You can't only love the Qing Dynasty when you're eating the fruits of others' labor.

Chapter 134 The Wheat Ripens 3000 Times, The First Time the Ministry of Revenue Was Disbanded

Household Department.

The newly appointed head of the South Archives, Zhou Shao, was extremely busy, and his 10 subordinates were even busier than usual.

Finance is the backbone of an empire; a court without money cannot stand tall.

The key to the Ministry of Revenue was its archives. The southern archives housed the population registers of the Eight Banners soldiers, while the northern archives housed the annual revenue and expenditure records of the funds sent to the capital from various provinces.

The clerk knew the significance of the file.

Zhou Shao, who came from a background as a secretary in the Ministry of Personnel, decisively purged everyone in the two departments. More than 30 people, including clerks, were imprisoned in one day, all on charges of "embezzlement, perverting the law, and obstructing reforms."

Changing mindsets is difficult; changing people is easy.

Changing people can temporarily change mindsets, but a long-term change is wishful thinking.

Jiang Qingyun felt deeply that he had few people in his pocket, even fewer talented people, and even fewer people he could call comrades.

If you don't have enough money, you can borrow it.

What to do if we don't have enough people?
……

inner city.

A letter to the Manchu bannermen in the inner city was posted on the wall at the intersection of the two main streets.

Many Manchu people passing by, even though they had already seen it, couldn't help but stop and take another look. It's human nature; people like to look at good news more often.

"Ninth Master, why is there such a large empty space at the bottom of this notice?"

"Leave blank space."

"What?"

"Leaving blank space is a technique used by Han Chinese painters. I don't know much about it, but in short, it's important."

Chenshi.

Two yamen runners from Shuntian Prefecture suddenly appeared and added a line of red text to the blank space—

Good news: The Ministry of Revenue Affairs Process Reform Team has been established! On their first day at the Ministry of Revenue, they apprehended eight corrupt officials!
"Good thing."

"This is a great thing, he should be beheaded."

……

The next day, Chenshi.

The yamen runners from Shuntian Prefecture arrived again, adding another line of red text beneath the blank space—

The situation is excellent! The Eight Banners Salary Office is under construction! Increase salaries immediately! Increase salaries right away! Increase salaries very soon!
Many people gathered around, whispering among themselves.

It's definitely a good thing if the crop yields can rise, as it affects the livelihood of the whole family.

The third day, at Chen Shi (7-9 AM).

The yamen runners from Shuntian Prefecture arrived again, adding another line of red text—

The situation is at a stalemate! A small group of die-hards lurking within the Ministry of Revenue are attempting to obstruct the task force's reform efforts.

The crowd was in an uproar.

Many people wanted to go home, grab a knife, and go to the Ministry of Revenue, but fortunately, with the February 226 Incident as a precedent, these people were all suppressed by their respective commanders.

The fourth day, still at Chen Shi (7-9 AM).

The yamen runners came again.

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, he wrote a line of red text—

Major breakthrough: The Emperor is wise and powerful, and Minister Jiang Qingyun acts swiftly and decisively, dismissing all officials of the Ministry of Revenue of the seventh rank and above on the spot, and ordering the Five Cities Garrison to forcibly take over the Ministry of Revenue.

There was an uproar.

Everyone was stunned and felt very uncomfortable.

Who should I praise? Who should I criticize? I'm a bit confused.

Throughout the entire inner city, apart from the two Yellow Banners, almost no one had a good impression of Jiang Qingyun. There were at least 80,000 to 100,000 Banner soldiers who wanted to kill him.

……

In the distance, a green sedan chair passed by.

Grand Secretary Fan Wencheng lifted the curtain and saw a crowd gathered around, which seemed unusual, and his heart skipped a beat.

"Alight from the sedan chair!"

"Master, what are your orders?"

"Go see what's going on?"

A short while later, the assistant returned and truthfully recounted the newly added content under the notice.

"Lift the sedan chair!"

Inside the sedan chair~
Fan Wencheng's expression changed drastically. For a clerk from Shuntian Prefecture to work for Jiang Qingyun was no small matter. It should be known that in officialdom, commanding an office not subordinate to one's own system is virtually impossible.

Jiang Qingyun's ability to command Shuntian Prefecture like dogs means that he has already gained control of all armed forces in the capital except for the Manchu bannermen!
"This is not a blessing for the Qing Dynasty, it is not a blessing for the Qing Dynasty."

Fan Wencheng couldn't sleep that night. He really wanted to go to the palace to remind Shunzhi that it was dangerous for things to continue like this. In any case, the Five Cities Garrison and Shuntian Prefecture could not be controlled by the same person.

However, reason told me that I absolutely could not start a conflict without being absolutely certain of success. The fate of Grand Secretary Chen Mingxia was a stark warning.

……

About an hour ago~
Jiang Qingyun suddenly ordered the Ministry of Revenue to be forcibly dissolved, and all officials were driven out of the building. Soldiers used scabbards, fists, and spear shafts to beat the officials until they tumbled and crawled away.

The scene was quite undignified at one point.

A group of officials from the Ministry of Revenue, still in shock, were complaining to their colleagues from other government offices who had come to see what was going on.

"This is insane! This is insane! The wheat has ripened 3000 times, and this is the first time the Ministry of Revenue has been dissolved."

"I have never seen such an extraordinary person in my life!"

"Now that's it, the Ministry of Revenue is completely paralyzed, the Qing Dynasty is finished, finished, really finished."

"Next month, none of you will receive your salaries."

"Salaries are nothing, frontline pay is the real issue."

"If the army's pay is cut off and they suffer a defeat, it's the perfect opportunity to kill Jiang Qingyun."

Everyone took turns expressing their dissatisfaction.

……

The Court of State Ceremonial had the most idle people and the least serious business, so they loved to stir up trouble and cause a ruckus.

"Gentlemen, you must protest!"

“Write a petition in blood and go to the Meridian Gate to plead for justice.”

"What protest? Nonsense. Just listen to me, everyone go home, have a few drinks, read some leisurely books, and let's just wait and see who gives in first."

"What about Prince Duanzhong? What did he say?"

Before the words were even finished...
Prince Bolo, who was in charge of the Ministry of Revenue, arrived with his troops, exuding a murderous aura. Everyone was clad in armor and charged straight at the Ministry of Revenue's office.

The city guards from the Five Cities Garrison, who were standing guard at the entrance of the Ministry of Revenue, quickly pulled up barricades, set up long spears, and deployed a team of crossbowmen.

"Your Highness, please calm down. We will go in and inform them immediately."

"Announcement my ass, get out of the way."

"Your Highness may enter, but the rest of you are not allowed."

At the officer's command, the crossbowmen raised their crossbows in unison and aimed them at the guards behind Bolo.

……

at this time.

Jiang Qingyun was still having a private talk with Zhou Shao in the archives.

"Third brother, have you been thinking about disbanding the Ministry of Revenue for a long time?"

"Brother, no, it was really a spur-of-the-moment decision. It's a bold decision, but the chances of success are high. After taking control of the Ministry of Revenue, you will take the helm."

"What do we do next?"

"Close down for good."

"Third brother, this is a serious matter, don't joke around. If the Ministry of Revenue stops operating for half a month, land taxes, salaries, banner pay, reports, military expenses, local operations, and disaster relief projects will all come to a standstill. You, you've caused a huge disaster."

“Brother, this is what I’m thinking. Recall a small group of experts, and then supplement with a large group of laymen. The former will do the work, and the latter will supervise. We will take charge of the Ministry of Revenue one matter at a time, according to their importance and urgency.”

"The key still lies with the Emperor."

"Don't worry, the Emperor will definitely support me, because I reported in the Wenhua Hall that I was acting in accordance with the imperial decree, and all the officials heard it with their own ears."

Zhou Shao was dumbfounded, then laughed until tears streamed down his face.

"Third brother, I admire you."

……

There was a commotion outside.

Bolo entered alone, furious.

"Jiang Qingyun, what the hell are you? What have you done to my Ministry of Revenue? Get the hell out here!"

Jiang Qingyun and Zhou Shao exchanged a glance.
"Third brother, trouble is coming."

"What's there to be afraid of? I've faced trouble all the way here. If trouble doesn't come looking for me, I'll go looking for trouble."

(End of this chapter)