Red Mansion: Bastards rule the roost

"Quiet, no noise in the palace!"

The censor on duty hurriedly yelled at him, and it took him a long time to suppress the officials.

The Right Governor of the Fifth Army Governor's Mansion, Marquis of Guanyang, Li Meng, saw that many eloquent civil servants had not received any benefits, and he felt unsure, but due to his duty, he had to speak out.

"Sir Feng, it will be okay if the houses and rivers are not repaired for a while, but there are millions of soldiers on the nine sides who are crying for food. I hope that you can give me life-saving food at least, and don't let the soldiers bleed and shed tears."

Feng Yuan rolled his eyes and said: "It's only been a few months and you can't bear it anymore? It's not like we haven't defaulted on arrears in the past years. We owe it first and pay it when we have the money."

I have to say that it is your fault for your incompetence in using your troops. You can't defeat a small country in the Western Regions in a few years. Your money is wasted like water. How can you have money to pay for it? "

All the civil servants nodded in agreement and said hurriedly: "It's better to take care of our affairs first."

"This makes sense. Start small before big, first easy before difficult, first urgent before slow. I don't need much money to do this. One million is enough."

"You're right. Military affairs cannot be accomplished overnight. Let's take care of the important things at the moment first."

"The sage said, after you have power, you will know the importance; after you spend it, you will know the length. The salary of officials in various ministries and academies has been in arrears for more than a year. Many colleagues are working day and night, but they are pawning and selling their property to make ends meet. How can Mr. Feng tolerate this? We can’t delay, so we must do it first.”

"The sage said that the people are the most important thing, followed by the country. Disaster relief is urgent and should be done first. Even if we want to investigate corruption, we should first provide disaster relief and save the lives of the people. How can we ignore the people's livelihood just to eliminate corruption."

……

Everyone returned to the original topic, and the generals had no room to interrupt.

Jia Cong couldn't help but talk about it with just one word: money.

If you don't have money, talking about it is nonsense.

Seeing that the situation was getting out of control again, the censor on patrol hurriedly scolded him.

Jia Cong secretly calculated that with things like this, his Nanzhen Fusi would never get a penny from Fatty Feng or the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Fatty Feng didn't say anything anymore. The whole court was a hooligan who didn't even want to sell the face of the Fifth Army Governor's Mansion. He was just a piece of shit.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs is once again in the hands of the Supreme Emperor. Now he has made it clear that he wants to seize the power of the Jin Yiwei. It would be strange if he can get money. The trick of robbing Bei Si is easy to use once, but it is over after using it twice. He has angered the Supreme Emperor, and he has not recovered. Eat the fruit.

Nowadays, 1b is so poor that he can't even recruit his own confidants, so how can he control Nansi?

Emperor Xifeng was also tired of listening to it above. He shook his head and said in a deep voice: "As for all the matters just now, the Ministry of Household Affairs will prepare a statement. After the cabinet meeting, the votes will be drawn up. What else can be done?"

Lu Jie, the right minister of the Ministry of Punishment, came out and said: "Your Majesty, the Jinling Feng Yuan case that was jointly tried by the three departments the day before yesterday has been concluded, and I hereby declare it clearly.

After trial, it was found that the defendant Xue Pan acted bravely and rescued the orphan girl from the kidnapper in the name of bribery. Feng Yuan came to the house and demanded money from the kidnapper on the grounds that the kidnapper had sold her to him first. He followed the same path as the robbers and clashed with the Xue family slaves. The two sides fought each other. , Feng Yuan was injured and later died.

According to the law, mortals who arrest traitors and robbers should not be punished as long as they kill or injure them. All the witnesses and physical evidence were present in this case, so Xue Pan was found not guilty.

As for the crime of unclearly investigating the case and hastily closing the case in Jia Yucun, the prefect of Jinling, he will be investigated separately. Please His Majesty's Holy Judgment. "

"The Jinyi Guards are hearing the trial. Do you have any objections?" Emperor Xifeng looked at the end of the Wu Xun team.

Jia Cong hurriedly stepped forward and knelt down, saying: "The three departments in charge of this case have found the case clearly. They have studied it in detail and made it impartially. I have no objection."

"That being the case, it's settled."

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty." Jia Cong kowtowed hurriedly, feeling relieved that something was finally over.

Suddenly, the eunuch at the door came into the hall and said: "Your Majesty, the commander of the Jinyi Guards has sent Wan Jin to see you outside the hall."

All the officials were a little suspicious. If Admiral Jinyi had something important to do, he could report it to His Majesty secretly, so there was no need to bring it to the court.

Thinking of his absence from the court meeting today, there was obviously something going on.

Jia Cong's heart tightened even more, here he comes!

Emperor Xifeng frowned slightly, Wan Jin was so bold, it would never have been possible without the support of the Supreme Emperor, you bastard!

"Xuan." Emperor Xifeng spat out one word coldly.

Dai Quan hurriedly said loudly: "Commander of Xuan Jin's Yiwei, Wan Jin, comes to see you."

"Commander of the Xuan Jin Yiwei, Wan Jin comes to see you." The eunuchs at the door called one after another.

I saw Wan Jin walking into the palace wearing a flying fish suit, kowtowing and saying: "I, the commander of the royal guards, sent Wan Jin to see your majesty. I have this memorial."

"Accurate."

"I joined the Emperor Shang Xue's family to cover up a great evil with a small good, and made him stupid and treasonous. He committed a crime of disrespect!" Wan Jin said in a deep voice.

Shocking!

The officials in the palace were in a slight commotion, each making their own plans. Just now they said that Xue Pan acted bravely and was acquitted, but Wan Jin backhandedly joined him in covering up a big evil with a small good, and it was also a crime of disrespect. The Xue family was in trouble this time.

Jia Cong felt cold sweat break out on his vest. Being disrespectful was a heinous crime. If committed, there would be no pardon or leniency. The "Eight Discussions" regulations did not apply. The only thing that could withstand it was the Alchemy and Iron Coupon.

"What's the matter?" Emperor Xifeng said calmly.

"Yesterday, Admiral Dongchang Eunuch Xia Shouzhong informed me of a shocking case. I did not dare to delay. I interrogated and investigated overnight. The evidence is conclusive, so I am here to report it today.

This year, among the tributes purchased by the Xue family, the royal merchants, there were hundreds of pieces of azure-colored cloud brocade. They cut corners and used inferior materials to promote superior quality. After the Emperor and the Empress Dowager wore them, their color faded in one day, polluting the skin of the two saints.

According to the "Dawu Code: Name Regulations", stealing the items belonging to the great sacrificial gods, and riding in public to serve the items is a crime of disrespect, and please be punished severely according to the law. "

All the officials were in an uproar, and the Xue family was finished. What does it mean to be audacious? This is it.

How dare you use your brains on tributes? Isn't this an old man who hangs himself because he doesn't want to live too long? Jia Cong heard a roar in his ears, how dare the Xue family go so far? ! He quickly took a deep breath, forced himself to calm down, and recalled Professor Zhou Wei's "Three Tips for Sophistry."

Dai Quan was clear in his mind that there would be no problems with the tribute. It only depended on whether the people below would help cover it up.

For example, if there was something wrong with the Yun brocade, the eunuchs would discard it after discovering it, and just order it to be remade and replaced, thus covering it up. It's just a matter of spending a few bucks.

For the eunuchs, they could make a lot of money, and for the imperial merchants, it was a win-win situation for them to avoid being confiscated and exterminated.

But the matter involves the dignity of imperial power. If it is covered up, it will be a big deal; if it is revealed, it will be a big deal.

This was clearly done intentionally by Dongchang.

Dai Quan frowned. It's a pity that the Ministry of Internal Affairs can't control it by itself, otherwise it can mediate. Now it depends on how many holy relatives Jia Cong has.

"Do you have any evidence?" Emperor Xifeng was also surprised. This was the first time there was a problem with the tribute.

I only heard Wan Jin say in a deep voice: "Yes. Now these hundreds of cloud brocades are stored in the internal affairs treasury. This matter is of great importance. I am afraid that I may be wrong. I went to investigate in person and found that the color of these cloud brocades is indeed not solid and light. Just rub it gently and the color will fade.

Therefore, the shopkeeper of Xue Jiafeng's silk and satin shop in Beijing was secretly arrested overnight, and he identified the markings on the brocade as indeed coming from Feng. Now there is a solid case, please ask His Majesty to judge. "

"Bastard! The Xue family is so bold!" Emperor Xifeng shouted angrily.

There was silence in the hall, and everyone's eyes fell on Jia Cong intentionally or unintentionally.

Zhao Huaian, Lu Jie and other old party officials looked at each other and shook their heads slightly.

Helping Xue Pan escape a murder charge was the utmost kindness and justice, and it was considered worthy of Jia Cong. This matter involves the Supreme Emperor, who dares to intercede?

Huo Peng and Dong Yi, the two new party leaders, looked into each other's eyes and tacitly agreed not to say a word. Even if they want to let it go for Jia Cong's sake, it involves the Emperor and is a matter of filial piety. , how can we convince the public if we don’t have an explanation for such a heinous crime of disrespect?

How could the clan give up easily? At the moment, we have to wait and see what happens.

Jia Cong was afraid that Emperor Xifeng would say the words "do it strictly according to the law", so he didn't care much and said loudly: "I have my own memorial."

Wan Jin, who was kneeling on the ground, had a sneer on his lips and took the bait.

Emperor Xifeng looked at Jia Cong coldly and said, "It's accurate."

Immediately, hundreds of eyes in the hall came to him, and Jia Cong felt an overwhelming pressure coming on him. His vest was already soaked through, and he forced himself to calm down and said: "I think this case is quite suspicious, and it needs to be investigated carefully, and we cannot make a hasty conclusion.

There are three doubts. First, even if it is proved that this batch of Yun brocade comes from the Feng brand, it may not be the instruction of the Xue family of the imperial merchants. Someone may be framed.

Let me ask, the Xue family has been purchasing silk and satin tribute items for decades, and how has such a mistake ever happened? Let me ask, how much profit can be gained from just a few hundred pieces of brocade? Compared with its sin, which one is less serious?

As the saying goes, what you buy is not what you sell, how could the Xue family be so stupid? It is common sense that when a person breaks the law, he will gain something. How can it be believed that the Xue family risked their lives and wealth to exchange for a few pieces of brocade? "

"That makes sense." Zhao Huaian, Lu Jie and other old party officials nodded and started to agree.

Everyone in the new party also nodded in agreement.

Although the officials did not dare to open their mouths to intercede on behalf of the Xue family, there was no harm in following the current situation. They still had to help Jia Cong up to resist the factory guards, otherwise everyone's life would be difficult.

Emperor Xifeng also breathed a sigh of relief. As long as there was not much resistance from the court, he could take advantage of the situation and grant some relief.

Seeing this, Jia Cong became more confident and continued: "Secondly, the head of the Xue family, Xue Pan, had already moved to the capital with his mother. The tribute matters in the south of the Yangtze River were all taken care of by the shopkeeper and stewards of Fengzihao. He had not done anything. Not necessarily informed.

Thirdly, if tributes are to be put into the treasury, they must first be inspected at all levels by the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Why can this batch of low-quality Yun brocade be easily put into the treasury and even used in a grand manner for the clothing of the Emperor and the Empress Dowager. Please investigate carefully. "

After saying this in one breath, Jia Cong knelt on the ground, his heart pounding, life or death depended on this.

According to Zhou Wei's three tricks of sophistry: unreasonable, I don't know, and others are guilty, it should be more or less effective.

There was silence in the palace for a moment, and then Emperor Xifeng slowly said: "What do you think, sir?"

Huo Peng came out and said: "This matter involves the majesty of the Tian family and cannot be ignored. What Dang Koubo said is also reasonable. I would like to investigate this case carefully in order to get to the bottom of it."

Dong Yi continued: "Huo Zhongtang's words are very good. This case is of great importance. What is hidden in it? We must not make a hasty conclusion based on the words of the factory guards. I invite the three departments to review it."

"I second the proposal." Seeing the two big bosses expressing their opinions, more than a dozen officials hurriedly came out of work and said in unison.

Emperor Xifeng looked at several senior members of the old party and said, "What do you think?"

Song Ruidao, a scholar at Wuyingdian, said: "I believe that there must be an inside story in this case. We need to inquire carefully and it is not appropriate to convict hastily."

Su Haochu, a scholar of Wenhua Palace, said: "I think so too. According to Commander Wan, the Xue family may be guilty, but the matter involves tributes. Is there anyone else who was involved? How on earth were these tributes sent to the palace? We must find out more clearly and give an explanation to our subjects.”

"I second the proposal." Dozens of old party officials came out to announce.

Jia Cong breathed a sigh of relief. Seeing what the old party wanted, he still wanted to pull himself up against the factory guards. Officials like the old party obviously saw that Wan Jin wanted to use the Xue family to bite the Jia family, so protecting Xue Pan was to protect himself.

Of course, maybe the dozen officials detained by Nansi played some role. After all, they were all officials of the old party. If they gave up easily, the old party would not be able to bear it.

These days, if there is no benefit to forming a party, who will form a party with you?

King Beijing also came out at the right time and said: "Your Majesty, I believe that what you have said is very true. This case may not be as simple as it seems on the surface. Please send it back to the Third Division for further investigation."

Emperor Xifeng nodded and said, "Since all your beloved ministers hold this view, the case will be sent back to the Third Division for interrogation." After speaking, he glanced at Dai Quan.

Dai Quan hurriedly said: "Retreat from the court."

"Best farewell to Your Majesty." All the officials shouted and bowed down.

Wan Jin frowned slightly. According to his idea, all cases involving the Tian family should be handed over to the factory guards. However, all the officials in the court unanimously asked for a joint trial by the three divisions. This was a bit difficult to handle.

Once the case is not in the hands of factory guards, it will be difficult to control it. It seems that Eunuch Xia will need to intervene. (End of chapter)