The days when I ransacked the house in Jinyiwei

Chapter 259 The disappeared 560 million two-country money

Not all civil servants are evil.

Just as Jin Yiwei was busy investigating the illegal affairs of officials, he was gathering strength to prepare a fatal blow to the civil servant group.A high-ranking civil servant took the initiative to come to Jinyiwei.
The person who came was Chen Qing, Zuo Shilang of the Ministry of Household Affairs.

Chen Qing has the same name as the founding father of the Ming Dynasty, Hepu Marquis Chen Qing. Although he was a civil official, he had the bold temperament of a military man.

He was 68 years old.He was a Jinshi in the eighth year of Tianshun reign.He has been an official for 41 years, starting as a county magistrate and working his way up to the left hall of the Ministry of Household Affairs.

Chen Qing worked in Cangchang, the governor of the Ministry of Household Affairs.This is a great job.

The so-called warehouse refers to the Tongzhou Granary and the Treasury Taicang.All Ming Dynasty's money and food were under his care.

Chen Qing has not held this position for a long time.Only half a month.After Emperor Zhengde ascended the throne, he was recommended by the cabinet and transferred to the Ministry of Household Affairs.

According to the unspoken rule of "whoever recommends, who is the backer" in the officialdom, he can be regarded as a member of Liu, Li and Xie.

Chen Qing entered Fusi, Beizhen.

You Jingwu, the governor of Beizhen, raised his hand and said: "Old Chen, I have admired you for a long time. Why do you come to this company?"

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

You Jingwu replied: "I am the Jin Yiwei commander of Youqian Shi and the governor of Beizhen. You Jingwu."

Chen Qing sat down on the chair unceremoniously and glanced at You Jingwu: "I have a big case and I want to report it to Jin Yiwei."

You Jingwu said: "A big case? Chen Butang, please tell me."

Chen Qing picked up the tea cup and took a sip of tea: "You are not qualified to take on the major case reported by Zuotang of the Ministry of Household Affairs. Call someone qualified."

Lao Chen has a strong nose and a very tough tone.

Just at this moment, Qian Ning walked in: "Who do I think it is? It turns out to be Mr. Chen. What you and Jing Wu just said was heard by me standing at the door."

"I am the commander of Jin Yiwei. I am qualified to take on the cases you report, right?"

Chen Qing closed his eyes: "You don't deserve it either."

Qian Ning frowned: "Chen Butang, I don't understand this. You said you came to Jinyiwei to report a major case. You also said that I, the commander of Jinyiwei, am not worthy of taking this case. Then why did you come to Jinyiwei?"

Chen Qingdao: "You are not worthy. There is someone in the Jinyi Guards who is. Ask Chang Feng to come see me."

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

Don't look at what Qian Ning said in Chang Feng's ears all day long, "No matter who is the commander, as long as Master Chang lives, the Jin Yiwei's surname will be Chang." But deep in Qian Ning's heart, he still longs to become a veritable Jin Yiwei. Shopkeeper.

For this reason, Qian Ning had no choice but to order You Jingwu to find Chang Feng.

Chang Feng knew the details of the civil servants of the imperial court.He knew that Chen Qing was an outlier among civil servants.

Most civil servants talk about benevolence, righteousness and morality, but are full of male thieves and female prostitutes. They talk about benefiting the people, but in their hearts they are promoted and made rich.

Chen Qing is different.He talks about benevolence, righteousness and morality all day long, but what he really thinks about is benevolence, righteousness and morality; he talks about benefiting the people, but what he really thinks about is benefiting the people.

This is a rare thing among civil servants.

Therefore, Chang Feng respected Chen Qing very much and said, "Chen Laobu Tang."

Chen Qing did not return the gift and drank tea without raising his head: "The case I reported is of great importance. I can only tell it to Governor Chang."

Although Chang Feng was the governor of Qianshi, Chen Qing called him "Captain Chang" in accordance with the principle of officialdom referring to senior officials rather than lower officials.

Qian Ning was a little unhappy: "Do you really think that I, the commander, am just a show-off? Our handsome master has so many things to do every day. He has no time to care about your trivial matters."

Chen Qing stared angrily after hearing this: "Tips and pieces? The major case I want to report is related to the imperial court's financial plan!"

Chang Feng told Qian Ning: "You and Jing Wu should retreat first."

Qian Ning said: "Handsome."

Chang Feng emphasized his tone and repeated: "Back off!"

Chang Feng's attitude made Qian Ning feel a little unhappy.I have been your subordinate for 19 years.I finally got promoted to a higher position than you, but I still have to listen to you yelling at me
Qian Ning had no choice but to ask You Jingwu to leave.

Chen Qing and Chang Feng were the only two people left in the Fusi lobby in Beizhen.

Chang Feng said: "Chen Butang, what's the big case? Please tell me."

Chen Qing took another sip of tea, and then said slowly: "The imperial court's taxation is divided into two types: physical tax and currency tax. The physical tax is levied on physical objects, such as grain, cloth, tea, etc. The currency tax is silver."

"Let's put aside the property tax and only discuss the currency tax. When the late emperor ascended the throne, the annual currency tax revenue of the thirteen provinces in the two capitals of the Ming Dynasty was 55 taels."

"The late emperor reigned for 18 years, and the currency tax revenue increased every year. Before the death of the late emperor, the annual currency tax revenue was 3307 million taels."

"From the growing currency tax revenue of the imperial court, we can see that the four words 'Hongzhi Prosperity' are worthy of the name."

Chang Feng said: "Old Chen, although I am a military general, I also have a reputation as a general, and I am not just Qiu Ba who only knows how to fight and kill. I know everything you said."

Chen Qingdao: "Please listen to me patiently. The late emperor reigned for 18 years. Calculated, the average annual currency tax revenue is 1509 million taels."

"In terms of annual expenses, the average annual money expenditure in the previous book is 100 million taels."

"In other words, the average annual surplus is 49 taels. After 18 years, Taicang's accumulated silver should be 880 million taels."

Chang Feng said: "I remember that in the early morning of the winter solstice in the 17th year of Hongzhi, the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue reported that there were 880 million taels of silver in the accounts of the Ministry of Revenue."

"Liu Shoufu praised that this is the highest amount of money accumulated since the founding of the Ming Dynasty. There is no one before or since. The first emperor was the emperor in his prime."

Chen Qing said angrily: "You are so sly! The problem lies in the word 'book'! Do you know the actual amount of silver accumulated in Taicang?"

Chang Feng asked: "How much?"

Chen Qing slapped the table and picked up a number from between his teeth: "It's only 320 million to [-]!"

Chang Feng was dumbfounded: "Isn't the Taicang National Treasury claimed to be 'account-free'? There is a difference of nearly 560 million taels between the actual amount of silver deposited and the book amount?"

"Where's the silver? Gather your wings and fly?"

Chen Qing smiled bitterly: "Who says it's not the case? I have only been in the household department for half a month. I went to the inventory according to the rules and discovered this sensational thing."

Chang Feng took a breath: "Could it be that there was a shocking case of silver theft in the treasury, and the treasury soldiers stole more than 500 million taels of silver?"

"Or maybe there is a giant beetle among the officials in the Ministry of Household Affairs, who embezzled more than 500 million taels of silver?"

Chen Qingdao: "It would be great if that were the case! I can still get the money back."

"Let me tell you. More than 500 million taels of silver were not stolen, but misappropriated."

Chang Feng asked: "Who dares to misappropriate 500 million taels of silver? I will chop him alive!"

Chen Qing smiled bitterly: "In the past 18 years, it has been misappropriated by tens of thousands of officials from the capital and the capital!"

Chang Feng was confused: "Tens of thousands of Beijing officials?"

Chen Qing smiled bitterly: "The number of officials in the capital of the Ming Dynasty was about 18. In the past [-] years, tens of thousands of people have held positions in the capital."

"Between yamen and yamen in Beijing, and between officials and officials, any official or private affairs must be treated with invitations and banquets."

"Each government office has a special amount of money for social activities, welcome and delivery. Where does this money come from? It is nothing more than transfer from the national treasury. The average amount of money embezzled every year is more than 30 taels."

"Nozhi has various names. Such as ministry expenses, government office repair fees, paper, pen and ink fees, etc. No matter how many names he has, there is only one fact. The money has been eaten by officials of all sizes."

"You Jin Yiwei claim to know half of the things in heaven and all of the things on earth. Doesn't Governor Chang know anything about this?"

Chang Feng explained: "I know that all government funds are spent on banquets between yamen and officials. But I didn't know that the number over the years has reached 560 million taels." "With such a huge deficit, don't all the previous household officials Do you know? Didn’t they go to take stock of the money deposited in Taicang? The late emperor didn’t know anything about it either?"

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

Chang Feng replied: "It has been 23 years since I joined Jinyiwei."

Chen Qingdao: "Then you should know a well-established rule in the officialdom. New officials do not pursue the losses of their predecessors."

"Successive household officials turned a blind eye to the deficit of their predecessors after taking office. Over the years, the deficit is like a huge snowball, growing bigger and bigger."

"It has been going on for 18 years, but it has only reached 560 million taels, and the national silver balance has dropped by more than [-]%."

Chang Feng felt his hair standing on end.Sure enough, civil servants were the biggest beetles in the Ming Dynasty.Let’s not talk about corruption, bribery, land annexation, or smuggling trade.

Just talking about eating and drinking alone ate up [-]% of the national treasury's silver!

Chang Feng asked: "Old Chen, you said you came to me to report a major case. How do you want me to handle this case?"

"In the Ming Dynasty Laws, there is no explicit statement that officials are guilty of eating and drinking."

"It is impossible for the Jin Yiwei to arrest all the tens of thousands of officials in the capital who have used national funds to eat and drink."

Chen Qingdao: "Actually, the amount and reasons for the national treasury deficit were all known to all the successive Hubu officials. But no one reported it to the late emperor."

"It's also possible that the late emperor knew something about it but didn't pursue it."

"I am reporting this major case to you. I hope you will report the actual situation of the Household Department's deficit to the Holy One."

"It's a taboo thing to say. If things continue like this, without the need for foreign invasion, Ming Dynasty will probably be eaten alive by successive officials, large and small."

Chang Feng smiled slyly: "Why doesn't Chen Butang report this matter to the emperor personally? Hubu Zuotang can request the emperor to summon him alone."

Chen Qing said unabashedly: "There is no airtight wall in the world. If I personally tell the emperor that the treasury is in short supply, it will not take long for this matter to spread. I will become the enemy of most civil servants. The elders will also tolerate it. No less than me.”

"Then I, the Zuotang of the Household Department, will never be able to continue my job. I will be transferred to Nanjing to take up a false position."

"It's better for me to be a member of the Household Council than to be someone who just gets along and gets by."

Chang Feng said: "I understand. Chen Butang, you can write a memorandum for me here. List the specific situation of the household deficit. Sign my name. I will hand it to the emperor."

"I have already offended the cabinet and their protégés, and I might as well offend them again this time."

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

But Chang Feng is happy when a knife is used to cut off the ills of officials!
Chen Qing picked up his pen and spent three hours writing a [-]-word essay in the lobby of Beizhen Fusi.The sparse name is "The warehouse is empty and can be considered sparse".

Chen Qing deserves to be a capable minister.This article is very detailed, with both detailed figures and specific examples.He wrote clearly how the deficit of 560 million taels came about.

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

Chen Qing stretched out his hand and suppressed Chang Feng's hand holding the pen.

Chen Qing changed his mind: "Forget it. Whether you are a person or an official, you must be aboveboard. This memorial should be signed with my name."

Chang Feng advised him: "Chen Butang, I, Chang Feng, am a dead pig and I am not afraid of boiling water. Anyway, I have offended the cabinet a long time ago. If you sign, your official position will not be guaranteed. You may even be in an unexpected situation."

A smile appeared on Chen Qing's face, and he said something that shocked Chang Feng: "For the sake of the country and the country, even if there are thousands of people, I will go."

"Although there are tens of thousands of people, I will go", the words come from "Mencius Gongsun Chou".It means that even if I face the opposition of millions of people, I will move forward bravely.

Anyone who has entered the official career by studying the Four Books and Five Classics knows this sentence.

Unfortunately, books depend on who reads them and who uses them.

Most of them metamorphosed into Ming silverfish.

There are very few people like Chen Qing who really take this sentence into their hearts.

Chang Feng said: "I would like to join forces with Chen Butang. In order to prevent the people's wealth from being eaten up by silverfish, so what if I am shattered into pieces?"

Chen Qingdao: "Chang Feng, I really saw the right person. Others think you are a butcher, but I think you are a strong man."

Chen Qing signed his name first.Chang Feng signed behind him.

This is a memorial that will offend [-]% of the civil servants in Beijing.

To put it more seriously, this memorial pointed out the hidden dangers of national subjugation buried in the prosperous era of Hongzhi.

Whoever signs this memorial will have a worrying career.

However, there are more than just two heroes, Chen Qing and Chang Feng.

That night, Xu Chen, Chen Qing's student from the military department, also signed his name on the memorial.

Xu Chen, one of the top five Jinshi in the ninth year of Hongzhi, No. 90.He ranked very low in the imperial examination.Promotion in officialdom is difficult.After serving as an official for nine years, he was in the military department.

Fortunately, Ma Wensheng, the Minister of Civil Affairs, discovered that Xu Chen was a conscientious person during this year's Beijing investigation.

The Ministry of Civil Affairs is going through the promotion process, and he is about to be promoted to Zhejiang Councilor with an exception.

Signing this memorial will bring an abrupt end to his promotion.The senator's hat will never fit on his head.

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

Where there is a teacher, there must be a disciple.

One day later, the main hall of Qianqing Palace.

Emperor Zhengde held in his hand "The Warehouse Is Empty and Can Be Considered".The hands trembled slightly.

Emperor Zhengde never expected that the "full treasury" he had just ascended the throne would be in deficit by as much as [-]%.

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

Emperor Zhengde put down the memorial, suddenly threw the copper plate on the dragon table to the ground, and let out an ancestral dragon roar: "You are deceiving the sky!"

"The 600 million taels of silver in the national treasury were actually wasted by the civil servants in Beijing eating and drinking."

"Liu Jian, Xie Qian, and Li Dongyang have been in the cabinet for a long time, so they definitely don't know about it. But they hid it from me!"

"I am the king of a country! I don't even know the actual amount of silver in the national treasury!"

Emperor Zhengde picked up the memorial again and glanced at it a few times.Then he let out a sigh: "The more prosperous the age, the more moths appear!"

"Civil officials are like moths, big and small, clinging to the towering tree of Ming Dynasty."

"If I don't care about them, sooner or later they will eat away at the foundation of this big tree."

No wonder Emperor Zhengde Long Yan was furious.Eating and drinking can eat up [-]% of the national treasury's silver. This is too sensational.

This is nothing.Such a huge deficit was kept hidden from the emperor by the three ministers of the cabinet and the minister of household affairs.

Deceiving the emperor does not only refer to deceiving the emperor.It also refers to concealing something from the monarch.

Emperor Zhengde said: "Oh, two days ago, the 'Three Gentlemen after Hongzhi' acted like a wise minister and led the civil servants to submit memorials to persuade me to be diligent in my administration."

"Today I want to hear how they explain this huge deficit!"

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

(End of this chapter)