Catching Monsters

Chapter 180 If Your Majesty doesn't take it, how can they take it?

This is also a compromise.

I can't be so stupid as to burn down Baiyun Temple.

I could only endure a little injustice and help Baiyun Temple organize these gold, silver and jewelry, and then take them all away.

At the same time, in the imperial prison inside the East Pacification Office, Yang Liunian was standing in front of a cell with a smile on his face, nodding and bowing.

"Old Heavenly Master Lingguzi, why are you here? I am sorry that I failed to welcome you. Please let me know before you come so that I can go out to greet you."

As he spoke, Yang Liunian took out a handkerchief and wiped the sweat from his forehead. He looked at Ling Guzi, who was sitting cross-legged in the cell without saying a word.

He was also a little confused, even though Eunuch Feng Yu did say in the letter that he would fully support Jiang Yun in this operation.

But he never expected that the people Jiang Yun captured now were more powerful than the last.

At the beginning, it was fine. They just captured some sons of powerful families in the capital, and then they packed up the Taoist priests from Baiyun Temple and captured them too.

Now it’s even more incredible, they have actually captured Lingguzi Tianshi from Baiyun Temple.

Ling Guzi closed his eyes and said calmly, "General Jiang from your East Pacification Division arrested me and brought me back for trial. I am a suspect, so why would you need the captain to personally go out to greet me?"

"Master, you have a broad mind and cultivation, so don't bother with that brat."

Yang Liunian smiled bitterly in his heart and couldn't help thinking secretly, Jiang Yun, that brat, even dared to arrest the Heavenly Master. In the whole capital, I'm afraid there is no one he dare not arrest except His Majesty the Emperor, right?
At this moment, Qi Da, a small flagman under Jiang Yun, walked in quickly from outside the door: "Captain Yang, General Jiang is back and is unloading the goods at the gate."

"That kid dared to come back." Yang Liunian coughed and said to Ling Guzi, "Master, don't worry, I will definitely teach that kid a lesson."

After saying that, he walked out of the imperial prison angrily, and Qi Da hurriedly followed him.

Yang Liunian's face darkened, thinking, no matter what, Jiang Yun must be taught a lesson. If this kid continues to be so willful, who knows what he will catch in the future.

The East Pacification Division is a top-notch powerful department in the capital, and everyone is terrified when they hear about it.

But now, Yang Liunian is almost losing confidence and just arrests people who are not easy to offend even in the East Pacification Division.

Jiang Yun needs to be reprimanded.

Halfway through the journey, he turned around and asked, "Hey, you just said Jiang Yun was unloading goods? What was that guy unloading for no reason?"

After a while.

"Oh, my General Jiang has returned triumphantly!"

Yang Liunian's face was flushed with rosy glow, and he looked very proud. His eyes were shining as he looked at the long convoy outside the yamen, with boxes of gold, silver and jewels on it.

Jiang Yun was unloading boxes with his men. When he saw Yang Liunian coming, he hurried forward, clasped his fists and said, "Master Qian Hu, I have accomplished your mission..."

"Well done!" Yang Liunian looked at the boxes of gold, silver and jewelry with his eyes shining. As for the matter of catching Ling Guzi, he had already forgotten about it.

Yang Liunian casually opened a box, and inside was heavy silver ingots.

"How much does it cost?"

Jiang Yun whispered: "After a rough calculation, the value is about 90,000 taels."

Hearing this number, Yang Liunian's hands trembled slightly. This is almost emptying Baiyun Temple. He looked at Jiang Yun in surprise, a little worried: "Old Senior Lingguzi is a third-grade heavenly master. He was drained dry by Baiyun Temple in one go. I'm afraid..."

"Those who practice Taoism regard money as something outside of their body." Jiang Yun smiled, then lowered his voice and said, "Of the 90,000 taels of silver, I plan to personally deliver 50,000 taels to the palace overnight."

"Please ask Captain Yang to distribute the remaining 40,000 taels."

"Hey, how can I distribute the money you collected?" Yang Liunian closed the lid of the box. He knew very well that no matter how Jiang Yun divided the money, his share would be indispensable.

If I were to take a share of the money myself, I'd be afraid of getting into trouble.

Jiang Yun nodded after hearing this, and then said in a deep voice: "Then I will make the decision..."

Soon, they sorted out the money, and then Jiang Yun led Xu Xiaogang and a group of Jinyiwei and quickly rushed towards the palace.

This matter cannot be delayed.

Interrogating Master Bai Chen is secondary. The evidence is irrefutable and Master Bai Chen cannot escape.

If Ling Guzi in the Imperial Prison knew that the money was taken away by them, there would probably be changes.

This money must be put into the Emperor's pocket before we can feel at ease.

If Your Majesty doesn't take it, how can they take it?

……

In the palace late at night, Xiao Yuzheng had gone to bed after dealing with government affairs for the day. Suddenly, Feng Yu opened the door and walked in, with a somewhat happy look on his face, and whispered, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty."

Hearing Feng Yu's shout, Xiao Yuzheng slowly opened his eyes and sat up from the bed: "What's the matter?"

Normally, after he fell asleep, Feng Yu would not easily come to wake him up unless it was something serious.

Feng Yu smiled and said respectfully, "Jiang Yun arrested all the Taoists from Baiyun Temple and put them in prison today. He also arrested Ling Guzi as well."

"What?" Xiao Yuzheng almost thought he had misheard. He asked in surprise, "Did Jiang Yun get so bold? He took Ling Guzi back to the Imperial Prison?"

Hearing this, Xiao Yuzheng couldn't help but laugh: "Ling Guzi is just going to be so obedient and let him catch him?"

Feng Yu replied respectfully: "From what Jiang Yun said, Ling Guzi is very cooperative..."

"This kid, haha." Xiao Yuzheng laughed when he heard it.

If Jiang Yun captured a great scholar or a Buddhist monk who had reached the third level of Vajra Realm.

That did cause trouble for Xiao Yuzheng.

But if the person captured is a Taoist priest, that’s another matter.

If there were not two Taoist priests still alive, the remaining three Taoist temples might not have been able to survive.

Feng Yu continued to report: "In addition, Jiang Yun found 50,000 taels of gold, silver and jewelry from Baiyun Temple and sent them to Your Majesty."

"What?" Xiao Yuzheng looked at Feng Yu in surprise after hearing the last sentence: "You sent it to me?"

Xiao Yuzheng has always emphasized integrity and honesty for many years. No matter what the court officials do in private, on the surface, they are all models of integrity.

Many people even deliberately wore patched clothes to attend court to show that they were honest.

The money obtained through corruption is something that cannot be seen in the light. Since he ascended the throne, no one has given money to Xiao Yuzheng, and no one dares to give him money.

Xiao Yuzheng lost his sleepiness instantly. This was unprecedented: "Let Jiang Yun come to the imperial study to see me."

Soon, Xiao Yuzheng stood up and put on casual clothes.

When I arrived at the imperial study, Jiang Yun was already waiting in front of it.

"Come in with me."

Xiao Yuzheng glanced at Jiang Yun. In the room, Feng Yu had already lit the lanterns.

After entering the imperial study and sitting down, Xiao Yuzheng looked at Jiang Yun with interest and said slowly: "You kid, I only asked you to arrest people and investigate the case, not to confiscate the house, right?"

Jiang Yun quickly knelt on the ground and said respectfully, "Your Majesty, I am not confiscating the property. Gui Yuanzi, the disciple of Bai Chen Zhenren, has confessed that it was Bai Chen Zhenren who ordered him to burn the plaque bestowed by Your Majesty."

"This is a major case, so I will naturally collect as much evidence as possible."

"I sent these gold, silver and jewels to Your Majesty, hoping that Your Majesty would check them carefully. Perhaps there are clues that I cannot find."

Xiao Yuzheng narrowed his eyes slightly and cursed: "Are you trying to bribe me? Jiang Yun, you are so bold!"

"I have repeatedly stressed that I am honest and upright! What is your intention in sending me 50,000 taels of silver in the middle of the night?"

"Feng Yu, let the people from the Ministry of Revenue take this money and put it into the national treasury!" Feng Yu could see in his heart that Xiao Yuzheng's face was flushed and he looked happy, and he didn't look angry at all.

He coughed and glanced at Jiang Yun.

Jiang Yun also understood immediately, and hurriedly knelt on the ground and said: "Your Majesty, this money cannot be put into the national treasury. What if there are important clues and evidence in it?"

"I think it should be placed in your Majesty's treasury, and you can examine it carefully when you have time."

Xiao Yuzheng frowned slightly, looked at Feng Yu and asked, "Isn't this a little inappropriate? After all, it's Baiyun Temple's money."

Feng Yu said with a smile: "Your Majesty, I think what General Jiang said makes sense. This silver may have hidden secrets, so it should be put into the treasury."

Once it goes into the imperial treasury, it becomes Xiao Yuzheng's personal property and he can spend it however he wants.

It is completely different from depositing money into the Ministry of Revenue’s treasury.

Moreover, in recent years, the treasury has been in a state of deficit, although there are many sources of income.

For example, part of the surplus from mining taxes, customs duties, and salt taxes would sometimes be ordered by Xiao Yuzheng to be included in the imperial treasury, but the amount would not be too large.

Or it could be tributes from local princes and rent income from imperial farms.

But compared with the expenses, it is not worth mentioning. The expenses of the entire palace are paid from the internal treasury, and occasional rewards to ministers are also paid from the internal treasury.

For example, the fifty taels of silver awarded to Jiang Yun last time had to be funded from the imperial treasury.

Xiao Yuzheng looked embarrassed at this time, and could only agree reluctantly: "Okay, General Jiang did a good job on this matter, and you Jinyiwei don't need to try the case of Master Baichen."

"Feng Yu, you will go to the East Pacification Office in person tomorrow for a trial."

"Yes, I will take my leave now."

Watching Jiang Yun turn around and leave, thinking about the 50,000 taels of silver that came into the treasury, Xiao Yuzheng said in a deep voice: "I finally understand the thoughts of those corrupt officials."

"No matter what you think, it is indeed difficult for this amount of money to withstand such a test."

The treasury was indeed short of money, and the national treasury had become increasingly tight in recent years. Even a large portion of the funds for drought relief in Xishu Province were allocated from the treasury.

Feng Yu beside him said with a smile: "Your Majesty, this Jiang Yun is quite interesting. He is willing to give the confiscated money to Your Majesty, which shows that he has no selfish motives and is a good official who is dedicated to the country."

"After this incident, he was promoted to centurion."

After all, he was taking money from someone, so Xiao Yuzheng had to give some benefits to make it justifiable.

After leaving the palace, Jiang Yun felt relieved. He also had a rough idea of how to distribute the remaining 40,000 taels of silver.

A total of more than 150 Jinyiwei from the Dongzhenfusi were mobilized to participate in the house seizure.

One hundred taels per person.

That’s fifteen thousand taels of silver.

The remaining 25,000 taels were given to Yang Liunian and Li Zhihuishi each with 5,000 taels.

Eunuch Feng Yu must also send five thousand taels of money.

In addition, there were 5,000 taels for Xu Xiaogang and Xu Suwen, a brother and sister.

By this calculation, he only had five thousand taels of silver left.

What Wei Huaian said is correct.

Confiscating property is really profitable...

The chief flag bearer of the Embroidered Uniform Guard was a well-known figure in the capital, with a monthly salary of more than thirty taels, which was considered a top-tier salary.

If you want to save up this much money, you have to go without food or drink for thirty years.

"Go home and sleep, and we'll divide the money tomorrow."

It is getting late today, and many valuable calligraphy and paintings, antiques and toys are difficult to convert into cash.

Everyone went home and rested early.

At the breakfast shop outside the East Zhenfusi Gate, Jiang Yun, Xu Suwen, and Xu Xiaogang came here to have breakfast early in the morning.

"Xiao Gang, go and sell all those calligraphy and antiques for cash, and then send them to Commander Li and Captain Yang as I said."

Jiang Yun drank the soy milk in the bowl and took a bite of the fried cake.

"Okay, brother-in-law." Xu Xiaogang nodded, and then asked, "If you ask me, you should keep the five thousand taels for now and use it as my sister's betrothal gift. Why are you in such a hurry to give it to us? Are we two siblings short of money?"

Xu Suwen quickly kicked him on the heel and glared at him: "You are the only one who talks too much."

"Hiss." Xu Xiaogang rubbed his legs, feeling a little aggrieved: "I'm telling the truth."

At this moment, a gorgeous carriage came from the direction of the capital, and Jiang Yun recognized it as Feng Yu's carriage.

After quickly eating the pancake, he said, "I'll go see Eunuch Feng first."

He ran quickly to the carriage, and the eunuch driving the carriage turned around respectfully and lifted the curtain.

Feng Yu wore a black gauze hat with curved feet and gold decoration, a narrow shirt with a flower-patterned collar on the chest and back, a black horn belt around his waist, and black boots on his feet.

Jiang Yun hurried forward to support him and said with a smile, "Eunuch Feng, good morning."

"Yes." Feng Yu nodded slowly, but did not exchange pleasantries. Instead, he went straight to the point: "Let's go and meet Master Bai Chen."

Feng Yu from the Eastern Pacification Office was familiar with the situation. Under the leadership of Jiang Yun, he headed straight towards the imperial prison.

Inside the imperial prison, there were delicious pastries and meals placed in front of the cells. Of course, this was also Yang Liunian's order.

The food standard in the imperial prison during this period has risen sharply.

However, all the Taoists did not touch the breakfast cakes to express their dissatisfaction.

Master Bai Chen also sat cross-legged in a prison cell, but he was unable to calm down and meditate.

Soon, Feng Yu and Jiang Yun entered the imperial prison.

Feng Yu then smiled and politely came to the prison of Lingguzi: "Master Lingguzi, you are not suitable to stay in this prison. I will have someone send you back to Baiyun Temple later."

Ling Guzi opened his eyes and saw Feng Yu. His attitude was not so cold. Instead, he slowly stood up and said, "Eunuch Feng, we have known each other for many years. Baiyun Temple has always been law-abiding."

"Bai Chen accidentally burned the plaque bestowed by His Majesty. It was an unintentional mistake."

"If you say that we at Baiyun Temple are plotting rebellion, I'm afraid that's not fair."

As he spoke, Ling Guzi's eyes would occasionally look towards Jiang Yun.

Feng Yu laughed and said, "Your Majesty has always been fair. Since Master Baichen has admitted that he was the one who burned the plaque, then the matter is very simple."

"According to the laws of the Great Zhou Dynasty, he should be beheaded."

When Master Baichen, who was in the prison not far away, heard this, his expression changed slightly.

When Ling Guzi heard this, his face darkened. Although he knew that Master Bai Chen was at fault in this matter, he had watched her grow up step by step with his own eyes.

Besides, she has been managing Baiyun Temple for so many years, and even if she has no credit, she has worked hard.

Ling Guzi sighed and asked, "Eunuch Feng, is there no room for negotiation?"

"No." Feng Yu said with a cold face.

(End of this chapter)