Done! Your Majesty is going to prostitute me for free!

In the vast northern border, Wu Sangui, Gao Di, Ji Zisheng, Huang Degong, Zhu Fenghui, Tang Shengyu and other famous generals were like the guardians of the northern border. The soldiers under their command were like the vast ocean, vast and boundless, with a total of more than 100,000 people. In the capital, the soldiers of the three major camps and the Yongwei camp were also on high alert, ready to sacrifice their lives for the country at any time. The available soldiers in Northern Zhili, added together, were nearly 200,000 people, like an indestructible Great Wall of Steel.

"The last time the Jiannu broke into the pass, they suffered a great loss and suffered heavy casualties." Li Banghua's voice was firm and powerful, as if every word contained infinite power. "I guess they will not dare to come again recently. Even if they are brave enough and want to try again, our Ming border defense is not vegetarian, they can't get through!"

Lin Xiaofeng sighed, his eyes revealing a bit of helplessness and worry: "Lord Li, it's not that I don't want you to go, it's just that there are too many things going on in Nanjing, and it's hard to predict whether you will go there or not."

Li Banghua also sighed. He looked down at the golden brick floor under his feet, with a determined light flashing in his eyes: "I am an old man, and while my eyes and ears are still sharp, I want to make one last effort for the Ming Dynasty." Although his voice was not loud, it was full of resolution and firmness.

"Please grant your permission, Your Majesty." Li Banghua's voice echoed in the empty hall, carrying an unquestionable power.

Lin Xiaofeng stood up and paced back and forth in the hall. After hesitating for a long time, he finally made up his mind: "Since Lord Li is willing to go south to provide disaster relief, I will oblige you..." There was some helplessness and compromise in his voice, but more of it was trust and expectation for Li Banghua.

"Your Majesty, I have something else to tell you." Li Banghua interrupted Lin Xiaofeng, his eyes revealing a solemn and resolute look.

"Please speak, Lord Li." There was a hint of curiosity and anticipation in Lin Xiaofeng's voice.

"When I go to Nanzhili this time, I may have to use some means to clean up some dirty things." Li Banghua's voice was low and powerful, as if every word contained infinite power.

Lin Xiaofeng almost laughed out loud. After he came here, he did kill a lot of people, but they were all to clean up the corrupt officials in the court. He hadn't done anything in Nanjing yet. He wanted to tell Li Banghua to do it boldly, but he was afraid that he would misunderstand, so he changed his words and said, "Lord Li, you can do it, but you must target those who are guilty." There was a bit of seriousness and earnestness in his voice.

"Your Majesty, rest assured, I will never kill innocent people." Li Banghua's voice was firm and powerful, as if it was a promise to Lin Xiaofeng and an oath to himself.

After deciding that Li Banghua would go south, Lin Xiaofeng gave him a few more instructions. His eyes revealed some concern and expectation, as if he was watching a warrior about to embark on a journey.

Two days later, Li Banghua quietly left the capital. The night before he left, secret letters were flying all over the sky, some were sent to various provinces in the south, but most were sent to Nanzhili. Those secret letters were like black swallows, flying through the night sky, carrying Li Banghua's determination and expectations.

In mid-July, the city of Nanjing was so hot that it was hard to breathe. The sun was like a big fireball hanging in the sky, scorching the earth mercilessly. Amid the chirping of cicadas, a fast horse galloped over and stopped in front of a large courtyard. The horse was sweaty, as if it had just been fished out of the water. After a while, a servant slipped out of the door and quietly hid in the corner of the street. His eyes revealed a bit of tension and vigilance, as if he was waiting for some important news.

In the afternoon, Zhu Guobi, Liu Kongzhao, Zhao Zhilong, and Xu Wenjue gathered in a remote teahouse. The teahouse was filled with smoke and the aroma of tea. The four of them sat around a table with different expressions. Zhu Guobi took out a secret letter from his sleeve and put it on the table, whispering, "Everyone, there is news from the capital. Li Banghua has gone south as an imperial envoy." His voice was low and powerful, as if he was conveying an important secret.

Liu Kongzhao nodded and continued, "The imperial envoy for disaster relief, Li Banghua, left the capital on the fourth day of July. He first took a car to Tongzhou, and then took a boat downstream." His eyes revealed a solemn and worried look.

"If nothing unexpected happens, he will definitely arrive in Nanjing in late July or early August." Zhao Zhilong took over the conversation, his voice filled with some uneasiness and anxiety.

"Bah! What kind of disaster relief envoy!" Zhao Zhilong said angrily, "It's obvious that he's here to check the accounts!" There was some anger and dissatisfaction in his voice.

Liu Kongzhao stared at Zhao Zhilong and asked, "From what I heard, Brother Zhao, the account has not been settled yet?" His eyes revealed some confusion and concern.

Zhao Zhilong asked back, "Have you all settled your accounts?" His voice was filled with helplessness and anxiety. He knew that this audit was undoubtedly a severe test for them.

Zhu Guobi and Liu Kongzhao both nodded. Their accounts had been settled at the beginning of the year, and the court could not find anything. They smiled with a sense of ease and confidence.

"Damn it!" Zhao Zhilong cursed, "Although the current governor of Nanjing Jingying has been replaced by Liu Wenbing, the specific affairs are still managed by our former governor." His voice was filled with anger and helplessness. He knew that this audit was undoubtedly a huge threat to them.

"The Nanjing Camp had a deficit of several million in the past, and successive governors had to use empty salaries to make up for it. How can we make up for the empty salaries?" Zhao Zhilong's voice was filled with anxiety and helplessness. He knew that this audit was undoubtedly a life-and-death test for them.

"It's not that there is no solution," Liu Kongzhao suggested, "Isn't Shi Kefa currently streamlining the Beijing garrison? We can reduce the number of vacancies by dismissing the old, weak, sick and disabled." His voice was calm and rational. He knew that this audit was undoubtedly a test of wisdom and strategy for them.

It would have been fine if Shi Kefa had not been mentioned. As soon as this name was mentioned, Zhao Zhilong gritted his teeth and said, "Shi Kefa, that bastard! Although he said he wanted to lay off people, all of them had to be registered and verified by the Ministry of War." There was a bit of anger and dissatisfaction in his voice. He knew that Shi Kefa's existence was undoubtedly a huge obstacle for them.

"Where can I find so many new faces to replace them?" Zhao Zhilong's voice was filled with helplessness and anxiety. He knew that this audit was undoubtedly a test that would cost them a lot.

The three of them were silent for a while, all of them thinking about how to deal with this audit. The atmosphere in the teahouse became extremely solemn and tense.

Zhu Guobi blinked, his eyes revealing a bit of cunning and wit: "Since we can't reduce the vacancy, then we should prepare hundreds of thousands of taels of silver and say that this silver is the vacant salary that we found when we were governor. We didn't report it because we were afraid of offending people. Now that someone has come from the capital, we can just hand it over." There was a bit of confidence and pride in his voice. He knew that this idea was undoubtedly a brilliant strategy.

Although Zhao Zhilong didn't say anything, everyone could tell from his expression that he was unwilling to give up. Every year, there were 180,000 taels of empty salary. Zhao Zhilong had been the governor for three years, which meant 540,000 taels of empty salary! How could he be willing to take out the money that was already in his pocket? His eyes revealed a bit of greed and reluctance.

Seeing Zhao Zhilong didn't say anything, Liu Kongzhao turned his gaze to Xu Wenjue. The former Duke of Wei, Xu Hongji, had just passed away. Although Xu Wenjue had not yet inherited the title, the family affairs had been handed over to him. His eyes revealed some expectation and inquiry.

"My dear nephew," Liu Kongzhao said, "your father was in charge of the Nanjing garrison, and Uncle Zhao was the governor of the Beijing camp. The reason why Uncle Zhao was able to get the empty salary was all thanks to your father's support. Now Li Banghua is coming to check the accounts, do you have any good ideas?" His voice was filled with some concern and inquiry. He knew that Xu Wenjue was a smart and independent young man.

Xu Wenjue knew that his father had also taken unpaid salaries, so he came to this meeting. He was silent for a while, then asked tentatively: "How about... we give up the unpaid salaries?" There was some hesitation and uneasiness in his voice. He knew that this idea was undoubtedly a huge sacrifice for them.

"Ridiculous! How can you spit out what you have eaten?" Zhao Zhilong's eyes were as big as copper bells. "The most important thing now is to destroy the evidence." His voice was filled with anger and dissatisfaction. He knew that this audit was undoubtedly a test that would cost them a huge price. He was not willing to give up the money that had already been put into his pocket easily.

"How do we destroy the evidence? Are we going to burn down the Nanjing Military Department?" Xu Wenjue was unhappy. There was a hint of dissatisfaction and anxiety in his voice. He knew that Zhao Zhilong's idea was undoubtedly an extreme approach.

Liu Kongzhao suddenly said, "My dear nephew, you are really extraordinary!" His voice was full of praise and affirmation. He knew that Xu Wenjue was a smart and independent young man. He believed that Xu Wenjue would be able to come up with a better idea to deal with this audit.

Zhao Zhilong and Xu Wenjue were both stunned. They looked at Liu Kongzhao, waiting for his next words. The atmosphere in the teahouse became extremely tense and solemn.

Zhao Zhilong asked hurriedly, "Brother Liu, what good ideas do you have?" His voice was filled with anxiety and expectation. He knew that this audit was undoubtedly a life-and-death test for them. He needed Liu Kongzhao's wisdom and experience to help them through this difficult time.

"Me?" Liu Kongzhao gave a bitter smile. "The Ministry of War is the territory of civil officials. What can I do? However... Ma Shiying and Qian Qianyi have confidants in the government and the country. Maybe they can come up with a good solution." His voice was filled with helplessness and anxiety. He knew that this audit was undoubtedly a test for them that required unity and wisdom.

"Will they be willing to help?" Zhao Zhilong asked doubtfully. There was a hint of uncertainty and worry in his voice. He knew that it was not so easy to invite Ma Shiying, Qian Qianyi and others. They would have to pay a huge price to invite these people to help them deal with this audit.

While Zhu Guobi and his team were plotting countermeasures, the court officials in Nanjing were also busy. They were all on edge, like a fully drawn bowstring, ready to deal with any possible storm. The atmosphere in the city was depressing and heavy, as if even the air had frozen. Everyone acted cautiously, fearing that they would accidentally touch a sensitive nerve.

Ruan Dacheng's mansion was decorated magnificently, but it could not hide the anxiety of the owner. Ma Shiying was the guest of honor. The two of them were sitting on carved pearwood chairs, sipping the fine Longjing tea and chatting. The sunlight outside the window shone through the exquisite window lattice and sprinkled on the two people, but it could not dispel the haze in their hearts.

"Brother Ma, I heard that Li Banghua, the iron-faced and impartial imperial envoy, is coming soon." Ruan Dacheng wiped the sweat from his forehead while speaking, looking a little nervous. His eyes revealed uneasiness, and his fingers tapped the table unconsciously, making a "dong dong" sound.

Li Banghua is a name that almost everyone in Nanjing knows. He is famous for his integrity and severe punishment of corruption, and many officials are terrified of him. Thinking of this, Ruan Dacheng shuddered and continued, "Li Banghua is a very stubborn person. Bribing him? No way! If he targets you, you will lose your job at best, or go to jail at worst. It's scary to think about it."

Ma Shiying sighed, his brows furrowed as if he could squeeze water out of them: "Come on, I just hope that those people we recommended can escape this disaster, otherwise it will be all in vain." His eyes revealed helplessness and worry, as if he had foreseen the coming storm.

Ruan Dacheng nodded, frowning even more tightly: "Officials in the capital probably don't have to worry too much, but those local officials are in trouble. Local deficits, taxes, lawsuits, which one is not a troublesome matter? Once Li Banghua investigates, I'm afraid he will turn everything upside down."

Ma Shiying frowned, and a hint of ruthlessness flashed in his eyes: "Aren't they all burned? They've all turned to ashes. How can the court investigate?" His voice was low and powerful, as if he was trying to convince himself.

Ruan Dacheng smiled bitterly and shook his head: "For those counties that were attacked by bandits, we can still shirk responsibility by saying that it was the bandits who burned the account books. But what about those counties where there were no bandits? We can't say that the bandits sneaked into the city, burned the government offices and ran away, right? Besides, starting a fire is also a serious crime. Many officials weigh the pros and cons and dare not act rashly." His tone revealed helplessness and worry.

Ma Shiying frowned in thought at first, then his eyes suddenly lit up, as if he had thought of a brilliant idea: "In fact, bandits can be 'there'!" His voice was cunning and proud.

"Huh? Brother Ma means..." Ruan Dacheng looked at Ma Shiying with confusion, waiting for his explanation.

Ma Shiying sneered, "We send people to pretend to be bandits, go into the city to cause trouble, rob money and kill people, and burn down the government office. Wouldn't that be a natural thing to do? Who can find out the account books and evidence when they are all reduced to ashes?" His tone revealed a kind of determination and coldness.

Ruan Dacheng thought this plan was great, but then he changed his mind and worried that he would not have anyone to use. Although the servants in his family were loyal and brave, they had never committed murder or arson. If they backed down at that time, all the previous efforts would be wasted. Thinking of this, he could not help but hesitate.

"Brother Ruan, is this what you are worried about?" Ma Shiying saw through Ruan Dacheng's thoughts at a glance, slammed the table, stood up and fell into deep thought, "Although I was pardoned after the Battle of Fengyang, my military power was also taken away. Now there is really no one to use." His tone revealed helplessness and melancholy, as if he was really in trouble.

Suddenly his eyes lit up and he thought of those nobles: "Brother Ruan, we have no one but the nobles do! They have so many soldiers under their command that it is easy to kill people and burn with their hands." There was a hint of excitement in his tone as if he had seen the dawn of victory.

"But... wouldn't that give them an advantage? And they may not be willing to help." Ruan Dacheng still looked at Ma Shiying with some concern.

"Handle? We all have handles in our hands, so who is afraid of whom? As for whether they are willing to help, I don't think it will be a big problem." Ma Shiying said confidently with a confident smile on his face, "Those nobles are not clean either. They also have handles in our hands. As long as we can control them, we are not afraid that they will not help."

Before he could finish his words, a servant came to report outside: "Master, there is a guest who wants to see you." There was a hint of urgency in his voice.

"Who is it?" Ruan Dacheng asked impatiently.

"It was the servant of the Earl of Xincheng who said that the Earl of Xincheng wanted to ask the master for a piece of calligraphy." The servant answered respectfully.

Hearing this, Ruan Dacheng laughed: "Speak of the devil and he will appear." There was a hint of surprise in his tone, as if Ma Shiying's words had really come true.

"Am I right?" Ma Shiying also smiled proudly.

"Brother Ma, you are really a genius!" Ruan Dacheng exclaimed. The two of them smiled at each other and opened the door to welcome the guests.

……

In an ordinary courtyard in Nanjing, Qian Qianyi was leisurely reading a book and drinking tea. His study was simply and elegantly decorated, and the bookshelves were filled with various books, revealing his profound knowledge.

"Master, why are you drinking hot tea on such a hot day?" asked a young and beautiful woman next to him. She had an oval face, big eyes, a small nose, plump lips, and her hair was tied up high. She was charming in every move. She was Liu Rushi, a famous prostitute on the Qinhuai River.

Liu Rushi was born in poverty and was later sold to a brothel, but she was smart and studious. She not only learned calligraphy and painting, but also was proficient in poetry. Later, although she became someone else's concubine, she was abandoned again. So she traveled around the south of the Yangtze River and became famous for her talent. Now she has become Qian Qianyi's concubine and the two have a deep relationship.

Qian Qianyi put down the book and took Liu Rushi into his arms: "Hot tea tastes better, doesn't it?" There was a hint of pampering and tenderness in his tone.

Liu Rushi's eyes moved: "Okay, okay, whatever the master says is okay." She snuggled in Qian Qianyi's arms coquettishly, enjoying this rare tranquility and warmth.

However, this tranquility was soon broken. Qian Qianyi suddenly sighed and said, "I heard that the cabinet chief Li Banghua is coming to Nanjing." There was a hint of worry and uneasiness in his tone.

"Come if you want. Can he do anything bad to you, Master?" Liu Rushi said nonchalantly, her eyes revealing her trust and reliance on Qian Qianyi.

"It's hard to say. I'm the leader of Donglin. How can I stay out of trouble?" Qian Qianyi sighed. His eyes revealed a sense of helplessness and responsibility. He knew that Li Banghua's momentum in the south this time was fierce, and the Donglin Party might not be spared.

"What's so difficult about Donglin?" Liu Rushi asked curiously. She didn't know much about politics, but seeing Qian Qianyi so worried, she couldn't help but feel a little worried.

"The difficulty lies in the word 'money'! All the troubles are caused by this word." Qian Qianyi sighed, his eyes revealing a kind of pain and helplessness. He knew that the predicament of the Donglin Party was largely caused by money problems.

"Li Banghua is coming south with great momentum this time. We can only fight him if we unite, otherwise Donglin will be in danger." Qian Qianyi's tone was resolute and firm. He knew that only unity can help them overcome this crisis.

"Master, don't think too much. Drinking tea is important. It won't taste good if it's cold!" Liu Rushi raised the teacup and handed it to Qian Qianyi. Her eyes revealed tenderness and care. She hoped Qian Qianyi could relax and not worry too much.

However, Qian Qianyi could not let go of the burden in his heart. He shook his head and said, "No, no, I have to go meet some people!" He put Liu Rushi down, stood up and prepared to go out.

"Master, you are old, so please don't get involved in these messy things." Liu Rushi said with heartache, her eyes revealing a kind of worry and reluctance. She hoped that Qian Qianyi could enjoy his old age and not work too hard.

However, Qian Qianyi shook his head and sighed, saying, "Although I am old, I still want to be as wild as I was when I was young, either taking my dog ​​to hunt or writing in the court." His tone was full of pride and determination. He knew that his responsibilities could not be shirked and he could only move forward bravely. "My husband, you are obviously the latter!" Liu Rushi smiled and joked. Her eyes revealed a kind of pride and pride. She knew that Qian Qianyi was a responsible person and she was proud of him.

……

On July 26, Li Banghua arrived in Xuzhou as an imperial envoy. In the Ming Dynasty, Xuzhou did not belong to Shandong but was a prefecture in Nanzhili. It was located at a strategic point and was a hub of north-south transportation as well as a military stronghold.

Back then, Xu Dingguo held a banquet in Xuzhou to harm Gao Jie, but Gao Jie noticed and fled. Although this incident did not cause Chen Guidong, the governor of Xuzhou, to lose his job, the court still allowed him to continue to serve as governor after Gao Jie left. Chen Guidong has always been grateful to the court and is full of expectations for Li Banghua's arrival.

Hearing that Li Banghua was coming to Xuzhou, Chen Guidong was extremely happy and took the officials of the state office to the canal to welcome him. They lined up in two teams in neat official uniforms and waited respectfully for Li Banghua's arrival.

"I, Chen Guidong, the prefect of Xuzhou, lead all my subordinates to welcome the imperial envoy!" Chen Guidong led a group of people to salute respectfully. His voice was loud and powerful, revealing awe and respect.

Li Banghua stood at the bow and looked around. He saw the fertile fields outside Xuzhou and the farmers working hard with happy smiles on their faces. However, he knew that this was all an illusion and was specially arranged by officials to welcome him. He knew that the real Xuzhou was not like this. It had many problems and contradictions waiting for him to solve.

However, he did not point it out because he was afraid of implicating innocent people. He knew that once he revealed this illusion, the officials of Xuzhou would definitely be implicated and those innocent people would also be implicated. He did not want to bring greater disaster to Xuzhou because of his arrival.

Li Banghua had no intention of getting off the boat. He stood at the bow and asked Chen Guidong: "Has there been any disaster in Xuzhou recently?" His voice was low and powerful, revealing an aura of majesty and inviolability.

"Reporting to the Lord, there is no disaster in Xuzhou." Chen Guidong replied. His voice was trembling, and he was obviously a little afraid of Li Banghua's majesty.

“That extra tax
Li Banghua looked at the anxiety on the face of Xuzhou magistrate Chen Guidong, and knew clearly that this guy was in big trouble. Chen Guidong's forehead was covered with fine beads of sweat, and his eyes revealed an indescribable panic, like a rabbit targeted by a hunter, with nowhere to hide.

"Get on board!" Li Banghua stood at the bow and gave a concise and powerful command. His voice was not loud, but it carried an unquestionable majesty, as if every word contained a great deal of power.

"Yes!" Chen Guidong responded and immediately took action. He first boarded the small boat next to him, and then stepped onto the big ship in a few steps. His movements were as agile as a fox eager to escape.

As soon as he entered the cabin, Chen Guidong quickly looked around. In addition to Li Banghua, he also saw two burly men standing on both sides, wearing casual clothes, with long swords on their waists, and looking very imposing. Their eyes were as sharp as eagles, as if they could see through all the secrets in people's hearts.

"Who are these two..." Chen Guidong asked tentatively, with a slight tremor in his voice.

"You can rest assured that I am your servant and am responsible for protecting your safety." Li Banghua answered easily, as if he did not care about the predicament in front of him.

However, Chen Guidong suddenly knelt down with a plop, tears streaming down his face: "Sir, help me! I have committed a capital crime, please have mercy on me!" His voice was filled with tears, as if a chicken about to be slaughtered was making its last struggle.

Li Banghua had his back to him and spoke without any emotion: "Is there a fire in the government office?" His tone was as calm as the surface of a lake, without the slightest ripple.

Chen Guidong suddenly raised his head and stared at Li Banghua's back, his heart pounding. How could this old man know everything? Did someone tell him? The more he thought about it, the more scared he became. He broke out in a cold sweat, as if he was in a world of ice and snow.

"There was indeed a fire in the government office last night. Everything else was fine, except the tax books from previous years, which were all burned to ashes." Chen Guidong's voice was trembling, as if every word was squeezed out from between his teeth.

"I checked all night long, but couldn't find any clues." His tone was full of helplessness and despair, like a wild animal trapped in a cage, struggling in vain.

Li Banghua turned around and looked directly at Chen Guidong: "Was it a lightning strike or a human factor?" His eyes were as sharp as a knife, as if he could see through all the secrets in people's hearts.

This is a huge difference. The imperial court might be able to let a lightning strike go, considering it a natural disaster; but if it was man-made, it would have to be investigated thoroughly. At the very least, the person would be fined and demoted, and at the worst, he would have to go to jail. Chen Guidong lowered his head even lower, and his voice was as soft as a mosquito: "There was no thunder last night, so... I suspect it was man-made." His tone was full of fear and uneasiness, like a criminal about to be tried, waiting for the final verdict.

Li Banghua paced in the cabin with his hands behind his back, wondering how deep the water in Jiangnan was. Is Chen Guidong loyal or treacherous? If he is a treacherous minister, then the fire might have been set by him; if he is a loyal minister, then the fire might have been set by the gentry in protest against taxation. There was a deep light in his eyes, as if he could see through all the secrets in people's hearts.

"Chen Guidong." Li Banghua stopped and spoke with an unquestionable majesty in his tone.

"I'm here." There was a tremor in Chen Guidong's voice, like a chicken about to be slaughtered.

"Xuzhou is directly under the jurisdiction of the Nanjing Ministry of Revenue. All documents should have backup archives, right? Even if the evidence was burned in the fire, it is not actually gone, right?" Li Banghua's tone was gentle, but there was something behind his words, as if an old fox was testing the reaction of its prey.

Chen Guidong was stunned for a moment, and it took him a long time to come back to his senses: "The Ministry of Revenue is short of staff, and we haven't had time to collect documents from various prefectures and counties." His tone was full of helplessness and fear, like a wild beast trapped in a cage.

Li Banghua was slightly stunned, but then he was relieved. The arsonist must have thought of this, so he dared to do it. There was a deep light in his eyes, as if he was thinking about how to deal with the predicament at hand.

Li Banghua walked to the desk, picked up a piece of white paper, supported the desk with his left hand, picked up the pen with his right hand, and began to write vigorously. His handwriting was vigorous and powerful, and every word revealed an indomitable spirit.

Soon, the paper was filled with densely written words. The handwriting was like a group of ants, neat and powerful, revealing an unquestionable majesty.

(The papermaking technology was very advanced during the Ming Dynasty. The white cotton paper used during the Wanli period was so white and pure that it looked like jade. The paper had a fine texture and a warm touch, as if it could absorb all the ink, leaving only clear handwriting.)
Li Banghua asked someone to hand the written document to Chen Guidong: "Many of the current defenders of Xuzhou are from Yangzhou, and the garrison commander is also from Yangzhou. I will temporarily give you the command of 1,200 of them. As long as they do not rebel or rob, you can dispatch them at will." There was an unquestionable majesty in his tone, as if a general was issuing orders on the battlefield.

"Please check if there is any mistake in this document." Li Banghua's tone carried a hint of unquestionable majesty.

Chen Guidong took the document and looked at it carefully. He saw that Li Banghua, in the name of the imperial envoy, had given him the command of part of the garrison and put him in full charge. He was filled with an indescribable excitement and gratitude, like an eagle about to spread its wings and fly high.

"What does this mean, Lord?" Chen Guidong asked in bewilderment. His heart was filled with doubts and puzzlement, like a lamb that had lost its way.

"Disaster relief, checking accounts, collecting taxes, arresting bad guys, and executing criminals!" Li Banghua said it easily, as if he was a seasoned hunter setting a trap. His eyes revealed a deep light, as if he was thinking about how to deal with the predicament at hand.

"But the account books have been burned..." Chen Guidong's voice was filled with helplessness and fear. His heart was filled with anxiety and uneasiness, like a wild animal trapped in a cage.

"The account book is gone, but there are other evidences." Li Banghua's tone was filled with unquestionable majesty, "Let's start with Junping's post." His eyes revealed a deep light, as if he was thinking about how to deal with the current dilemma.

The Junping Youtie was the tax bill at that time. It was first issued to the village head before taxation, and then distributed to each household. It was in triplicate, with the amount of tax to be paid written on it. After paying the tax, the signature and seal were stamped, and kept in the county, the Ministry of Revenue, and the tax collector. Chen Guidong was shocked when he heard this. This is not a small project, but the court did this, which shows that they are serious this time. He was filled with an indescribable excitement and excitement, as if a soldier was about to step onto the battlefield.

"What if there is no proof? Ordinary people might lose it." Chen Guidong asked cautiously. His heart was filled with doubts and uneasiness, like a lamb that had lost its way.

Li Banghua sneered: "Ordinary people regard tax bills as important as their lives. They are afraid of paying even a penny more, so how could they lose them easily? Those who don't have receipts are most likely in tax arrears. It's up to you how to deal with them." There was an unquestionable majesty and ruthlessness in his tone.

"After checking the letters of credit, check upwards based on the total number." Li Banghua's tone carried an unquestionable majesty and a calm analytical air. "For example, in the 16th year of our dynasty, Xuzhou should have paid 10,000 taels of tax silver to the Nanjing Ministry of Revenue. The officials collected taxes in their respective areas, and you should have records of the numbers they handed in, right?" His eyes revealed a deep light and a sharp aura like a knife.

"Yes! Yes!" Chen Guidong nodded quickly. His heart was filled with excitement and excitement, as if he was a soldier about to step onto the battlefield. Even if he had forgotten, there must be a record in the county warehouse.

Li Banghua nodded and continued to explain. His words moistened Chen Guidong's heart like spring rain, and he gradually understood the mystery and importance of checking accounts. Chen Guidong was confused at first, but gradually he understood. In fact, the method of checking accounts is very simple, that is, to check from one level to another. For example, there are three families in the east of the city, each of which has ten acres of land. According to regulations, each family should pay thirty taels of tax. If one of the families evades taxes, the officials will settle the accounts with the other two families, let them pay fifteen taels each, and then give them tax bills. In this way, the family that evaded taxes will not have a tax bill, and the tax will have to be collected; if there is a tax bill, it means that the officials have made some moves in the middle. This method of checking accounts is simple and effective, which makes Chen Guidong secretly admire the court's thoroughness and determination.

As Li Banghua explained, the atmosphere in the cabin became solemn. The scenery outside the window gradually became blurred, as if covered by a thick fog. But Chen Guidong's heart gradually became brighter, as if he saw a glimmer of hope. He secretly made up his mind to do this job well, to fight for the court, the people, and himself.

Li Banghua's method of collecting unpaid taxes is truly amazing! He is like a chess player with profound wisdom and strategy, making every move just right, which makes people have to admire him.

First, he cleverly gave power to the local army, allowing those officials who had not yet been corrupted by the gentry to show their strength. For those stubborn elements who refused to pay the taxes, his strategy was to throw them into prison first, then give them a few beatings, and not stop until the taxes were paid. These soldiers from other places, because their families were not here, executed the orders decisively and without scruples. There was a kind of determination and courage in their eyes, as if to say: "No matter who you are, as long as you owe taxes, you must be punished!"

As for those officials who colluded with the gentry, Li Banghua did not indulge them blindly, but gave them military power and made them part of the tax inspection. This was not a trust in them, but it was really difficult to distinguish between loyalty and treachery, and he needed to test them with actual actions. However, the main force of the tax inspection was not these officials who might have problems, but the elites of the Ministry of Revenue brought by Li Banghua himself, as well as the accountants transferred from Northern Zhili, Shandong and other places. They were like sharp hounds, and as long as the tax amount did not match the tax bill, they would be able to sniff out the trick. Tax evasion was the responsibility of the gentry, and corruption was the problem of the officials. Once checked, no one could escape.

The key to auditing accounts is to clarify responsibilities, so that taxes can be effectively collected. Li Banghua's deep eyes revealed an unquestionable majesty. He stared at Chen Guidong and said, "I don't know whether you are an honest official or a corrupt official, but now I have handed over the power to you. Do you want to help the court collect taxes or help the gentry evade taxes? It's up to you." His voice was not loud, but it carried an irresistible force.

Chen Guidong was stunned when he heard this. He asked tentatively: "Mr. Li, if a person has become a corrupt official, can he become an honest official again?" His eyes were full of confusion and anxiety, like a lamb that had lost its way.

Li Banghua's eyes were deep and firm, and he replied: "There were so many corrupt officials in the capital before, and the emperor gave them all the chance to reform. The same goes for local officials." There was an unquestionable majesty and compassion in his tone.

Chen Guidong suddenly understood what was going on when he heard this. He seemed to see a glimmer of hope, and he quickly left. His steps became firm and powerful, like a soldier about to step onto the battlefield.

……

On the morning of July 27, the Xuzhou government office was crowded with people. There were too many officials brought by the imperial envoy to check the accounts, and the government office could not accommodate them. Chen Guidong had to set up temporary desks outside. In order to ensure the safety of the officials, hundreds of soldiers were sent to surround the area to keep the common people out.

The common people were very curious. They gathered around and asked the soldiers, "Sir, what are you doing?" The soldiers answered seriously, "This is the imperial envoy sent by the court. He is checking the accounts of the Xuzhou government and the tax collection over the years. He wants to find out who collected more or less so that the taxation can be more fair and reasonable." The common people were skeptical, but their eyes revealed a gleam of expectation and curiosity.

The soldier went on to say, "Yesterday we notified the village heads in various places and asked them to register the tax situation over the years according to the tax bills. If there is any false information, we will investigate it to the end. If the people find evidence of tax evasion, they can also hand it over to the government office. Once verified, there will be a reward of 10,000 taels of silver!" His voice was loud and powerful, as if he was announcing the good news to the world.

On the 29th, the village heads from all over Xuzhou came to the state government office with their tax records to wait for inspection. This first step is also the most critical step. However, the authenticity of the records is not the most important. The imperial envoys brought by Li Banghua actually pay more attention to the fish scale book (a book that records detailed land information). They will focus on checking those families with more land, because these people are rich and easy to evade taxes.

So, they called in the names on the tax forms one by one to question them. Is there something fishy going on? They would know once they checked. There was a sharp light in their eyes, as if they could see through all the secrets in people's hearts.

Suddenly, an official from the Ministry of Revenue came to Li Banghua with the tax records and fish scale book and said he had found something wrong. Li Banghua took a closer look and found something fishy: the tax bill said that the village should pay 674 taels and 2 cents in taxes for the 16th year, but the fish scale book showed that the village should only pay 374 taels and 2 cents in taxes. It was obviously 300 taels more! His eyes revealed a kind of anger and determination, as if a soldier had discovered the enemy's traces.

When the head of the village was called in, he was so scared that he knelt on the ground and trembled: "Your humble servant kowtows to you, sir." Li Banghua asked him who set the taxes and he replied: "It was set by Lord Wang, the ambassador of the taxation department of the provincial government." His voice was trembling and weak, like a chicken about to be slaughtered.

The soldier next to him patted him on the shoulder and said, "How dare a mere ninth-rank official call me sir? Just say your name!" The head of the village replied, "My name is Wang Shi." There was a hint of helplessness and panic in his voice.

Li Banghua immediately ordered someone to bring Wang Shi. Soon, a fat middle-aged man was brought in by the soldiers. He fell to the ground before he could stand up and screamed in pain. The soldiers helped him up and brought him to Li Banghua. His eyes revealed a kind of panic and anxiety, as if he was a criminal about to be tried.

When Li Banghua asked him why he had collected more taxes, Wang Shi was shocked at first but soon calmed down and said, "The prefect ordered me to do so." He then put the blame on Chen Guidong. His eyes revealed a cunning and sinister aura, as if he was a fox looking for a scapegoat.

When Chen Guidong heard this, his face turned green and he shouted, "Don't slander me! When did I order you to collect more taxes?" There was a sense of anger and helplessness in his voice, as if he was a good man who was wronged.

Wang Shi argued, "If you don't believe me, you can check it out! I'm just a small official, how dare I disobey the order of the prefect?" His eyes revealed a cunning and provocative look, as if he was challenging Li Banghua's authority.

Li Banghua smiled and pointed to the tax records and said, "Then you should be very clear about this, right?" There was an unquestionable majesty and sarcasm in his tone.

Wang Shi nodded and said, "Yes." There was a hint of helplessness and fear in his voice, as if he was a rabbit being targeted by a hunter.

"The extra money has to go somewhere, right? Tell me, for whom did you give tax cuts?" Li Banghua's words were chilling, like a sharp knife piercing Wang Shi's heart. His eyes revealed a sharp and cold aura, like a judge interrogating a criminal.

Wang Shi felt that something was wrong when he heard this, as if he was helping Li Banghua find evidence. He hesitated for a long time before saying, "It was to reduce taxes for the family of Zhou Yangping in the east of the city, but this was done in accordance with the order of the prefect." His eyes revealed a kind of panic and uneasiness, as if he was a liar who was about to be exposed.

The official from the Ministry of Revenue left after hearing this. After a while, he came back with two volumes of information for Li Banghua to show him, and said, "Sir, look, this is the tax bill sent by another village head. His family has not evaded taxes." There was excitement and excitement in his tone, as if he was an explorer who had discovered a new continent.

Li Banghua turned to Wang Shi and asked, "Did you embezzle the extra money yourself or did you falsify the tax bill?" His eyes revealed a sharp and majestic aura, as if he was a judge interrogating a criminal.

Wang Shi was so scared that he trembled all over and said, "I'm not greedy! I've handed it all over to the prefect!" He secretly glanced at Chen Guidong, hoping to get some help. His eyes revealed a kind of panic and anxiety, as if he was a chicken about to be slaughtered.

Chen Guidong was so angry that he gritted his teeth: "Wang Shi, if you dare to talk nonsense again, I will not forgive you!" There was a sense of anger and helplessness in his voice, as if he was a good man who was wronged.

When Wang Shi saw that Chen Guidong was angry, he immediately knelt before Li Banghua, kowtowed and cried, "The prefect wants to kill me to silence me! Please save me!" There was a sense of despair and panic in his voice, as if he was a fish about to drown.

At this time, the whole state government was silent, and everyone stared at this scene with wide eyes. Their eyes revealed a light of expectation and curiosity, as if they were watching a wonderful drama. And Li Banghua was like a calm director, directing the direction of this drama. His eyes revealed a deep and majestic aura, as if he could see through all the secrets in people's hearts. (End of this chapter)