I am a temporary worker in Jinyiwei, how did I become a powerful official?

Chapter 93 Nephew, You Are a Talent

The day when Lin Shisan entered the Western Garden was the first day a new official made three big moves, which worried the eunuchs who kept favorites.

From the purchase cost to the feeding cost, all the account books show water from the East China Sea.

The total amount of silver written off in the 18 account books was 450,000 taels. Lu Fang had previously estimated that at least 300,000 taels were embezzled by the eunuchs.

After the expert Lin Shisan checked, he had a general idea in his mind: at most 50,000 taels out of the 450,000 taels were used for practical purposes.

In the evening, he went to report to Lu Fang.

Today, Lin Shisan offended a lot of people, and Lu Fang also offended a lot of people.

During the day, Lu Fang convened the heads of the twelve prisons, eight bureaus and four departments to discuss one item: reducing expenditures in various departments this year.

Lu Fang managed to cut the annual budget of 3.2 million taels of silver for the 24 government offices down to one million taels of silver.

The good days of the eunuchs are over.

In Lu Fang's small building in Xiyuan, Lin Shisan bowed to him and reported the cancellation of pet-keeping rooms.

Lu Fang frowned: "Why is there such a big difference?"

Lin Shisan replied: "Uncle, I checked today and found it shocking."

Lu Fang seemed to want to test Lin Shisan: "Now that the omissions have been found, how do you think I should deal with them?"

Lin Shisan remained silent.

Lu Fang asked, "Why, you dare not say it?"

Lin Shisan bowed his hands: "Uncle. If I tell you, please forgive me."

Lu Fang picked up the teacup and took a sip of tea: "Well, just say it."

Lin Shisan said: "My nephew believes that we should adhere to the eight-character principle when dealing with these people."

Lv Fang asked: "Oh? Which eight words?"

Lin Shisan replied: "I will not investigate the past, and I will reduce the silver by nine."

Lu Fang thought for a moment and said, "I know what the 90% reduction means. Last year we allocated 450,000 taels to them, and this year we will only allocate 50,000 taels."

"But you said that you would not pursue the past. Why do you say that? Did you take their money and intend to exonerate them?"

"You better explain yourself clearly. Otherwise I will charge you with partiality."

Lin Shisan spoke eloquently: "Uncle, I heard that there are many factions in the officialdom, and the same is true in the palace."

"The eighteen ambassadors who keep pets all have their own backers and their own mountaintops. They don't have the stomach to swallow up all the 400,000 taels that they embezzled last year."

"A large part of it must have been given as a gift to the supervisors, junior supervisors, and even eunuchs of the 24 government offices above them."

"If you want to conduct a thorough investigation, and find out who is above them, will you arrest them or not? Will you punish them or not?"

"If we really want to investigate layer by layer, just like when Grandpa Taizu investigated the Guo Huan case, if we dig deep and investigate extensively, I'm afraid more than half of the heads of the twenty-four yamen will lose their official hats."

"You are the Prime Minister of the Ming Dynasty. A major corruption case occurred in the twenty-four government offices, and you cannot escape the blame."

"If those so-called clean officials outside knew about this, they would definitely attack you as the internal minister and stir up a political uproar."

"By then, the delicate balance between the inner and outer courts of the Ming Dynasty will be broken. This balance has been painstakingly cultivated by the emperor and you for many years."

"The Emperor and you've put in so much effort over the years will go to waste."

Lin Shisan's words made Lu Fang's eyes widen.

Lü Fang understood all these principles, but he did not expect that a 20-year-old young official from the Northern Pacification Division could have such insight.

Lu Fang praised: "You are great, Lin Shisan. It's a waste of your talent to let you be a salary-transmitting official. I should let you clean up your body and work as a scribe in the Imperial Household Department." "You can see the big picture of the whole inner and outer court by looking at small things. Nephew, you are a talent."

"The ancients said that all evil must be eradicated. But few emperors in every dynasty could do that. Why? The answer is 'the law cannot punish the masses'."

"In the end, eliminating evil often results in compromise."

"Only a founding emperor like Taizu, who has a thunderous hand and is the greatest emperor in history, would dare to launch the three major cases and eradicate all evil."

Lin Shisan poured Lv Fang a cup of tea and said, "Uncle, you are too kind. I just thought a little more."

Lu Fang smiled slyly: "You advocate 'let bygones be bygones, and reduce the amount by 90%'. Actually, besides what you just said, you have another reason - for yourself."

"You have just taken over the write-off of the pet accounts in Xiyuan. If a major case occurs, the eunuchs and supervisors of the twenty-four yamen will hate you to death."

"They will certainly take revenge on you. I am your uncle. They dare not take revenge openly, but they will trip you up, set traps, and hit you with clubs in secret."

"It's easy to dodge an open attack, but it's hard to guard against a hidden arrow. If that's the case, you'll eventually fall into the trap."

"Am I right?"

Lin Shisan made no secret of it: "Uncle, you have sharp eyes. How could you possibly hide my little trick from you?"

"But then again. When doing things, you must first determine the purpose and then choose the means."

"Your ultimate goal is just to cut the pet-raising budget for Xiyuan next year. Why bother to settle old scores with them?"

"My nephew will call them together for a meeting tomorrow. Don't worry, I will make them accept the 90% budget reduction with my eloquent words."

Lu Fang stood up and patted Lin Shisan on the shoulder: "It's a pity that you didn't enter the palace clean."

Lin Shisan was startled: "Uncle, please stop teasing your nephew. Your nephew is going to take a concubine and give birth to more grandchildren for you."

Lu Fang changed the subject: "You little monkey, you gave me some raw pickled shrimp last time, and I was running around in the toilet for three or four hours. The toilet almost exploded."

This was something Lin Shisan had never expected. Raw pickled food was indeed a laxative for people with poor gastrointestinal function.

Lin Shisan was extremely embarrassed: "Ah, it was my fault. I was only thinking about curing your loss of appetite. I didn't expect that I would cause you to have diarrhea."

Lu Fang smiled and said, "I am not wrong. My loss of appetite is due to food accumulation in my lower abdomen. That trip actually cured my food accumulation."

"Oh, right, little monkey. The last time the emperor watched the turtle in Taiye Lake, he was very pleased. I have decided that the golden turtle in Taiye Lake will be yours from now on."

"You must serve her well. She is the emperor's favorite."

Lin Shisan cupped his hands and said, "I will definitely take that golden turtle and treat it as if it were my own uncle."

Lu Fang nodded with satisfaction: "Okay!"

After a moment, he realized something was wrong: "You little bastard, you are accusing me of being a coward, right?"

Lin Shisan said with a smile, "As the saying goes, a thousand-year-old turtle lives for a hundred-year-old tortoise. The emperor has the body of a true immortal and can live for ten thousand years. You must serve the emperor for at least a hundred years."

"I hope you will be as blessed and long-lived as the golden tortoise in Taiye Lake. May you serve the Emperor for another hundred years."

Lu Fang smiled happily, but after a moment he realized something was wrong again: "Good boy, you have fooled me! You are so clever that you can make fish jump out of the water."

"Forget it, it's already dusk. Go home first. Tomorrow you will call together the ambassadors of the various pet-raising rooms to discuss matters. Cut this year's budget."

Lin Shisan left Xiyuan and returned to his new house on Fushou Street.

As soon as he entered the house, he noticed a lot of red cloth and red silk hanging in the house.

Lin Shisan asked Biyun: "Why are there so many red decorations at home?"

Biyun replied: "I will consummate your marriage with Xiaoyun tonight."

(End of this chapter)