Corrupt official in the Red Chamber

Chapter 285 Insatiable Greed
After Fan En came to the capital, he first went to Ruifosheng Bank.

After chatting with the shopkeeper, he knew that Jia Rui was determined to get the Ruifosheng ticket number back this time.

However, he finally got this deal and paid the boss a sum of money. Naturally, he would not give it to Jia Rui so easily.

Therefore, he also found his backer, bachelor Li Chengyang.

Speaking of which, Li Chengyang and Fan En were from the same hometown. When Li Chengyang was not prosperous, Fan En was very helpful to him.

When Li Chengyang became more and more official, Fan En also began to rapidly expand his economic power under his protection.

When Ruifusheng's ticket number was transferred, Li Chengyang was more or less involved.

"Master Li, what do you think we should do about this matter?" Fan En asked anxiously in the flower hall of Li Mansion.

Li Chengyang stroked his beard and said, "This matter is not easy to handle. Jia Rui's grandson will definitely retaliate."

To be honest, Li Chengyang also has a headache now. He doesn't want to face Jia Rui.

Although Li Chengyang is also a cabinet minister in the current dynasty, he still works under Jia Rui. If this offends Jia Rui and secretly puts some shoes on him, his power will shrink.

"But sir, the Ruifusheng bank account is a big business. If we let it go, we will receive hundreds of thousands of taels less every year."

Li Chengyang also knew this truth. This was a hen that laid golden eggs, and he would not be willing to give it up to Jia Rui.

But he knew that when he got this ticket number, he also used some dishonorable means. Although he paid money, it was only the profit of Ruifosheng Ticket Number for one or two years.

"Well, I'll go meet Mr. Jia tomorrow and see if I can get some more compensation to settle this matter."

After hearing this, Fan En finally showed a smile on his face, "If Mr. Jia can let this matter go, then I am willing to compensate another seven to eight million taels of silver according to the actual price back then."

Li Chengyang thinks this proposal is good. Seven to eight million taels of silver is not a small amount, and Jia Rui should be able to accept it.

So, after arriving at the cabinet the next morning, Li Chengyang looked around and found that Jia Rui hadn't arrived yet. He turned his eyes and came to He Chaodong's side.

"Master He, Master Jia hasn't come today yet!"

He Chaodong was a little surprised. He had little contact with Li Chengyang during this period, mainly to avoid suspicion and avoid letting the Supreme Emperor seize the opportunity.

After all, what they did last time has already caused a grudge in the Emperor's heart. If they continue to have close contact, the Emperor may not be able to tolerate them.

Although He Chaodong didn't want to pay attention to him, Li Chengyang spoke, so he still had to do some face-saving work.

"Master Li, I'm afraid it will take a while for Master Jia to arrive. Isn't this his usual routine? Is there anything strange?"

Li Chengyang chuckled, and then said: "Isn't this some misunderstanding between a friend of mine and Mr. Jia? I want to be a peacemaker, but I'm soft-spoken and want Mr. He to pass a message to me."

He Chaodong felt a little headache after listening to Li Chengyang's words. He understood what Li Chengyang meant, but he didn't want to have any unpleasantness with Jia Rui now.

After all, He Chaodong was older, so he wanted to endure it until the Emperor Bintian, and then assess the situation and compete with Jia Rui. .

"Master Li, I think you should ask your friend to take a step back. It is really inappropriate to have a conflict with Master Jia now."

Li Chengyang actually had the same idea, but when he thought of the filial piety of two to three hundred thousand taels per year, he hesitated.

"Master Jia, the prime minister can hold a boat in his belly. It shouldn't be possible for him to be as knowledgeable as this little guy, right?"

"Haha." He Chaodong just smiled and shook his head without refuting.

Compared with Li Chengyang, He Chaodong had a deeper understanding of Jia Rui.

Jia Rui is a famous corrupt official. He is like a goose that plucks his feathers. He is like a sugar rooster. People's iron rooster only plucks out a hair, but his sugar rooster still wants to get something home with it.

If you discuss money with such a person, you are thinking blindly.

Since Li Chengyang refused to listen, He Chaodong said nothing more. Although the two sides were political allies, they did not go to the extent of giving up their rights for Li Chengyang.

"Since this is the case, I wish Mr. Li success."

After He Chaodong finished speaking, he returned to the table to correct the memorial and ignored Li Chengyang.

When Li Chengyang saw He Chaodong rejecting him, he felt a little dissatisfied. He remembered that back then, he was attached to He Chaodong and risked his life for the emperor in the court. Why did He Chaodong immediately jump away when his power was threatened? How unkind.

At this moment, another cabinet minister, Xu Biao, walked into the cabinet with square steps.

His arrival made Li Chengyang and He Chaodong unable to say anything more, so Li Chengyang also returned to his seat and sulked.

After Xu Biao entered, he felt that the atmosphere was a little solid, as if there was a conflict between two cabinet ministers who were about to wear a pair of trousers.

But this kind of thing has nothing to do with him.

Therefore, Xu Biao also returned to his seat, as if there was no problem with the cabinet.

Another half hour passed before Jia Rui arrived belatedly.

After he sat down in his seat, a young eunuch immediately brought him tea and snacks.

Jia Rui smiled and rewarded him with a few pieces of silver.Thus began the day's official business of the cabinet.

Jia Rui sat there and went over the memorial he approved yesterday. When he saw that nothing happened, he asked the young eunuch to be sent to the Yangxin Hall.

After a while, a eunuch came in to report.

"Go back to Mr. Jia, Xia Shouzhong, the eunuch in charge of Yangxin Hall, wants to see you."

Jia Rui was stunned for a moment. He and Xia Shouzhong's factions were incompatible with each other. He came over to see what happened to him.

But as soon as his eyes turned, he seemed to understand something. He smiled and said, "Then please invite Eunuch Xia to come in."

After receiving Jia Rui's words, the young eunuch went out to inform Xia Shouzhong. Only then did Xia Shouzhong dare to enter the cabinet.

Xia Shouzhong is very low-key now. Not only when meeting Jia Rui, but also when meeting other ministers, he has to bow first.

This is completely different from the arrogant and arrogant look the emperor had when he first ascended the throne.

Xia Shouzhong entered the cabinet, quickly saluted Jia Rui, and then greeted the other three cabinet ministers with a smile.

"Eunuch Xia, aren't you serving the emperor in the Yangxin Palace? What do you want to do with us?"

You know, Xia Shouzhong is the emperor's absolute confidant. He must have something important to do when he comes to the cabinet, but Jia Rui pretends not to understand. This is not giving the emperor face.

But Xia Shouzhong still smiled and said: "Our family has a private matter to ask Mr. Jia, and it has nothing to do with the emperor."

As he spoke, Xia Shouzhong secretly took out a pearl from his arms and forced it into Jia Rui's hand.

Jia Rui glanced out of the corner of his eye and saw that this masterpiece was as big as a child's fist, emitting streaks of light in the dim sleeve.

If you are an inexperienced person, you will definitely be ecstatic when you see this treasure, because it is a luminous pearl, an incredible treasure since ancient times.

But when Jia Rui saw this situation, he was so frightened that he almost threw the pearl in his hand to the ground.

Jia Rui is not an ignorant ancient person. He knows that these luminous pearls contain radioactive elements, otherwise they would not be able to glow in the dark night.

After all, there were no fluorescent agents in ancient times.

Jia Rui resisted the thought of throwing away the beads and secretly stuffed the beads under the seat next to him. Then he stood up quickly, took Xia Shouzhong's hand with a smile and said:
"This is not the place to talk. Let's talk outside."

Xia Shouzhong finally felt relieved when he saw Jia Rui's attitude. It seemed that the orb moved Jia Rui.

So he was very happy and came to the yard with Jia Rui.

"Master Jia, is there something difficult about Bowling Marquis Shi Nai's matter?"

"If there's anything difficult to handle, hasn't the official department already agreed for him to become the chief envoy?"

When he heard that it was about Bowling Marquis Shi Nai, Jia Rui was also a little fed up, because this matter has been going on for a long time, why is it not over yet?

"Master Jia, the imperial court originally appointed him as the governor of the river, but now he has been demoted several levels to become the chief envoy. How can anyone be convinced by this?"

Jia Rui narrowed his eyes, and then asked with a gloomy face: "Then what position does father-in-law think he should have? Do you want me to give up my position to him?"

Jia Rui was also a little annoyed. This Bowling Marquis Shi Nai was simply two-faced. After begging here, he went to the emperor to plead for mercy.This is because he is not satisfied with the official position he has arranged for him!

When Xia Shouzhong saw that Jia Rui was angry, he was also a little scared. He quickly said: "Master Jia has misunderstood. What we mean is that this position is a bit low. It is better to give him a governor. What do you think?"

After Jia Rui heard this, his face turned dark at first and he wanted to curse, but he suddenly laughed, "Okay, I agree, then let someone write a memorial, and then we will see what the emperor means."

After saying that, Jia Rui ignored Xia Shouzhong and walked directly to the pavilion.

When Xia Shouzhong saw Jia Rui's reaction, he knew that he had just run an errand, but there was nothing he could do. Did he dare not come to the task assigned by the emperor?
Now that Jia Rui has been annoyed, the matter of Bowling Marquis Shi Nai will have to be postponed, and Jia Rui should be appeased first.

Otherwise, if this guy slanders the emperor in front of him, the emperor's already precarious position will be even more dangerous.

He quickly stepped forward, grabbed Jia Rui's sleeves, and begged:

"Master Jia, these are all minor mistakes. You don't care about the faults of others. Just treat me like a fart."

Jia Rui's eyes were full of disgust.

"I can't handle the governor's affairs. Find someone capable to handle it."

Xia Shouzhong quickly apologized, "Master Jia, this is all because of my greed. Master Jia, you must not take it to heart."

Next, Xia Shouzhong kept begging, and little Jia Rui almost knelt down.

After a long time, Jia Rui finally spat out, "In this matter, I'd better let him be the chief envoy. If no matter how big the official is, I can't make the decision. You'd better ask the Supreme Emperor."

Jia Rui didn't want to have too much of a quarrel with the emperor now. He had just talked with the emperor for a day a few days ago and eased the relationship. Now if he had a falling out with the emperor again, the Supreme Emperor didn't know what to think.

(End of this chapter)