"Have the specific numbers been counted?"
Hu Zongxian turned to sit at the top, picked up the teacup on the side, took a sip, and asked.
"For the Governor, the specific amount has been counted. The total is 28.92 million taels of silver. There are countless other items such as fields, mansions, antiques, etc. We just copied them from the Zhang family. Fifteen million eight hundred thousand taels of silver! Here is the detailed list." After Qi Jiguang said this, he took out a booklet from his arms, which recorded the income in detail.
Hu Zongxian took the booklet from Qi Jiguang's hand, looked through it briefly, put it aside, and said solemnly: "These morons, the total tax revenue of my Ming Dynasty last year was only 32.8 million taels, so much money It’s equivalent to the imperial court’s income for more than half a year!”
Then Hu Zongxian turned his gaze to Qi Jiguang and said softly: "You have done a good job in this matter. I will make it clear in the memorial!"
Upon hearing this, Qi Jiguang quickly bowed and saluted, with an excited look on his face, and said in a deep voice, "Thank you, Lord Governor!"
"Well, okay, you go down!"
"Yes, I will say goodbye."
After Qi Jiguang left, Hu Zongxian spread out his paper and pen and began to write a memorial to the emperor: "Your Majesty, the specific amount has been counted, a total of 28.92 million taels of silver, and the remaining acres, mansions, antiques There are countless more, and the total amount obtained this time is more than 30 million taels of silver! In addition, the general who contributed the most in this operation was Qi Jiguang, the general under Wei Chen. Since the matter is serious, Your Majesty, please send Jin Yiwei to assist!"
After the ink on the paper dried, Hu Zongxian called his personal guards and said in a deep voice: "I will present it to Your Majesty without delay."
"yes!"
…
Night, Forbidden City, Yangxin Hall.
Jiajing sat cross-legged on the futon, breathing evenly, and the essence between heaven and earth also resonated with him as he breathed in and out. Jiajing then circulated a Qi Jue, absorbing the essence faster, and the area within a hundred miles radius All the energy was absorbed by Jiajing!
Jiajing's complexion became more and more rosy, and his skin became as warm and fair as mutton-fat jade. The lavender mana in his body traveled through the meridians throughout his body, and a momentum gradually emanated from Jiajing's body.
Gradually, Jiajing's whole body was wrapped in lavender flames, and these flames were composed of the magic power in his body and could not cause any harm to him. Jiajing only felt that his whole person had entered an inexplicable state, and the flames that had previously blocked him could not cause any harm to him. The threshold in front of him was crossed unknowingly, and Jiajing broke through to the third level of Qi Refining!
Looking at the situation in his body, Jiajing couldn't help but be overjoyed. The mana of the cyclone in his dantian had increased a lot compared to before! The increase in mana means that at least he will not collapse after using a few more thunder spells like before.
Jiajing casually took out a thunder technique and wanted to test its power, but all he heard was "Boom, boom, boom!" 'There was a muffled sound, and the night sky that was originally clear and still filled with stars suddenly became gloomy, and thunder rolled.
When Jiajing saw this, he quickly took back his magic power.
Lu Fang, who had been waiting outside the palace, couldn't help but be surprised when she saw the sudden change in the weather: "The weather in the capital has been so strange recently. Why does it thunder so often?"
After thinking for a moment, Lu Fang put aside the messy thoughts in his mind and walked into the Hall of Cultivation of the Heart.
"Your Majesty!" Lu Fang was a little worried when she saw that Jiajing was still up so late.
"It's okay for me, I just don't feel sleepy at the moment. Do you have any news for me?" Jiajing sat on the dragon chair and caressed the carved dragon head on the dragon chair.
"Your Majesty, according to your instructions, the Jin Yiwei has conducted an investigation on those who impeached Hu Zongxian. Here is the list. Your Majesty, please take a look!" After Lu Fang said, he immediately knelt on the ground and raised the list high. The top of his head looked respectful.
"That's all, put it away, I won't read the list!" Jiajing waved his hand casually and said.
"Yes, Your Majesty." Lu Fang said and put the list away.
"I can't sleep, please take a walk with me."
"Slave, I obey."
…
There is no airtight wall in the world, and the news that Xu Jie, the deputy minister of the cabinet, personally reported to the emperor to impeach Hu Zongxian spread quickly.
"Hey, have you heard? Xu Jie, the deputy minister of the cabinet, personally impeached Hu Zongxian?"
"Hmph, what Hu Zongxian is doing right now has aroused public outrage! I heard that Mr. Zhao, the supervisory censor, has almost no more tricks left."
"What do you know? Hu Zongxian is a student of Yan Song, the chief minister of the cabinet. As his teacher, can Yan Song stay out of the matter? I also heard that he has said hello secretly..."
"Oh, really?"
…
In Yan's mansion in the early morning, Yan Song and Yan Shifan were not exempt from the customs. The father and son discussed the matter.
"Father, why do you think Xu Jie made such a foolish move? He clearly knows that Hu Zongxian is currently favored by His Majesty..." After Yan Shifan finished speaking, the maid on the side peeled a grape and put it into Yan Shifan's mouth.
"Well, there is nothing that Xu Jie can do about it. He has to accept the memorial to impeach Hu Zongxian, even if he doesn't!"
After Yan Song finished speaking, he took the ginseng tea from the maid on the side and rinsed his mouth.
"Why is this?" Yan Shifan was quite puzzled by this.
"What do you think the Xu family relies on to make their fortune? He is conveying an attitude to those behind him." Yan Song did not answer, but made this point.
"Father, you mean that the Xu family is also involved in smuggling along the coast! This is..." Yan Shifan was shocked when he heard what his father said.
"The Xu family is not only involved in smuggling along the coast, but is also the largest backend of those smuggling families!" Yan Song became angry as he spoke, pointing at Yan Shifan's nose and cursing.
"You idiot! You don't know the things that everyone in the civil and military circles of the dynasty knows, but I have told you so many times that you should stop running to your concubines every day and let you know more about the news, but you just don't want to Listen, you must make me mad to death..."
"Father, it's not that the child doesn't know, but..." Yan Shifan hurriedly explained when he saw his father was angry.
…
Soon it was time for the cabinet meeting, but Xu Jie today was frowning and restless.
"Your Majesty is here!"
Following a high-pitched voice, Jiajing led Lu Fang into the cabinet.
"I see your Majesty, long live my emperor!" When everyone saw the emperor coming in, they all bowed and saluted.
Jiajing just glanced at everyone and said calmly: "Everyone, get up."
After Xu Jie got up, everyone discovered that Xu Jie was trembling all over and big beads of sweat kept dripping from his forehead.
"Mr. Xu Ge, this is not your first time to attend a cabinet meeting. Why are you so nervous?" After Jiajing sat down in his seat, seeing Xu Jie's gesture, he asked with interest.
After hearing the emperor's words, Xu Jie trembled even more. Just last night, he received news that those who had previously participated in the impeachment of Hu Zongxian had their homes raided by Jin Yiwei and were taken to prison for investigation!
Jinyiwei takes action, even if you have no problem, he still has to find out some problems for you. In addition, those people have dirty butts, so they must be in trouble. And I, the first person to write a memorial to impeach Hu Zongxian, will definitely be punished by His Majesty. Severe punishment!
Thinking of this, Xu Jie knelt down with a plop and said with tears: "Your Majesty, I am guilty. I should not go to that memorial! Please punish me."
Hearing Xu Jie's words, Jiajing secretly thought it was funny, but at the same time he put on a blank look on his face: "What memorial? I didn't receive it? Did Xu Aiqing send me a memorial?"
After Jiajing finished speaking, he turned his gaze to Lu Fang. Lu Fang immediately understood. He coughed twice and explained: "Your Majesty, have you forgotten? You were not feeling well at that time, so I took it upon myself to take care of Xu Ge." It’s my slave’s fault that I handed over the old memorial to you, please punish me!”
After Lu Fang finished speaking, she knelt down on the ground.
"Oh, that's all. This is your first offender, so I'll spare you this time." After Jiajing finished speaking, he waved his hand, signaling Lu Fang to get up.
"Then since I didn't read it, and Mr. Xu Ge said it was wrong, let's take it back." Jiajing then turned his eyes to Xu Jie, who was kneeling on the ground, and said calmly.
"Thank you for your grace, your Majesty, and I hope your Majesty will take care of the dragon body!" Xu Jie heard what the emperor said, and he didn't know that it was the emperor letting him go, and then thanked him.
"I hope your majesty will take care of the dragon body!" After the Xu steps passed, the remaining ministers all knelt down and said with respectful expressions.
(End of chapter)
