When the prefect and county guard saw the account book in Wang Fugui's hand, their pupils immediately dilated.
Only then did they know where the lost account book had gone. It turned out that the sixth prince had already obtained it!
It's ridiculous that they swore yesterday that they would be able to fool people with fake accounting books, and they also laughed at the big shots from the capital who don't like the fireworks of the world.
What's funny is them.
Wang Fugui opened the account book, smiled and said to the two officials below,
"Prefect Liu, according to my account book, the tax you pay to the treasury each year is 10,000 taels of silver and 5,000 shi of grain. As a share of the sealed Wuwei Gong, it is 20,000 taels of silver and 10,000 shi of grain.
But according to your account book, the tax collected every year is as high as one hundred thousand taels of silver and fifty thousand shi of grain.
What's going on? Please trouble Magistrate Liu to clear up my doubts. "
"This this……"
Magistrate Liu was so anxious that he was sweating profusely and said quickly,
"Sixth Prince Mingjian, the account book you got must have been deliberately framed by someone who framed the official. The official is conscientious and loyal to the emperor and the country, and he never dares to be greedy."
Chai Yuan sneered and said,
"Oh? Then tell me, how did Liu Biao, the magistrate of Min'an County under Wuwei County, become a county magistrate with a mere scholar's reputation and not even a civil servant?"
"This...Liu Biao is indeed capable and talented. He just failed the exams many times, but he is indeed capable of governing the local area, so he was recommended by the lower official..."
"It should be said that this Liu Biao is your cousin, right? And I haven't seen him have any talent in governing the place? On the contrary, in recent years, Min'an County has been experiencing serious land annexation, and the people are living in dire straits."
Chai Yuan continued,
"The people who annexed the land are all your relatives and some landowners who have honored you, right?!"
"Master Chai, the lower officials don't dare. The lower officials don't dare."
At this time, Zhao Tao walked in, held his hands and said,
"I would like to report to your two highnesses that I have found more than 80,000 taels of silver in the treasury, and there are more than 40,000 kilo of grain in the granary."
Hearing this, Magistrate Liu quickly explained,
"Your Highness, Sixth Highness, most of this is the share of Duke Wuwei in the past six years. I have been keeping it and don't dare to use it at all. The rest is money used by the government for daily expenses." 33
"That's right. I'm sorry that you won't put the money you got from corruption into the treasury. Magistrate Liu should tell you where you hid the money you got from corruption."
Wang Fugui was still smiling, as if he was asking Magistrate Liu what he would eat for dinner.
"Your Highness, Sixth Highness, I have been wronged by this official. I have never been corrupt with taxes. Your Highness is aware of this."
Magistrate Liu was so aggrieved that he almost burst into tears and tried to defend himself. Pang De next to him was even more useless. He just stayed there in a daze, not even trying to defend himself.
Magistrate Liu angrily slapped Pang De on the thigh. Pang De suddenly realized this and knelt down quickly and said,
"Your Highness, someone must be deliberately framing us and deceiving Your Highness. Your Highness must make the decision for us."
Hearing this, Wang Fugui looked at Pang De in surprise.
"Oh? Sheriff Pang is also involved?"
I……
At this moment, Pang De wished he could slap Magistrate Liu to death.
What a scam.
At this time, Zhao Long walked in quickly from outside, hugged his hands and said,
"Your Highness, we only found some antique calligraphy and paintings and thousands of taels of silver in the governor's mansion."
Zhao Long frowned, obviously dissatisfied with the result. Pang De had been the county guard for many years, so it was certainly impossible for him to be just this greedy.
Pang De turned to look at Zhao Long, pointed at him with a red face and cursed,
"Well, Zhao Long, I've been kind to you, and I've put all my effort into promoting you and cultivating you. Is this how you repay me? You're a piece of shit!"
Zhao Long sneered when he heard this,
"Why do you say this, Lord Sheriff? The general is loyal to the country, not to you. It is the court, not you, who arranges the position for the general. The salary paid to the general is also the tax collected by the court from the people. Not the money you, the Sheriff, take.
The general is now working for the court and punishing corrupt officials for the people, so how can he talk about it? "
"You...you ungrateful person..."
Pang De wanted to scold him, but Magistrate Liu quickly pulled him back.
This idiot, can't you see it? Zhao Long has taken refuge with the Sixth Prince, and he has a strong backer. If you go head-to-head with him, isn't that asking for death?
What's more, Zhao Long has always disliked the two of them, so how could he let them go at this time.
Wang Fugui rolled his eyes, so why did he do this?
"Oh, this is difficult to handle. Logically speaking, it is not easy for you two. You have been officials for so many years and your local governance is pretty good. You should not be punished just because of a small problem of corruption.
But you are not cooperating. Tell me, we have found out. If nothing goes away, then when we return to the capital, the censor cannot impeach us for colluding with you?
If we cooperate in handing over the stolen money, we can still put in a good word in front of His Majesty. After all, our attitude is still good.
But if you refuse to cooperate, you will be punished even more severely. "
Having said this, Wang Fugui glanced at the two of them and smiled.
"Of course, Magistrate Liu is definitely not afraid. The worst case scenario is that he will be dismissed from his post and investigated, and he will go home to retire. He will be alone.
But Commander Pang, you are different. I remember, your uncle is Uncle Lushan, right? From the earl family, if you commit a crime alone, the whole family will be affected.
Uncle Pang spent all his efforts to send you here so that you can help him make money, not so that you can help him cause trouble and ruin the future of the whole family.
Alas, it is difficult to handle. "
When Pang De heard this, his face turned pale and his whole body was shaking like chaff. He had already imagined that after he was caught, the owner of the family would ignore him or even beat him up.
At this time, Chai Yuan said,
"If it's difficult, don't do it. Our matters are the most important, and we still have to rush to grant Han Taibao the title of marquis.
Let me tell Han Taibao about this incident. Wuwei County is not far from his fiefdom, and it is also the territory of Duke Wuwei.
Everyone knows that Han Taibao respects Duke Wuwei the most. If he knows that someone dares to embezzle Duke Wuwei’s money and food, the consequences will be terrible..."
This sentence was a head-on blow to Pound.
Yes, if the emperor is guilty, there is nothing to fear. The worst he can do is behead him, but if he is retaliated by Han Yun, that lonely man dares to destroy the Duke's family even if he disagrees.
As for him, he is just an earl family...
"Your Highness, Your Highness, I say, I say, the money was embezzled by Liu Xin, it has nothing to do with me."
Pang De kowtowed repeatedly and begged for mercy.
Liu Xin suddenly turned pale. Pound, this idiot, couldn't see that these people were trying to scare him?
Are you being fooled and surrendering?
How could I get along with this idiot!
Wang Fugui laughed loudly,
"Yes, yes, it was all done by Magistrate Liu. It has nothing to do with Governor Pang, nor does it have anything to do with Uncle Pang."
"So, Governor Pang, where is the money?"
Some people died, but not completely...
