"Mr. Ji laughed." He Shen said with a smile, "Here, I'll apologize to Mr. Ji!" After saying that, he ordered people to put the food and wine on the table.
"Mr. Ji, please!" he invited with a smile.
Xiang Nan nodded and sat down with him, "Well, the wine is good wine and the food is good food. Why are you so kind and entertaining a prisoner like me?"
"Mr. Ji, I can only share this wine and food with you." He Shen said with a smile, "In "The Romance of the Three Kingdoms", there is a section where Cao Cao and Liu Bei cook wine with green plums and discuss heroes. He is here tonight. I want to talk to Mr. Ji."
"Okay, since I'm so interested in you, Sir, I'd rather be respectful than obey." Xiang Nan said with a smile, "I wonder what you want to talk about, Sir?"
"Mr. Ji is in prison now. Talking about romance here and now is a bit embarrassing." He Shen said with a smile, "Mr. Ji, let's talk about the Yancheng case."
"Okay." Xiang Nan nodded, and then said, "Sir, I have seen all the accounts of Yancheng officials, and I have to say that they are really shocking and sensational!
These officials divided up all the government's disaster relief food funds and only gave the victims some bran and wheat chaff for livestock. They were really crazy and inhumane. "
"I know." He Shen nodded, "Does Mr. Keji know that one pound of ration can be exchanged for three pounds of bran? In this way, only one person could be saved originally, but now three people can be saved.
Mr. Ji, did you know that the victims were extremely hungry and could eat anything? Tree roots, turf, and soil can all be eaten. Mr. Ji, have you ever seen anyone bloating to death after eating Guanyin soil? Bran is considered a good thing to them. "
"Haha, fallacy!" Xiang Nan sneered, "Sir, if the Yancheng officials really took all the disaster relief funds and rations and exchanged them for bran, and the people lived three times as long, then I can still agree with your point of view. .
But in fact, they put 90% of the money into their own pockets and only used 10% to buy bran and distribute it to the people. In this way, ten people could be saved originally, but now only 30% can be saved. Seventy percent of the people starved to death.
Isn't such an official worthy of beheading if he harms the country, harms the people, harms the public and enriches his own private life? Do you still want to make excuses for this kind of officialdom? "
…
"Mr. Ji, save the people first, save the officials first. If the officials can't survive, how can we save the people?" When Heshen heard this, he immediately retorted, "There are tens of thousands of disaster victims, who is going to give them disaster relief food funds? Rely on those officials, big and small. Only when you feed them will they be willing to do things."
"Haha~" Xiang Nan laughed angrily, "Eating the king's salary and sharing the king's worries. Those officials receive the salary from the court, which is enough for their living. Coupled with the usual exorbitant taxes and private donations, it is enough to support their lives. purse.
The imperial court raised troops for a thousand days and used them for a while. In this time of great disaster, they should serve the country. But this disaster turned into an opportunity for them to make a fortune. Take away the last morsel of food from the hungry victims. How cruel, how cold-blooded? "
"Mr. Ji, what you said is just the truth in the book." He Shen said with a smile, "Eating the king's salary and sharing the king's worries! This sounds nice. But when a disaster strikes, how many people are willing to take the initiative to help? Do you share your worries?
It's fine to just ignore and watch, but there are many people who shirk responsibility and do things perfunctorily. What's more, it's common to take advantage of the opportunity and make a fortune.
Mr. Ji, let me ask you, in all dynasties, have there been more corrupt officials or honest officials, and have there been more competent officials or mediocre officials? "
"Corrupt officials are like the sand of the Yellow River, honest officials are like phoenix feathers. Mediocre officials are like crucian carp crossing the river, and capable officials are like auspicious feathers." Xiang Nan sighed.
"Yeah, so if I want to provide disaster relief, I can only use these mediocre and corrupt officials. If I want them to take action, I have to feed them first." He Shen explained, "As the Minister of Military and Aircraft, without their support , that’s bullshit, it’s easy for me!”
"When I talk to the adults, it sounds like I have some difficulties and I have to do it." Xiang Nan said with a smile, "However, I don't say secret words in front of people.
Corrupt officials are rampant in the Qing Dynasty. You and your Excellency must bear a lot of responsibility. For example, officials of all sizes in Yancheng have paid tribute to you, Mr. He, over the years.
You promote and protect these corrupt officials, and suppress and belittle those who are upright and capable. Once a major disaster strikes and you need people, you will lament that no one is available.
Sir, don’t you think you are contradicting yourself and bringing the blame upon yourself? "
He Shen felt a little embarrassed when he heard what Xiang Nan said.
…
"My lord, I told you that if you don't feed corrupt officials, they won't do anything. This is also talking about yourself." Xiang Nan smiled again, "My lord, you are the most corrupt official in the Qing Dynasty. Even looking at all dynasties, Your corruption gains are enough to rank among the best."
"Mr. Ji is really sharp-tongued, which puts He to shame." He Shen said with a smile, "But have you ever thought that you are so talented, upright, and loyal to the emperor and the people.
But why has his official career been so wasted these years and he has never been reused. On the contrary, he got married to someone and became favored by the emperor? "
Xiang Nan smiled and said no more.
Of course he knew why. If He Shen is the most corrupt official in the world, then Qianlong is the most corrupt emperor in the world.
The so-called Shiquanwu Gong, Sikuquanshu, and six southern tours... all require money, and money is spent like water.
In order to make up for the shortfall in the treasury, he re-employed He Shen to help him make money. For this reason, a crime-discussing silver system was even introduced, allowing corrupt officials to pay money to be exempted from guilt. This made corruption rampant among officials in the Qing Dynasty and they were emboldened.
The so-called prosperous age of Kangxi and Qianlong fell from prosperity to emperor Qianlong. In the last years of his reign, the rule of the Qing court was in decline, the people were in dire straits, and civil unrest broke out all over the place.
In the first year of Jiaqing, the White Lotus Sect in Sichuan and Shaanxi revolted. It took nine years for the Qing government to put down the rebellion, using hundreds of thousands of troops and spending 200 million taels of silver, equivalent to five years of revenue from the treasury. This also left the Qing government's treasury empty and its national strength greatly reduced.
However, although Xiang Nan knew this, he would not be stupid enough to criticize Qianlong in front of He Shen.
Even if there were only two of him in the prison, he would not hold back and tell the truth.
…
"Mr. Ji, I always thought that if you and I could join forces, wouldn't we be able to achieve great things?" Seeing that Xiang Nan was silent, He Shen suddenly laughed proudly.
"My lord, if you and I join forces, we will be in great trouble." Xiang Nan said with a smile, "The reason why the emperor wants to reuse you and at the same time send me to Yancheng to investigate the case, don't you understand the connection between this? "
He Shen was stunned.
"Divide and conquer, with checks and balances. This is the way of the emperor." Xiang Nan said with a smile, "So don't think too much, sir. The harder we fight, the better for each other."
"Mr. Ji is right, He has learned a lesson." He Shen smiled and nodded.
