my brother-in-law is the prince

Chapter 292 Longyan Joy
Director Wu was in a daze for a long time.

His first reaction was that the other party should have come to amuse him.

So he laughed and said with a pleasant face: "How can there be so much money and grain account books... This... This is not in compliance with the rules."

Zhang Anshi said: "How much should it be?"

Master Wu said: "The accounts of each prefecture are different every year, but most of them are in the tens of thousands. But the officials look at the numbers here, I'm afraid it's as many as hundreds of thousands..."

Zhang Anshi said: "Our Taiping Mansion is like this, why, do you think my Taiping Mansion has less money and food?"

As soon as this remark came out, Chief Wu's face changed slightly.

He laughed dryly: "This... what are you talking about... this... my servant... my servant... please ask someone to do the accounting."

Zhang Anshi didn't grab him by the braids and teach him to do the math, so he said, "I'm not even giving me a sip of tea when I'm here."

Director Wu nodded hurriedly, and asked someone to pour tea and water, and Zhang Anshi moved a chair.

Zhang Anshi moved his chair and sat directly opposite to Chief Wu.

Later, Gao Xiang and other officials followed suit, and just surrounded the case of Mr. Wu.

Director Wu: "..."

He raised his head slowly, seeing dozens of pairs of eyes looking at him, he hurriedly lowered his head again.

"Come... someone."

A scribe pushed his way through the crowd.

"Start to calculate the money and food of the Taiping Mansion, and send me a few capable officials, no, send me all the scribes."

"Yes Yes……"

I have to say that Mr. Wu is still very professional.

After all, he has been in the household department for a long time, even if he may not be very good at settling accounts, at least he knows who in the household department can settle accounts.

After the clerks from a room came in one after another, Director Wu began to divide the work and compiled four groups, A, B, C and D. Group A was dedicated to counting money, Group B was responsible for counting grain, Group C was responsible for summarizing, and Ding Zu was responsible for accounting to ensure that the accounts were safe.

The scribes began to get busy, and no one dared to neglect.

After a while, an officer came and said: "The Hubei chief envoy came and asked if the accounts had been clarified. He hurried back to report."

"Let him wait."

Another person came: "Sichuan chief envoy..."

Mr. Wu is in a hurry, and he is being watched now. Although the Ministry of Household Affairs also watches over the food, the Ministry of Household Affairs will ignore people who come to send money and food books from the government or the county.However, at the level of chief envoys, after all, these people are behind the feudal officials, and they will often give them a little face, entertain them with a pleasant face, and help them convert early so that they can return to life earlier.

But what time is it now? Chief Wu glanced at Zhang Anshi. Zhang Anshi drank tea slowly, looking calm.

But Master Wu didn't dare to delay the matter, but soon someone came to urge him, this time it was not an officer, but a doctor from Hubei Qingli Department came in person: "Master Wu...there is a hurry..."

This person came in loudly, before the person arrived, the voice came first, and he seemed anxious to get angry.

But as soon as he came in, he was a little dazed when he saw this scene. He also saw the young man in the python robe. He seemed to realize... something, so he turned around and wanted to leave.

Zhang Anshi waved at him: "Someone come..."

The doctor said with a wry smile: "Xiaguan...Xiaguan Liu He..."

Zhang Anshi said: "You came just in time, don't be too polite, one more person, one more effort, let's settle the score."

Liu He: "..."

He mustered up his courage: "Xiaguan... Xiaguan still has official duties..."

Zhang Anshi's expression changed, and he said: "Isn't it official business to check the money and food? I think you are like the White Lotus Sect..."

Liu He's legs were a little weak, and he said without hesitation: "But it's a big matter... a big matter, it's not as important as Wei Guogong and you. I'm an official... Come and give me a hand..."

Zhang Anshi was only satisfied, he squinted his eyes, and seemed to be dozing off.

Gao Xiang and the others looked horrified, the father-in-law is too young, isn't this offending everyone to death?

Don't look at these people, they are obedient on the surface, but none of these spirits in the temple is not kind on the surface, but secretly tricks you, just like the official...

Gao Xiang felt that if he was dismissed from office, he must have a good talk with Zhang Anshi before leaving. If the Duke of Wei's temper does not change, he will suffer a lot in the future.

There were also some officials on duty outside, and when they heard about the incident, they walked outside on purpose, or poked their heads for fun.

Who knew Zhang Anshi waved at them just as he appeared, "Come, come, we are short of manpower."

…………

Forbidden City.

The scholar of Wenyuan Pavilion and other officials from the Ministry of Officials, the Ministry of Rites, and the Ministry of Households met with him.

Jian Yi, Minister of the Ministry of Officials, presented Jingcha's memorial.

This memorial is only submitted to the emperor, and even the great scholar of Wenyuan Pavilion cannot draft it.

The reason why the Ministry of Officials is called the Heavenly Official is because its responsibilities are too urgent, and many things can be communicated directly with the emperor without going through Wenyuan Pavilion.Coupled with the promotion and dismissal of countless ministers, it is naturally different.

Zhu Di felt a headache when he saw the densely packed reports, and said, "Isn't it just another show in Beijing this time?"

Jian Yi hurriedly said: "Don't dare, this time, there are 31 people rated as inferior...compared to previous years, it is more than ten times more."

Zhu Di nodded, only then did he appear satisfied, and then he was furious. Officials seldom judge inferior people. If they are judged inferior, it can be seen how annoying these people are. At the moment...he frowned and said: "All those who are judged inferior will be dismissed." , no... His mother, eating my royal rations, but not giving me a good job, is really hateful, after being dismissed, he will be exiled to Qiongzhou as an official for generations, and his descendants will not be allowed to take the imperial examination."

No one expected that this time it would be extraordinarily severe.

In fact, this is also understandable. It is absolutely impossible for the official to be a bad person until the point where people and gods are indignant. The Ministry and the co-organized Metropolitan Procuratorate and Dali Temple will give you an excellent rating with their noses.

Zhu Di looked at the thick pile of Jingcha, flipped through it casually, but couldn't see anything famous, mainly because the amount of information was too large, and then said to Jian Yi: "If the government of officials is corrupt, it is the responsibility of the Ministry of Officials. Negligence, Beijing will investigate in the future, and we must not neglect it."

Jian Yi said: "Yes. This time, the minister also meant the same thing. Some people were too angry and received many reports, so the minister ordered the Lang of the Ministry of Officials to check the facts. In addition, the Imperial Court of the Metropolitan Procuratorate Shi, as well as the magistrate of Dali Temple, also cooperated with each other, and only then did some verification be made."

Zhu Di nodded in satisfaction: "Thanks for your hard work."

As he said that, he looked at Xia Yuanji, Minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs, "Is the money and food for this year... probably all out?"

Money and food are fundamental.

Xia Yuanji said: "Sixty to seventy percent of the accounts have already been checked. The most surprising thing this year is the Changsha Prefecture in Hunan, because there have been disasters in Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Jiangxi in the past two years, but Huguang is a familiar place. Among them, the situation in Changsha Mansion is the most optimistic, with 91 shi, far exceeding the summer grain tax in previous years. I remember that last year, Changsha Mansion was 67 shi, and the year before last was 59 shi. In addition, silver The tax is also quite considerable, 6000 taels, which is much more than the previous two years."

Zhu Di said, "Who is the prefect of Changsha?"

"The surname is Zheng Minglu, and he was a Juren during the Hongwu period."

Jian Yi also seemed to have an impression of this person, and added with a smile: "This person has a good official reputation. Back then... Changsha built the embankment, and he also contributed a lot."

Zhu Di said: "Such a capable person needs to be put to great use. First, let him stay in Changsha Mansion for another year. After next summer, he will be summoned to the capital. I want to see him in person."

"Yes."

Xia Yuanji said: "But overall... the tax collection... the situation this year is still not optimistic."

Zhu Di frowned: "Why, is it less than in previous years?"

"Compared with the situation in the past few years, I can only compare... It is comparable to the second year of Jianwen, and it has not surpassed the record after 20 years of Hongwu."

After Zhu Di heard this, he looked displeased.

He was pacing back and forth with his hands behind his back, in the second year of Jianwen... How could it be like, in the second year of Jianwen, he was in Jingnan, and many places were not in the hands of the imperial court at all, let alone taxed.

"This is strange. During the Hongwu period...the country was initially established. After I succeeded to the throne, the court was still recovering its vitality a few years ago, which is reasonable, but the world has been peaceful for so many years...how come the food tax is still low. "

In fact, if Zhu Di knew that in later generations, the Ming Dynasty had been peaceful for 200 years, but most of the taxes and registered land properties did not exceed the money and grain income of the Hongwu period, he would probably be scolded.

Zhu Di sighed: "We need to find out what the problem is. It can't be natural disasters every year."

Xia Yuanji said: "Yes."

Zhu Di waved his hand: "Okay, let's go down."

Xia Yuanji went back to the mansion, and when he returned to the Hububu Hall, he was still thinking about His Majesty asking him to check the situation.

This matter... Xia Yuanji also has something to hide.

During the reign of Emperor Taizu Gao, the world was initially settled, and the people scrambled to reclaim wasteland, and many lands were taxed.

But the problem is that in the past few decades, many places... lands have begun to be merged, and those who have the ability to annex land often have the ability to hide the land. This kind of hiding is of course not like magically disappearing the land , Instead, relying on their family background and status, they partnered with the guards and hid in the land registered with the government.

Apart from this, there are other doorways, which are too numerous.

But the problem is... this matter... there is no way to clean it up. We can't cut off the heads of all the state and county parents and officials in the world like Emperor Taizu Gao, and then replace the prefects and county magistrates to sort out the land. Situation.

Xia Yuanji sighed, and when he entered the household department, he didn't look sideways, so he went to the Zhongtang first, but who knew, there was no one there.

Xia Yuanji frowned: "Man, where is man?"

He screamed twice in a row, and then a guard came in a hurry: "The Ministry... The Ministry..."

"Where did everyone go?"

"All...all were dragged into the young men, and the Duke of Wei came, and brought people...to invade the house...to arrest the officials to settle accounts."

Settlement?

When did the household department offend him, and what is he going to settle for?

Xia Yuanji's anger rose from his heart, and he flew into a rage: "Absurd. It is simply absurd. Is there still national law and discipline? Zhang Anshi... what is he doing?"

After that, he flew into a rage and said, "Then why are you here?"

The guard said with a bitter face: "The villain doesn't know how to count, he doesn't know how to settle accounts."

Xia Yuanji: "..."

Only then did Xia Yuanji realize that what the officer said about settling accounts was really a literal settling of accounts.

He is a little confused, what account is he going to settle?

At the moment, he raised his leg: "Where is the person?"

The guard hurriedly led Xia Yuanji to go.

Sure enough... I saw a hall full of people, and the sound of abacus crackling everywhere.

Xia Yuanji hurried in and saw a sea of ​​people, some of them were walking around with notebooks, some were at their desks doing calculations, and some were whispering something to the people next door with their books.

That Zhang Anshi put his foot on the copybook, surrounded by Gao Xiang and others, waiting calmly.

Xia Yuanji was furious, and stepped forward quickly, with a wave of his sleeve, he lifted Zhang Anshi's foot off the copybook.

Zhang Anshi lost his balance, was shocked, and subconsciously said: "There are assassins, protect..."

Taking a closer look, it was Xia Yuanji.

Zhang Anshi sat down awkwardly, then stood up again: "Hey, hey... Mr. Xia... I've been waiting for you for a long time."

Xia Yuanji said angrily: "Zhang Anshi, what are you going to do?"

"Send the money and food book."

Xia Yuanji: "..."

Apparently, his whole body seemed to have been electrocuted, and he froze for a while, then he said angrily: "Submit the money and food book and submit it, why come here to play wild, do you know where this is? If your highness knows about you doing such a thing, you should How can it be embarrassing?"

Zhang Anshi said: "I submit the book, and they come to settle the accounts. I'm waiting for the results of the calculations, so I can go back to the business. Don't all the prefectures and counties in the world do this, what's wrong, I'm breaking the law too?"

Xia Yuanji was taken aback for a moment, and said, "This...what is this?"

"The money and food book of the Taiping Mansion."

Xia Yuanji took a breath: "Why are there so many?"

He has been in charge of the household department for many years, and with such a large workload, I am afraid that it is at least an account at the level of a chief envoy.

Zhang Anshi said: "What are these words? Duke Xia shouldn't ask me why there are so many Taiping Mansions, but should ask...why there are so few other prefectures and counties."

Xia Yuanji: "..."

Xia Yuanji calmed down a little, he decided to ignore Zhang Anshi, to be angry with such a person is simply asking for trouble, and sooner or later his life will be lost.

Immediately, he found Mr. Wu and said, "Let me take a look at the accounts."

Director Wu hurriedly offered to give up his seat, Xia Yuanji shook his head, picked up an account book, and began to read it carefully.

Looking at it... Xia Yuanji seemed to be fascinated, flipping through the pages, no joy or anger could be seen on the expression on his face.

Once I saw one, I couldn't help but look at the next one.

Zhang Anshi sat down again, put his feet on the copybook, closed his eyes and meditated.

More than half an hour has passed...

Xia Yuanji remained silent the whole time, and only looked at the accounting accounts one by one, until the accounts were calculated one by one and summarized to Mr. Wu.

Xia Yuanji looked at the ledger, but his face changed.

He looked unbelievable, the more he looked at it, the weirder his face became, he pointed to the number, and said to Mr. Wu: "Is this number right?"

"There should be no mistakes." Chief Wu said: "The lower officials have already cleaned up, and this number is probably not far from ten."

Xia Yuanji said: "How is this possible?"

Director Wu smiled wryly, and whispered to Xia Yuanji in a low voice: "The lower officials also think it's impossible... That's why I asked people to calculate it over and over again..."

Xia Yuanji said: "You continue to count and check again."

Director Wu said: "Yes."

Zhang Anshi suddenly shuddered, stood up and approached him, and said, "Duke Xia..."

Xia Yuanji said: "Don't make trouble, the old man has something to do, so don't make trouble here."

Zhang Anshi said: "What's the matter?"

"What's with you?"

Zhang Anshi: "..."

After Xia Yuanji finished speaking, he took the ledger and left in a hurry.

He rushed into the palace.

At this time Zhu Di was recuperating in the Wenlou. He was very surprised why the tax was getting less and less, but it seemed that there was no problem.

"What is Zhang Anshi doing these days?"

"Your Majesty, Zhang Anshi is collecting food."

"This guy is really addicted to being a magistrate." Zhu Di smiled wryly, "Why did he have such a strange habit? Is this the influence of the prince, or is it just the virtue of the Zhang family?"

"This..." Yi Shiha said, "Slaves are not good.

Zhu Di said: "The prince is not like me."

He sighed.

The logic is this, Zhang Anshi behaves strangely, and Zhang Anshi was raised by the prince, although his personality may be different, but the things in his bones must be the same.

Then it can be deduced from this that the prince also has this kind of virtue in his bones. Obviously, this is very different from Zhu Di. Zhu Di is good at swordsman, skilled in bow and horse, and likes passionate and emotional things.

Yi Shiha had no choice but to laugh, he didn't dare to answer.

"Your Majesty, Duke Xia, Minister of the Household Department, is asking to see you."

Zhu Di frowned: "Didn't you just leave? Is it something urgent again? Call me in."

Xia Yuanji entered the hall and saluted: "Your Majesty..."

Zhu Di only raised his eyelids: "What's the matter again, I'm really afraid to see you, every time your household department is in a hurry to see you, there's either a flood or a collapse somewhere."

Xia Yuanji said: "The minister is here to announce the good news."

Xia Yuanji is still very professional. After reading the accounts of the Taiping Mansion, he immediately and keenly felt that the money and food issues in some places might not be able to be covered.

Of course, local problems cannot be covered up. If it is related to the Ministry of Household Affairs, it has a little relationship. If it is not related, it can actually be cleared.

It can be said that the head of the household department is still suspected of dereliction of duty.

After reading this account, Xia Yuanji immediately made a decision that he had to enter the palace quickly to announce the good news, and show his joy in this matter. In this way... he was at most just negligent.

Otherwise, if you wait for others to report the letter, or wait for Zhang Anshi to ask for an interview, then... instead, it seems that the scandals of the household department and the local government have been exposed, then it is not a matter of negligence, and even His Majesty may suspect that he is also involved.

After all, this is a matter of attitude. Any emperor can actually accept the negligence of his subordinates. After all, people are flesh and blood, and it is impossible to cover everything.

But once you start to doubt your essence, even if there is no evidence, it will definitely be fatal.

Between monarchs and ministers, if you want harmony, good communication is very necessary, which is why, after Xia Yuanji looked at the general ledger, he didn't wait for the final calculation of the most specific number, ignored Zhang Anshi, and immediately ran all the way out of breath. The reason for the Annunciation.

Zhu Di looked at Xia Yuanji: "Huh? Why do you like it?"

"Your Majesty, the Taiping Mansion's money and rations for this year have already been calculated. Although this is not a specific amount, it is roughly close to ten. Your Majesty, please... have a look first."

Xia Yuanji hurriedly presented the account book.

Zhu Di sat up, then took out the account book, looked down, and felt a little overwhelmed.

"Taiping Mansion...has jurisdiction over three counties, with a household registration of less than [-]...is that right?"

"Yes." Xia Yuanji said: "Last year, the summer grain of Taiping Mansion was 23 shi, but this is also understandable. Compared with the population of Changsha Mansion, which governs eleven counties and one state, it is far from the population of Changsha Mansion. The mansion has a full 45 households, and it is a first-class mansion. But this year, the grain tax of Taiping Mansion has increased by four times from 23 shi, and the grain revenue has reached nearly one million shi .”

"This Taiping Mansion's arable land is only [-]% of Changsha Mansion's, and its population is only [-]-[-]% of that of Changsha Mansion's. However, the grain harvested is actually more than Changsha Mansion's. This...is really something I can't imagine." Xia Yuanji said .

Zhu Di's eyes straightened.

"Changsha mansion is considered first class this year, so this Taiping mansion... Zhang Anshi... did he drive out all the people in Taiping mansion?"

Think about it, [-]% of the arable land and population have harvested more grain than others. Doesn’t this squeeze people out of oil?

Xia Yuanji said: "Your Majesty, please pay attention... look at the number of cultivated land."

Only then did Zhu Di wake up.

"Last year, the cultivated land in Taiping Mansion was [-] hectares. This number is close to [-] hectares. This number is also correct, but this year... the number of acres reported by Taiping Mansion... It's [-] hectares...more than doubled."

Only then did Zhu Di notice it, and he couldn't help asking: "In one year, can we reclaim more than double the land?"

Xia Yuanji raised his head, and then... said in a deep voice: "I... also feel strange, but... Your Majesty, let's check the amount of money first."

Zhu Di was interested at this time, but after seeing it, he was shocked again.

"When I was last year...not counting Qixia, how much did the three counties of Taiping Prefecture pay?"

"500 taels..."

Zhu Di took a deep breath: "How is this possible? I received 27 taels this year. This is the amount excluding Qixia, and with Qixia included, there is actually 73 taels?"

This number is very frightening, this is just a mansion.

Moreover, Taiping Mansion does not occupy a large area. Because it belongs to Nanzhili, it only has three counties under its jurisdiction. Whether it is population or cultivated land, it belongs to the younger brother among all the mansions in the world.

"Your Majesty, with such an amount alone, the grain tax and the Taiping Mansion are already the second largest in the world, probably only below the Suzhou Mansion, but this Suzhou Mansion... has a lot of cultivated land and a dense population. How can the Taiping Mansion be able to do so?" Compared with it? What's more... the silver tax, even if Qi Xia is excluded, can be called the crown of the world."

When Zhu Di heard this, Long Yan was delighted first.

Instead, his smile froze.

In his smiling eyes, instead, there was a kind of sharpness in his pockets. When he swept his eyes away, he seemed to think of something that didn't make him happy.

………………

Finally finished writing, I can go to sleep, fulfill my mission, thank you for your support, continue to ask for monthly tickets.

(End of this chapter)