Twenty million gold coins!
Let’s put aside the Ming Dynasty’s commercial tax and only talk about grain tax.
The grain tax of 20 million gold coins is almost the same as the grain tax revenue of the Ming Dynasty treasury for three years.
Those black-hearted maggots, how dare they do this!
Zhu Han's expression immediately dropped, and both Tang He and Zhu Biao looked ugly... This matter involved important officials in the court.
Zhu Han said that no matter who is involved, they will be punished!
Unexpectedly, the first person to be brought to justice turned out to be someone who had been investigating.
Realizing that the three people's eyes were on him, with the cold light of a thousand cuts, Hu Weiyong quickly said: "His Royal Highness, Guo Huan came to Beijing in the fourth year of Hongwu. Every August 15th, Chinese New Year, and Double Ninth Festival, he will I will bring you some specialties from my hometown, wild boar, native duck, bacon, etc., and I have no other gifts. The only gifts I have sent to your residence over the years are only one hundred silver coins... Please be careful, Your Highness."
Then, Hu Weiyong gritted his teeth and said: "These evil-hearted maggots have been greedy for so much gold and silver, but they only gave me a few pieces of meat. I thought he was an upright official, and even recommended him to Your Majesty. I... I I really didn’t know that he would do this!”
Zhu Han's tone was cold: "Why, do you still feel that accepting these things has wronged you?"
"My lord, I don't dare... I have absolutely no such intention."
Hu Weiyong suddenly broke out in cold sweat, and said quickly to Zhu Han: "I am just asking for forgiveness, please forgive me."
"Get up."
Zhu Han did not think about causing trouble with Hu Weiyong, and then said to Zhu Biao and Tang He: "This case involves a lot. I have previously set requirements for handling personnel in accordance with the law, so we must follow this requirement." , don’t involve others easily.”
Tang He looked troubled: "Your Highness, this is a lot of gold and silver, and it involves too many areas. How to characterize their behavior? For example, if someone like Hu Weiyong accepts gifts during festivals, is it considered part of the stolen money?"
When Hu Weiyong heard Tang He's question, instead of feeling resentful, he was filled with gratitude.
If he is culpable now, he will not be implicated in the future.
If Hu Weiyong is guilty, then his guilt should be determined now.
If it is not a crime, then no one can trouble him about this matter in the future.
Hu Weiyong stood upright, like a piece of wood, waiting for Zhu Han's verdict.
Zhu Han glanced at Zhu Biao and found that he was hesitant to speak, so he said: "Biao'er, what do you think should be done?"
Zhu Biao thought for a while and said: "If they are convicted according to the law, then their personal income must be excluded. Like Prime Minister Hu, who only receives a few pieces of meat every year, or other things, we can convert it into their income." In terms of personal income, it really shouldn’t be a big deal for a high-ranking official in the DPRK to be implicated because of this little thing.”
Your Highness is so famous!
If Zhu Han hadn't allowed him to kneel, Hu Weiyong would have given Zhu Biao a good kowtow. This sentence directly saved his life.
Next, it depends on whether Zhu Han agrees or not.
"Well, it should be so."
Zhu Han nodded, and then said: "Then let's do it this way. Try not to unjustly accuse a good person, but never let any bad person go."
Glancing at Hu Weiyong, you old boy is alive only because the three of us protected you.
Hu Weiyong owed three favors in one sentence.
However, as long as you can survive, you don't care about anything else.
Tang Hejian took Hu Weiyong's blame away, and then said to Zhu Han: "On July 5, there are two more brothers, Yu Tongyuan and Yu Tongjiang. One of them is the governor of the rivers and the other is the canal navy commander... Guo Huan The stolen food was transported through them.”
Yu Tongyuan!
Yu Tongjiang!
Zhu Han couldn't help but close his eyes when he heard these two people... They were the founding heroes of the country, and they were the people he recruited.
Yu Tongyuan, Yu Tongjiang, Liao Yongzhong, Liao Dingguo... Now Liao Yongzhong is overseas, and Liao Dingguo is responsible for delivering supplies to overseas places... The two brothers Yu Tongyuan and Yu Tongjiang did not treat them badly themselves. They were both made marquises, and their status has surpassed many people, but they Why are you still not satisfied?
Zhu Han couldn't help but feel chilled when he thought about what happened when he recruited them.
People's hearts will change, and they will eventually change.
After a long time, Zhu Han opened his eyes and said to Zhu Biao and Tang He: "Catch whatever you have to, and don't let anyone go. Yu Tongyuan and Yu Tongjiang, I wrote a letter asking them to come to Yingtian!"
Because Zhu Han abdicated the throne and gave the Ming Dynasty to Zhu Yuanzhang, Zhu Yuanzhang felt guilty for Zhu Han, so he took great care of Zhu Han's former subordinates. Yu Tongyuan and Yu Tongjiang could not even get the earl, but in order to make up for Zhu Han, Zhu Yuanzhang gave them The position of founding marquis was arranged.
This is already a very preferential treatment, but they are not satisfied yet.
Seeing that Zhu Han was so sad, Tang He comforted him: "On July 5, people's hearts will change. We already have a clear conscience towards them, but now they owe us."
"Yes, uncle, people's hearts are separated from each other. Who would have thought that they would be so black-hearted?"
Zhu Biao knew that Zhu Han was an emotional person, but he was also a person who kept his word. Since he said he would investigate and handle the matter in accordance with the law, he would never change it.
The person he trusted so much had to be dealt with by his own hands. The pain involved was something no one could understand. All Zhu Biao and Tang He could do was make Zhu Han no longer so angry.
Zhu Han knew what the two were thinking, waved his hands and said: "Forget it, let's not mention them, let's talk about another incident. What's the situation in Jiangsu and Zhejiang?"
Tang He could only continue to say: "Kongyin!"
The capital of the Ming Dynasty was in Yingtian, and officials from all over the country had to go to Yingtian to submit their account books. At that time, taxes were paid in kind, that is, grain, and there was inevitably loss during transportation. There was a high probability that the account books would not match the actual goods. event.
If there is a slight mistake, it must be sent back and re-reported. This is fine in Jiangsu and Zhejiang areas, but officials in Yunnan-Guizhou, Guangdong and Guangxi, Shanxi-Shaanxi, and Sichuan have long distances to travel due to underdeveloped transportation at the time. If they need to send it back for re-reporting, it will inevitably waste a lot of time. Therefore, officials who go to the Ministry of Household Affairs for review have blank books with stamps in advance for use.
This was originally a customary practice in the Yuan Dynasty and had never been explicitly prohibited.
According to the regulations of the Ming Dynasty, each chief executive, prefecture, and county must submit money, food, fiscal revenue and expenditure, and tax accounts to the Ministry of Household Affairs every year.
The figures from the Ministry of Household Affairs and each Chief Secretary, Prefecture, and County must be completely consistent before the account can be closed. If there is a discrepancy in one item, the entire account book will be rejected, refilled, and re-stamped with the seal of the local government.
But that's it, someone took advantage of this loophole. They took blank letters with seals and made large-scale forgeries. Some of them were caused by the boat capsizing, and some of the losses on the road turned into a very small part when they arrived at the court. Less is sold directly on the road.
Yunnan-Guizhou, Guangdong and Guangxi, Shanxi-Shaanxi, and Sichuan all use this method to corrupt ink, but Jiangsu and Zhejiang go too far. Their losses are as high as 70%. Even a fool can't do this, right?
After hearing Tang He tell the results of the investigation, the whole audience fell silent.
The two villains are exactly the same, both are greedy for food taxes.
Moreover, these two eucalyptus combined basically included the entire local officials of the Ming Dynasty.
Zhu Han originally thought that only Huguang and Jiangsu and Zhejiang had the largest holes. He pulled out the carrots and brought out the mud. The other provinces were also involved, as well as the six departments of the court... so many people were involved. Together, if they are all investigated, I don’t know how long it will take to find out.
Zhu Biao also realized this and asked Zhu Han: "Uncle, this matter is very related and involves many officials. If everyone is investigated clearly, it will probably take a long time. If it cannot be finalized as soon as possible, it will be delayed. After a long time, I’m afraid Dad won’t be able to find out clearly when he comes back.”
According to Zhu Yuanzhang's character, every one of these people will die.
Hu Weiyong also believed that this matter could not be delayed, otherwise he would also be dead.
But now that Hu Weiyong was a guilty person, he could not follow Zhu Biao's words and had to let Zhu Han make the decision.
“Catch the big fish first, then swat the flies.”
Zhu Han set the tone for the next action, and then said: "They dare to bully the emperor like this, and a gray chain must have been formed. The people at the top will take the big head, and the people at the bottom will take the small head. Let's take them at the top first." If the person is caught and the little fish below is beaten, someone will naturally take the initiative to go to the government to confess his crime."
"For those who take the initiative to admit their mistakes, as long as they hand over the dirty money, we can treat them leniently. If they cannot hand over the dirty money, they will be dealt with according to the law. If they dare to conceal the evidence of their crime, their crime will be increased."
Zhu Han's handling method won Tang He's approval: "Two powers are harming each other, whichever is the lesser. Let them know that resistance can only lead to death. The small characters are short-sighted and naturally know what to do."
Zhu Biao nodded in recognition, and Hu Weiyong added next to him: "It is easy for the king of hell to see, but difficult for the devil to deal with. When investigating these little people, we must be perfect. We must not only investigate the embezzlement of grain depots, but also continue to pursue them. See See if they have any other culpability.”
As soon as this statement came out, they won the approval of Zhu Han and the others. As for Hu Weiyong's guilt, everyone ignored it as if it had not happened. Hu Weiyong's annual salary plus his investment in ocean trade would allow Hu Weiyong to live a luxurious life. What does that little bit of pork count for?
In front of such a big eucalyptus, there is no need to count these small grains of sand.
After discussing the next plan, the most critical ones are the two brothers Yu Tongyuan and Yu Tongjiang. They control the Yangtze River and Canal Navy. If they are to be caught in the military camp, they may cause a lot of trouble.
"No matter how difficult it is, we must catch it!"
Zhu Han's words dispelled their doubts, and then said: "Leave these two people to me, I will go see them."
"Uncle, no!"
When Zhu Biao heard that Zhu Han said that he was going to see Yu Tongyuan and Yu Tongjiang, he immediately objected: "Uncle, if a gentleman doesn't sit down in the hall, how can you, with your wealth of gold, be in danger? What if they turn against you and take you hostage? What can we do? What to do?"
"right!"
"His Royal Highness the Crown Prince said, King of England, you can't go!"
Tang He and Hu Weiyong objected one after another and firmly opposed Zhu Han going to their naval camp, but how could they persuade Zhu Han to move?
"Okay, you don't need to persuade me. Since I want to go, I must go."
With a simple sentence, the others suddenly became silent. Zhu Han said he wanted to go, who could stop him?
Zhu Biao also had no idea and glanced at Tang He and Hu Weiyong.
The two of them had no hope, so they could only bite the bullet and said: "I will transfer the Fujian and Guangdong navy to protect you."
"Need not."
Zhu Han still refused, and then said: "I am enough."
Yu Tongyuan, Yu Tongjiang.
I, Zhu Han, will give you one last ride!
…
Zhu Han and Zhu Biao have decided to close the net. Next, it is the time for Jin Yiwei to show his power.
Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Hunan and Guangxi, Fujian, Yunnan and Guizhou... In all places where problems were found in the accounts, people were taken away, one person after another... When people with a guilty conscience see the people being taken away around them, they are now I started to get upset.
In the court, the arrests continued.
In the household department, Guo Huan clocks in and clocks in on time as before. He wears clean and simple clothes. He wears one pair of shoes every year. They are all made of mille-feuille soles made by his family. In Guo Huan’s words, such shoes are comfortable to wear and easy to walk on. Be practical.
But almost all officials in the Ministry of Household Affairs know that Guo Huan's family is relatively poor, and his salary is barely enough to maintain the family's livelihood.
Of course, the abjection they talked about was considered to be at a medium level in the entire Ming Dynasty.
Guo Huan had lunch at the government office, steamed buns, pickles, and occasionally some braised pork or duck legs. Guo Huan said with satisfaction that this was called "improving life."
Guo Heng has been like this almost every day since he came to Yingtian as an official.
No one can play a role that feels like it has been played for many years, so everyone takes it for granted that Guo Huan is a good official with a clear mind. Even the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue is preparing to write a letter asking Guo Huan to take charge of the restructured Agriculture Minister.
At noon, Guo Huan was lying in the back room of the squad room to rest, but he was obviously not asleep. He was lying on the bed as if asleep, but his ears were raised to listen to the chatter of people outside.
Recently, Zhu Biao and Hu Weiyong were checking the account books of the Household Department. Guo Huan was also one of the participants, but he thought that he did it very secretly. No one could see through the account books he made, but he never let go of his vigilance. This is probably It is a sign of guilty conscience.
He heard people chatting outside: "Have you heard? Something happened to Master Zhao Maozhao, the Minister of Rites, and he was directly arrested and taken away by the emperor's own army, and it was Duke Xin who led the arrest."
"Not only the Ministry of Rites, but also the Ministry of Punishment is in trouble... What is His Highness the Crown Prince trying to do? Why did he arrest so many people at once? Is he trying to eliminate dissidents? Want to replace them?"
"What to replace it? I heard that the King of England is behind this. Do you think it could be the King of England..."
"How is it possible? How could the King of England be greedy for power?"
"What's going on?"
God really eliminates dissidents!
Guo Huan was listening to the conversation outside in the back room, almost bursting into laughter secretly.
"These common people! How do you know the intrigues in the court? If you don't know that trouble comes from your mouth, you will only be an official for the rest of your life!"
It was a pleasure for Guo Huan to lie in bed all day long to complain to his colleagues chatting outside. However, as more and more officials came outside and heard more and more news, Guo Huan felt that something was wrong.
】
Zhao Mao, the Minister of Rites, Wang Huidi, the Minister of Punishments, Wang Zhi, the Minister of War, and Mai Zhide, the Minister of Works... These people seemed to be coveting grain taxes with me.
