Daming Yuanfu

Chapter 398 Yin Goes to Guolai (Part [-])
According to the usual habit, Gao Wushi had lunch in the palace before returning to Gao Gong's University Scholars' Mansion. This was no exception today, but he arrived home half an hour later than usual.

As soon as he arrived home, a high-ranking steward of the inner palace came forward to report respectfully, saying that the master had been back for a while, and ordered his subordinates to go see him immediately after the young master came back.

Gao Wushi nodded with his expression unchanged, but he didn't dare to neglect his steps, and immediately rushed to Gao Gong's study.The door of the study room was open, but the inside was very quiet. Gao Yushi looked around and saw that there was no servant in the yard, so he didn't feel a move in his heart.

Standing at the wide open door, Gao Wushi still reached out and knocked on the door, and at the same time said: "Uncle San, I'm back."

"Come in." Gao Gong's voice immediately sounded from behind the screen.

Gao Wushi walked into the room, walked around the birch screen, and saw that Gao Gong was not sitting in front of the desk to work or write as usual, but half reclined on the grand master's chair next to the bookshelf.However, his eyes were open and bright, obviously not resting.

"Uncle San?" Gao Wushi tentatively called him.

Gao Gong didn't sit up straight, just pointed casually, and said: "Sit down and talk, tea is also available, but it should be cold."

"It's good to be cold. It's too hot today, so it's better to drink cold." Gao Yushi smiled, and said in a nonchalant way: "Actually, I can't wait to drink this tea after processing it, such as putting it in an ice cellar. Freeze it."

Gao Gong glanced at him sideways, and said in a neutral tone: "Hmph, I know that you saw that Xinzhai has expanded a lot, and the size of the ice cellar is almost as large as the ice cellar of Cheng Guogong's mansion, but I am not as good as you." You can grow hair, so you can only live with this little salary. If you feel poor, you can go to see Xinzhai to live, anyway, now that Guo Dongye lives there, I don’t worry about you relaxing your studies.”

Gao Wushi knew that Gao Gong was just teasing, so he laughed: "If Sanbo wants to use ice, just ask him to do so. Or... my nephew can help Sanbo find a house, so that the dignified Ming Yuanfu will not live in such a small courtyard. inside."

"If the mountain is not high, there will be a name if there are immortals. If the water is not deep, there will be dragons. This is a humble room, but my virtue is sweet." Gao Gong waved his hand: "It doesn't matter where I live, I am not a person who cares about pleasure anyway. , but you just said about the mansion, it reminded me of something."

"Oh? What did Sanbo say?"

Gao Gong thought for a while, and said: "When Zhang Taiyue first joined the cabinet, he changed to a university scholar's mansion. I remember that mansion was very luxurious and well-maintained. The price should be quite expensive... I wonder It's strange, when he and I were Wang Zuoguan in Yu Mansion, he once told me that his family's situation was very ordinary, and later we became officials in the Imperial Academy. Officer, the cost is still tight..."

Gao Wushi smiled slightly and said, "Third Uncle is strange, where did he get the money to buy the current Zhang University Scholars' Mansion?"

"I really doubt it." Not only did Gao Gong not hide it, but he also increased his voice, and he sat up straight, staring at Gao Wushi and said: "I know that with his status at that time, there were some people in his hometown who would contribute, but There is always a limit. It is enough to collect a few hundred taels of silver a year. I will count him 1000 taels... He has only been an official for more than ten years, and his family has no other livelihood. Is the commission paid enough to buy that house?"

Gao Wushi frowned slightly, he knew that Gao Gong was using himself to judge others, and thought that the contribution under the name of the Zhang family was similar to that of the Gao family in Henan.But in fact, Zhang Juzheng himself, like Gao Gong, did not accept other people's contributions - but this does not mean that the Zhang family did not.

The Zhang family not only has, but also has a lot of uniqueness: Zhang Juzheng's father, Zhang Wenming, accepts donations, at least calculated in tens of thousands of mu.

Of course, Gao Gong's algorithm is not a big problem in conclusion, because the land contribution, the money his Zhang family got in the end is actually not a lot, at least not enough to support Zhang Juzheng to buy the current Zhang Dashi Mansion——unless his family’s money is used for nothing but to buy this mansion.

This is of course nonsense, the Zhang family is now the richest man in the village, especially after the Longqing Dynasty, the wealth of the Zhang family in their hometown is completely snowballing and expanding day by day.

"The third uncle should know the origin of this mansion, so I won't go into details. The former minister of the Ministry of Industry sold this mansion to Mr. Zhang Ge when he became an official. This is also a common practice of old and new officials in Beijing. , but..." Gao Wushi pursed his lips.

"Just what?"

"It's just that there is something wrong with the price of this house. According to my nephew, the original valuation of this mansion should be around 9 taels, and it may be sold for 10 taels. Anyway, if it is 8 taels, it will definitely be sold." of."

Gao Gong frowned: "How much did Zhang Juzheng spend?"

As soon as Gao Wushi heard that Gao Gong began to call Zhang Juzheng by his name, he knew that Uncle San was getting angry, but he still replied calmly, "2 taels."

"Hehe..." Gao Gong smiled, but his face was ashen: "Mr. Zhang Ge's face is really valuable."

That's natural, he didn't do anything, and he directly earned 8 to [-] taels just because of his face, isn't it worth money?
"That Shao Sikong (commonly known as the servant of the Ministry of Industry), why did he give Zhang Juzheng such a big face?" Gao Gong said coldly: "I heard that he is from Suzhou Prefecture, and he can be counted as Xu Huating's township party. In addition, he has already retired, so why do Zhang Juzheng so generously?"

It stands to reason that Gao Wushi obviously shouldn't know about these "old things", but unexpectedly, Gao Gong just asked this question, and Gao Wushi replied without hesitation: "That Shao Sikong moved a sum of money from the river engineering department in the Ministry of Industry. After some work on the money, and then... Anyway, the 47 taels of He Gong's transfer of silver, in the end, the He Zong Yamen actually got a little more than 19 taels, not even 20 taels."

Gao Gong's complexion became even worse, he grabbed the armrest of the Grand Master's chair with both hands, his veins bulged, he suppressed his anger after a while, and asked, "Is there anything else?"

Gao Wushi shrugged his shoulders: "Yes, this Young Sikong worked as a salt envoy to the Shandong capital before he became the Minister of the Ministry of Industry... Other things, because it took too long, my nephew didn't figure it out, but there is one thing. One thing is certain."

"what's up?"

"My third uncle, Zhang Lipangong (Note: Zhang Siwei's third brother, Zhang Sijiao, also known as Lipan. Gao Yushi is a junior, so he can't call him by his first name), he once asked for 15 taels of silver. According to the third uncle, if you don't If you give the money, he will suspend the production of Changlu Salt Field in the name of 'or hidden production' until the 'truth comes to light'."

Gao Gong was so angry that he slapped the armrest: "Lawless! They are all big rats! Giant beetles!"

It's not his first day as an official, Gao Ge, of course he knows what kind of routine Gao Wushi said: I'll find a fault first, say that your Changlu Salt Plant is suspected of breaking the law, and then suspend business pending investigation - I don't know how long the investigation will take ?Anyway, check slowly, carefully, for the sake of the court, for the sake of justice, I will definitely find out the truth, and I will not let a bad person go, and I will not wrong a good person... As for the loss of your Changlu Salt Plant, alas, there is nothing you can do about it matter!

Unlike Gao Gong's anger, Gao Yushi's face was very calm, as if the 15 taels of silver were not given by his uncle's family.

"Why don't you speak?" Gao Gong also found that Gao's pragmatic demeanor was abnormal.

"I have nothing to say." Gao Wushi spread his hands and said, "I remember that my nephew and my third uncle talked about the 'cost' of salt merchants before. At that time, my nephew said that the salt merchants may make money quickly, or they may be extravagant. extremely, but in many cases, their 'cost' is also huge, and luxury may not really be their true nature."

Gao Gong stopped talking, he has always been quite dissatisfied with the richness of the salt merchant, but it is too difficult to move, so he has not moved yet.Of course, it is not ruled out that because of Zhang Siwei's relationship, he has never been able to find a good way to deal with it.

Shaking his head, Gao Gong decided to put this question aside first, and said, "Chen Hong personally came to the cabinet this morning to deliver Zhu's approval, and then met with me...you might as well guess what he wants to do?"

Gao Wushi smiled: "There's no need to guess, he just found me, his nephew."

"Oh?" Gao Gong's face changed: "What did you say?"

"Probably the same thing as what he and Sanbo said - he is going to recommend Mr. Guo and Mr. Qifu to the emperor."

Gao Gong narrowed his eyes slightly: "What do you think of his intentions?"

Gao Wushi smiled, but there was a sarcasm on the corner of his mouth: "He found himself in a dangerous situation, as if walking on a single-plank bridge. Looking to the left, he saw clouds and mountains and fog, and looking to the right, there were also clouds and mountains and fogs. Either way could be a cliff... But, If you don’t decide on left or right, the single-plank bridge will sway and it will collapse.”

After Gao Gong listened, he laughed.

　Well, I picked up two small foreshadowings from a long time ago. I am very happy^_^ In addition, I would like to thank the book friend "The Third Subjugation 1" for the reward, thank you!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)