Daming: I can’t kill such a greedy prince-in-law?

Chapter 500 I, Guo Zi, can now be on equal footing with Li Shanchang (Please subscribe!!)

Seeing his men filled with indignation, Li Shanchang also became furious.

During this period, the newly established Tax Inspection Bureau made him quite embarrassed. First, they arrested Wang Bi and a large number of Ministry of Revenue officials in front of him, and then they expanded the scope to arrest officials at all levels of the Huaixi Party. The most fatal thing was the public trial.

The Tax Inspection Bureau became famous and the people were happy, but their Huaixi party suffered heavy losses. If he hadn't stopped them, the Huaixi people represented by Lan Yu would have fought Ouyang Lun to the death.

The reason why Li Shanchang stopped Lan Yu at that time was mainly because the problem of the Ministry of Revenue had not been resolved. Li Shanchang knew very well that if the problem of the Ministry of Revenue was not resolved, Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang would never let them go.

So Li Shanchang chose to endure it. At the same time, under the pressure from the Tax Inspection Bureau, Li Shanchang almost ate, drank, defecated and urinated in the Ministry of Revenue during this period!
Finally, after his and other officials' unremitting efforts, the situation of the Ministry of Revenue finally showed some improvement, which restored Li Shanchang's confidence.

"I know all the grievances you have suffered!"

"I will never let this matter go with Ouyang Lun! Otherwise, how can I be worthy of Wang Bi and other old brothers in Huaixi!"

Li Shanchang's face was gloomy and his eyes were filled with murderous intent.

After hearing Li Shanchang's words, the Huaixi Party officials present were greatly encouraged!
"The elder is wise!"

"When have we, the Huaixi disciples, ever suffered such injustice?"

"That's right. It has always been us, the Huaixi Party, who have suppressed others. When have others ever dared to suppress us?"

"Ouyang Lun relied on his status as the emperor's consort to be so cruel to us. He really doesn't know how to live or die!"

"When we followed His Majesty to build our empire, he was still in his mother's womb!"

"Don't let Ouyang Lun fall into my hands, or I will make sure he neither wishes he could live nor die!"

Just when a group of officials in the Ministry of Revenue were excitedly discussing how to deal with Ouyang Lun next, a servant came running in, tumbling and crawling.

"Lord, gentlemen, this is bad. Those people from the Inspection Department are here again!"

Hear the news.

All the officials immediately fell silent.

Swish--

Everyone's eyes were on Li Shanchang who was sitting in the main seat.

Just when Li Shanchang was about to speak to appease his men, Guo Zi rushed in with his men from the Inspection Office.

"Guo Zi, you have already arrested so many of my men, punished them, and killed them all! What else do you want to do? What does Ouyang Lun want to do? He doesn't really think that the Ming Dynasty belongs to him, Ouyang Lun, alone!"

Li Shanchang roared.

Guo Zi used his little finger to pick his ear and said calmly, "I, the Deputy Commander of the Tax Inspection Department, Guo Zi, greet Lord Li and the officials of the Ministry of Revenue!"

"Since you are here, you are here for official business!"

"Lord Li, please stop flattering my Prince Consort all the time. If you don't agree, go to His Majesty and sue us!"

"You!" Li Shanchang pointed at Guo Zi, and was so angry that his liver was about to explode. "Guo Zi! You were just a local official. You relied on Ouyang Lun to get to where you are today. Without Ouyang Lun, you are nothing. Don't be so arrogant in front of me! You are not worthy of me!"

"If you have any questions, please ask Ouyang Lun to come see me!"

"Haha." Guo Zi smiled. "I don't know whether I am worthy of talking to Lord Li, but I know very well that my son-in-law doesn't need to personally deal with such a small matter in the Ministry of Revenue."

Upon hearing this, Li Shanchang was so angry that his mouth twitched. He pointed at Guo Zi and asked, "Guo Zi, what on earth are you doing here in my Ministry of Revenue today! If you dare to arrest anyone, I will definitely drag you to the Hall of Supreme Harmony today and let His Majesty make the decision!"

Guo Zi waved his hand and said, "Lord Li, you misunderstood. I came here today to help you."

"Help us? Haha, do you think I'm a three-year-old kid? I'll believe your nonsense!" Li Shanchang sneered, "Just say it directly, don't waste each other's time!"

"Lord Li is quite straightforward. Since you said so, I won't beat around the bush!" Guo Zi smiled and said, "According to the investigation of my Tax Inspection Department, someone evaded taxes, and the amount was huge."

As soon as these words were spoken, the expressions of the officials in the Ministry of Revenue changed, and fear was written all over their faces. They couldn't help but take a few steps back, as if doing so would make them safer.

"Don't be nervous! I didn't say that you were evading taxes!" Guo Zi said with a smile.

"Guo Zi, what on earth do you want to do!" Li Shanchang asked angrily.

"Lord Li, did I not explain it clearly enough just now? Yes. Lord Li is old, so it is normal that your hearing is a little poor. Let me say it again. My Inspection Department has received intelligence that someone has committed huge tax evasion and needs to conduct an in-depth investigation. When the time comes, we can recover these taxes. Wouldn't that be a good thing for the Ministry of Revenue? This time, tens of millions of taxes are involved!" Guo Zi replied.

"Tens of millions in taxes!" Li Shanchang and the officials from the Ministry of Revenue were all shocked!
Putting aside other things, if these tens of millions of taxes can really be recovered, the problems of the Ministry of Revenue will be greatly alleviated.

"Guo Zi, since you have clues, then go and investigate. Why are you coming to my Ministry of Revenue?!" Li Shanchang asked vigilantly.

"Lord Li, to be honest, I don't want to come either. The taxes are all collected through the Ministry of Revenue. To trace the taxes, we must clearly plan out each link. I can only bring my men to the Ministry of Revenue to check the accounts. Only when the accounts are checked clearly can we confirm the evidence, and then my Inspection Department can arrest people!" Guo Zi spread his hands.

"So, you mean that your Audit Department wants to check the accounts in my Ministry of Revenue?" Li Shanchang frowned.

"That's right! Lord Li is worthy of being Lord Li, he got it all right. My husband said that from today on, I will live and eat in the Ministry of Revenue. I will leave the Ministry of Revenue only when the tax evasion is investigated!" Guo Zi said helplessly, "I am also following orders, Lord Li, please cooperate with me!"

"How dare you! My Ministry of Revenue is an important place in the Ming Dynasty. How can we allow your Inspection Bureau to conduct random investigations in my Ministry of Revenue! If any trouble occurs, can you bear the responsibility?!" An official from the Ministry of Revenue could no longer bear it and pointed at Guo Zi and cursed loudly.

"Who are you?" Guo Zi frowned and asked in a deep voice.

"I will not change my name or surname. I am Sun Chong, the new Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue!" the official said proudly.

"I haven't heard much about Sun Zhong." Guo Zi shook his head.

"You!" Sun Zhong was extremely angry.

"But I suspect you of tax evasion. Come, arrest him and take him back for interrogation!" Guo Zi pointed at Sun Zhong and said.

"Yes."

Two guards from the Inspection Department rushed out quickly. They were both Wolf Guards and were very powerful. No one could stop them and they easily captured the clamoring Sun Chong.

"What are you doing? Let me go immediately. I am an official appointed by the imperial court. Without the order of His Majesty, not only your small Inspection Bureau has no right to arrest me, but even the Embroidered Uniform Guards cannot do so!" Even after being arrested, Sun Zhong was extremely tough.

"Haha, Minister Sun, our Inspection Department dares to arrest those who the Royal Guards dare not arrest. Our Inspection Department can do what the Royal Guards cannot do!"

"Your Majesty has already issued an order that anything involving taxes can be investigated by our Tax Inspection Department, and any person and any government office must cooperate. There is no need to ask His Majesty specifically for arresting people below the first rank. Minister Sun, you, a minister of the Ministry of Revenue, don't seem to have reached the first rank yet!" Guo Zi sneered.

Hearing this, Sun Zhong was dumbfounded. His arrogant and tough look disappeared, replaced by fear. "Guo Zi...you...you are talking nonsense!"

"Nonsense? Minister Sun is joking. Do you think I would forge an imperial edict? Minister Sun, don't you know that the former Minister of Revenue Wang Bi and two assistant ministers of the Ministry of Revenue were arrested, tried and sentenced to death by us? Don't worry. You will soon be the same as Wang Bi and others." Guo Zi said with a smile.

"No!"

Sun Zhong was completely panicked, and at the same time he felt extremely regretful. He really shouldn't have spoken!

"Lord, save me!"

Sun Zhong could only place his last hope on Li Shanchang.

"Sir Guo, since you are here to investigate tax evasion, I will allow you to do this. However, Minister Sun is an official of my Ministry of Revenue. He definitely did not evade taxes. I can vouch for him. Please don't take him away!"

Instead of getting furious, Li Shanchang said this in a kind way.

Seeing that Li Shanchang was so tactful, Guo Zi smiled and said, "Since Lord Li has spoken, I will naturally give him some face!"

"Let Minister Sun go!"

"Yes!"

After hearing Guo Zi's order, the two Inspection Department guards who had captured Sun Chong immediately released him.

"Minister Sun, although I have let you go today, please remember to report to the Tax Inspection Department after work to make sure you don't have any real problems!" Guo Zi seemed very calm.

But Sun Zhong took a deep breath and his whole body trembled uncontrollably. Even so, he did not dare to say another word.

"Lord Li, may I start the investigation?"

Guo Zi asked.

"Okay, go ahead, but my Ministry of Revenue will not take care of your meals. Please take care of them yourselves!" Li Shanchang said coldly.

"Please rest assured, Lord Li. We have already arranged supplies along the way. You don't have to worry about meals."

Li Shanchang:
"Act according to the plan!" Guo Zi stopped talking and gave a look to his other men. Dozens of guards from the Inspection Department standing behind Guo Zi immediately split into three groups. One group went straight to the account office of the Ministry of Revenue, and the other group went to the warehouse of the Ministry of Revenue to take inventory.

The last group of people left, Guo Zi and two guards slowly walked to the main seat of the Ministry of Revenue, which was next to Li Shanchang. Not only that, one of the guards also brought a chair to Guo Zi.

After Guo Zi sat down, the situation became equal to that of Li Shanchang.

Seeing Guo Zi sitting next to him in a swagger, Li Shanchang felt very uncomfortable, thinking, what kind of level is Guo Zi to sit side by side with him, Li Shanchang? But now the Inspection Department is a sword hanging over the head of the Ministry of Revenue, he really has no way to say anything, and the officials of the Ministry of Revenue dare not speak out.

"Lord Li, am I disturbing you by my sitting here? But it doesn't matter. I don't mind. You continue with your talk and I'll listen nearby. After all, I used to be the Minister of Revenue. Maybe I can even give you some advice!" Guo Zi said with a smile.

you do not mind!!
The corners of Li Shanchang's mouth twitched, but in the current situation he could only suppress the anger in his heart.

Forget it, since you want to hear it, I'll let you hear it. After all, I, Li Shanchang, have the final say in the Ministry of Revenue.

"Okay, let's continue the discussion!"

"Sun Zhong, tell me about the Ministry of Revenue's next arrangements!"

Li Shanchang calmed himself down and tried his best to pretend that Guo Zi didn't exist.

"Yes."

Sun Zhong stepped out and looked at Guo Zi with some fear.

"I told you to speak, but not to look at people, you piece of shit!" Li Shanchang said unhappily.

"Minister Sun, don't be afraid. The Inspection Department hasn't found any evidence against you yet. You won't be afraid until they find it. Just go ahead and say what you want." Guo Zi "kindly" comforted him.

Upon hearing this, all the officials, including Li Shanchang, were dismayed.

This Guo Zi is so abominable!
Guo Zi was very satisfied when he saw these people's frustrated expressions. It was indeed great to follow the prince consort! Being on equal footing with Li Shanchang was something he would never have dared to think of in the past!
"Sir, tax revenue has rebounded, but the increase is not large enough. I think we should continue to increase taxation to ensure that tax revenue continues to increase. As for the money for the construction projects in various countries, we can delay it for a while, preferably after this year is over!"

"This way, by the end of the year, there will be enough surplus in the treasury!"

Sun Zhong spoke.

"Well, this is a good idea. Let's do this." Li Shanchang nodded and was about to agree to do so.

Guo Zi spoke up, "Lord Li, Minister Sun, this won't do!"

What the hell!

You will die if you don’t speak!
Li Shanchang turned his head and glared at Guo Zi, gritting his teeth and said, "Master Guo, what do you think?"

"I don't deserve your wise opinion, but since Lord Li asked me to say a few words, I will still say it." Guo Zi said slowly.

puff--

Li Shanchang almost spit out all the tea he had just drunk.

I just want you to shut up, I don’t want you to speak at all!

Guo Zi ignored Li Shanchang's wonderful expression and said directly: "Minister Sun, according to what you just said, you are completely trying to deceive His Majesty with fake treasury silver! It is not conducive to solving the Ministry of Revenue's problems at all!"

"In my opinion, you must not increase taxes, but reduce them. At the same time, the funds for engineering projects across the country must be distributed in a timely manner, and make sure that every working citizen receives the money! Let them have a good New Year!"

Upon hearing this, Sun Zhong became anxious and asked hurriedly: "In this way, tax revenue will be greatly reduced, and the consumption of the national treasury will inevitably increase. What will happen when the national treasury is empty? How do you want the elder to explain to His Majesty?!"

"If you can't explain, it's your incompetence. You can ask Lord Li to confess his guilt to His Majesty. What does this have to do with our Taxation Inspection Department?" Guo Zi said calmly, "But if you don't do as I say, my Taxation Inspection Department can directly cause a big disaster for your Ministry of Revenue!!"

"You~!!"

(End of this chapter)