Li Hong still followed Wu Mei's example and closed his eyes slightly, but he heard Ouyang Tong's analysis just now, word for word.
Was Ouyang Tong's analysis inspired by Jinghui or Ouyang Tong? Don't forget, Jinghui was nominated a few days ago. He hoped that Ouyang Tong would replace Jinghui as the Minister of Household Affairs. At the beginning, he said that this person was extremely proficient in arithmetic, but he never thought that this person's analytical ability was also like this. He was so strong that he was unable to fight back in just a few words.
Although there are still big loopholes in his rebuttal, his confident tone and convincing appearance of integrity really gave him a lot of points, making people feel as if everything he said was correct. Same truth.
"Nonsense, when has Zhongshu Province ever received such a memorial?" Pei Yan glared at him. Ouyang Tong didn't perform very well when he was the official of Zhongshu Province. How come he has become so eloquent today? , high enthusiasm.
"Whether it is a memorial from Zhongshu Province or not, we can find out if we check it. What's the use of Mr. Pei's explanation? Mr. Xue and Mr. Gao secretly investigated the dock built by the prince and did not report it to me. I don't know if it was me, the emperor." What did Doctor Shi do to make you bypass me, Li Qiao, and Lord Di of Dali Temple, and report to Zhongshu Province?" Li Qiao walked out calmly and took it out of his sleeve pocket slowly. A memorial was issued.
"Your Majesty, Queen, just now Xue Yuanchao and Gao Zhizhou impeached His Royal Highness the Crown Prince for embezzling silver coins. I think it is completely nonsense. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is in charge of six ministries. No matter which bank he embezzled, it is understandable and within the scope of his rights. What's more, His Highness the Prince is the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue at the age of ten. If he is greedy, how can he care about this mere 10,000,000 taels? I think all your lords and colleagues know that when His Royal Highness the Prince is the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, he already holds the throne. I think you all know how much money there is in this huge treasure trove of Taiyi City and the majestic palace we are in now, right? Although I don’t quite understand why Mr. Pei wanted to impeach His Royal Highness the Crown Prince on the charge of corruption, I do have a memorial here. Coincidentally, it is also an account book, but this account book came from the Ministry of Works. Yes, and it clearly records the whereabouts of the 30 million taels of silver from the Ministry of Industry, including one million taels. Mr. Fang, should you give me an explanation?" Li Qiao respectfully handed over the memorial in his hand. Gave it to Lian Tie and then presented it to Li Zhi.
Although the accounts in this memorial are recorded in the traditional accounting form, there are still some very clear and extremely Chongwenguan-style accounting methods in it.
In the account book, it is clearly recorded how the 30 million taels of silver changed from 30 million to 25 million. The 5 million taels misappropriated by Li Hong was divided into two appropriations, three million taels at a time. , two million taels at a time.
But in the end, when the entire total was added up, there was one million taels less on the books, and this one million taels was the current deficit of the Ministry of Industry.
Li Zhi's face was livid. Even he could understand the accounts. Naturally, he did not need the queen to read them. He threw them directly to Fang Xianzhong who was standing in the palace: "See for yourself, what is going on? Why is it thirty million taels?" It becomes twenty-nine million taels. Where did the one million go? Give it to me!"
At this moment, Li Hong and Wu Mei opened their eyes almost at the same time. Their eyes were not looking at Fang Xianzhong, but at the same time at the elegant and elegant Li Qiao.
Li Qiao, the imperial censor!
Neither Li Hong nor Wu Mei expected that Li Qiao would become the key point in the court today. Li Hong originally thought it would be a censor, but unexpectedly, it turned out to be Li Qiao, a censor.
Wu Mei was surprised that Li Hong could not be very familiar with Li Qiao. Although Li Hong valued the responsibilities of the Yushitai very much, even after Li Qiao became the Yushitai, he had always supported the Yushitai's rumors and monitored hundreds of incidents. Official etiquette and other responsibilities, but Wu Mei knew that Li Hong and Li Qiao were not the same person. Li Qiao could not get into Li Hong's eyes, and he could not look down on a noble and upright person like Li Qiao!
But this memorial seems to be aimed at Fang Xianzhong. Obviously, it is directed at Pei Yan, the secretary of the Central Committee, who impeached His Highness the Crown Prince for his corruption!
Sweat dripped from Fang Xianzhong's forehead. In the eyes of the ministers, it was obvious that Fang Xianzhong did not expect that his corruption incident would happen, so he broke out in a cold sweat from fright.
But only Fang Xianzhong knew that this was a real fake account from the Ministry of Industry's account books!
I didn't just give King Pei a million taels? In the past few years, the Ministry of Industry has been repairing roads, royal palaces, inner gardens, forest gardens, the late emperor's mausoleum, etc., which of them can not be used casually to spend 1.8 million taels
Why did Mr. Li Qiao and Li just come up with such an account book with a deficit of only one million? What is the purpose of this move
"Come here quickly, where did the one million taels go!" Li Zhi looked at Fang Xianzhong, who was covered in chaff, and asked angrily.
"Father, I'm afraid it's hard to identify Fang Xianzhong, right? Is it Mr. Fang? This million taels is naturally not a big amount now, but if it were placed ten or fifteen years ago, this million taels would be One million taels of silver is a lot of money. Tell me, where did this one million taels go? You can't even keep up with the accounts, but you want to accuse me of five million taels of money. Isn't it funny? "Li Hong finally stood up under the expectations of the court officials, walked to Fang Xianzhong, and patted Fang Xianzhong on the shoulder again.
He could feel that unlike the previous two times, when Fang Xianzhong was patted on the shoulder this time, Fang Xianzhong's whole body was very calm, not as trembling as before.
Fang Xianzhong was indeed not afraid, but excited. He did not expect that after this battle, his crime was only to leak one million taels of silver from the account, and not to concern King Pei and so on. This made Fang Xianzhong, who was originally determined to die, He was suddenly filled with hope again.
And what King Pei told him last night rang clearly in his ears at this moment: "It is impossible to keep the position of Minister of the Ministry of Industry. Lao Wu will not give you this opportunity, but if the crime does not warrant dismissal, you still have to be punished. I hope that Lao Wu has promised me, not to mention that you still have to get involved with the officials of the imperial family. I think my mother and father will not embarrass you too much, but... you have to accuse Pei Yan of being corrupt in the court.
Although these were just words, even before he came to the court today, he had no idea how His Highness the Crown Prince would ask him to testify. This also made him always on tenterhooks, always wanting to see His Highness the Crown Prince's eyes and act, but His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was in the court today. , but seemed to be mute, letting the officials above the court argue, and he didn't say much at all.
This made his heart sink. He couldn't find out the hint from His Highness the Crown Prince, so his guilt would not be too light. So when this memorial fell into his hands, his heart finally fell to the ground.
Feeling the force of Li Hong's pat on his shoulder, Fang Xianzhong knelt down in the hall and said with fear and fear: "Your Majesty, I'm guilty. I... This million taels is actually something I won't have time to do the accounting in the future..."
"I only want results. Where did the one million taels go? Are you greedy for ink, or are you greedy..."
"Your Majesty, how about you listen to what Fang Xianzhong has to say before asking any questions?" Wu Mei suddenly interrupted Li Zhi.
His Highness, Li Hong, also glanced at his mother with lingering fear and gratitude. His mother, who also had lingering fears, also sighed softly, with a trace of nervousness on her face.
Both mother and son knew that by now, among the three of them, they and their mother had already understood everything that happened in the court, but their father had not yet understood the whole thing and thought that Fang Xianzhong would be there in the court. The above refers to Li Xian.
After all, now the two unfilial sons are making a big fuss in Changmingfang when they go back to Chang'an to make money, and even use knives and guns in Changmingfang to the point of bleeding to death.
Today, he knew clearly that Li Hong came to attend the court meeting to vent out Li Xian's obstacles to him during this period. Therefore, it was naturally Li Hong's method to use Fang Xianzhong as a tactic to deal with Li Xian.
Seeing that his words were interrupted by Wu Mei, Li Zhi looked at Wu Mei blankly, and saw Wu Mei using her bright eyes to signal him to calm down, which made him extinguish the emperor's anger.
"Your Majesty, I am guilty. I deserve to die. I should not have believed Lord Pei YanPei's words so easily that I secretly sent one million taels of silver to Lord Pei YanPei!"
"You're talking nonsense. When did I ever collude with you? When did I ask for one million taels of silver from you? What's the point of asking you for one million taels of silver?" Pei Yan was startled, thinking that Fang Xianzhong would testify. Li Xian didn't expect that the target was pointed directly at himself.
"Master Pei, just admit it." Fang Xianzhong said sincerely with a grimace on his face.
"I'm not greedy, why should I admit it? Also, why should I be greedy for your one million taels of silver? Give me a reason!" Pei Yan's nose was almost crooked with anger. When had he ever taken his one million taels of silver? .
"This...isn't this why you asked me to support you in front of His Majesty as the Secretary of the Secretariat? Then you said that when you become the Minister of the Secretariat, you will immediately recommend me in front of His Majesty as the Secretary of the Central Committee. Ling, but because we need to publicize some colleagues who also have the title of Zhongshu Ling, we need one million taels of silver to manage other colleagues. "
"Pfft..." Pei Yan was so angry at Fang Xianzhong's half-truths that he spat out a mouthful of blood.
This is a false accusation that makes it difficult for him to clear his name. He covets the position of Youpu She. Not only him, but also other ministers and even His Majesty, all know that he intends to be the Minister of Education.
What's more, Fang Xianzhong was loyal, and he promised him the post of Shuling, which suddenly made the matter unclear and difficult to distinguish between true and false.
(End of chapter)