I run a newspaper in ancient times

The food for frontier soldiers was mixed with moldy rice. Too many people saw it, so it was quickly publicized.

The gossip tabloids wrote an article for an additional issue overnight, and on the second day, the entire capital confirmed the news, and immediately there was excitement and speculation.

The reputation of the Ministry of Household Affairs has always been bad, and it is common for merchants to participate in counterfeiting. Both parties are suspicious, but fortunately, the Ministry of Criminal Affairs has taken over the matter, and Song Guogong is a man whom everyone trusts, so they wait patiently for investigation The result came out.

Zuoxiangfu

Without waiting for Zhen Weimin to sue for the truth, Prime Minister Zuo asked: "The Ministry of Household Affairs is really clean in this matter, and didn't reach out?"

Li Li's appeal was too great, and the people who came to donate food and silver exceeded everyone's imagination. During that time, the streets were full of carriages pulling grain, and the household department sent everyone out to count the grain and silver. There is half a month without night.

The empty national treasury was filled immediately, and there was no need for the Ministry of Households to give a specific amount, just look at the grand occasion, and Fan Zhiyuan might have some surplus after the battle.

Usually, when there is a shortage of resources, the top and bottom of the household department have to draw [-]%, but when there is a surplus, I don’t believe that the household department can suppress greed and become clean.

As soon as the moldy rice incident happened, Prime Minister Zuo became worried.

Zhen Weimin said: "Don't worry, Xiangye, the officials have asked one by one, and no one has moved the food. They don't know the seriousness, but they also know that something went wrong at this time. Not only will they lose their black hats, but they will lose their lives. There is no need to sacrifice everything. "

The left minister stared at him, Zhen Weimin didn't dodge anything, showing his confidence, so he felt a little relieved, but he still told him: "Send someone to watch the Ministry of Punishment, don't be careless."

Zhen Weimin nodded: "Of course, all the grain was stacked in the warehouse as soon as it was collected, and then it was directly loaded into the car without even changing the rice bags. If it is really necessary to investigate, it is also the responsibility of these merchants. Just look for the rice bags. , you can find out who sent the food, Song Guogong should still have this ability."

Zhen Weimin said it with confidence, as if he was out of it, Prime Minister Zuo no longer worried, finally smiled and said: "Excellent, as long as it has nothing to do with the Ministry of Household Affairs, I will not allow others to frame me."

The two chatted for a while, and Zhen Weimin was about to leave, but at this time, the confidant of Zuo Xiang came in, cupped his hands at the two adults and said: "The Ministry of punishment has opened all the food, and only one of them The car is moldy, but the rest are good."

This ending is really surprising.

Compared with hundreds of vehicles, the mildewed rice in one vehicle is really nothing. Even if the merchant was caught and donated so much, others can't be too harsh on such a small omission.

"Is it really an accident?" Zhen Weimin frowned and whispered.

Both of them have experienced ups and downs in the imperial court, and they always feel that things are not that simple.

Prime Minister Zuo suddenly asked: "Your Highness already knows about this, right? What's his reaction?"

The aide said: "I don't know the prince's reaction, but Song Guogong didn't close the case. He intends to investigate thoroughly."

Zhen Weimin was puzzled: "What is the thorough investigation? Hasn't this already been investigated?"

The aide said: "There is a surplus of donated food. In addition to these trucks, he has to open the warehouse and re-count. If the war lasts, the food will also be sent to northern Xinjiang. It has nothing to do with the discovery of the problem at that time. Clear, why not check everything now."

Song Guogong has always been meticulous in his work. No one will be surprised that he will do this, and it is even harder for others to say anything, otherwise they will appear guilty.

Zuo Xiang then looked at Zhen Weimin, who nodded and said, "Alright."

But as soon as the words were finished, a servant rushed in and said: "Master Xiang, Mr. Zhen, Mr. Feng, the servant of the household department, please see me." After he finished speaking, he added, "I am very anxious to see you, and I must see the two lords. "

There was obviously something unexpected about the urgency of the servant of the household department, and what made him so flustered... Not to mention Zhen Weimin, even Zuo Xiang's face turned ugly at the moment.

Feng Shilang walked in quickly, and before he could gain a firm foothold, Zhen Weimin asked first, "What's wrong?"

The servant was sweating profusely on his forehead, and his face was a little pale. He pursed his lips, and finally knelt down without even lifting the hem of his clothes, and said, "Master Xiang, my lord, the state of Song has released the bank."

In an instant, Zhen Weimin suddenly realized.

He almost shook his fingers and asked, "You guys, you didn't touch the grain depot, but you moved the silver depot..."

Although the words were doubtful, they were almost affirmative. Feng Shilang knelt on the ground and did not refute.

In this donation, in addition to direct donations of food, there are also donations of silver.

Like Su Yue, although she is not a grain merchant, she wanted to contribute, so she donated 20 taels of silver.

When marching and fighting, there is no need to bring too much silver on the road. The luggage is almost all armaments and rations. If there is enough food, the silver will naturally be piled up in the treasury, obviously it will be used for other purposes.

The household department thought well, the merchants donated the money, and Prince Yi also gave them face, so naturally they would not ask where the money will be used in the future.

"You guys...you must be careful when you make repeated orders, and you must restrain your greed and control your hands and feet. Prince Yi will watch our household department make mistakes. It's better for you to lie to others and ignore what I say! Take it personally! Pass it up, you guys... you're going to die!"

Zhen Weimin was so angry that he raised his foot and kicked Shilang Feng.

Feng Shilang didn't dare to dodge. After being kicked to the ground, he got up and knelt down again: "My lord, this officer, I also think so, but who knows that the people below are used to it, they think that the money is stored in the treasury. , no one pays attention, as long as the military rations go with the army, this matter will be over. My lord, I have followed your orders and have been watching the grain depot. I really don’t know that they have such audacity to play money..."

Zhen Weimin's eyes popped out when he heard this, and when he got angry, he kicked again: "Is this still my mistake? Well, Feng Ming, you are still evasive. If you say you don't know, then you can let it go." This money?"

When this question was asked, Feng Shilang faltered and couldn't speak: "I'm an official, I'm an official...it's the following..."

Zhen Weimin wanted to kill someone, but Zuo Xiang slapped the table and said coldly, "Enough!"

With this move, he stunned the two of them, only to see Prime Minister Zuo staring at Feng Shilang, and asked with biting coldness: "How much did you take?"

"Ten, 10 taels..."

However, before he could finish speaking, Prime Minister Zuo picked up the teacup on the table and threw it at Feng Shilang's feet. The latter trembled with fright, closed his eyes and shouted, "20 taels!"

"Why don't you die?" Zhen Weimin roared.

But Feng Shilang was as silent as a quail.

20 taels may seem like a lot, but in fact it is not too much to be divided into their hands, not to mention that these merchants donated far more than this amount of taels!

Compared with the usual scheming of the household department, this time they only pocketed 20 yuan, which is already a loosening of the fingers and giving them face for the Lord Shangshu.

However, according to Dayan's law, one can be punished for embezzling more than one hundred taels, and tens of thousands of taels would be enough to chop off one's head.

Although this law was strictly enforced in the early days of the founding of the country, until now, it has become common for officials to be greedy and greedy, and it is only tens of thousands of taels of silver.

Those who really painted red paint at the entrance of the vegetable market because of the crime of corruption must have committed other unforgivable crimes, or caused serious consequences.

For example, the money was divided up, so that the people starved to death and left countless corpses.

Just like this time, the whole country is united to fight against the enemy and donate money, but some people put it into their own pocket regardless of the life and death of thousands of soldiers. How can the public anger be quelled if they are not hacked into pieces?

20 taels, this is life-threatening money.

"Will the money be filled within today?" At this moment, Prime Minister Zuo suddenly asked.

"But... Song Guogong has already opened the bank..." Feng Shilang flinched.

"It's not enough for one day to figure out such a huge amount. You have to check the books and find out what's missing." Zuo Xiang got up and stomped a few steps in the room, then looked down at Feng Shilang, and asked gloomily, "Or Say, you are still reluctant to take it out?"

The tone was not harsh, but it revealed extreme danger. Feng Shilang shook his head desperately: "No, no, I will give as much as I have, but...but..." Feng Shilang kowtowed hard, "But this Silver, now I can’t get it together for a while!”

If he could do it, how could he kneel here and suffer the thunderous wrath of Zuo Xiang and Shang Shu.

Zhen Weimin was stunned, and he murmured: "It was intentional, the prince must have done it on purpose, it took so long for the attack to happen, and it didn't come out until the eve of the dispatch of troops, just to catch us off guard."

They are all old fritters, and you can know the reason in a blink of an eye.

But who can blame this?

"My lord, my lord..." Seeing Zhen Weimin's pale face, Feng Shilang became even more panicked. He couldn't help but said, "My lord, you must find a way. The money has already been collected, just wait a few days, three days, It’s only three days, and I guarantee it will come out! Master Xiang!”

Feng Shilang looked at Prime Minister Zuo for help again.

The latter looked no better than Zhen Weimin, and asked, "When will you spend this dirty money?"

You're not stupid, you can't deal with it right away after the money is divided, you have to wait and see for a while, your intuition can hide it, and only when no one will pursue it can you rest assured and boldly clean up.

"Two, two days ago..."

Apparently they relaxed when the rations were loaded into the trucks on the last day without incident and the army was about to leave.

The timing was just right.

Prime Minister Zuo nodded, but said nothing more.

Feng Shilang looked at him: "Master Xiang..."

"Go, get it together as soon as possible, the old man will find a way to deal with it."

Hearing the words, Feng Shilang looked at Zhen Weimin again, but the latter hesitated to speak, but didn't say anything, just waved his hand.

Feng Shilang was apprehensive, but he had no choice but to kowtow and say, "Thank you, Mr. Xiang, thank you sir."

As soon as Feng Shilang left, Zhen Weimin asked eagerly, "Master Xiang, is there time?"

Prime Minister Zuo closed his eyes and shook his head: "Don't think about it anymore, the prince is in control of the household department's every move. It doesn't take three days, just one day, Duke Song can find the mistake."

To say this is to give up, Zhen Weimin was stunned, he is one with the Ministry of Household Affairs, even if he didn't participate this time, once the Ministry of Household Affairs goes to prison, can the past be hidden?

His mind was flustered suddenly, and Prime Minister Zuo raised his head to look at him and said: "If you want to give up, then let's give up."

These words fell into Zhen Weimin's ears. He didn't know whether Prime Minister Zuo said it to him or to himself. What exactly did he want to give up?

He didn't ask, and just left the prime minister's residence.

When Zhen Weimin left, Prime Minister Zuo sat down slumped, and his confidants carefully handed him a cup of tea.

After a while, Prime Minister Zuo said, "Forget it, I know he's not very useful."

The confidant breathed a sigh of relief: "Fortunately, you made preparations early. The prince had already thought of it when he handed over the donation of food to the household department."

Cutting off one's own arm doesn't make people happy at all, but at least it doesn't need to affect oneself.

Zuo Xiang has always done an excellent job in protecting himself.

Prince Yi's Mansion

Li Li was feeding the fish in the gazebo by the lake, Dong Lai came to him through the wind and rain corridor and said, "My lord, the owner of the Heshun Liang Company has arrived."

Heshun Grain Shop is the grain merchant who donated the most grain this time, a total of [-] shi. The owner is a shrewd little old man with a small beard. Seeing Li Li is a respectful gift.

"I have seen the prince before."

Li Li looked at him, and said straight to the point: "Master He, the carload of moldy rice that was found belongs to your family."

Master He apologized and said with a smile: "My lord, I'm really sorry, I didn't check carefully when I loaded the grain, and mixed in the moldy rice that was going to be disposed of. Fortunately, it was only a cart, otherwise I really couldn't tell! Little one When I found out, I was restless, so I immediately came to explain to the prince that I didn't deliberately pass it off as a good one, and I asked the prince to forgive me."

"If the businessmen are always so negligent, they won't be able to do it for long, right?" Li Li said lightly, "I am grateful for the donation of food, but now there are flaws in things that should be perfect, which makes people uncomfortable. .”

When Master He heard it, he was about to break out in cold sweat and said, "My lord... the villain is willing to donate another ten carts of food to make up for it. Please give the villain this chance."

Li Li was very straightforward: "Yes." Then he looked towards Donglai and told Zhu Run, "Write it in the tabloid as it is."

Master He didn't dare to say anything, he only knew that the good reputation he and Shun Liang Xing had gained so hard had been compromised after being published in the newspaper.

It's just that he didn't dare to say anything more, and he couldn't think carefully about so many carts of grain. How could he find a cart of moldy rice among them? Is it a coincidence, or...

But there is one thing, from now on, he will never dare to fool him in any way. This time when Li Li met him, he just beat him. Next time, it won't be so easy to remedy.