Han official!

Chapter 21 My Money

In the left academy of the Chang'an official temple, Guo Jie was kneeling on a sitting platform. A fire was burning brightly on the horseshoe-shaped stove in front of him. The left academy room soon became warm under the baking charcoal fire.

A cup of wine was placed above the horseshoe-shaped stove. The millet wine in the bronze cup gradually began to emit steam and a mellow aroma.

Generally, there are academies next to walled official temples, pavilions, and village gates.

The village head sits in the right school, and the neighborhood leader sits in the left school.

"Brother."

Wei Guang went to the official temple and summoned Jin Cao, one of the county officials, with an anxious look on his face. "According to Jin Cao, Wei Youqu was on his way to the Prime Minister's residence to report his brother when he ran into the Palace Attendant Sang Hongyang, who had come out of the palace. He reported the incident involving the water purchase fee in Gao Street. Sang Hongyang was planning to severely punish you in order to rectify the administration in Chang'an and serve as a warning to other officials there."

Jin Cao walked into the changing room of Zuoshu Academy and looked at Guo Jie, who was kneeling calmly on the sitting platform. He looked calm even in the face of disaster. While feeling respect for him, he couldn't help shaking his head.

Guo Jie, the chief of the capital who came from a family of knights, was really bold and presumptuous. It would have been fine if he had only killed powerful relatives, but the number of people he killed was far less than that of Zhao Yu, the prefect of Chang'an.

But he happened to provoke the foreign envoys from the barbarian land.

Although Guo Jie's actions were pleasing to the people, they also forced him into a desperate situation.

Wei Youqu was not a powerful person, so he could go to the Prime Minister's Mansion to report Guo Jie's illegal activities.

"Sang Hongyang?"

Guo Jie said calmly, "No problem. Please ask the gold officer to have the junior officials from the temple count the gold cakes to see if they reach fifty gold. This is my confession. I once killed a man named Cao Ji. Today I bring fifty gold to atone for my sin."

Fifty gold!
Jin Cao was shocked and felt stunned that someone could really come up with fifty gold.

In the few years that he had served as the Gold Officer in the Chang'an official temple, this was the first time he saw an official or citizen bring fifty gold coins to atone for their sins.

One gold and ten thousand coins.

A full five hundred thousand coins.

Jin Cao bowed and said, "When I came here, I heard the bell at the magistrate's residence. He asked me to tell Captain Guo that Lord Zhao wants you to go to the magistrate's residence inside the gate to inquire about the robbery of Wei Youqu's money and silk."

Unexpectedly, Guo Jie was about to face beheading and public execution. Not only did he not take the fifty gold coins with him to flee to the county, he also brought them with him to buy a title to atone for his sins.

It seems that Guo Jie's reputation for loyalty and righteousness is well-deserved.

Cao Ji must be a very treacherous and evil person.

Deserve to kill.

Jin Cao walked out of the changing room to count the gold cakes, but he didn't realize one thing. He was influenced by Bian Hu and Mai Jue's atonement, and believed that everyone killed by Guo Jie deserved to die.

He must be a wicked thief.

Wei Guang's face became even more anxious. He gritted his teeth and prepared to go to the princess's residence to beg Princess Pingyang to save Guo Jie's life, temporarily imprison him in Chang'an Prison, and find a way to redeem Guo Jie later.

Zhang Qian's expression suddenly changed, and he said in a deep voice, "Brother, don't go. Why don't you and I go to the Western Regions together and kill a Xiongnu pawnshop owner and try to survive? As long as you hang the Xiongnu pawnshop owner's head in Gao Street and steal the gold cakes from the foreign envoys like Wei Youqu, it won't be worth mentioning."

to death?

Sang Hongyang was the money bag of Emperor Wu of Han, Liu Che.

Guo Jie stopped Wei Guang, who was about to go to the princess's residence, and said calmly, "Today, I want to tell you two a lesson. When it comes to being an official, ability is not important. What matters is to follow the right leader, er, the right superior."

Zhang Qian and Wei Guang looked confused as they followed Guo Jie towards the gate, not understanding the meaning of this sentence.

"Guo Jie."

Zhang Tang, upon seeing Guo Jie enter, was the first to question him: "Wei Youqu has accused you of robbing money and silk. This officer is investigating you. Did you actually rob the foreign envoys of their money and silk, thereby violating Han law?"

In his opinion, whether or not to rob foreign envoys is not important.

What is important is whether or not the laws of the Han Dynasty have been violated.

As long as Guo Jie did not break the law, no matter whether it was the Minister of the Interior Sang Hongyang or the Marquis of Weiqi Dou Ying in person, Zhang Tang would ensure that Guo Jie left the official temple safely even if he had to give up his position as the Wei of Chang'an.

Guo Jie understood the meaning of Zhang Tang's words and expressed gratitude. He said solemnly, "I did not steal money or silk, but sold water to the barbarians. Many officials and civilians were present at the time and heard me speak of selling water."

Wei Youqu looked at his stubborn denial and gritted his teeth: "Since I came to Chang'an, I have never suffered such humiliation. Selling water? You're kidding! Which merchant can sell water for tens of gold?" Tens of gold!
Even the cruel officials Zhao Yu and Zhang Tang were shocked when they heard such a huge amount of money, and thought that Guo Jie was so greedy that he stole dozens of gold from the barbarian's house.

No wonder Wei Youqu was so indignant that he went to the Prime Minister's Mansion to report Guo Jie for stealing money and silk.

Sang Hongyang's expression changed. He stared at Guo Jie at the gate with an ugly look on his face, thinking that he was a greedy and lustful official.

Ha ha.

Even under a great reputation, there are still some false people.

Where did the hero Guo Jie from Chen County come from?

He is just a treacherous villain!

"Dozens of gold."

Guo Jie said with an innocent look, "Sir, this man has wronged me. Where did these tens of gold coins come from? I don't have a single penny. The most valuable thing I have is the black robe given to me by Lord Zhao."

He had no valuables, and his only valuable black robe was kept in his residence in Duting.

This month's food salary has not been paid yet. What Guo Jie said is absolutely right. He has no money on him, and he doesn't need any money to serve as the head of Gaojie. All food and drink expenses are arranged by the chef.

After all, he is the director of the Public Security Bureau of a district in the capital. Why should he have to pay for his own meals?

"How dare you quibble!"

Wei Youqu said angrily, "You said it was money from selling water? Fine, this prince accepts it. Don't forget that many officials and people watched you transport a large amount of money and silk from the barbarian residence."

There was a hint of disgust in Sang Hongyang's eyes when he looked at Guo Jie, which left a mark on him.

A villain with no integrity at all.

Today, there must be severe punishment.

"The lower officials are wronged."

Guo Jie's innocence was even greater: "I have already handed over fifty gold coins to the gold department of the Chang'an official temple to buy a title and atone for my sin. I really do not have a penny. I have handed over all the gold cakes I obtained from the barbarian residence to the official temple."

Handed it in?
Zhao Yu, Zhang Tang and Wei Youqu were all stunned at the same time.

It was unimaginable that Guo Jie actually handed over fifty gold coins to the Chang'an official temple.

That's a full fifty gold.

At this time, Jin Cao brought a young official with him and brought a large cauldron filled with gold cakes. The golden cakes emitted a brilliant golden light, which made it impossible for the officials to open their eyes, let alone take their eyes away.

Too much.

There were so many gold cakes that they had to be stored in a large cooking pot, and the official temple couldn't find a suitable utensil.

"Haha."

Sang Hongyang suddenly burst into laughter, stepped forward, and solemnly shook Guo Jie's arm. "Guo Jie of Chen County is indeed a chivalrous man who values righteousness. No, it should be called loyalty and righteousness. He is truly a loyal minister of the Han Dynasty."

Guo Jie is loyal and righteous.

He bore the infamy of robbing foreign envoys, but he donated fifty gold coins to the government temple and to the emperor to build forests and gardens.

A true loyal minister.

Everyone was stunned. They never expected that the expression of Minister Sang Hongyang would change so drastically.

"Minister."

Wei Youqu was surprised and said, "Gold cakes from the Barbarian Residence."

"Get out!"

Sang Hongyang stared at Wei Youqu and shouted sternly, "Get away from the emperor's golden cake immediately!"

(End of this chapter)