Chapter 447: Now the Ministry of Household, who has the final say?
Chu Wenjin's 360,000 taels, plus the 50,000 taels in the treasury, amounted to 410,000 taels.
We only need to raise another 90,000 taels to complete the task assigned by the emperor. 90,000 taels can be obtained through donations.
Others heard that the Minister of the Ministry of Finance claimed to be the subordinate, and knew that in this competition for the Minister of the Ministry of Finance, Chu Wenjin's victory was already certain.
I couldn't help but be a little respectful towards his attitude.
Shangshu Hubu changed his previous disdain for Chu Wenjin, and his face was full of admiration.
"Although I know that Mr. Chu is quite talented in business and runs a business, I never thought that Mr. Chu would spend all his family property to support the national treasury."
He now truly admires Chu Wenjin.
If it were him, even if he had so much money, he might not be able to do it and spend all his wealth to fill the national treasury.
When Chu Wenjin heard this, he realized that this misunderstanding was huge!
This money was earned from running a bank and should have been transferred to the national treasury.
It's just that the banks in various places have just got on the right track, and he also needs to keep more liquid money, so he doesn't hand it over as soon as possible.
"Liu Shangshu is ridiculous. These should be the country's money."
"I understand that the Supreme Emperor has long praised Mr. Chu for his outstanding financial skills, caring for his family and country, and setting an example for businessmen in the world! We are too shallow. Mr. Chu, you have great righteousness!"
The Minister of Hubu took the lead and bowed to Chu Wenjin.
Other officials from the Ministry of Revenue immediately followed and bowed.
"Master Chu, great justice!"
Chu Wenjin's face turned slightly red, and he felt really ashamed of it.
"actually, I……"
He wanted to explain clearly, but the Minister of Hubu actually bowed even lower:
"Master Chu, great justice!"
Other Ministry of Household officials followed suit:
"Master Chu, great justice!"
Now that you've flattered someone, you have to flatter them until they feel comfortable. Otherwise, wouldn't it be a wasted opportunity?
If Mr. Chu doesn't shout, he must still want to hear it again, so they can just say it again, and they won't lose any meat.
Satisfying your immediate boss is the most important thing.
"Okay, okay, gentlemen, please get up quickly."
Chu Wenjin had a headache. Sometimes he was sarcastic and sometimes passionate. This is officialdom.
Forget it, he'd better save some saliva and wait for them to discover it by themselves.
"The remaining ninety thousand taels..."
The Minister of the Ministry of Revenue hurriedly expressed his position:
"Don't worry about the remaining 90,000 taels, Mr. Chu. We are not freeloaders. Don't worry, Mr. Chu. We will go door to door to visit the wealthy squires and raise donations, and we will definitely collect the 90,000 taels of silver!
"
"No, don't solicit donations like this."
Chu Wenjin helped his forehead. Isn't this using force to pressure people and force them to donate money in the name of the officialdom?
The officials of the Ministry of Household Affairs were a little puzzled. Wasn’t this how fund-raising was done in previous years?
"Master Chu, is there a better way?"
"You go to the treasury and find some cloth that has not been used for a long time. It has no special significance and is just some idle stuff that takes up space. Take it out for auction."
Chu Wenjin said it casually, but the officials of the Ministry of Revenue were frightened when they heard it.
"Auction the things in the treasury?"
"Well, do those endless silks and satins have to be left to grow insects? Do those utensils that are not used all year round have to be left to rot?"
Chu Wenjin analyzed the pros and cons to them.
"Every year, a lot of manpower and material resources are spent to dry and clean these dead things. How many meaningful things can be done if this manpower is saved?"
The officials in the Ministry of Revenue all have the brains to study and become officials, but Chu Wenjin has the brains to do business.
"From now on, at the end of every year, the treasury will be cleaned out and 10% of the useless items will be auctioned."
Everyone present could fit an egg in their mouths. Auctioning items from the treasury is unheard of and unprecedented!
Shangshu of the Ministry of Finance asked tentatively:
"Master Chu, have you obtained the Emperor's consent for this matter?"
Chu Wenjin thought for a while and asked:
"Who manages the national treasury?"
The Minister of Hubu didn't know Chu Wenjin, so why did he ask even though he knew it?
"Of course, our household department will manage it."
Chu Wenjin asked again:
"Who has the final say in the household department now?"
The Minister of Hubu was quite choked and panicked.
"Of course, Mr. Chu has the final say."
Chu Wenjin nodded with satisfaction.
"Isn't that done? My lords, go and take inventory. But be sure not to take out important things and sell them. In that case, the emperor will really want to question you. I have something else to do, so I'll take my leave now.
."
After Chu Wenjin finished speaking, he left. He was really busy now. To transfer so much money from the bank, he had to coordinate all parties to prevent it from collapsing.
As long as we wait until the end of the year, things will be much better in the coming year.
It's not like he can't afford the remaining ninety thousand taels, but he has his own considerations.
When the country is in trouble, he cannot be the only one busy. Everyone must maintain a sense of crisis at all times. Things that are obtained too easily will not be cherished.
A group of household officials were trapped among them by Chu Wenjin and did not react for a long time.
Master Chu's words seemed to make sense, but something seemed wrong.
"Master Liu, our Ministry of Revenue only manages the treasury, but we do not have the right to dispose of the property in the treasury."
"That's right, what's more, by auctioning the items in the treasury, doesn't it clearly tell the world that our Yunxiao Kingdom's treasury is empty? Doesn't it make the world laugh?"
Someone finally reacted. Also, the auction of treasury items was Chu Wenjin’s idea. Why did he say that he was taking them for questioning?
"Master Liu, we can't make any arbitrary decisions on this matter. Master Chu is a relative of the emperor, so of course he is not afraid of the consequences, but we can't. Master Liu, why don't you go to the trouble of asking the emperor for instructions?"
"Yes, Mr. Liu, you are our backbone."
This sentence of backbone successfully made the hesitant Master Liu make up his mind. This was the only chance he could be the backbone of the household department.
"Okay, I'll go ask the emperor for instructions."
In the palace, Chu Yunxi was leaning comfortably on the sofa, eating in her mouth. Jun Lingyun peeled the orange petals for her and narrowed her eyes with satisfaction.
She had been suffering from morning sickness more and more frequently in the past few days. She didn't eat much, but she was greedy for these oranges, which were sour and sweet, just right for her current appetite.
But Chu Yunxi didn't know that half of the oranges that were originally meant to be given to Jun Zifeng were now enjoyed by her alone.
Jun Zifeng asked for it once, but Jun Lingyun said, "Xi'er likes to eat" and sent it away.
Fortunately, Jun Lingyun, who knew he was in the wrong, rewarded Jun Zifeng with some other food and asked him to use it as a gift to please Su Yan.
Jun Zifeng then continued to work conscientiously and continued to do what he, the supervisor, should do.
"Your Majesty, Mr. Liu, the Minister of Household Affairs, would like to see you."
Chu Yunxi sat up straight. She couldn't let the ministers see her calling their Emperor like this.
Jun Lingyun put the oranges in his hands on the tray and clapped his hands.
"Let him in."
"The humble minister pays homage to the Emperor, the Queen."
"Plain body."
Hearing Jun Lingyun's cold voice, the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue unconsciously retreated, but he had already come, so he had no choice but to bite the bullet and report back.