Tang Tong and Shang Chengjie were the first to arrive, and not long after, Pan Guohong, the minister of the Ministry of Industry, and Xu Xiong, a doctor in the Dushui Division of the Ministry of Industry, also arrived. Pan Guohong's official career was so smooth, all because he was doing errands for Cao Shu and Xia Zhan'an. Pan Guohong was originally the official

The son of Cao Shu's servant, this man has some literary talents and is a Jia

In the twelfth year of the Qing Dynasty, Ding Maoke was awarded the third-class Jinshi. He was the same year as Shang Chengjie. Although he didn't have much contact with Shang Chengjie on weekdays, he still didn't dare to brush off Shang Chengjie's affection. In Pan Guohong's eyes, he looked down on people with lower official positions and less ability than him.

He saw Tang Tong standing aside, but he still looked at Shang Chengjie in a different light.

So when he saw Shang Chengjie, he came over to get close to him, held his hands and said, "Master Shang, you are here so early!".

Shang Chengjie responded politely, "It's not too late, Mr. Pan. I wonder why the emperor summoned you?"

Pan Guohong knew that Shang Chengjie was asking questions knowingly, so he pretended to be confused and said: "I don't know very well. I'll find out when I see the emperor later!" After saying that, he stood aside and pretended not to know Tang Tong at all.

Soon the five cabinet officials arrived together. The four of them hurriedly saluted and watched the five people go in. After a while, Emperor Jiaqing came out and asked, "Tang Tong! Is Tang Duwei here?"

"It has never happened before to call people by their names, and those present were a little surprised.

Tang Tong immediately stepped forward and saluted and said: "I am the next official!".

Liu Quan looked at Tang Tong. This was the first time he saw him in person. Liu Quan had a habit of remembering people's faces first, so as not to recognize their mistakes when he saw them next time. Even if he remembered, he still missed a key point from time to time.

, as a eunuch, he has his own little world, and this is still important.

After it was deeply imprinted in his mind, Liu Quan turned around and said to the four people: "Four adults, follow me in!" After saying that, Liu Quan walked forward first, with Shang Chengjie and Pan Guohong in front, and Tang Tong and Xu Xiong in front.

Then we entered the Qinzheng Hall.

When they arrived at the Qinzheng Hall, Shang Chengjie and Pan Guohong knelt down first, followed by Tang Tong and Xu Xiong, kowtowed and shouted: "I see the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!".

Emperor Jiaqing shouted: "Get up!" The four people stood up and stood aside.

This was the first time for Tang Tong to see Emperor Jiaqing, and he wanted to take a few glances to see what Emperor Jiaqing looked like. When he looked up, he saw a curtain of beads, and he could not see clearly the face of Emperor Jiaqing. It turned out that this was in the side hall, and sometimes Emperor Jiaqing

Looks tired or is in a bad mood

Well, they were discussing matters in the side hall, but Tang Tong didn't know it. In front of the bead curtain, in addition to Liu Quan, there was also a sixty-year-old official of the first rank. Tang Tong had seen this person. He was Xiong Daoyun, the Secretary of the Ministry of Revenue.

The latent servant of Emperor Jiaqing.

After he calmed down, Emperor Jiaqing asked: "How is Cao Aiqing's budget?".

Cao Shu immediately stepped out and responded: "The Department of Water Resources of the Ministry of Industry has adjusted the budget to 600,000 taels. This is the lowest and cannot be lowered any further!".

After all, Tang Tong's official position was too low to dare to talk nonsense. He could only listen. After a while, he heard Emperor Jiaqing ask, "Shang Aiqing, what do you think?".

When Shang Chengjie asked him, he immediately went out and said: "If we give it to the Ministry of War for 500,000 taels, we can do it!".

Emperor Jiaqing was very curious after hearing this and asked in disbelief: "Tell me about it!".

Shang Chengjie said plausibly: "The Ministry of War already has a construction team, so the small expenses of the Yamen are less. In addition, there are many victims outside Beijing, so just let them come to work and feed them. This not only resettles the victims, prevents turmoil in the capital, but also

There are some small economical measures that can also reduce expenditures and increase revenue, but I won’t go into them at this time to avoid leaks!”

Emperor Jiaqing was very happy after hearing this and couldn't help asking: "Is this what Shang Aiqing came up with?"

Shang Chengjie did not dare to take credit alone, and said thoughtfully: "This is the result of discussions between Captain Tang and I. The Ministry of Industry's calculations are accurate, but we have effective management measures."

As soon as Shang Chengjie finished speaking, Xia Zhan, the Minister of Civil Affairs, winked at Pan Guohong, the Minister of Works. Pan Guohong immediately stood up and said: "The Ministry of Works is also willing to spend 500,000 taels to build a new bridge." It doesn't matter if you make more or less.

, One-third of an acre of land is the foundation. If the Ministry of War gets involved this time, I don’t know how many projects will be taken away by the Ministry of War in the future. This is absolutely unacceptable.

Emperor Jiaqing wanted this effect. He glanced at Xiong Daoyun next to him, and Xiong Daoyun said understandingly: "The Ministry of Household Affairs has been strapped recently and can only provide 200,000 taels. Within three years, it will pay 100,000 taels every year. Who is the Ministry of Industry or the Ministry of War?

Are you willing to take on this project?" This was like a bolt from the blue to both parties, interrupting their rhythm.

Shang Chengjie felt that this matter could no longer be done. Pan Guohong looked at Xia Zhan, but Xia Zhan didn't even look at him. He knew that he should let it go. The two sides were silent for a long time. Many important officials in the court saw Emperor Jiaqing's expression change.

The two families were robbing each other just now, but now they can only choose between them, all for the sake of money.

At this time, a loud voice came: "As long as the emperor responds to the two conditions of Weichen, the Ministry of War does not need a tael of silver from the Ministry of Household Affairs, and it can also relieve the emperor's worries!".

As he said this, a man came out and knelt down in the center of the Qinzheng Hall. This man was Tang Tong. Xiong Daoyun scolded him: "Why can you, a humble official like you, represent the Ministry of War?".

Tang Tong put his hands on the ground, raised his head and looked at Xiong Daoyun, and refuted with argument: "Xiong Shangshu is right, I cannot represent the Ministry of War, but as soon as I put forward these two conditions, the Ministry of Industry will also come to snatch it.

We can only raise the military headquarters to seize the opportunity!".

Emperor Jiaqing did not expect that this man was very courageous. He really wanted to hear Tang Tong's two conditions, so he asked with a smile on his face: "You little official, tell me!".

Tang Tong first kowtowed three times, raised his head and clasped his hands and said: "The Ministry of War allows the private sector to borrow 500,000 yuan. Before the payment from the Ministry of Household Affairs is received, the Ministry of War can set up a card to collect the bridge toll."

These two items are completely the responsibility of the Ministry of Household Affairs. When Xiong Daoyun heard this, he pointed at Tang Tong and said: "Bold! This is to seize the power of the Ministry of Household Affairs. Who gave you such courage?".

Tang Tong responded eloquently, "Yes! This is exactly the authority of the Ministry of Household Affairs. As long as the horse runs away, it doesn't matter if you don't let the horse eat grass. You can't stop the horse from finding grass by itself, right?".

Xiong Daoyun had nothing to say at this time. Shang Chengjie understood and immediately said: "As long as the Emperor allows it, the Ministry of War is willing to relieve the Emperor's worries!" In fact, these two conditions of Tang Tong shocked everyone in the Qinzheng Hall.

What was shocking was Tang Tong's ability to adapt to changes in such a short period of time. If this task were imposed on anyone, there would be a way to adapt to the situation, but who could come up with such a countermeasure in such a short time?

At this time, Cao Shu came out to rescue Xiong Daoyun and said: "The Tang Duwei's request is against the legal basis. If every official has to ask the emperor for conditions before doing anything, how unethical would it be!".

Tang Tong clasped his hands to Cao Shu and said, "Your Majesty, what you said is inappropriate! Article 371 of the Zhou Dynasty Laws allows the government to requisition, misappropriate, and temporarily borrow people's money and materials when the court's supplies cannot be delivered on time.

, after that, the original thing must be returned and a certain amount of interest must be repaid. There was such a precedent in the Wenzong Hongshi Dynasty. How can Mr. Shofu say that there is no legal basis?"

Cao Shu had nothing to say for a while. When Xia Zhan saw his father-in-law being questioned, he immediately came out and reprimanded him, saying: "This happened in the Hongshi Dynasty, not in the capital! Where is the face of the imperial court?".

Tang Tong, one against three, still did not flinch. He clasped his hands again and said, "Does Shangshu Xia have a better idea? How about letting the Ministry of Revenue come forward to lend money, which will bring even more disgrace to the court!".

Xia Zhan also pressed the question but had nothing to answer. At this time, Emperor Jiaqing said: "The two conditions for uniting with the Ministry of War are that the cabinet will not issue a document, and there is no such thing as an external matter!".

Faced with such a result, not only Cao Shu did not expect it, but even Tang Tong was a little surprised. He did not expect Emperor Jiaqing to agree so quickly. Qin Yunhou, Ruan Zi and Luo Yan stood on the sidelines, and they knew it in their hearts! This was theirs.

In the fight for space, there is no need for me to take the lead.

"Please remember! It is said that there are provisions of the Ministry of Household Affairs to the outside world, but it will not be shown to anyone." Tang Tong replied quickly.

"As long as you can! Remember this sentence, if there is a fork, the cabinet will not be responsible." Jiaqing seemed to have made up his mind, and couldn't help but take a few more glances at Tang Tong. At present, things are busy, and he will never be responsible for building a bridge.

, and affect the imperial government's plans...

"I guarantee with my head that I will never disgrace my mission!" Tang Tong replied firmly.

Seeing that no one present made a sound, Emperor Jiaqing said loudly: "You handle this specifically! If something happens, just take care of it and Shang Aiqing will supervise it!" After saying that, he waved his hands and said: "The four of you, go down! Cabinet
Chapter completed!