Chapter 405 Financial Report for the rd Year of Jiajing
Ma Fang finally passed the test in front of the emperor.

The emperor got what he wanted, and Ma Fang also got a new guarantee.

Although he would have to make great changes and adjustments in the years to come, after much thought, the brave veteran who had guarded the border for many years felt that it was an acceptable compromise.

At least the emperor did not completely ignore himself and only wanted to use himself to achieve his goal of strengthening his imperial authority. In the process, he also gave himself expectations and guarantees for the future.

Otherwise, the emperor would not have explicitly asked him to go to Changping Academy to meet the dean Zhu.

Politics has always been like this.

What happened this time, in the final analysis, is no different from whether one person dies or ten thousand people die.

The emperor's will determines the nature of the incident, whether one person or ten thousand people died.

Now, this year, three Mongolian armies stormed Xuanfu Town, and another ambush sneaked into the capital area. The emperor has characterized this incident as an event in which only one person died.

Pass it yourself.

The emperor benefits.

It’s time to take a good trip to the court.

So after leaving Xiyuan, Ma Fang, with the intention of leaving the city for Changping this morning, hurried to Wenyuan Pavilion without stopping.

As for what kind of conversation took place between Xuanfu Town General Ma Fang and the cabinet elders in the cabinet classroom, outsiders naturally had no way of knowing.

After all, before Ma Fang arrived, Eunuch Lu from Xiyuan came in person.

However, there were some people who were careful and noticed that General Ma's expression was exactly the same when he came and when he left that day, without any change.

The fact that there are no changes is not a bad thing, but everything is as expected.

On the contrary, after leaving the yamen, the faces of two ministers were not very good.

Of course, these are all things that can only be speculated in one's mind, and no one dares to say such things openly.

As for Ma Fang who left Wenyuan Pavilion, he then went to the Ministry of Personnel, then the Ministry of War, the Ministry of Revenue, and the Censorate in order.

Going to the Ministry of Personnel is something that all officials who return to Beijing to report on their work have to do.

Going to the Ministry of War is a must for military officers. Ma Fang also needs to explain to the court regarding Xuanfu’s side of the Xuanfu incident in front of the Ministry of War after meeting the emperor.

Of course, Yang Bo nodded in agreement to everything Ma Fang said and did not raise any objections.

Then came the Ministry of Revenue and the Censorate, which were purely auditing places. The extra 300,000 taels of money and grain allocated by the court at the beginning of the year were not washed away by the flood. Ma Fang, the general who received the benefits, still had to prove that he had not embezzled money and ensure that no one under his command cheated.

But in general, after the news spread from Xiyuan that the emperor had treated Ma Fang and Xuanfu Town with leniency this time, he basically did not make things too difficult for Ma Fang, the general who returned from Xuanfu Town.

After finishing the work in the court.

The next day, Ma Fang finally reported the emperor's letter to the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of War respectively, and then led his men out of the city to Changping.

No one dared to comment on the emperor's oral order.

Zhu Zaigui also understood what he meant. It was obvious that his father, the emperor, had already begun paving the way for him in the past two years.

Let Ma Fang come to see me.

Zhu Zaigui could easily see that this was the emperor setting up his own team.

After the conversation, Ma Fang naturally tried his best to maintain the attitude of defending the country to the death and being loyal to the Ming royal family, and at the same time expressed the utmost respect for His Royal Highness Prince Yu, who was passionate about education.

Zhu Zaigui was no longer the kind of person who stayed in Prince Yu's mansion all day long. He responded calmly and did not say much about the Mongolian invasion this time. He only said that if he had the chance, he would definitely go to Xuanfu to see the magnificent border of the Ming Dynasty.

This was already a test.

These were the explicit instructions and commands given by his father, the emperor, when he asked Ma Fang to come to Changping.

The only adult prince remaining in Beijing, the unnamed but real crown prince of the Eastern Palace, and the only candidate for the future new emperor of the Ming Empire.

Zhu Zaigui's words were undoubtedly a question about Ma Fang's loyalty to him and whether he could control the 100,000 troops in Xuanfu Town in the future.

Ma Fang collected his thoughts instantly, with a smile on his face: "If Your Highness has the opportunity, I will personally lead the troops to escort Your Highness to inspect the thousand-mile border wall of Xuanfu."

This statement is quite standard and also shows the attitude.

Zhu Zaigui was the only choice at the moment, so he could not leave the capital at will. But if he could get the emperor's order to go out of the capital to patrol the border, Ma Fang would naturally lead the troops to accompany him.

Given this attitude, Zhu Zaigui naturally had a smile on his face.

At this time, Ma Fang smiled and changed the subject, "This time, I am also able to return to the capital to report on my duties by order of the emperor, and I have come to Changping to meet Your Highness with His Majesty's order. On my way back to the capital, I learned that the Mongolian bandits were invading and approaching the capital. It was all thanks to Your Highness and that guest Yan who swore to stand with Changping and led the Changping civilian troops and the people to defeat the invading enemy army..."

Zhu Zaigui had a smile on his face. How could he not understand what Ma Fang said?
He immediately asked with a smile: "General Ma wants to take this opportunity to meet Master Yan today?"

Ma Fang smiled dryly and nodded: "I have heard that Guest Yan has good ways of governing the people. The trend of reform and innovation is in full swing in the court. I think if I can... the people living on the border of Xuanfu may have a better life."

This is half true and half false.

Zhu Zaiqi did not point it out, but just smiled and said: "General, just go and look for it. It just so happens that I have a class to teach students in a few moments, so it is not appropriate for me to accompany you any longer."

Ma Fang immediately bowed and stood up.

He said thank you and then slowly retreated.

Looking at Ma Fang's departing back, Zhu Zaigui smiled faintly, put his arms on the armrests of the chair, and clenched his fists and slowly turned them.

Ma Fang, who had left Zhu Zaigui, asked several people in the academy before finally finding out that the Lord Xiao Yan, whom he had longed to meet, had actually returned to Beijing.

Outside the academy.

Ma Fang looked at the square in front of him, thinking about the long-missing Elder Xiao Yan who almost passed by him, and couldn't help feeling disappointed and helpless.

They are all old foxes who have been in the officialdom for many years, so how could Ma Fang not understand?

This person is hiding from me.

He couldn't help but look back at the academy behind him.

Perhaps that young Lord Yan is the smart man. He has already met Prince Yu, so there is no need for him to meet him again at this time.

in this case.

I was a little impatient.

I did talk a lot to His Royal Highness Prince Yu just now.

But it’s better this way, it can make me look a little stupid.

Think about this.

Ma Fang smiled and looked at the people in the academy standing by, and said, "Please tell His Royal Highness Prince Yu that I have benefited a lot today. I will return to the capital first and will return to Xuanfu soon. I will wait for His Royal Highness to come to Xuanfu to patrol the border in person the next day."

The person in the academy nodded, and then ordered someone to bring Ma Fang's horse over.

Ma Fang mounted his horse and led his personal soldiers along the official road outside Changping leading to Beijing.

When he led his men to the intersection of the official road, he saw two children guarding the roadside from afar.

They are Zhou Goudan and Ma Xiaoer.

Ma Fang raised his eyebrows, as if he realized something, and stopped his horse.

"Are you two waiting for me here?"

Zhou Goudan and Ma Xiaoer looked at each other, then raised their heads to look at Ma Fang on horseback: "Are you General Ma Fang, the commander-in-chief of Xuanfu Town?"

Ma Fang nodded with a smile on her face.

There was a slight movement in his heart. If his guess was correct, this was probably the work of Lord Yan, whom he had longed to meet.

really.

After getting the correct answer.

Zhou Goudan glanced at Ma Xiaoer.

Ma Xiaoer nodded, took out a sealed letter from his arms, held it in both hands and handed it to Ma Fang.

Ma Fang was also polite. She took the purse from her waist and threw it to Zhou Goudan who was behind Ma Xiaoer. She thanked him and then took the letter from Ma Xiaoer into her own hands.

With full of curiosity, Ma Fang opened the letter.

There is only a thin sheet of paper in the envelope. Unfold the paper.

Ma Fang's expression suddenly became extremely interesting.

There were only four words written in ink on the paper, and no more words.

"The Ming army is mighty!"

The four characters are clearly visible.

Ma Fang's eyes moved, and his heart was in turmoil. Suppressing those complicated feelings, he raised his head and saw that the two young men had already left the intersection.

Ma Fang sighed softly, and under the watchful eyes of Guo Yuchuang who had accompanied her out of the city to Changping, she showed the four words "Ming Jun is Mighty" on the paper to him. Then she carefully folded the paper again, and was extremely careful to prevent it from being folded or curled. She put it back into the envelope.

last of the last.

Ma Fang finally put the letter close to her chest.

Guo Yuchuang was thinking about the four words on the paper, and looking at the general's reaction, he whispered: "Little Yan has always been a wonderful person, and he is still wonderful now."

Ma Fang smiled: "People always say that it is difficult to change one's nature. I have been ordered to return to the capital this time, and I have many concerns along the way. But after reading this letter today, I have no more worries in my heart."

After saying that.

Ma Fang pulled the reins and the horse slowly turned at the intersection.

Ma Fang took in all the scenery around Changping.

After a while.

He then said, "Little Lord Yan is indeed worthy of his reputation!"

……

"Ah!"

Yanfu Lane.

In the study, Yan Shaoting sneezed loudly with a puzzled look on his face, causing Xu Wei, who was writing beside him, to look up at him in confusion.

"My dear, have you caught a cold due to the change of seasons?"

"Can I ask Mr. Li to prescribe some medicine?"

Now that Li Shizhen is in charge of the academy, whenever these people have a headache or a fever, they can just open their mouths and say something.

Dr. Li, save me!
Li Shizhen was not pretentious. No matter whether the illness was serious or minor, as long as he had time, he would always be happy to take his group of male and female students to see patients and diagnose pulses.

Yan Shaoting shook his head: "It feels like someone is talking about me behind my back..."

Xu Wei was stunned for a moment, then smiled and said, "It can't be that General Ma is cursing you in Changping right now after learning that you are returning to the capital on time, right?"

This was a joke. Xu Wei knew about the letter that contained only four words.

Yan Shaoting just smiled.

It was natural that he didn't meet Ma Fang.

The old Taoist priest is paving the way for his son's future, why should I get involved?

Moreover.

Chief Zhu will be promoted to Emperor Zhu in the future.

He would certainly attach great importance to the relationship with important civil and military officials.

Don't make too much noise, but definitely don't get too close either.

Although these things that seem to have to be maintained on the surface are bullshit.

But this kind of bullshit has to be maintained.

But not meeting Ma Fang at this time was definitely the right choice.

What’s more important is that I do have a lot of things to do right now.

Although it is only the beginning of autumn and there are still several months to go before the cold winter, considering that he will strive to serve as an official in the south next year, many things in the capital need to be arranged.

Apart from Gao Wuguan and Xu Kun, who else should take over the responsibility of military supplies?
Who should be in charge of the daily affairs of the Changping Public Security Bureau?

The Zhejiang Qingli Division of the Ministry of Revenue will also be transferred out.

However, the official positions in the Hanlin Academy, the Imperial College and the Zhanshi Palace should not be changed. After all, these are noble and leisurely places and are not important.

And this is just a problem concerning official positions in the imperial court.

Also.

Since he had to go south, although Zhu Zaigui had revealed that his father, the emperor, had already agreed to let him go to Nanjing to serve as an official, he also had Yang Bo, the Minister of War, who spoke for him in the previous dynasty.

And by then, his idea of ​​going south to serve as an official would be exposed.

Ministry of Personnel, Ministry of Revenue, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Works, Censorate, and Ministry of Public Security would certainly voice their agreement.

But he also had to present a good set of political achievements in front of everyone, so that officials at all levels of the court could see it clearly.

By then, when the old Taoist priest arranges a mission for me to go south, I will be able to do it better.

Xu Wei spread out the various documents that had been sorted out in front of him for a long time and looked at them one by one.

Then he smiled and said, "If you were older and could do these things for a longer time, I think you would have been a minister of six ministries long ago. If you were to serve as an official outside the capital, you would definitely be able to take the position of governor of a place without any dispute."

After hearing Xu Wei's words, Yan Shaoting's face became solemn.

Just as Xu Wei said, he is not old now, even in his early twenties. This means that even though he has done a lot of things in the past few years and made many contributions to the court, he is still subject to invisible restrictions.

The last time he was promoted to the title of third-rank prince's guest was a clear proof of this.

Can give title.

But the actual official position needs to be postponed.

Yan Shaoting waved his hand and said, "Since Prince Yu has said that the emperor has agreed to let me go to Nanjing to serve as an official. And now there are no vacancies for the Governor-General of Zhejiang, the Governor of Yingtian, and the Governor of Zhejiang, so these three positions will definitely not be available to me. Then, there are only so many positions in Nanjing."

The current Governor-General of Zhejiang is Zhao Zhenji.

This had caused some conflicts with the Yan family in the past, but because the Yan family pushed him to the position of Governor-General of Zhejiang, the relationship between the two sides became peaceful.

Can't move.

Zhao Zhenji was concurrently serving as the Governor of Zhejiang, so he could not be moved, which was even more inconsistent with his plan to stay in Jiangnan.

The governor of Yingtian is in charge of Jiangnan, but now it is the iron-headed Hai Rui who is in charge.

It would be difficult for me to just kick him away.

If you really do this, you might get hit on the head by that guy.

Yan Shaoting was certain that Hai Rui would definitely treat him like this!

That guy must have seen through me, Young Lord Yan, to be a good person, so he bullied me like that!
So after all the calculations, according to what the old Taoist priest revealed to his son, his trip south to serve as an official was to choose a suitable official position in Nanjing City.

Yan Shaoting waved his hand casually: "First, prepare the accounts of various places this year and check with the Ministry of Revenue. In a few months, the various departments of the court will close their offices. I think this matter will probably be settled by the time of the imperial meeting."

He was talking about the Ming Dynasty's financial report for this year, the 43rd year of the Jiajing reign.

How much silver the court earned and spent this year, how much is the difference with the budget at the beginning of the year, and how much surplus or deficit the court has, all of these must be calculated before the end of the year.

This was also what Yan Shaoting had prepared, and he began to seek an opportunity to go south to meet certain things and people.

after all.

I am the God of Wealth of the Ming Dynasty!

…………

Monthly PassMonthly Pass
　Report: It may be more than a week recently. In fact, I have been seeking medical advice, going to two or three hospitals, and doing various examinations (you can see that I only took three days off, but in fact I haven't written for five or six days, because I saved two or three chapters when I felt unwell before, but I didn't expect that I was not prepared enough). Finally, I got it done at the community clinic on the street. Today I have recovered a little energy and physical strength, so I rushed to update a chapter. I have to go to the clinic for infusion tomorrow, but my physical condition should be fine, and I can slowly resume normal updates later.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)