Chapter 767 Donating Money

Chapter 767: Donating Money Chapter 767: Donating Money Editor: Atlas Studios “Father.” Zhang Chuan walked over quickly and closed the study door.

“For Jinhua County’s corruption case, other than the new county magistrate, all 36 officials have been imprisoned.

The men that His Majesty sent to search their houses and confiscate their assets have returned.” Zhang Cheng waited until he was done writing before looking up at his son.

He placed the pen on the brush and said, “What does the Jinhua case have to do with us?

It’s just a minor corruption case.

Is there a need for you to make such a fuss?” Zhang Cheng was indeed corrupt in the past, but after the establishment of the new dynasty, he had been keeping his hands clean.

He hadn’t since taken a single cent of the money that didn’t belong to him, so he was very confident when he said this.

“It’s I who can’t hold it in anymore.” Zhang Chuan looked a little ashamed.

“But according to the officials who returned from the investigation, a large amount of wealth was confiscated from the homes of the officials in Jinhua County.

They were interrogated about the source of the funds, and it was found that a large part of it came from the Zhou family.

Father, not long after the Zhou family left Jinhua County, His Majesty received a report that the officials in Jinhua County were embezzling.

It was confirmed as soon as it was investigated.

Something feels fishy…” Zhang Cheng could not help but sit up straight.

“From the Zhou family?” “Yes, it’s said that the fourth branch of the Shu family colluded with the officials of Jinhua County to detain the Zhou family.

The Zhou family had to give up nearly half of their assets in order to escape.

Father, do you think His Majesty has always remembered what happened five years ago but has been holding back?

This time, the fourth branch of the Shu family…” The fourth branch of the Shu family was also in a terrible state.

Not only was Old Madam Shu dead, but Shu Qing also had a stroke from anger and probably wouldn’t be able to last for more than a few years.

As for Shu Mingxiang, the chances of him returning to officialdom in three years were almost zero.

It could be said that among the three families that had caused the Empress to give birth prematurely back then, only the Zhang family remained unscathed so far.

Furthermore, Zhang Cheng’s hands were also very dirty.

At the thought of this, Zhang Chuan looked at his father eagerly.

Zhang Cheng’s expression was also very ugly.

He thought that the matter had already passed and felt that he just had to be careful not to let the Empress have something on him.

The Emperor being calculative was completely different from the Empress being calculative.

He did not dare to think about the consequences of the former at all.

Zhang Cheng tightened and loosened his grip again and again.

Thinking of the Emperor’s deep love for the Crown Prince, he gritted his teeth and said, “Get the accountant to calculate how much assets our family owns.

We’ll sell off some of our family assets.” “Father!” Zhang Chuan looked at him in shock.

Selling off the family assets?

Zhang Cheng had taken the opportunity to acquire the Zhang family’s family assets when he was the Minister of Revenue in the previous dynasty.

Those assets were difficult to acquire even if one had money as they were treasures that could be passed down to later generations.

His father had always been proud of them.

Why would he think of selling off the family assets?

Helpless, Zhang Cheng rubbed his forehead and said, “We should do our best to accumulate some goodwill with His Majesty while he’s having difficulties.

This way, even if the Empress and the Crown Prince want to settle scores with us later, His Majesty will take into account our past relationship.

Our Zhang family won’t end up in the same state as the Shu family’s fourth branch and the Zhou family…” Zhang Chuan was silent.

Despite being not too afraid of the Empress previously, he was extremely afraid at this moment.

Although his father did not point it out, he clearly shared his sentiments that the Emperor was the one behind these things.

Although Zhang Chuan was reluctant, he gritted his teeth and left.

Wasn’t it just spending money to buy peace?

Fine, he’d do it!

However, Zhang Cheng’s body was slightly hunched as he watched his son retreat.

He sighed.

Fortunately, the current Emperor was considered merciful.

Otherwise, he would not even have the chance to spend money to buy peace.

Many years later, when Zhang Cheng returned to his hometown to play with his grandchildren, Zhang Chuan counted the remaining assets and realized that the amount of money they sent to the Emperor was about the same as the amount that Zhang Cheng had embezzled.

Not only Zhang Chuan, but even Zhang Cheng, who was past his sixties, was so frightened that he broke out in cold sweat.

However, he could not help but rejoice.

Fortunately, they were willing to donate the money to the Imperial Court at that time.

Otherwise, the Zhang family might not have been able to escape the fate of decline.

Zhang Cheng entered the palace with a box of banknotes.

He only said that he could not bear to see the commoners starve in the bitter cold.

Seeing that the Emperor was worried and depressed, he was willing to donate some money and grains to Great Qi and the Imperial Court.

The Emperor looked at the box on the table in silence for a while.

He had to admit that Zhang Cheng was indeed sharp and decisive to be able to climb to such a position.

With a nod, he accepted the box and said amiably, “Thank you for your trouble, Minister Zhang.

I have to reward you well.” After Zhang Cheng left, the Emperor called Rong Xuan into the palace and handed him the money that Zhang Cheng had given him.

“How’s the investigation going?” “The Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Revenue have collaborated in private.

We’ve two-thirds through the investigation.

From the looks of it, Zhang Cheng was ranked ninth in terms of corruption in the previous dynasty.” Qi Xiuyuan snorted and said, “He’s quite tactful.

Note down this sum of money and consider it as offsetting his crimes.

I’ve killed a lot of people in the past two years and don’t want to see any more bloodshed.

After you’re done investigating this matter, secretly send someone to spread the news that the national treasury will recover as much money as it can.

Tell the six ministries and the Hanlin Academy to speed up the legislation and increase the punishment for corruption and violence.

I hate corrupt officials the most.

Although there are no fish in the clearest waters, if the water is too polluted, all the fish will end up dying.” Rong Xuan agreed and took the box.

He asked, “Your Majesty, hasn’t Zijin always been in charge of this?” Qi Xiuyuan said with a smile, “I asked him to focus on recuperating for the next few days.

I’ll leave these things to you first and hand them to him when he recovers.” Rong Xuan could only accept the task.

Although Fan Zijin was recuperating at home, he was not completely oblivious to the outside world.

He had only just finished afternoon tea with Little Madam Xia when he found out about this matter.

Fan Zijin thought about it and smiled.

He asked the butler to withdraw 20,000 taels of silver from the accounts and present it to the Emperor in his and Qi Haoran’s name.

Moreover, he ordered the butler to deliver it with great fanfare.

The butler was a little confused.

“Your Highness, this silver was originally meant to be sent to the national treasury.

If we use it now, what about the silver in the national treasury?” Fan Zijin sat on the recliner and said, “This is the money that’ll go into the national treasury.

It’s just that it’s brought into the palace first instead of being directly carried to the national treasury.

Just do as I say and don’t talk so much nonsense.” How could this be the same?

The money that went directly into the national treasury was directly recorded as business profits.

Now, it was going to be recorded under the name of the Duke and the Prince.

However, the butler did not dare to say much.

He could only mutter in his heart as he sent the silver to the Emperor.

After Zhang Cheng donated a large sum of money, the Duke of Peaceful State and Prince Rong also donated a sum of money.

The Emperor and the ministers who were discussing matters were stunned for a moment before saying with a smile, “Get someone to carry it in.

I want to see how much money Prince Rong and the Duke of Peaceful State have donated.

Later, erect a merit monument at the palace entrance and record their names.” The ministers secretly cursed the Duke of Peaceful State for being cunning.

Even if he wanted to give money to the national treasury, he shouldn’t be doing this.

Everyone knew that he was doing business for the Emperor, and the money he earned was used to support the national treasury anyway.

As for Zhang Cheng, who knew why this fellow suddenly wanted to donate money to the national treasury?

Everyone privately guessed that he had been too corrupt in the previous dynasty and had a guilty conscience, so he wanted to donate some money.

But even if you guys wish to donate money, just go ahead and don’t drag us down with you.

Seeing that the Emperor declared that he was going to erect a merit monument for them, how could they not donate a single cent?

A few ministers followed the Emperor to see the silver that Fan Zijin had asked someone to send in.

Rong Xuan lamented that Fan Zijin was indeed born to do business.

When he received Zhang Cheng’s things, it only occurred to him to store them in the warehouse and check which regions urgently needed these silver taels.

He was unlike Fan Zijin, who would actually think of ways to grow even more money by making use of this.

Although he was using someone else’s money to add money to the national treasury, it was still worth it.

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