Red Mansion: Bastards rule the roost

Chapter 328 Reach out for money

In the blink of an eye, it was the twenty-first day of the first lunar month, and Jia Cong went to the Yamen as usual.

"Master, don't forget that Miss Bao is giving birth to a baby today." Qingwen reminded from behind.

Jia Cong agreed and waved his hand.

Thousands of households in Nansi were already waiting. When Jia Cong arrived, they crowded into the inner hall.

"Your Excellency, the Kongcang corruption case has been investigated. The case is ironclad and the evidence is conclusive. Wan, Tang, thousands and hundreds of households have all been pledged to plead guilty. The rest of the slaves have ransacked their homes and sent them to Shuntian Mansion.

Those who have a physical deed and have no bad deeds will have their certificates handed over to Yazi for sale; those who do not have a physical deed and have no bad deeds will have to pay the debt and be released home. "Zhou Weidao presented a dossier.

Jia Cong nodded. As expected, they were all experts in Jinyiwei. They knew that stubbornness would only bring suffering to the flesh, so it was better to simply accept the blame and protect the family members and have a good time.

"Your Majesty, I have collected a total of stolen money and stolen goods in the past few days. Please take a look at it." Qiao Yin presented an account book.

Jia Cong turned to the end, looked at the total, and sneered slightly, these thieves deserved their death.

"Now that the case has been found out, please tell me how to report it to the Emperor."

Everyone looked at Wen Zhen, he was the oldest and most experienced, and he could convince everyone with his words.

Wen Zhen did his duty and said, "Your Excellency, according to the usual practice, such major cases must be reported based on the facts. Among the criminals, there may be those who have made meritorious deeds through reporting, and those who can be treated extrajudicially should be eliminated first."

"No need, these people deserve to die. I don't involve their families, it's already an act of kindness outside the law." Jia Cong said calmly.

"Yes. Secondly, according to the old rules in the past, our Jin Yiwei should more or less retain part of the proceeds from the confiscation of the house. However, this case was originally caused by misappropriation of stolen money, and your decision still needs to be made." Wen Zhendao.

Everyone nodded in agreement and looked at Jia Cong expectantly. If you pick off a piece of such a huge mountain of gold, it would be enough to revive Nansi and make everyone rich.

But no one dared to encourage Jia Cong to commit corruption. After all, it was an imperial case, and the stakes were very important. The Bei Division must learn from the past and must be on guard against it.

Who dares to joke about Jia Cong's official hat?

Jia Cong pondered for a moment and said, "We have spent so much effort to win this case. If we do anything to make things easy, how can we brothers still have the energy to do things in the future?"

"Your Majesty, what you said is absolutely true." Everyone nodded. It concerns everyone's vital interests, and no one is a worldly expert.

"But remembering the past and being the master of the future, you don't want me to end up like Wan and Tang, right?" Jia Cong said with a smile.

"We would never dare to have such a rebellious intention." Everyone stood up hurriedly and said.

Jia Cong waved his hands and asked everyone to sit down, saying: "You can rest assured that I never treat my brothers badly. I will go to the Holy Master later to ask for money. I want to come to Nansi to achieve such extraordinary achievements. Doesn’t the Emperor need to show some kind of expression? Isn’t this money decent and upright?”

Fatty Feng can ask for money, can't I? It's nothing more than nonsense. No matter what time it is, a child who cries will get milk. This is an iron rule.

"Your Excellency is wise!" Everyone praised in unison.

"In addition, I will arrange 20 silver and a good house to send to Dai Nei to get along with me."

Jia Cong knows that there is no harm in handing over Dai Quan at this stage.

"I understand the humble position." Fan Ming cupped his hands and said.

Jia Cong and everyone gathered together for a while, then went into the palace with the book written by Fan Ming.

Inside the Yangxin Hall

Emperor Xifeng had just come down from court and was busy reading the book.

Dai Quan suddenly came in quietly like a raccoon cat and said softly: "Long live my lord, I have been keeping a close eye on you these past few days. There is nothing strange there."

Emperor Xifeng put down his ink pen, frowned slightly with his thick black eyebrows, and gleamed in his eyes, murmuring to himself: "Zhe Wanjin and Tang Yan, if one of their arms is cut off and they don't fight back, could they be Ningshou?" Has the palace acquiesced to this matter? Or does it mean that he no longer has the authority?"

Dai Quan held his breath and concentrated, and stood with his hands down.

"What do you mean over there?" Emperor Xifeng looked at Dai Quan.

Dai Quan hurriedly bowed and said: "I thought that I didn't dare to compete with Long Live, so I let it go."

Emperor Xifeng was overjoyed, but he sneered on his face: "Ignorant fool, most of the high officials in the court and generals in the capital are former ministers of the previous dynasty. Don't you know?"

"What Long Live said is absolutely true. It's just that this slave thinks that the Supreme Emperor is already in his prime, and it's not yet known how much of his ambitions he had back then.

Moreover, it may not be a wise move to start a quarrel with His Majesty because of the two criminals Wan Jin and Tang Yan. After all, the civil and military forces of the entire court strongly advocated a thorough investigation of this case, and it was difficult for the Supreme Emperor to dissuade everyone. Even if you want to fight, I'm afraid you won't be able to do so. Dai Quan said.

Emperor Xifeng smiled slightly: "You are such a genius, these few words are quite interesting."

"I'm so lucky to receive a word of praise from His Majesty," Dai Quan said with a smile.

"Just step back." Emperor Xifeng smiled and waved his hands, feeling confident in his heart.

In the battle with the Supreme Emperor, he has won two games in a row. In the first game, Jia Cong successfully took charge of the Southern Division, and in the second game, he captured the Emperor's closest confidants. Since the Supreme Emperor ignored him, the following actions are logical.

"The slave retire."

Dai Quan just stepped back and came in again.

Emperor Xifeng frowned slightly and said, "Why are you here again?"

Dai Quan said: "Go back to Lord Long Live and ask Uncle Kou to see you, saying that you want to report the case."

Emperor Xifeng's eyes lit up, there was a result so soon.

"Xuan."

"Your Majesty, Jia Cong, joins you to pay your respects to His Majesty."

"Stop talking nonsense. But is there any progress in the case?" Emperor Xifeng glared at him. Jia Cong got up with a smile and said: "Thanks to your majesty's wisdom, Wan and Tang are afraid of the power of heaven and dare not lie. After arriving at the case, they will truthfully confess their crimes and I will not impose any punishment. I guarantee that every piece of evidence will be evidenced." Check, there is a solid case.

In addition, more than 300 million taels of gold and silver were recovered from the confiscation of the house, plus a number of gold and jade utensils, antiques, treasures, calligraphy and paintings, porcelain, furs and other valuables, as well as some houses and fields. It is roughly estimated that the total is more than 1500 million taels of silver. This is the accumulation of more than ten years of corruption in the Bei Division. "

After speaking, Jia Cong presented the document, and attached a list of the backbones of the old party who were implicated in the short position case and were demoted. Most of them were backbones of the fourth and fifth grades, and there were thirty or forty people.

The old party also understands that even if the first- and second-grade officials want to be reinstated, they have no place. It is better to revive these backbones, which will be easier to deploy.

boom! Emperor Xifeng slapped the case and said in a hateful voice: "These damn bastards! Just copying them is worth half the country's annual income."

"This case is of great importance, and I dare not make any arbitrary decisions. Please ask His Majesty for your Holy Judgment. There is another matter, and I ask His Majesty's mercy."

"What's the matter?" Emperor Xifeng looked at Jia Cong with interest to see what conditions he proposed.

"Back to the Emperor, I am now blessed by Heaven's grace. I am in charge of the Royal Guards and I am just chasing ducks to the shelves. It is really difficult to make a meal without rice.

Every day when I open my eyes, I have to worry about tens of thousands of people eating, drinking, and drinking. Behind these tens of thousands of people, there are tens of thousands of families. When I think of this, I really can't sleep well and can't eat well.

I heard that the annual salary payment from the Ministry of Revenue is less than 50%. I really don’t know how to explain it to my subordinates in the future. I ask the emperor to show mercy and allow me to reserve part of the stolen money in this case for the expenses of the defense. "Jia Cong said.

"You and Fatty Feng are really on the same page. One says that the oil is exhausted and the lamp is dry, and the bones are broken. The other says that he can't sleep well and can't eat to his taste. Humph!

When they reached out to ask me for money, each one was more energetic than the other! Emperor Xifeng snorted coldly.

Jia Cong gritted his teeth and said: "I thought that the Jin Yiwei were the emperor's personal soldiers. If people starved to death, wouldn't it be a great damage to the country. I knew that Fatty Feng was a brave man who could only get in but not get out, so I had to ask the emperor for help. "

"Presumptuous!" Emperor Xifeng shouted coldly.

Jia Cong hurriedly knelt down and said, "I am dedicated to serving the public good and have no selfish thoughts. Please be aware of this, Your Majesty."

Emperor Xifeng thought for a moment and said, "How much do you want?"

Jia Cong became energetic, imitating Fatty Feng, and said tentatively: "When I hear that your kindness is as deep as the sea, I stop to feel the spring breeze three times."

"You bastard! How dare you open your mouth? I think you are more hateful than Fatty Feng." Emperor Xifeng shouted, asking for 30% of the price when he opened his mouth, which is really annoying.

"If you wish to express your gratitude to me on the golden stage, you can also share the moonlight with me." Jia Cong had no choice but to take a step back.

"Get lost." Emperor Xifeng spat out one word coldly.

Jia Cong had no choice but to plead: "If you want to eliminate evil things for the sage, a wisp of lingering fragrance can spread thousands of miles."

Emperor Xifeng couldn't help laughing when he saw his pitiful look, and laughed and scolded: "You bastard! It's fine. I hope you have done a good job in handling the case in Nansi. You can keep 10% of it, and you are not allowed to touch the cash."

"I thank God for his grace." Jia Cong breathed a sigh of relief. Although it only cost 150 million, it was still in kind, but it could barely solve his urgent need.

Emperor Xifeng pondered for a moment and said: "Call all the military aircraft and discuss matters with each ministry."

"Yes." Dai Quan hurriedly conveyed the order.

Not long after, footsteps sounded, and twenty or thirty people came in.

"I will see you, Your Majesty."

"My dear friends, please stay safe." Emperor Xifeng was much more accommodating when he was not in the Golden Palace.

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Everyone stood up.

"Jia Cong, tell me the case again."

"Yes." Jia Cong hurriedly repeated what he had just said.

"My dear friends, now that the case has been found out, how should we be punished?" Emperor Xifeng said.

Everyone was silent. Feng Yuan rolled his eyes and said, "I believe that Wan and Tang are deeply indebted to the Supreme Emperor. Now that the evidence is solid, they should report to the Supreme Emperor for judgment."

All the officials looked at each other and nodded: "This is a very good idea. I second it."

Reporting to the Supreme Emperor again? Jia Cong was dumbfounded. His predecessor, Fatty Feng, used this to scold Marquis Qingyang, saying that he was unfaithful and unfilial. You are making the same comment today, which is really shameless.

But what the officials think is that since the Jin Yiwei are the emperor's personal soldiers, it is up to you two emperors to argue, and we will not interfere.

The six major military aircraft also said: "I think this proposal is feasible."

Emperor Xifeng had already expected this, and nodded and said: "Since everyone holds this view, let the Military Aircraft Department write a statement and report it to the Ming Emperor, asking the Holy Emperor to give his instructions."

"According to the order."

"Just step back."

Everyone bowed and wanted to leave, but Fatty Feng said hurriedly: "I have my own memorial."

"What's the matter."

"Your Majesty, now that it is a solid case, can the proceeds from the confiscation of this case be transferred to the national treasury as early as possible for the purpose of building water conservancy, establishing education, and alleviating people's poverty in the spring of this year?" Feng Yuandao.

When all the officials heard about asking for money, they all stood firm and sent assists together.

"I second the proposal."

In Fatty Feng's hands, he could still get some money out, but when it entered the emperor's small treasury, he could only stare.

(End of this chapter)