bayedsolid Chapter 338 Decentralization and calculation!
Chapter 338 Decentralization and calculation!
"Your Majesty, I am wronged, wronged!"
As Chen Guowei cried out for justice, two imperial guards dragged him out of the hall.
The emperor's face was extremely gloomy.
Unexpectedly, the culprit for the deficit of the Great Chu State was actually the Minister of Revenue.
The furious emperor pointed at Chen Guowei outside the palace and angrily shouted, "You stole from the public! You stole from the public!"
Ling Haoran and Zhao Ming didn't dare to speak, for fear of angering the emperor.
But Chu Ning said calmly at this time: "Father, Chen Guowei alone cannot be the one who robbed the company. The Ministry of Revenue officials also said in their confession that Chen Guowei colluded with the Ministry of Revenue officials to accomplish this."
The angry emperor's eyes turned cold: "Retreat, investigate this matter thoroughly for me, and make sure all the silver that was taken out of the treasury is recovered!"
Turning to look at Chu Ning, the emperor said coldly: "I leave this matter to you. I don't care what method you use. I just want money."
The sum of money amassed over the years is an astronomical figure, and it must be handed over to someone with courage.
There is no doubt that Chu Ning is the most suitable candidate.
The forces in the court are complicated and intertwined. Other people are more or less involved with the aristocratic families. Only Chu Ning is at odds with the aristocratic families.
Leave it to Chu Ning to handle, don't consider any personal relationships.
Chu Ning's face straightened, and he said in a deep voice: "Father, your son has asked me to recover the silver, and I dare not disobey you. However, this matter is of great importance, so please give me some authority."
If you want the horse to run, you must give it some grass to eat.
The emperor made up his mind and said solemnly: "I appoint you as the Chief Censor, supervising all officials and fully responsible for investigating the deficit of the Ministry of Revenue. You have the power to execute first and report later!"
After he finished speaking, the emperor took off the jade pendant from his waist and handed it over, his face full of murderous intent: "If anyone in the court dares to stop you from investigating this case, they will be arrested!"
"Yes!" Chu Ning took the jade pendant respectfully.
The emperor turned to look at Ling Haoran and ordered: "The Ministry of Justice will cooperate with Chu Ning to investigate this matter."
"Wei Chen accepts the order!"
The emperor waved his hand and said, "Alright, you can leave now and get the silver back to me as quickly as possible."
"Your son (minister) takes his leave!" Chu Ning and Ling Haoran bowed and left.
The emperor looked at the two men's departing backs, and the anger on his face gradually disappeared.
"Shadow Guard!"
"I'm here!" In the darkness of the hall, the shadow guard appeared silently.
The emperor put his hands behind his back and asked in a cold voice, "Did Chu Ning really not torture officials from the Ministry of Revenue when he was in the Ministry of Justice?"
The shadow guard shook his head and quickly recounted what happened in the Ministry of Justice.
"Your Majesty, the Prince of Chu first killed Xie Shan to establish his authority, and then killed the officials who were unwilling to write confessions, leaving some weak bones. I believe he has expected that you will thoroughly investigate the Ministry of Revenue, so he deliberately left them alive."
The emperor nodded slightly at the shadow guard's words, narrowed his eyes and sneered, "Good boy, you even took me into account!"
"but……"
The emperor had a playful look on his face: "If he can really recover the money for me, what does it matter if he uses me for a while?"
"Zhao Ming!"
"The old slave is here!"
"Send an order to have Liu Shouren, the assistant minister of the Ministry of Revenue, temporarily serve as the Minister of Revenue. If Chu Ning can really recover the silver, he will be the Minister of Revenue."
The emperor raised his lips slightly and said calmly: "Tell Liu Shouren to calculate how much silver is needed to build my mausoleum. Once Chu Ning recovers the silver, it will be used to build the mausoleum first."
Zhao Ming quickly bowed and said, "I will go and pass on the order."
Looking at Zhao Ming's departing back, the emperor felt satisfied.
My mausoleum must be unique, surpassing that of any emperor in history.
Only in this way can I demonstrate my status.
As for why Liu Shouren was brought up, it was of course because he was Chu Ning's man.
What's more, now that all the officials of the Ministry of Revenue have been purged, there are not many people who can be used. Liu Shouren, as the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, is familiar with the affairs of the Ministry of Revenue, so naturally he will give priority to this person.
Of course, if Chu Ning is unable to recover the silver, then someone else will have to be chosen as the Minister of Revenue.
Besides, Liu Shouren is a decent person and will not go against my wishes, so there won't be any big problems in letting him build the mausoleum.
Just as the emperor was fantasizing about Liu Shouren building a mausoleum for him, Chu Ning and Ling Haoran had already arrived outside the palace.
"Your Highness, Prince Chu, I wonder how you plan to recover the silver next?"
Ling Haoran knew the character of the wealthy families very well. It was easy for them to take money, but it was harder than climbing to the sky to make them return the money.
What's more, this matter concerns all the wealthy families. Ling Haoran doesn't want to offend these people, so everything can only be based on Chu Ning's wishes.
Chu Ning glanced at Ling Haoran, and a sly smile appeared on the corner of his mouth: "Why, Lord Ling is scared? Could it be that your Ling family is also involved in this matter?"
Ling Haoran's face changed: "This... Your Highness Prince Chu, don't joke."
The Ling family is also one of the aristocratic families, but the one in charge now is not Ling Haoran, but his elder brother.
As the Minister of Justice, Ling Haoran, an upright person, never got involved in the affairs of the Ling family.
But facing Chu Ning's question, Ling Haoran naturally denied it.
Chu Ning looked at the nervous Ling Haoran with a playful look and chuckled, "Lord Ling, there is no need to be like this. I was just joking."
Ling Haoran's mouth twitched.
God knows whether you are joking or testing me on purpose.
Everyone in Kyoto City knows that you, the King of Chu, are full of tricks, so who would dare to respond to you easily?
"Okay, let's get down to business!"
Chu Ning changed the subject, narrowed his eyes, and a cold light flashed across them: "This time the Ministry of Revenue affair involves all the aristocratic families. Once it gets serious, these people will definitely rebel.
Therefore, I will not use thundering methods against them right away. I will send out invitations tonight, inviting all the wealthy families to come to the palace tomorrow to discuss this matter.
If you are willing to hand over the silver you have obtained, I and the court will forgive you for what happened, but if you are stubborn, then I will be ruthless!"
As he spoke, Chu Ning took out the jade pendant given by the emperor with his right hand.
The murderous intent in his words made Ling Haoran shudder.
It seems that the wealthy and powerful families are in trouble this time.
If any other prince or official investigated the matter, it would most likely be left unresolved. However, the relationship between the King of Chu and the aristocratic families was like hostility, so how could he miss this opportunity?
Perhaps the King of Chu is hoping that the wealthy family will refuse to return the silver so that he can kill someone.
Thinking of this, Ling Haoran sighed and said, "Since Your Highness has a plan, if you need me for anything, please feel free to ask."
Chu Ning chuckled, looked at Ling Haoran deeply, and whispered, "There is indeed something that I need Lord Ling's help with."
Under Ling Haoran's surprised eyes, Chu Ning leaned over and whispered his plan in his ear.
Ling Haoran's face changed drastically after hearing this: "Your Highness, this..."
"Why, Lord Ling is unwilling?" Chu Ning sneered, "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, Lord Ling, you must consider it carefully."
Ling Haoran hesitated for a moment, then smiled bitterly: "Tomorrow, I will act according to your plan."