After Ma Xiuying read the memorial written by Zhu Han to Zhu Yuanzhang, she was also very panicked, but she was more worried about Zhu Yuanzhang. With Zhu Yuanzhang's character, could he tolerate this?
"Don't worry yet. Didn't Qi Wu just find out?"
Ma Xiuying pulled Zhu Yuanzhang and consoled her: "Now I'm just asking you for instructions on what to do in Qiwu. Let me tell you. It won't be too late to find out the truth."
"Sister, how long have you known Qiwu? You still don't know what kind of person he is?"
Zhu Yuanzhang sighed helplessly, pointed to the memorial and said: "If he was not 70% sure in his heart, would he write a memorial to me? Even if we are not in Yingtian, after reading the memorial given to us on July 5th, we can guess what will happen next. Someone big must be up to something."
Seeing that Zhu Yuanzhang said so firmly, Ma Xiuying knew that no matter how hard she tried to persuade him, it would be useless. Instead, she asked Zhu Yuanzhang: "What do you want to do? Go back?"
She has been out for more than half a year, and Ma Xiuying can accept it now. Besides, such a big thing happened in Yingtian, not only Zhu Han, but also Zhu Biao, who was supervising the country, Ma Xiuying was really worried.
Ma Xiuying didn't want to see the furious Zhu Yuanzhang, so she gave the decision-making power to Zhu Yuanzhang to see what he decided.
Sure enough, after taking the question that Ma Xiuying threw at him, Zhu Yuanzhang quickly calmed down, and after some contemplation he said: "We are not going back, we will continue to wander outside, and then we will talk about it after watching our Ming Dynasty."
Ma Xiuying nodded: "Yes, Ying Tian has Qi Wu in charge, and those Xiaoxiao gang can't cause any trouble. Biao'er will grow a lot after this incident."
"Biao'er is not just growing up, it's like a mountain of flesh falling on Biao'er. Through this incident, his position as prince will be more stable."
Zhu Yuanzhang took the memorial from Ma Xiuying, opened it and pointed to a passage in it and said: "On the 75th, he is going to go to court wearing the five-clawed dragon suit we gave him. Hu Weiyong and Tang Hefu left Zhu Biao. This means that on the 75th You have to do everything that offends people, and leave the credit to Biao'er! Let Biao'er establish his authority in the court!"
"ah?"
Ma Xiuying had not thought that such a thing would happen. After hearing this, she also fell silent. There was a lot of rare silence in the palace. After a long time, Ma Xiuying said: "In this way, we owe Qiwu even more." Yes."
"Who says it's not the case? It's all because we, the elder brother, are incompetent. Instead, we have to let Qi Wu protect us everywhere."
Zhu Yuanzhang was a little annoyed, and even said... he regretted it. He said to Ma Xiuying: "We all think that Qiwu is more suitable to be the emperor, but he is not. He has to let our useless brother come, alas..."
Ma Xiuying nodded, who could say otherwise.
She agreed with Zhu Yuanzhang's words, but what was more important now was to appease Zhu Yuanzhang: "Don't say that, you have done well enough, and... now Qiwu wants to live the life of his Xianyun Yehe, isn't it because of you as his brother? Are you protecting him? You two brothers make each other successful, and no one can live without the other."
When Zhu Yuanzhang heard this, he grabbed Ma Xiuying's hand and took her into his arms: "Yes, we are a family, and no one of us can live without the other."
…
Yingtian and the Eastern Chagatai Khanate... ah no, it's the western border of the Ming Dynasty.
The distance between Yingtian and the western border was too far. When Zhu Yuanzhang learned the news, Zhu Biao and Hu Weiyong had already gone through three months of review and basically examined all the problems.
Holding a thick stack of bills and looking at the account books in the room, Hu Weiyong couldn't help but sigh: "Your Highness, the counting form provided by His Royal Highness is so convenient. There is a room full of account books. Using such a stack of forms, we were able to pull out all the accounts of Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Huguang for ten years. With this kind of sharp tool, it will be much simpler when we conduct the review again."
"yes."
Zhu Biao simply sighed and didn't say much. He looked at the final summary of the bill and his heart was bleeding. Zhu Biao said in pain: "I didn't expect that the money these people are greedy for is worth tens of millions." More than gold coins, what do they need so much money for? What's the use if you don't take it with you in life or death? My uncle said that this money is valuable only when it is spent, otherwise it is just a pile of metal. With so much money, they dare to spend it ?"
"Who knows, they may be very scared with this money."
Hu Weiyong's ambition is not above money. He also doesn't understand why others want so much money. In his opinion, the money is of no use at all: "No matter what, let's arrest people first. Didn't Duke Xin Guo already arrest the people in these places?" Are they all under control? I believe there will be results soon."
When auditing cases in Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Huguang, if problems are discovered, people will be sent immediately to control the people involved. As long as there are any, they will be controlled.
Zhao Yong, Zhu Biao's teacher, was also the first important minister appointed by Zhu Yuanzhang to Zhu Biao.
He was deeply involved in Huguang, and even if Zhu Biao wanted to protect him, it would be impossible for him to do so.
When investigating the land annexation, Zhao Yong was involved, but this was just a minor matter. After Zhao Yong returned the land and paid the corresponding compensation, Zhu Biao did not continue to pursue his responsibility. Unexpectedly... ...He actually got involved in Hu Guangdao again.
"Investigate, we must get to the bottom of it."
Zhu Biao also became ruthless. Now is not the time to be merciful: "No matter who it is, even the King of Heaven, I will take it down!"
If you let one person go, countless people will come to plead for mercy. Zhu Biao knew very well that he could not open this hole, so he chose to fight to the end.
This was also the first official confrontation between Zhu Biao and the founders of the Ming Dynasty.
Hu Weiyong looked at Zhu Biao and admired Zhu Biao's courage in his heart, but he also reminded Zhu Biao: "Your Highness, let's finish the investigation and go find the King of England?"
"go."
When Zhu Biao talked about Zhu Han, a helpless smile appeared on his face: "But this time, my uncle is going to take the blame again."
"Your Highness, you must not think like this."
Hu Weiyong became serious and said to Zhu Biao: "There is no such thing as taking the blame. We only punish the evildoers in accordance with the laws of the Ming Dynasty. There is no such thing as abolishing public service or taking private revenge. The reason why we let the British His Royal Highness is involved because His Highness the King of England has a high prestige in the court and can suppress the courtiers. You must know that this time the Minister of Household Affairs will never be able to escape his involvement."
Zhu Biao sighed.
It's not just the Minister of Revenue who can't escape the relationship.
The Chief Envoys of Jiangsu and Zhejiang and the Chief Envoys of Huguang cannot escape their involvement!
Removing several important officials in the court at once will inevitably cause an uproar in the court.
We asked ourselves that Zhu Biao could not achieve absolute suppression.
With Zhu Han in charge and Tang He handling it, this was the best option. Zhu Biao stood up and said, "Let's go to Prince Ying's Mansion."
…
When they arrived at Prince Ying's Mansion, Tang He was also there.
The two of them did not eat barbecue, but stewed a pot of ice-cooked lamb in the pavilion in the yard. The aroma was so fragrant that Zhu Biao couldn't help but swallow.
In the past, Zhu Biao went to work every day, ate on time, and had no special preferences for food. But now after exercising, Zhu Biao's appetite is much bigger than before, and he is especially interested in meat.
Among Zhu Yuanzhang's group of old brothers, Tang He is the eldest brother. Although Zhu Han has intervened in this life, the relationship between Zhu Yuanzhang and Tang He has never changed. Otherwise, Zhu Yuanzhang would not have handed over a team like Jin Yiwei to Tang He. Come and do it.
It can be said that in the original history, if it were not for Zhu Biao's early death, Zhu Yuanzhang would not have killed indiscriminately, and he would have been the emperor who treated his heroes best in history.
Now with Zhu Han, Zhu Yuanzhang has a better relationship with his old brothers who once conquered the world with him. If it were not for violating the law, Zhu Yuanzhang would not attack them.
Tang He knew how to protect himself. If Zhu Yuanzhang had not imposed the task on him, this big brother would have retreated bravely and maintained the brotherhood with Zhu Yuanzhang. When he saw Zhu Biao and Hu Weiyong coming, Tang He treated Zhu Biao like an uncle. Waved: "Your Highness, Prince, is here? Come and sit down and eat first. Let's try the ice-boiled lamb made by your uncle Qiwu."
Now, Tang He is the big brother, and Qi Wu is just a little brother in front of him.
Zhu Biao came over with Hu Weiyong and responded with a smile: "Okay, Uncle Tang."
Tang He didn't make a formal appearance. After Zhu Biao sat down, he took a black pottery wine bowl and placed it on the table in front of Zhu Biao. He picked up the rice wine on the table and handed it to him: "Would you like some? Mrs. King of England brewed it." The plum wine is delicious."
The aroma of wine was fragrant, and Zhu Biao also wanted to try it, but Zhu Han stopped him: "Brother, don't make trouble with Biao'er. He is growing tall. What kind of wine should he drink? Come on, Biao'er... I'll give you some." Bring me the can of beer and try it."
Beer is just a wheat drink, not alcohol.
This was one of the rewards Zhu Han got from the system. In order to take care of Zhu Biao, he didn't take much and let him drink and play.
Zhu Han went back to the house to get beer. Zhu Biao looked at Tang and Dan waiting for the mutton, and said with emotion: "Uncle Tang, it's better that you have a good attitude. Such a big thing happened that made me exhausted, but you can The performance is calm and relaxed."
"What does this mean? You haven't seen Zhong... you haven't seen His Majesty."
Tang He almost shouted out the name Zhu Yuanzhang he had called him when he was a child. Fortunately, he stopped the car in time, and then said: "When encountering big events, your Majesty will be more calm. You must also know that you must have a calm mind when encountering big events, otherwise The decisions you make in anger will be regrettable for the rest of your life."
Zhu Han walked out with a beer, and continued what Tang He said: "Biao'er, now is just the beginning. You will encounter more things later. You must not only check and balance the court, but also stand firm and stand on your own." Be stable, this time is just a training for you, you have to gain experience from this training to become a qualified emperor."
This is not a lecture to Zhu Biao, but a way to use his own past experience to tell Zhu Biao that he can listen or ignore it, but he must remember that it can be used later.
As for Hu Weiyong... he only served tea and wine in front of the three elders, and then sat on the bench and listened to the lecture like a primary school student.
As for ambition... he has it, but he doesn't dare to show it. He is afraid that Zhu Han will notice his ambition and send him to the eighteenth level of hell.
In Hu Weiyong's heart, Zhu Han was a devil-level existence.
…
After three rounds of wine, five flavors of food, and a basin full of ice-cooked lamb, Zhu Han and the four of them ate heartily. Zhu Biao ate the lamb and drank the wheat juice. He suddenly fell in love with this feeling.
Wheat juice is pretty good and not intoxicating. However, we are all adults, and the days when adults are happy are very short-lived. Moreover, they have bigger things to do now, and short-term happiness is already very hard-won.
The leftovers on the table were taken away, replaced with new tea, and the four of them began to talk about business.
Zhu Biao and Hu Weiyong were responsible for checking the accounts, and Tang He was responsible for investigating various places. Tang He knew the results of the audits. Tang He knew the local situation in Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Huguang best.
"In both Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Huguang, there are corruption incidents. The most important thing in Jiangsu and Zhejiang is empty printing, while in Huguang it is more serious and involves many people. The most important thing is Guo Huan, the Minister of Household Affairs! The places involved , not only Huguang, but also more involved."
Although Zhu Biao was taking the lead in checking the accounts of the Household Department, Tang He knew that this matter would ultimately have to be left to Zhu Han to resolve. Although Zhu Han was vigorously developing business, in the final analysis, he was seeking benefits for the people, so he was talking about this When it comes to things, the first thing to talk about is Huguang Eucalyptus.
Zhu Biao immediately said: "Yes, when I checked the accounts of the Household Department, I found that there was a deviation in the increase in grain taxes in Yanjing, and then I found that the gap was even greater in Huguang, so I conducted a deeper review."
The first was Zhu Biao. When he checked the accounts of the Ministry of Household Affairs, he found that the probability of grain tax increases varied across regions. The growth in some wealthy places was not as good as the growth in barren areas. Only then did he inform Zhu Han of this matter, and then the three of them jointly investigated.
Immediately, Tang He said: "I discovered that Guo Huan, the Minister of Household Affairs, Zhao Mao, Minister of Rites, Wang Huidi, Minister of Criminal Affairs, Wang Zhi, Minister of War, Mai Zhide, Minister of Works, and others, embezzled taxes from Taiping Prefecture, Zhenjiang Prefecture and other prefectures. In the fourth year of Hongwu, Guo Huan should have turned over 4.5 million shi for the autumn grain in Huguang, but Guo Huan only turned over more than 2 million shi. Moreover, when collecting taxes, he cleverly used various names to levy water, foot money, food money, treasury money, etc. Taxes on children's money, money from gods and Buddhas, etc., to line their own pockets..."
Tang He remembered everything in his mind. Zhu Han looked normal, while Zhu Biao and Hu Weiyong looked strange.
Zhu Biao was very angry. In the fourth year of Hongwu, Guo Huan embezzled more than two million shi of grain.
It's been Hongwu's tenth...sixth year. How much have they been greedy?
After hearing this, Hu Weiyong looked strange, with a mix of fear and anger.
After Tang He told what happened, he gave the final summary: "Guo Huan and others embezzled a total of more than 44 million shi of grain, plus the taxes they collected under clever pretexts, the amount is 20 million gold coins! "
After finishing speaking, Tang He paused and continued: "This group of damn beasts, they are greedy for ink, and they are also recruiting killers from various places to assassinate people who come to complain. People everywhere are suffering, and they are so evil. Officials are making a lot of complaints!"
"Twenty million...gold coins?"
Hu Weiyong spoke subconsciously. When Zhu Han and the others looked at him, Hu Weiyong knelt on the ground in panic: "Your Majesty, the King of England and the Crown Prince, I am guilty! I accepted the benefits from Guo Huan, as well as Wang Huidi, Wang Zhi and others, during the holidays. He always gave me gifts."
