The tenth elder brother was beaten by the board and imprisoned for three days because he resisted the debt, and finally the eighth elder brother paid the 170,000 taels of silver he owed. Whether it is beaten or imprisoned, although it is a trick, it is finally over. Tianwei was furious, and even the emperor's brothers did not let go, and as soon as this newspaper was sent to various places, the world was shocked. At this point, the arrears of the elder brothers have been paid off. Although Yinzhen and Yinxiang are happy, they have an account in their hearts, and the debts owed by the eldest brother Yinzhen are all made up by the officials under them to be filial piety; The silver owed by the third elder brother was used by a literati to raise Songhe Mountain House, and Kangxi himself allocated it from the internal treasury to pay it back. The ninth elder brother and the tenth elder brother who owed the most were all single-handedly covered by the eighth elder brother Yinxi, with a total of 1.7 million taels. The account was paid off, and Yinzhen and Yinxiang aggravated their worries; Since Yinxi can come out, why do you want to ask Brother Ten to sell his property with great fanfare, causing the ugly drama on August 15? Where did Yinxi get so much money, for his brothers, for officials, why is there so much money in his family! Shi Shilun, who had just entered the household department, did not have so much thought, seeing that the emperor was so resolute, he became bold, in addition to the people brought from Tongcheng, he hired more than a dozen masters, all of whom were veterans of the accounting room, so he simply let go of his hands and feet, as large as thousands of dollars, as small as a few taels of money, and did not let go, and cleared it to the end. The officials of the six ministries were urged to talk about the "household" to change color, complaining bitterly, and some people made up slogans and ridiculed and ridiculed:

In the temple, there is a mud fetal god (Yinren), and two protectors (Yinzhen, Yinxiang) are invited. There is also a debt collection impermanence ghost (Shi Shilun), and Ren is an iron rooster is also shocking.

By the spring of the 48th year of Kangxi, a total of 38 million taels of silver had been gradually returned to the treasury. Kangxi was happy, and issued an edict to Shi Shilun to make up for the lack of books in the household department. He ordered him to pursue it to the end and complete this mission before the end of the year.

After Shi Shilun thanked him for the seal, he ordered someone to take a sedan chair to the Thirteen Beizi Mansion.

"Master Shi is here!" When the people of the Thirteen Beizi Mansion saw him get off the sedan chair, they asked for peace while asking for peace in a mess: "Shi Ye is now a big Situ, and he is in charge of a good product, so he can't even be reluctant to reward the villain for the money of the pot of wine, right?" Shi Shilun smiled and said, "Please go to Qingluzhai to eat and drink, and after eating, ask them to find my account—is the thirteenth master in it?" While he was talking, a girl came out and said to the door: "Don't make trouble, the fourth master and the thirteenth master invite Lord Shi in!" After that, he squatted down to Shi Shilun and silently led the way.

Because of the number of times he came, the people in the house, Shi Shilun are more familiar. This girl was given to Yinxiang by the third elder brother Yinzhi when Yinxiang was sick the year before last. At that time, Yinxiang had just opened the mansion and stayed. This girl has a tall figure, a long face, green hair, few words, and is very attentive and thoughtful in waiting for the thirteenth elder brother. It's Yinxiang's big girl. Because of a purple mole in the center of her eyebrows, Yinxiang named her Zigu. Shi Shilun followed Zigu and strolled in, and heard Yinxiang greet with a smile:

"The new Tobe Shangshu is here! The fourth master and I are about to go to congratulate you! ”

"No need to congratulate," Shi Shilun was familiar with the formality, sat down with the two, and said with a smile: "I, Shi, am preparing a coffin for the villains to bite to death!" Shang Ying was divided into five horses and died, and Wang Anshi was poor and sorrowful; Which one of the mean Shangshu has a good end? ”

Yin Zhen kept smiling and silent, took a gauze bag from the table and handed it to Shi Shilun, saying: "The villains bite and bite, and the promotion is gratifying after all." There is nothing to give, this is a pair of crystal glasses, I asked the edict to polish your lenses, the right to congratulate, save you from holding such a big mirror to read words, look at people. Shi Shilun took the glasses, put them on, and suddenly felt that the surrounding scenery was clear and unrecognizable. took the tea handed by Zigu and said, "Fourth Master, your heart ...... Alas...... I'm not going to say anything! I came to see the Thirteenth Master today, not to report the good news, nor to thank the two masters for their support. Yesterday I entered Yuqing Palace, the prince said that the palace is busy, since the cleanup has been effective, if you have to see a good one, you will accept it, the prince wants to recall Chen Jiayou and Zhu Tianbao. begged the two masters to go in and tell them that there were still more than 10 million pieces of silver that the feudal officials outside had not claimed back. All of these people have merit, they are high-ranking and famous, and they are very saintly, and the prince has to take care of this matter to succeed! ”

Yinzhen and Yinxiang were silent. Before Shi Shilun came, the two of them had already discussed this matter. Yin Zhen pondered for a long time and asked, "Lao Shi, in your opinion, what are these governors and generals who owe money now?" ”

"As far as I can see," Shi Shilun shook his head, "the reasons for this are different. Some really can't afford to pay it back, some want to delay, and some want to repay the debt, and they are willing to bleed only when others pay him back. Yinzhen asked: "Who can't afford it, I'll listen to a few of you." Shi Shilun said with a smile: "Guangzhou General Wu Dan, I owe 100,000 yuan, and I have already repaid 70,000 yuan, I sent a message urging, he said, 'I want a life, I don't want money-did the household department tell me to scrape the land and take bribes to pay off the debt?' There are also Mu Zixu and Wei Dongting who owe the most debts, and the two of them have repaid 450,000 yuan, and they still owe more than 1 million. ”

Yinxiang suddenly realized: "Fourth brother! I know what these are thinking! ”

"I also know what the prince thinks!" Yin Zhen said suddenly.

Shi Shilun was a little confused, he didn't understand, why he said a few names, and the two elder brothers understood so many things, so he asked: "Fourth master, thirteenth master, what's wrong?" What do you all understand? There are only thirty or twenty people left, and if you urge them again, you just need to come up! ”

"It's not that easy." Yinxiang sneered and said, "If you are willing to pay it back, you won't pay it back soon!" They were staring at Wei Dongting. What about Wei Dongting? And he can't pay it back at all - I heard that he borrowed all this money to support the southern tour of Long Live Lord, you think about it, it's not easy! ”

Shi Shilun gasped: I didn't expect to clear the Qing and Qing to the emperor, how can these thorny heads be shaved? While pondering, I saw Yinren coming in from outside, and several people were busy hanging their hands and standing up.

"Lao Shi!" Yinren waved his hand to excuse himself, sat down with a calm face and said, "Listen to Chen Jiayou, don't you ask him and Zhu Tianbao to come back?" Why is that? Shi Shilun hurriedly said: "How dare the minister disobey the order? However, the prince had something to say at the beginning, and the deficit must be cleared to the end. Now there is still a large amount of money to be paid back. If the prince wants to take people away, I am afraid that the hearts of the people will be shaken. The minister meant to ask the prince and the fourth and thirteenth masters again, if it was really urgently needed in the palace, the two adults naturally wanted to go back. Yinren saw that he came to discuss with Yinzhen and Yinxiang first, and he was already unhappy in his heart, but it was inconvenient to attack, and he reluctantly smiled: "The account should be just asked, they have been in the ministry for almost two years, and it is time to return to the palace." According to me, the shortfall of 50,000,000 silver has been recovered. The rest of the people are indeed in difficulty, and they can't be pushed too quickly, just stabilize the current inventory. ”

Yinzhen knew that Yinxiang and Shi Shilun alone couldn't resist the prince no matter what, so he leaned over and said: "It's like pushing a cart up the mountain, the last few steps are the most difficult, as soon as you stop, I'm afraid that the car will slide to the bottom of the mountain." Prince, you can't smoke firewood at this time! ”

"Fourth," Yinren said worriedly, "I just came from the Heart Cultivation Palace. Wei Dongting handed over the fold, and his family had already cleared up more than a hundred taels of silver! Since the clean-up of the deficit, 36 officials have died, do you say that you are afraid of people? If you really force Mu Zixu and Wei Dongting to death one or two, then ......" He shuddered and didn't say anything more.

Yinxiang's heart fell sharply, and he asked Yinren: "The emperor didn't say anything?" Yinren said: "I didn't say anything, but my face was gloomy and ugly." I didn't dare ask. Or do what I said, and take it when you see it! ”

"Have you thought about it, Prince?" Yin Zhen frowned and said in a deep voice, "If you are confused like this, within three years, the treasury will still be emptied, and it will be even more difficult to clear it again!" ”

"Order the closure of the warehouse," Yinren gritted his teeth and pondered, "I won't borrow a penny!" ”

Yinxiang sneered and said, "There has been a decree to seal the library a long time ago, and then order the closure of the library, what kind of chapter is that?" Shi Shilun moved his body uneasily and said: "Those who have repaid the money must feel at a loss, and they must desperately scrape the ground to get it back, isn't this the front door to reject the wolf, and the back door to enter the tiger?" ”

"You're talking about the same thing." Seeing that several people disagreed with his proposition, Yinren was a little angry, and said impatiently, "He scrapes the ground, I will clean up the officials, and use him to cut him down!" Yinxiang came back coldly: "If you want to pay for the account, you will give up halfway, and it will be even more difficult to refresh the rule of officials!" Yinren forced a smile on the anger and said, "What do you think?" Then he stood up and paced back and forth.

Seeing that he was so incompetent, Yinxiang shook his head helplessly and said, "Prince, it's not that we don't obey Jun's order. You have to think about it. We've got a reputation for being a mean worm, and if we don't get things done, we'll be pathetic when we fall! In my humble opinion, I still do it according to the original intention of Banzai, and I will clear it to the end. In the end, if there is indeed difficulty, long live it is natural to be gracious. ”

"Since you want to do it to the end, I won't stop you." Yinren endured it without jumping violently, blushed, and said to Yinzhen, "Zhu Tianbao and Chen Jiayou can also not return to the palace for the time being, and if it is effective, I will not take credit; If something big happens, I don't take responsibility for it – how? ”

When the three of them heard this, they felt that they couldn't bear it, and they were busy prostrating themselves and kowtowing silently. Yinren sighed and said, "Alas...... I shouldn't have taken this mission! - You - do it yourself! He hurried away.

Yinxiang got up and said to Yinzhen: "How can you leave these two sentences and leave!" ”

Yinzhen is too familiar with Yinren, he has no fixed mind, he is very easy to waver, and he does not dare to take responsibility for his subordinates, but he can't say these thoughts. After a long time, Yin Zhen said: "He has his difficulties. You just have to do it, and I'll take care of it alone. As long as it works, the prince will ......" He didn't say any more.

"Fourth brother," In an instant, Yinxiang surged out of a thought that he had never dared to think of: if the fourth brother was the crown prince, then he should - he didn't dare to think deeply, but said: "From now on, I thought you should be more restrained and avoid." I am a messenger in the household department, and you also put away your hand and let Lao Shi only act according to my orders. In this way, if there is a good one, it will not be served by others......"

At this point, Shi Shilun's enthusiasm turned into a cold sweat. He said coldly: "Fourth master, thirteenth master, if there is nothing else, the lower official will retire first." ”

"Okay, you go back first." Yinxiang put up his shelf, lifted his spirits, leaned back and said, "Use my Qinchaguan to promote the governors, governors, and political envoys above the arrears of the provinces, and send them to Beijing within three months." I'm going to collect the debt in person - what are you afraid of? Go ahead! ”

Yin Zhen looked at Shi Shilun's distant back, and whispered: "Old Thirteen, what do you mean by you telling me to restrain some avoidance points?" Shi Shilun is here, I can't refute you, so many jackals, tigers and leopards are showing their teeth and claws, can you stand up to it alone? Yinxiang knocked on the teacup and said, "The situation is not very good, fourth brother!" I have to keep a hand. The prince smelled something about the emperor, and he was going to give up the carriage and horses to protect the general. You and I are both sons of his chessboard, and I don't think he has any brotherhood at all. Instead of letting people have a nest, it is better to be able to keep one of them! I'm in a similar situation to my fourteenth brother, and I'm a broken jar on the left and right. If you want to come in too, won't you be cut down by the roots! Yinxiang said lightly, but Yinzhen heard it all over: this little brother is so brave and chivalrous! Yin Zhen's face was unusually pale, and his rice-like teeth bit his lip tightly before he sighed for a long time. "I wish we were thinking things too dangerously," he said. According to what I think, Wei Dongting and a few of them, when the debt is tight, the emperor will pay it out for them! I'm afraid that the prince will draw his salary from the bottom of the kettle, slow down his military morale, and fuel the arrogance of the officials. If you treat me like this, I can only accept it, not accept it. ”

"Fourth brother, listen to me!" Yinxiang's tears suddenly welled up in his eyes, spinning, but refusing to let them flow out, "The more I think about it, the more I think it should be like this." I'm a single, what are you afraid of? It's a big deal! If you can't keep it, who will come out and speak for me, who doesn't hurt anyone? Fourth brother, you follow my words, you just love your thirteenth brother! "Tears rained down.

Yinzhen breathed a sigh of relief, came over and stroked Yinxiang's braids and said, "Okay, what's wrong, how can our brothers say all the sad things, and they feel trembling." Don't worry about nothing. You're still a single. I don't know if there is a favorite? You name it, and I'll play long live for you. At this time, Zigu happened to come in with a teapot, was stunned for a long time, refilled the tea for the two people, and silently withdrew.

Yinxiang burst into tears, wiped his eyes and said: "Fourth brother, I fell in love with a girl, but I was too cold and cheap, for fear of making the fourth brother laugh!" Yin Zhen looked up and thought for a long time, and asked, "But the girl who just went out?" Yinxiang shook his head and said, "Zigu you asked?" That's not it, I've already accepted Zigu, and in a few days I'll open my face and seal her as a side room, I'm talking about a serious lady! ”

"It's nothing," Yin Zhen asked contemplatively, "Banner people?" ”

“…… Han. ”

"Nope."

"I know you're going to say no." Yinxiang suddenly smiled mischievously, "But you know this person!" ”

Yin Zhen's eyes widened in surprise, he shook his head in recollection, and said with a smile: "Who is it?" Why can't I remember? Yinxiang smiled: "Don't play dumb riddles with you, I fell in love with the Alan who splashed me with bath water, and I also saved her, don't you remember?" Half a month ago, I visited Tanzhe Temple, and it happened that Starling's troupe also went to the incense, and Alan was in it! Now because they are all studying drama in the Qixian Building, they have not yet entered the Babeile Mansion. If you go in, it's hard to talk about it. While listening, Yinzhen shook his head with a smile and said, "I think you are watching a drama and seeing a demon, a golden branch and jade leaf, marry a drama to be a Fujin-"

"Say whatever you want." Yinxiang smiled, "You can help with this!" ”

Seeing that he recognized the truth, Yin Zhen hesitated, thought for a long time, and reassured: "It's not that I don't help, it's too difficult." Putting aside her identity, she is still a Han person, and after more than two years, she is here again- over there, do you know if she has changed her mind now? With the ancestral family law in charge, how dare you make a Han person to be a brother Fujin! ”

"I've had such a thing in the past." Yinxiang stared blankly at the bright spring outside, and said slowly, "It's also an elder brother, Kangxi has been ordered to patrol the Zhili River for forty years. He suffered from heat stroke and lived in a black shop, and a Lehu woman rescued him, violated the clan rules, and was tied to a wooden stake and burned alive......" Yinzhen listened, his face turned pale as paper - this is what he is talking about!

Yinxiang continued: "...... The woman's black hair was floating in the red flames, and her gaze before dying made this elder brother unforgettable for the rest of his life! This elder brother used to have a very weak temperament, and after this incident, he was like a serious illness, crazy, and even the emperor said that he became moody...... But I didn't know that after this incident, he became an iron-hearted ......"

"Say no more! Do you want to chop me up? Yinzhen roared angrily and waved his hand and slapped Yinxiang with a crisp slap!

Yinxiang didn't protect the pain, knelt down with a plop, and cried: "Fourth brother, I said this and tore out your heart—do you want to make me be the same as you?" ”

"Did I hurt you?" Yin Zhen came back to his senses, and when he saw him like this, he also felt sad, sighed deeply, and said, "Let me try to carry a flag for her first, redeem her body, and then take the next step." You know, we're all in the middle of the court, staring at us. It's not what it used to be, and some people want us to die today! I can't help but be careful......"