After rebirth, I joined forces with my mortal enemy to seek revenge.

Back to Chang'an under the autumn sun. The three ministries were still busy. All the money confiscated from Jiannan was delivered to Zuozang. However, before it was kept in Zuozang for a while, it was taken away from Zuozang by Yanziku in the name of border defense. The Ministry of Revenue was not a pushover either, and went directly to the Censorate to report Yanziku for misappropriating the funds of Zuozang without authorization.

At present, the Emperor of Wei did not indicate how to deal with it, but instead asked the Crown Prince to take charge of the matter and let the ministers in the Political Affairs Hall come up with a plan.

"I've only been sick for a day or two, how come so many troubles have happened?" Pei Jiaoran sighed while drinking tea.

This confiscated money was very important to the Southern Court. While she was away, the other party reached out to the Ministry of Revenue. Now they just wanted to take the confiscated money. If the Southern Court did not make any move, the other party might also want to take the autumn tax that was still on the way.

Looking around, she saw that the prince, Cen Xi, Jia Gonglu and others were silent. Pei Jiaoran raised her eyebrows and picked up the petition presented by the Yanzi Treasury and read it carefully. When she saw that it said that the Ministry of Revenue owed the Yanzi Treasury 2,564,180 strings of cash, she laughed out loud. She threw the petition on the table and looked coldly at Bian Lingzhen, the Yanzi Treasury clerk opposite her.

This person was transferred back to Chang'an from the post of Jiedushi of Jingnan half a year ago, but he was not given an official position. Instead, he was appointed as the prime minister in the capacity of Jiedushi, and concurrently served as the envoy of Yanziku.

Bian Lingzhen glanced at the petition on the ground, frowned and looked at Pei Jiaoran, and said with a smile: "What do you mean, Mr. Pei? I know you are from the Ministry of Revenue, so it is normal for you to have prejudices against our Yanziku. However, the preparations for the border defense autumn have always been made through the Yanziku account."

"The money for the Yanzi Treasury is allocated by the Ministry of Revenue and the Salt and Iron Bureau every year. Last year, Chang'an was hit by a war, and the money from the Ministry of Revenue was either used to repair the palace or to comfort the soldiers who died in the battle." Pei Jiaoran looked at Bian Lingzhen and raised his lips, "If the Yanzi Treasury wants to prepare for the border, why didn't you come to the Political Affairs Hall to inform us first?"

"It is urgent to prepare for the autumn border. There is no place like Hexi, Longyou, Anxi, Beiping and even Pinglu that does not need money. Weapons and armor need to be repaired, and the soldiers' rations must be guaranteed." Bian Lingzhen sneered, "If Prime Minister Pei is unwilling to give this money. The taxes from Jianghuai are on the way, right? It would be fine to allocate some from there to Yanziku."

Pei Jiaoran's eyes were filled with more sarcasm as the words fell. As expected, Bian Lingzhen's real purpose was the tax from Jianghuai. She had used force to cut off the revenue of the inner treasury from the salt court. Zhang Rang and others were probably very anxious, but they had no way to get their hands on the salt court for the time being. Secondly, the Privy Council had not been re-established, which made them even more anxious. That's why Bian Lingzhen was sent out. He planned to make a fortune from the tax from Jianghuai.

Pei Jiaoran glanced at Jia Gonglu who was resting his eyes. "According to the regulations, each department must report the expenditure plan for the next year in August. I remember that last year, Yanziku had already reported the border defense expenses needed for this year, and this year is the same. Now it is October, why did Yanziku suddenly ask the Ministry of Revenue to pay the arrears from previous years?"

"Mr. Pei, what you mean is that Yanziku shouldn't ask the Ministry of Revenue for this money?" Bian Lingzhen said coldly.

"No. I just think that the money from the Yanzi Treasury was too sudden, and I'm a little curious if there is not much money left in the Yanzi Treasury." Pei Jiaoran smiled, and then bowed to Jia Gonglu, "Mr. Jia, military expenditure has always been a major plan to support national expenditure. I think there must be something fishy here. Now the Yanzi Treasury is forcibly snatching money from the Ministry of Revenue. Where is the place for the Council of State? Where is the place for Your Majesty?"

She knew that Bian Lingzhen was here to steal money. Since that was the case, she had to make his intention clear.

When they heard the word "qiang", Cen Xi, Jia Gonglu and others all looked at Bian Lingzhen.

Realizing that the two were looking at him, Bian Lingzhen stood up and shouted angrily, "The Ministry of Revenue owed the Yanzi Treasury. It is only natural for the Yanzi Treasury to ask for the money. There is a saying among the people that debts should be repaid, which is only natural. What, the Ministry of Revenue is not going to pay back the money? Why don't you give an explanation, Mr. Pei?"

"The debt from the Yanziku came suddenly. And it's after the August settlement, so the Ministry of Revenue can't give the money." Pei Jiaoran said in a cold tone.

Looking around, Bian Lingzhen's throat rolled slightly, "The taxes collected from various places will soon arrive in Chang'an. I heard that the tax revenue in Jianghuai this year is quite high, and the tax revenue added up with other provinces is more than 7.7 million strings of cash. It is more than enough to allocate the money owed by the Ministry of Revenue to the Yanzi Treasury."

"According to the expenditure budget reported by the Ministry of Revenue, these 7 million strings of cash are far from enough for next year's expenditure. If 2 million strings of cash are allocated to the Yanzi Treasury to repay the arrears, what will be done with the expenditure of various departments and offices of the court next year? Will all the heavy taxes be imposed on the people by then?" Pei Jiaoran sneered.

Seeing that no one else was talking, Bian Lingzhen licked his lips. He picked up the tea on the table and took two sips. Then he said, "Of course I know that it is not appropriate to ask the Ministry of Revenue to pay the arrears at this time. But the Ministry of Revenue must pay back what it owes, right? I have an idea. Why not let the Ministry of Revenue pay 80 wen per guan of the two taxes and give 100 wen to the Yanzi Treasury. Then the Yanzi Treasury will not need to pay the arrears."

Wu Lingjia, who had been listening for a long time, took over the conversation, "Mr. Bian has a big appetite. Originally, he only took a quota from the taxes of the Ministry of Revenue and the Salt and Iron Departments, but now he wants to take a share? It's really ridiculous to eat taxes with such a big mouth. Your Highness, I don't agree with this."

For every 1 guan of money collected by the Ministry of Revenue, eighty coins had to be paid to the Yanzi Treasury. Although the Ministry of Revenue was no longer asked to pay the arrears, it was still the Ministry of Revenue that suffered a loss. She could see the trick.

"In the end, the Ministry of Revenue does not recognize this account. It seems that Prime Minister Pei, as the Salt and Iron Transport Commissioner of Jianghuai, does not intend to allow the Yanzi Treasury to have enough military funds to prepare for the border." Bian Lingzhen sneered.

Cen Xi raised his eyes and looked at him. "The spending plan was already set last year. Now they are suddenly asking the Ministry of Revenue for the arrears. Is Yanziku doing things so disorganized?"

Bian Lingzhen seemed to be surprised that Cen Xi would suddenly speak. His face suddenly became a little ugly, and he trembled. He didn't say anything for a long time.

Seeing him like this, Jia Gonglu stroked his beard and said, "The people in the government are of the same mind, why should we be so hostile? Quarreling won't solve the problem, right?"

Listening to Jia Gonglu's words, Pei Jiaoran raised the corners of his lips.

Upon hearing this, the prince said, "What Jia Qing said is very true. You are all loyal ministers of the Great Wei, and what you said is for the country and the people. Instead of arguing, it is better to make a decision."

"Yes." Everyone said in unison.

The prince spoke, and the government hall fell silent instantly.

The Yanziku has always been used to store the quota payments from the Ministry of Revenue and the Salt and Iron Bureau. Now that the Ministry of Revenue is suddenly asked to pay back the arrears, although it is natural, a closer look reveals that there is something fishy going on.