In the study room of the Qianqing Palace, a small yellow door hurriedly walked in, came to the imperial eucalyptus of Emperor Tianyou, and reported in a low voice: "Your Majesty, Liu Ge is here. ”

"Announce his audience."

In the past two days, Emperor Tianyou's mood was extremely bad, the tragedy of the Shu Palace's Mansion and the death of Concubine Wu made his heart full of self-blame, and the cleansing of the Shu Wang's Party can be said to be a complete victory, but Emperor Tianyou has no joy of victory!

He sat quietly on the dragon chair, feeling sad in his heart, with a hint of dazed and sad.

After a while, Liu Wenbin hurriedly walked into the upper study, bowed down and saluted: "Your Majesty." ”

There are four large pots of open fire burned in the main hall, all of which are made of sandalwood, and the hall is full of incense, warm as spring.

There was silence in the hall.

Liu Wenbin stood there for a long time, but he didn't hear the voice of Emperor Tianyou, he faintly felt a kind of bad feeling in his heart, and said: "Minister Liu Wenbin see Your Majesty!" ”

Emperor Tianyou finally spoke, "Elder Ge has something to see me?" ”

"Yes."

Liu Wenbin took out a book of music from his sleeve and presented it.

"Whose excerpt?"

Emperor Tianyou looked at the fold in Dai Quan's hand.

Dai Quan lowered his head, "Back to Your Majesty, Liu Ge Lao's excerpt." ”

Emperor Tianyou was silent for a while, and looked at Liu Wenbin, "What's the matter, just say it." ”

"Your Majesty! The minister was still the last request, and the minister was not in good health, so he begged His Majesty to let the minister go home to recuperate. ”

"Where is Aiqing going to recuperate?"

"The minister has been away from home for almost thirty years, and he plans to return to his hometown in Qiantang."

"Qiantang?"

Emperor Tianyou stared at him closely, "Can't you go if you don't go?!" ”

Liu Wenbin fell to his knees, "Your Majesty, the minister is old and sick, and he can't worry about the court and His Majesty, I implore Your Majesty for grace, and the minister will repay Your Majesty's kindness in the next life!" ”

"You came from the Prince?"

"Yes!"

Liu Wenbin's answer trembled a little, and then he explained: "The minister is in charge of the Ministry of Works, and he will explain some matters in the ministry to the prince. ”

Emperor Tianyou's eyes flashed, "I'll talk about it after the festival." ”

"Your Majesty...."

"Alright, don't say any more."

Emperor Tianyou was a little impatient, "I know your thoughts, you can go back." What I can do has not happened, you are still a cabinet scholar of the Ming Dynasty. ”

Liu Wenbin's face turned white, thinking about the news he had inquired from the prince, and his heart was crossed, "Your Majesty, the Wu family is guilty, and the salt merchants are guilty, but not all families are guilty, and please ask Your Majesty to spread your kindness and give the family in Suzhou and Hangzhou a chance, they will definitely remember the five guiltes, and dare not forget Your Majesty's kindness." ”

Emperor Tianyou suppressed the breath in his heart and said vigorously: "The holy decree has been issued, and there is no possibility of change!" ”

The study room was so quiet that even a needle could be heard on the ground, which was an admission of the matter, and there was a small news circulating in the court in the past two days, that is, the emperor sent a letter to the king of Dongping County, completely cleansing the families in Suzhou and Hangzhou, and attached a list, including Liu Wenbin's family who was born in Qiantang, although Liu Wenbin is a branch, and has not gone back for more than 30 years.

Liu Wenbin knelt there in a daze, and at this time, Emperor Tianyou said: "You are a loyal and upright person, you should have heard that most of the land in Suzhou and Hangzhou has been annexed by big families, and they are all bought and sold by force, take your Qiantang as an example, in the last years of the Holy Ancestor Dynasty, there were still sixty percent of farmers who cultivated their own land, but as of last year, there were less than two left, and they were all inferior fields, because the big families could not look down on them to be spared."

Do you know what life those sharecroppers were like? They are so tired and busy all year round that they can't even eat, and many of them are sold into slavery, which is miserable! ”

Speaking of this, Emperor Tianyou made a final decision, "If these things are not solved, it is not good that the Ming Dynasty will die because of this!" If I want to settle this matter once and for all in my lifetime, and as soon as possible, these wealthy and unkind families must be cleared, and there is no room for negotiation. ”

Emperor Tianyou glanced at him deeply, "Your family is in Shenjing, so stay here in the future." ”

At this time, Liu Wenbin's heart was like ashes, he never expected that the emperor's methods would be so tough, so ruthless, his face was pale, his lips trembled slightly, he was just about to speak, suddenly his eyes were dark, and he fell to the ground.

"Not good! Liu Ge Lao fainted. ”

The news that Liu Wenbin, a cabinet scholar, fainted on the spot in the upper study room spread all over Shenjing City in less than half an hour, and this incident caused a sensation in the government and the opposition, and the streets and alleys of Shenjing City were filled with all kinds of gossip.

In Zhang's Mansion in Dongcheng, a imperial doctor came out of the bedroom and said to Xiao Huangmen and the Zhang family who were waiting at the door: "Prepare for the future!" ”

Zhang Fu's bedroom was full of the smell of medicine.

Zhang Fu's old wife sat on the edge of the bed, carefully wiping his forehead, at this time, Zhang Fu's eyes slowly opened, in fact, he woke up for a while, he only now really realized the emperor's ruthlessness, only to feel the cruelty of the political struggle, only to realize how naïve he was, naively thought that the emperor had been controlled by them, stupid!

The Wu family was wiped out by the Nine Clans, what kind of fate will the Zhang family end?

"Madame..."

"Master, you, you're awake!"

Zhang Fu waved his hand slightly, "You go and call the boss in." ”

"Sir...."

"Go."

Zhang Fu's old wife had no choice but to retreat, and after a while, Zhang Fu's eldest son Zhang Yanji walked in, and as soon as he entered the bedroom, he asked with concern: "Father, how do you feel?" ”

Zhang Fu shook his head, "If I can't do it, you go and prepare, I will give His Majesty a fold." ”

Zhang Yanji: "Father...."

"Go!"

Zhang Fu raised his hand.

After a while, Zhang Fu sat down in front of the book with Zhang Yanji's support, he picked up a blank fold, spread it out, lifted the brush and dipped it in ink, and prepared to give the last fold to Emperor Tianyou.

Zhang Yanji gritted his teeth, pushed open the door and looked in, only to see Zhang Fu sitting there quietly, motionless.

Zhang Yanji walked in with a solemn face, and found that Zhang Fu's eyes were closed, Zhang Yanji's hands trembled, and he slowly stretched out to the side of Zhang Fu's nose, trembling all over, and two lines of tears came out of his eyes, "Father!" ”

Zhang Yanji burst into tears.

.........

In the dormitory, Emperor Tianyou was in an unusually good mood, just now, Liu Wenbin ordered his family to come and take away the resignation letter to return to his hometown.

At this time, Dai Quan walked in quickly, and said with a solemn face: "Your Majesty, there is news from the Zhang Mansion. Secondary auxiliary ....."

"What's wrong with him?"

"Back to Your Majesty, the second assistant is dead."

Dai Quan took a notebook and handed it over, "This is the testament he wrote to His Majesty before he died....."

Emperor Tianyou was stunned there, and after a while, he took the notebook, turned around and walked to the small study.

In the small study, Emperor Tianyou sat quietly in front of the eucalyptus, and there was a one-zhang long rosewood abacus on the left and right two rosewood eucalyptus! Twelve ceremonial eunuchs quickly dialed beads in their left hands and calculated the tax accounts of Shandong, Henan, and Huguang provinces in the 39th year of Tianyou, which had just been taken from the household department.

The sound of the abacus slowly thinned out, and almost at the same time, the top twelve eunuchs of the two long eucalyptus finished settling their accounts.

Huang Jin, the master of ceremonies, hurriedly stepped forward to collect the letterhead in front of each eunuch, a total of twelve pages, and then personally calculated the numbers on the twelve pages, and then copied them on a blank letterhead, holding them in both hands and presenting them to Dai Quan.

Dai Quan took the letterhead, "Withdraw it." ”

Huang Jin waved his hand gently, and the twelve ceremonial eunuchs walked out softly with abacus and eucalyptus in an orderly manner.

Dai Quan presented the letterhead to Emperor Tianyou.

Emperor Tianyou took the letterhead and read it quickly, and then spread Zhang Fu's testament on the imperial eucalyptus, "Last year, the celebrant estimated how much silver was deposited in the household department?" ”

"Back to Your Majesty, it seems to be eight million 130,000 taels."

"Eight million 130,000 taels, okay, the three provinces of Shandong, Henan, and Huguang alone have embezzled 4.72 million taels, what a good minister and a good official of the imperial court!"

Emperor Tianyou stood up suddenly, "A group of Beijing officials deceived and deceived the corruption of 3.17 million taels is already appalling, I didn't expect that only a dozen officials in these three provinces were greedy for the 4.72 million taels that should have been handed over to the national treasury, if it weren't for Zhang Fu's testament, I would still be blinded in the dark." ”

There was silence in the small study.

"You say, how much money do they have?"

Emperor Tianyou asked.

Dai Quan thought for a moment before replying, "It'll be clear after copying." ”

Hearing this, Emperor Tianyou nodded, Zhang Fu's testament said three things, the first one is about the death of Emperor Wuzong in the water that year, because it is a matter of the previous generation, plus the time is long, the Wu family is the mastermind, Zhang Fu is not too clear, only know that because Wuzong has recalled the governor, there is another governor's mansion, and the noble military generals and the eunuchs are responsible for the system, which is undoubtedly the bottom of the kettle for civil officials. In addition, Wuzong had murderous intentions towards the Wu family, and the two sides hit it off and concocted Wuzong falling into the water, as for who betrayed Jingying, Zhang Fu did not know, only knew that someone betrayed Emperor Wuzong.

The second thing, Zhang Fu reported to Emperor Tianyou to expose the governor of Shandong, Henan, and Huguang provinces Yamen deceived the upper and lower levels, and embezzled taxes and silver, which also solved the mystery that has been pressed in the heart of Emperor Tianyou, he finally knew why there was such a big deficit every year, you know, every year the master of ceremonies will estimate the income and expenditure of the household in advance, for example, last year there should be a balance of 8.13 million taels, the result is not only no surplus, but also an additional deficit of 3.17 million taels, after Zhang Fu's explanation, Emperor Tianyou suddenly realized, It turned out that not all of the tax money that had been handed over to the state treasury in the account books had been brought into Beijing, but was controlled through the operation of the account books, and people who did not know the inside story could not find out at all.

Emperor Tianyou: "It just so happens that the Imperial Forest Army is about to expand its army, and my inner treasury has no money, Huguang can't move for the time being, how are the patrol battalions in Shandong and Henan?" ”

"On the shore of the land, it is not the king's minister. They are all His Majesty's courtiers. ”

"Good!"

Emperor Tianyou's eyes showed a fierce light, "You hurry up and arrange this matter, I don't want an accident to happen." Before the last event, I want to hear the exact news. ”

Dai Quan lowered his head, "Yes." ”

Emperor Tianyou thought about it, "There is also the matter of the Zhou family, we must investigate it quickly, when I think of someone calculating me behind my back, I am not sure in my heart." ”

Dai Quan: "Yes. ”

Emperor Tianyou nodded, his eyes fell on Zhang Fu's testament again, and after a while, he turned his head to Dai Quan and said, "Who do you say it will be?!" ”

Dai Quan hesitated for a long time, and then said: "Your Majesty, when General Li Shen arrived that day, the entire Song Mansion had already fallen into a sea of fire, but according to the surrounding onlookers, the fire was ignited from the back house, and it should be the study." ”

Hearing Dai Quan's words, Emperor Tianyou's hand on the imperial eucalyptus trembled slightly, and while chewing on Dai Quan's words sharply, he was sharply thinking about the possible truth of the Song Mansion that night.

Zhang Fu's widow also said one thing, that is, about Song Qian's death.

For a long time, Emperor Tianyou thought that Song Gan died in the hands of Wu Shichang, however, Zhang Fu's widow surprised him, Wu Shichang did not see Song Gan that night, and when he led people to rush into the back house, Song Gan's study was already surrounded by fire, according to the Song housekeeper, Song Qian was in the study.

In other words, before Wu Shichang entered the door, Song Qian had already been killed in the study, and Wu Shichang just carried the black pot for others.

Thinking of the account book that Zhang Fu mentioned that recorded the smuggling of the Jiangsu and Zhejiang families in collusion with the pirates and pirates, Emperor Tianyou slapped the jade Ruyi on the imperial eucalyptus, what he cared about was not which families colluded with the pirates and pirates, what he cared about was that the account book also recorded the whereabouts of every money from the thirty-eighth year of Tianyou to the forty years of Tianyou.

Emperor Tianyou instantly understood the energy contained in this account book, there were too many officials who took the shady silver from the hands of these families, and this was recorded by Song Gan.

Wu Shichang wanted to get this account book, but he was given the first step.

Dai Quan spoke, "Maybe it was destroyed in the fire." ”

Emperor Tianyou's brows furrowed again, and he only glanced at Dai Quan without squeaking.

There was silence in the hall.

At this time, Dai Quan poured a bowl of new tea for Emperor Tianyou, "If you let the Jinling Town Guard go to Zhejiang to check, since the other party has taken the account book, it will definitely be used." ”

Emperor Tianyou nodded silently, "Let Qian Feng go in person, check carefully, don't startle the snake, I want to see who has such great ability, one step ahead of Wu Shichang everywhere, and let him carry the black pot for him every time." ”

.......

Zhang Fu's death soon spread throughout the government and the opposition, and then another news came out, Zhang Fu gave the emperor a testament before his death, although it is not clear what is written in this testament, but everyone still guessed some possibilities, Zhang Fu in order to his death after the Zhang family will not be liquidated by the emperor, will definitely confess some secret things to the emperor in exchange for forgiveness, and may even report and expose some officials, no matter who is involved, it will definitely set off a big purge again, and the city will be full of wind and rain for a while.

And with the death of Zhang Fu, the political situation in the court has changed again, and the cabinet has vacated a position, or the second assistant, so who will fill this gap has become the most concerned thing for the civil and military of the Manchu Dynasty. houmian

(One more today!) In the revision, it will speed up and enter the official plot later. ）