In 1492, the Kingdom of Spain accomplished two major events in European history that are worth boasting about. The first major event was the expulsion of the last Moorish king of Granada in the Iberian Peninsula and the completion of the true unification of the Kingdom of Christ in Spain. The second major event was that Columbus, an Italian sponsored by Queen Isabella, inadvertently "discovered" the New World of America, thus giving Spain unprecedented overseas territories and wealth.

With the influx of gold and silver, the magnates of the Kingdom of Spain, which had been attacking the continent and making great strides, quickly became corrupt and degenerate. In the eyes of later generations, the extremely absurd and erosive court life has become the identity of the nobles of the kingdom. From the middle of the 16th century onwards, waste and embezzlement became the main theme of the finances of the Kingdom of Spain under the feudal system, and they were infected with the serious disease of collapse. In contrast, the annual harvest of gold and silver from the New World was also weak.

Almost every Spanish governor sent to the New World would misrepresent his earnings during his tenure, and even deceitfully intercept taxes, amassing a wealth of millions of riyals in just one term.

The same naturally includes France, another continental European power, a continental European country with a population three times that of England, and the central tax revenue of the royal family, excluding the private gains of the large number of secession of the local feudal aristocracy, was less than 25 million livres (about £2 million) at the beginning of the 17th century. The royal family's tax package system seems to have been inherently appeased, so much so that the French king has used the "criminal robbership" as a cyclical tool to bridge the fiscal shortfall—essentially without any investigation, and with the arrest of the incumbent Chancellor of the Exchequer, millions of livres of embezzled money can be obtained.

The Kingdom of England was no exception, and during the Thirty Years' War, a senior naval officer was reported to have embezzled hundreds of thousands of pounds in naval spending during his tenure.

Polluted by internal corruption and unbridled misappropriation, the state finances of the European powers throughout the 17th century were malnourished. The credibility of national sovereignty is extremely low. In the credit market in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, bankers usually offer quarterly interest rates of 3 to 5 percent to private loans, while for central government lending programs in sovereign states, quarterly interest rates can be as high as 15 percent or more.

Many of Europe's feudal powers, which had lost effective fiscal regulation and fiscal order, were completely rotten under the financial weapons of the emerging bourgeoisie, and their failure was justified on a fiscal level.

……

A week later, the 1635 National Day ceremony kicked off at the West End Stadium on Long Island in Manchester City. In response to changes in the war in Ireland, a large number of Defence Army troops stationed in the capital's outer islands were on standby to join the lineup for that year's National Day parade.

More than a dozen parade phalanxes of more than 2,000 Wehrmacht troops walked through the Capitol Square guided by the March of the Soldiers. The crowd of spectators shouted. The sense of national strength created by the majestic parade diluted the worries of the country's economic turmoil this year, and it seemed that the great rewards of victory were just around the corner.

Streamers flew, and small national flags swayed happily into a sea, but such a warm atmosphere did not make some of the gorgeous magnates standing in the VIP seats feel high. Because of rising military spending, next year's national budget has been mired in a serious dispute from the beginning, and many people are absent-minded during the National Day ceremony.

Most of the members of Congress or the Cabinet attended today's National Day ceremony, but Secretary of Homeland Security Liu Yun remained in his office at this time, looking at the visiting CEO of Beiyang Shipbuilding Group with a strange smile.

“…… Wang Yougui has advanced lung cancer. I was in a coma in a hospital bed for several days, and I died last night, but we haven't found the original financial records of the group until now. It's a tough job. Shi Yige sighed, the cigarette in his hand was about to burn to the point that his fingers didn't notice it, "This is not a trivial matter, you have to help your buddy this time!" ”

"Why don't you let the police station run?" Liu Yun lit a cigarette again. looked at Shi Yige's eyes with an intriguing taste, "I'm doing national security work, looking for lost items or something." Should the people under Liu Lanxi do it, right? If I do, people will say that my dog is nosy with rats. ”

"The loss of the group's ledger can be big or small, and you also know the style of the people in their police department, so you can't wait to make it known all over the city, how can the group's finances be kept secret?" Shi Yige touched his nose awkwardly, and this subconscious insincere little action made Liu Yun, who is good at capturing details, secretly pay attention to it.

"Sue me for details first, then sù me, what do you want me to do?" Liu Yun glanced at the scenery outside the glass window, opened the drawer, and took out the pen and paper.

"The group was doing a month-end financial summary a few days ago, and on Saturday, September 22, the last person to go home from overtime was Wang Yougui. Then on Tuesday, September 24, Wang Yougui was hospitalized in a coma, and the people in the finance department found that the original general ledger was missing. Shi Yige recalled dejectedly, his face was ugly, "Later, I learned from Wang Yougui's family that Wang Yougui went to church on Sunday, September 23, and donated half a month's salary at one time. I heard that he stayed alone in the study for a long time before going out. So I'm sure he should have hidden it. ”

"What is a person who already knows that he is dying, stealing the group's financial ledger?" Liu Yun recorded it quickly on the paper, muttering in his mouth. As he spoke, he raised his head again and looked at Shi Yige, who looked depressed, as if he had guessed the name at this time.

"Well, there's not much point in knowing that it's not much to hide from you...... Everyone is a brother, and you are also one of the shareholders of Beiyang Shipbuilding Group, which is also your own business, right? Shi Yige waved his hand helplessly, looking weak, "I'll tell you honestly...... It was not a general ledger, but a secret account that Wang Yougui was responsible for, and it was all about the business settlement with the state-owned ocean-going shipping company and the state-owned ocean-going fishery company over the years. Everyone is their own people, and they have given them a lot of benefits in private, but there is no way, they are our big family. ”

"It's no wonder that they are the first to order a new ship. Speaking of which, it can be regarded as my food and clothing parents? Liu Yun recorded the content jokingly, read it carefully, and then decisively kneaded it in front of Shi Yige. Lit it with a lighter, "Okay, anyway, I'll help you investigate first." However, I suggested that you should go to Liu Lanxi and make up a reason for her to send someone to investigate from other aspects and divert the attention of some people, so that I can start ......"

"Okay, I know brother, you'll help! You must help me keep it a secret! Shi Yige was overjoyed, knowing that this gorgeous No. 1 voyeur was going to go out in person, so he quickly stood up and handed over the cigarette. Go to the Phantom Club tonight, brother, I'll have a treat, and when the matter is over, I'll thank you and You Qi again. ”

Shi Yige left happily, but Liu Yun's expression gradually turned from a smile to gloomy.

……

Police Minister Liu Lanxi, who did not know the truth, sent instructions to the Long Island West District Police Department on the second day of the National Day. The news of the loss of a huge bearer check in the financial office of the Beiyang Shipbuilding Group spread within the group in an instant.

The police officer in charge of the investigation moved in directly, and from the time the case was reported, the financial settlement work was suspended. The relevant fund reserve bank also received a notice of temporary suspension of the group's bill business. Such a boiling action suddenly caused a lot of sensation in Manchester City, and some surrounding suppliers began to inquire everywhere, for fear that because of this kind of thing, they would delay the financial settlement between themselves and Beiyang Shipbuilding Group.

All the financial personnel of the Beiyang Shipbuilding Group were interviewed by the police individually, and even the police were arranged to search their homes. Beiyang Shipbuilding Group even issued a public bounty. As long as you help recover the check, and keep the amount of the check confidential, you can get paid at least $10,000.

The remuneration of 10,000 US dollars is the income of a middle-class family in Huamei for more than ten years! The newspaper published the "Revelation of Finding Things". Not to mention that ordinary citizens were instantly stunned, and even many people who crossed were stunned, the amount of the check lost by Beiyang Shipbuilding Group. It can be seen.

"Mr. Cheng, this is a search advertisement commissioned by Beiyang Shipbuilding Group to be broadcast on our radio station, and we hope to broadcast it in prime time for half a month, and they are willing to pay three times the advertising fee." In the office of the director of Manchester City Radio, the female secretary put a business document in front of Cheng Daxiong, looking very happy, "If we agree, we will adjust all the advertising schedules." ”

"They've already taken the front page of the newspaper, and they're afraid no one will know?" Cheng Daxiong quietly put the account book into the drawer, and then directly made a veto cross on the text handed by the secretary, revealing a stern expression, "It is unfair to others to squeeze out the advertising contract that has been signed." If they wish, they can sign again after half a month. ”

"But Mr. Cheng, this is three times the prime-time advertising fee, and it has been ...... for half a month" For Manchester City Radio, which has been living a tight life, the director's attitude makes the female secretary a little sad.

"Okay, that's it, we have a chance to make money." Cheng Daxiong waved his hand a little impatiently, this action was quite different from his previous demeanor.

"Miss Ding, you go and take a rest first." Jenny appeared at the door of the office and spoke kindly to the female secretary, as if she had just heard her husband's unusual temper in the hallway.

The female secretary left, Jenny sat next to Cheng Daxiong, smiled and put her head to the other party's ear, with a mysterious face: "Honey, I'm pregnant again......"

"It seems that the last time you went to church, you must have prayed a lot in private! At noon, please go to eat roast duck, I heard that a new roast duck restaurant has opened on the next street. Hearing this good news, Cheng Daxiong's originally tightly knit brows suddenly relaxed, and the haze in his mind suddenly disappeared.

"Sir! I learned! As he spoke, he saw a beautiful figure fly into the office, interrupting the conversation between the husband and wife. I saw Tao Xinmei wearing a very well-behaved lady's outfit, and she appeared in front of Cheng Daxiong with a smug expression.

"Ah...... Sister Jenny, I'm sorry......" Only then did she find out that Cheng Daxiong's wife was present, Tao Xinmei immediately blushed and pinched the skirt crampedly, not knowing whether to continue or withdraw immediately.

"Looks like good news, Miss Xinmei. So, I'll go out first. ”

Slightly pouting at Tao Xinmei, who broke in, Jenny just smiled politely and took the initiative to get up and leave. The moment the door closed, Jenny sighed softly and subconsciously drew a cross on her chest.

……

"Your Excellency, we asked the priest who was presiding over the service that day at the Manchester Cathedral and obtained a signed book of their donation ceremony at that time." A military policeman stood respectfully in front of Liu Yun, holding the text in his hand and reading carefully.

“…… Pastor Arel assured that all those present had donated and signed, and that there were 57 people in the autograph book, but he could only recall 25 of them, and after verification, all 25 of them were the same as those in the autograph book. Later, Wang Yougui had a conversation with a French believer named him. ”

“…… We asked Wang Yougui's family, and it is said that Wang Yougui was a little too religious after joining the church, and he had to go to church almost every day after work, especially when he was seriously ill recently. In addition, there is another detail, Wang Yougui has been nagging about 'really shouldn't affect others' during the hospitalization coma. ”

"Shouldn't it be a problem for others? So, do your investigation team think that Wang Yougui must have left something in the church, or handed it over to someone among the other 56 people? Liu Yun crossed Erlang's legs, touched his chin with one hand, and quietly looked at his confidant and favorite general who he had cultivated for many years, "How are you going to cut into the investigation of those 56 people?" ”

"Collect all the personal and family information, then ask them one by one, and if necessary, find excuses to search the residence." The military police thought for a moment and said their own investigation plan.

"If these people also turn things out in the middle of the road, or hide them, then how do you find out?" Liu Yun lit a cigarette with a cold face, and was very disappointed with the rigid thinking logic of his subordinates.

"Your Excellency the Minister, please instruct ......" The young military policeman was stunned for a moment, and quickly lowered his head.

"This is a man who knows he is dying, what would he think differently? Confide in your nearest and dearest? Entrusting the aftermath to the person you trust most? Or is it alone in a corner and repenting? Liu Yun smoked a cigarette and looked at the ceiling, as if talking to himself, "Stealing something that doesn't belong to him is a sin in itself, especially for a Christian who knows that he is dying, and wants to get rid of sin before dying, who will he give to something that symbolizes sin?" ”

"Maybe he'll burn it?" The subordinates couldn't help but ask.

"Burn it? It was just to let others not know that there was this sin, no different from his previous choice, but in his heart, God would always know about this sin. Liu Yun smiled self-deprecatingly, and expressed disdain for the normal thinking of non-Christians in his subordinates, "It's a pity that you are not a devout believer in God, otherwise I would have gotten an answer from you." ”

"Returning to its rightful owner?" The subordinate looked puzzled again, "According to what the minister said, isn't it the same for him to hide, unless this kind of thing has never happened at all." ”

God is eternally merciful, and it is said that Jesus came to atone for the sins of the world...... Probably in their hearts, even if they have committed heinous sins, as long as they sincerely repent of their mistakes, they can be redeemed. He felt a deep sense of sin and gave it to others, believing that this person had the power to wash away his sins, but before he died, he regretted it and wanted to get it back! ”

After speaking, Liu Yun's eyes protruded, as if he had figured out something, and stood up and pulled the Wen Jiàn clip in his subordinates' hands. His eyes swept over the lines of names, and finally stopped at the three words "Cheng Daxiong".

"This is the end of the investigation, the operation is over!" Liu Yun slowly closed the above jiàn and gave the latest instructions to his subordinates.

"Terminate now?" After the subordinates recorded the order, they looked a little stunned, which didn't seem to be the usual style of the boss.

"I also want to destroy a qiē operation data!" Liu Yun didn't even glance at his subordinates, so he pretended to be about to deal with other official business, and casually flipped through a piece of paper, and said no more. (To be continued......)