[Liu Yuanqi: Your Majesty, to be honest, I can’t see through Academician Zhou sometimes... He is a very strange, contradictory, and complex person. He has talents from all over the world and a good plan. , after becoming a cabinet bachelor, the laws and government affairs implemented over the years have achieved very good results. 】
[Liu Yuanqi: But at the same time... he doesn't seem so clean. In fact, he could have reached his current position in another way, but he chose a less glorious path... Therefore, Chen felt that he Maybe I didn’t see through him...]
[You: Then why do you think your relationship with him is that of a confidant and a confidant? 】
[Liu Yuanqi: Although I cannot see through Academician Zhou, I can feel his loyalty to the court and His Majesty. 】
"loyalty?"
"I don't think so!"
Empress Liang Zhao sneered at Liu Yuanqi's words.
In her impression, Zhou Zhenwen was a sycophantic and powerful minister who was disobedient and unscrupulous.
His abilities are indeed very strong.
Empress Liang Zhao admitted that he was good at all of them, whether it was military formations, martial arts, or Confucianism. He even knew how to do business. His many methods of expenditure had indeed helped fill the Great Wilderness' treasury a lot.
Empress Liang Zhao even felt that Zhou Zhenwen was not suitable to be a minister, but that he was suitable to do business. With his ability, he could definitely become the number one businessman in the wilderness.
This is genius.
Likewise, this is also a very capable traitor.
[Liu Yuanqi: Your Majesty, maybe you think that Academician Zhou is not so obedient. He always goes against you, the court, and the Queen Mother on many things. But in fact, Your Majesty, think about it. Is there anything you did that harmed the interests of the imperial court? Is there one thing that makes the royal majesty disappear? 】
[You frowned and said coldly: But he is greedy for good land! Forming a party for personal gain! Many things are enough to chop his head off! 】
[Liu Yuanqi: Your Majesty, I have investigated and found out that the fertile land he owned originally belonged to the nobles and royal family members. These fertile lands were taken by force from the people. If Zhou University Scholars did not take action, those who had previously The people who make a living from the fields may have died of hunger long ago. I do not deny his actions, but to a certain extent, he saved the people. It was he who allowed them to have fields to plant and food to eat. 】
[You: According to what you say, do I still want to thank him? 】
[Liu Yuanqi: I don’t dare! 】
[You waved your hand and ordered: Continue. 】
[Liu Yuanqi: Yes, Your Majesty, if you want to reach his position, it is inevitable to form cliques for personal gain, corruption and bribery. You also know that the salary given by the court is too small, and the ministers of the court are all dependent on their families. , many court ministers would probably starve to death on the streets if they didn't spend some money and food. 】
[You look a little unhappy: If that’s the case, why have no ministers ever reported these matters? 】
[Liu Yuanqi: During the time of the late emperor, some ministers had complained about it, but they were rejected by the late emperor. The late emperor said that the people were in poverty and the officials should set an example and should not be greedy for enjoyment. From then on, no official dared to mention this. thing. In fact, the salary of the imperial court has not been increased for fifty years, and the prices in the capital have been rising again and again. Many officials live in the main city, with a large family and no other livelihood, and it is impossible for the female dependents of the court ministers to go there. Selling on the street is naturally even more difficult. 】
[You: So, you have also been greedy? 】
[Liu Yuanqi shook his head: Your Majesty, I have never been corrupt, but I have participated in shares and invested some assets. This is also the choice of many officials in the court today. 】
[You: Participate in shares? Investment property? What does it mean? 】
[Liu Yuanqi: Your Majesty, Academician Zhou is a business genius. He knows how to live with rare goods. The glass beads, glass bottles, perfume, lipstick, ice cream and other novel items in the capital are all made by him. Academician Zhou knows hundreds of things. The official's life is difficult, so he proposed to let the officials invest in his business and distribute dividends according to the investment ratio. This is what the so-called stock participation means. 】
[Liu Yuanqi: Shareholders can be allocated certain shares according to the proportion of their investment. They can receive monthly dividends according to the shares. If I invest a hundred taels of silver, I can also receive a dividend of ten taels of silver every month. 】
[You: The profit is so high? 】
[You were also shocked by the huge profits from Zhou Zhenwen's business. If you invest a hundred taels of silver, you can get 10 taels in one month. Doesn't this mean that you can get your money back in ten months? Is there such a business in the world? Isn’t this free money? 】
[Liu Yuanqi: Your Majesty, this is true. The items in the hands of Academician Zhou are all in high demand and are loved by many ladies and children of wealthy families. These incomes are considered small. 】
[You: Even so, why would he embezzle? 】
[Liu Yuanqi fell into silence, and after a long time, he slowly said: Your Majesty, before being transferred to the capital, I once served in Youzhou. Youzhou is poor, and the salaries of many officials are not even as good as those of some landlords. They want to To survive, we can only cooperate with local wealthy families, divide the funds allocated by the court, blackmail local people, and increase exorbitant taxes...]
[Liu Yuanqi: At that time, I encountered something. At that time, I was just a county magistrate. At that time, the supervisory censor came to Youzhou for inspection. Officials from all over the place were fawning and kept giving benefits. Only I Not even a penny was sent. Because of this, the governor of Youzhou at the time found the minister and asked about the reason. 】
[You: What did you say? 】
[Liu Yuanqi: I still remember that scene. 】
A faint white mist gradually appeared on the simulator screen. As the stars moved, the screen came to a small county town in Youzhou.
[Youzhou Governor: You Gong (Liu Yuanqi’s courtesy name), what’s going on with you? Why did you turn a blind eye to the imperial envoy? 】
[Young Liu Yuanqi: Mr. Wang, the people in Yuanqu County are suffering too much. They have no money to pay tribute...]
[Youzhou Governor: Didn’t the imperial court give you a sum of money to improve the county and build the Hall of Heroes? 】
[Young man Liu Yuanqi’s face changed and he flatly refused: Mr. Wang, this money is used to build the Hall of Heroes. Soldiers protect their homes and country and sacrifice for the court. The court issued the money to let the soldiers rest in peace and be able to stay. Put down your name and accept incense from the people, but this money cannot be touched! 】
[Youzhou Governor: Who said this money is going to be used? It’s not wrong at all to say that you don’t want to make progress! Children cannot be taught! Didn’t I ask you to build it? you are wrong! On the contrary, I want you to build a big ancestral hall to enshrine the warriors’ memorial tablets, and I want you to use the best wood, the best stones, and the best craftsmen! 】
[Young Liu Yuanqi: Huh? Mr. Wang, what do you mean? 】
[Youzhou Governor: The silver taels given by the court were five hundred taels of silver. I felt that this money was not enough to let the soldiers rest in peace. I decided to apply to the court for another 1,500 taels of silver to build the Hall of Heroes. 】
[Young Liu Yuanqi: Huh? But Mr. Wang, even if he uses good materials, he can't spend so much money? 】
[Youzhou Governor: If you say you are not enlightened, you are not enlightened. What do you mean by not understanding? Don’t you think of ways to spend the money you can’t spend? Hire more people? Pay more for supplies? Don’t you understand these things? 】
[Young man Liu Yuanqi suddenly realized: Mr. Wang, do you mean to give this money to Imperial Envoy Geng? 】
[The governor of Youzhou finally smiled and nodded slightly: Hey, by the way, now you still have some understanding. 】
[Young man Liu Yuanqi still shook his head: Mr. Wang, but these are the money of the imperial court and the people's wealth? How can we embezzle money from the imperial court and use it to make friends with the imperial envoys? Is this corruption and bribery? 】
[Youzhou Governor: You! You are hopeless! Let me ask you, are the people in Yuanqu County suffering? 】
[Young man Liu Yuanqi nodded: Bitter! 】
[Youzhou Governor: Do you want to save the people of Yuanqu County? 】
[Young Liu Yuanqi: I think. 】
[Youzhou Governor: If you want to, just do as I say. The word "official" has two mouths. If you don't feed the upper mouth, how can you feed the lower mouth? If you don’t make offerings and you don’t think of ways to do anything good for Geng Qin, how can you let Geng Qin say good things for you? How did you get the grant? How can you get relief from the court? 】
[Youzhou Governor: You have to know that Yuanqu County is not the only poor country in Youzhou... Why do you think it will be your turn? 】
[Hearing this, young Liu Yuanqi fell silent. 】
[The governor of Youzhou patted the young Liu Yuanqi on the shoulder: Young Master, you have to understand one thing. If you don’t take it, how can I take it? If I don’t take it, how can Commissioner Geng take it? Will Geng Qin take it? How can you and I make progress? 】
[Youzhou Governor: You are just a county magistrate. You can only save people in one county. If you can become a governor like me, you can save people in a state? Which is more important, don't you understand? 】
[Youzhou Governor: Let me tell you, if you want to accomplish something in the imperial court, you must know how to use this relationship... Please hurry up and write me the application for the money, and I will arrange it. When the money arrives, you exchange the silver for gold bars of the same proportion, you get 20%, and give me the rest, and I'll handle it. 】
[Young Liu Yuanqi: Mr. Wang, is this possible? I……】
[The governor of Youzhou waved his hand: OK, this matter is known to heaven and earth. You know it, I know it, and Commissioner Geng Qin knows it. If he gets the benefit, he will naturally do things for us. Youzhou is a poor place, but if you put together a Minato can still satisfy him. 】
[Young Liu Yuanqi: Mr. Wang, forget my share...]
[The governor of Youzhou's face turned pale: Young Master, can't we be too old to make progress? You must learn the overall situation, learn what’s going on, and join in this complex relationship as soon as possible. Only in this way can you make progress and help Yuanqu County get funding...]
[Youzhou Governor: From the township to the county, from the county to the county, from the county to the top, layer after layer, it is like a big invisible net, tightly entangling us people, those who can spin silk , then they will stick firmly to the net, and those that cannot spin will naturally fall off. 】
[Youzhou Governor: You have to remember that the bigger the official, the greater the power. The greater the power, the more things you can do. If you want to serve the court, if you want to make the people live and work in peace and contentment, if you want to complete your mission To achieve ideals, you must climb up, step by step. If you don’t join this relationship, who will support you? Who will help you climb up? 】
