Nanyang Storm 1864

Chapter 59 The backer has fallen
Beizi Mansion on the shore of Houhai Lake

When Zheng Guohui arrived here with a long mule and horse caravan, he saw that the entire Prince's mansion was dressed in mourning and there was a mourning tent set up on the street outside. He was shocked.

"Quick, stop the convoy and find out what happened?"

"As you command, General."

Zheng Guohui just stuck his head out to take a look, then immediately retracted it, considering it with a look of doubt and uncertainty, and then gave another order;
"Zheng Gui, go ahead and tell the team leader to lead the team forward, circle around to the front house, and don't stop along the way."

"As you command, General."

The long convoy of mules and horses stopped briefly at the intersection, and the drivers raised their whips and drove the animals forward.

Under the mourning tent at the entrance of Beizi's mansion, many court officials who came to pay their respects saw this scene and couldn't help but discuss it in private.

"Hey, did you see that? This doesn't look like a court official coming to pay his respects."

"With so many things in the car, could it be..."

"No way, who among Lord Minister's disciples has such strength? Even for the routine offerings in spring and autumn, there wouldn't be such a grand ceremony, right?"

"You are so ignorant. This must be an official from Jiangnan. Jiangnan is famous for its wealth! He is not like us Beijing officials who are suffering so much."

"That's right. Look at him... he's gone again."

"Tsk tsk tsk, whoever it is, they're always quick to see the opportunity... The Minister here just passed away, and there's not even any incense burning over there."

"People's hearts have changed, and the world is so cold and indifferent."

"Who says it isn't true? The Fuzhu Prince's mansion is like the sky has collapsed, so naturally they will scatter like birds and beasts!"

Having said that

But there were some astute officials who ordered their servants to follow the mule and horse team to see which mansion they would enter in the end.
In the caravan

Zheng Guohui's expression was no longer as calm as it was at the beginning. He had probably guessed what was going on, but he just wasn't sure.

"Your Excellency, I have just learned that Master Fuzhu Shoushan passed away last night. The court has issued an edict, bestowing upon him the title of 'Zhongqin' and burying him with the rites of Gushan Beile.

Another 600 miles will be sent to Jinling Prefecture with an urgent message, and Lord Fuzhu Hong'a will be ordered to return overnight to comfort Lord Butang's spirit in heaven."

"I understand. Follow me back." Zheng Guohui looked gloomy after hearing this, but he had no idea at all. He could only go back first.

This is the inconvenience for local officials. News from the capital is seriously delayed.

Although the visiting card was delivered two days in advance, the visitor's status was not high enough, so only the steward of the Beizi Mansion handed over the visiting card, and the real person was not seen at all.

As for when did the Minister fall ill?

No one knows whether the illness is serious or not, and it's not anyone else's fault for causing such a big mistake.

The mule and horse caravan circled around Houhai, then turned out along the road and went straight to the big house outside the front gate, and then stopped one after another.

Everyone in the house came out to greet them. Dozens of strong guards had just taken a break, and seeing that there was more work to do, they hurried to help unload the mule and horse carts.

Zheng Guohui didn't stand outside the door. Instead, he walked back with a sullen face, waving his hand to tell Zheng Fu, Zheng Gui and the others not to follow him. "Go to the front and take a look. If you need any help, follow my instructions. I won't be waiting on you here."

"As you command, General."

They went straight to the back house, where Qian Xiaoyue and Su Mei Niang came to pay their respects with a dozen maids and servants.

Zheng Guohui snorted in a bad mood, walked straight to the lobby of the back house and sat down, frowning as he thought about the current situation.

Qian Xiaoyue and Su Mei Niang quickly told the maids to disperse and not to make any noise, so as not to disturb the adults' mood. No one could bear the punishment.

The two girls brewed hot tea and brought exquisite snacks to the main hall. They stole a glance and saw that the master had a frown on his face, so they retreated quietly.

At this time, Zheng Guohui had just figured out some ideas and felt that "it is better to be still than to move", so he had to first find out the direction of the wind in the court.

Fuzhu Shoushan's sudden death brought some uncertainty to the trip to the capital.

There is an impact, but it is not significant.

Zheng Guohui's military achievements during his campaign to the south to suppress banditry last year have all been reported to the Ministry of War for review and finalization. All that's missing is an imperial edict for his reward.

The ministers helped with the campaign during their lifetime, and the court has already made a decision, which will not be easily changed.

The key point is that there is no big Buddha to protect you, so the business of smuggling salt will never last long. It is a very dangerous thing.

Jiangnan Governor Fuzhu Hong'a came back to attend the funeral. According to the rules, he has to observe mourning for three years, so he will definitely not be able to hold an official position. This is also a problem.

the only possibility

Even if the imperial court issues an order to take away the favor, seeing that Fuzhu Hong'a, a member of the royal family, is lazy and not a pillar of the court, there is no hope for such favor.

The mountain behind him collapsed suddenly, which made Zheng Guohui feel uneasy and his mood was naturally not good.

In this officialdom

You always have to take sides, or you can grow into a strong tree that can withstand the wind and rain from the court.

Either find a big tree for shelter, otherwise don't even think about having peace. There are so many jealous officials in Jiangnan. Will it be Zheng Guohui's turn to continue making a fortune in silence?
It's impossible even if you think about it.

Earlier, a court official had proposed transferring Zheng Guohui north to suppress the Nian rebels. This could have been a move by officials friendly with the salt merchant family, or perhaps by a jealous faction. Fuzhu Shoushan directly countered the proposal in court, using a legitimate and justifiable reason.

Zheng Guohui's job is to guard the city of Jinling. Moreover, Jiangning Prefecture is the core area. If he easily withdraws heavy troops, the city defense will be empty. Once the enemy takes advantage of it, who can take responsibility for it?
Nowadays, the Hui Rebellion and the Nian Bandits are rampant. It will only take two or three days and nights for the Nian Bandits' cavalry to move south. How can we take it lightly?

If there is to be a mobilization, it should be the Huai Army troops stationed in Changzhou Prefecture and Gusu Prefecture. How can it be justified to directly transfer the local garrison troops in Jiangning Prefecture?
These words were polite and restrained, and he directly retorted.

Without anyone's support in the court, Zheng Guohui will most likely be transferred to the front line of bandit suppression and fight with those bandits in the country.

Not to mention three, five, or even ten years, it would take to kill them all.

If that's the case
It would have been better for Zheng Guohui to take sick leave and return home, giving up his official position, so as to avoid being used as a knife in the hands of the court to kill those rioters in the country who could not bear to live and rebelled.

Without the protection of a big Buddha, it is basically impossible to hide safely in Jiangnan Province and make money, except in dreams.

So...who can I turn to?

Now Zheng Guohui is not very familiar with the affairs of the court. He knows that Li Hongzhang, the Governor-General of Liangjiang, will take control of the central government and grow into a towering tree.

But that was two years later, it’s not possible now.

Among the Han ministers, Zeng Guofan, Zuo Zongtang, and Li Hongzhang were the most powerful, but their power in the court was not strong, and the situation was still dominated by the bannermen and royal family.

Thought for a while
Zheng Guohui didn't have much of an idea, so he could only suppress his anxiety and wait a few days to find out what the court was doing.

"General, Zhang Peilun, the Right Secretary of the Imperial Household Department, has sent a letter requesting an audience. Please give your instructions."

"Oh...are you outside the mansion?"

"Yes, sir, this person is waiting outside the mansion."

"Then... please go into the outer study and chat."

"As you command, General."

After the servant left, Zheng Guohui stood up. He was currently seriously lacking channels for access to the court's internal affairs. It would be beneficial to make friends with more court officials and listen to them.

The Zhanshi Mansion is an internal organization serving the royal family and the imperial clan. The Right Secretary is a fifth-rank official who is immersed in the court and the imperial clan all day long, so he must be well-informed.

Let’s see what the other person means and then deal with it accordingly!
"I have met General Zheng. He is indeed a young hero with extraordinary bearing! I heard that when he went north to the capital, he killed the leader of the Nian bandits, Li Yuntai. Rumors are rife in the court that General Zheng is an extraordinary hero."

The Right Assistant Minister Zhang Peilun was a middle-aged bureaucrat of around 42 or 43 years old. He immediately made a gesture of courtesy, acting like a well-mannered person from the capital.

Although he is said to be a court official, he is actually more like a veteran who has experienced the ups and downs of officialdom.

Zheng Guohui quickly stepped forward to help him up, saying, "Oh, Master Zhang, how can you embarrass me? You don't need to be so polite. Aren't you just humiliating me?"

Right Secretary Zhang Peilun stood up and said with a smile, "General, I apologize for your kindness. I truly admire your approachable character."

"Master Zhang, your words are too kind. Please come into the study and have some tea. I have lived in Jiangnan for a long time and have been isolated from the outside world. I was just wondering how I should deal with this, Master Zhang?"

"Hahaha...you're welcome, you're welcome. It's just a humble opinion."

"There, I must seek your advice. I hope Master Zhang will be generous in giving me some advice."

The two of them exchanged greetings as they entered the study. Zheng Guohui's words were warm and humble, and they really hit it off immediately, creating a very harmonious atmosphere.

Zheng Guohui did not dare to underestimate the bureaucrats in the capital. Who knew who was standing behind them?

The officials in the capital are not as simple as they seem. You must never judge people by their official rank. Many lower-level officials in the six ministries of the imperial court are often the ones in charge.

Since the Qing Dynasty, there has been a highly feudal centralized system, leaving very little power to the provinces, prefectures, and counties below.

For example, the Ministry of Households

The military and civil affairs expenses of each province are complicated and diverse, and all need to be reviewed and reimbursed by the Ministry of Revenue. The high-ranking officials of the Ministry of Revenue rarely look at the account books and just sign them.

The people who actually audit the account books are the lower-level bureaucrats and clerks, and their opinions often play a dominant role.

The account rolls of some provinces have been delayed for more than ten years and have gone through many provincial government heads. There are countless connection and historical problems, which cannot withstand criticism at all.

The staff of the Ministry of Revenue seized on the real problems and repeatedly made things difficult and criticized them, either saying that "the accounts were unclear" or demanding that they be "sent back for redoing". Their purpose was to solicit bribes, money and benefits.

The clerks in the Ministry of Revenue generally took a commission based on the reimbursement amount of the applying department, which they called "li".

Local governments called it "department fees", which means commission.

No matter what the name is, nothing can be done without enough money.

This was the case with the Ministry of Revenue, as well as other court departments such as the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of War. Naturally, this phenomenon was also unavoidable in the Chancellery, which handled tasks for the royal family and clan members.

Those princes and concubines who were not favored by the emperor would inevitably be deprived of money and harassed by the Chancellery. This was all a matter of treating people differently.

How much can the “department fee” be?

According to well-informed sources, the annual "departmental expenses" of the six ministries of the imperial court were around 10 million taels of silver, which were basically embezzled by officials at all levels and low-level clerks.

This era
The court's annual fiscal revenue was only 4000 to 4500 million taels of silver. You can see how big the loophole was.

Therefore, when making friends with officials in the capital, you must not underestimate any of them.

(End of this chapter)