If the silver issue is not resolved, the One Whip Law is destined to beco a malignant policy.
Furthermore, within the Kong Mansion, there are also many hidden silvers, but these are nothing compared to the silver controlled by Southern scholars and aristocratic families.
At present, most of the world’s silver passes through mariti trade and ends up in the hands of Southern scholars and aristocratic families.
The Court controls even less silver than the Eastern Yi people on Fusang Island, because they have silver mines. It is precisely because the Eastern Yi people have silver mines that they have a lot of smuggling business with Southern families, and this is also one of the reasons why they are becoming increasingly powerful in Fusang Island.
Clearly, both Eunuch Zhao and Marquis Wuding had received the Emperor’s secret order, for they appeared in Yansheng Gong Mansion imdiately after the Court had decreed it.
To Xu Qing, the wealth of North Kong was neither here nor there; his targets were the book collections, the Saint’s Handwritten Manuscripts, and Holy Artifacts. Even if he could not obtain everything, securing a few items of his desire would make the trip worthwhile.
With Lao Zhao and Marquis Wuding involved, the matter would be easy to handle. Then, by getting through to Chen Fu, everyone could make a fortune together.
The root of the problem lies within the national system; anyone sent would be corrupt. The difference is how much the old Emperor and the National Treasury can reclaim.
The old Emperor sent Marquis Wuding and Eunuch Zhao - the implication is clear. When everyone is corrupt, these two would be sowhat better.
For one, both had made mistakes before and would thus restrain themselves to a degree; secondly, they had acquired more silver for the old Emperor than others had before.
...
...
In East Mountain Province, at a provincial tavern, large snowflakes fluttered like goose feathers amidst freezing temperatures.
Yet, inside the tavern, it was warm as spring.
This rebellion took place during the autumn and winter; who knows how many common folk were affected, even more starving or freezing to death than in previous years.
This, however, did not interfere with Xu Qing, Eunuch Zhao, and Marquis Wuding enjoying their wine.
"Brother Gongming, be frank with , just how much of the Kong Mansion’s wealth should be reported as appropriate?" Marquis Wuding asked outright.
This embezzlent also involved the Civil Servant Chen Fu.
The relationships on that side were unknown to these two lapdogs of the Emperor; they needed Xu Qing, the godson of the Grand Secretary, to step forward.
This is where they needed to rely on Xu Qing.
Indeed, in the eyes of others, Xu Qing was equivalent to the Grand Secretary’s godson, and their ties ran deep.
Do not think that being a godson is scornful; those at the level of Assistant Minister would wish to recognize the Grand Secretary as their godfather!
A small eting for significant matters.
The tone of this property confiscation operation was to be set at the small eting of the three of them today.
Despite General Yu leading a large army and triumphantly capturing the Kong Mansion, when it cos to dividing the spoils, a Military General has no say.
Xu Qing: "I believe that the wealth accounted for from the confiscation of the Kong Mansion should not be excessive."
"Oh, but how do we explain to the Lord Emperor?" Xu Qing’s words resonated with Eunuch Zhao, who also felt that the amount reported should not be too high.
As an eunuch, grasping for money is all one thinks about!
Xu Qing bowed in the direction of the Capital.
Marquis Wuding and Eunuch Zhao hurriedly followed suit in bowing.
Xu Qing: "His Majesty is a supre sage and enlightened ruler. If under his reign, the Kong Mansion is excessively wealthy, it would tarnish his enlightennt. And it would be difficult to justify to the scholars across the land. Could it be that Duke Yan Sheng, whom we all respect, is an extortionist who plunders from the common people? Could this rebellion have been caused by the Yansheng Gong Mansion’s extre exploitation of the people?"
Eunuch Zhao and Marquis Wuding’s mouths twitched, exchanging glances. Wasn’t that the truth?
You, Xu Gongming, should stick to leading the charge.
Now suddenly acting all righteous!
Xu Qing glanced at them and continued: "Brothers, let’s start with the Court’s tone regarding the suppression of this rebellion. The mastermind behind the Kong Mansion were a few clan elders in collusion with the Eastern Yi people and Northern Bandits, discontent with the Court in secret, and Tributors to the ancestral tablets of our forr dynasty. This is a grave cri of conspiracy. The fault of Duke Yan Sheng was one of oversight. But insurrection calls for clan extermination. Therefore, the whole North Kong clan must be implicated, but this does not an that all of North Kong’s guilt is as great."
He paused and then said, "Reflecting on my previous articles, I now find that they indeed contained radical views. Xu Qing, in my youthful vigor, acted impulsively; now in hindsight, I regret it. Upon my return, I will write a reflective article and publish it in the Great Ming Newspaper."
Eunuch Zhao and Marquis Wuding almost couldn’t hold it together.
But they are old hands at this and know that by letting North Kong off the hook at this ti, Xu Qing will gain the good impression of scholars across the land.
After all, that’s the way the country’s customs are, advocating for leniency and smoothing things over, sparing those who should be spared...
The problem is, you’ve almost beaten soone to death, and now you decide to forgive North Kong, is that appropriate?
But it’s hard to resist when Xu Qing has the Great Ming Newspaper as his mouthpiece and the Recovery Society cheering him on.
When soone raises a question, they will certainly assert, if Xu Jieyuan himself has forgiven North Kong, what more could you ask for?
Even the Master would forgive a young person’s mistakes, right?
It’s unlikely anyone would target North Kong, now totally powerless, against a rising political star, the Grand Secretary’s godson!
Besides, that guy can really fight.
After all, Eunuch Zhao is soone who has studied at the Ritual Departnt’s Inner Book Hall and is educated, he managed to say, "Who has not erred? To err and be able to change one’s ways, there is nothing more comndable. Brother Gongming having such realization truly carries the air of an ancient gentleman."
Marquis Wuding: "..."
Thinks I’m uneducated?
He echoed, "What Eunuch Zhao said is exactly what I was thinking."
Once the tone for this was set, they went on to discuss the determination of the Kong Mansion’s property value.
Only after coming to an understanding on this could they proceed with the asset seizure.
Don’t think the asset seizure is a simple matter; getting it wrong, more or less, both can lead to issues. One must grasp the asure and scale to account for everyone involved.
Otherwise, how to say that both Marquis Wuding and Eunuch Zhao are loyal and patriotic n? They were so focused on the important matters that their dishes went cold, and they hardly had a few warm bites.
Xu Qing looked at the Emperor’s two pillars and thought, with these two n, what worries would there be about the Great Yu Dynasty’s stability?
Later in the discussion, Xu Qing also pointed out what he wanted, saying, "I must not make things difficult for my two brothers. When the ti cos to sell these items down South, I will buy them with my own money."
Both Eunuch Zhao and Marquis Wuding were moved, such a good brother, always thinking of his older brothers.
Marquis Wuding felt even more ashad, realizing how blind he had been to oppose Mr. Xu, almost causing him harm. Fortunately, Mr. Xu is blessed by heaven, otherwise...
He could not help but slap himself, lifting his cup, "Brother Gongming, I’m a rough man, suffered a lot when I was young, so I can be immoderate in my actions. I’ll drink this cup, you do as you please..."
Words are needless when all is said in a cup of wine.
Eunuch Zhao, being ticulous by nature—a eunuch has to be, to survive in the Imperial Palace and not end up as a tyrant outside, he lifted his cup and said, "As for that Saint’s Handwritten Manuscript, in my opinion, it must be a fake, worthless. I’ll decide, sell it to Gongming for ten pieces of silver."
"The weapons fall under my jurisdiction, I heard there is a Heaven Shaking Bow in the Kong Mansion that only a Martial Arts Grandmaster could use. Such a thing has little use, and it’s very old, so when the ti cos, I’ll sell it to Gongming for five pieces of silver."
Xu Qing bowed his hands and said, "My brothers, we still have to go through the necessary procedures."
Eunuch Zhao squinted his eyes: "Of course, we set the ti and place for the official sale, and if soone is foolish enough to co in, let them leave lying down..."
His tone was chilling, deeply unsettling.
...
...
A few days passed, and not to ntion the Officials posting announcents to reassure the public, the Court was also discussing the land survey of the East Mountain Province. But in recent days, the North has been hit by continuous heavy snow. At first glance, everyone thought it was an auspicious sign, but as the snow did not stop for days, the risk of a snow disaster was imminent.
The freezing weather also intensified the montum of the Northern Barbarians’ invasions.
Moreover, the Eastern Yi people’s ships were lurking in the nearby waters off the East Mountain Province, eyeing opportunely, posing a significant threat.
Fortunately, General Yu’s deterrent power was strong, and secondly, the court quelled the disturbances quickly, so the Eastern Yi people did not find an opportunity for now. However, this was also a hidden concern.
As the imperial envoy, Chen Fu also arrived at the Yansheng Gong Mansion and t with Marquis Wuding, Eunuch Zhao, and others.
Chen Fu casually dismissed the Inner Court’s minions, ca straight to Xu Qing, and joyfully said, "Gongming, we finally et."
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