Great Qing Xiangguo

Chapter 70

Chen Tingjing came to the South Study Room early, Xu Qianxue saw him, and hurriedly said: "Oh, Mr. Chen, you have been very busy recently."

Chen Tingjing said: "Where is it? Master Xu, while there is no one at the moment, I have something to ask for your help!"

Xu Qianxue had never seen Chen Tingjing talking to him like this before, so he couldn't help but carefully looked outside, and said in a low voice: "Master Chen, please give me instructions!"

Chen Tingjing said: "I played a secret performance for the emperor here."

Xu Qianxue said: "Master Chen has never written secret notes! That may be a big deal. You don't even ask for learning, and you will seal the notes for me." It turned out that there were ministers and workers of Rinan Study While chatting, I suddenly remembered that Chen Tingjing had been enshrined in the inner court for more than 20 years and had never played a secret concert, so I asked.Chen Tingjing said that if he had something to do, he could just write a note, so why do he need to play it in secret?The words were embellished and spread to the emperor's ears, which made Long Yan unhappy, and scolded Chen Tingjing for some reason.The emperor originally needed someone to play the secret concert.From then on, the reputation of Chen Tingjing not being able to play Mi Zuo spread.Xu Qianxue took the sealing sleeve from the South Study Room, quickly sealed the booklet, and wrote "Sincerely from the South Study Room".Chen Tingjing still had to go to the Baoquan Bureau, so he hurriedly left without tea.

Kerkun went to the official office early and secretly reported to Mingzhu about Chen Tingtong's loan of money.Mingzhu asked: "Chen Tingtong really borrowed so much money?"

Ker Kun said: "It is true. Ming Xiangguo, I think this matter is beneficial to us."

Mingzhu nodded and said: "It's a common practice for Beijing officials to borrow money from rich people to pay their respects and make money. Although the imperial court prohibits it, it's still a common practice. Whether to pursue it or not depends entirely on the emperor's will."

Ker Kun asked: "Ming Xiangguo, I went to Chen Tingjing to clarify the point, but I still can't get him to stop?"

Mingzhu said: "You might as well try it. You have to let Chen Tingjing know that his brother borrowed 1 taels of silver before the emperor knows."

Kerkun said, "Then I might as well talk to Chen Tingjing face to face."

Mingzhu shook her head and said: "No, no, it's too unofficial for you to talk to Chen Tingjing like this. You have to do business and report to the emperor."

Ker Kun really didn't understand what Mingzhu meant, and said, "Ming Xiangguo, you have confused me. Or should I give a secret performance?"

Mingzhu laughed loudly, and said, "You don't have to play it in secret, you have to give the excerpts clearly and clearly. All the excerpts have to be learned by Xu Qianxue."

Ker Kun thought about it, and said, "Master Xu has a very tight-lipped tone, so he might not tell Chen Tingjing?"

Seeing that Mingzhu smiled but did not answer, Ker Kun said, "Okay, Ker Kun will write the notes now! Ming Xiangguo, take your leave!"

Ker Kun came out from the office of the Ministry of Officials, bumped into Gao Shiqi, hurriedly cupped his hands and said, "Oh, Mr. Gao."

Gao Shiqi smiled and said, "Master, what a coincidence. Ming Xiangguo has something to ask me."

Ker Kun said, "I'm also coming out from Ming Xiangguo." The two said goodbye and parted politely.

Gao Shiqi entered the Second Hall of the Ministry of Officials, greeted Mingzhu, and said he had something important to report.Seeing that Gao Shiqi was so careful, Mingzhu turned her screen away and asked, "Shiqi, what's the matter?"

Gao Shiqi said: "I went to the South Study Room early this morning, only to come out when I met Chen Tingjing. I went in and saw Xu Qianxue holding a seal in his hand. I guess Chen Tingjing probably sent it."

Mingzhu said: "Chen Tingjing attended the secret concert? This is a rare event!"

Gao Shiqi said: "That's right, Chen Tingjing once objected to the minister's performance of the secret concert, saying that there is nothing in the world that cannot be revealed, and the emperor scolded him for it. I didn't expect that this time he himself also participated in the secret performance."

Mingzhu thought for a while and said, "Okay, I understand. Shiqi, don't tell anyone about this!"

Gao Shiqi nodded and said, "Shiqi understands."

Gao Shiqi went back to the South Study Room, and saw that the Mi Zuo had been sent to the Qianqing Palace.He pretended nothing happened and didn't ask a word.In the afternoon, someone sent in Kerkun's book, and it was Chen Tingtong who participated.Xu Qianxue was quite surprised when he saw it.Gao Shiqi saw that Xu Qianxue's face changed drastically, so he asked: "Master Xu, what is Ker Kun playing?"

This cannot be concealed, so Xu Qianxue had no choice but to say: "Ker Kun and Chen Tingtong borrowed ten thousand taels of silver from the bank!"

Gao Shiqi gasped and asked, "Is this really the case?"

Xu Qianxue said: "Ker Kun speaks every word with certainty. Mr. Gao, how do you draft this?"

Gao Shiqi sighed: "It's really according to the laws of the Qing Dynasty, but you have to be executed! Master Xu, for Ting Jing's sake, do you want to report the news?"

Xu Qianxue said: "How can I go to Mr. Chen to report the news? We just want to think about how to vote, don't really make the emperor Longyan furious."

As Xu Qianxue said, he called all the ministers and businessmen in the South Study Room to discuss.Everyone was chattering, saying that this case still needs to be investigated carefully, and the truth can only be made after the truth is clearly identified.Xu Qianxue drafted the proposal according to everyone's discussion, and then sent it to Mingzhu for approval.

Xu Qianxue refused to report to Chen Tingjing, but quietly went to the Yamen of Baoquan Bureau at night.He naturally knew that Chen Tingjing and Gao Shiqi were just being friendly on the surface, and guessed that Gao Shiqi's words were probably false.Chen Tingjing never expected that Xu Qianxue would come to the Baoquan Bureau at night. He thought that there must be news about the secret performance today, but it turned out that Chen Tingtong had a major event, so he hurriedly asked, "Who participated? Which bank?"

Xu Qianxue said: "Ker Kun participated, the bank where Tingtong borrowed money is Quanyi Liji, and the owner's surname is Su."

Chen Tingjing understood right away, and said, "This is a trap made by someone! Tingtong just doesn't know what to do. Someone has played this kind of trick once."

Xu Qianxue said: "I can't press the paper. It has already gone to the emperor. I guessed that there must be an article in the middle, otherwise I wouldn't tell you. I had to draw up a draft and asked the emperor to send someone to check this carefully." case."

Chen Ting admired Tianhao and sighed, "This is going to be beheaded!"

Xu Qianxue also sighed, and said, "Master Chen, it's useless for you to be anxious when things happen. Let's see what's going on first, and then make sense."

Sending Xu Qianxue away, Chen Tingjing hurriedly asked Dashun to report to his younger brother's house, and told him not to give away the money, as the money would not be repaid by then, and the crime would become more serious.

On the second day, the father-in-law of Qianqing Palace arrived at the Yamen of Baoquan Bureau early to deliver an order: "Master Chen, where is the emperor calling you?"

Chen Tingjing was taken aback, he didn't know whether the emperor summoned him because of the Baoquan Bureau's copper shortage case, or because of Chen Tingtong's affairs.Not able to think too much, Chen Tingjing hurriedly entered the palace with his father-in-law.He was anxious all the way, if the emperor announced him into the palace because of Chen Tingtong's affairs, he would really be in trouble.He can only ask the emperor to send someone to find out the reason, and it is inconvenient to say anything else.

The emperor had finished listening to the government, and returned to the West Nuan Pavilion of Qianqing Palace, standing on the front wall, without saying a word.Chen Tingjing stepped forward cautiously, knelt down to pay his respects: "Chen Tingjing kowtows to the emperor."

Without turning his head, the emperor asked, "Is it true that Baoquan Bureau is short of copper materials?"

Chen Tingjing was slightly relieved when he saw that the emperor was asking about the Baoquan Bureau.He could hear the emperor's anger, and he spoke very carefully, saying: "The minister, Ker Kun, Xu Da and others personally supervised, weighed one by one, and then carefully checked with the book, it is accurate."

The emperor turned around and said, "How could Xu Da be short of so much copper material for a few months in office?"

Chen Tingjing replied: "The minister calculated and calculated, based on the date of Xu Da's appointment, he would lose about five thousand catties of copper every day."

The emperor said: "Yes, he has to pull so much copper out every day, where does he pull it? It's impossible! Ting Jing, tell me, you know it in your heart. You can get up and talk."

Chen Tingjing thanked En and stood up, saying: "The minister made an unannounced visit and learned that the handover of the supervisors of the Baoquan Bureau's previous doctors was just handing over the ledgers, and the warehouse inventory was presumed to be another date. In fact, it was deliberately procrastinating. They are all confused, just trying to pass the term of office quickly, and throw the burden to the next one. Anyway, every year, they go to the Baoquan Bureau to unload copper. As long as the copper is not enough and the furnace is stopped, the matter will not be revealed. It has been a long time , and no one is responsible.”

The emperor patted the palace pillar and cursed: "It's ridiculous! Damn it! Chen Tingjing, you know that Xu Da didn't lose money in the hands of the copper material, so why do you want to join him?"

Chen Tingjing replied: "Xu Da is only incapable of handling things, and his character is quite upright. I estimate that the copper is short of money, and every doctor and supervisor has a share. But there is no way to find out who is losing how much."

The emperor asked: "What do you think should be done?"

Chen Tingjing said: "Participating in Xu Da is just a pretext, in order to reveal the matter. I think that punishing crimes is not the purpose, the most important thing is to make up for the copper deficit. From then on, we will be strict and disciplined, and no deficits will occur again."

The emperor asked again: "How to mend?"

Chen Tingjing said: "Let all the doctors and supervisors share equally and make up for the shortfall, no matter what high officials they are now."

The emperor flatly vetoed it: "No, this method is inappropriate! Your proposal seems light and simple, but it actually embarrasses the country!"

Chen Tingjing said: "Your Majesty, there are precedents for governors and counties to pay for the lack of royal grain and national taxes. I suggest that the previous doctors and supervisors should pay for copper materials, just following the ancestral system."

The emperor said: "Successively served as the doctor's supervisor, and now they are all bachelors, ministers, governors, and governors! Do you want the world to see that the Qing Dynasty is full of corrupt officials?"

Chen Tingjing said: "If you don't make up for the shortfall, it's not enough to set an example. In the future, the warehouse of Baoquan Bureau will continue to be short-lived!"

The emperor sighed for a long time, shook his head again and again and said: "No, I would rather die an unjust Xu Da than give up the dignity of the court!"

Chen Tingjing knelt down again, and said: "Qi Zuo the emperor, the imperial court must punish corrupt officials to be decent, and protecting corrupt officials will only lose face!"

The emperor said angrily: "Presumptuous! I will deal with corrupt officials myself. Some people participated in Chen Tingtong, and he borrowed thousands of taels of silver from the people, just like extorting bribes. This is a corrupt official, and this is a capital crime!"

Chen Tingjing turned pale with shock, and hurriedly kowtowed to Bang Banger on the ground, only saying that he was guilty of lax discipline of his younger brother.Seeing Chen Tingjing's appearance, the emperor comforted him and said, "Tingjing, you don't have to blame yourself too much. Chen Tingtong is certainly guilty, but the ticket from Nanshufang said that this case should be investigated carefully. I agree. It can be seen that Mingzhu is a generous person. .”

How did the emperor know that this was all mediated by Xu Qianxue.When Chen Tingjing left the Qianqing Palace, he felt that his feet were heavy and he could barely move.He didn't intend to go back to Baoquan Bureau immediately, so he simply went to the Yamen of the Metropolitan Procuratorate.He sat alone in the second hall, his mind was in a mess.He knew that it must be a trap set by Quan Yi Li Ji, but he couldn't play the Emperor Ming right now.There must be evidence in what you say, and you can't listen to it just by guessing.He guessed that Quanyi Liji must have a backstage, so he had to be sure.

Chen Tingjing's chest was congested and he didn't want to go anywhere, so he sat there until the afternoon.At this time, Xu Da brought a small official to bring the sample money, and said: "Master Chen, I have sent the sample money minted in the past two days, please have a look."

Chen Tingjing said it was hard work, took a bunch of sample money and went to the window, looked carefully at the light, kept nodding, and said: "Okay, send the newly minted money to the household department immediately!"

Xu Da said: "I'll take care of this tomorrow. Master Chen, I don't know if I should say something."

Chen Tingjing said: "Master Xu, you can say anything here."

Xu Da said: "Baoquan Bureau has established a rule that all newly minted coins have to send sample money to the court officials, and the minted coins will be lost. I don't know if we should send them again."

Chen Tingjing lowered his head and thought for a long time, then asked: "Who did you send to in the past, and how much did you have to send?"

Xu Da said: "I checked the account, and there are more than 200 people sent to the princes and ministers. Each time, the amount is not much, about [-] Wen, and about ten times a year."

Chen Tingjing said: "That's not too much? After a year, each person has to receive about 100 taels of silver, which is equivalent to the annual salary of a fourth-rank official! The Baoquan Bureau has to send out nearly 2 taels of silver a year!"

Xu Da asked: "Master Chen, do you want me to give you this gift list?"

Chen Tingjing thought for a while, shook his head and let out a long sigh, "I don't want to know this list. This is a bad habit and should be eradicated!"

While Chen Tingjing was talking, the string suddenly broke, and the money was scattered on the ground.Xu Da hurriedly squatted on the ground with the little official to pick up money, and Chen Tingjing also squatted down.After picking up the money on the ground, Chen Tingjing clapped his hands and said, "Master Xu, please go back."

Xu Da bowed his hands to say goodbye, and then he walked to the door, and heard Chen Tingjing shout: "Master Xu, stop!" It turned out that Chen Tingjing saw a copper coin in the corner, so he picked it up.

Xu Da came back and asked, "What orders does Mr. Chen have?"

Chen Tingjing said: "There is still a coin here. When I first came to the yamen of Baoquan Bureau, I swore to the sky that I would not accept a little bit of selfishness. But I followed the custom that day and received this Qin coin; I almost received it again just now. One coin. Master Xu, I will return these two coins today."

As Chen Tingjing said, he took the ancient coin from his waist and put it into the little official's purse.Xu Da looked ashamed, and also took off the old coin from his waist, and put it in his purse.Chen Tingjing smiled and signaled Xu Da to come back.Xu Dacai was about to go out, but Chen Tingjing stopped him again.

Xu Da turned his head and said, "Master Chen, is there anything else?"

Chen Tingjing hesitated to speak, and said after a long time: "Master Xu, no matter what happens, you must remember what I said that day, white will not become black."

Xu Da felt quite strange, and asked, "Master Chen, what's the matter with you today?"

Chen Tingjing hurriedly said: "No, nothing, nothing. Please go back."

Chen Tingjing looked at Xu Da's back, feeling extremely guilty.

Chen Tingjing stayed in the Metropolitan Procuratorate until sunset before returning.When I left the city, I asked Xu Qian for advice.Xu Qianxue said: "In front of the emperor, you can't be head-on. It is very appropriate for you to only participate in Xu Da for the time being. Let's try to save his life, Xu Tuliang!"

Chen Tingjing said: "All the officials involved in the copper shortage case wished Xu Da would die soon, and his life might not be saved."

Xu Qianxue said: "Since this is the case, the more you don't let those people go, the more they want to put Xu Da to death as soon as possible!"

Chen Tingjing whispered: "The emperor specifically mentioned the matter of Tingtong, saying that he will be dealt with. Mr. Xu, if I say something outrageous, the emperor is clearly making a deal with me!"

Xu Qianxue sighed: "Oh, the emperor really wants to kill Tingtong, no one can do it!"

Chen Tingjing said: "Master Xu, you have to mediate. You must not let Tingtong get into trouble! This is clearly a trap deliberately set by Kerkun, and I have implicated Tingtong. Tingjing please!"

Xu Qianxue said: "Master Chen, I will do my best."

(End of this chapter)