The eldest son of the red mansion

After returning, Xue Pan kept thanking Jia Baoyu and Qin Zhong, and now these two also understood what happened just now, but they didn't take this matter to heart, instead they were a little proud.

Thinking how dignified the status of the two of them is, such a difficult matter will disappear as soon as the two of them come.

They didn't know that eunuch Zhao was Wei Kun's main leader in the palace.This time, it was only for Jia Ke's sake that Xue Pan was let go.

So next, Xue Pan treated the two of them with food, drink and hospitality, and called a few famous fans to serve them comfortably.

After the banquet, they sent someone to rent a sedan chair and sent the two back to the mansion.That night Xue Pan returned home, excitedly showing off in front of Aunt Xue and Xue Baochai.

"What do I think is a big deal? It's not going to be settled right away. Those eunuchs just want to get some money. Now that Eunuch Zhao has spoken, they don't dare to make things difficult anymore."

"I was clever enough to invite Baoyu and Qin Zhong. You don't know how awesome that eunuch Zhao is. When he saw Qin Zhong and Baoyu, his face immediately changed, and he agreed to my business immediately."

When Xue Pan said this, he raised his head proudly, waiting for Aunt Xue and Xue Baochai to praise him.

Aunt Xue was so happy from ear to ear, she kept praising Xue Pan, thinking that he had gotten back to business this time and had improved a lot compared to before.

Xue Baochai, who was sitting by the side, had a smile on his face, but in fact he still felt helpless at the brother's incompetence. What is his ability?If Jia Baoyu and Qin Zhong were not present, the eunuch would have easily let Jia Ke go.

But Xue Baochai heard that all the imperial pens used by the emperor were broken this time, what a big deal, if there is no Jia Ke, how would those eunuchs dare to let Xue Pan go?This is the reason why many avenues I searched a while ago were useless.

At the same time, Xue Baochai's desire for power grew in her heart, and Jia Ke's prestige made her yearn even more. Such a big matter didn't need Jia Ke to come forward in person, but his brother and brother-in-law showed their faces to solve the matter.I secretly made up my mind in my heart, for my own family.It seemed that it was time for me to sacrifice, otherwise I would be sorry for the teachings of my parents over the years, and I would also be sorry for my appearance and talents.

It is said that others can rest during this time, but Jia Ke must not rest.After the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the emperor re-opened the seal, and Jia Ke also returned to the military aircraft department to continue his career as a foreman.

Now Jia Ke is at the military plane.Although he was squeezed out by several other military aircraft ministers, he still firmly grasped the power of the military aircraft department because he was the chief minister of military aircraft.Even the edicts issued by the emperor sometimes depend on his face.

Because Jia Ke fought against the emperor several times, the civil officials of the Manchu Dynasty regarded Jia Ke as a traitor, but they thought that Jia Ke had the protection of the Supreme Emperor, and there was nothing they could do about Jia Ke for a while.So everyone is forbearing.Little did they know that Jia Ke had already had a deep rift with the Supreme Emperor.

The first thing Jia Ke does at the beginning of the year is to check last year's tax situation.Seeing this scared Jia Ke into a cold sweat.

Jia Ke didn't care about these things before, but this year he was more sensitive to money because the Jia family spent a lot of money on visiting relatives.

Jia Ke saw this year's report. Last year's total tax revenue was only 300 million taels, nearly [-] million taels less than the previous year, which is not bad.If things go on like this, the court will not be able to maintain normal operations.

Jia Ke took the winning bid and watched it carefully, and found that the land tax last year was actually 200 million taels less, while the total commercial tax including salt tax, tea tax, city ship tax, passing tax, and business tax was only three yuan. More than one million taels.

As the chief minister of the military aircraft, Jia Ke naturally had to ask about such a serious matter, so he immediately ordered the little eunuch waiting next to him, "Go to the Ministry of Households and get Liu Wan, Shangshu of the Ministry of Households, and tell me that I have something important to ask." He came to report."

What Jia Ke said was very serious. Under normal circumstances, Jia Ke would invite these high-ranking officials. Now it is very rude to just ask him to report back.

At that time, the eunuch didn't dare to delay when he saw Jia Ke's expression was unkind, and ran out of the military aircraft department in a hurry.

At this time, the old Hanlin Meng Ming, who was reviewing the memorial, saw Jia Ke's impatience. Although Meng Ming is no longer Jia Ke's ally, the relationship between the two has not deteriorated because of the breakdown of the alliance. This old Meng Ming really deserves it He is a benevolent gentleman. Even now, he still discusses Jia Ke's affairs according to the facts.As long as Jia Ke did the right thing, regardless of whether it was in line with the Supreme Emperor's wishes, he would fully support it.

Because of Meng Ming's temperament, Jia Ke respected this old gentleman very much.

"Master Jia, what's the matter? Getting so angry?" Old Meng Ming said calmly.

When Jia Ke heard old Meng Ming's question, he put the memorial on the table, and said to old Meng Ming distressedly: "Mr., I just saw our annual tax revenue last year, and it was nearly 300 million taels shorter than the year before. What does the household department do for food? If things go on like this, our court will not be able to maintain it."

Hearing what he said, old Meng Ming also became serious. If it was really what Jia Ke said, it would be a big deal.The annual income of the imperial court is about 2000 million taels of silver. If it is less than 300 million taels, it can barely maintain it, but in case of military disasters or famines, there will be no emergency silver taels.

Meng Ming quickly stood up and came to Jia Ke's desk, picked up the memorial that Jia Ke read and read it carefully. At first, he didn't quite understand it. After all, he didn't specialize in this, but the old man had a Share the spirit of not being ashamed to ask questions.But if you don't understand something, you can ask Jia Ke next to him.Later, I gradually understood, but the hands of the old gentleman holding the memorial began to shake.

Several military ministers next to them saw the two of them whispering there, so they exchanged glances. Finally, Liu Yu, Minister of the Ministry of Military Affairs, came over and bowed his hands to salute Jia Ke, "I have seen Mr. Jia, the foreman. What are the two adults discussing here, can you let the little old man listen to me too."

Jia Ke frowned when he saw his appearance, this man was obviously here to inquire about the news.But there is nothing that cannot be said about this matter, and I am afraid that they will have to know in the end.

So Jia Ke said to Liu Yu with a serious face: "Master Liu, you three really need to know about this matter. Otherwise, we may not be able to explain to the Supreme Emperor, the Emperor."

"So, I'll be all ears."

"Our tax revenue has decreased by nearly 300 million this year, do you know?" Jia Ke asked directly without talking nonsense with him. After all, the Minister of the Household Department and them are the emperor's people, and they should have heard of these things.

Liu Yu, Minister of the Ministry of Officials, was shocked when he heard this. Although he and Liu Wan, Minister of the Ministry of Households, belonged to the emperor, he had never heard of this incident.Moreover, 300 million was lost at once, which is not a small amount. If it is not done well, there will be turmoil in the court.

Liu Yu hurriedly said: "There is such a thing, I don't know about it at all."

Seeing Liu Yu's astonished expression, Jia Ke didn't seem to know it at all. Jia Ke had no choice but to say to him, "Just now, on a whim, I checked the tax revenue for the whole of last year, and found that it was nearly 300 million taels of silver less than in previous years."

When Jia Ke finished speaking, Lei Ying, Minister of the Ministry of War, and Tian Ye, the Censor of Zuo Du, also came over. They moved behind old Meng Ming to watch the memorial together.

Both of these two are capable officials, and their faces turned red before they finished reading.In any case, it is impossible for this tax to drop by 300 million at once, not to mention that the weather was good last year, and even the Tatars were kept out of the Nine Sides. The tax revenue has not increased, so how can it be so much less.

While the few of them were discussing there, the little eunuch brought Liu Wan, the secretary of the household department, to the military plane.

Liu Wan had already arrived at the military planes and bowed to several military planes, "Sir, I'm calling, do you have anything to ask?"

Before Jia Ge could speak, Old Meng Ming couldn't bear it anymore. With agility that didn't match his age, he rushed to Liu Wan in one go, pointed at Liu Wan's nose and cursed: "You bastard, Now that you still ask us why we called you here, don’t you have any points in your heart?”

Then he slammed the memorial in his hand in front of him, then stared at him and said, "If you don't give us an explanation today, our military ministers will give you an explanation." The old man is now He was so angry that he was a little incoherent.

Liu Wan didn't panic, she knelt down and picked up the memorial slowly, opened it and looked at it.He personally played this memorial years ago, but it was just in time for the Chinese New Year, and he didn't specifically tell him that this memorial was important, so Jia Ke didn't find out until the new year.

Chapter 357

After reading the memorial, Liu Wan laughed, "What I thought was the matter, it turned out to be it. In this way, I can explain it to the adults."

Seeing Liu Wan's unhurried look, Jia Ke knew that there might be secrets in it that he didn't know, and maybe this matter was aimed at him.

Liu Yu, Minister of the Ministry of Officials, stepped forward quickly and said to Liu Wan: "Deyan (Liu Wan's character), this matter is not trivial, so don't talk nonsense." After speaking, he kept blinking at him. Yu knew the magnitude of this matter. Whether the final 300 million taels was embezzled by the Ministry of Household Affairs or detained by the local government, it was a major case.

Liu Wan said nonchalantly: "This is a business matter, and there is nothing I can't tell people about it. I have no reason to talk nonsense."

Jia Ke looked at him sullenly and said, "So tell me, why this year's tax is short by 300 million taels."

Liu Wan looked at the room full of ministers of military aircraft, seemingly indifferent, with a smile on his face.In fact, he had already started beating drums in his heart. Only he and the emperor knew the secret of this matter.If one is not handled well, he is the emperor's scapegoat.

It turns out that although the emperor is now in charge of the hidden guards, and all the courtiers are leaning on him, but because the hidden guards are really expensive, and the Supreme Emperor doesn't know whether it is unintentional or intentional, he didn't hand over the royal family's financial power to him. All of a sudden, his already relatively well-off finances were a little stretched.In addition, the emperor has some other calculations. He wants to give Jia Ke some color. Let's see how he can maintain the operation of the court this year without money. Besides, there is no food and salary. Let's see how those arrogant soldiers support Jia Ke. Ke.

That's why Liu Wan withheld some silver taels and sent them to the emperor's inner treasury. Liu Wan didn't want to agree, but faced with the emperor's imperial decree, he had no choice but to agree to the emperor. He has not had a good year this year. I have been thinking at home how to deal with the review of the Military Aircraft Department after the year.

Today, when he was sitting on pins and needles in the household department, suddenly a little eunuch came and ordered him to go to the military plane to answer.He knew that something had happened, so he could only force himself to remain calm, and followed the little eunuch to the military plane.

Liu Wan looked at the military ministers in the room, and waited for him to reply, so he could only bite the bullet and smiled and said, "This year's taxation should not have been like this, but during the water transport to the north, several ships carrying tax money capsized. Yes, I sent people to salvage up and down and found no trace of the ship, so there are only a few million missing."

This is the method that Liu Wan came up with after thinking about it for the entire Spring Festival. Although this method seems a bit stupid, it is more appropriate now because there is really no evidence.Even if the Military Aircraft Department and others want to investigate thoroughly, there is no way, because there is really no ship for them to investigate.

Jia Ke, you almost laughed out loud when you heard this, even a child can't be fooled by this, let alone a room full of smart people.When was there such a big storm on the Grand Canal?It even overturned the tax boat containing several million taels of silver.

Now that Jia Ke has arrived, she has remained silent. Jia Ke has a strong premonition that this matter is aimed at him.Before I figure out the cause and effect of the matter, and the emperor's purpose, I should not talk too much, otherwise I will let them catch me if I make a mistake, and I will not be able to explain it in the end.

Although Jia Ke didn't speak, the fiery old Meng Ming couldn't help it, he went straight to Liu Wan regardless of the occasion, and grabbed his chest, "Who are you kidding? I think my old man is foolish, these money are not trivial, if you take it against your conscience, our court will be in big trouble this year."

Tianye, the censor of Zuodu, stood by the side all the time without saying a word. Now he had turned a corner in his heart. Liu Wan hadn't had the guts to tamper with so much tax money. The emperor might have played a role in it.When Tian Ye thought of this, he felt chills for a while. In order to fight for power, the emperor even ignored the safety of the world.

Although Jia Ke threatened the emperor's power, so far he has not made any extraordinary moves.It is completely like a loyal minister and good general. At this time, what we need to do is to stabilize him and gradually weaken him over several years or even ten years, instead of ignoring the country and society in order to fight Jia Ke.