Bachelor

Chapter 462
The soldier knelt down in front of the three of them: "Old Man Yang Ge, Lord Sun, and Lord Lu, Wang Shu's property has been inspected, and the gentlemen in the accounting office have already calculated the amount."

"Okay, okay." Yang Yiqing stroked his beard and smiled, "Although 30 taels is not much, it is enough for tens of thousands of disaster-stricken people to buy seed food. Although it is already early summer, there is still time to sow seeds. This year, we should not starve to death again." people."

Lu Bing also said to himself: "Nowadays the national treasury is empty, even the inner Tibetan mansion of the Long Live Lord is empty enough to run. Last month, the eunuchs and maids in the palace were still owed the monthly payment. The majestic emperor, unexpectedly If you can't afford this expense, thinking about it, how can you not feel sad. Also, the rainy season will soon come. Yuxi Palace is dilapidated and leaking. Although His Majesty's body is already a half-immortal body, there is no way to live in such a cave. , it's time to repair it."

Yang Yiqing chuckled, and nodded to the soldier: "Then, how much is the total? It must be more accurate and not ambiguous." In fact, it is really hard to calculate an accurate figure in a short time for the work of ransacking a house. Some are overpowering.Generally speaking, the prisoner's family property includes two parts: movable property and immovable property.Real estate refers to houses, shops and land. This Wang Shu is not from Huai'an. There is only one yard here, and there are no shops or fields. This can be ignored.

Movable property includes cash, bills, jewelry and satin.Among them, the value of jewelry is greatly affected by the market, and it can only be estimated roughly to get a rough figure.

The soldier looked up and replied: "My lords, there are no jewels or jades in Wang Shu's mansion, only one thousand one hundred and twenty three taels of silver."

"What, only 1000 taels!" Yang Yiqing and Lu Bing called out at the same time.

Among them, Lu Bing was even more pale, and his body shook unnoticed.

At this moment, Zhang Cong ran over in a hurry and said loudly: "Mr. Yang, Mr. Lu, Mr. Sun, Gan Bida has already finished copying."

Yang Yiqing's eyes had already started to blur: "How much did you copy?"

A layer of cold sweat broke out on Zhang Cong's forehead: "It's only 130 taels."

"What!" Yang Yiqing and Lu Bing yelled again.

There was a "buzz!" in Lu Bing's head, his eyes went dark, and he quickly reached out to support Sun Dan's shoulders, and then stabilized his body.

Lu Bing's voice was full of crying: "Lu Bing got the imperial edict and came to Huai'an to interrogate Wang Shu and Gan Bida's embezzlement of Mohe workers' money. When he came, although His Majesty didn't say anything, Lu Bing knew that His Majesty was very serious about the inspection of Wang Shu and Gan Bida. The two of you have great expectations. Now the imperial court has to use money everywhere, and there are leaks everywhere. The moon in the palace is still counting on me, just over 1000 taels, how can I explain to His Majesty, how can I face the team 1 People from Wanduo Palace?"

In fact, all of this has long been expected by Sun Dan, which is why he promised to let Lu Bing conclude the case.When he first came to Huai'an, he had already found out the background of Wang Shu and Gan Bida with Han Yue.In fact, these two made a lot of money during their tenure.However, hands were stretched out everywhere, and they didn't keep much.

As far as Wang Shu is concerned, the clothes, shoes and hats on his body are still full of patches. It is no wonder that such a person has money.

So, where did so much money go?

The answer is about to come out.

It is impossible for this case to be concluded like this, just wait for a big storm to strike.

More than 100 million taels of silver, this is more than 100 million taels of silver, such a large amount of money, will the emperor not keep it in mind?

And Emperor Jiajing has a very unique personality, he is a person who does not rub the sand in his eyes, and has a love for money that ordinary people cannot understand.In fact, none of the kings in the middle and late Ming Dynasty did not love money.This has a lot to do with the deterioration of the central government's finances, and the emperor's family doesn't have much food left!

In recent years, Jiajing’s authority has become stronger and stronger, and the imperial power has gradually consolidated. So much money from Hecao has disappeared. Isn’t this stealing money from the emperor?

According to his personality, he will never forgive, he will definitely ask the bottom line, and dig out all the people who dealt with it.

This is also Sun Dan's overall plan.

Yang Yiqing was fine, he didn't see the expected 30 taels of silver, at worst he went back to the capital to argue with the people in the household department and reached out to the emperor.But Lu Bing was in serious trouble. In fact, he didn't have to come to this case in person.The big deal is to ask your subordinates to capture a bunch of criminals and take them back.

The reason why the emperor asked him to go out in person was to ransack the house and steal money.How can I explain to Jiajing when I just go back with nothing now?

For a moment, Lu Bing was covered in cold sweat.His eyes were red, and he kicked the soldier kneeling on the ground until his mouth was full of blood: "Impossible, impossible, it must be the thief Wang Shu who hid the silver. Yes, yes, There must be a cellar, don’t all the old Xi’er in Shanxi do this? Take me to the warehouse, even if you dig three feet, you have to find the silver.”

Most Shanxi merchants in Shanxi set up cellars to store silver in their businesses and homes. When storing silver, they also used to turn all the silver into juice and pour it into the cellar. There is nothing to do with the money.

"Yes, yes, yes, three adults, please come with the villain." The soldier stood up, wiped the blood from his mouth, and hurriedly took Sun Dan, Yang Yiqing, Zhang Cong and Lu Bing to the warehouse.

"Bang!" Lu Bing kicked open the door of the warehouse, but there was nothing in front of him.

"Xiao Luzi, there seems to be nothing." Sun Dan said softly.

"Impossible, absolutely impossible." Lu Bing shouted loudly: "Come here, bring a bucket of water!"

The two brocade guards each brought a bucket of water and poured it on the floor of the warehouse.

The water flowed wantonly on the ground, and after only a moment, it gathered in one direction, got into the gap at the corner of the west wall, and disappeared without a trace in an instant.

Lu Bing exclaimed excitedly: "This is it."

He stretched out his hand and groped in the crack of the wall for a long time, then suddenly pulled out an iron chain and pulled it hard.

"Boom!" With a sound, the west wall suddenly parted in two, revealing a secret room of about ten square meters behind.

"Sure enough, it's here." The two Jinyi guards shouted happily.

However, after seeing the situation inside clearly, the two quickly shut their mouths.

The expected silver did not appear, and the inside was still empty, with only an unpainted wooden box placed on the ground in the middle of the room.The box is not big, only one foot high and two feet long.

At this time, Lu Bing finally calmed down. He had a strong premonition that this box had a great relationship with Hegong Yinzi: "Mr. Yang, Lu Bing dare not open this box without authorization. Should I seal it immediately and send it back to the capital?" ?”

Yang Yiqing snorted: "What kind of seal is it, take it out and open it."

Zhang Cong also said: "Yang Xiang is right. The whereabouts of so much money in Hecao Yamen is unknown. If we don't find out the truth, how can we explain to His Majesty and the court?"

"Yes." Lu Bing nodded helplessly.

The box was carried out quickly, and everyone returned to the hall.

Lu Bing opened the box with trembling hands, and there were only a dozen or so ledgers inside.

Yang Yiqing didn't talk nonsense, picked up one of the books and started reading.

Sun Dan and Zhang Cong each picked up a copy and read it, and they were shocked when they saw it.

I can't remember this journal very clearly, even a three-year-old can understand it.

Among them, every account transaction is recorded, such as how much it cost to send a thousand bolts of silk and satin to Huang Jin on a certain day on a certain day in a certain year; Jade lion, how much material and labor; during the Spring Festival, how much charcoal fires in Nanjing and Beijing's major yamen...

There are so many things, the details are outrageous.It can be said that everyone has a share in the six departments plus the supervisor of rituals.

"Abacus!" Yang Yiqing yelled: "Everyone don't leave today, just reconcile accounts. Don't tell me that I can't reconcile accounts."

Soon, the abacus sounded, from noon to night, and as for late night, the numbers were finally summed up.

Lu Bing's voice became hoarse: "Old Yang Ge, I have already calculated it, a total of 180 a tael... so much money was given away by Wang Shu to buy people's hearts for him, and for his future. Serve as governor and open the way for the river."

Swallowing a mouthful of saliva, Lu Bing showed an unhealthy red color on his face: "Among them, Huang Jin got 80 taels, Zhang Guifei got 50 taels, and the other ministries and yamen divided it."

"It's tolerable!" Yang Yiqing slapped his palm on the table: "Which one can't bear!"

Tears welled up in Yang Yiqing's eyes: "The Six Departments of Beijing and Nanjing, except for a few ministers, everyone has a share. The supervisor of ceremonies also involved a palm-printing eunuch, and now, Zhang Guifei has been lured out. We really did it this time." What an errand!"

Lu Bing said anxiously: "Mr. Yang, too many people have been involved in this matter. Or... just... just..."

"Just what?" Zhang Cong knew that Sun Dan was going to use this account book to make a big fuss, so he naturally refused to let Lu Bing go, and sneered, "Could it be that Mr. Lu wants to destroy the evidence? Yes, Mr. Lu is doing this for the sake of the overall situation The most important thing is for the stability of the court. But, Zhang Cong, I would like to ask you, so much money, His Majesty will ask in the future, where do we get it? Is Master Lu going to pay for it himself? ?”

Lu Bing was so angry that his eyes were red, he glared at Zhang Cong, and it took a long time before he cursed: "Little man!"

Zhang Cong was used to being scolded all his life, so he didn't take it seriously, so he simply ignored Lu Bing and only looked at Yang Yiqing.

Only then did Sun Dan say: "Mr. Yang, I have to ask you to decide this matter."

Yang Yiqing had a fiery personality: "What nonsense are you talking about? Immediately send this box to the capital and file a case for review. At that time, instruct the Ministry of Punishment, Dali Temple, and the Procuratorate to find out the suspect according to the map, and arrest the case according to the list."

He slapped the table again: "We must not be soft on such national thieves. Why is the overall situation more important than the stability of the government? With these moths in the government, can the political situation be stabilized? Don't let any one go."

(End of this chapter)