Hai Rui looked straight and replied:

"I'm wearing cotton clothes inside, and it's not cold."

Fang Xiu was silent for a moment, took off the fox fur on his body, draped it on his shoulders, and said coldly:

"After a while, this prime minister will send you to inspect the prefectures and capitals, pay attention to your body in the cold winter, if you catch the wind cold, the Northern Expedition will have to be postponed."

Hai Rui knew in his heart that except for Fang Xiang, it was the same for everyone who left the Great Qian Imperial Court, and Fang Xiang said this, but he just cared about him.

According to his previous temperament, with such a luxurious fox fur, he would definitely refuse.

However, looking at the sincere face in front of him.

He hesitated for a while, but finally let go of the hand on the fox fur, and saluted:

"Thank you."

Fang Xiu waved his hand and didn't say anything.

Hai Rui tightened his fox fur and asked, "What did Prime Minister Fang just say, what do you mean by inspecting the states and capitals?" ”

Fang Xiu looked at him with a serious expression, and said:

"You should know that Benxiang raised a lot of money and grain, some of which were sent to Yongzhou for military salaries and grain for the Northern Expedition, and some of which were distributed to the state capitals to hire people and mine ore.

At yesterday's court meeting, the prime minister had already told the hundred officials that if they had made mistakes in the past, the prime minister could not be held accountable for the time being.

However, if anyone dares to embezzle this amount of silver, he will be severely punished!

Although the words are released, you also know what the situation of the local government is, there must be people who do not take it to heart, and still go their own way as usual, greedy for money and food.

This time, the prime minister sent you out to monitor the movement of this money and grain, and if the people below dare to be greedy for ink, they will be severely punished! If necessary, you can make an example of chickens and monkeys! ”

The words were loud and sound, which made Hai Rui feel uplifted.

Immediately after, Fang Xiu took out a gold medal from his arms, handed it to Hai Rui, and continued:

"Your Majesty has already been revealed, and in a few days I will let you take the position of Imperial History of the Left Capital and enter the Imperial Inspectorate."

"Take this gold medal, see the gold medal, like seeing Your Majesty! Chop first, then play, imperial privilege! ”

Hai Rui stretched out his hand to take the gold medal, with a look of hesitation on his face, and said:

"It has been nearly 30 years since the Daqian Imperial Court had a case of being recommended as an official......"

Fang Xiu interrupted him and said, "The imperial court has never forbidden recommendations. ”

Hai Rui opened his mouth and wanted to say something.

Fang Xiu said: "You don't have to worry about these things, you just need to tell the prime minister, this Zuodu Yushi, can you take it!" ”

Hai Rui was silent for a moment, raised his eyes to look at Fang Xiu, showed a look of determination, and saluted:

"We will live up to the trust of the prime minister!"

When Hai Jui died, he was just the imperial history of the capital.

is far from the imperial history, and there is still a deputy imperial history in the middle.

Now, Fang Xiu has given him such an important position, which shows the importance and trust he attaches to him.

Fang Xiu looked at him, stretched out his hand and patted him on the shoulder, and said meaningfully:

"Ru Xian once said that three lives do not change the frost exercise, and ten thousand deaths will always stay in the community, and I hope that you can stick to your heart and be a good right-hand man of your appearance."

Ruxian is the word for Hai Rui.

Hai Rui raised his eyes to look at Fang Xiu, his eyes showed a look of determination, and he saluted:

"The lower officials must live up to the trust of the prime minister and work hard."

Fang Xiu nodded, waved his hand and said:

"Go back and prepare, after the appointment of the imperial court, you can leave Beijing."

When Hai Jui heard this, he stopped talking.

Fang Xiu glanced at him, as if he could see through his inner thoughts, and said:

"This prime minister has ordered Gao Shun to command a thousand Xuanjia cavalry and travel with you."

"When you get to the place, don't worry too much."

I got the answer I wanted.

Hai Rui didn't say more, bowed and saluted, and said:

"Hai Jui retires!"

Fang Xiu waved his hand.

Hai Jui turned to leave.

Fang Xiu looked at his back, a sharp light in his eyes.

I hope Hai Jui can give some warnings to those maggots in the local area, so that they can understand what can and cannot be touched!

............

Time flies like a white horse.

In the blink of an eye, it was half a month later.

Zhangzhou.

In the yamen of the county seat where the state is located.

Zhang Zhou Thorn Shi looked at the list in his hand, and his eyes revealed a touch of greed.

With so much money and food, some of it can be withheld casually, it is worth several years of his income.

"Zhangzhou is thousands of miles away from Chang'an, and the money and grain arrive at the county seat, and there is a loss in the middle, which is normal."

That's it.

Zhangzhou Thorn Shi's eyes flashed, looked at the officials on the side, and asked:

"How much loss is there in the money and grain transported by the imperial court this time compared with the one on the list?"

The official was slightly stunned, then immediately realized something, and replied:

"If you go back to your lordship, there are more than 3,000 stones of moldy grain, and more than 3,000 taels of silver lost for no reason."

Zhangzhou Thorn Shi frowned, and said coldly: "In just a journey of more than 1,000 miles, how can there be moldy grain, silver lost, what do the escorts do!" ”

The official said: "The lower officials think that someone must be guarding and stealing from him!" ”

Zhangzhou Thorn Shi frowned and didn't say a word.

The official thought for a while and said, "The grain officer's name is Zhou Qi, who was originally a military household, and I don't know who he was involved in, so he got into such a position. ”

In other words, this is a little person with no background, and he can handle it at will.

Zhangzhou Thorn Shi snorted coldly and said, "What do you say you are doing this?" ”

The official smiled awkwardly and said, "The lower official is too talkative." ”

Zhangzhou Thorn Shi was silent for a moment, and said: "This matter will be handed over to you, and I will check that Zhou Qi carefully, whether there is any self-theft by the guards, why the grain is moldy, and where the lost silver has gone." ”

With a solemn face, the official replied, "Yes, my lord!" ”

Zhangzhou Thorn Shi nodded, opened his mouth, and wanted to say a few words.

Suddenly, there was a rush of footsteps outside the house.

Then there was a knock on the door.

"What's the matter?"

The clerk asked loudly.

The man outside the door took a few breaths and replied:

"An urgent letter from the capital, please open it in person!"

Sent from the capital, it is still an urgent letter!

Zhangzhou Thorn Shi was slightly stunned, and said busily:

"Quick! Send it in! ”

"Yes!"

The person outside the door pushed the door and entered, handing the letter in his hand to Zhangzhou Thorn Shi.

After the Zhangzhou Thorn History was opened, it was browsed from top to bottom.

After only looking at it for a moment, his expression changed.

First in a trance, then in shock, and finally in panic.

Followed by.

As if he had thought of something, he turned his head to look at the clerk and said hurriedly:

"You just said, how much money and food have been lost?"

The officer, not knowing what had happened, was a little confused, and replied:

"More than 3,000 stone grain, more than 3,000 taels of silver......"

Zhang Zhou stabbed Shi Meng on the table and scolded:

"In just a thousand miles, how can there be so much loss!"

The official was startled, his face was panicked, and he said tremblingly:

"Xiaguan, Xiaguan ......"

Before he finished speaking, he heard Zhang Zhou's assassin raise his voice and say:

"This official will give you another chance to make it clear, how much loss there is!"

Speaking of this, he paused, and then said:

"The money and grain transported by the imperial court this time are very involved, if the grain officer really dares to guard and steal himself, this official will cut him all over the door!"

It was the first time for the officials to see this situation, and they suddenly became nervous.

It took a while to calm down and replied:

"Down, Xia Guan just saw it wrong, the moldy grain totaled more than 30 stones, and the silver taels were not lost."

"In winter, the grain is not easy to mold, why are there more than 30 stones?"

There was a cold light in Zhangzhou's eyes, and he asked coldly.

The official was stunned for a moment, then showed embarrassment, and whispered:

"But my lord...... Indeed, more than 30 stones of grain are moldy......"

Zhangzhou Thorn Shi was silent for a moment, took out a stack of silver tickets from his arms, put them on the table, and ordered: "Go to the market and buy thirty stone of grain, and exchange the moldy grain." ”

"This ......"

The clerk was stupid.

He had also been in the yamen for more than ten years, and it was the first time he had seen such a situation.

The grain sent by the imperial court to the government, Lord Thorn Shi was not only greedy for ink, but also gave his own silver and put the damaged part on the cushion.

It's incredible!

The official looked at Lord Thorn Shi in front of him, and for a moment wondered if he had heard it wrong.

Zhangzhou Thorn Shi glanced at him, and said angrily:

"Didn't you hear what the official said? Don't go yet! ”

Only then did the official react, he heard it right, Master Assassin Shi really had to pay out of his own pocket to fill the vacancy, and said busily: "The lower official understands, the lower official will go." ”

With that, he picked up the silver ticket and left the house.

Zhang Zhou Thorn Shi looked at his back, let out a sigh of relief, and wiped the cold sweat on his head.

"Fortunately, Qin Butang hasn't forgotten me as a student, otherwise I'm afraid I would really cause a big disaster this time."

For him.

It is really normal to be greedy for thousands of taels of silver.

After all, who isn't like this?

Three years of Qing Governor's Mansion, 100,000 snowflakes of silver, throughout the ages, it has been the same.

Even if the imperial court wants to investigate, what can it find?

It's nothing more than someone guarding and stealing and hanging himself in fear of sin, and this matter has passed.

However, this time is different.

Fang Xiang was above the court, in front of His Majesty and the civil and military officials, let go of the cruel words, whoever dares to touch this silver, will be severely punished!

When he was an official in Beijing, he also had contact with Fang Xiang and knew that Fang Xiang had always been a person who said the same.

Since it is said that it will be severely punished and not lended, it must be severely punished.

Besides.

Fang Xiang also specially told Qin Butang that if it was found out that there was greed for money and food this time, no one would be given face, and they would all be dealt with in accordance with the law of Daqian!

Deal with it according to the law of the Great Qian.

Greedy for more than 3,000 stone of grain and more than 3,000 taels of silver is a capital crime!

Moreover, if anyone is the first to be caught, he will definitely be killed and set an example, and it is impossible to say that he will be beheaded all over the house.

With a single thought, it is possible to step into a place of no return!

Fortunately, at the last moment, he received the message.

After calming down for a moment, he suddenly thought of something, and his eyes froze.

Pick up the pen and start to write the letter, and say in my heart:

"This money and grain will eventually be transported to the county officials, and these guys must be beaten well, and they must not be allowed to burden their own officials."

A moment later.

Letters were written.

Zhangzhou Thorn Shi looked at the messenger in front of him, handed him the letter in his hand, took out the silver ticket, put it in his hand, and said with a solemn face:

"Be sure to send these letters to the yamen of each county, and the magistrate will personally open them, understand?"

The messenger nodded heavily:

"Humble duty understands!"

"Go ahead!"

"Yes, sir!"

…………

Seven days later.

Zhangzhou, Suishui County.

Qian Mengchuang, the county magistrate, looked at the letter in his hand, and his brows gradually wrinkled.

"It's just some money and grain, which arrives in the county seat, and there is some loss, which is normal, and it is all over the house...... It's too alarmist. ”

With that in mind.

He looked at the master book on the side and asked, "Can you count the money and food that has been lost?" ”

The master bookkeeper nodded and said, "If you go back to your lordship, the money and food add up to a total of one thousand taels." ”

Qian Mengchuang was a little surprised: "So many? ”

The chief bookkeeper said: "This time, the court allocated a lot of money and grain, and the first batch had two thousand taels of silver. ”

Qian Mengchuang's eyes showed a hint of surprise, and said, "The imperial court can finally understand the difficulties we are waiting for." ”

Disaster relief in the past.

When the money and grain allocated by the imperial court arrived at the county government, there was only a fraction of it left, and there was no oil and water at all.

This time.

Just hiring people to mine, it is a surprise to be able to have so much silver.

Just when he was basking in joy.

The master bookkeeper on the side showed hesitation on his face and said, "My lord, the lower officials always feel that something is wrong. ”

Qian Mengchuang looked at him, frowned slightly, and said coldly: "How do you say this?" ”

The chief bookkeeper hesitated: "As far as the officials know, this time the money and grain allocated by the imperial court have arrived in the state city, and there is no loss at all, not even a pound of moldy grain."

As much as the imperial court allocated, the Lord Assassin Shi distributed as much as he wanted, which is not logical. ”

Qian Mengchuang frowned and said, "What do you want to say?" ”

The chief bookkeeper was silent for a moment, made up his mind, gritted his teeth and said: "Xia Guan thinks that even the money and food that Lord Assassin Shi doesn't dare to touch, let's better not move." ”

Qian Mengchuang snorted coldly, and said coldly: "This official has been in Suishui County for more than ten years, what kind of ups and downs have you not seen, and I need you to teach this official how to do things?" ”

The chief bookkeeper hurriedly said: "Xia Guan has no such intention. ”

The voice fell.

There was silence in the room.

Qian Mengchuang recalled the letters he had read before, his brows were furrowed, and his face was entangled.

On the one hand, I am worried that the East Window incident will have unpredictable consequences.

On the other hand, Suishui County is not wealthy, and there is not much money to be made.

The temptation of a thousand taels of silver is too great to be worth a year or two of petty theft.

Minutes and seconds passed.

I don't know how long it took.

Qian Mengchuang finally made up his mind, his face was gloomy, and he said in a deep voice: "A group of Diao people, let them work and give them food, it is already a great favor, what more money do you need!"

Keep all the money and don't send it down, and if someone finds it down, it's never too late to send it again. ”

Speaking of this, he paused, looked at the main book on the side, and said coldly: "You should understand what this official means." ”

The master bookkeeper was still a little hesitant, and replied: "My lord, the imperial court clearly stipulates that the money and grain for employing the people will be distributed by the imperial court, and the funds shall be used exclusively and shall not be in arrears. ”

Qian Mengchuang's eyes showed a touch of annoyance, and he said coldly: "There are so many county officials, if the imperial court wants to investigate, it may not be able to check it in three years, how can there be such a coincidence, just find out the head of this official!" ”

"Besides, it's just a postponement, and it's not that it won't be issued, even if it's in front of His Majesty, the official has a reason! In the cold winter, bandits are rampant, the roads are icy, and it is not so easy to get the wages to the people in time. ”

"Adult ......"

The bookkeeper opened his mouth, trying to say something.

Qian Mengchuang reprimanded angrily:

"Enough! The sky is falling, and there is an official on top! Just do what the official tells you to do! ”

Having said that, it has come to an end.

Even if the master wanted to stop it, he was helpless, sighed in his heart, and saluted: "Xiaguan understands." ”

"If you understand, do it!"

Qian Mengchuang's eyes showed a cold color, and he ordered.

"Yes, sir!"

The master bowed and turned to leave.

In an instant, there was only one Qian Mengchuang left in the house.

He was silent for a long time, lit the letter sent by Zhangzhou Assassin, and put it in the stove.

"If you get this one in the end, there shouldn't be an accident......

Qian Mengchuang took a deep breath, calmed his emotions, and looked out the window.

The weather was gloomy, and the snow was falling like flakes.

The first snow of winter has finally arrived, accompanied by a chill.

Look at the fluttering snowflakes.

Qian Mengchuang suddenly felt a chill hit his whole body, his body trembled slightly, and he couldn't help but wrap his body tightly.

"I hope everything is well."

Qian Mengchuang muttered to himself and withdrew his gaze.