The struggle for the throne among nine princes—I really don't want to be the crown prince.

Chapter 108 You Don't Play by the Rules

Finally, the silt field was mentioned!
The ministers, who were feeling a bit drowsy, widened their eyes at the sight of the series of numbers.

How the money for the river works was spent was mostly none of their business.

But Yutian is different; many of them have bought it.

Moreover, the sale of the silt fields would generate a considerable sum of money, so it's highly likely that Jin Fu and his associates would target the silt fields rather than the river works.

Therefore, they all stared intently at Jin Fu, waiting for his answer.

Jin Fu calmly said, "During the construction of the river channel, a total of 136,857 mu of silted land was cleared. These silted lands were sold according to their different locations."

"A total of 639,750 taels of silver were sold."

"All of this money was used for the construction of the river embankment."

"The river management office has ledgers for both of these matters, which Lord Floren may review."

Hearing Jin Fu's resolute answer, Fu Lun was somewhat stunned.

In his view, no one would know about silt fields unless they were really interested.

It wasn't funded by the imperial court, so basically no one would investigate it.

If you manage to smooth things over with everyone, then everyone can get along well and split the money together – wouldn't that be fantastic?

That's what he thought; he felt he would do the same in this situation. But he didn't expect Jin Fu to be so clueless.

He actually refused to take a share of the money!

Brother, this is a perk of the river management department!

This is money that can be divided up!
You're such a stubborn mule, refusing to give any points. How am I supposed to hear this case?
In fact, many people felt that there were two aspects of Jin Fu's trial that were worth looking forward to.

One was the 100,000 taels of silver that the Crown Prince reached out and took!

Another question is where exactly the silted land was sold.

Many people believe that the silt-removing fields from river channels are a kind of output from river management, much like the loss from tax collection, which is money that the local area should rightfully receive.

As long as this point is mentioned, Jin Fu is doomed.

Unexpectedly, they actually used the money for river construction.

This investigation uncovered an honest official!

Fu Lun thought that this trial would bring Jin Fu down, but he did not expect that the trial would produce such a result.

The accounts of the River Works Department are fine, so where should we start to find a way to investigate them?
Just when he felt he was about to give up, someone stood up and said, "Jin Fu, everything you've said is only your side of the story."

"The Censorate will continue to investigate the accounts of the River Conservancy Office."

"However, this breach of the Yellow River, which caused immense suffering and loss of life, proves that your method of constricting water to flush away sand is not only useless but also harmful."

"Otherwise, how could such a catastrophic disaster have occurred!"

At this point, the man pointed at Jin Fu and said angrily, "Even if you are not corrupt, you are still harming the country and its people."

Even if I die nine times, it will not be enough to atone for my sins!

Hearing this voice full of justice, Shen Ye thought carefully for a moment before recognizing the person as Zhen Mingwu, the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review!

The Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review is a fourth-rank official, while the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review is a third-rank official.

At this moment, the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review was sitting next to Fu Lun as a judge, while the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review was sitting below him.

His appearance disrupted the solemn atmosphere of the interrogation, making the scene somewhat noisy.

Others chimed in, adding fuel to the fire: "Your Majesty, Jin Fu disregarded ancestral rules and, in order to show off, focused on using petty tricks like constricting water to flush away sand, which caused the Yellow River to breach its banks."

"For the sake of the people suffering from this disaster along the river, I request that Jin Fu be executed to appease the people."

"I second the proposal!"

……

In just one minute, Shen Ye sensed a sudden and dramatic change in the situation.

They were just checking the accounts properly a moment ago, and suddenly they stopped and started attacking you—something everyone wants to kill.

Emperor Qianxi, who was sitting and listening to the trial, instantly became the focus of everyone's attention.

Emperor Qianxi's expression was very calm!
It seemed as if he had anticipated this scene.

He looked at Jin Fu and said, "Jin Fu, do you have anything to say?" Jin Fu looked at his colleagues who had stepped forward one by one, and felt a pang of sorrow in his heart.

He was a seasoned official and had a clear understanding of certain things.

If all the court officials stand up and call for his execution, then even Emperor Qianxi would find it difficult to help him.

After all, emperors often need the support of their ministers.

He wasn't too concerned about official positions.

However, he was somewhat unwilling to give up after only completing half of the river management project.

Therefore, he solemnly said, "Your Majesty, I bear responsibility for the Yellow River breaching its banks."

"However, the method of using water to flush away sand is indeed the best way to control the siltation of the Yellow River."

"If we continue to use the old method of raising the river embankment to control the river, not only will all the efforts of recent years be in vain, but it will also cause even greater disasters! I really cannot bear it!"

"I beg Your Majesty to make the right judgment."

Emperor Qianxi tapped his fingers lightly on the table. In his mind, Jin Fu was the best candidate for the position of Governor-General of the Waterways.

But now that such a thing has happened, if he does not punish the perpetrator at the request of his ministers, his prestige will be weakened.

This was definitely not a scene he wanted to see.

However, he would not kill Jin Fu.

After all, this was his wise minister.

Where is there a holy emperor who kills virtuous ministers?
He hesitated for a moment, then looked at Soetu.

Soetu remained calm, appearing detached and indifferent, as if it had nothing to do with him.

However, Emperor Qianxi knew that Zhen Mingwu, who had just stepped forward, had followed the path of Suo'etu and become the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review.

Without Songgotu's arrangement, he would never have stepped forward.

Soetu remained silent, his gaze falling on Mingzhu.

Mingzhu was not in a good mood at this moment.

Because his crucial attack, originally intended for the Crown Prince, was thus neutralized by Jin Fu.

hateful!

It's really hateful!

He had already prepared the memorials; as soon as Jin Fu spoke, he would have them handed over.

Although Emperor Qianxi would not immediately depose the crown prince, the crown prince's reputation would be ruined.

Jin Fu ruined his own plans!
This Jin Fu actually sided with the Crown Prince, so I absolutely cannot just stand by and watch him get away so easily.

Under the gaze of Emperor Qianxi, he hesitated slightly before slowly stepping forward and saying, "Your Majesty, Jin Fu's method of constricting water to wash away sand has, in general, failed."

"I believe that, considering Jin Fu's dedication to the river works, we should spare his life and exile him to the army."

He's to be exiled to the army!

This punishment sounds much lighter than beheading, but being exiled to Ningguta would almost certainly mean certain death.

Mingzhu is quite cunning. On the surface, he pleaded for Jin Fu, but in reality, he directly added to Jin Fu's crimes.

After all, Emperor Qianxi only intended to dismiss Jin Fu from his post.

Mingzhu said this in a pleading tone, leaving anyone who wanted to refute her speechless.

Emperor Qianxi did not want to get involved personally, because if he did, he would lose his transcendent status.

Therefore, one of the principles of imperial strategy is that the emperor should, most of the time, occupy a detached position and decide the outcome of matters.

Instead of personally getting involved and fighting for it.

Emperor Qianxi then turned his attention to Tong Guowei. He had written to Tong Guowei, believing that his uncle would be able to help him with this matter.

As for the crown prince, he had no hope at all.

After all, if he himself couldn't solve the problem, could the Crown Prince possibly do so?
He made a request, which was merely a test for the Crown Prince.

But just then, they heard the Crown Prince cough!
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(End of this chapter)