Qing Yao

Chapter 407 My Lord, You're So Bad
Anqing City.

After returning from suppressing the bandits, Zhao An stopped going to work and spent his days hiding in the backyard exchanging technical advice with Wanqing and Chunlan. Afterward, he would play with his two children, enjoying himself so much that he forgot all about work. Anyway, no one was supervising whether he had clocked in or not, and he didn't need to report to his superiors in the group chat.

The affairs of the governor's office and the provincial governor's office were handled by Lao Song and Zheng Fuyang, while the affairs of Anqing City were handled by Song Jiawen of Anqing Prefecture, judicial matters were handled by Provincial Judge Zhang, and educational matters were handled by Education Commissioner Xu.
Wait, Professor Xue Zheng?
The academic affairs officer is here again!
Yang Xiaoshuan, who was temporarily acting as Zhao An's steward, smiled wryly: "Brother An, Lord Xu is here again. This is the sixth time. Should we see him or not?"

"If you don't want to see me, just say I twisted my back yesterday and it's inconvenient for me to see guests."

Zhao An looked like a rogue.

Xiao Shuan hesitated for a moment: "Brother An, why don't you go see him? You saw how Lord Xu looked, with tears in his eyes. He looked so pitiful."

Xiao Shuan was a kind-hearted man, and what he said was the truth. The old master was not just pitiful at this moment, he was practically contemplating suicide.

Because it's all a scam!

More than a month ago, the old master was taken by Lao Song to Xianfeng Bank to discuss repayment. As a result, Manager Liu of Xianfeng Bank said that Hengli Bank of the Imperial Household Department had a low-interest "bridging loan" that could solve the old master's urgent problem. The procedures were also very simple. The old master only needed to sign and seal the entrusted loan contract, and Hengli could lend him 100,000 taels.

At that time, not only will the 60,000 taels debt to Xianfeng be repaid, but after deducting 5,000 taels in handling fees, 35,000 taels will still be deposited into the old master's account. If the provincial treasury bears 60,000 taels for repayment, and the education funds for the first quarter of next year are allocated to the education administration department, the old master can easily squeeze out 100,000 taels to repay the debt.

In short, the repayment pressure is not great, after all, there is no reason for the old master to have spent all 35,000 taels.

What can I do?
With nowhere else to turn, the old master gritted his teeth and signed the entrusted loan contract.

Little did they know, this was the beginning of an even bigger nightmare!
Of the 100,000 taels of silver borrowed from Hengli, 60,000 taels were indeed used to repay the debt to Xianfeng Bank, and the old master accepted the 5,000 taels handling fee. However, he did not see a single copper coin of the remaining 35,000 taels!

Someone went to inquire, and Manager Li of Xianfeng Bank handed over a document stating that Hengli Bank, based on its internal planning and business segmentation regulations, determined that although the old master was a high-ranking local official of the third rank, his actual income was insufficient to repay the loan. To avoid unnecessary losses, the remaining 35,000 taels were temporarily withheld by Hengli for risk hedging.

In short, it's a very professional explanation.

It probably means insufficient credit limit.

If they don't pay the remaining amount, so be it. The old master isn't in a hurry to spend the money anyway. But with the repayment date fast approaching, the promised 60,000 taels from the provincial treasury has yet to arrive, while Hengli Money Shop keeps sending overdue payment notices.

Hengli is a big brand. Its chairman is an old master from Beijing, and its general manager is a high-ranking official from the Military Affairs Department. As the largest high-interest loan company in the empire, everything Hengli does is legal and compliant.

If there is a problem, it is the Qing Dynasty law that is problematic, not Hengli.

Here's the problem: if you, Master, are shameless enough to borrow money from a private bank, you can actually avoid paying it back, but can you really avoid paying back money borrowed from the Emperor?
The current situation is that the Education Commissioner has done nothing and seen no money, yet he has been burdened with a huge debt of 100,000 taels out of thin air, and interest and penalties have already been incurred.

The flustered academic official, upon learning of Zhao An's return, immediately sought him out to resolve the loan issue.

The first time I came, I was told that Lord Zhao had returned from a victorious campaign and was exhausted. The second time, Lord Zhao had gone out of the city on patrol. The third time, he was inspecting industry and commerce. The fourth time, he was going to the countryside to provide assistance. The sixth time, he had caught a cold.
Anyway, despite visiting the provincial education commissioner six times, I still couldn't get an audience with him.

Even a bookworm would understand what's going on at this point!
This time, the provincial education commissioner is prepared to risk everything and force his way in, even if it means dying here!
A dignified master of a province died in the provincial governor's office. I'm afraid even you, Zhao Youlu, will be in deep trouble!
Anyone can fight to the death.
Therefore, when Yang Xiaoshuan informed the Education Commissioner Zhao that he had unfortunately twisted his back and was unable to receive guests, the Education Commissioner rushed inside without saying a word.

He knew this place well; he had trespassed here before and ended up with a mountain of debt.

However, no one stopped him this time, so the Academician easily saw Zhao An leisurely drinking tea in the flower hall.

Where did you twist your back?

This scene enraged the provincial education commissioner, who stormed in and pointed at Zhao An's nose, yelling, "Zhao Youlu, you colluded with the people from the money shop to cheat me! You've gone too far!"

"Lord Xu, what are you saying? What do you mean I colluded with the people from the money shop to cheat you? When have I ever wronged you? Please explain everything, Lord Xu!"

Zhao An waved for the soldiers who had rushed in to leave, and Yang Xiaoshuan followed them in to persuade the provincial education commissioner to sit down and talk.

Regardless of whether the other party is lying to you, you still need to tell them what happened.

Having money is always better than a lose-lose situation.

The academic official, who had just sat down, recounted the whole story in a muffled voice.

Upon hearing this, Zhao An slammed his fist on the table in anger and roared, "Who gave Hengli Money Shop the audacity to cheat government officials like this! Guards, shut down this black-hearted money shop for me!"

However, Zhao An soon realized that he had no right to do so, because Hengli Bank was a major bank operated by the Imperial Household Department, and he could not investigate it with his authority.

Moreover, Hengli Money Shop was registered in the capital, and the old master had borrowed the money from Hengli's Yangzhou branch.

We can't just block people across provinces, can we?

"The Imperial Household Department?"

Zhao An frowned, his expression showing his deep fear of the Imperial Household Department. After thinking for a long time, he said helplessly, "Well then, Lord Xu, you don't need to be in such a hurry. I will send you a document to inquire about the situation and see what exactly happened."

The academic official felt a chill run down his spine. What was this talk of sending a document to inquire about the situation? It was clearly just a delaying tactic!

He finally realized that he had been completely tricked by this scoundrel in front of him.

This whole thing was a trap from the start; the other party was plotting something and waiting for him to fall into it!

As a result, the academic official, who had spent his whole life studying the classics and had no social experience, fell headlong into this carefully designed trap and is now in a desperate situation with no one to turn to for help!
In an instant, a chill ran from the soles of his feet straight to the top of the head of the Academician, causing his vision to go black and almost making him faint.

Fear and humiliation shattered the last vestiges of reason in the student council member.

"Zhao Youlu, you scoundrel! I'll fight you to the death!"

After a roar, the Academic Commissioner suddenly grabbed a chair and hurled it at the unarmed Zhao An, but Zhao An managed to stop it in mid-air with his right hand.

What a joke! He's one of the top ten hooligans in Xinghua County, his skills are unmatched in the town, how could a mere college graduate compare?

"Lord Xu, why are you going to such lengths? We are colleagues, it's not necessary, it's not necessary at all."

With one hand gripping the top of the chair leg, the Education Commissioner Zhao An, his face flushed, sighed, "Does Lord Xu really think I am the kind of villain who drives people to the brink? Everything can be discussed. Sir, sit down and calm down. Let's discuss this further, shall we?"

"Pooh!"

The provincial education commissioner spat, his eyes blazing with fury. "Zhao Youlu, you went to great lengths to trick me into lending you 100,000 taels of silver! I've lived an honest life, how am I supposed to repay you? You're not just trying to kill me, you're trying to ruin my reputation!"

In his excitement, he exerted force with both hands again, but the chair "suspended" in mid-air remained completely still.

"Now that things have come to this, I am indeed a villain in the eyes of adults, so what? Problems should be solved. Whether it's arguing, cursing, or even fighting, it won't solve your problem. Why not sit down and discuss it properly? Perhaps Lord Xu will not only avoid being disgraced, but also gain real wealth and honor."

Zhao An was much stronger than Xue Zhengda, and with a slight effort, the chair landed firmly on the ground.

"you!"

The academician's struggling movements paused slightly. He stared wide-eyed at Zhao An, who was panting heavily. He clearly did not believe it, but he couldn't help wanting to hear more.

It is clear that what Zhao An just said was quite tempting.

"My lord, please be patient and let me explain slowly."

With a smile on his face, Zhao An pressed the Education Commissioner into a chair and whispered in his ear, "As long as Lord Xu listens to me, I will repay the 100,000 taels of silver on your behalf. In addition, I will give you another 100,000 taels after the matter is completed. How about that?"

These words made the Academic Commissioner's heart pound uncontrollably, and he stammered, "Zhao Youlu, what do you want me to do?"

"Don't worry, Lord Xu, it's nothing immoral. All you need to do is have us join forces with the respected gentry and elders in the province to submit a memorial to the court."

After saying that, Zhao An handed the teacup that had already been brewed to the Academic Affairs Officer.

"Memorial to the throne?"

The academic official had a vague idea of ​​what was going on, and his palms began to sweat.

Zhao An nodded: "That's right. I request the court to consider the previous great disaster in Anhui, the devastation of the people, and the empty treasury. In order to restore the local vitality, I request Your Majesty to grant permission to establish a temporary donation system in Anhui."

Although he had already guessed the other party's purpose, the academic director almost jumped up from his chair like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.

Throughout his life, he championed integrity and despised nothing more than the corrupt practice of accepting donations that undermined officialdom and tarnished culture!

Making him and Zhao An jointly submit a memorial requesting the opening of donations would be worse than killing him.

"Lord Xu, please don't get agitated. Have some tea, have some tea."

Zhao An picked up his teacup and took a couple of sips before speaking softly, "Let's be frank. If Lord Xu doesn't agree to the donation, then you'll have to bear the burden of this loan from the Imperial Household Department yourself. You must know the Imperial Household Department's methods. Do you really think that you, a third-rank educational commissioner, are more powerful than the Imperial Household Department?"

After saying this, he patted the troubled Education Commissioner on the shoulder with sincerity, "Besides, this matter is a good thing for the people of this province to restore their livelihood. If the court approves it, millions of people will only remember your kindness. Who doesn't say that the old master is wise and pragmatic and a good official who is wholeheartedly for the people?"

"This"

The academic official was undoubtedly torn between his conscience and his inner thoughts.

Zhao An gave him plenty of time to think it over. He was already on the boat, so what? He couldn't possibly jump off now.

After a long pause, the Education Commissioner's somewhat weak and shy voice came from beside him: "Your Excellency, you should have told me earlier that you were doing a good deed for the people. Why make me so embarrassed? Um, when will the 100,000 taels be paid after this is done?"

(End of this chapter)