Tang Tong and Shang Chengjie arrived the earliest, and not long after, Pan Guohong, the secretary of the Ministry of Industry, and Xu Xiong, the head of the Ministry of Industry, also arrived. Pan Guohong's career is so smooth, it is all the reason for Cao Shu and Xia Zhan to run errands before and after the saddle, Pan Guohong is the son of Cao Shu's servant, this person has some literary talents, he is the third top jinshi of Ding Mao Ke in the twelfth year of Jiaqing, and Shang Chengjie is the same year, although he does not have much contact on weekdays, he still does not dare to brush Shang Chengjie's feelings. Pan Guohong looked down on people with lower official positions and poor abilities than himself, although he didn't wait to see Tang Tong standing on the side, but he still looked at Shang Chengjie differently.

Therefore, when he saw Shang Chengjie, he came over and said, "Lord Shang is so early!".

Shang Chengjie returned the salute politely, "It's not too late for Lord Pan, I don't know what the emperor summoned me?"

Pan Guohong knew that Shang Chengjie was knowingly asking, and he also pretended to be confused and said: "I don't know very well, I'll know when I see the emperor!", after speaking, he stood aside, completely pretending not to know Tang Tong.

Soon the five officials of the cabinet came together, and the four of them hurriedly saluted on the side, and watched the five people enter, and after a while, Emperor Jiaqing was close to Liu Quan, the eunuch who was in charge of the seal of the celebrant and asked, "Tang Tong!" Has Captain Tang arrived?", calling people by name, which had never been done before, and those present couldn't help but be a little surprised.

Tang Tong immediately stepped forward and saluted: "The lower official is!".

Liu Quan took a look at Tang Tong, this was the first time he had seen him, Liu Quan had a habit of remembering people's appearances first, so as not to admit mistakes next time he saw him. Even if you remember, you still miss a key point from time to time, as a eunuch, you have your own little world, which is still important here.

After being deeply imprinted in his mind, Liu Quan turned to the four of them and said, "Four adults, come in with me!", saying that Liu Quan himself walked forward first, Shang Chengjie and Pan Guohong in front, Tang Tong and Xu Xiong followed in the Qinzheng Palace.

When they came to the Qinzheng Palace, Shang Chengjie and Pan Guohong knelt down first, Tang Tong and Xu Xiong knelt down, kowtowed and shouted: "The ministers see the emperor!" Long live the emperor, long live, long live!".

Emperor Jiaqing shouted, "Get up!", and the four of them got up and stood aside.

Tang Tong saw Emperor Jiaqing for the first time, and wanted to take a few glances to see what Emperor Jiaqing looked like. When I looked up, it was a bead curtain, and I couldn't see Emperor Jiaqing's face clearly. It turned out that this was in the side hall, and sometimes Emperor Jiaqing was tired or in a bad mood, so he was discussing in the side hall, but Tang Tong didn't know. In front of the bead curtain, in addition to Liu Quan, there is also a sixty-year-old Zhengyipin master, this person Tang Tong has seen, he is the Hubu Shangshu Xiong Daoyun, the slave of Emperor Jiaqing.

When he calmed down, Emperor Jiaqing asked, "How is Cao Aiqing's budget?".

Cao Shu immediately came out and responded: "The Ministry of Industry and Water Division has adjusted the budget to 600,000 taels, which is the lowest and cannot be lowered again!".

After all, Tang Tong's official position was too low, so he didn't dare to talk nonsense, so he could only listen, and after a while, he heard Emperor Jiaqing ask, "Shang Aiqing, what do you think?".

When Shang Chengjie saw that he asked, he immediately stepped out and played: "If you hand over 500,000 taels to the Ministry of War, you can do it!".

Emperor Jiaqing was very curious when he heard this, and asked in disbelief: "Tell me about it!".

Shang Chengjie said eloquently: "The military department already has a set of construction teams, and the yamen has less expenses. In addition, there are many disaster victims outside Beijing, just let them come to work and provide food, which not only resettles the victims but also prevents the turmoil in Gyeonggi, and there are some small saving measures, which can also be reduced and opened, so as not to talk about it at this time, so as not to leak!".

Emperor Jiaqing was very happy when he heard this, and couldn't help asking, "This is what Shang Aiqing came up with?".

Shang Chengjie didn't dare to take credit alone, and said dissidently: "This is the result of my discussion with Tang Duwei, the accounting of the Ministry of Industry is accurate, but we have effective management measures.".

As soon as Shang Chengjie's words fell, Xia Zhan, the secretary of the Ministry of Works, glanced at Pan Guohong, the secretary of the Ministry of Industry, and Pan Guohong immediately stood up and said: "The Ministry of Industry is also willing to repair the new bridge with 500,000 taels.", it doesn't matter how much you earn, your own one acre and three points of land is the fundamental, if you let the Ministry of War intervene this time, I don't know how many projects will be taken away by the Ministry of War in the future, which is absolutely not allowed.

Emperor Jiaqing wanted this effect, glanced at Xiong Daoyun next to him, Xiong Daoyun said understandingly: "The household department has been stretched thin recently, and it can only pay 200,000 taels, and it will pay 100,000 taels a year for three years. Who wants to take over this project between the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of War?", which was like a bolt from the blue on both sides, interrupting the rhythm of both sides.

Shang Chengjie felt that he couldn't do this anymore, Pan Guohong looked at Xia Zhan, Xia Zhan didn't even look at him, and knew that he should let go of this matter. The two sides were silent for a long time, and many important ministers of the court saw that Emperor Jiaqing had changed their faces, just now the two families were robbing, but now they can only blame the commission, all for the sake of silver.

At this time, a loud voice came: "As long as the emperor answers the two conditions of Weichen, the military department can not need a tael of silver from the household department, and it can also relieve the emperor's worries!"

Saying that, a person came out of the column and knelt on the ground in the center of the Qinzheng Palace, and this person was Tang Tong. Xiong Daoyun scolded: "How can you, a humble little official, represent the military department?".

Tang Tong propped his hands on the ground, raised his head to look at Xiong Daoyun, and refuted with reason: "Xiong Shangshu is right, I can't represent the Ministry of War, but as soon as I put forward these two conditions, the Ministry of Industry will also come to grab it, so I can only bring out the Ministry of War to take the lead!"

Emperor Jiaqing didn't expect that this person was very bold, and he really wanted to hear Tang Tong's two conditions, so he asked with a smile on his face: "You little official, tell me about it!".

Tang Tong bowed three times, raised his head and waved his hands, and said: "The military department is allowed to borrow 500,000 yuan, and before the household department pulls out the fee, the military department can set up a card to collect bridge tolls.".

These two items are completely the responsibilities of the household department, and when Xiong Daoyun heard this, he pointed at Tang Tong and said, "Bold! This is the right to grab the household department, who gave you such guts?".

Tang Tong replied, "Yes! This is exactly the authority of the household department, as long as the horse runs and does not give the horse grass, it is okay, and the horse must not be allowed to find grass by itself, right?".

Xiong Daoyun has nothing to say now. Shang Chengjie understood and immediately started to play: "As long as the emperor allows, the military department is willing to relieve the emperor's worries!", in fact, Tang Tong's two conditions shocked all the people in the Qinzheng Palace, and they could adapt to changes in such a short time, and what shocked them was Tang Tong's flexibility and adaptability. If this task were to put pressure on anyone, there would be a way to deal with it, but who would have come up with such a countermeasure in such a short time?

At this time, Cao Shu came out to relieve Xiong Daoyun and said: "Tang Duwei's request has a basis for violating the law, if every official has to ask the emperor for conditions before doing things, what kind of system!"

Tang Tong waved his hand at Cao Shu, "Lord Shoufu's words are inappropriate!" Article 371 of the Great Zhou Law, in the case that the materials of the imperial court cannot be in place on time, the government is allowed to requisition, embezzle, and temporarily borrow money and property from the people, and then the original goods must be returned, and a certain amount of interest must be repaid.

Cao Shu had nothing to answer for a while, and Xia Zhan saw that his father-in-law was being questioned, so he immediately came out and reprimanded him: "This incident happened in the Hongshi Dynasty, not in the capital!" Where is the face of the imperial court?".

Tang Tong still did not flinch with one enemy and three enemies, and waved his hand again and said, "Is there a better way for Xia Shangshu?" If the household department comes forward to borrow money, it will damage the face of the court even more!".

Xia Zhan also had nothing to answer, and then Emperor Jiaqing said: "The United States agrees to the two conditions of the Ministry of War, the cabinet will not invent a document, and there is no such thing to the outside world!".

Faced with such a result, not only Cao Shu didn't expect it, but even Tang Tong was a little surprised, he didn't expect Emperor Jiaqing to agree so quickly. Qin Yunhou, Ruan Zi and Luo Yan watched from the wall, and they knew it in their hearts! This is a competition between them, and they don't have to be strong at all.

"Remember! Externally, it is said that there is a provision of the household department, but it will not be shown to anyone.", Tang Tong quickly replied.

"Just as you can! Remember this sentence, out of the fork, the cabinet is not responsible.", Jiaqing seemed to have made up his mind, and couldn't help but glance at Tang Tong a few more times. At present, the affairs are busy, and the construction of a bridge will never affect the plans of the imperial court.

"The minister guarantees with his head, and he will never dishonor his mission!", Tang Tong replied resolutely.

Seeing that all the people present spoke up, Emperor Jiaqing said loudly: "You do this specifically!" If something happens, you will take care of it, Shang Aiqing will supervise it!", after speaking, he waved his hand and said, "The four of you go down!" The cabinet still has a discussion.", the four of them hurriedly knelt down and went out.