Chapter 127 The First Cut at Xu Jie (Subscription Request)

Dongzhimen.

The breeze blew through the hall, lifting up a piece of the green robe and a piece of the red robe.

Yan Shaoting, who was dressed in a green official robe, slowly straightened up, with a smile on his face, and looked at Xu Jie, who was dressed in a bright red official robe.

Xu Jie's face was a little solemn, but his eyes were calm.

"Runwu is going to Xiyuan?"

Xu Jie asked quietly.

Yan Shaoting nodded: "Lord Xu is going to Xiyuan too?"

Xu Jie shook his head.

He explained: "There are many vacancies in Zhejiang Province this year. I will go to the Ministry of Personnel to explain that Zhejiang Province is currently suppressing the Japanese pirates, so the three government offices should select officials as soon as possible."

Yan Shaoting smiled in his heart and said, "Lord Xu has worked hard. Your Majesty has devoted himself to cultivating the Mysticism these years. Our ancestors are old. If Lord Xu were not in the cabinet, I am afraid that state affairs would become more difficult."

The cabinet cannot do without you, Lord Xu.

The Ming Dynasty cannot do without you, Lord Xu.

Yan Shaoting complimented with seemingly innocent intent.

Xu Jie shook his head repeatedly, as if he remembered something, and asked curiously, "This time, the head of Runwu is investigating the corruption of military supplies in various departments in Beijing. Now it seems that the case has been basically solved. I wonder how many people like the Ambassador of the Yizi Treasury of the Ministry of Revenue are there?"

Yan Shaoting answered truthfully: "In reply to Lord Xu, just what I have received now is shocking. Almost all the officials in the court who are involved in military supplies are not clean."

Military supplies are a big cake.

There are so many people here and there, it would be impossible for it to be clean.

If anyone is in such a situation and still dares to keep himself clean instead of blending in with the crowd, the result will probably be a few impeachment memorials and retirement.

Xu Jie snorted coldly: "You are a pest of the country, how hateful and abominable!

It has just occurred to me that it is already the middle of the year, and the cotton military uniforms and armors stored in the Yi Zi warehouse are less than one in ten. They need to be shipped to the nine borders before winter to keep the soldiers warm, and I am afraid that there will not be enough.

Have you ever found out where all the military supplies that were embezzled by the upper and lower levels went?"

Since the Hongwu period, the imperial court's supply of military supplies to the nine borders has gradually changed to multiple suppliers.

Just like military rations, the majority of them came from private merchants under the Kaizhong system, who transported food and fodder to the nine borders, while the imperial court would provide additional food and fodder needed for expeditions.

However, military equipment could only be manufactured and transported by the Military Equipment Bureau and other government offices in the imperial court.

As for cotton military uniforms and cotton armor, there are two ways to do it at the same time.

One is to directly ship the cotton produced in the cotton-producing areas to the nine borders, where the garrison troops will manufacture their own uniforms and cotton armor.

The second is that the court collected and transported cotton to the capital, where it was manufactured and then transported to the nine border areas.

The proportions vary in different regions.

But in general, for example, cotton armor was almost all made by military offices, and half of the military uniforms were woven in Beijing.

Now, less than one-tenth of the stock is left in the Yi character library, and the military uniforms and cotton armor that the nine borders can get this year are even fewer.

If the Nine Frontiers had less storage in the past, this year the soldiers of the Nine Frontiers would probably have to stay in the garrisons to keep warm.

Yan Shaoting shook his head at this moment: "We have not yet found out where the military uniforms and armors that were embezzled went. But I and my colleagues in the Jinyiwei believe that these people probably would not embezzle the military uniforms and armors.

After all, if cotton is made into military uniforms and cotton armor, even if it is used for personal gain, it will still take extra effort to turn it back into cotton."

Xu Jie's eyes sparkled, and he asked, "What do you think will happen to this matter?"

Yan Shaoting glanced at Xu Jie, who had an unchanged expression in front of him, and sneered in his heart.

Your Xu family is engaged in the largest cotton and cotton cloth business in the southeast, but you said you didn't know and asked yourself what this matter would be like.

Yan Shaoting had a helpless look on his face. He shook his head and sighed, "I think this matter was probably embezzled before it was put into the warehouse. The cotton and cotton cloth had already fallen into the hands of these people before they were made into military uniforms and cotton armor."

Seeing Yan Shaoting's speculation, Xu Jie felt relieved.

He snorted and said, "How dare they tamper with the uniforms and armor of the nine border troops? They should all be beheaded."

In fact, Xu Jie was also extremely confused.

Although the Xu family was the largest cotton and cotton cloth business in Jiangsu and Songjiang, the amount they should give to the court every year had never been short of, let alone the current situation.

Because it is not necessary.

After all, so much land in the two prefectures of Suzhou and Songjiang was not on the government's yellow book, there was no tax, and the tenants only needed to be given enough rice to fill their stomachs.

You have already earned enough, there is no need to fish out all the fish.

But now something is indeed wrong.

If Yan Shaoting were allowed to continue his in-depth investigation, the truth about the cotton and cotton cloth industries in Suzhou and Songjiang would inevitably be exposed.

Xu Jie's face was solemn: "Now the investigation is one thing, but we also have to think of ways to nourish the people. We can't let the military uniforms and padded armor sent to the border troops really run short this year.

Runwu has great talent and has always been dedicated to the country. Now that something like this has happened, it is something we don't want to see. But no matter what, we can't let the border soldiers suffer from the cold and feel chilled. In this matter, we still have to rely on Runwu and contribute more. "

This old guy actually put the blame on himself.

Yan Shaoting immediately shook his head and said, "How can I handle this matter well? I am already exhausted from investigating the corruption of military supplies in various departments in Beijing.

As for the shortage of military needs, which cannot be met this year, although I am willing, I am really powerless to do anything.

I will go to the Western Garden later and report this matter to Your Majesty. Everything will be decided by Your Majesty."

As soon as he heard that Yan Shaoting was going to report the matter to the emperor and let him make the final decision.

Xu Jie's expression suddenly changed, and he said quickly, "Absolutely not!"

The old fox finally got anxious.

Yan Shaoting pretended not to know and asked curiously, "Why did Lord Xu say that? Could it be that Lord Xu has a good plan to solve the current predicament?"

Xu Jie really wanted to say that he probably knew where the problem lay and could refill the B character library.

But you can't say this!

Otherwise, even if it is obvious that you did not do it, it will definitely become like you did it.

Xu Jie was anxious and secretly made up his mind.

Even if Yan Shaoting was not here this time, he would still investigate the matter secretly. Anyone who dared to tamper with this matter could choose a grave.

Xu Jie shook his head, looking embarrassed: "How can I do anything at this moment? It's difficult. Being an official in the court is difficult."

Yan Shaoting smiled.

In Xu Jie's suspicion.

He said, "Actually, I just thought of a way, but I don't know if it can be implemented, and whether those people are willing..."

When Xu Jie heard these words, it was like a spring of sweet water after a long drought.

Xu Jie immediately asked: "What method? Who is it? As long as it can solve the current predicament, just bring it to me, and I will do my best to help!"

bass.

Under the Dongzhi Gate, in silence, it seemed as if a knife was shown.

Yan Shaoting said, "Actually, this matter still depends on Elder Xu."

"Oh?" Xu Jie had no idea and looked confused.

Yan Shaoting explained: "I have checked the archives of the court before. Most of the cotton production in our dynasty is in the southeast, especially in Suzhou and Songjiang.

Apart from the annual taxes collected in the capital and those sent to various places, there was still a lot of surplus in the hands of private merchants and gentry.

I think if the court can issue an order, then Lord Xu can send another letter back to the village to persuade these gentry and merchants to donate their surplus cotton and cotton cloth for the court. Next year, when the court has enough, we can repay them. "

Xu Jie felt so miserable.

The two prefectures of Suzhou and Songjiang did have a lot of cotton and cotton cloth in stock, but the bulk of it belonged to the Xu family.

Isn't this just asking the Xu family to ship out this batch of goods?

But on the surface, Xu Jie could only nod and say, "What's the difficulty in this matter? As long as it can help the court out of its difficulties, I think the gentry and merchants in the southeast will be eager to donate their surplus money."

Yan Shaoting sneered in his heart.

No matter whether Old Xu is willing or not, as long as he can nod and agree to take out the goods, it would be a good thing.

He immediately said: "Lord Xu is righteous! I have repeatedly said that the court and the cabinet cannot do without Lord Xu!"

Faced with Yan Shaoting's flattery, Xu Jie showed no joy at all and just nodded casually in agreement.

But Yan Shaoting suddenly changed the subject and said, "Lord Xu, there is one more thing I should tell you about..."

"What's the matter?"

Xu Jie, who had quietly delivered a large amount of cotton and cotton cloth, frowned, fearing that more trouble would arise.

But how could Yan Shaoting let him have his wish?

Yan Shaoting spoke softly, "It's not a big deal, it's just that Hai Rui, the Censor of the Metropolitan Censorate and the Deputy Magistrate of the Southern Zhili Governor's Office, has been investigating the concealment of land in the two prefectures of Suzhou and Songjiang these days.

I heard that he has already written thirty-two memorials and is sending them to the capital. I think he will enter the city today."

Xu Jie's heart was suddenly shocked.

He finally panicked.

This matter is more serious than the situation where the inventory of the B-character library is less than one tenth.

He pretended to be calm and said casually, "There is such a thing. I didn't expect Hai Rui to find out the reason so quickly."

The old fox is quite patient.

Yan Shaoting muttered in his heart, and said: "I will go to the West Garden to report this matter to Your Majesty. At present, there are major cases of corruption in military supplies in the court, such as the long-term deficit and corruption in the Yizi Treasury.

If Hai Rui's investigation is conclusive, and Yan Maoqing, the Left Vice-Chief Censor of the Censorate, happens to be in the southeast, he can take over the case and thoroughly investigate the matter of the two governments concealing the land, and bring all the people involved to justice."

Yan Maoqing!
That tiger and wolf minion of the Censorate!
Hearing this name, Xu Jie just remembered that Yan Maoqing was actually already in the southeast.

He couldn't help but look at Yan Shaoting, with countless speculations in his mind.

Could it be that when Yan Shaoting recommended Yan Maoqing to go south to investigate the salt affairs and commercial taxes in the southeast, it was a preparation for today's investigation into the concealment of land in the two prefectures of Suzhou and Songjiang?
Xu Jie couldn't help but think of Yan Maoqing's rumored reputation.

If what Yan Shaoting said was really true, and if Yan Maoqing was allowed to investigate the land in the two prefectures of Su and Song, then the Xu family would be in real danger.

Yan Shaoting had a smile on his face.

The so-called Yi Zi Ku and the forced donation of surplus cotton and cotton cloth by the two prefectures of Suzhou and Songjiang were just preludes.

And now, there are the concealment of land areas by the two governments, Hai Rui's 32 memorials, and Yan Maoqing who is conducting a large-scale investigation of salt affairs and commercial taxes in the southeast.

This was the first blow that was actually struck at Lord Xu!

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(End of this chapter)