"Lin Qingfeng, you are so brave!"
Royal study room.
Zhu Tianzheng glared at Lin Bai with a gloomy face, "Who gave you the courage to spread rumors and spend money to atone for your sins? This is simply unreasonable."
Yan Zhenlin was also on the side, bowing his head and saying nothing.
It’s not you, the old man, who wants money.
Lin Bai complained in his heart, but naturally he would not admit it with his mouth.
With a look of sincerity and fear, he said, "Your Majesty is wronged. I never said such things. It must be a rumor."
"presumptuous!"
Zhu Tianzheng shouted, "It has been spread throughout the civil and military dynasties, how dare you say it's a rumor?"
"I asked you to check the accounts. If you don't check the accounts properly, you still engage in these heresy and you still dare to make excuses. Do you really think that I can't bear to punish you?"
mmp! Seriously?
This is not interesting enough!
Lin Bai showed a confused look and said: "Your Majesty said you would check the accounts? I deserve to die. I thought I was just raising money for disaster relief."
Zhu Tianzheng was stunned for a moment. It seemed that he had never said this before.
"Even so, who gave you the courage to forgive their sins with money?"
"..."
Outside the Imperial Study Room.
Zhu Ziyan noticed something was wrong and followed her. When she heard the movement inside, she became even more anxious, "Eunuch Cao, what's wrong with my father?"
Eunuch Cao said: "Princess, Mr. Lin has violated a taboo. Only Your Majesty is qualified to pardon officials."
"..."
"Your Majesty, I have never said anything like this. I only said that the crime can be reduced. According to the law of leaving the court, voluntarily handing over the proceeds of corruption can indeed reduce the sentence."
Lin Bai replied calmly.
Zhu Tianzheng choked and glanced at Yan Zhenlin.
The latter said: "Your Majesty, there is indeed this article in the law of leaving the court."
Zhu Tianzheng hummed: "Even so, it is a reduced sentence, which is not the same as a reduced crime."
"Furthermore, it is unforgivable to openly advocate that spending money to reduce crimes. You can clearly check the accounts, so why do you have to make everything so troublesome? Are you intentionally shielding someone?"
Understood!
The Emotional Emperor suspected that he was hanging out with Yang Guozhong, the fourth prince to be precise.
After all, in Lao Zhu's plan, he was to be a lonely minister.
Lin Bai said: "When I return to Your Majesty, I am taking the initiative to hand over the proceeds of corruption, not spending money. There is an essential difference between the two."
"In addition, I am new to the court and am not familiar with all the gentlemen. The reason why I don't check the accounts is not because of selfish motives but because I can't."
A look of surprise flashed in Zhu Tianzheng's eyes, "No? What do you mean by this?"
Lin Bai replied: "At present, the disaster in Hedong is serious, and the grassland is about to break out. It can be said that there are internal and external troubles. At this time, if we check the accounts on a large scale and collect five million taels, how many officials' homes will be confiscated? By then, the entire court will definitely be panicked. Who will do it? Are you interested in doing something?"
"Based on this, I came up with this method. On the one hand, I can raise money, and on the other hand, it can also reassure the officials. The officials are grateful for Your Majesty's kindness and will do their best in the future."
There is undoubtedly some truth to this.
Five million taels. If you really want to collect this much silver taels after checking the accounts, you will definitely have to go to war, and the whole court will be a bloody storm.
Yan Zhenlin nodded subconsciously.
Zhu Tianzheng's eyes flashed and he asked: "What happened to Han Sanqian? The others are fine, but he is in prison. Is it because you are avenging yourself?"
All right! This cannot be deceived.
Lin Bai could only say: "Yes!"
"When I decided on this strategy, I naturally wanted to kill the chicken to scare the monkeys, otherwise those corrupt officials would not submit. Han Sanqian's corruption is a fact. Since I wanted to kill the chicken, I would naturally choose one who usually pecks me."
Ah!
Zhu Tianzheng snorted, "You are quite straightforward..."
"Father!"
At this time, Zhu Ziyan couldn't help it anymore and rushed in.
Zhu Tianzheng frowned, "Xiao Qi, why are you here?"
Zhu Ziyan said: "Father, this matter was decided upon by Erchen and Master Lin together. If you want to punish me, please ask Lian Erchen to do so as well."
Zhu Tianzheng was startled for a moment, and the corners of his eyes twitched. How could he have gone out to take the blame? 33
Lin Bai was a little confused.
It seems that Xiao Qi has been ignored in the past. This girl is very capable and dares to do anything.
Just a little too hasty.
He finally figured it out. The emperor was just showing off to the officials. If he really wanted to do something, he wouldn't talk nonsense.
"Don't mess around. Merits will be rewarded, and mistakes will be punished. Lin Qingfeng acted without authorization and undermined the majesty of the court's laws. Naturally, he cannot be easily forgiven."
As Zhu Tianzheng spoke, he looked at Eunuch Cao and asked, "Who are the people who are here tonight and how much money have been raised?"
"Your Majesty, there are only a few officials attending the meeting, most of them are ordinary people and businessmen. If you want to find out, I'm afraid it will take some time. As for raising money..."
Eunuch Cao said, opening the account book.
The next moment, his expression changed, and he stammered: "A total of... a total of one thousand six million two hundred and fifty-four thousand three hundred taels of silver."
"How many?"
Zhu Tianzheng almost fell off the dragon chair, his eyes widened.
Yan Zhenlin also looked over with incredible eyes.
Eunuch Cao's hands were trembling a little, and he said in a trembling voice: "Back to your Majesty, a total of 1,625,430 taels of silver..."
As he spoke, he trotted over and handed over the account book.
Zhu Tianzheng quickly grabbed it and confirmed the numbers on it. He was stunned.
Then a look of ecstasy appeared on his face.
However, he was soon suppressed again. As an emperor, he should not change his face even if the mountain collapses in front of him, let alone he just reprimanded someone.
But the excitement in his eyes could not be suppressed.
It's no wonder that the national treasury was empty and Zhu Tianzheng was already very poor. It is conceivable that such a large sum of money suddenly came out.
Lin Bai was also confused when he saw the string of numbers before.
It completely exceeded his expectations.
According to his preliminary estimate, it would be good to raise five million taels. When it came time to actually raise the funds, he knew that the goal should be easy, but he still did not expect that the number would exceed so much.
At this moment, he noticed Zhu Tianzheng's expression and said deliberately: "Your Majesty, I am aware of my crime. I deeply realize that I am wrong. Spending money to reduce the crime will have far-reaching consequences. All officials will be confident in the future, so I hope to make corrections in time and return the money to all officials. And willing to accept His Majesty’s punishment.”
ah?
return? What are you thinking about?
Zhu Tianzheng's mouth twitched and he subconsciously looked at Yan Zhenlin.
Yan Zhenlin understood and said: "Your Majesty! It is indeed inappropriate for Mr. Lin to act without permission, but what he said is not unreasonable. At present, there are internal and external troubles, and it is not suitable for the court to undergo major changes. Moreover, Mr. Lin has made great contributions in raising food for disaster relief. I, sir, I think the merits outweigh the faults.”
Zhu Ziyan also felt something bad and interjected, "Master Yan, this doesn't seem good! If these people are investigated in the future, should their crimes be reduced? If not, wouldn't they be committing injustice to their father? After all, everyone Everyone knows that Mr. Lin is raising food for disaster relief on the order of my father."
Not bad!
I have to give Xiaoqi a thumbs up.
Lin Bai felt happy.
The corners of Zhu Tianzheng's mouth twitched, and the look he looked at his daughter was no longer as doting as before.
Yan Zhenlin said: "Master Lin was acting under orders this time. Although he made mistakes, he was still working for the court. According to the law, voluntarily handing over stolen money can indeed reduce the sentence. And this time it was for the disaster area. I think if If these people are really investigated in the future, their crimes may be reduced as appropriate.”
Zhu Tianzheng nodded quickly, "Yan Aiqing's words make sense."
"Lin Qingfeng, I think you have made a contribution this time in raising food for disaster relief. The merits and demerits are equal to each other, so I won't care about it. If you do it again next time, I will definitely not forgive you."
"Okay, please step back!"
very good! It's really shameless.
Lin Bai finally understood why Yan Zhenlin was so trusted by Lao Zhu.
This pair of monarch and minister is simply...
With one look from Lao Zhu, Yan Zhenlin knew what he wanted to do, and had arranged his escape plan. Who wouldn't like such a minister?
But this is not over yet!
Lin Bai said: "Your Majesty! I have no objection to handing over the stolen money to the treasury, but half of it is investment from businessmen. This money..."
…
Some people died, but not completely...
