Chen Tingjing came to the south study early, Xu Qianxue saw it, and hurriedly said: "Oh, Lord Chen, you have been busy lately. ”

Chen Tingjing said: "Where, where." Lord Xu, while there is no one at this moment, I have something to ask for your help! ”

Xu Qianxue had never seen Chen Tingjing talk to him like this, so he couldn't help but look outside carefully, and said in a low voice: "Lord Chen, please command!" ”

Chen Tingjing said: "I have given the emperor a secret recital here. ”

Xu Qianxue said: "Master Chen never writes secret music!" That could be a big deal. Don't ask, you will seal the fold for me. It turned out that the ministers of the Rinan study were chatting, and suddenly remembered that Chen Tingjing had served the inner court for more than 20 years and had never been on the secret recital, so he asked. Chen Tingjing said that he had something to do, and it was clear that he would write an excerpt, so why do he need to play it secretly? These words were added to the vinegar and reached the ears of the emperor, which made Long Yan displeased, and found a way to scold Chen Tingjing. The emperor originally needed someone to play in secret. Since then, Chen Tingjing's reputation for not being able to perform secret music has spread. Xu Qianxue took the sealed cover of the south study, quickly sealed the fold, and wrote the words "The south study is sealed". Chen Tingjing still had to go to the Baoquan Bureau, and he hurriedly left without taking care of the tea.

Colquin went to the Yamen of the Ministry of Officials early and secretly reported to Mingzhu about Chen Tingtong's borrowing of silver. Mingzhu asked, "Did Chen Tingtong really borrow so much silver?" ”

Colcoin said: "It's conclusive. Ming Xiangguo, I think this matter is beneficial to us. ”

Mingzhu said: "Beijing officials are released, borrowing silver from rich families to send farewell respects and make entanglements, although the imperial court prohibits it, but it is also a common practice." Whether to pursue it or not depends on the emperor's intentions. ”

Colcoin asked: "What does Ming Xiangguo mean, I went to Chen Tingjing to break the words, and I can't get him to stop?" ”

Mingzhu said: "You might as well try it." You have to let Chen Tingjing know that his brother borrowed 10,000 taels of silver before the emperor knows. ”

Colcoin said: "Then I'll just go to Chen Tingjing and say it to his face." ”

Mingzhu shook his head and said, "No, no, you go to talk to Chen Tingjing like this, it's too unofficial." You have to do business, play the emperor. ”

Colquin really didn't understand what Mingzhu meant, and said, "Ming Xiangguo, you can confuse me. Or am I on a tantric play? ”

Mingzhu laughed and said, "You don't have to play secretly, you have to fold it clearly." The excerpts have to go through Xu Qianxue's hands. ”

Colquin thought about it and said, "Lord Xu's mouth is very tight, he may not tell Chen Tingjing?" ”

Seeing Mingzhu smiling and not answering, Colquin said, "Okay, Colquin, let's write an excerpt!" Ming Xiangguo, farewell! ”

Colkun came out of the yamen of the ministry, ran into Gao Shiqi, and hurriedly said, "Yo, Master Gao." ”

Gao Shiqi smiled: "Master Ke, such a coincidence. Ming Xiangguo has something to do with me. ”

Colcoin said, "I'm also coming out of Ming Xiangguo. The two said goodbye and politely parted.

Gao Shiqi entered the second hall of the Ministry of Officials, asked Mingzhu for peace, and said that he had something important to report. Seeing that Gao Shiqi was so careful, Mingzhu retreated left and right, and asked, "Shiqi, what's the matter?" ”

Gao Shiqi said: "I went to the south study early this morning, and I came out of it when I met Chen Tingjing. When I went in to take a look, I saw Xu Qianxue holding a sealed secret music in his hand, and I guessed that the eight achievements were made by Chen Ting. ”

Mingzhu said: "Chen Ting paid tribute to the secret music? That's a rarity! ”

Gao Shiqi said: "Yes, Chen Tingjing once opposed the minister's secret performance, saying that there is nothing in the world that cannot be explained, and the emperor also scolded him for this. I didn't expect him to be on the secret music himself this time. ”

Mingzhu thought for a moment and said, "Okay, I see." Shiqi, don't tell anyone about this! ”

Gao Shiqi nodded and said, "Shiqi understands. ”

Gao Shiqi returned to the south study and saw that the secret music had been sent to the Qianqing Palace. He pretended to be fine, and didn't ask a word. In the afternoon, someone sent in Colkun's excerpts, and it was Chen Tingtong. Xu Qianxue was surprised when he saw it. Gao Shiqi saw that Xu Qianxue's face changed greatly, so he asked, "Lord Xu, what is Kolkin playing?" ”

This can't be hidden, Xu Qianxue had no choice but to say: "Colkun Shen Chen Tingtong borrowed 10,000 taels of silver from Qianzhuang!" ”

Gao Shiqi gasped and asked, "Is this really the case?" ”

Xu Qian learned: "Colkun is sure to say every word. Tall, how is this planned? ”

Gao Shiqi sighed: "It's really according to the laws of the Qing Dynasty, but you have to ask for it!" Lord Xu, for the sake of Ting Jing, are you going to report a message? ”

Xu Qianxue said: "How can I go to Lord Chen to report the news? Let's just think about how to vote, don't really make the emperor angry. ”

Xu Qianxue said, and called all the ministers in the south study to discuss. Everyone was gossiping, saying that this case still needs to be investigated in detail, and the truth will be clarified before reasoning. Xu Qianxue drafted the ticket according to the discussion of everyone, and then sent it to Mingzhu for approval.

Xu Qianxue didn't agree to go to Chen Tingjing to report the news, but he quietly went to the yamen of the Baoquan Bureau at night. He naturally knew that Chen Tingjing and Gao Shiqi were just kind on their faces, and guessed that Gao Shiqi's words were mostly false. Chen Tingjing never imagined that Xu Qianxue would come to the Baoquan Bureau at night, he thought that there must be news of today's secret recital, but unexpectedly, Chen Tingtong had a big incident, and hurriedly asked: "Who participated?" Which bank? ”

Xu Qianxue said: "Ke Kun ginseng, the money village where the court has borrowed silver is Quanyi Liji, and the boss's surname is Su. ”

Chen Tingjing immediately understood, and said, "This is a trap made by someone!" Tingtong just doesn't do things with his brains. Someone has already played this trick once. ”

Xu Qianxue said: "I can't hold the excerpt, I've gone to the emperor." I guess there must be an article in between, or I wouldn't have told you. I had no choice but to draft a draft ticket and ask the emperor to send someone to investigate the case in detail. ”

Chen Ting admired Tianhao and sighed, "This is going to kill the head!" ”

Xu Qianxue also sighed and said, "Master Chen, something is wrong, it's useless for you to be in a hurry." Let's see what's going on first, and then make sense. ”

Sending Xu Qianxue away, Chen Tingjing hurriedly asked Dashun to go to his brother's house to report the news, and told him not to take the silver to give it away, because the silver could not be compensated at that time, and the crime became more and more serious.

On the second day, the father-in-law of the Qianqing Palace arrived at the yamen of the Baoquan Bureau early to deliver the decree: "Lord Chen, where is the emperor calling you!" ”

Chen Tingjing was taken aback, and he didn't know if the emperor summoned him for the Baoquan Bureau's copper material shortage case or for Chen Tingtong's matter. Without allowing much thought, Chen Tingjing hurriedly followed his father-in-law into the palace. He was worried all the way, if the emperor announced him to enter the palace for Chen Tingtong's affairs, he really had no choice. He could only ask the emperor to send someone to find out the reason, and it was inconvenient to say anything else.

The emperor has finished listening to the government, returned to the Xinuan Pavilion of the Qianqing Palace, stood on the front wall, and did not say a word. Chen Tingjing stepped forward cautiously and knelt down to ask for peace: "Minister Chen Tingjing knocks to see the emperor." ”

The emperor didn't look back, and asked: "Is it true that the copper material deficit of the Baoquan Bureau is true?" ”

Chen Tingjing was slightly relieved to see that the emperor was asking about the Baoquan Bureau. He heard the emperor's anger, spoke very carefully, and said: "The ministers personally supervised with Kolkun, Xu Da and others, weighed one by one, and then carefully checked with the accounts, which was accurate. ”

The emperor turned around and said, "Xu Da has been in office for a few months, how can he lose so much copper?" ”

Chen Tingjing replied: "The minister has calculated the accounts, and according to the date of Xu Da's appointment, he will lose about 5,000 catties of copper every day. ”

The emperor said, "Yes, he has to pull so much copper out every day, where is he going?" That's impossible! Tell me, you know it in your heart. Get up and speak. ”

Chen Tingjing got up and said: "The minister made a secret visit and learned that the successive Langzhong supervisors of the Baoquan Bureau were only handed over to the account books, and the warehouse inventory was deduced to choose another date, but in fact, it was deliberately dragged out without inventory. The officials who took over knew that there was a deficit in their previous office, and they were all confused, and they only tried to get through their term of office as quickly as possible, and threw their burdens to the next office. Anyway, each Guan goes to the Baoquan Bureau every year to solve the copper, as long as he doesn't wait for the lack of copper to stop the furnace, the matter will not be revealed. After a long time, no one is responsible. ”

The emperor patted the palace pillar and scolded: "It's ridiculous! Damn it! Chen Tingjing, you know that the copper material is not in the hands of Xu Da, why do you still want to join him? ”

Chen Tingjing replied: "Xu Da is just not capable in handling things, and his character is quite square. The minister estimated that there was a shortage of copper, and each governor had a share. But there is no way to find out who has lost how much. ”

The emperor asked, "What do you say should be done?" ”

Chen Tingjing said: "Shen Xuda is just a reason, in order to shake things out. The minister thought that punishment was not the goal, and the important thing was to make up for the copper shortfall. From now on, discipline should be strictly enforced, and no more deficits should be made. ”

The emperor asked again: "How to make up for it?" ”

Chen Tingjing said: "Let the successive Langzhong superintendents share equally and fill the shortfall, no matter what big officials they are now." ”

The emperor categorically vetoed: "No, this method is not appropriate!" Your suggestion seems light, but in fact it is to make the dynasty embarrassed! ”

Chen Tingjing said: "Your Majesty, the governor of Fuzhou County has a precedent of making the officials compensate for the deficit of the imperial grain and national tax. The minister suggested that the successive Langzhong superintendents compensate for the copper material, but they only followed the ancestral system. ”

The emperor said: "The successive superintendents of Langzhong are now scholars, scholars, governors, and governors!" Do you want the world to see that the Qing Dynasty is full of corrupt officials? ”

Chen Tingjing said: "If the deficit is not compensated, it is not enough to set an example, and the warehouse of the Baoquan Bureau will continue to be empty in the future!" ”

The emperor sighed for a long time, shook his head again and again, and said: "No, I would rather unjustly kill a Xu Da than give up the dignity of the court!" ”

Chen Tingjing knelt down again and said: "Your Majesty, the imperial court must punish corrupt officials in order to have dignity, and protecting corrupt officials will only lose dignity!" ”

The emperor said angrily: "Presumptuous! Corrupt officials will be dealt with by themselves. Someone participated in Chen Tingtong, he borrowed 10,000 taels of silver from the people, and asked for bribes, this is a corrupt official, this is a capital crime! ”

Chen Tingjing was shocked, and hurriedly kowtowed to the ground, only saying that he was guilty of not disciplining his younger brother strictly. Seeing Chen Tingjing like this, the emperor comforted: "Tingjing, you don't have to blame yourself too much. Chen Tingtong is certainly guilty, but the ticket from the South Study Room said that this case should be carefully investigated, and I am approved. It can be seen that Mingzhu is a generous person. ”

How did the emperor know that this was all mediated by Xu Qianxue. Chen Tingjing walked out of the Qianqing Palace, only to feel that his feet were heavy and he could barely move. He didn't plan to return to the Baoquan Bureau immediately, so he simply went to the yamen of the Metropolitan Procuratorate. He sat alone in the second hall, his mind in a mess. He knew that it must be a trap set by Quan Yiliji, but he couldn't play the emperor at this time. Words must be substantiated, and speculation alone cannot be heard. He expected that there must still be a backstage in Quanyi Liji, and he had to get it right.

Chen Tingjing's chest was jammed, he didn't want to go anywhere, and he sat until the afternoon. At this time, Xu Da led a small official to send a sample money, and said, "Lord Chen, I have sent the sample money minted in the past two days, please take a look." ”

Chen Tingjing said his hard work, took a string of sample coins and walked to the window, looked at the light carefully, nodded constantly, and said, "Okay, immediately send the newly minted money to the household department!" ”

Xu Da said: "I'll do this tomorrow." Master Chen, I don't know whether to say something or not. ”

Chen Tingjing said: "Lord Xu, you can say anything here. ”

Xu Da said: "The Baoquan Bureau has made a rule, and the newly minted money has to be sent to the senior officials of the DPRK and the Central Committee to send sample money, and the minted money will be used for discount. I don't know if I should send it again. ”

Chen Tingjing lowered his head and thought for a long time, and asked, "Who did you send to in the past, and how much do you have to send?" ”

Xu Da said: "I checked the accounts and sent them to the princes and ministers, a total of more than 20 people, and each time I sent it was not much, 8,000 Wen, about ten times a year." ”

Chen Tingjing said: "That's not much? At the end of the year, each person has to receive about 100 taels of silver, which is equivalent to the annual salary of a fourth-grade official! The Baoquan Bureau has to give away nearly 20,000 taels of silver a year! ”

Xu Da asked, "Master Chen, do you want me to give you this list of gifts?" ”

Chen Tingjing thought about it, shook his head and sighed, and said, "I don't want to know this list." This is a bad habit and it should be eliminated! ”

Chen Tingjing was talking when the string suddenly broke, and the money was scattered all over the ground. Xu Da was busy squatting on the ground with the officials to pick up money, and Chen Tingjing also squatted down. After picking up the money on the ground, Chen Tingjing clapped his hands and said, "Lord Xu, please go back." ”

Xu Da bowed his hand to say goodbye, and then walked to the door, and heard Chen Tingjing shouting: "Lord Xu stays!" It turned out that Chen Tingjing saw that there was a copper coin in the corner, so he picked it up.

Xu Da came back and asked, "What else does Lord Chen command?" ”

Chen Tingjing said: "There is still a coin here." When I first arrived at the Yamen of the Baoquan Bureau, I swore by heaven and was not subject to the slightest selfishness. But I followed the customs that day and accepted this Qin coin; I almost received another penny just now. Lord Xu, I will return these two coins together today. ”

Chen Tingjing said, took the ancient coin from his waist again, and put it into the money bag of the little official. Xu Da was ashamed, and he also took off the ancient money around his waist and put it in the money bag. Chen Tingjing smiled and motioned for Xu Da to please come back. Xu Da was about to go out, but Chen Tingjing stopped him again.

Xu Da turned around and said, "Is there anything else wrong with Lord Chen?" ”

Chen Tingjing stopped talking for a long time before he said: "Lord Xu, no matter what happens, you have to remember what I said that day, what is white will not become black." ”

Xu Da was quite surprised and asked, "Lord Chen, what's wrong with you today?" ”

Chen Tingjing hurriedly said: "No, no, nothing, nothing." Please come back. ”

Chen Ting looked at Xu Da's back, feeling extremely guilty in his heart.

Chen Tingjing stayed in the Metropolitan Procuratorate until dusk. went out of the city and looked for Xu Qian's knowledge. Xu Qianxue said: "In front of the emperor, you can't be tough. It's very appropriate that you only refer to Xu Da for the time being. We managed to save his life, Xu Tu Liangse! ”

Chen Tingjing said: "All the officials involved in the copper shortage case are eager for Xu Da to die soon, and he is afraid that his life will not be saved." ”

Xu Qianxue said: "In this case, the more you don't let those people go, the more they want to kill Xu Da sooner!" ”

Chen Tingjing whispered: "The emperor specifically mentioned the matter of the court and said that he would deal with him. Lord Xu, if I say something rebellious, the emperor is clearly making a deal with me! ”

Xu Qianxue sighed: "Alas, the emperor really wants to kill the emperor, and no one can do it!" ”

Chen Tingjing said: "Lord Xu, you have to mediate from it, and you must not let anything happen to the court commander!" This is clearly a trap deliberately set by Colkouen, and it is I who has caused the court to be affected. Please! ”

Xu Qianxue said: "Master Chen, I will do my best." ”