When the officials of the Ministry of War left the tent, Chai Zhewei's angry face calmed down for a moment, and he pondered Fang Jun's intentions gloomily.
Logically speaking, it is impossible for Fang Jun not to know that the orders of the Ministry of War cannot restrain the Zuotun Guards at all, but he just let the officials from the Ministry of War come with documents. Apart from humiliating or irritating himself, what use can it have?
There are many shady things that one has to do. This is something that almost every general in charge of the army must do. Otherwise, how can one maintain one's own interests? Many of them targeted Fang Jun, but he firmly believed that it was impossible for Fang Jun to know the details and take revenge on him.
It can only be old grudges from the past.
All of a sudden, Chai Zhewei remembered the incident when Fang Jun was almost killed by an assassination in Furong Garden, and he happened to be passing by nearby...
At that time, the assassination case caused a sensation in the entire city of Chang'an, and His Majesty was furious about it. However, because the people involved in the case died one after another, the clues were eventually cut off, so he had no choice but to let it go. At that time, Fang Jun's behavior was quite restrained and very rational, but he did not expect that he had been holding back until now and just took advantage of His Majesty's Eastern Expedition to cause trouble for him.
Since it was the assassination, considering the injuries Fang Jun suffered at that time, he would definitely not just send an official over to humiliate him and then leave it at that. There would definitely be a follow-up.
Chai Zhewei couldn't help but become nervous.
After all, he has done a lot of things recently, most of which are shady. Once Fang Jun detects them... the consequences will be disastrous.
However, after thinking about it, I didn't feel that I had any flaws, so I breathed a sigh of relief.
What are you afraid of? The soldiers came to cover up the water and the earth. I don't believe that Fang Jun dared to command the right guard to rush into his left guard's camp?
What's more, there are nobles Guanlong and His Royal Highness King Jing behind him, who can block him when necessary...
Completely relieved, Chai Zhewei put the matter behind him. After returning to the desk, Da Ma Jin Dao sat down and ordered people to make fragrant tea. While drinking the tea, he dealt with military affairs. After all, Zuo Tunwei is also a military guard with a number of more than 30,000. People eat horses, chew horses, and wear out ordnance. The generals are promoted and military disciplines are improved. There are countless things to do every day, and there is a thick stack of documents and files on the desk.
After finishing these matters one by one, I looked at the sky outside and saw that it was already noon. Then he ordered the kitchen to prepare a banquet, brought a jar of good wine, called a few of his close friends in, and had a drink in the big tent.
As for the military discipline of "no drinking in the army", it is not strictly observed by a noble son, let alone a general like Chai Zhewei who commands a guard, no one can control him...
After three rounds of wine and five delicious dishes, Chai Zhewei discussed the training issues of Zuotun Guards with a group of confidants and asked the captains of all departments to improve military discipline and intensify training. Even if the whole army cannot be drilled like the Youtun Guards, each brigade guard unit must be used to practice cavalry, archery and infantry combat as appropriate.
The captains of various departments were also greatly stimulated by the continuous large-scale drills conducted by the guards at the opposite gate Youtun. Although not all generals may be diligent in drills, the larger the scale and the longer the drills, the more food, supplies, ordnance and armor they needed. The loss is intensifying, but the loss is not fixed, and there is naturally room for manipulation.
Soldiers eat food, but under the government's military system, the imperial court's supply to the army has been reduced to the lowest level. If the army's consumption cannot be increased, how can it be used to make a fortune?
Not everyone’s ideal of becoming a soldier is to make meritorious deeds and conquer the country...
Chai Zhewei hoped that the Zuo Tuen Guards would have a new look, at least not to be outdone by the Right Tun Guards. The captain at the bottom hoped to make something out of the losses in training. It can be said that they were united and hit it off immediately. However, since spring plowing has begun in various places in Guanzhong, the number of soldiers in Fanshang is limited, and it is difficult to conduct large-scale training in the short term, which is a pity.
While they were talking lively, suddenly a clerk from outside ran in in a panic and said quickly: "Commander, the Ministry of Civil Affairs and the Ministry of War have sent officials. There are more than ten people in total. They say they are following orders from the Political Affairs Hall. Audit and review our Zuotunwei’s accounts!”
Chai Zhewei was stunned for a moment, then became furious: "How dare Fang Er, a stick, bully me like this? Come on, beat me out!"
No need to ask, this must be Fang Jun's follow-up move.
The confidants around him quickly stopped the angry Chai Zhewei and persuaded him: "Commander, please calm down! The second room guy is certainly sinister, but since he is under the order of the Political Affairs Hall, it is a serious inspection. If we don't cooperate with the inspection, we may even It would be too passive to beat out the officials who came."
"Yes, Marshal, there are only about ten people on the left and right. How many accounts do our Zuotun guards have in a year? They can't check it at all. Just let them do whatever they want!"
Chai Zhewei said angrily: "Fart! They are obviously here to find trouble. Although there are no bones in the eggs, can our accounts really be so clean? Fang Er is one of the most famous mathematicians in the world, and now even more so in the academy. A large number of arithmetic wizards have gathered together, and all the clerks in the Ministry of Civil Affairs and Yamen are now using the abacus devised by him to deliberately cause trouble for us. Is there any reason why we can't find a reason?"
He was shocked and angry. He guessed that Fang Jun would have a tactic, but he didn't expect that he would actually audit Zuo Tunwei's account books!
Although the Zuo Tun Guards were not under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of War and were directly subordinate to His Majesty the Emperor, money, food, supplies, weapons and armor had to be allocated from the Ministry of Civil Affairs and the Ministry of War. According to the laws of the Tang Dynasty, no one except the emperor could control the left and right Tun Guards. However, Zhengshitang could legitimately audit Zuotunwei's account books.
The Tang Dynasty did not have specialized inspection and auditing yamen. Instead, there were auditors in various ministries and yamen, especially the Ministry of Civil Affairs, the Ministry of Industry, and the Ministry of War. They had the right to trace the money, grain and materials allocated by the yamen.
Naturally, the general next to him also knew this truth and dissuaded him: "Even so, we can't refuse the audit! Even if our accounts are found to have problems, it will be a big deal, but if we directly refuse the audit, the matter will be serious. !”
The "Zhenguan Law" certainly imposes serious penalties on corruption, but the penalties for lower-level yamen resisting higher-level yamen are even more serious. Even the slightest carelessness may cause Dali Temple and Weiwei Mansion to intervene, and these two yamen are still Fang Jun’s family...
That’s a huge problem!
Chai Zhewei said angrily: "Fang Er is really bullying people!"
But despite the scolding, he also knew that what his confidants said was true. If something was really discovered, he could deny it. Which of the entire Tang Dynasty's military guards could be clean? As the saying goes, the law does not punish the public. If there is an investigation, then all the military guards should go and investigate thoroughly.
On the occasion of the Eastern Expedition, this is naturally impossible.
But if you don't cooperate with the inspection, it will be like giving the handle to Fang Jun, and he can do whatever he wants...
After weighing the pros and cons, he could only wave his hands in frustration and said: "Let them in!"
"Here!"
The clerk turned around and exited the tent, splitting the school gate into two sides. Each one had a bulging chest, protruding belly, and raised eyebrows, looking murderous, hoping to frighten these evil guests who came to the door looking for trouble.
After a while, a group of people walked in from outside the tent.
The leader, a man in his twenties, with a dignified appearance, sword-shaped eyebrows and bright eyes, was dressed in a crimson official robe and looked majestic. He came to Chai Zhewei, bowed and saluted and said: "Pei Xingjian, a doctor in the Jin Department, has met Duke Qiao."
A person behind him also stepped forward, lined up with Pei Xingjian, and saluted: "General Xin Mao, a doctor in the Treasury Department, has met Duke Qiao."
"Ah!"
Chai Zhewei sneered, gritted his teeth and said, "Fang Er really thinks highly of me, and he even sent out his lackeys? Okay, okay, very good!"
Who doesn't know that Pei Xingjian is a capable person who was single-handedly promoted by Fang Jun? Not to mention Pei Xingjian's outstanding ability, just by looking at Fang Jun's ability to hand over full power to Pei Xingjian's jurisdiction over his hometown of Huating Town, we can see that he values and trusts him.
General Xin Mao's reputation was not obvious, but Chai Zhewei knew that this man was Xu Jingzong's son-in-law, and he was also sent to the Ministry of War to be trained by Fang Jun. It was obvious that he was not an ordinary person.
Such two capable generals were sent to inspect Zuotunwei's account books, which showed that Fang Jun was not just pretending to disgust him.
This is a plan to stab him in the heart...
Pei Xingjian and General Xin Mao were not annoyed at being scolded as "stooges". A warm smile appeared on the former's handsome face, and he said slowly: "Commander, what you said is wrong. We are depriving you of your salary and being loyal to you. We are all officials of the imperial court, how can we be assigned by someone? Nowadays, it is a routine matter for the Ministry of Civil Affairs and the Ministry of War to jointly inspect Zuotunwei. I hope the commander will put aside his resistance and cooperate fully, otherwise we will have no choice but to report it to the Political Affairs Hall , the prime ministers and assistants of the Political Affairs Hall urged Dali Temple, Weiwei Mansion, and all the yamen to jointly conduct inspections... By that time, it will be difficult to talk."
