Qing Yao

Chapter 262 Is the old master asleep? It's urgent!

Fu Zhongtang spoke naturally, because he was not an honest official.

If the Qing Dynasty had a list of corrupt officials, then He Zhongtang would definitely be ranked first, and Fu Zhongtang would be ranked second.

This was practically an open secret in the imperial court.

The methods of accumulating wealth are nothing more than embezzlement of project funds, interception of funds and grain, acceptance of bribes and sharing of spoils, and using one's official power to engage in various industries.

Fu Zhongtang owned as many as 36 mansions in the capital and Shengjing alone, some of which were far more luxurious than those of a prince.

In addition, more than 20 money shops and banks in the capital's financial industry were controlled by Fuzhongtang. At present, the largest private bank in the Qing Dynasty, Tongzhou Money Shop, was exclusively operated by Fuzhongtang, with business covering the whole country and annual revenue reaching tens of millions of taels.

Two years ago, Prime Minister Agui and his staff estimated the assets of Heshen and Fu Chang'an, concluding that Heshen's assets were more than ten times the annual income of the Qing Dynasty's national treasury, while Fu Chang'an's assets were at least equivalent to five years' annual income.

This was Agui's conservative estimate. In reality, the couple's assets were likely far greater than he estimated, with their movable and immovable property totaling over a billion taels of silver.

However, although Heshen's wealth far exceeded that of Fu Chang'an, it was the result of Heshen's many years of management, while Fu Chang'an's wealth was accumulated in just a few years. Calculated by the average annual rate of wealth accumulation, Fu Chang'an's business ability clearly surpassed that of Heshen.

A small incident reveals Fu Chang'an's greed: the Imperial Household Department had a stockpile of 6 jin of Liaoning sea cucumbers, but Fu Chang'an had hoarded 680 jin of Liaoning sea cucumbers in his home. Liaoning sea cucumbers were worth as much as gold.

This shows just how audacious Fu Chang'an was, and the old master knew about it but didn't pursue the matter at all.

Heshen sometimes envied Fu Chang'an and suspected that the rumors that Fu Chang'an was the old master's illegitimate son were very likely true, otherwise why would he have allowed Fu Chang'an to amass wealth so freely?

In contrast, Fukang'an, who held a higher political position and commanded the Qing military, had far less wealth than his brother. To supplement military expenses, he even secretly smuggled timber.

A comparison of the two brothers seems to confirm the rumors.

If Heshen hadn't wanted to win over Fukang'an, who held military power, he probably wouldn't have gotten so close to Fuchang'an. After all, Fuchang'an had achieved early success, becoming the Deputy Commander of the Manchu Plain Red Banner and Minister of the Military Equipment Bureau at the age of sixteen, and also serving as the Minister of the Imperial Household Department. He was not only arrogant but also extremely foolish, never thinking before he acted and speaking recklessly, making him a typical "pig teammate".

If the new emperor who succeeds to the throne is not Prince Yongxing, Fu Chang'an's brother-in-law, but Prince Yongyan, Fu Chang'an will definitely not have a good ending.

Of course, Heshen was the same, because he had been betting on Yongxing all these years and had done a lot of things that offended Yongyan.

Fortunately, judging from the old master's expression, it was clear that the crown prince was Yongxing, which put Heshen at ease.

Last year, Heshen took a fancy to the house of Mingzhu, a powerful minister during the Kangxi era, and sent people several times to signal to Cheng'an, a descendant of Mingzhu, that he should sell the house to him. However, Cheng'an refused to agree no matter what.

Heshen was furious, but helpless, because he disliked forcibly taking other people's property.

Unexpectedly, a few days ago, the old master suddenly asked about Mingzhu's house, and it seemed from his tone that he wanted to bestow the house upon Prince Yongxing.

Previously, the old master appointed Yongxing as the Grand Commander to oversee the affairs of the eight major military governors of Manchuria. Now, he wants to bestow Mingzhu's old residence upon Yongxing, all of which strongly suggest that Yongxing is the heir apparent.

Heshen, trying to figure out the emperor's intentions, wanted to fabricate charges to imprison Cheng'an so that he could vacate the house in a legitimate way. However, the old master had just bestowed two new official positions upon him, leaving Heshen with no time to handle this matter.

Hearing Fu Chang'an mention that Zhao Youlu, whom he employed, was entangled with Sun Shiyi, who was going to Liangjiang, he couldn't help but ask Fu Chang'an to show him the memorial.

As Fu Chang'an got up to deliver the memorial, he shouted, "Minister He, if Zhao Youlu weren't one of your men, I'd be doing this for no reason. Hey, this kid really wants to eat our food and then smash our bowl. Then don't blame me for making him pay. The master can promote him ten ranks in less than a year, but I can make him go back to square one! If I get really angry, I might even send this kid to Ningguta!"

He was very open and unreserved, as if all the Manchu and Han secretaries and scribes in the Grand Council were his people. Hearing this, Heshen frowned slightly, but he was helpless and could only silently open Sun Shiyi's memorial to read it carefully.

After reading it, I was also surprised.

Heshen promoted Zhao An not only because Zhao An set a good example for officials nationwide by voluntarily paying a thousand taels of silver to settle his crimes, but also because Zhao An's "education industrialization concept" could help the Imperial Household Department increase revenue and fill its financial hole.

Therefore, even if Zhao An was a corrupt official, Heshen would still give him important positions.

When he employs people, he always seeks talent, not virtue.

Unexpectedly, according to Sun Shiyi, this kid was not only capable, but also incredibly honest and incorruptible, a veritable modern-day Yu Chenglong. This left Heshen completely baffled.

If he wasn't greedy, where did the thousand taels of silver for the punishment come from?
If he doesn't make money, how is this kid going to repay the 100,000 taels of high-interest loan he borrowed from Hengli Money Shop in Yangzhou?
Could it really be that the tuition fees for the next five years of study at Yangzhou Prefectural School were used to offset the cost?

Based on this calculation, this kid is clearly a shrewd individual.

How can someone who is shrewd be associated with being honest and upright?

Would an honest official ever think of borrowing money at exorbitant interest rates to bribe the current vice prime minister?
Heshen was completely baffled and found it increasingly difficult to understand that kid "Zhao Youlu".

Fu Chang'an was also extremely frustrated. He had specially sent someone to Yangzhou to "select" Zhao Youlu, and even specially approved a budget of 100,000 taels of silver for the young man's expenses, all so that the young man could be his personal ATM after taking office. And this is what you do to me?
If you're not greedy, what good are you to me?
Heshen put down the memorial, glanced at Fu Chang'an who looked dissatisfied, and said with a smile, "Minister Fu, isn't being an honest official a good thing?"

"What a bird!"

Fu Chang'an said with a look of annoyance, "I've put a lot of effort into this kid, so don't let me end up with nothing."

"Oh?"

Heshen was stunned and asked Fu Chang'an what he had done to Zhao Youlu.

"This"

Knowing he was speechless, Fu Chang'an stammered and hesitated to speak.

Seeing this, Heshen could easily guess that Fu Chang'an was probably after the grain transport. He said seriously, "Some money can be earned, but some money cannot. The grain transport is related to the foundation of our dynasty. I advise you not to have any ideas about it."

Upon hearing this, Fu Chang'an became excited and said that from the imperial court to the local level, countless officials were eyeing the lucrative grain transport quota. Every official could take a bite, so why couldn't he get involved?

Heshen didn't know how to explain to Fu Chang'an. After thinking for a moment, he picked up the teapot and pointed to the teacup, saying, "The grain transport is like this teapot, and this teacup is like the imperial court. As long as the imperial court can fill this bowl, it doesn't matter if the tea in this pot is poured or spilled, because others can also have a sip. But if you, Fu Chang'an, also want to pour a bowl, there won't be enough tea to go around."

It's a metaphor for an ecosystem.

The vested interests surrounding the Grand Canal included not only court officials, but also ordinary people and merchants along the route. Maintaining the current balance of the Grand Canal was, to some extent, maintaining the stability of the Qing Dynasty.

Therefore, even though the imperial court knew that the Grand Canal had too many drawbacks, it could not abolish it, because of the word "stability".

But if you, Fu Chang'an, take action, it will definitely disrupt this ecological balance, because among those officials who embezzle grain, none are as ruthless as you, Fu Zhongtang.
You think a pittance like Fu Zhongtang?
The lion's share ends up in your hands, Fu Zhongtang, so what will everyone else eat and drink?
They can't go without food and drink, so the result is that the already overburdened people are exploited even more, which can easily trigger popular uprisings and shake the foundation of the country.

Fu Chang'an, embarrassed by Heshen's words, said, "How did talking about that kid get dragged into me?"

Heshen stopped there, then turned his gaze to Sun Shiyi's memorial and said in a deep voice, "An honest official who does nothing is not as good as a corrupt official who does something; a corrupt official who can accomplish things is better than an honest official who ruins the government."

Fu Chang'an asked, puzzled, "What do you mean?"

"If an honest official does nothing, he is no better than a corrupt official; if a corrupt official can do something, he is worse than an honest official who does nothing."

Heshen was also speechless. Fu Chang'an and his elder brother Fu Kang'an were both raised in the palace by the old master from a young age and received the same education as the princes. How come their knowledge and experience were so different?

"Could you please explain this more clearly, Your Excellency? This is all so vague and confusing."

Fu Chang'an was somewhat embarrassed, as he didn't quite understand what Heshen was saying.

"From what I know, Zhao Youlu is a capable person. As long as he is capable, it doesn't matter whether he is honest or corrupt. If he is a good official who is both capable and incorruptible, it is a blessing for the court and the emperor. We can give him full rein, which will also show that you and I know how to make good use of people."

Heshen's words were heartfelt. He himself was favored by the old master and rose to prominence because of his ability to get things done. Unfortunately, after becoming a high-ranking official, he failed to uphold the bottom line of integrity.

But in the Qing Dynasty, such integrity was meaningless.

If He Shen had truly been an honest official, he probably wouldn't have made it this far.

"Does the Grand Secretary really mean we should go to the Master to ask for a reward for Zhao Youlu?"

Fu Chang'an, who will turn 30 next month, is still somewhat uncomfortable, feeling that this is too easy on Zhao Youlu.

I don't know if the loan has been disbursed in Jiangning yet. If it hasn't, we need to send someone to notify them to tighten credit and clear Zhao Youlu's credit limit.

Heshen was also pondering, but he was thinking about how Sun Shiyi had "praised" his people to the Emperor. Was Zhao Youlu really worthy of Sun Shiyi's praise, or had this Grand Secretary Sun changed his mind after going to Liangjiang and wanted to befriend him and the Grand Secretary in order to return to the central government?

Just as he was pondering this, Fu Chang'an suddenly exclaimed, "Hey, does Grand Secretary He remember the memorial submitted by Zhu Gui, the Governor of Anhui?"

"Zhu Gui?"

Interrupted from his thoughts, Heshen looked up at Fu Chang'an, who chuckled and said, "Zhu Gui's memorial accused Zhao Youlu of seeking fame and fortune and of abusing his power to bully his subordinates. Sun Shiyi's memorial, however, said that Zhao Youlu was a model of honest and capable officials. So, one of the Governor of Anhui and the Governor-General of Liangjiang must be lying. Who do you think is the one lying, Your Excellency?"

No sooner had he finished speaking than Heshen raised an eyebrow: "Is the master resting now?"

(End of this chapter)