Chapter 192. If you want to check accounts, learn from scratch.
Regarding the matter of checking the Accounts Department, all the officials of Huang Yourong's faction, from the cabinet boss Huang Yourong on down, paid special attention to it.
Although they knew that Zhao Junchen would definitely respond, they still regarded the audit of the household department as the best way to defeat Zhao Junchen, so once they took action, they were extremely efficient.
After the morning court, under the personal auspices of Huang Yourong, the relevant personnel assigned to the household department to audit the accounts had been determined before noon that day.
Among them, one of Huang Yourong's cronies, Zhang Bingwen, the censor of Zuo Qiandu of the Metropolitan Procuratorate, was headed. The prince's party and Zhao Junchen had always been enemies but not friends, and they also sent several censors to participate, and then concentrated on the most powerful people in the capital.
There are more than 60 capable and experienced accountants, with a total of nearly a hundred people, which can be said to be a huge force, and they are vowing to investigate the account department from bottom to top!
Then, under Huang Yourong's personal supervision, these people gathered at the Metropolitan Procuratorate Yamen in the early afternoon. After simply assigning tasks, they rushed to the Hubu Yamen under the leadership of Zhang Bingwen.
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When Zhang Bingwen led a group of people to the outside of Hubu Yamen, they were greeted there by Jiang Qian, the doctor of Hubu.
But except for Jiang Qian, no one from the Hubu Department from Zhao Junchen on down came forward to greet him. Therefore, the outside of the Hubu Yamen seemed quite deserted.
But Zhang Bingwen, the censor of Zuoqiandu, as one of Huang Yourong's cronies, presided over the audit of the Ministry of Household Affairs this time. He thought he had hit the weak point of the Ministry of Household Affairs and had the power of life and death for all the officials of the Ministry of Household Affairs. Therefore,
When he came to the Hubu Yamen, Zhang Bingwen was actually quite satisfied.
In Zhang Bingwen's view, the Ministry of Accounts maintains a group of corrupt officials. Due to all kinds of corruption and personal embezzlement, there must be huge loopholes in the accounts. Even if the accounts are falsified, they can be found out with a single inspection. Now he is responsible for auditing the accounts of the Ministry of Accounts.
.That is a sharp sword hanging on the necks of all the officials of the Ministry of Household Affairs. Under his own power, the officials of the Ministry of Household Affairs must be frightened and beg for mercy.
In fact, on the way to the Hubu Yamen, Zhang Bingwen imagined in his mind that officials from the transfer department gathered outside the Hubu Yamen to greet him, and then either curry favor with him, bribe him, or beg for mercy. But he was not aware of this.
All scenes are dismissed.
But now, when Zhang Bingwen came to the Hubu Yamen, he saw that the front of the Hubu Yamen was deserted. Only a small Hubu doctor came to greet him. He felt that he was being looked down upon, and his face suddenly darkened.
On the other side, Jiang Qian smiled and cupped his hands and said: "Oh my, isn't this Mr. Zhang Bingzhang, the censor of Zuoqiandu? I just received the instructions from the cabinet, saying that Mr. Zhang will preside over this audit. I thought Mr. Zhang would do it tomorrow.
I was temporarily stationed in the Household Department, but I didn’t expect to be here now. Mr. Zhang works vigorously and resolutely, and I admire him!"
Seeing that Jiang Qian had no intention to please and beg for mercy. There was even a hint of sarcasm in his expression. Zhang Bingwen felt more and more that he had been slighted and slighted. He snorted coldly: "Is there no one in the household department? I have been ordered to come to the household department to check the accounts. Why?"
You are the only one who comes to greet you, a mere doctor from the Household Department? Are the officials in this Household Department really so arrogant that they even dare to underestimate the imperial edict? Or do they really think that the accounts of the Household Department are so perfect that I can't find any flaws?
?”
Hearing what Zhang Bingwen said, Jiang Qian already understood Zhang Bingwen's thoughts. I am afraid that in Zhang Bingwen's imagination, the Ministry of Revenue should line up to greet him at this time and do everything possible to please him and beg for mercy. Now under the contrast between reality and imagination
, which made Zhang Bingwen dissatisfied.
Jiang Qian was full of disdain for such thoughts. Officials from the Ministry of Revenue usually relied on the protection of Zhao Junchen. They were used to doing whatever they wanted over the years, so how could they take Zhang Bingwen seriously?
So, Jiang Qian still smiled and said: "Don't be offended, Mr. Zhang. This time you are indeed here on an order. But you are only on an order to check the accounts, not on an inspection tour. There is no need for us from the household department to greet you when you come. Besides, we
This is the Ministry of Revenue, which is in charge of the world's money and food. Unlike the Metropolitan Procuratorate where you are, Mr. Zhang, it is not enough to just talk. There are many affairs in the court on weekdays, and they all have to do business. Today, it is okay to just be dismissed.
I have some free time, so only Xiaguan is here to greet you."
Hearing Jiang Qian ridicule that the Metropolitan Procuratorate where he worked did not do business all day long and only relied on one mouth to do things, Zhang Bingwen was furious.
However, before Zhang Bingwen could get angry, Jiang Qian said again: "As for whether there are any flaws in the accounts of our Household Department, isn't that what you came to the Household Department to do, Mr. Zhang? Check it out in the next few days.
That’s clear.”
Seeing Jiang Qian rejecting all his words so softly and unscrupulously, Zhang Bingwen found it difficult to control him, but his heart was even more angry. He looked at Jiang Qian with a cold look and said,
He snorted again: "Okay, I will send someone to check the accounts of your household department now! See if the accounts of your household department are really flawless! If I let this officer find out anything... Humph!"
Regarding Zhang Bingwen's threat, Jiang Qian still didn't care and said with a smile: "We'll wait until you find out. But now you are only responsible for auditing the accounts and you are not an imperial envoy. Even if you are found out, you will have no choice but to continue writing impeachment papers. But we
The Ministry of Accounts acts openly and aboveboard, but we are not afraid of your investigation."
With that said, Jiang Qian stretched out his hand towards the yamen of the Department of Accounts and said, "Sir Zhang, the accounts of the Department of Accounts and the room utensils required for the audit have been prepared. Please come."
Hearing what Jiang Qian said, it was obvious that he was looking down on himself. Zhang Bingwen's face turned darker and darker, but he also knew that he could not gain any favor with his words, so he did not say any more. He just raised his hand and waved, and then led a group of censors,
The accountants followed Jiang Qian into the Hubu Yamen.
However, Zhang Bingwen had secretly made up his mind that he must make Hu Bu look good this time!
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When Jiang Qian took Zhang Bingwen and others to the accounting room prepared for them by the Ministry of Accounts, Zhang Bingwen finally showed some satisfaction in his look.
The room prepared by the Ministry of Accounts is very large. It seems to be connected by several large rooms. There are sixty or seventy tables and chairs in it. There are abacus, pen, ink, paper and inkstone on the table. All the items needed for checking the accounts are available. And in
At the very back of the room, there is a six or seven-foot-high account book, which contains all the money and grain accounts of the Ministry of Accounts in recent years.
In addition, the courtyard where this room is located has been allocated to Zhang Bingwen and others, and no one from the household department will disturb them while they are checking the accounts.
Seeing how thoroughly prepared the Ministry of Finance was, Zhang Bingwen was finally a little satisfied with the arrangements made by the Ministry of Finance.
Glancing at Jiang Qian next to him, Zhang Bingwen said coldly: "The imperial court decided to audit your household department's accounts this morning. You were not quick to prepare, but you had everything ready in just half a day. It seems that the household department is pretty good.
There are some capable people."
Jiang Qian smiled again and said: "Half a day? How can we prepare such a big house in half a day? Especially since this big house is made up of three rooms. Mr. Zhang really thinks highly of our household department this time.
.In fact, we prepared all this three days ago, and we are just waiting for you to come and check the accounts."
"Three days ago?!"
Hearing what Jiang Qian said, Zhang Bingwen couldn't help but be stunned.
Jiang Qian nodded, shrugged again, and said with a little disdain in his tone: "Yes, my Lord Shangshu guessed three or five days ago that you were going to come to the Ministry of Accounts to check the accounts, but your Mr. Huang Ge,
The action was too slow, so we have been waiting until now."
Having said this, Jiang Qian raised his hand to Zhang Bingwen, who was a little surprised, and said: "Sir Zhang, you want to check the accounts of our household department now. In order to avoid suspicion, the official left first. Of course, our household department's accounts are done
Rigorous and meticulous, the method of accounting is also somewhat different from that of ordinary people. If there is anything you don’t understand, sir, just send someone to ask the subordinate."
Hearing Jiang Qian's words, Zhang Bingwen felt that his chest was about to burst with anger. He would not give Jiang Qian a good look. He just gritted his teeth and said coldly: "What I brought this time is from the capital."
I have the best accounting office in the country. I don’t need to ask you for advice on things like checking accounts.”
Jiang Qian seemed to be smiling but not smiling, and said: "It's good for Mr. Zhang to be so confident. I admire you."
With that said, Jiang Qian handed over his hand again, turned around and left the room where the accounts were checked.
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However, after Jiang Qian left, Zhang Bingwen finally couldn't hold back his anger anymore and shouted angrily at all the accountants: "Check! Go and check carefully for me! Check strictly! Anyone who finds any flaws in the accounts."
I will give him a reward of one hundred taels of silver immediately!"
The sound was so loud that it vibrated and echoed in the room.
Hearing Zhang Bingwen's angry shouting, most of the accountants looked panicked, hurriedly distributed the accounts of the household department, found a seat and sat down to check the accounts carefully.
However, some other accountants, when they saw Zhang Bingwen yelling at them like this, not only did they not panic, but they frowned and looked at Zhang Bingwen with dissatisfaction.
These accounting rooms are different from those transferred from the Sanfa Si Yamen. Although there are only seventeen or eight people in number, they are all private accounting rooms in the mansions of Huang Yourong, the Minister of Rites, Lin Wei, the Minister of Rites, Zhang Cheng, the young master, and Huo Zhengyuan, the great scholar. Over the years,
They helped Huang Yourong and others embezzle and prepare false accounts. They were the most trusted people in the palace of these high officials, but now they were not afraid of Zhang Bingwen's power. Seeing Zhang Bingwen roaring at them, they became even more dissatisfied.
Especially the old man who heads these accountants, named Cao Man, is the accountant in Huang Yourong's house. He has been with Huang Yourong for more than thirty years. All money coming in and out of Huang Yourong's house goes through his hands. He can be said to be one of Huang Yourong's closest confidants.
A close confidant, if Cao Man said something bad about Zhang Bingwen in front of Huang Yourong, I'm afraid Zhang Bingwen wouldn't be able to please him.
Seeing the dissatisfaction of these people, Zhang Bingwen realized his gaffe, quickly adjusted his mood, smiled at the leader Cao Manpei and said: "Mr. Cao, I'll leave it to you this time. I just made a little gaffe, but it was not directed at you.
Everyone, I hope you can forgive me."
Seeing Zhang Bingwen's good words, Cao Man and the other accountants were finally satisfied. Then they didn't say anything more, and they just went to review the accounts according to their assigned tasks.
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Seeing that Cao Man and others forgave him for his gaffe, Zhang Bingwen secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Although he was a fourth-rank official of the imperial court, and Cao Man and others were just ordinary people, as the so-called seventh-rank officials of the prime minister's concierge, for Cao Man and others, he
I don't dare to offend him at all.
What's more, this time Zhang Bingwen led people to inspect the accounts department, mainly relying on private accountants like Cao Man. They have often produced false accounts for Huang Yourong and others over the years. They can be said to have rich experience, and ordinary false accounts can be seen almost at a glance.
Gotta come out.
And this is why Zhang Bingwen is so confident when he comes to the Ministry of Accounts to audit the accounts this time.
"Hmph! No matter how the Account Department makes fake accounts, how can it hide it from these experts and veterans under me? Today the Account Department officials are so neglectful of me. Once I find out any flaws in the accounts of the Account Department, I will
Let them look good! Even if they want to beg for mercy from me, it will be too late!"
Thinking of this, Zhang Bingwen finally felt much better.
Thinking again of the scene where after he discovered the flaw in the accounts of the Household Department, the officials from the Household Department were frightened and begged him for mercy in every possible way, but he was dismissive of their pleas for mercy and even bribery. Zhang Bingwen was actually...
Laughed out loud.
Then, Zhang Bingwen thought about how Ge Lao Huang Yourong would reward him if he found out something about the Ministry of Revenue this time...
However, Zhang Bingwen was just halfway through his fantasy when suddenly a figure flashed in front of him, interrupting his thoughts.
After taking a closer look, it was Cao Man, the accountant in Huang Yourong's mansion.
However, at this time, Cao Man's expression was no longer as arrogant as before, but instead full of embarrassment.
Behind Cao Man, the other accountants also stopped what they were doing, with expressions of surprise, curiosity, or embarrassment.
"Mr. Cao, what's wrong?"
Zhang Bingwen asked.
The embarrassment on Cao Man's face became more and more intense. After Nuonuo said twice, he finally said: "Um... Sir Zhang, can you please ask some of the ministers from the household department to explain to us some of the accounts of the household department? These accounts of the household department
, it is really novel and different from the folk, we...can't understand..."
After hearing what Cao Man said, Zhang Bingwen felt dizzy!
An experienced accountant like Cao Man can't understand the accounts of the Accounts Department and needs someone from the Accounts Department to teach him!? In this case, how can he still find out the flaws in the accounts of the Accounts Department?!
Now that things have happened, Zhang Bingwen finally knows why the Ministry of Accounts is not afraid of checking his own accounts!