Clam Pearl

Gu Zhao read the account in class, not only read Pingzhou's half-year tax entry into the account, but also read the amount and time of the Ministry of Households' payment to Pingzhou in the first half of the year.These accounts sound simple, but if you calculate carefully, the entry in Guangpingzhou County is enough for the sporadic expenditures of the major yamen, but now the Ministry of Households still withholds the funds of each yamen.

Among the first-class notes, there are still a hundred and ten that have not been processed yet.After Gu Zhao finished reading, he put away the pamphlet and submitted it with both hands. Sun Xi nodded when he saw it, and hurried down to take the booklet and submitted it.

Emperor Tiancheng flipped through the pamphlet, and with a smile on his face, he first sized up the courtiers who were discussing a lot, and then said: "Last year, I remembered that there was a severe drought in Luo County, and I repeatedly allocated funds from the Ministry of Households. After two decrees, Aiqing kept saying that she had no money. At that time, she was really poor. After going back and forth for three months, the Ministry of Household Affairs allocated one-tenth of the money to the relief. However, the replanting was already missed. Countless people died of starvation in Luo County."

Zuo Shi's face turned pale, he lifted his robe and fell to his knees, saying: "The minister is guilty."

Today smiled and said: "It's not your fault, it's my incompetence. If I can save a big treasury for the world, then... no matter what disasters, the people will not be affected here. Aiqing, don't panic. At that time, the Ministry of Household Affairs No money, this is a clear thing, and I can’t blame you. Now I only ask, your household department has money now, why do you still want to withhold the money from the Qianding Division?”

Zuo Shi returned: "Your Majesty, the Ministry of Households has had rules over the years, and there are regulations for the use of money everywhere. There must be no mistakes in the payment of money. Just like the salaries of ministers and others. Salaries and salaries are not the same, so pay the doctor's As for Lu Mi, many officials in central Beijing don’t cultivate lu fields, so ministers have to consider where to transfer them from official warehouses, or directly allocate warehouses around Shangjing. The situation of the local official warehouses, if not checked for a while, will lead to complaints from all the officials.

Among them, there are so many things that need to be handled one by one.In addition, the terms of each yamen are divided into four classes, A, B, C, D... Depending on which class of note, thousands of them are piled up there.Under the household department, there are only one or two hundred small officials, and the matter of magic is a semi-infallible thing. No one can use it in the hands of the ministers, but there is nothing they can do.

Mr. Gu's matter is already top-notch, so it is urgent.The minister also couldn't help it, and things had to be done one by one, that is, the money was put into the warehouse, and it took time from counting to getting out of the warehouse and then issuing according to the note.Mr. Gu was at a loss for what he said, but there was so much money in the account of the household department, which was enough to distribute, but after each one was handled, he had to follow the regulations. Households everywhere are in urgent need of..."

Jinshang suddenly waved his hand and interrupted Zuo Shi, he said: "I know those things, you don't have to say it again! I won't say you are wrong." Having said that, Emperor Tiancheng turned to look at Gu Zhaodao: "Gu Qing, You see, Mr. Zuo has difficulties, although you are wronged by this matter, you can't blame him."

Gu Zhao smiled and said, "Your Majesty, I have never blamed Lord Zuo, who has no difficulties, I understand. But... now I have something to report, I hope Your Majesty will approve it."

Imam curious and said: "Tell me and listen."

After taking a squinting glance at Zuo Shi, Gu Zhao turned his face to Jin Shang and said, "Your Majesty, I dare to dare you to work with Mr. Zuo's household department to compare the speed of handling things with Mr. Zuo on the receipt and payment of accounts in various places this year. My lord is so difficult, I don't know how much I have suffered and how much wronged I have suffered, but now I have achieved two things in one thing, since what Master Zuo said is so difficult, I don't believe it.

No, let's compare the ability of this account... When Wan Ruochen loses, there is nothing to say.At that time, who will dare to say that Mr. Zuo is making things difficult?If there are still people who are wordy, don't wait for others to say, the minister will be the first to jump up and refuse, right, Mr. Zuo? "

Mr. Zuo sneered, and didn't want to say another word to this stupid man.Isn't it just digging a cover for yourself by being so wordy for a long time?He saw the Ministry of Households as really simple, and now he just relied on the holy order without saying a word.

Yo, this is interesting, now there are still people who dare to compete with Qian Chuanzi from the household department?As soon as Gu Yan heard it, he knew that brother had committed a donkey temper, so he yelled angrily, "Gu Zhao, you...don't talk nonsense!"

Gu Zhao rolled his eyes at his elder brother and said, "Brother, why are you so anxious, if this official is wrong, you can still starve me?"

Gu Yan thought about it, and replied seriously: "That's not possible, the family does not lack your ideas. You have to be obedient, this matter is too much. Hurry up and plead guilty to the emperor, will you be an official? "

Gu Zhao had no choice but to turn his head away from his brother.The old ministers below didn't shy away from it, and covered their mouths and laughed.Hey, that's how the old Gu's family is doing.When doing things, I still think about it and think about it. Hey, it’s not good to have too many brothers, it’s always a problem.

Gu Zhao bowed to the top and said: "Your Majesty, it won't take much time for you... In just one afternoon, I just can't figure out why the head of a large country, the head of a country, is so messed up because of hundreds of pieces of money. I am a footman in the yamen, and my old mother will starve to death. If this is the case, I would like to be dismissed and return home, and I will never be involved in political affairs again. Thinking about it, I will be suitable to be a dude and eat my old stuff."

Looking at Gu Yan and then at Gu Zhao, he shook his head helplessly and said, "Gu Qing's family really wants to compare?"

Gu Zhao nodded resolutely: "How dare I speak nonsense, I have to compare."

Zuo Shi sneered at the side: "I don't know that Mr. Gu has made a plan now, how many old accountants have been invited?"

Gu Zhao scratched his head and smiled, "What are you doing, please? At the beginning of the year, didn't you borrow about [-] students from the Knives and Pens Department? If you know how to count, let them do it.”

When Zuo Shi heard it, he felt that the competition had damaged his identity even more.Helpless, he had no choice but to look at Imaka, and said nothing.It means, you should be judged!The minister has no opinion.

It may have been boring for a long time today, but now I am a little excited, so I don't act as serious as usual.He even looked down excitedly.

At this moment, no one said anything in the court. Since ancient times, the Ministry of Officials and the Ministry of Households have been yamen that no one dares to provoke.Which of the officers below has never been angered there!Regardless of the personal relationship, it's not a day or two that the people below suffer from the uselessness.So, it was vaguely obvious that the officials in the hall were a little excited, let's compare, it's good to watch the excitement!Mr. Gu is right. It’s just a few hundred pennies. I don’t know how much face I have to look at in private. It’s not your money from the household department. Why!

So, it was very strange, except for a few who said no, it was too child's play, all the officials in the court pretended to be deaf and dumb at once.It's lively, everyone wants to read it, usually the old three articles are annoying, now someone is looking for something new, and everyone is just a few idle articles, just watch it, anyway, it's none of your business.

Emperor Tian Cheng looked at the book in his hand, laughed a few times and said, "Forget it, Zuo Qing's family."

Zuo Shi said, "The minister is here."

Emperor Tiancheng pointed at Gu Zhao and said, "You dare to fight, the Gu Qing family wants to compare your ability to settle accounts with you."

Zuo Shi smiled slightly, and raised his voice: "Why don't you dare, I will fight, but I am afraid that Mr. Gu will lose, and then he will say other fallacies. At that time! I am really speechless."

Gu Zhao jumped up, pointed at Zuo Shi and said, "You're talking nonsense, my Gu family has no one who won't admit to losing!" After speaking, he tilted his chin to his brother: "That's right, brother!"

Gu Yan had a headache, covered his head and hummed a few times, his little brother, hey, don't mention it!

Looking outside the palace today, he felt that the weather is really good today, so he also became interested, smiled and said: "Forget it, your family has worked hard for the country for many years, and they have spent a lot of time in order to save the palace. If you don’t have a banquet, it’s not like my treat today..."

"Hold on, Your Majesty!" Then Gu Zhao suddenly jumped up again.

Gu Yan covered his head, he really wanted to die.

Emperor Tian Cheng was also helpless, he had no choice but to argue with this idiot, so he held back his temper and said with a smile: "The Qing family don't want to compare?"

Gu Zhao repeatedly shook his head and said: "Your Majesty, since the matter is caused by our secretary Ding, how can you use your Majesty's private account? We all know that your family is paying for it yourself. There are at least two hundred people here. Once the banquet is set up, then... the second half of the year can't make girls eat chaff, right?

Embarrassed on Emperor Tiancheng's face, Sun Xi almost burst out laughing, but managed to hold back.

Gu Zhao continued to babble: "My lord, I dare to say, today's meal, the minister's Qian Ding Si came out, although the money here has not yet arrived, but the minister can advance a little first, my lords, please taste the name of our Qian Ding Si." Qin, thin-skinned meat buns with big stuffing! If you talk about buns, I'm not boasting, they taste really good, right... General Li! You ate them that day!" Gu Zhao suddenly turned to General Li Zhai yelled.

General Li Zhai blushed and turned his face away to ignore him. The ministers below burst into laughter. At this moment, everyone suddenly felt that it was quite cute to have this one in front of him.Besides, tsk tsk, the long one is also very eye-catching, the old Gu family, if they don't speak, they are all first-class characters, but it's a pity that their mouth is transformed into a hooligan, it's really not as good as the grade.

Tiancheng Emperor Long Xinyue nodded and said: "Okay, today we will eat your Qiandingsi, the big buns with thin skin and big stuffing, let them go first, and all the ministers and workers should also take a break. Go!"

Give an order today, then retreat with a bang, and now there are people who can't hold back in the upper court, and they all hide a small tiger by their side to catch urine in their sleeves.Caijiang couldn't hold back for a long time, and just released people today, all the ministers rushed out to find a bunker, no matter what, let's solve it and talk about other things.

Not long after, the courtyard outside the hall spread out, and those who lifted the tables and placed the chairs were in order.

Zhuang Chengxiu sat at a table and ate Qian Dingsi's buns.The buns are hot and the egg soup is delicious.Now all the officials below the fourth rank standing in court have been sent back, and watching the excitement also requires social class.Even so, there are still more than a hundred courtiers sitting in the courtyard, all of them biting buns, gossiping excitedly.

This steamed stuffed bun has already been prepared, right?Making steamed buns for more than a hundred people at once, what did Gu Zhao discuss with Imam in private?Suppress the household department?Just relying on an insignificant game?Why didn't you discuss such a big matter with yourself today?Zhuang Chengxiu couldn't help thinking about it. He looked at Gu Zhao who was standing in the courtyard with his sleeves tied up, watching the students busy and silent, and he couldn't help thinking more.This person...has never been a showman, but now he has climbed up at some point. This is not a good thing for him, Zhuang Xiucheng.

Zhuang Chengxiu bit the bun and looked at the other side.The doctor named Fu Ji and a group of young students were throwing poles in the courtyard.Next to Qian Dingsi are a group of small officials from the Ministry of Households, especially old accountants with many years of experience.

The old accountants looked curiously at the busy work of the students of Qianding Division. They saw that they had set up the poles and tied a few zigzag loops on the poles. What did they do?Does it have anything to do with half the money in the accounts?So, the disdainful eyes showed without any scruples.

At about three moments, the officials had enough to eat and put down their food utensils one after another. The eunuchs in the palace quickly put away the utensils, lifted the tables, and all brought out the prepared low couches and arranged them in the courtyard outside the palace.All the officials were conscious and sat down one by one according to their grades.

At this time, the students from the Ministry of Household Affairs and Qianding Division had already sat down, and the case in front of them was also covered with paper, pen and ink, and abacus.

Emperor Tian Cheng sat on the highest place outside the hall, looked down at the two officials who were standing below and said: "Just now I discussed with a few elders, for the sake of fairness, I don't need this year's new account, even if it is a miscellaneous account for nine years granted by heaven. .

First, there is an answer behind the account, and later there is a result, and it is clear at a glance with only a pair of numbers.Secondly, in the nine years of Tianshou, there were many man-made disasters in Tianzhai, and the declaration clauses in various places were cumbersome, and the household department had no money that year.Therefore, there was a lawsuit, and it was more than a year of tossing in the household department. Coincidentally, there were two copies of the process accounts, which was a bit difficult.After a while you wait from January [-] of the year, from the [-]th of the Shenshi to the [-]rd of the Shenshi, and finally the settlement result and the answer shall prevail.Do the two gentlemen have any opinions? "

Zuo Shi and Gu Zhao looked at each other, raised their hands together and returned to nothing.

Emperor Tiancheng nodded, and then with a wave of his hand, dozens of eunuchs pushed the messenger carts and pulled the bamboo scrolls into the courtyard, separating the two sides.

At the moment of Shen Shi, Emperor Tiancheng nodded, and Sun Xi stood there and shouted: "Let's count!"

Immediately, the people on both sides began to work quickly.

The old officials on the side of the household department are familiar with the hands. As soon as the shouts from the other side fell, they got up one after another, and according to their own abilities, they took more than ten to twenty volumes of account books and put them into their own account books. The seats began to be counted quickly, and for a while, the crisp sound of the abacus above the courtyard crackled.

The people on Qian Dingsi's side were very strange. Most of them didn't move. They just stood up and walked to the front of the car and began to classify them.Those who send out the account choose the scroll for the account, those who receive the account choose the scroll for the account, and those who divert the account choose the scroll for the diversion, and the scroll for applying for money is taken away by the last row of people.

It took half an hour for the four of them to divide the paper.

Gu Yan looked at the sun and sighed in his heart, forget it, just watch the fun.Look at this momentum, it's still more reliable for the Ministry of Finance.He looked sideways at his little brother, feeling vaguely in his heart that this matter is not very simple, he wanted to see his brother take a big shot, but, looking at this, maybe the little brother is going to lose this time, right?Hey, I'm a little bit reconciled.

Gu Zhao felt that someone was watching him from behind, so he knew who it was. He turned his head and gave his brother a slight smile, then continued to look at those students.It seems that he has a well-thought-out look.

Zhuang Chengxiu looked around and quickly found Yunliang in the crowd.Master Yun has a deep friendship with him, like a brother, and even had a colleague with Gu Zhao.Seeing Zhuang Chengxiu looking at himself, Yunliang knew what he wanted to ask without needing to explain, so he shook his head slightly, expressing that he didn't know much about Gu Zhao, and even didn't know much about this matter.Zhuang Chengxiu was a little disappointed.

Finally, the first student in Qianding Division spread out a volume and began to read the account. While reading, he wrote something. After finishing writing, he took out an iron clip from the basket under the table and put a few receipts in front of him. Hang it on the rope and give it away.The clip immediately came to the second student.

Accounting offices of the household department are also graded, so there are difficult places that cannot be classified in the accounts.The accountant would get up, pick up the scroll and come behind him to ask the boss, who read the account and gave them instructions before they could continue the calculation.Therefore, low whispers were added to the voice of the abacus from the household department.

At Qianding Division, not every student has to clatter with their abacus. Some of them hold the account book and mutter something. After reading, they write and draw in front of them. Send it behind.

After the calculation, the bills were distinguished by color, yellow, blue, and white.In the end, the yellow bills were sent to the last place.There, five young students reached out and took down the list in front of them, and after reading it, they quickly gave their opinions on how to deal with it, wrote their opinions under the entry, and finally sent the ledger to the last two people.The two people spread out the bound book in front of them, and began to add some numbers in the drawn grid according to the year, month, day, place, and number.Finally sent to Fu Ji.

Fu Ji got the ledger and began to look through it slowly. He had learned mental arithmetic from Gu Zhao for many years, so the speed of reading the ledger was very fast. After reading a book, he took out the seal of Qian Dingsi, snap!a cover.

Time passed slowly, and soon it was the third quarter of Shen Shi.When the time came, Sun Xi nodded to the head official, and the head official shouted: "The time has come! Stop counting!"

Immediately, the people on the field stopped their hands and feet and sat there to rest.

At this time, the Ministry of Households had already completed a whole truckload of general volumes, and now the account reform has been included in the paper books. The stacked account books on their side were as thick as half a person, compared to Qian Ding Sina There are more than ten thin volumes of bills on the head, which looks overwhelming.For a moment, it seemed that the outcome was clear.

"Submit it!" Sun Xi shouted again.

So Fu Ji brought more than ten books of account books and came up to the top with the two old officials from the household department.

After communicating with their subordinates, the supervisors of both parties went to the Holy One to report the accounts together.

Zuo Shi said with some pride: "Report to the Holy Majesty, the 20 people in our household department count from January [-], the ninth year of Tianshou to April of that year. The first-class accounts will be completed on February [-]th, and the second-class accounts will be completed on April [-]rd." On that day, the accounts of Class D have not yet started to be combined. Among them, the Class A declaration bills of the year have been spent for two months."

Gu Zhao held up a pamphlet and also reported: "Report to the Holy Majesty, I moved Ding Division to calculate the accounts from January [-], the ninth year of Tianshou to April [-] of that year. There is no classification. All kinds of accounts have been calculated and included in the expenditure. The results have been made."

"What?" Zuo Shi Zuo suddenly exclaimed, and then begged to shut up, he didn't believe it at all, just relying on the brat over there?Just based on this weird method, he was able to see some signs just now. Indeed, that did save time in the process, but accounts are accounts, and that is not a simple method, which can save a lot of accounts.He didn't believe it.

Zuo Shi didn't believe it, so there was a lot of discussion below.After Sun Xi called out the silence, he said: "I haven't read the results yet, the two Qing families exchanged accounts, and you can check the results one by one after reading the results here."

Zuo Shi and Gu Zhao glanced at each other, Gu Zhao smiled, handed over a dozen books of account books in his hand, and brought back the account books of the household department. Not long after, an eunuch took them from the case table beside him. Gao Tianshou's nine-year accounts were read.

Zuo Shi opened Gu Zhao's account book, and after a brief look, his eyes lit up. Gu Zhao's account book is not a single flow, but a detailed record, and it is clear at a glance that it includes expenses. It is different from the account book of the Ministry of Accounts. Yes, there is no priority here, no explanation of how to deal with first-class accounts.It was the first time for Zuo Shi to see such a clean account in his two dynasties when he was the head of the household department, and he felt all sorts of feelings in his heart for a while. If he looked at it this way, he would have to talk about his affairs today.

Lord Jinshan sat on the eaves of the distant palace, feeling all sorts of feelings in his heart. Today he rented and sold five disciples and grandchildren to Gu Zhao for ten years at a price of one hundred gold each.

Hey, I don't know what he was thinking, anyway, he was fooled by that kid because he was confused!That villain is black-hearted, born with the seeds of calculation, whoever falls into his hands will not be able to do well, that guy from the household department is a fool, he jumps into the pit when he sees others burying it?

That day he flew out from the county mansion, and when he returned to his residence, he became more and more angry with his thoughts, so he sought out Gu Zhao several times in private. What a big fool, first he lost hundreds of years of ration land to Jinshan for a few strange calculation formulas, and then he lost his grandson to Gu Zhao for 15 years because of a prescription of white sugar.

Yesterday, his grandson found him and said that the county magistrate wanted to rent someone out. Now that Jinshan ration land is gone and there are mouths to eat everywhere, he had no choice but to rent out five disciples and grandchildren for a hundred gold each.

Now seeing his disciple and grandson mingling in the crowd wearing the clothes of the servants of Qianding Division, Master Jinshan felt very sad. The more he thought about it, the more angry he became. At the end of the day, he stood up abruptly, thinking in his heart that he would never I'm going to be fooled by that guy.

Tomorrow he will spend a lot of money to sell golden swords at the gate of the palace, but he dare not say anything to Gu Zhao. Anyway, the prestige of the descendants of Jinshan is there. Zhao calculated their private accounts!

Thinking of this, Lord Jinshan stomped his feet and smashed two glazed tiles of the palace, and then flew away again...