chapter 10. a young man comes to the office

“How can you not be in a hurry when you are only striving for the future?” Chen Pingping’s thin face did not have a trace of expression, his smooth and beardless jaw made the wrinkles on his face appear deeper and deeper, and his old age showed, “You have to remember that I’m not much younger than Sean.”

Fan Xian was silent, sniffing out a certain grayish aura from the body of this old cripple in front of him, forcing himself to collect his thoughts and report some of the hidden things he had done on the way out on the mission, only not divulging that he had once done a long night’s talk with Shawn in a cave, and that he had already known the exact location of the temple.

“When will Si Li Li be able to enter the palace?” Chen Pingping seemed to have a lot of confidence in the Thousand Mile Remote Control woman.

Fan Xian frowned slightly, pondering when he would have access to that brother of Si Li Li, and casually responded, “I am making arrangements with certain people, it is not a big deal for the Northern Qi court, it shouldn’t be difficult.”

Chen Pingping nodded and turned to say, “As you are well aware, the position of one place was originally reserved for Yan Bingyun. It just didn’t occur to me that Yan Ruohai actually wanted to retire at a young age, Yan Bingyun has been working under his father, and is very familiar with the entire four places, so staying in the four places is also a good choice. It’s just that one place has been thrown to you, so use more of your heart.”

Fan Xian narrowed his eyes and said, “Is there anything I need to pay attention to?”

Chen Pingping looked into his eyes with an odd smile, “There are many aspects that need your attention. In fact, His Majesty has always wanted you to pick up a place again, after all, most of the officials in the capital are in the center of the machine, so if you don’t keep a close eye on them and let them get too close to the imperial princes, there will always be some trouble.”

Fan Xian’s heart flinched, and he began to secretly curse the one in the palace, your sons are making trouble, why should I be allowed to put out the fire?

Chen Pingping’s withered fingers gently knocked down the armrests of the wheelchair, his knuckles protruding like the knots of a bamboo. Fan Xian looked sideways and listened to the thumping sound from the armrests, and realized that the armrests were hollow, and bamboo in general, and couldn’t help but have a strange association, this old man who was the most morose and terrifying person in Qing, and the strong bamboo in the wind, had a general temperament?

“You did well in the north this time.” Chen Pingping said, “I know what you want to do when you let Wang Qinian stay there, but you can’t make a move for a day until His Majesty gives the word.”

Fan Xian frowned, “The Eldest Princess has made a lot of money from that line. You also know that I’m going to take over the inner treasury after the first of the year, so if I don’t sweep that line clean before I take over, how can I tell the world if I take over that mess and can’t make any accomplishments?”

Chen Pingping glanced at him and said, “Cui is acting for the Princess and selling goods to the north, if you take over this line in a row, is there a suitable person to take over?”

Fan Xian thought that he had something good to introduce, so he made a face that was all ears.

Chen Pingping shook his hand, “I will report this matter to His Majesty, and His Majesty also feels that the Eldest Princess has stretched her hand a little too far over the years. But after all, they are all family, if he refuses to loosen his lips, you should not make a move …… You have to know that the courtyard is also hoping that you can keep the inner treasury firmly in your hands, on the one hand, you yourself are the Tisan, on the other hand, you have to be clear that the Supervisory Yuan can retain its present position among the three courts and six ministries, and the inner treasury is also inseparable. ”

Fan Xian asked, “What is this saying?”

Chen Pingping glanced at him and slowly explained in a somber voice, “The Supervisory Yuan has the power to supervise all the officials, so it can’t have any relationship with these ministries and courts, and the affairs of the state and the court have always been extremely separate. The funds consumed by the Supervisory Yuan in a year is really a large number, but after so many years, not a single penny has been allocated from the national treasury, so no matter whether it is the Ministry of the Household or the other ministries, they can’t tell the Yuan what to do, which is the so-called independence.”

Fan Xian understood: “The funds and salaries of the Supervisory Yuan are all allocated directly from the profits of the inner treasury.”

“Not bad.” Chen Pingping continued, “This was the iron rule set by your mother back then, in order for the courtyard to tear itself away from the officials of the world. So if you want to be in charge of this courtyard in the future, you have to plan for the thousands of officials in the courtyard as well as those manpower on the periphery, the healthier the inner treasury is, the stronger the economic foundation of the Supervisory Yuan will be, and it will be able to maintain this independent status at all times.”

Chen Pingping laughed coldly, “Since that bloodshed thirteen years ago, His Majesty has not known how many times he has gotten a new government, the old military department was changed into a military court, now it has been changed into a Privy Council, and the Ministry of War has been re-established, and this is just a microcosm of what has been going on. These things in name, changing around, seemingly without any bone-deep impact, but in reality have kneaded these ministries and divisions into a big pile of dough, and the reason why the Supervisory Yuan has remained as it is, relies on the so-called independence.”

Fan Xian laughed bitterly, “It’s not even a word from His Majesty.”

“So you have to fight!” Chen Pingping stared chillingly into his eyes, “In the future, if there is a day when the palace is going to rub the Supervisory Yuan to pieces, you must fight! If the Supervisory Yuan also turns into a raggedy thing like the Da Lisi, our Da Qing Dynasty …… will only slowly turn into the kind of raggedy thing like Wei back then!”

Fan Xian understood the worry in the old cripple’s heart; he had one more lifetime of insight than he did, so he naturally understood the importance of the independence of the so-called supervisory body.

“That’s why the Inner Treasury and the Supervisory Body are originally two things in one.” Chen Pingping said word for word, “That idea of your father is really childish! To be in charge of the inner treasury, you must have power in your hands and firmly control this courtyard! And to control this courtyard, you have to ensure the blood supply of this courtyard! Don’t underestimate the thing called money; this little thing is enough to destroy the most tightly controlled organization in the world.”

Seeing him discussing his father, Fan Xian, as the son, naturally could not say much, and had to be taught in silence.

On the same day, Fan Xian went to one of the offices and officially took up his post. A government office is not in the Supervisory Yuan that square, outside painted gray and black building, but in the east of the city Da Lisi next to a courtyard, see that the gate is still solemn and solemn, just the door of the sign, but almost let Fan Xian spit in the face of the horseman Tou Zi Jing.

He held onto the wall of the carriage, forcing back his inner laughter as he looked at the sign that he found to be very unorthodox:

“By Imperial Order the First Branch Office of the Daqing Dynasty’s Supervisory Academy.”

Fan Xian instantly developed an absurd feeling of time-mixing, thinking that he was arriving at the entrance to the Procuratorate of some city known for its oil fields in another time and space.

Traveling light, he hadn’t greeted Mu Tie beforehand, and the official documents of the institution hadn’t been issued yet, so those officials of the Procuratorate in one place didn’t know that a new head would be coming today. The people at the gatehouse looked at the carriage at the entrance of the court for a while and muttered, thinking that the young man standing outside, laughing with his belly like a fool, had really wasted his beautiful face, standing for half a day and not coming in, what was it all about?

At this time Fan Xian has already led Deng Ziyue and a few believers to go inside, Fuji Zijing refused to go in, from the heart is still willing to stay away from the Supervisory Yuan such a place. The concierge, an old man of nearly half a century, hurriedly stepped out and said, “My lords, what is your business?”

Fan Xian was slightly stunned, thinking that the first time he rashly barged into the Supervisory Yuan, no one stopped him, and that was because no uninvolved person would run into the Supervisory Yuan to hang out. His mind turned extremely fast, looking at this concierge to stop himself, thinking to himself, is this one place where many officials usually come to visit?

Although he wasn’t wearing an official uniform today, Deng Ziyue was still wearing the costume of the Supervisory Yuan, so the concierge wasn’t sure of their identities, and his tone of voice was relatively soft.

Fan Xian ignored him and walked straight in, Deng Zi Yue stopped the old man with his hand, and several people walked directly into the court.

Once inside, Fan Xian realized that this place was really different. Not to mention that no one came up to greet him and ask him questions, after walking through a few rooms, he realized that the rooms were empty, and when it was time to go on duty, there was no one there. He was a little puzzled, to the side hall to find a chair to sit down, vaguely heard the sound of a burst of noise coming from the back of the Yamen.

Qinian group there are several of the original one of the mandarins, today followed by the Lord Titus, there also happens to be one, this person surnamed Su Wenmao, see the face of the adults are not hesitant, and quickly ran to the signing of the room to look for the officials on duty, but unexpectedly did not find. Su Wenmao also wondered, thought he left a but a year, how the whole atmosphere of the Yamen has become a little strange, fortunately, is an old man, can not find people, but also can find tea and hot water, and quickly and respectfully brewed a cup of tea, served to the front of Fan Xian.

Fan Xian is not in a hurry, holding the tea bowl in his hand and gently sipping it, like those old ministers in the court posing with a calm and steady spectrum.

Deng Ziyue glared at Su Wenmao, meaning, why didn’t you find someone to come out for half a day? Su Wenmao stood by Fan Xian’s side, half leaning against his body, with a bitter smile on his face, how could he dare to respond, he really did not think that the hallowed one place of the Supervisory Yuan, under the majesty of Chen’s president, had turned into the general appearance of an idle government office.

The concierge probed outside the door and found that these several adults were just drinking tea, guessing that they were waiting for someone, and they didn’t bother to pay attention to it, so several people were just sitting in the hall awkwardly like this. Fan Xian some impatience, stood up, signaling a few of them to sit down, but he was walking to the cabinet next to the hall, began to pick up those early dusty case files, thinking, actually no one to stop themselves, this one of the discipline is really corrupted very hard.

Suddenly there are a few people while talking and laughing while walking in, look at their clothing are officials of the Supervisory Yuan, hand also carried a large bamboo basket, the basket with ice chilled fish, looks quite fresh. When these people passed by Fan Xian and his party, they didn’t even look at them, but one of them caught a glimpse of Su Wenmao and shouted with a big smile, “Old Su, why are you free to come back and sit down today?”

Su Wenmao was full of embarrassment, but then he saw Fan Xian’s gesture in the corner, and could only smile and say, “This day the Tishee is in the courtyard to report on his duties, and a few of us have nothing to do, so we brought our brothers and sisters here to stroll around.” All the way north, qi nian group is aware of Fan Xian’s means, under the accumulated power, actually half a word did not dare to remind.

The man clapped his hands, shouted to the rest of the people to carry the basket of fish in first, showing envy to Su Wenmao said: “Old Su, you are now soaring, follow that young master, this future will not walk horizontally?”

Su Wenmao weighing the wording, replied with a small intention: “Lord Tisi is strict, I do not dare to rely on his old man’s name, outside the nonsense.”

The man laughed, said, “Do not talk about those, anyway, these good things can not be our turn in one place, go go go ……” He at the same time greeted Deng Ziyue that a few colleagues, “Since I came, do not go first, the courtyard How long will that meeting be open, everyone is clear, first follow me to go in and rub a couple of good.”

Deng Ziyue snorted coldly and turned his face to the side. That person saw him not give face, face also show embarrassment color, heart hate think, not just hold Fan Ti Si’s thigh? What are you so proud of? He no longer cared about them, and only chatted with Su Wenmao for a few moments before preparing to leave.

At this moment, Fan Xian came out and asked with a gentle face: “This big brother, I saw you guys loaded a basket earlier, are you going to eat this at noon? I’m afraid I’m going to have to bother with a meal as well.”

The light in the yamen was dark, the man didn’t see Fan Xian’s face clearly, but only knew that he was a young man, and said with a smile, “That’s not something you can afford to eat, so I’ll distribute it back home later.”

“Oh? It seems to be a very expensive fish, otherwise it wouldn’t be packed in ice.” Fan Xian said.

“That’s right!” The man squinted and glanced at Deng Ziyue with a proud look on his face, “The Yunmeng fish that was transported from the south in an eight hundred mile rush, fished up in the big lake, is so fresh and delicious that it would have gone bad if it hadn’t been chilled, and in this Kyoto city, it’s not easy for even those very fine ministers to want to eat it. That is, the Ministry of the Army has this ability, but also thanks to us is the hall of the Supervisory Yuan a, otherwise where there is this kind of good taste.”

“So it was the military department that sent it over.” Fan Xian smiled slightly, knowing that the various departments and divisions in Kyoto would surely try their best to please one place, but he just didn’t think that they would make such an effort.

The man arched his hand and said, “Not to mention, since you all are waiting for Lord Tiji to adjourn the meeting, then sit down for a while, I’ll go in first and carry that fish of my own, and then come out to accompany a few of you to talk.”

Fan Xian said, “Don’t panic, we’ve come to visit Lord Mu for one more thing, we just haven’t been able to find anyone, so I’d like to ask this brother to do us a favor.”

The man glanced at him and said with a smile, “I thought it was something big, I’ll go and inform, you guys wait.”

The man smiled as he walked towards the backyard, and as soon as he left Fan Xian’s line of sight, his face immediately changed, and he jogged all the way into a room at the back of the courthouse, kicking the door open!

Inside the room there are a few people are sitting on the table will be mah will be rubbing the money cheerfully, was so disturbed by him, startled, can not help but high voice cursed up. Sitting on the main seat of the Mu Tie is not good, a green green mahjong penny into a concealed weapon thrown over, scolded: “Mourning ah you! A few fish also make you crave like this.”

The man shivered and said, “Lord Mu, there is a young man in the office.”

Mu Tie frowned and said to himself, “What kind of person? If he’s familiar, bring him here, I can’t afford to part with this good card in my hand.”

“Not familiar.” The man said with a trembling voice, “But Su Wenmao is also following, I reckon …… it will be …… that young master who is here?”

Mu Tie was creeped out and slapped his face, pointing at his nose and cursing, “You …… are responsible for what you say!” He was so scared that he stood up and circled around in place for a few times, and asked in fear, “Is it really the Lord Tisch?”

“Estimated to be.” That person is full of grievances: “In front of his face, I dare not recognize him, pretend not to know, hurry to inform the Lord, if it is really Fan Ti Si, you can pay attention to some.”

Mu Tie face full of panic, hurriedly ordered his men to withdraw the card table, rearranged into the appearance of the office, all the way jogging with the man to the yamen antechamber rushed to, all the way running all the way to say: “The wind ah, to remember you a merit, go back to let your aunt to introduce you to a good marriage,…… mother, how did this Lord Tisch say come to the Luckily, you reacted smartly …… is really worthy of being one of our imperial order Supervisory Yuan! This intelligence camouflage work did not leave behind, very good, very good!”

This secret agent known as Feng’er, wiped the icy water on his hands onto the shirt behind his buttocks and said, “It’s Lord Mu’s good leadership, good leadership.”