I'm in the Red Mansion

Chapter 158 Rectifying Ningguo Mansion

Jiao Da said loudly: "Master San, within five days, Jiao Da will be able to gather a guard team of no less than 20 people."

"If you can't do this, I will bring my head to you."

Jia Cong smiled and said, "Forget it. This is not an army. I don't need you to issue a military order."

"Just go down and recruit people. If anyone is nagging, tell them to come to me."

Jiao Da said loudly: "Yes, Third Master."

After Jiao Da left, Jia Cong couldn't help but think about reorganizing the affairs of Ningguo Mansion.

Lai Er, the chief steward, must be removed.

However, you can't just take someone away for no reason.

There is no way to convince people this way.

Besides, Lai Er must have embezzled a lot of money during his years as the head of Ningguo Mansion.

He must be made to spit out this money.

In order to do this, you have to check the accounts.

It’s a pity that I lack the corresponding professional talents!
Now, I have no choice but to find Xue Pan first and borrow a few people from the Xue family.

Jia Cong was thinking about how to check the accounts.

A good accountant can keep the accounts flawlessly.

Jia Cong didn't believe that Lai Er had the most skilled accountant.

However, the Xue family’s accountant may not be able to detect the falsified accounts.

Jia Cong began to recall some of the accounting techniques used in later generations.

It seems that double-entry bookkeeping is a very useful method of checking accounts.

It's a pity that he is not an accountant and doesn't know this kind of auditing technique.

Fortunately, he had heard a little about it and had a basic understanding of some accounting techniques.

Thinking of this, Jia Cong couldn't help but start to sort out the accounting techniques he could remember.

Soon, Jia Cong sorted out all the accounting methods he could think of.

Then, he went out to find Xue Pan and asked to borrow a few accountants from the Xue family.

After hearing this, Xue Pan readily agreed.

In the afternoon, Xue Pan selected six accountants and handed them over to Jia Cong.

Next, Jia Cong brought the people into Ningguo Mansion and settled them down.

Then, Jia Cong taught the six accountants of the Xue family some accounting ideas for later generations that he had compiled.

Then Jia Cong couldn't help but say: "Old gentlemen, I invited you here to help me check the accounts of the mansion."

"I am not an expert in checking accounts, so I have to rely on you. But I do have some ideas. I wonder if you can take a look and see if they can be used?"

These accountants had already received instructions from Xue Pan in advance, asking them to fully cooperate with Jia Cong.

Now that they had met, they were greatly pleased to see that Mr. Cong Sanye was not at all arrogant and spoke in a pleasant way.

But when they heard the last sentence, they all disagreed.

They had heard of the name of this Third Master Cong, who was a man of both civil and military talents.

However, as the saying goes, every different trade has its own uniqueness. How could Mr. Cong Sanye understand how to check accounts?

They perfunctorily picked up the few suggestions on auditing written by Master Cong Sanye.

At first they looked nonchalant, but as they watched, a thoughtful look appeared on their faces.

They couldn't help but think, is it possible to check accounts in this way?
It seems that this way of checking may not be a bad idea.

They couldn't help but think about it.

The more they thought about it, the more they felt that this method seemed to be actually feasible.

If this is true, then the efficiency of auditing will definitely be greatly improved in the future.

It seems that it is difficult for ordinary false accounts to escape this auditing method!
As they thought about it, the eyes of the accountants became brighter and brighter. One of them stood up and said, "Third Master's methods of checking accounts are really amazing. It turns out that Third Master is an expert who is very skilled!"

Jia Cong smiled and said, "I just thought of it casually. I hope it is useful to you."

That afternoon, several accountants first familiarized themselves with the several methods of investigating cases proposed by Jia Cong.

On the second day, Jia Cong called Lai Er to take inventory of the warehouse.

The storehouse of Ningguo Mansion was sealed after Jia Zhen's death.

Now it is only natural for Jia Cong to go and take inventory of the warehouse.

Because strictly speaking, the warehouse of Ningguo Mansion is not entirely Jia Cong's private property.

Because he is the head of Ningguo Mansion and also the patriarch of the family.

All the income from the Jia family’s sacrificial fields was also collected here.

Some of the things that the children of the Jia family need to be distributed by the Ningguo Mansion.

Therefore, it is only natural to take inventory of accounts and warehouses.

Next, Jia Cong brought six accountants and began to take inventory of the warehouse.

After half a day's work, the warehouse was fully inventoried.

There is no difference in the accounts.

It can be seen that Lai Er’s fake accounts were quite authentic.

However, there was only more than 110,000 taels of silver left in the Ningguo Mansion's treasury.

One hundred thousand taels of silver sounds like a lot.

But for a big family like the Jia family, this number is already an extremely dangerous one.

If something unexpected happens to the family, these 110,000 taels of silver may not be enough.

Next, Jia Cong said he wanted to check the accounts of Ningguo Mansion for the past year.

Hearing Jia Cong's request, Lai Er instantly became alert.

The Third Master has only been in Ningguo Mansion for a few days, and he's already taking inventory of the warehouse and checking the accounts. What does this mean?
Are you going to touch me?
Thinking of this, Lai Er became more and more nervous.

However, he was not completely without confidence.

Although he had embezzled a lot of money in Ningguo Mansion over the years, he still kept the accounts perfectly.

Lai Er was confident that Jia Cong would not be able to find anything in the accounts.

Thinking of this, Lai Er not only did not stop or shirk Jia Cong's request to check the accounts, but actively cooperated with him.

Soon, he ordered people to move all the accounts of Ningguo Mansion for the year to Ninglu Hall.

Next, Jia Cong said to the six accountants: "From now on, everything will be in your hands!"

The six accountants of the Xue family could not help but say, "Don't worry, Third Master. We are responsible for this. We will make sure that we get to the bottom of this account."

Next, the six accountants began to carefully check the accounts of Ningguo Mansion for the year.

Although Ningguo Mansion is huge, it is just a declining duke's mansion after all.

There are actually not too many accounts for this year.

With six experienced accountants checking the accounts, I'm sure the truth will be revealed soon.

As for Jiao Da, after receiving Jia Cong's order, Jiao Da quickly took action.

Although the Ningguo Mansion is already rotten to the core.

But after all, there are still some loyal servants who are suppressed.

Things are quite interesting here at Ningguo Mansion.

However, those who are capable and loyal are suppressed and excluded.

Therefore, when Jiao Da found these people and expressed his intention to form a guard team in response to the orders of the Third Master.

Without much hesitation, these people gladly joined the escort team.

(End of this chapter)