Chapter 133 – Fan Jian’s Sword
The Ministry of households investigation work is still continuing, with the expansion of the front, the ministries into the increase in personnel, finally in those old books to find some of the clues that can be utilized.
Inventory team of ministers finally put down their hearts, regardless of those who can pull out the head of the line of the Ministry of how many problems, as long as there is a good start, is also considered to be broken under the leadership of the Fan Shangshu Ministry of households flawless image.
The first problem in the Qingli four years sent to Cangzhou winter witchcraft money, the number is not large.
But from this line up to touch, like a snowball, by the Ministry of households of the old officials covered under the cover of the layers of the gap, bigger and bigger, gradually shocking bare in front of the eyes of the investigating officials.
The Prince and the Ministry of the Ministry of Yan Xingshu was overjoyed, did not care about the requirements of the Hu University scholar to strive for stability, ordered the subordinate officials to dig deep and dead digging, all the way from the county to the capital, will be those complicated lines by the root digging up, and gradually the hands of the evidence has approached the Kyoto, that is to say, approaching the Ministry of the households of those who can really sign on the senior officials.
Has been in the Ministry of households is responsible for accepting the review of the right and left minister also began to be frightened up, this winter goblin account at the beginning of the plan, but also they had over the purpose of the matter, just how can not be expected, the area of 100,000 taels of silver winter goblin behind, and involved out so many things.
Whether it is the court or merchants do up the account, the best is the big gap crushed into countless small confetti, and then sprinkled into the huge project, such as salt into the wild snow, such as water into the flood river, disappeared.
Who did not expect, winter goblin those scattered burdens but did not do the right thing, but instead is to reveal the horse’s foot.
The left and right ministers full of iron face in the Ministry of households Yamen accompanied a night, when the next day on duty, they are ready to defy the discussion, but also to go to the Shangshu House to find an idea. Unexpectedly, the crown prince coldly sent words, before this matter is not investigated, please the Ministry of households officials do not trespass, but also transferred the Supervisory Yuan and a few close friends to keep an eye on the two ministers.
Fan Jian has been in the Ministry of households, regardless of how the name of the Ministry of households before and after the new government changes, regardless of how the personnel pattern changes in the court, he is from a small Zhanzhi has been doing up, nine years ago has been the Ministry of households of the left minister. At that time, the Minister of the Ministry of households, old age, sick leave at home, His Majesty favored Fan Jian, and inconvenient to promote over the level, it is hard to let the sick old Minister of the Ministry of households to occupy the position, do not allow other forces to arrange manpower in, so as to facilitate the Fan Jian to the position of the Ministry of households to lead the entire Ministry of the Ministry of the Ministry of the Ministry of the Ministry of the Ministry of the Ministry of the Ministry of the Emperor.
Time flies, has been nine years in the past, this nine years, the Qing Emperor on the Fan House incomparable favor. And Fan Jian is also with these nine years of time, the entire Ministry of households into an iron plate like interest group.
Very quiet, not very flashy interest group.
So when the inventory of the Ministry of Revenue began, all the officials of the Ministry of Revenue had their eyes looking upwards at that Shangshu lord of theirs, knowing that as long as the Shangshu lord didn’t fall, nothing would happen to these people of theirs.
And today, the Household Ministry seemed to be in danger, while the right and left ministers were unable to enter the Fan Mansion. For a time, the officials of the Ministry of Households were on edge, so uneasy.
The right and left ministers could not come, but Fan Jian in the Ministry of Households operated for a long time, like these two days tense situation full understanding grasp in the chest, that night know the crown prince with the clearance of the adults have found in the Ministry of Households a deadly weapon – the winter goblin of the northern sergeant.
“That won’t move me.” Fan Jian sat in his study and sipped sour syrup, squinting his eyes and said, “No matter who went to Cangzhou on patrol, the goblins those generals wore were of the highest quality, and no matter how unhelpful this official is, I’m not so bad as to make an issue out of the bitter cold of the garrison generals.”
Today, he was not speaking to the portrait. Sitting across from him was a living person, a purveyor under the Fan House, Mr. Zheng Tuo, who had always been deeply appreciated by Fan Jian.
Back then when Fan Xian fought a big black fist lawsuit in Kyoto Prefecture, it was Mr. Zheng Tuo who was in charge of that matter, this person used to be an old official of the Ministry of Households as well, because of his ability to do things well, so Fan Jian simply let him out of the Ministry of Households, and used the more convenient identity of the Qing Client to follow him around.
Zheng Tuo thought about it, frowned and said: “that year that batch of winter is not only not a defective product, but the workmanship is extremely careful, with the material is also extremely elaborate, cotton is of course used in the inner library of the three major workshops, cotton cloth is also used in the inner library of the first level of production, and some other accessories and even break the rules of the call of the Dongyi City goods, which the court can not say that the adults are not half of it …… However ……”
He wanted to speak and then stopped.
Fan Jian smiled and said, “You have followed me for so many years, you should know that I do things cautiously, but analyzing things to come, is not afraid to consider from the worst perspective.”
Zheng Zhen said with a bitter smile, “But that batch of Winter Goblin with good materials, so then the Ministry of Households commercial price, is also set quite high, from the treasury to transfer silver …… seems to be more.”
“Say it directly.”
“Yes, master.” Zheng Tuo said, “The Ministry of households from that batch of winter witchcraft cut off a lot of silver down, and then all filled in somewhere else.”
“Not bad.” Fan Jian said expressionlessly, “This batch of winter goblin did cut off some silver, that’s because that month’s salaries of the capital officials were almost unable to be paid out, his majesty didn’t know about this situation, I couldn’t bear to let this matter bother his majesty, the internal treasury’s allocation of silver at that time hadn’t arrived, and there was a need to prepare for the second year’s treats for the Western Expeditionary Army, so the ministry had no choice but to cut off some silver in this batch of winter goblin. ”
He waved his hand and said with a smile, “But the number of this silver is not large, and filling other places didn’t fill it up.”
“Yes my lord.” Zheng Tuo said with a worried face, “Winter Goblin is just one end of the spectrum, this time the court cleared the ministry, things like this will always be more and more investigated, and these transfer silver to fill in the shortfall of the matter to the capital, I’m afraid that …… will end up pointing to the ministry’s last transfer of that batch of silver to the south of the Yangtze River.”
Fan Jian sighed, shook his head and said, “There is no way, in fact, this time to transfer silver to Jiangnan, mainly for the internal treasury to open the bidding matter. It doesn’t have much to do with An Zhi, it’s just that as the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, this official also wants the inner treasury’s revenue to be a little better, and if the court doesn’t take the money to hedge its bets with the Ming family, how can the Ming family afford to pay out so much silver?”
He lowered his head and said softly, “Actually, the matter of mobilizing this batch of silver, at the very beginning, I went into the palace to talk to His Majesty.”
The study is dead dull, Zheng Tuo jaws, half a long time can not speak, nowadays the excuse for clearing the Ministry of the household is the Ministry of the household secretly transferring state funds to the south of the Yangtze River for profit, where do you know, this large number of silver mobilization …… is actually the palace to know!
It was not easy for him to calm down before he frowned and said, “Master, both His Majesty’s tacit approval of the matter, simply pick it out.”
Fan Jian very firmly shook his head, “His Majesty has his difficulties …… court to go to Yin harm Jiangnan rich merchant Ming family, this thing spread out, the reputation is too ugly, just now the court and field are all guessing that thing, His Majesty is always compelled to check.”
He sighed and said, “In that case, how can it be picked apart?”
“Then what?” Zheng Tuo said in horror, the meaning of this sentence is very clear, it was originally a matter presided over by His Majesty the Emperor, could it be that just to quell the matter, Minister Fan should be forced to be this scapegoat?
Fan Jian said with a calm face: “As a subject, of course, to share the worries of His Majesty. Ministry of households this transfer silver action is too big, in the end is not cover up the past, if in the end the ministry is finally found out, have no choice, this official also had to stand up for his majesty to end this matter.”
The court dealt with the Ming family, the means used is very dishonorable, and the Ming family behind the hidden countless officials as a backer, in order to celebrate the stability of the court, this means by His Majesty’s tacit approval of the specific matters of course, it is impossible to declare to the court.
Zheng Tuo was touched and saddened, thinking that Fan Shangshu was indeed a pure and loyal minister, in such a stormy situation, he still wanted to protect His Majesty’s face and the interests of the court.
“Your Excellency, resign.” Zheng Tuo said sorrowfully, “It’s already this time, there’s no need to hold on for dear life.”
Fan Jian shook his head, disinterested.
Zheng Tuo once again painfully persuaded, “I know that you are not a person who is fond of wealth and riches, looking at the current situation, his majesty’s heart has long done your resignation, then stop investigating the Ministry of households with the intention of the matter. As long as you resigned the post of minister, is also regarded as the transfer of state funds to make a break, I think the second prince and the eldest princess side is not likely to pursue the fight, Hu Daishi and Shu Daishi will also speak for you …….”
In fact, regarding the issue of resignation, Zheng Tuo as Fan Jian’s beloved has already suggested many times, but Fan Jian has never agreed. He sighed quietly and said, “There are some things that can be done in full …… but they can’t be done.”
Fan Jian lightly lowered his eyes and said, “The Ministry of Revenue has always been taken care of by me, the court has been consecutive years of conquest, consuming countless amounts of silver, and the great river has broken the dike for three consecutive years, in this world, there is no one who is more aware of the degree of emptiness of the national treasury than I am, and there is also no one who is more aware of the current situation of distress than I am. All the officials think that nowadays is still a peaceful and prosperous world, in fact, who knows that the danger lurking under the prosperous scene?”
“But …… little Lord Fan has already gone to Jiangnan, as long as the inner treasury returns to the right path, the national treasury crisis will surely be eased.” Zheng Tuo said in fear.
Fan Jian smiled in his heart, if the situation of the inner treasury hadn’t already been completely mastered by Fan Xian, if His Majesty hadn’t been confident that he would turn around the situation of the treasury of the Kingdom of Qing within two years, how could that Holy Prince of Heaven have given up on letting himself resign from his post?
In his heart, he was thinking like this, but his face was in deep pain, saying, “It is precisely because Fan Xian is in charge of the inner treasury for the first time, and the situation is great, that is why at this time, I can’t go …….”
Fan Jian sighed: “One is because it is at the critical period from decline to prosperity, I do not dare to let go, still want to take care of two years for His Majesty. Secondly …… is that Anzhi this kid, he seems to be calm and cold, in fact, is a mercurial and ruthless people, if I really resigned, or because to the internal library transfer silver things …… his nature, only afraid that will immediately resign the internal library transfer division of the post, back to the capital to give me justice.”
Zheng Tuo was full of shock, and after careful consideration, what Lord Shangshu said did have a few points of truth.
“It’s getting late, you go back first.” Fan Jian closed his eyes and said, “As for the ministry’s matters, you shouldn’t worry too much. Although the fire of the stars in the various divisions has ignited, and one day it will burn to this Yamen, or even this official, but as long as it can hold out for one day, this official will stay for another day, and when this fire gets big, who knows how many people will be burned?”
Zheng Tuo sighed, deeply admiring Lord Shangshu’s single-mindedness in public service, and without further words, left the study.
He left the Fan Mansion, got on his own carriage, went back to his own home, spread out a piece of paper, wrote a secret letter, gave it to a person in the house, and then lay down on his own bed, opened those eyes, and could not sleep for a long time.
Fanfu Qingke Zheng Tuo, until today, he looked into his heart, still can not determine what kind of person he really is.
Fan Jian, the Minister of the Household, is actually not sure what kind of person his beloved, the Qing Guest Zheng Tuo Zheng, who has followed him for so many years, is, but he is only clear about one thing.
Zheng Tuo was not his own person.
Zheng Tuo was the emperor’s man. It was just not clear whether he had been placed by his side through the Supervisory Yuan, or whether he had taken the line of the inner court.
But no matter which line it was, Fan Jian was clear that his every move over the years had been watched by that man in the palace, so all of Fan Jian’s every move over the years had been acted out for that man as well.
Including this sorrowful and righteous analysis tonight.
Fan Jian is not Lin Ruofu, he will not be beaten down by the people closest to him, because from that one night many years ago, in the sound of the horns and drums in the west, he made up his mind that he would absolutely, positively, never trust anyone in Kyoto again.
The Ministry of households did transfer a large amount of silver to Jiangnan, and the mobilization of this amount of silver did also pass through the Qing Emperor’s acquiescence. So when the palace was outraged because of this matter and ordered the three divisions to investigate the Ministry of Revenue, Fan Jian actually came out of his anger and felt a sense of absurd drama.
He couldn’t help but lose his voice and laugh.
This batch of state funds transferred to Jiangnan, of course, is not for hedging with the Ming family, Fan Jian knows that his marvelous son has long since returned a large amount of amazing amounts of silver, just don’t know where these silver came from.
Fan Jian transferred the silver down to Jiangnan, in fact, just to give Fan Xian cover. Old Fan thought about the problem, and appeared to be more old-fashioned than Little Fan, and he simply didn’t believe that Fan Xian could use the excuse of the Ye family’s legacy to convince the Emperor to believe in the batch of silver that had suddenly come out of Xia Qufei’s hands.
Every time he thought of this, Fan Jian could not help but sigh, Fan Xian do things, the courage is really getting bigger and bigger, even dared to join hands with the Qing country’s perennial enemy, Beiqi!
The son fooled around, when the old man had to cover up, and in order to ensure that the son’s plan can be carried out smoothly, the Ministry of the household must also be injected into the money bank some silver, to ensure that at any time can take out the money.
This is the Ministry of households to Jiangnan private transfer of state funds all the truth.
In this plan, the Ministry of households mobilized although the number of large, but really spend out of the very little, the vast majority of the share, in Jiangnan go around, has returned to the Ministry of households, so Fan Jian is not worried about the Prince and the Ministry of the Ministry of those who can really find out what.
In addition, Fan Jian deliberately omitted some to go to the river engineering Yamen.
The emperor wants to let a minister who does not have any too big loopholes to resign, just need to create a momentum, and then through some people to make clever hints, that minister will have to resign.
As treacherous as the former minister Lin Ruofu was, he also fell into this arrangement.
Fan Jian did not want to accept His Majesty’s arrangement now, nor did he want to return to Tanyuzhou so early in his retirement, so he let the Ministry of Revenue have their way, and only by muddying the water could he reflect his own clearness more and more.
At the same time, to stab that man sitting on the dragon chair again through Zheng Tuo’s mouth.
As long as that man believes that Fan Jian is loyal, stupid, foolish, and yet indispensable, Fan Jian …… can continue to stand proudly in this dark and heavy Kyoto, watching Fan Xian s growth from the sidelines with a loving father s gaze.
“It’s all under control, right?” Fan Jian scrutinized the letter paper, which was addressed to his son far away in Jiangnan, before speaking.
A man in black stood in front of him, bowed deeply, and said, “Zheng Tuo and Yuan Bo’an are both childless, just like Yuan Bo’an, and are presumably both from the Supervisory Court.”
Fan Jian frowned and said, “Yuan Bo’an is really someone from the Supervisory Court? No wonder my in-laws fell so quickly.”
The man in black said in a deep voice, “But Zheng Tuo has a nephew, and according to my subordinates’ investigation …… it should be his own son, only he is afraid that the palace will threaten him with this son, so he has never dared to recognize him.”
Fan Jian raised his eyebrows and said with a smile, “Very well, we can coerce him.”
The man in black nodded once in silence, his hands flat on his side, only to see that this person’s right hand tiger’s mouth down was an extremely long callus, if Fan Xian saw this detail, he would definitely be able to associate it with the callus marks that those Tiger Guards in Gouda had formed due to holding the hilt of a long blade for years.
Fan Jian looked at the man in black and said, “It’s true that there isn’t much to do when you follow me, and you’ve been idle all these years, so don’t blame me.”
The man in black smiled and said sincerely, “Eleven years ago, my subordinate’s defense was ineffective, allowing the courtesan beside the empress dowager to be killed by the madman, and was already bound to die, all thanks to your lordship’s remembering his old love, he secretly saved him. If it was not for your lordship’s saving grace, all these years, I’m afraid that my subordinate would have been idly counting maggots for fun underneath the yellow earth.”
Fan Jian laughed and shook his head, saying, “You are this kind of frivolous nature, not at all like Tiger Guard, no wonder His Majesty disliked you the most back then.”
Then he said, “Keep an eye on Zheng Tuo, and if necessary, send his son’s right hand to his room.”