Shen Congliang looked up and saw that Xu Liang had already walked away as if no one was around, and he was stunned for a while, and then sat down on the ground weakly. (To be continued......)