A few days later, the emperor Zhao Gou received a letter from Liu Guangshi. Zhao Gou slammed his fist on the table and couldn't help but cursed: "It's a shame that I still trust him so much. He dares to mine and mint money without permission."
,What do the laws of the imperial court mean to him?"
Zhang Jun and Qin Hui were both stunned. Zhang Jun asked cautiously: "Your Majesty, is this Chen Qing?"
"look by youself!"
Zhao Gou handed Liu Guangshi's pigeon letter to Zhang Jun. Zhang Jun took it and read it again, sighing: "Your Majesty, this problem is indeed excusable!"
"why would you say so?"
"Weichen has served as the Xuanfu Envoy of Sichuan and Shaanxi, and knows that Bashu's financial resources can only afford an army of 80,000 troops at most. Weichen also looked at this year's military expenditure report of the Sichuan-Shaanxi Xuanfu Division, and found that the military expenditures under the jurisdiction of the Sichuan-Shaanxi Xuanfu Division
There are 60,000 people, the Hanzhong army is 30,000, and the Bashu army is 30,000, so the military salary for Xihe Road is only 20,000 at most. However, Chen Qing’s report on the battle with the Xixia Army last year said that his army had 50,000 people, that is,
He said, there is still a gap of 30,000 troops, how can he solve it?"
“Aren’t the taxes on Xihe Road enough?”
Zhang Jun shook his head, "Your Majesty, the population of Xihe Road is too small and relatively poor. With a maximum tax revenue of tens of thousands a year, how can it be possible to afford a military salary of 30,000 people? Your Majesty, if there is something wrong with Chen Qing
, that is, he did not report the mining and coinage to the imperial court. Wei Chen thinks that he may be worried that the imperial court will not approve it!"
The anger in Zhao Gou's heart calmed down a little, and he looked at Qin Hui again, "What do Qin Xianggong think?"
In the past, Qin Hui would have seized this opportunity to dismiss or transfer Chen Qing, but now Qin Hui could not figure out the attitude of the Jin State. He had to slow down his tone slightly and bowed: "Your Majesty, Mr. Zhang said
It makes sense. Chen Qing is still relatively young and a military commander, so it is understandable that he is not familiar with the court's laws.
However, through this incident, Wei Chen deeply realized that there should be a civilian official in charge of Xihe Road so that he could keep pace with the court at all times. If the military salary and military rations were insufficient, civilian officials had an unshirkable responsibility to step forward and demand
The imperial court will make up for it so that General Chen will not commit illegal acts of privately mining iron ore and privately minting copper coins."
It was rare that Qin Hui had no selfish motives and made what he said so logically and well-founded that Zhang Jun couldn't help but agree, "I agree with this suggestion. Your Majesty, eunuchs supervising the army itself is not in line with your majesty's original intention. Changing eunuchs to supervise the army will
Let Cheng Wenguan take charge!"
Zhao Gou thought for a moment and then asked: "What is the relationship between the civil servants and Chen Qing? Are they just in charge of politics and not involved in the military?"
Qin Hui smiled and said: "The power of deploying troops for war and deploying defense should be given to Chen Qing, but Wei Chen feels that logistics support, food and material transportation should be coordinated by civilian officials, the economic and strategic envoy is the economic and strategic envoy, and the observation envoy is
Observer, these two different positions have their own responsibilities, and there is no superior-subordinate relationship. This can also appease Chen Qing. The court just wants to put Xihe Road on the right track."
Zhao Gou asked Zhang Jun in turn, "Does Xianggong Zhang agree with Qin Xianggong's suggestion?"
"Wei Chen....I agree!"
"Okay! That's it. I've decided to recall the supervisory army first, and then the imperial court will select a capable minister to rush to Xihe Road to take up the post of observer."
.........
The supervisor Wang Mian was recommended by the Queen Mother. To transfer him back, the Queen Mother's consent must be obtained.
After going to court, Zhao Gou came to pay his respects to his mother as usual.
"The Ai family heard that Chen Qing had serious violations of regulations?" Queen Mother Wei asked coldly.
Zhao Gou knew that Zhu Shengfei must have told his mother, and he quickly said: "Before, the imperial court also allowed various places to cast their own coins. For example, the iron coins on Shaanxi Road and Sichuan Road were cast by themselves, and they were also allowed to issue Jiaozi. Chen Qing probably thought that
He can mint his own money, but he doesn’t know that he must get approval from the imperial court.”
Empress Dowager Wei sneered and said: "Even a woman from the Ai family who lives in a deep palace knows this kind of common sense. Doesn't his dignified manager know about it?"
"What Erchen means is that he doesn't know the seriousness of this matter."
"Then what does the emperor plan to do with him?"
"My son wants to recall the supervisory army first. I wonder if my mother agrees?"
"Aijia agrees!"
Empress Dowager Wei agreed wholeheartedly. She had long been dissatisfied with Mr. Wang's understatement, so replacing him played into Empress Dowager Wei's plans.
"Then what? What will be the emperor's next punishment?"
"I am considering announcing that he will return to Beijing to report on his duties tomorrow spring, severely criticize him, and then appoint an observer in charge of government affairs to return to Xihe Road with him."
"Is there no punishment now?" Queen Mother Wei said coldly.
Zhao Gou was secretly annoyed. The Queen Mother would interfere too much and her plans would be ruined.
He hurriedly said: "Of course there will be punishment. Originally I promised to make him the governor of Longyou, but because of this incident, I have temporarily suspended the title and will consider it later after he comes to An'an."
"Official, you are too tolerant to your subordinates. This is not the way to control your subordinates. It will cause trouble in the future."
Zhao Gou gritted his teeth and said, "My heart is like a clear mirror. We will wait until he returns to Lin'an to discuss everything!"
Queen Mother Wei looked at the emperor for a long time and nodded, "The Ai family doesn't want to ask about this matter. You can go down!"
"Mother, take a good rest, and I will take my leave!"
Zhao Gou stood up and slowly retreated.
........
That morning, Supervisor Wang Mian found Chen Qing.
"Our family has received news from the government that they are asked to return to Beijing to report on their work. We may not come back until spring tomorrow."
Chen Qingxiao asked: "Didn't you say that you would go back to report on your duties after serving for two years? Now it's less than one year, why do you have to go back?"
"Our family doesn't know what's going on. Maybe the officials have some special arrangements."
Wang Mian couldn't explain clearly, but he knew very well that in all likelihood, the Queen Mother was dissatisfied with him and recalled him back.
It is illegal for a eunuch to supervise the army. If he goes back this time, he may not come back again. He has to find a way to take his money back with him.
"Our family would like to borrow a hundred camels to carry our luggage. Can it be convenient for us?"
Chen Qing bribed Mister Wang three times in the past six months. Both times were 200,000 taels of silver. Including the sheepskins, Mister Wang should have 436,000 taels of silver in hand, and sixty camels would be enough.
Presumably he had other items, so Chen Qing readily agreed.
"Okay! I'll lend you a hundred camels."
........
Wang Mian thanked him repeatedly and left, but Chen Qing's expression became solemn. Wang Mian sent a total of three reports back to Lin'an. Except for the first report which was relatively understated, the second and third reports did not show any mercy to him.
, one after another exposed four major violations of his own laws, including excessive recruitment of soldiers, re-employment of pseudo-Qi officials, private mining of copper mines to make money, and private opening of silver mines.
It's just that his report was changed by his subordinates in Hanzhong, and it turned into a light and indifferent report. Silver mining turned into saltpeter mining, copper and iron mining turned into salt lake mining, and the re-employed officials of the Puppet Qi Dynasty became
He became an important staff official.
Once Wang Mian goes back to confront the emperor, things will be in trouble. At this moment, Chen Qing's eyes flashed with murderous intent.
"Send Wang Hao to see me?"
Not long after, Wang Hao, who was promoted to the commander of the inner guard, hurried over, knelt down on one knee and saluted, "I'm sorry to see you in charge of the capital!"
"Has the Sinking Fish Plan been deployed?"
"Reporting to the capital, everything has been deployed. Fifty brothers from Yueyang are already waiting for orders at Dongting Lake!"
The so-called Sinking Fish Plan was a plan to use internal guards to dress up Yangtze River water thieves and kill Wang Mian on the Yangtze River. Chen Qing had already begun planning and deploying it.
Chen Qing said calmly: "Mr. Wang will leave for Lin'an tomorrow, and the plan to sink the fish can be implemented."
"I humbly obey the order!" Wang Hao bowed and retreated.