Chen Tingjing hasn't slept a few restful nights recently, and he didn't sleep all night last night. The results of the warehouse inventory came out, and there was a deficit of 586,234 catties of copper. Xu Da has only been in office for three months, and he has lost so much copper? In fact, as long as Xu Da confronts Colkoin, it will be clear. But Chen Tingjing pondered repeatedly, things may not be so simple. The most important thing at the moment is to mint money, as long as the copper material deficit case is shaken out, it will be bloody and bloody, and it will definitely delay the minting of money. It is already urgent to straighten out the money law, otherwise it will cause deep harm. However, if Chen Tingjing found out that the copper material was short and did not go to the court in time, it would also be a big crime to be investigated.

At dawn, the sound of the piano came from the simple room at the head of the second hall of the Baoquan Bureau. Da Shun, along with Liu Jing and Ma Ming, never slept, and had been waiting in the lobby. Hearing that the old man was stroking the piano inside, Liu Jing nodded at Da Shun and asked him to go in and have a look. Dashun went out to fetch water and sent it in. Chen Tingjing washed up, used breakfast indiscriminately, and buried himself in stroking the piano. Dashun They all know that the old man keeps playing the piano, either he is happy or has something in his heart. This time, I'm afraid that the old man is a little messy in his heart.

Xu Da came to the yamen of Baoquan Bureau early, he got off the sedan chair, heard the sound of the piano inside, and couldn't help but slow down. Da Shun greeted him and said, "I've seen Lord Xu." ”

Xu Da laughed softly: "Your master is so interested!" ”

Dashun said: "The master didn't sleep all night last night, play the piano to refresh yourself!" ”

Xu Da was secretly shocked when he heard this, and said tentatively: "Didn't sleep all night? What's the busy? ”

Da Shun hesitated: "I just serve tea and pour water, where do I know about the master!" ”

Xu Da entered the simple room lightly and stood aside to listen to the piano. Chen Tingjing saw Xu Da coming, so he got up: "Lord Xu, you're early!" ”

Xu Dadao: "Lord Chen eats and lives in Baoquan Bureau, I'm really ashamed!" ”

Chen Tingjing said with a smile: "Qian Fa, I'm a layman, stupid birds fly first." ”

Xu Da smiled: "Lord Chen is always humble! ”

Da Shun made tea and sent it in, but still withdrew. Xu Da took out a box, opened it, and said, "Lord Chen, the mother money style is ready, please take a look!" ”

Chen Tingjing took the emperor's mother's money, looked at it over and over, and kept nodding. This mother coin is carved from ivory and is very beautiful. Chen Tingjing said: "I think it's good, you can take a look at it again." ”

Xu Da said: "I think it's up to Lord Chen to decide!" ”

Chen Tingjing said: "In this case, let's hurry up to the emperor." ”

Xu Da glanced at the account book on the table, and couldn't help but beat the drum in his heart. He guessed that the account had already been calculated, but Chen Tingjing didn't say it, and he didn't bother to ask. Colcoin instructed him to take the blame for the time being in case the warehouse ran out of copper. He reluctantly agreed, but he didn't make up his mind in his heart. After all, life is at stake, and you have to act when you have the opportunity.

On the second day, Chen Tingjing led Xu Da to Qianqingmen to do something. The emperor carefully examined the mother coin and said: "This mother coin has a beautiful style, a broad font, and an elegant ornamentation, and I am very satisfied." Pearl, what do you think? ”

Mingzhu played: "The minister has seen it, and it is indeed exquisite and elegant. Please the emperor's holy judgment! ”

The emperor bowed his head and said: "I am allowed to play by Chen Tingjing, hurry up and mint new money according to the style of the mother money!" The prohibition of the purchase of copper is also accurate! ”

Chen Tingjing received the decree, but Samuha sang the opposite: "Your Majesty, Chen Tingjing asked for a ban on the purchase of copper, and the minister has something to say." Regardless of whether the ban on receiving copper is justified, in fact, Chen Tingjing had already ordered the Baoquan Bureau to prohibit the acquisition long before he invited the emperor. The supply of copper materials is a matter of money and law, and Chen Tingjing is really bold and reckless. ”

The emperor said: "I saw Chen Tingjing's excerpt and forbade the collection of copper, in order to prevent profiteers from destroying money and copper, I think it makes sense." But for such a big event, Chen Tingjing did not report to the imperial court, and made his own decisions, which is indeed unorthodox! ”

Chen Tingjing said: "Your Majesty, the minister looked at the warehouse of the Baoquan Bureau, and saw that the copper was piled up, and he was suspicious. There are many things in the Baoquan Bureau, which seem to be trivial, but they are all related to money law. Rong Chen will have a detailed performance in the future, and the top priority now is to step up the drumming and minting new money. ”

Samuha was still unwilling, and said: "Your Majesty, the minister thinks that Chen Tingjing's duty is to supervise the money law, not to go to the Baoquan Bureau to find faults. The emperor once instructed his ministers and others to govern the world, and to be quiet, if he is like Chen Tingjing, he will be in chaos. ”

Colcoin was secretly anxious, fearing that Samuha would force Chen Tingjing to speak out about the copper shortage. Sooner or later, things are going to come out, but it's good for them to cover them up for now. Colcoin gave a sneaky look, and Samuha said nothing.

Unexpectedly, Gao Shiqi said: "Chen Tingjing acted arbitrarily and was against the sky!" ”

Mingzhu understood that this matter could not be disputed any longer, so he said: "Your Majesty, the minister thinks that Gao Shiqi's words are serious, and Samuha's words are unreasonable. Minting money is extremely trivial, if everything must be reported in advance, the money law does not know that it can be straightened out until the year of the monkey. ”

The emperor thought that Mingzhu was speaking fairly, so he said: "Mingzhu is right." I believe in Chen Tingjing, and when it comes to minting money, I allow Chen Tingjing to play first! ”

The emperor allowed Chen Tingjing to play first, but no one expected it. Out of the Qianqing Gate, Samuha and Korkun went to the Yamen of the Ministry of Officials. Colkun said: "The warehouse inventory should have been settled long ago, Chen Tingjing didn't mention it today, I don't know what the reason is?" ”

Mingzhu said: "Fortunately, Chen Tingjing didn't mention this, otherwise it depends on how you parry!" Samuha, you are so reckless! Chen Tingjing doesn't say anything, you still have to provoke him! ”

Samuha said angrily: "Chen Tingjing always stares at the household, I can't swallow this breath!" ”

Mingzhu said: "If you have something in his hands now, you have to endure it!" You've really figured it out? Xu Da is really willing to shoulder it? It is only good for you to come out one day late! ”

Samuha was still not angry, and said: "Ming Xiangguo, you are a scholar, a scholar of the Ministry of Officials, and a minister of the first assistant, and Chen Tingjing supervises the money law of the Ministry of Households, and he does not take me as a scholar of the Ministry of Households, nor has he ever greeted you. The prime minister of the Ming Dynasty can hold the boat in his belly, I don't have this measure! ”

Mingzhu laughed and said, "Samuha, it's useless to lose your temper, you have to learn to lose your temper." You and my colleague have been friends for so many years, when have you ever seen me lose your temper? Why did you plant it? ”

Neither Samuha nor Kolkoan could get the gist of it, so they just waited for Mingzhu to continue. Mingzhu deliberately paused for a moment and said, "Four words: too strong-tempered!" ”

Samuha hurriedly shook his head and said, "Alas, I am a rough person, and it is difficult to learn!" ”

Colquin was always relieved in his heart, and asked, "Ming Xiangguo, what is Chen Tingjing's idea?" ”

Mingzhu smiled: "No matter what tricks he plays, as long as he doesn't say anything about the copper deficit case for the time being, it will be beneficial to you." You have to let him do things, let him do more things! ”

Samuha was smart this time and said, "Yes, yes, let him do more things, and the more things he does, the more trouble he will have." When he gets in trouble, we'll be fine! ”

Mingzhu smiled bitterly: "Lord Samuha's mouth is really refreshing. ”

Samuha was embarrassed and said, "Ming Xiangguo is laughing at me for being rude. I'm ashamed that I was born like this. ”

Mingzhu said again: "The emperor has a lot of trust in Chen Tingjing, you all have to be careful." The emperor told me privately that he planned to promote Chen Tingjing to the imperial history of the left capital of the Imperial Procuratorate. ”

Samuha was anxious when he heard this: "Huh? Zuodu Yushi is an official who specializes in rectifying people, Ming Xiangguo, this official must not let Chen Tingjing do it! ”

Mingzhu sighed: "The holy will is hard to violate, I can only delay as much as possible." In a word, you have to be careful in everything. Let Chen Tingjing do more things in the appointment of Qian Fa Lang first. ”

Colquin suddenly tilted his head and said, "Ming Xiangguo, Chen Tingjing is already in trouble today!" ”

Mingzhu listened, smiling silently. Samuha was puzzled and asked, "The emperor allowed him to play first and second, and he has great power!" What's in trouble with him? ”

Colkun said: "Chen Tingjing knew about the copper material shortage, but he concealed it and didn't report it, this is a big crime!" ”

Mingzhu listened, still smiling. Colcoin was actually more scared than anyone else, he expected that the warehouse must be in deficit, and he had just left office.

Early in the morning, Chen Tingjing made an appointment with Colkun and Xu Da to discuss, planning to start a new stove and supervise the casting with the officials of the Baoquan Bureau to see how much money can be cast per 100 catties of copper, how many consumables are used, and how much labor is needed. Colcoin knew that Chen Tingjing's intention was still to find out the confused accounts of the Baoquan Bureau for many years, and he was reluctant in his heart, but he had no choice but to say: "Let Lord Chen decide!" ”

Chen Tingjing asked Xu Da: "Lord Xu, how much labor does a furnace need?" ”

Xu Dadao: "Hui Chen, a furnace requires a coppersmith, two money pattern makers, two miscellaneous workers, a plasterer, a filer, a piping maker, two grinders, a fine money maker, eight craftsmen, a total of eleven, in addition to one stove head and two craftsmen. ”

Chen Tingjing thought for a moment and said, "Okay, you can find a class of craftsmen according to this number." People have to choose at will, and they don't have to choose the best masters. Don't scream that stove head Xiang Zhong. ”

A new coinage furnace was built overnight in front of the yamen of the Baoquan Bureau. On the second day, more than a dozen craftsmen were busy, and Chen Tingjing, Ko Kun, Xu Da and the officials of the Baoquan Bureau watched around the fireplace. The molten copper in the furnace was slightly boiling, and the craftsman scooped up the molten copper and carefully poured it into the mould. Colcoin hurriedly retreated, but Chen Tingjing leaned in to take a closer look.

Da Shun hurriedly said, "Master, you have to be careful. ”

Chen Tingjing smiled: "Okay, I've been watching this set of kung fu since I was a child." ”

Colquin was puzzled and asked, "Lord Chen's family may not mint money?" ”

Chen Tingjing laughed and said, "How can you be so bold? My family has cast iron pots and ploughshares for generations, and the process seems to be familiar! ”

It was nearly dusk, and a total of three furnaces were cast. Chen Tingjing ordered the casting to stop, and asked everyone to go inside and speak. Sitting down in the lobby, Xu Daxian reported the number and said, "Master Chen, Master Keda, today I have three furnaces for drum casting, and I have obtained 34 strings of 825 texts. The loss of copper per 100 catties ranges from 12 catties, 9 catties, and 8 catties. ”

Chen Tingjing said: "I observed carefully and found that the loss of copper is not fixed, and it all depends on the quality of copper. In the past, regardless of whether the copper was good or bad, it was calculated according to the loss of 12 catties per 100 catties, which was too much. In my opinion, it is appropriate to lose nine catties per 100 catties. ”

Colcoin said: "What Lord Chen said is naturally reasonable, but the copper materials purchased by the Baoquan Bureau are difficult to ensure that they are all good copper!" ”

Chen Tingjing said: "Well, the responsibility lies with the Baoquan Bureau." The copper materials allowed by the imperial court to be sent to each pass were sixty percent red copper and forty percent lead, which had been placed very widely. If the Baoquan Bureau accepts inferior copper materials, there will be articles among them. ”

Chen Tingjing said a few more words, and asked everyone to go back and rest, and only leave Xu Da behind. Colcoin also wanted to stay, but Chen Tingjing said that he didn't need to. Colquin was afraid that Xu Da would change his mind, so he left with a drum in his heart.

Everyone had dinner in the yamen, and then picked up the lamp to settle the accounts. Chen Tingjing wanted to pass the abacus, crackled for a while, and said: "In the past, the loss of copper was too high, and every 100 catties should be reduced by 3 catties, which can save more than 80,000 catties of copper every year, and can mint more than 9,230 strings of money." ”

Liu Jing interjected: "In other words, all this money was embezzled in the past. ”

Ma Ming also answered, saying: "For this alone, more than 9,200 taels of silver are embezzled every year. ”

Chen Tingjing didn't answer, only looked at Xu Da. Xu Da's face turned red and said, "Lord Chen, I'm really ashamed of my humble position, I've been here for a few months, and I haven't figured out what is going on inside!" ”

Chen Tingjing said with a smile: "It's okay, let's settle the accounts together, and you will figure it out." ”

Chen Tingjing looked at the account book in his hand and said, "The wages of the craftsmen are too much. Each drum casts 100 catties of copper, and in the past, 1,490 wen was paid to various craftsmen. I did the math, and each item should be subtracted, a total of four hundred and thirty-five wen. For example, there are two craftsmen, and in the past, each person was paid 70 yuan, which was too much. These two men were not money-makers, but only bought materials, food, and hired recruiters. Their wages were only forty denarii per man, minus thirty denarii. The wages of the stove were reduced from 90 to 60 yuan. ”

Xu Da asked cautiously: "Lord Chen, the wages of the craftsmen are all hard-earned money, can they be reduced?" ”

Chen Tingjing said: "This is all based on the daily drum casting of 100 catties of copper, in fact, the drum can be cast 2 or 300 catties a day. We've made 300 pounds today. Each stove head has to receive 120,000 catties of copper from the Baoquan Bureau a year, and according to the salary I have reduced, it is also 72 taels of silver per year, which is not much different from the official salary of you, a five-grade official! ”

Xu Da suddenly realized and said, "Yes, why didn't I think about calculating?" ”

Chen Tingjing said again: "The wages of other craftsmen are even higher, the coppersmith used to pay 180 wen for every 100 catties of copper, minus 60 wen, and he still has 144 taels of silver a year, which is still more than the official salary of the third-grade official!" ”

Xu Da couldn't help but bow his hand: "Lord Chen is so shrewd, I really admire my humble position!" Ashamed, ashamed! ”

Chen Tingjing bowed his hand and saluted: "No, no, you can't be blamed for this." After you arrived, you were busy minting new money, and the emperor sent me. You haven't had time to show your talents yet! ”

Hearing Chen Tingjing say this, Xu Da was ashamed and embarrassed, and said: "I am a scholar, and I am reluctant to do this errand, where can I talk about talent." ”

Chen Tingjing said: "Lord Xu doesn't have to be too humble. Reducing the wages of the servants can reduce the expenses by more than 11,700 taels of silver per year. ”

Xu Da didn't expect that there would be such a big loophole in wages alone, if there was a shortage of copper materials in the warehouse, what should it be? He wasn't sure whether he would tell Chen Tingjing the truth early or do what Colcoin instructed.

Xu Dazheng was secretly thinking, and Chen Tingjing said again: "Lord Xu, I want to see the list of craftsmen receiving wages. ”

Xu Da said: "The Baoquan Bureau only has a rule for each salary, and there is no roster of laborers receiving wages. ”

Chen Tingjing asked, "This is weird! So how are wages paid? ”

Xu Da said: "The wages are collected from the stove head to the Baoquan Bureau according to the regular practice, and then he distributes them by himself. ”

Chen Tingjing nodded for a long time, and said to himself: "This Xiang Zhong is really a character!" ”

Xu Da listened, not knowing how to answer. It was already late at night, and Xu Da stayed in the Baoquan Bureau.

Chen Tingjing instructed: "Lord Xu, don't talk about the account we calculated today outside for the time being. In particular, if you reduce the wages of the craftsmen, if you don't get it right, there will be chaos. Xu Da nodded in response and retreated to rest.