Not everyone is evil.

Just as Jin Yiwei was busy investigating the illegal affairs of officials, he was gathering strength and preparing to deal a fatal blow to the civilian clique. A high-powered civil official took the initiative to come to Jinyiwei.

The person who came was the left waiter of the household department, Chen Qing.

Chen Qing, the founder of the Ming Dynasty, has the same name as Chen Qing, the Marquis of Hepu, although he is a civil official, he is a bold son of a martial artist.

He was sixty-eight years old. It is the eighth year of Tianshun. He has been an official for forty-one years, starting from the county, and sat in the left hall of the household step by step.

Chen Qing was in the warehouse of the governor of the household department. It's an amazing job.

The so-called warehouse refers to the granary of Tongzhou and the treasury of Taicang. Daming's money and food are all under his care.

Chen Qing has not been in this position for long. It's only half a month. After Emperor Zhengde ascended the throne, he was recommended by the cabinet to be transferred to the household department.

According to the unspoken rule of officialdom "who recommends and who is the backer", he is regarded as Liu, Li, and Xie's people.

Chen Qing entered the North Town Fusi.

You Jingwu, the envoy of Beizhen, arched his hand: "Chen Laobutang, look up for a long time." What do you have to do when you come to the Division? ”

Chen Qing was quite arrogant: "Who are you?" ”

You Jingwu replied: "In Xia Jinyiwei, the commander of the right servant and the envoy of the North Town, You Jingwu." ”

Chen Qing sat down on the chair unceremoniously and glanced at You Jingwu: "I have a big case, and I want to raise it with Jinyiwei." ”

You Jingwu said: "Big case? Chen Butang, please. ”

Chen Qing picked up the teacup and took a sip of tea: "You are not worthy of taking on the big case raised by the Zuotang of the Household Department." Call those who are qualified. ”

Lao Chen's bull's nose is very hard.

At this moment, Channing walked in: "Who should I be?" It turned out to be Chen Laobutang. What you said to Jingwu just now, I heard it when I stood at the door. ”

"I'm the commander of Jinyiwei, so I'm always worthy of the case you raised, right?"

Chen Qing closed his eyes: "You are not worthy either." ”

Qian Ning frowned: "Chen Butang, I don't understand this." You said that Jinyiwei raised a big case. He also said that I, the commander of the Jinyi Guard, were not worthy of taking on this case. Then what are you doing here? ”

Chen Qingdao: "You are not worthy, there are people in the brocade guard." Call Chang Feng to meet me. ”

Qian Ning felt very uncomfortable. Chang Feng is only his deputy in name. Lao Chen said that he was "unworthy" and said that Chang Feng was "worthy".

Don't look at what Qian Ning said in Chang Feng's ear all day long, "No matter who is the commander, as long as Chang Shuai Ye lives for a day, Jinyiwei will be surnamed Chang." But deep down in Qian Ning's heart, he still longs for himself to become a veritable treasurer of Jinyiwei.

Speaking of which, Qian Ning had to order You Jingwu to find Chang Feng.

Chang Feng is clear about the details of the civil officials of the imperial court. He knew that Chen Qing was an outlier among civil officials.

Most civil officials are full of benevolence, righteousness and morality, and they are full of male thieves and female prostitutes; Benefiting the people of Li on the lips, and being promoted to make a fortune in the heart.

Chen Qing is different. He talks about benevolence and morality all day long, and what he thinks in his heart is really benevolence, righteousness and morality; The words are for the benefit of the people, but what they think in their hearts is really for the benefit of the people.

This is a rare existence among civil officials.

Therefore, Chang Feng respected Chen Qing very much, and arched his hand: "Old Chen is in the hall." ”

Chen Qing didn't return the salute, and drank tea without raising his head: "The case I raised is very important. I can only say it to Chang Du Governor alone. ”

Although Chang Feng is the governor of the capital, according to the principle of officialdom calling him high or low, Chen Qing called him "Chang Du Governor".

Qian Ning was a little unhappy: "You really can't set it up as a commander?" Our handsome man has a lot of opportunities. How can you care about your bits and pieces. ”

Chen Qing glared angrily when he heard this: "Chickens and dogs? The big case I want to raise is related to the financial plan of the imperial court! ”

Chang Feng instructed Qian Ning: "You and Jingwu should step back first." ”

Qian Ning said: "Handsome man."

Chang Feng accentuated his tone and repeated: "Stand down!" ”

Chang Feng's attitude made Qian Ning feel a little unhappy. I've been your subordinate for nineteen years. It's easy to be promoted above you, but I still have to listen to you

Qian Ning had no choice but to call You Jingwu to leave.

In the lobby of Fusi in Beizhen, only Chen Qing and Chang Feng were left.

Chang Feng said: "Chen Butang, what is the big case?" Tell me about it. ”

Chen Qing took another sip of tea, and then said slowly: "The imperial court tax is divided into two types: material tax and currency tax. The property tax is the collection of goods in kind, such as grain, cloth, tea, etc. The currency tax is silver. ”

"Putting aside the material tax, just talk about the currency tax. At the beginning of the emperor's accession to the throne, the annual income of the currency tax of the three provinces of the two capitals of the Ming Dynasty was 550,000 taels. ”

"During the eighteen years of the emperor's reign, the revenue from currency taxes increased every year. Before the death of the first emperor, the annual income of currency tax was 3.37 million taels. ”

"From the growing currency tax revenue of the imperial court, it can be seen that the four words 'Hongzhi Shengshi' live up to its name."

Chang Feng said: "Old Chen's hall." Although I am a military general, I also have a reputation for making achievements, and I don't just know Qiu Ba who fights and kills. I know all of what you're saying. ”

Chen Qingdao said: "You listen to me patiently." During the reign of the emperor for 18 years, the average annual currency tax revenue was 1,590,000 taels. ”

"In terms of annual use, the average annual expenditure of silver in the last volume is one million taels."

In other words, the average annual surplus is 490,000 taels. In eighteen years, Taicang's silver accumulation should be 8.8 million taels. ”

Chang Feng said: "I remember that on the morning of the winter solstice in the seventeenth year of Hongzhi, the head of the household department was still in the book, and the account of the household department was 8.8 million taels of silver. ”

Liu Shoufu praised that this is the largest accumulation of silver since the founding of the Ming Dynasty. There is no one before and no one after us. The first emperor was the son of heaven. ”

Chen Qing said angrily: "You have a slippery head! The problem lies in the word 'book'! Do you know what the real number of Taicang silver is? ”

Chang Feng asked, "How much?" ”

Chen Qing slapped the table and accumulated a number from between his teeth: "Three million and two hundred and one thousand!" ”

Chang Feng was dumbfounded: "Isn't the Taicang treasury known as 'the account is not a penny'?" The difference between the actual amount of silver deposits and the book is nearly 5.6 million taels? ”

"Where's the silver? Plugged in the wings and flew? ”

Chen Qing smiled bitterly: "Who said it wasn't?" I've only been in the household department for half a month. I went to the inventory according to the rules and found this sensational thing. ”

Chang Feng gasped: "Could it be that there was a shocking case of silver theft in the treasury, and the treasury soldiers stole more than five million taels of silver?" ”

"Or maybe the household officials have giant beetles and embezzled more than 5 million taels of silver?"

Chen Qingdao: "It would be nice if it was like that!" The silver was still being chased back. ”

"Tell you what. More than five million taels of silver were not stolen, but misappropriated. ”

Chang Feng asked: "Who ate the gall of a bear's heart and a leopard and dared to embezzle five million taels of silver?" I killed him alive! ”

Chen Qing smiled bitterly: "In the past eighteen years, it has been misappropriated by tens of thousands of Beijing officials!" ”

Chang Feng was puzzled: "Tens of thousands of Beijing officials? ”

Chen Qing smiled bitterly: "There are about 1,900 large and small officials in the Ming Dynasty, and in the past 18 years, there have been tens of thousands of people who have served in Beijing. ”

"Between the yamen and the yamen in Beijing, between officials and officials, any official and private affairs must be invited to eat and feast."

"Each government has a special social entertainment silver, ushered in the silver. Where does the money come from, but it is only diverted from the treasury. The average annual expenditure is more than 300,000 taels. ”

"Nozhi has a variety of names. What ministry fees, official office repair costs, paper, pen and ink costs, etc. No matter how many names there are, there is only one fact, and the silver has been eaten by officials large and small. ”

"You brocade guards claim to know half of the things of heaven and all the things of the earth. Doesn't the governor know anything about this? ”

Chang Feng explained: "I know that the banquets between the officials and officials are all with state funds. But I don't know that the annual number has reached 5.6 million taels. ”

"With such a big deficit, don't all the previous household officials know? Don't they go to take stock of the silver deposited in Taicang? The emperor didn't know anything? ”

Chen Qing asked Chang Feng rhetorically: "How many years have you been in officialdom?" ”

Chang Feng replied: "It has been twenty-three years since I added Jinyiwei. ”

Chen Qingdao: "Then you should know a customary rule in officialdom, the new official does not chase the deficit of the previous official. ”

"Successive household officials, after they took office, they all turned a blind eye to the deficit of their predecessors. Over the years, the deficit is like a huge snowball, which is getting bigger and bigger. ”

"After rolling for a full eighteen years, it will not roll to 5.6 million taels, and the national treasury silver will be less than sixty percent."

Chang Feng felt his hairs stand on end. Sure enough, civil officials are the biggest silverfish in the Ming Dynasty. Not to mention corruption, bribery, land annexation, and smuggling trade.

Speaking of eating and drinking alone, it directly ate sixty percent of the treasury deposits!

Chang Feng asked: "Chen Lao Butang, you said that you came to me to raise a big case." What do you want me to do with this case? ”

"In the Ming Law, there is no explicit text that officials are guilty of eating and drinking."

"It is impossible for Jinyiwei to arrest all the successive officials of Wanjing who eat and drink with state funds."

Chen Qingdao: "In fact, the amount and reason for the deficit in the treasury are well known to all the officials of the household department. But no one reported to the emperor. ”

"It may also be that the emperor knew a little, but he didn't pursue it."

"I will send you this big case, and I hope you will report the truth about the deficit of the household department to the saint today."

"Say something taboo. If this continues, there is no need for foreign enemies to invade, and Daming is afraid that he will be eaten alive and hollowed out by the officials who have gone forward and succeeded. ”

Chang Feng smiled slyly: "Why didn't Chen Butang personally report this matter to the emperor?" The left hall of the household department can ask the emperor to summon him alone. ”

Chen Qing said unabashedly: "There is no impermeable wall in the world. If I tell the emperor in person, that the treasury is so empty. It won't be long before the news gets out. I will be the enemy of most civil servants. The elders can't tolerate me. ”

"Then I, the left hall of the household department, will definitely not be able to stand it. will be transferred to Nanjing to fill the vacant position. ”

"It's better for me to be the left hall of the household than those who get by with the mud."

Chang Feng said: "I understand." Chen Butang, you can help me write a letter here. Specify the specific situation of the deficit in the household department. Sign my name. I will hand it over to the emperor. ”

"I have offended the cabinet and their protégés a long time ago, and I will not be offended again."

Chang Feng knew that Chen Qing was using him as a knife.

But when a knife is used to cut off the ills of the officials, the wind is always happy!

Chen Qing picked up his pen, and it took three hours for the Beizhen Fusi lobby to write a 10,000-word article. The name of the sparse is "The Emptiness of the Warehouse Can Be Worried".

Chen Qing deserves to be a capable minister. This article is very detailed, with detailed figures and concrete examples. It is clear how the deficit of 5.6 million taels fell out.

After Chang Feng finished reading it, he was about to write down his name.

Chen Qing stretched out his hand and pressed Chang Feng's hand to hold the pen.

Chen Qing changed his mind: "Forget it." Whether you are a person or an official, you must be above board. It's better to sign my name. ”

Chang Feng persuaded him: "Chen Butang, I Chang Feng is a dead pig and am not afraid of boiling water." Hengzhi has long offended the cabinet. If you sign it. The official position is absolutely not guaranteed. You may even be caught in a place of unforeseen circumstances. ”

Chen Qing smiled on his face and said something that made Chang Feng deafening: "For the sake of the country, although tens of millions of people have gone to me." ”

"Although tens of millions of people have gone to me", he said "Mencius, Gongsun Choushang". It means that even in the face of thousands of people's resistance, I will move forward bravely.

Any two-list jinshi who has entered the official career through hard study of the Four Books and the Five Classics knows this sentence.

It's a pity that books depend on who reads them and who uses them.

Most of them have metamorphosed into silverfish of the Great Ming.

There are very few people like Chen Qing who really put this sentence in their hearts.

Chang Feng said: "I would like to join hands with Chen Butang." In order to prevent the people's fat and ointment from being eaten up by silverfish, what if they are crushed to pieces? ”

Chen Qingdao: "Chang Feng, I really didn't see the wrong person. People think you're a butcher, but I think you're a strong man. ”

Chen Qingxian signed. Chang Feng signed his name behind him.

This is a recital that will offend nine out of nine civil officials in Beijing.

To put it more seriously, this omission points out the hidden danger of the country's demise buried in the prosperous era of Hongzhi.

Whoever signs on this piece of music will have a worrying career.

However, there are not only two strong men, Chen Qing and Chang Feng.

That night, Chen Qing's student, Xu Chen, also signed his name on the song.

Xu Chen, the ninety-fifth Jinshi of the third class in the ninth year of Hongzhi. He was ranked very low in the palace examination. Officialdom promotion is difficult. has been an official for nine years, and he is in the middle of a military department.

Fortunately, Ma Wensheng, the secretary of the ministry, found that Xu Chen was a conscientious person in this year's Beijing inspection.

The Ministry of Officials is going through the promotion process, and he is about to be promoted to the Senate of Zhejiang.

With his signature on this note, his path to promotion will come to an abrupt end. The senator's hat would never have been worn on his head.

But for the sake of the four words "Jiangshan Sheji", Xu Chen still wrote his name on the song.

If there is a teacher, there will be a disciple.

A day later, the main hall of the Qianqing Palace.

Emperor Zhengde held "The Emptiness of the Warehouse Can Be Worried" in his hand. The hands trembled slightly.

Emperor Zhengde never imagined that he had just ascended the throne and took over the "filling of the treasury", and the deficit would reach as much as sixty percent.

Chen Qing, Chang Feng, and Xu Chen knelt down in front of his dragon case.

Emperor Zhengde put down the sparseness, and suddenly threw the copper on the dragon case to the ground, and let out an ancestral dragon roar: "Deceive the sky!" ”

"The treasury of five or six million taels of silver was actually consumed by the civil officials in Beijing to eat and drink."

"Liu Jian, Xie Qian, and Li Dongyang have been in the cabinet for a long time, and they will definitely not know it. But they hid it from me! ”

"I am the king of a country! I don't even know the real number of silver in the national treasury! ”

Emperor Zhengde picked up the song again and glanced at it a few times. Then he sighed: "The more prosperous the world, the more moths appear!" ”

"Civil officials are like moths of all sizes, attached to the towering tree of Daming."

"If I ignore them, sooner or later they will hollow out the foundations of this great tree."

It's no wonder that Emperor Zhengde Long Yan was furious. Eating and drinking can eat 60% of the silver in the treasury, which is sensational and excessive.

And that's not all. With such a big deficit, whether it is the three cabinets of the cabinet or the head of the household, they have been hiding it from the emperor.

Bullying is not just about deceiving the monarch. At the same time, it also refers to concealing from the monarch and not reporting it.

Emperor Zhengde said: "Oh, two days ago, the 'Three Gentlemen after Hongzhi' also put on the appearance of virtuous ministers, leading the civil officials to play and persuade me to be diligent in government. ”

"Today I want to hear what they have to say about this great shortfall!"

"Liu Jin, declare the decree, let those three gentlemen enter the palace to see you!"

(End of chapter)