Chapter 667 Deficit
Let’s not talk about the ridiculous things that happened in Rongguo Mansion.
However, early in the morning on October 6, at the round table meeting in the Dali Temple, some serious official business was finally discussed.
It was the case that the fire in the city gate affected everyone in the pond. The Ministry of Revenue had been checking the accounts recently, and the sudden death of the Ministry of Revenue's Secretary made the audit of all financial matters naturally tightened.
As a result, a sum of was not approved in time, and there were even signs that it was about to be rejected.
If this happened in Shuntian Prefecture, it would not be a big deal. At most, it would be just a matter of robbing Peter to pay Paul.
But when this matter happened in the Dali Temple, it caused quite a stir.
Just yesterday when Sun Shaozong was taking a day off, a group of businessmen somehow got the news and came in droves to collect debts.
Although they did not make a noise outside but went into the hall to discuss the matter, it still caused discussion on the streets.
Inner courtyard flower hall.
Dali Temple Minister Wei Yi put his hands behind his back and paced back and forth in a small space. He stopped for a long while and said in a deep voice: "This matter won't work. We must find a way to suppress it first. We must not let them make trouble before the Wanshou Festival!"
Although what he said was decisive, Sun Shaozong and Li Wenshan, who were sitting on the seat, remained calm and showed no reaction at all.
Wei Yi was a little embarrassed, so he simply called out, "Li Shaoqing, I heard that you are familiar with the boss of Mingchengzhai, can you..."
"grown ups."
Right Junior Minister Li Wenshan immediately interrupted him and said indifferently, "They are all greedy people. It was not easy for them to postpone it for a few months in the beginning. How can they be willing to make concessions now?"
These words choked Wei Yi to the point of being speechless.
As a last resort, he put on a smile again, bowed to Sun Shaozong and said, "Sir Sun, I heard that the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, Yu, is your nephew's husband. If I can get him to say a few good words about him..."
"Your Excellency, this is embarrassing me."
Sun Shaozong didn't wait for him to finish, and spread his hands and said, "Not to mention that I am only a distant relative to you, even if we are close uncles and nephews, how could I be willing to privately transfer state finances to you?"
After hitting two snags in a row, Wei Yi became more and more angry, but he could do nothing about Sun and Li, so he could only throw up his sleeves and said angrily: "Forget it! Since no one has an idea, just let them make a scene in the street. After all, even if it disrupts His Majesty's birthday celebration, it is not just me who will bear the consequences!"
Seeing his desperate look, Li Wenshan felt a little overwhelmed. Unlike Wei Yi who had no desires or ambitions, he still hoped to make further progress.
If this gets out of hand before the Emperor's Birthday, the three officials of the Dali Temple will probably be held responsible. Especially if His Majesty holds a grudge against them, what future will they have?
He moved his lips and was about to say something, but heard Sun Shaozong on the other side rushing to say: "Since this deficit is owed by the Office of the Secretary, you should ask the Office of the Secretary first. We are in charge of litigation and sentencing, and we have never been in charge of finance, so how can we have any idea?"
After hearing this, Li Wenshan couldn't immediately sing a different tune, so he had to quietly swallow back the words that were on the tip of his tongue.
When Wei Yi saw this, he couldn't help but feel secretly annoyed. He had just put on an act in order to lure Li Wenshan to come forward, and it seemed like he was about to succeed, but he was stopped by Sun Shaozong.
Seeing that it would be futile to continue the stalemate, he held back his anger and ordered: "If that's the case, then let's disperse first!"
This time, Sun Shaozong and Li Wenshan were very obedient. They immediately stood up and said goodbye, and left the flower hall side by side.
They were silent all the way until they were near the second gate and about to separate. Li Wenshan finally lost his patience and bowed, saying, "Master Sun, are you and I really going to sit back and do nothing about this?"
"What else can I do?"
Sun Shaozong was surprised and asked, "Are you going to use our family assets to offset the government's deficit?"
"Of course that won't work!"
Li Wenshan immediately shook his head like a rattle and said, "Even if we really need to use our family property to make up for the deficit, it won't be your turn, Lord Sun."
This is natural. After all, when the deficit occurred, Sun Shaozong was still suppressing a rebellion in Huguang.
Speaking of the origin of this deficit, it is really speechless.
During the Dragon Boat Race on the Dragon Boat Festival this year, the area around Shichahai was once again crowded with people. Although ordinary people were not allowed to enter the Dali Temple as an excellent viewing point, relatives and friends of officials in the temple were allowed to come and go without hindrance.
As a result, the area along the lake in Zuosi was crowded with hundreds of people.
As the saying goes, 'There are all kinds of people in the world'. I don't know which one of them had a brain disease, but in order to grab a position, he lied that there was a fire in the government office.
As a result, the incident escalated into a big mess, causing hundreds of people to flee in all directions. Three people were trampled to death and five were seriously injured on the spot.
The Dali Temple was naturally in a state of disgrace, and because one of the dead had a rather strong background, it was finally forced to pay a total of 5,300 taels of silver as compensation before the case was settled.
After this lawsuit, not only was the small treasury accumulated by the Dali Temple over the years emptied out, but the temple was almost unable to pay salaries.
Wei Yi had no choice but to embezzle the payment for goods that was prepared for settlement in the first half of the year, and this barely avoided the issue of unpaid wages.
But we can't keep owing the money for the goods forever.
Therefore, Wei Yi tried his best to find an excuse, hoping to get some silver to make up for the deficit.
Who would have thought that at this critical juncture, the Ministry of Revenue suddenly tightened its monetary policy and put the money on hold again.
Let’s get back to the story.
Li Wenshan responded seriously to Sun Shaozong's ridicule, and then said: "If I come forward, I can probably give those merchants some time off. But if the Ministry of Revenue is unwilling to allocate funds, this matter will sooner or later cause trouble."
As he spoke, he solemnly bowed to Sun Shaozong and said, "After all, we are officials in the same yamen. Lord Sun, can you think of a solution at the Ministry of Revenue? Then we can work on both sides and finally settle the matter."
To be honest, if Sun Shaozong was willing to step forward, the matter of one or two thousand taels of silver would not be a difficult matter.
But in his opinion, this matter is not a trouble at all, but a rare opportunity!
When this matter becomes a big deal, I will throw out the planned things in the name of "knowing shame and then being brave", and Wei Yi and Li Wenshan will find it difficult to refute.
Of course, he definitely couldn't tell the truth in front of Li Wenshan.
And we have to find a reason to make Li Wenshan give up interfering in this matter.
Thinking for a moment, Sun Shaozong said seriously, "Brother Li, why do you think His Majesty wants to transfer me to the Dali Temple?"
Li Wenshan was stunned, and felt that this statement was somewhat puzzling.
The emperor arranged for Sun Shaozong to be the Shaoqing of Dali Temple, naturally hoping that he would make achievements in Dali Temple with his ability to solve cases.
Apart from this, is there any other reason?
Li Wenshan was suspicious and was about to ask what was going on, but he saw Sun Shaozong bowed and turned away.
Why did you leave just like that?
Li Wenshan opened his mouth but ultimately asked nothing. However, the doubts in his heart grew.
perhaps……
What special mission does he really have?
In this case, it is better for me not to act rashly and wait and see how he responds.
