Chapter 134 lifting up a big snowball

The work of investigating the Ministry of households has gained great progress, the officials of the three divisions step by step, seeing the deeper and deeper digging, the expression of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is also more and more reserved, and occasionally in the conversation with Hu Da Da Shi will also reveal a few sighs, I do not know whether he is sighing at the Ministry of households is about to face the cleansing, or this increasingly thick spring.

Snowball this description is very appropriate, the north of the perennial snow in Cangzhou, the tens of thousands of generals wearing winter coats, to the Ministry of households to bring the wall cement is not too much, but this began, to the capital to trace, and then turned out a few old stories, all the clues converge to the Ministry of households in Kyoto.

And find out the account deficit is also getting bigger and bigger, has been carefully covered by the Ministry of household officials of the wounds of the Qing dynasty, so was bloody tear will be opened, exposed to the officials to appreciate.

After the investigation team went to the palace and reported once, the investigation was strengthened. Now even Hu Daoshi is clear, the Ministry of households can no longer be guaranteed, Fan Jian if this time to hurry to resign, the court in the Fan Xian’s sake, may still give the Fan family to save some face, if this confrontation continues, Fan Jian is more than just be taken away from the official so simple.

Although Hu Da Da Shi and the civil officials are also alarmed at the deficit in the Ministry of the household, but after all, they do not want the court to make too much trouble, and do not want the temporary balance of the court, will happen some kind of tilt, so through some channels, they conveyed a wave of goodwill to the Fan family.

As long as the Fan Shangshu resigned, Hu and Shu would like to jointly guarantee that he is safe.

But this is just these ministers wishful thinking good intentions, for Fan Jian such as follow the emperor nearly thirty years of veteran ministers, once he set his mind, do out of the response, is really stubborn not. Fanfu expressed his gratitude for the goodwill secretly conveyed by the various governments, while for the goodwill itself, Fan Jian himself never came up with a concrete response.

He did not enter the palace to weep bitterly to His Majesty, nor did he submit a letter asking for his resignation, and he was even in the midst of his illness, which did not seem to be getting much better.

All the officials knew that Shangshu Fan was not sick, and so did the palace, but this time the Emperor did not send the Imperial Physician and Eunuch Hong to visit Fan’s house, and it was probably because the palace was also clear that it was the palace that had apologized to the Fan family for the matter, and so it tolerated Fan Jian’s use of his illness to express his grievances.

For several days in a row, the Prince is sitting in the Ministry of households, staring at the following people to investigate the case, this time, the fuss Hu Da Da Shi must also personally come to stare at, investigate the case, be investigated, in fact, are a little bit of hard work.

This day, the work of the Ministry of households has made a breakthrough, the account and the library of the silver number does not match, a huge number of deficits, respectively, pointing in four directions, four not very conspicuous officials.

Finally pulled to the specific implementation of the person, pulled to the specific shortfall matters, His Royal Highness Prince heard the return, eyes bright, face is calm, thinking, along with those officials to dig up, but not to you Fan Jian eat death? And so on has been digging to Jiangnan, Fan Xian that 20 million taels of silver credit the court will remember, but the corresponding charges will also let Fan Xian can not eat and walk!

As for Hu University scholar, when he heard the name of that four officials, especially the last one’s name, he also had a light in his eyes, and his face was calm and calm, and in his heart he thought to himself, Fan Lao Shangshu’s tactics are as subtle as this, it seems that his own worries with the old shu are a bit redundant in these days.

After all, the prince is young, unlike Hu Daoshi that meticulous mind, not to mention Hu Daoshi unforgettable skills, so did not see the trap. Under the guidance of the idea that it would be better to pursue the enemy, he ordered his own faction of officials to launch a general attack on the issue without any hesitation.

And the Ministry of the Ministry of Yan Xingshu although hidden in the Princess and the second Prince side, but when this good situation, and the Prince when the vanguard, of course, happy to help idle, hold a small flag in the Prince beside shouting, although not personally pull out the sword, but yelling is loud and clear.

Hu Daoshi watching, secretly laughing.

The investigation of the Ministry of households is being carried out to a certain critical moment, deep in the compound in the hall, the Prince’s smug laughter sounded, holding the official’s confession, the tiger’s torso shook, the king’s gas is great, the eyes of the chills gradually appeared, forced to ask the Ministry of households kneeling in front of the officials:

“Say! Where did the four hundred thousand taels of silver on this account go?”

Late spring, the weather has warmed up, that miserable kneeling in front of the ministers of the Ministry of households of the sixth grade master has been drenched in sweat, the color of the official uniform into a dark black, this person listening to the Crown Prince’s shout, want to cry, thinking that he is only a hand, how do I know that this silver by the Lord Shangshu transferred to the whereabouts of the Lord?

The prince saw this official fearless look, disgusted look at him, but then thought of his own purpose, had to say softly: “the mobilization of this silver, is you signed the word, the back of the way out, always have to account for it, the court’s silver, can’t be so haphazardly make out.”

That official can not be forced to confess with this pressure, mumbling, said: “is JiangZuo QingLinShi member outside the …… hand over the end.”

The Ministry of households under seven divisions, respectively, there are Langzhong and the residence outside the Lang is responsible for the management, is the fifth-grade officials. Jiangzuo clearing officials Division staff outside Lang surnamed Fang Li name, is already the Ministry of households more senior officials.

This name together with the other three household langzhong, are the prince of this batch of investigation officials have grasped the object, today is just to be on the spot to try out, so that the household department of the people and then can not be denied.

The prince is somewhat satisfied with the performance of this sixth grade master, but will face a sinking, said in a cold voice: “go down to wait and listen to the senate.”

That master consul panicked immensely and withdrew from the lobby, crying and wailing, not knowing what content he was going to face.

“Summon the man called Fang Li in.”

The prince is just the time of the spirit, did not feel that his style at this time has been a little over the line, giving orders, but did not even ask the nominal chief minister, Hu Da Shi’s opinion.

Not a moment, that named Fang Li’s household department staff came in, to the surrounding departments of officials saluted, attitude arrogant, seems to not know what is going to happen soon.

Prince looked at this person’s face, heart suddenly thumped, feel how some familiar, and then a fine taste, found that the name of this official, as if also when heard of.

But at this time, the person has been passed to the hall, there is not much time for him to think more, Hu Daoshi and Yan Xingshu still maintains a cunning silence, the entire stage is given to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, just let him play alone.

The Crown Prince looked at the two great officials around him and gave a dark grunt, thinking that this world would be his own in the future, and what’s the point of interrogating a few officials from the Ministry of Revenue? As long as you can climb to Fan Jian, can link the four deficits with the silver of Jiangnan, even if this time the appearance of some ugly, lost the decency of the East Palace, but also can not care so much.

So he slapped the tablet and asked in a cold voice: “Report your name, rank.”

Ministry of households JiangZuoLu staff FangLi was stunned, his lips shivered twice, full of consternation looked at His Highness the Crown Prince, completely did not expect His Highness the Crown Prince would be so harsh on himself, his face rose red, with great difficulty an arch of the hand responded, “My official Ministry of households JiangZuoLu staff, FangLi.”

The prince frowned, letting the Supervisory Yuan official hand over the dossier found in the past few days and the statement of the official who signed the transfer of silver earlier, and asked grimly, “Tell me, where did the 400,000 taels of silver go?”

Fang Li was struck by lightning and looked at the crown prince like an idiot, or perhaps …… looked at the crown prince like an idiot?

He shivered for a long time, before he said in a trembling voice: “Your Highness, my humble servant really does not know.”

The crown prince frowned, a worried look, “Simply say that I don’t know this two words …… only afraid …… to say that it is not possible to say ah …… ”

Fang Li is now really dumbfounded, especially when he heard His Highness the Crown Prince say the word “only afraid of” with a turn of phrase, his heart fell into the ice cellar, listening to understand and see the master …… It seems that His Highness the Crown Prince not only forgot who he is, and even the Four hundred thousand taels of silver also forgot cleanly!

His heart is sad, ridiculed, helpless, also right, what is he? But it is a small official of the Ministry of Revenue, in the past to the crown prince has done things, and the crown prince in a table drink wine, how the crown prince need now still remember his this bland face it?

What is that 400,000 taels of silver? The Crown Prince of that yearly festival loved women, loved to spend money on women, loved to repair gardens for women to play in, and loved to reward the officials of his heart. Who is the prince? The prince is the future master of the country, the money of the world will be his, he will use it, and why would he need to spend his honorable mind to remember the way of this money?

Fang Li’s mouth and tongue were dry, and he looked at the Crown Prince with his jaws agape, hoping that the other party would be able to think of something, lest this ridiculous and unbelievable situation would continue to develop into an unmanageable situation.

Unfortunately, the Crown Prince didn’t seem to notice this Household Ministry official’s frown.

The trial of the case still continued, the Ministry of Revenue’s foreign minister Fang Li knew that this matter was too big and in front of all the divisions, once he spilled the beans, he could never take it back, so he insisted on gritting his teeth and refused to say a word more.

The prince has felt a hint of fishy, frowning at this somewhat familiar official, do not understand where the other side is the courage, confession in front, he did not say a word …… Is the other side …… is trying to carry all the things for Fan Jian? Or is it that there was originally a hidden message in this matter.

Right at this moment, has been silent onlookers of the Ministry of the Ministry of Justice Yan Xingshu slammed the table, snapped and said: “This guy is so bold! People ah! Drag him down for me and question him properly!”

He turned his head and asked for instructions, “Lord Hu, can we use torture?”

Grandmaster Hu, who had been staring at the ants fighting in front of his shoes, seemed to understand what was happening only at this time, opening a pair of somewhat lifeless eyes and saying, “Ah? Torture?”

This last word of torture doesn’t have much of a tone, and without hearing clearly whether it’s a question or a promise, Yan Xingshu, however, is already impatiently arching his hand and saying, “Listen to all the arrangements of Your Excellency.”

The officials of the Supervisory Yuan led the order and were ready to go forward to drag out this Minister of Ministries who was dead silent. At this time, has been stubborn Fang Li heard to be imprisoned, more heard the word torture, panic, finally can no longer control their own nerves, cried out in a shrill voice: “Injustice ah, this official is the first year of the first year of the Qingli bachelor’s degree, four years will be the official to the foreign affairs officer, thanks to the Emperor’s grace, how do you dare to do this wrongdoing?”

A series of words sprayed out, but this person is really some ability, in such a tense moment, he defended himself still just look at Hu Daoshi, death also refused to look at the Prince.

When Yan Xingshu a counter-silence, jumped out of the proposal to use torture, the prince’s heart of the smear of alienation will be deeper and deeper, to be heard when Fang Li self-defense rhetoric, but also feel a cold back, piercing the depths of the bones!

A scholar in the first year of Qingli? The son of Guo Shangshu of the former Ministry of Rites, Guo Baokun, who has been a good friend of the Crown Prince’s palace compiler, was born in the first year of the Qingli reign – Fang Li and Guo Baokun are the same year!

The Prince was shocked, countless things of past years resurfaced in his mind, in an instant, he remembered a lot of things, because of Guo Baokun’s introduction, he condescended to have a meal with this small official called Fang Li’s Ministry of Revenue, through the arrangement of the Princess, so that the other party in the Ministry of Revenue was promoted to the official twice.

Later, the Prince to Guo Baokun hinted at, their own this beloved and Fang Li secretly in the Ministry of households transferred a number of silver to their own use.

Just has been a few years in the past, that sum of silver has long been spent in the unknown direction, Guo Baokun also long ago did not know where to die, the Prince had already forgotten about this matter, also forgot about this small official called Fang Li, where to think of, actually today, check the Ministry of households, will be re-encountered this person.

Could it be …… that the four hundred thousand taels of silver are flowing to their own purse?

The crown prince was filled with shock as he looked at Fang Li who was grabbed by the officials of the Supervisory Yuan towards the outside of the hall, his mouth started to become bitter and his heart started to tighten. He knew that he must not let this official be questioned by the three divisions, or else something would definitely go terribly wrong! He realized that he had already made a most foolish mistake, and then he could not allow this mistake to continue.

He stared fiercely at Yan Xingshu, the smiling Minister of Rites beside him, and shouted angrily, “Wait!”

The fact that the Minister of Rites, the First House, who had been straightened out by Fan Xian, was nominally a close member of the Eastern Palace, but was in fact the Eldest Princess’s inner circle, was a fact that the Crown Prince had already found out on the night that His Highness had chanted the poem. Since the other party is the Princess’s people, then Yan Xingshu will naturally be able to know that he borrowed silver through Guo Baokun in the Ministry of Households……. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince hated to think, this old piker does not remind himself also, earlier actually wanted to fall on the well!

“Crown Prince, what’s wrong?” Yan Xingshu looked at him with a smile.

The Crown Prince was momentarily speechless, he was already in a position of power at this point, the investigation of the case with such fanfare was caused by him, and how could he end up investigating himself in the end?

He frowned, narrowed his eyes, and said, “Seeing as this official seems to have something to say, there’s no harm in asking for clarification first.”

Yan Xingshu nodded with a smile, and Grand Maester Hu naturally had no objections.

Fang Li escaped from death, knowing that His Highness the Crown Prince had finally remembered him, he breathed a huge sigh of relief, but one to one with His Highness the Crown Prince’s sorrowful and deep eyes, they realized to each other that today’s matter was still really hard to deal with.

Prince heart ruthless flash, suddenly thought of Guo Baokun has long been unknown, as long as their own denial, and then find a way to let this called Fang Li shut up, they will be able to clear up.

Figured this out, he said with a gentle face: “Fang Reed ah, the silver to go, you can think carefully again, the Palace by the Oracle came to investigate the case, of course, will not let go of a corrupt official, but …… will not be wronged by any good official.”

Fang Reed eyes flashed a hint of hope, know that the Prince in suggesting their own nonsense climb bites others, this four hundred thousand two silver account since turned out, in front of the Hu University Professor, Yan Shangshu and the Da Lisi Supervisory Yuan officials, of course, there is no way to shut up again. Fang Li knows only so, lowered his head eyes turn, made up his mind, just for a moment, but do not know who should be pushed to the body, after the account, secretly destroyed the account book, but such a large number of silver, to find another name, but also extremely difficult thing.

Yan Xingshu glanced at the crown prince, sighed in his heart, knowing that the other side is ready to give up the pawn, and this pawn seems to have the sacrifice ready, can not help but be a little surprised, the crown prince such an incompetent, how can make this called Fang Li’s small official so convinced? Obviously earlier the Crown Prince could not even remember this person.

He did not think to understand, in Fang Li’s mind, the crown prince in the future is to take the throne, as long as this incident can not die, then there will always be a day in the future to turn around. But …… for 400,000 taels of silver, how could His Majesty be willing to take the life of a small rank and file? Fang Li obviously did not expect this.

Without letting Fang Li think for too long in the scrutinizing gazes of the hall full of officials, a slightly tired voice had already answered for him, helping him out, and at the same time putting a noose onto His Royal Highness’s body.

“I do remember this account.”

“Back then, the Ministry of Rites sent out a document, because His Holiness decreed to repair the various autumn exams as well as the school buildings, so it was necessary to transfer silver from the ministry, before and after a total of fourteen times, a total of is four hundred thousand and seven hundred taels of silver.”

“The silver has been sent to the Ministry of Rites, the Ministry of Rites should have a return receipt, but this official did not personally care about these things, stay to check it is clear. All matters, are in accordance with the Qing law dynasty rules, you adults do not want to be difficult for these poor officials under this official.”

“As for this silver or not there is no problem, just need to send a letter to all the way to each state, take a look at the two years of the autumn exam schoolhouse academy repair and finished the situation, it will be clear.”

Sick for many days Fan Shangshu, finally strong support weak body, came to the absence of many days of the Ministry of households Yamen. He propped up in the door, to the hall of the adults breathless one by one to explain.

Supervisory Yuan, an official rushed forward to help, Hu Daoshi led Yan Xingshu and a group of inspection officials hurriedly rose to salute, although it is to be investigated by the officials, but none of them dared to express the slightest contempt.

The head of the Ministry of households for nine years of Shangshu adults first to the Yamen, just opened his mouth, is to defend their subordinates, but also words and phrases pointing out the destination of those silver, as long as a check, this thing will come out, so the Prince’s face pale, eyes wandering up.