Great Qing Xiangguo

Chapter 73

On the second day, Mingzhu rushed to Changchun Garden to play.After Mingzhu finished speaking, the emperor looked displeased, and said: "So, everything Chen Tingjing played is true?"

Mingzhu said: "Everything is true. The accounts of Baoquan Bureau's copper material warehouse over the years are inconsistent, and all the officials are responsible. It is also true that Kerkun allowed Lutou to fool Xiangzhong, and he himself profited from it. The most hateful thing is Lutou. Xiang Zhong, who has controlled the money factory for more than 30 years, has done a lot of evil. Su Ruzhai, a profiteer, disrupted the money law and committed a heinous crime."

The emperor shook his head and sighed: "In this case, no matter who is involved in the copper shortage case, we should investigate to the end. Those who should be ransacked, those who should seize officials, and those who should be beheaded! Those profiteers and villains, needless to say, Just ask the case clearly and handle it strictly.”

The emperor actually didn't want to deal with too many officials, but he had to take into account the laws of the Qing Dynasty.Mingzhu understood the emperor's thoughts, and said: "The emperor strictly enforces the law, which is the great fortune of the country. Although the facts of the Baoquan Bureau's copper shortage case are solid, there are too many people involved, and it has been going on for a long time. It is difficult to distinguish between Zi Chou and Yin Mao. .If the investigation is not done well, good people will be wronged, and it will inevitably cause shocks in the government and the public." Mingzhu stopped here on purpose, secretly peeping at the emperor's expression.

The emperor asked: "How do you say to deal with it?"

Mingzhu said: "I think this matter only goes to Ker Kun and Xu Da."

The emperor asked: "Only chasing them, what about the shortfall in copper?"

Mingzhu said: "Your Majesty, I expect that not only the shortfall in copper materials has been made up, but there is also a large surplus."

The emperor was very puzzled and asked, "Who has so much money to compensate?"

Mingzhu said: "Chen Tingjing has raided the homes of Lutou Xiangzhong and profiteer Su Ruzhai, and seized a large amount of stolen goods. As long as the emperor approves, the homes of Ker Kun and Xu Da can also be raided."

The emperor thought that Chen Tingjing had figured out his own thoughts, the most important thing was to make up for the deficit of Baoquan Bureau, and he didn't have to deal with too many people.The emperor nodded for a long time, and asked: "How should Ker Kun and Xu Da deal with them?"

Mingzhu said: "Ker Kun dismissed from office, Xu Da beheaded."

The emperor didn't speak, but nodded slightly.After a long time, the emperor said: "Chen Tingjing has made the law of money smooth. Ever since the money was changed to light money, there is no profit for profiteers to destroy copper, and the common people have money to make."

A few days later, the emperor listened to the government at Qianqing Gate, and discussed Xu Da's crime, saying that he should be executed.

Chen Tingjing immediately knelt down and said, "Xu Da can't be killed!"

The emperor was sullen and didn't speak.Mingzhu said: "Qi Zou the emperor, Xu Da is not effective in handling the job, and allows the profiteers to do anything wrong. The Baoquan Bureau will suffer a great loss and should be severely punished!"

Chen Tingjing said: "It's Kerkun who should be killed! He colluded with profiteers to resell copper materials and profit from them. What's more, Lutou Xiangzhong sent the newly minted money directly to profiteer Su Ruzhai, and sold the copper to Bao Bao after melting the copper." Quanju. Su Ruzhai also used the copper that was destroyed to forge old bronze wares, and later he was so bold as to forge fake money. The reason why traitors like Xiang Zhong and Su Ruzhai are so bold is because of Kerkun’s background!"

The emperor said angrily: "Don't say any more! I will die of anger when I hear the bad things done by these traitors!"

The hall fell silent, and no one dared to do anything for a while.

The emperor had no choice but to look at Chen Tingjing and said, "You haven't finished yet, have you?"

Chen Tingjing said: "Not long after Xu Da was appointed as the supervisor of the doctor in the Baoquan Bureau, the minister went to supervise Qian Fa. If he is guilty as long as he is in the Baoquan Bureau, the minister is also guilty. The minister is guilty of the same crime as Xu Da and should be killed!"

The emperor became more and more annoyed, and took a picture of the dragon case and said: "Chen Tingjing, what do you mean by such angry words? Are you calling me a fool? Don't forget the body of a minister!"

At this time, Samuha stepped forward and knelt down and said, "Please appease the emperor! I think Chen Tingjing's words are a bit offensive, but it is reasonable. I also think that Xu Da can be treated leniently, and Ker Kun should be executed!"

It turned out that Samuha wanted Kerkun to die quickly, so as not to get burned.Samuha said again: "It turns out that the weight of the new money has increased many times, but the money cannot be seen when it is minted. It is all caused by Kerkun, Futou Xiangzhong and the profiteer Su Ruzhai!"

The emperor closed his eyes, feeling very sad, and said: "Xiang Zhong, Su Ruzhai, Zhang Guang and those traitors are all killed!"

Mingzhu said again: "Qizuo Emperor, the Kerkun case, I think it can be retried. If the evidence of the crime is true, it will be executed according to the law!"

But Samuha said: "I think the facts are already clear, so there is no need for further trial."

The emperor said: "I think the Kerkun case is clear, there is no need to retry it. Kill it. Xu Da, change to Ili!" The emperor said very strongly, no one dared to say more.

The emperor was exhausted, closed his eyes and leaned on the dragon chair, and asked softly, "How should Chen Tingtong deal with it?"

After all, because of Chen Tingjing, no one said a word for half a day.Gao Shiqi coughed dryly, and said cautiously: "It should be executed according to the law! But this matter is quite strange, so we should be cautious."

Xu Qianxue said: "Qizou the emperor, it has been found out that in order to restrain Chen Tingjing from handling the case, Kerkun conspired with Lutou Xiangzhong to instruct Su Ruzhai to lend money to Chen Tingtong. Chen Tingtong did not know Su Ruzhai at first."

The emperor was very angry, and said: "This Kor Kun has no ethics of a scholar, it is really abominable. But Chen Tingtong borrowed money from others after all! There is a folk saying that flies don't bite seamless eggs!"

Chen Tingjing said: "Brother Chen Tingtong has failed the emperor's grace, let him be punished!"

The emperor said coldly: "Chen Tingjing, what I'm talking about here is not your younger brother, but an official ordered by the court."

It was inconvenient for Chen Tingjing to speak any more, he was just anxious.Xu Qianxue said again: "If you don't pardon Chen Tingtong, you will really fall into Kerkun's tricks. Besides, I have previously reported to the emperor that Chen Tingtong borrowed money from the bank, which should be different from borrowing money from ordinary people."

The emperor pondered for a moment, and said: "Ker Kun made a decision, and Xu Da was exiled to Yili. Xiang Zhong, Su Ruzhai, Zhang Guang, etc. were all killed. The above-mentioned people's property was confiscated, and they all entered the government. There was a reason for Chen Tingtong's case. Let him go down and become a county magistrate."

The ministers and workers said that the emperor was wise, and they were all relieved.Chen Tingjing still wanted to speak, but seeing Xu Qianxue winking, he had no choice but to stop.

The emperor said: "Ker Kun's character is so bad that he has been excellent in the examinations year after year, and this time he was promoted to be a servant. Mingzhu, I want to ask you, the Minister of the Ministry of Officials, why?"

Mingzhu hurriedly stepped forward and knelt down, and said: "The minister is negligent, please punish the emperor."

The emperor said: "Mingzhu, don't be a good old man and take care of everything by yourself."

No one spoke for a while, so the emperor said: "It seems that no one dares to admit it?"

Samuha's face was sweating, and he bowed and knelt down: "The emperor forgives the crime! I was deceived by Ker Kun!"

The emperor said: "You still have self-knowledge. You have been greedy for a long time as the Minister of the Ministry of Households, and your political achievements are mediocre. You are also to blame for the confusion of money and laws. I think you are old, and I have asked you to tell me many times. Your original product will be discontinued! You will be fined for one year!"

In fact, Samuha never said the words of suing the old man to beg for rest. The emperor said so, so he had no choice but to admit it, and hurriedly knocked his head loudly, saying: "I accept the crime, I thank the emperor for your kindness!"

This day the yamen was free, so Chen Tingjing invited Xu Qianxue to find a restaurant for a drink.Chen Tingjing raised his wine glass and said: "Master Xu, thanks to your help, otherwise Tingtong would have died this time. Come, I respect you!"

Xu Qianxue said: "Master Chen, you are welcome, let's drink together."

Chen Tingjing said: "No one cares about Kerkun's account books anymore."

Xu Qianxue said: "Everyone with a discerning eye knows that the account book is fake. Doesn't the emperor know? The emperor doesn't want to ask, so you don't want to mention it. The emperor only needs to make up for it with copper materials in the warehouse, and let it go to the past to settle decades of muddled accounts." gone."

Chen Tingjing shook his head and sighed, drank a glass of wine alone.

Xu Qianxue said: "As human ministers, we can only do our best, and we cannot force it."

Chen Tingjing said: "Yes, I can see that the emperor is pretending to be confused about many things. The firing of Officer Samuha is only superficial. If you seriously investigate it, you should be killed. It is not Sa Muha who usually makes noise for Ker Kun. Muha is alone. There are also those princes and ministers who have collected money from Baoquan Bureau for many years, and the emperor does not want to go into details."

Xu Qianxue said: "The emperor has the emperor's thoughts, he doesn't want to know that his court is full of corrupt officials."

Chen Tingjing said: "Xu Da was exiled in Yili, the punishment is too severe. He is just a bit bookish, and he is not shrewd in his work."

Xu Qianxue said: "Let the emperor be comfortable first, let him go to Yili. Let me tell you a good news."

Chen Tingjing hurriedly asked, "What good news?"

Xu Qianxue said: "Censor Zhang Penghe will return to Beijing soon!"

Chen Tingjing was very happy and asked, "Really? This is great!"

Xu Qianxue said: "Can there be fakes? This is all to help Mr. Zhang Ying. Before he went home to guard the system, he found time to talk to the emperor, and the emperor agreed. The emperor is also a human being. Let him calm down and he will be fine. Don't worry, after a year or so, we will let Xu Da come back." The two drank and chatted, and they parted ways at dusk.

After a few days, Zhang Penghe really came back and was appointed the head of the Ministry of Punishment.Zhang Penghe visited Chen Tingjing that night.The two held hands facing each other and couldn't help crying.

Chen Tingjing said: "Master Zhang, you have suffered!"

Zhang Penghe's arrogance remained the same as before, and he said: "Where is it? It's neither bitter nor bitter! I have been exiled for several years, and I have seen scenery and scenery that I have never heard of before, so I wrote a few volumes of good poems! Alas, Mr. Chen, I have heard that you have had a hard time these few years."

Chen Tingjing smiled wryly: "There is no way, I really want to do something, it's difficult."

Zhang Penghe said: "Pearl's mouth is full of honey, and she manipulates the government. Many people are still being deceived."

Chen Tingjing said: "These years you have been away, the court has changed. You can understand everything in your heart, and you must be careful with your words."

Zhang Penghe said with a smile: "Anyway, I was regarded as a nail, so I just made it into a nail. Next time, I will take out the pearl!"

Chen Tingjing waved his hand and said, "This is absolutely impossible!"

Zhang Penghe asked, "Why?"

Chen Tingjing said: "The emperor still needs the pearl right now, you can't get involved with him!"

Zhang Penghe and others shook their heads and laughed, "My problem is that I always forget that I am working for the emperor!"

Soon it will be late autumn.The two escorts escorted Xu Da and walked out of the capital.When he arrived in the suburbs, the messenger wanted to take off the wooden yoke for Xu Da, Xu Da said: "How can this be done?" He was really a little mean-spirited, thinking that since the emperor had condemned him, even if he was wronged, he was still a criminal, so he should wear the yoke.

The messenger said: "Master Xu, Master Chen has ordered you to take off your wooden yoke when you leave Beijing, and don't let you suffer."

Only then did Xu Da let Xiecha take off the wooden shackle, without thinking too much about Chen Tingjing's kindness.Xu Da's wrists were already bloodstained. He gently rubbed his wrists and looked up at the gray sky.

Xie Cha said again: "Master Xu, please get in the car."

It turned out that there was a carriage parked not far away.The messenger said: "This is also the car that Mr. Chen hired for you. Mr. Chen repeatedly told us to take good care of you along the way! Today is a coincidence that Mr. Chen's younger brother is going to Fengyang to be the county magistrate, otherwise Mr. Chen himself will Here to send you."

Xu Da shook his head and smiled wryly, "What a good day today? One is exiled to Yili, and the other is sent to Fengyang."

Chen Tingjing always felt that he was ashamed of Xu Da, and he was planning to come see him off.It's just that Chen Tingtong was leaving on this day, so he couldn't take care of it.Chen Tingjing set up wine and dishes in the long pavilion outside the city, and drank with his younger brother.Autumn leaves fluttered outside the pavilion, and a few crows stood on the treetops, calling once or twice.Zhen'er, Dashun, Liu Jing, and Ma Ming all followed, and they all stood far away.

Chen Tingjing raised his wine glass and said, "Tingtong, I can't rest assured that you are going to be the county magistrate with such a sad face!"

Chen Tingtong said: "Brother, I really can't be happy."

Chen Tingjing said: "You saved your life from the knife this time, you should be lucky!"

Chen Tingtong shook his head and sighed, "I only blame myself for being confused!"

Chen Tingjing said: "Fengyang is barren and the people are poor. It is not easy to be a good magistrate there. Don't think about the past, just do a good job of this seventh-grade sesame official. After drinking this glass of wine, you can get on the bus .”

The two brothers toasted and left the pavilion.Chen Tingtong said something dear to his brother and got into the carriage.The carriage gradually drifted away, Chen Tingjing suddenly felt sad and turned his back.

(End of this chapter)