"Master Shangshu."
"Master Hu."
Hu Dashi was smiling and welcomed Fan Shangshu in.
The officials in charge of checking the household department also gathered around and expressed their comfort to the Shangshu after his illness. Even the official minister Yan Xingshu was no exception. His old face was full of sincere worries and concerns. And the members of the Overwatch Council who were investigating the affairs of the household department had long been careful to block the wind blowing outside the door for Fan Shangshu, and they were extremely eager.
Regardless of whether the court really wants to investigate the Ministry of Household Affairs, or whether His Majesty really wants Fan Shangshu to resign, as long as Fan Jian is in the court for a day, as long as His Majesty does not tear up this layer of milk brotherhood, as long as... Fan Xian from Jiangnan was still alive, and the officials in the court did not dare to ignore Fan Shangshu.
So the scene at this time has a sense of absurd comedy. He was originally the Minister of the Household Department under investigation, but he was cared about and cared for by everyone.
Especially the investigation officials of the Overwatch Council, they are all from one place, led by Mu Tie, and the other is still in charge of the yamen by Fan Xian's direct relatives until today. Fan Jian is the father of their immediate boss. How dare they do anything?
The prince's face was blue and white, looking at the scene in front of him, he felt great anxiety in his heart. Fan Jian said that the illness did not reach the Ministry of Households for several days, but as soon as it arrived today, it seemed to attract everyone's attention. This minister who usually does not show his mountains and dews, seems to have a certain aura about him.
Even though he was the crown prince and the future king of the Qing Kingdom, facing Fan Shangshu, he still had no choice but to stand up, put a gentle smile on his face, and said comfortingly, "Master Shangshu is feeling better?"
The prince is not afraid of Fan Xian, nor does he care about the Overwatch Council, but as a member of the royal family, especially the successor of Long Yi, he must show a certain tolerance. The relationship between the old Fan family and their old Li family is too deep. An old woman in Zhouzhou was watching from a distance, and the prince didn't know what kind of feelings the emperor had for that wet nurse.
Fan Jian smiled ashamedly, and said: "I am responsible for all the affairs of the household department, but it is Fan's fault to bother His Highness and Lord Hu and waste all his energy."
After exchanging a few words of greeting, everyone took their seats. Although Fan Jian belonged to the side to be attended, he had never issued a clear order for the Minister of the Household Department, so he sat in the middle without hesitation.
This is the Ministry of Households, which is Fan Jian's territory.
…
…
After everything returned to calm, everyone turned their attention to Fang Li, the member of the household department who was still there.
Everyone's eyes are not the same. Yan Xingshu was gloating, the crown prince was hesitating, Hu Dashi was indifferent, the Overwatch Council was frowning, and only Fan Shangshu looked calm, as if he hadn't thought about how many people would be involved because of this person named Fang Li.
At this point, the crown prince of course wants to understand everything, Fan Jian is a shameless, cunning, cunning and silent old fox!
When the imperial court began to check the household department, no! It should be said that as early as a few years ago, when the crown prince stretched out his hand to the household department, Fan Jian had already watched this scene with cold eyes, and then used extremely sophisticated means to cover it up quietly, without letting the Anyone who notices it, but on the other hand, deliberately left a small tail that is not noticeable, and flicked it lightly, and it was thrown somewhere in the seven divisions...
In this way, it not only covered up for the prince, but also seized the handle of the prince. The most important thing is that this kind of cover-up even covered up the officials of the prince's side, so the four hundred thousand taels of silver became nothingness. The wipes were exceptionally clean, so clean that even Fang Li thought there would be no more problems.
Coupled with the collapse of the Ministry of Rites, a trace of stupidity on the part of the prince.
In the whole world, only Fan Jian knew the whole process, and this lord Shangshu was unusually old-fashioned and didn't directly throw out the general to attack the enemy, but left a trace of the wire boss in the grass.
For example, the winter clothes worn by soldiers in the snow in the north, such as the siege machines that were not needed on the South Vietnamese front.
And when the imperial court began to check the household department, they would find the thread leader, gently pull and pull... and finally pulled off their own waistbands.
This is a bureau that has been buried for several years.
Fan Jian didn't need to do anything, he just had to wait for himself to be threatened, to create a situation where someone would grab the waistband they had long forgotten, and pull it hard again.
Good game.
※※※
The investigation of the Ministry of Rites has also begun. Although the Ministry of Rites has undergone a major change after Guo Youzhi was tied to death in the sky prison, and all the documents were a little chaotic, but under the powerful investigation team of the imperial court and the meticulous search of the Overwatch Council Among them, the order issued by the Ministry of Rites corresponds to the receipt that the Ministry of Accounting has kept secretly.
The 400,000 taels of silver was indeed sent to the Ministry of Rites. The question is, the 400,000 taels of silver allocated for the 14th part of the Rites to repair the school and the Qiuwei school... where did the repair go
Hu Dashi has been patrolling all over the world for a long time, and later entered the middle school to inspect affairs. Of course, he knows that the schools in all counties and roads are still so dilapidated, and the Qiuwei School in many places is still leaking. So his face became more and more ugly, and he asked the official of the Ministry of Rites in front of him: "Who can tell me, where did the four hundred thousand taels of silver go?"
Hu Dashi looked sideways at His Royal Highness and sighed inwardly.
In fact, everyone in the hall is well aware of the situation in the court in the past few years. The Ministry of Rites has always been the back garden of the Eastern Palace, and the Ministry of Rites has no guts at all to pretend to spend 400,000 taels of silver everywhere. Anyone can guess where the money went. To the East Palace.
It's just that now that the East Palace has been found, this matter seems a bit unsustainable.
Hu Dashi pondered for a moment and said: "The most important thing right now is to find out the whereabouts of the four hundred thousand taels of silver."
The prince was startled, but he smiled gently and said: "Master Hu's words are justified."
Mu Tie, a member of the Overwatch Council, is not qualified to sit beside these ministers, and has been standing to the side. He looked at the face of Old Shangshu Fan who was sitting in the middle, and suddenly said: "The money has arrived at the Ministry of Rites, and it is just handling this matter." The official died in the Chunwei case the year before last."
The crown prince was silent at the side, Guo Youzhi was dead, Guo Baokun was exiled, and now the Overwatch Council has confirmed the death of the specific handler, even if the eldest princess knew about his relationship with the 400,000 taels of silver, there was no evidence to hand over to Hu A bachelor, so his heart is at ease. In addition to being at ease, there is also some sadness and anger, aunt! why did you do this
Unexpectedly, Mu Tie's next words chilled His Highness the Crown Prince's heart.
I only heard him say in a serious voice: "However, there are always clues that can be searched. University scholar, do you think the Overwatch Council should investigate the Ministry of Rites?"
Check the Ministry of Rites
Everyone in the hall was shocked, thinking that this group of wolves and tigers from the Overwatch Council should go to the Ministry of Rites? The household investigation department of the imperial court will obviously make Mr. Fan who is far away in the south of the Yangtze River extremely angry. Under the remote control of Mr. Fan, the Ministry of Rites of the Overwatch Council, those poor officials in the Ministry of Rites may really not survive.
But Mu Tie's request at this time seemed reasonable.
Fan Jian stroked his long beard lightly, expressionless, but he was thinking in his heart that Anzhi's confidant seemed to be much easier to use than before, and he could guess his own thoughts.
Fan Jian's thoughts were very simple. Didn't the court want to investigate the Ministry of Household Affairs? If the Ministry of Households wants to protect itself, it must open the front line and drag in more ministries... The Ministry of Rites is just the beginning. After all six ministries are found to have problems, it will not be easy for the extremely wise Emperor His Majesty. All the six books of history have been reformed.
Yan Xingshu, Minister of the Ministry of Officials, glanced at Fan Jian, admiring the old fox, and quickly shook his head to refute: "The imperial court clearly ordered the investigation of the household department, so it won't spread too widely."
Fan Jian smiled and said, "It's reasonable, it's reasonable."
Anyone can hear what kind of sarcasm these two reasonable sounds are. Yan Xingshu blushed, knowing that his argument was unreasonable, since the deficit of the Ministry of Households involved the Ministry of Rites, of course the investigation should continue.
Hu Dashi also looked embarrassed, and persuaded him: "Let's discuss it for a while, and discuss it for a while."
If you let the Overwatch Council inspect the Ministry of Rites without any hesitation, His Royal Highness will definitely be found in the end, so before entering the palace to ask for an order, the Chief Inspector Hu Dashi did not dare to make such a conclusion.
At this moment, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince gritted his teeth and said: "The affairs of the Ministry of Rites always need to be investigated. It's just that things have a sequence, and the deficit of the Ministry of Accounting has not yet been investigated. The expansion is too wide, and I'm afraid it will hinder His Majesty's will."
Fan Jian still smiled and said: "His Royal Highness is right, right."
Hu Dashi sighed in his heart, and said: "As for the matter of the Ministry of Rites, I will enter the palace later and ask for an edict to listen to the imperial decree. According to His Royal Highness, the Ministry of Households should continue."
…
…
If the investigation continues, the Ministry of Household Affairs will definitely find out more problems. After all, the 400,000 taels of silver is just the tip of the iceberg. The crown prince just doesn't believe that the Fan family will be so clean in the Ministry of Household Affairs!
Of course, the household department is not clean, and the bureau set up by Fan Shangshu certainly does not only bury the thread of His Highness the Crown Prince.
With the gradual deepening of the investigation work, several other ministries were successfully dragged into the water by the Ministry of Household Affairs, and Dali Temple was the first to bear the brunt. The minister of Dali Temple, who had been silent for a long time, immediately changed his face and was very embarrassed.
The household department is not a bad account, but there are too many hidden accounts, and all the deficits point to embezzlement by a certain party in the court.
At the end of the investigation, not even Qingshui yamen like Taixue escaped!
Yan Xingshu, Minister of the Ministry of Officials, became vigilant. Although the Ministry of Household Affairs found out the problem at this time, it did not involve the eldest princess and the second prince, because people on his side always go to the side of the internal treasury, but look at Fan Jian. Hebu is so fully prepared, who knows if he will be so insidious as to use some kind of name, together with the second prince
"Come here first." Yan Xingshu frowned and said: "After entering the palace to ask for an order, we will continue tomorrow."
"It's reasonable." Fan Jian still said these two words with a smile.
Hu Dashi's face was indifferent, looking at the officials in the investigation team, he wondered why the imperial court became so corrupt? If His Majesty is really determined to investigate, Fan Shangshu will naturally resign, but as long as Jiangnan cannot be found, he does not need to bear too much responsibility, and... the rest of the officials in the court may be more than half unlucky.
※※※
In the imperial palace in late spring, there are occasional red apricot dews on the walls of the low inner palace, green trees and beautiful flowers, and the beautiful scenery is hard to come out.
It was dusk and it was getting dark in a blink of an eye. The door of the imperial study room opened and closed, closed and opened again, several groups of ministers came and went, and finally there was only the lonely emperor left in the room.
And the old eunuch, and a bright candle.
snap! Emperor Qing's eyes were full of anger, he slapped the wooden table with his palm, but not even a sliver of tea came out, and said in a cold voice: "What a household department, what a Dong Palace, do you really think I dare not kill people?"
The ministers who had been in the imperial study to discuss matters before were the officials who were responsible for checking the household department after receiving the decree. After hearing their reports, Emperor Qing became increasingly angry. His original intention was to investigate the Ministry of Household Affairs, and to persuade Fan Jian to abdicate by taking advantage of the Ministry of Accountancy's transfer of money to the south of the Yangtze River. Using this more upright method, he re-established the balance in the court.
But he never expected that the household department was much cleaner than he imagined, and Fan Jian was much cleaner than he imagined. On the contrary, the other five departments and three divisions in the court did not know how much benefit they had gained from the household department, especially It's Donggong!
Previously, Master Hu had already covered the matter of the Ministry of Rites, and sadly hinted that it is best not to continue to investigate the matter of the Ministry of Households, otherwise it will really make the government uneasy. The rest of the ministers should start eating in prison.
While the emperor was furious, he couldn't help but feel a little bit chilled by the Ministry of Household's methods, which is why he had the previous thunderous anger. In his opinion, since Fan Jian knew about these things long ago, why did he keep hiding them? It wasn't until he was about to mobilize the account department that he suddenly threw it out, catching all the officials by surprise... Isn't this not catching himself, the emperor, by surprise!
He grew up with Fan Jian since he was a child. Of course, he knows the ability of the big housekeeper. He is not surprised that the Ministry of Households responded so cunningly. What made this big ship even more angry was that the prince was so stupid, how could he dare to hand over the world to him
Of course, the emperor was even more angry at Fan Jian's sharp counterattack, because this "partner" was...
"He's threatening me!" The emperor said coldly, frowning.
The old eunuch Hong, who was full of age spots, shook his head and sighed: "Your Majesty, don't be afraid that this old slave will talk too much, this man... is always selfish, even a loyal minister like Fan Shangshu, in such a dangerous situation, would have to Think of ways to protect yourself."
The emperor's voice was a little sharp, and he said with a sneer: "If you play tricks like this, can you be considered a loyal minister?"
The old eunuch Hong sighed: "Dean Chen likes to play tricks more, but in terms of loyalty, I'm afraid this old slave would not dare to claim to be superior to him."
The emperor slowly closed his eyes and said, "Chen Pingping has saved my life countless times, how can Fan Jian compare with it?"
"Fan Shangshu has taken care of the household department all these years and quietly wiped out all hidden dangers. What is the purpose? It's not for the peace of the court." The old eunuch Hong sighed: "If Mr. The evidence he holds is enough for him to do too many things, but he has not taken any action, which shows that he just does not want the court to be in turmoil."
"He should at least tell me first." The emperor said coldly.
The old eunuch Hong said softly: "According to the news from the Fan Mansion over the years, the reason why Lord Shang Shu has not entered the palace to report these things in detail is because he did not want His Majesty to bother... His Majesty should still remember the news that came a few days ago. "
The emperor was slightly stunned, thinking of the news reported by the man named Zheng Tuo, his mood gradually calmed down, and he regained a little favor for Fan Jian, and asked with a frown, "It's just that the Ministry of Household Affairs still has to investigate, or it will end in a hurry. How do you save the court's face?"
"The key is His Majesty's attitude towards Fan Shangshu." The old eunuch Hong lowered his head and asked for instructions.
The emperor shook his head: "He can no longer be the secretary of the household department. I can compensate him in other ways... But this household department, he can no longer lead it. An Zhiyuan manages the internal treasury in the south of the Yangtze River. Jian is not suitable to continue to serve as the Minister of the Household Department."
The old eunuch Hong felt a sense of sadness in his heart, he felt some sympathy for the Lord Shangshu who had been thinking so hard all these years, and tentatively said: "There is a saying, this old slave doesn't know whether to say it or not."
"Let's talk."
The old eunuch Hong said in a slightly shrill voice: "My lord Fan is gifted by nature. His Majesty arranged for him to take over the internal treasury and the Overwatch Council. It is really a good job. As for Fan Shangshu, if it is common sense, he really shouldn't be bothered. The household department, but... His Majesty may still remember that in the first year of Qingli, in this imperial study, Fan Jian, who was still a minister at the time, once had a big fight with Mr. Chen. Fan Shangshu, in fact, never Deep down, I just don't want Master Xiao Fan to be in charge of the Overwatch Council."
"Well, continue." The emperor frowned, knowing what Eunuch Hong was implying.
"After all, Fan Shangshu was a romantic talent back then." The old eunuch Hong said with a smile: "He is a passionate person. I take the liberty of thinking that any sentimental person can also become a bondage to others. Fan Shangshu stayed in the capital. Mr. Fan will be much safer when doing things in the south of the Yangtze River."
The emperor's face was calm, and he said after a while: "In the Empress Dowager's palace, the Empress Dowager also said the same thing. Firstly, for the sake of Danzhou Muma, the palace always rains more on Fan's residence. Secondly, Fan Jian stayed in Beijing. Here, Fan Xian will feel more at ease working in Jiangnan."
What is peace of mind? It's just a secret defense and threat.
"The prince can wait." The emperor finally said with a cold face: "I will not treat the Fan family badly, but I will not let the matter of the Ministry of Household Affairs end here."
With the title of Duke and Marquis, and changing the title of Minister, I don't know whether Fan Jian is at a disadvantage or has taken advantage of it.
…
…
In Fan Mansion.
Fan Jian closed his eyes, drank physalis, enjoyed Liu's massage behind him, and sighed, "I'm afraid His Majesty will mistakenly think that I'm threatening him, it's not good."
Liu's complexion darkened, knowing that this matter is extremely difficult to settle, although the palace will not be too harsh on the family, but the master seems to be stepping down from the position of Minister of the Household Department, His Majesty's wishes have been passed through Yigui Concubine, passed it to Fan Mansion accurately and carefully again.
In the past few days, the investigation work of the Ministry of Household Affairs is still going on boringly, and more people have been involved, making the whole court hall into a pool of muddy water, all civil and military officials are in panic, and the Overwatch Council has already arrested many people. The household department itself has also been found to have some problems, but for the time being, the efforts of some forces have not achieved results, and no one has been able to find out the secret bank between the household department and Jiangnan.
Many people, including the eldest princess, began to feel strong unease. Could it be that the money Fan Xian used in Jiangnan really didn't belong to the Ministry of Household Affairs? As long as there is no such major crime, even the emperor would not be able to forcefully ask Fan Jian to resign and plead guilty.
"Xia Flood is coming soon." Fan Jian said with a smile: "The imperial court wants to use money, and the matter of checking the household department will be slowed down. I will spend time with His Majesty. As long as Fan Xian returns to Beijing during the New Year's Day next year, there will be no trouble." What a problem."
Liu Shi smiled, only then did she realize that what the master had been waiting for was nothing but the flood that God would send down.
With Tianwei versus Tianwei, His Majesty is not a faint king, so he naturally knows which is more important.
"I just don't know what's going on with Fan Xian." Fan Jian said slightly worried, "Transferring money to Hegong took a lot of confidence out of him, and the Ming family is not so easy to eat up."