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

Chapter 138: Three steps forward, one step back.
The 20th day of the second month of the lunar calendar in the eighth year of the Shunzhi reign.

With the strong support of the Five Cities Military Command, Shuntian Prefecture, Ministry of Justice, and Court of Judicial Review, the Imperial Decree's Task Force for Reforming the Ministry of Revenue's Administrative Procedures completed the screening process after nine days of arduous work.

Except for 20 people who were lucky enough to remain in their posts, all the other officials were imprisoned. Their confessions were detailed and their crimes were irrefutable. The price was that the jailers of You'anmen Prison broke more than a dozen gongs.

Inner three courtyards.

Emperor Shunzhi personally attended the scene and listened to the report on the case.

Fan Wencheng, Ning Wanwo, and others who assisted in the case, including Shuntian Prefect Sony, Minister of Justice Li Shuaitai, and Dali Temple Chief Justice Zhu Guozhi, were all present.

The files were piled high, neatly categorized and very organized.

It even has a "table of contents" and a "summary". You can quickly find the document you need by searching the table of contents.

Only Jiang Qingyun knew that his long-dormant "deputy section chief syndrome" had resurfaced. He couldn't resist the urge to use his skills from years ago when dealing with surprise inspections from superiors.

……

Shunzhi's arm was trembling slightly; the case file was truly shocking.

A total of 247 officials, clerks, and soldiers from the Ministry of Revenue were involved in the case, along with 21 other officials from various government offices. It is estimated that more than 300 million taels of silver were involved. So far, confessions have been confirmed for 90 taels of silver, and the whereabouts of the remaining silver are still being investigated.

"Minister Jiang, from which year did you begin your investigation?"

"The first year of the Shunzhi reign."

"No, I think you should start investigating from the first year of Chongzhen's reign."

"The minister obeys the order."

Jiang Qingyun remained unfazed, thinking to himself, "Using the sword of this dynasty to execute officials of the previous dynasty isn't entirely impossible. After all, officials of the previous dynasty are officials of this dynasty."

Next to each stack of files was a summary, handwritten by Jiang Qingyun in small regular script, showcasing his calligraphy skills.

Shunzhi looked through them one by one.

A bewildered question:
"How come these people can always profit from whatever they do?"

Everyone was silent.

Jiang Qingyun added, "Because they are professionals, financial experts."

Zhu Guozhi raised his head slightly, and he vaguely realized that Jiang Qingyun's technique was very skillful and worth studying.

……

"My dear ministers, please take a look."

Emperor Shunzhi sighed, put his hands behind his back, and walked out of the duty room.

Jiang Qingyun followed him out, while the others browsed the case files in the duty room, reading quickly and focusing only on the key points.

Outside~
"My dear minister, I truly did not expect the Ministry of Revenue to be in such a state of chaos."

"Your Majesty is wise. These scoundrels have brought all the bad habits of the former Ming Dynasty to our Great Qing."

"But the Ministry of Revenue still has more than 60 Manchu officials. How come they also fell into corruption?"

Jiang Qingyun remained silent.

After a while~
Shunzhi turned his head: "Tell me, how should we deal with these people?"

"Execute them all immediately, confiscate their property, and do everything possible to make up for the losses to the national treasury."

"Where is Bolo?"

"Please make the decision, Your Majesty."

"What will happen to the Ministry of Revenue's affairs after these people are killed?"

"I'll say it again: if Zhang the butcher dies, we won't eat a pig with hair on. At worst, things will be chaotic for a year or two, but things will get better after that. Military pay will definitely be guaranteed, and salaries and bannermen's pay will be guaranteed as much as possible. Even if there is a slight delay, it will be made up later. Your Majesty, this is a good opportunity to see the reactions of your ministers. The treacherous officials will jump out on their own."

Emperor Shunzhi nodded.

"With the spring harvest just around the corner, the Ministry of Revenue needs to resume normal operations as soon as possible, and the officials in charge need to be in place. Do you have any suitable candidates?"

"I recommend someone."

"Who?"

“My close friend, Zhou Shao, the principal clerk of the Ministry of Revenue, is a steady and experienced man, and his loyalty is no less than mine.”

"Let him serve as acting Right Vice Minister, with his rank remaining unchanged at the sixth grade." "Thank you, Your Majesty."

"Aren't you afraid people will say you're nepotistic?"

"I am acting with impartiality, and my recommendations are not based on personal relationships, but solely on my understanding of the person."

"Then can you recommend a few more?"

“A member of the Plain White Banner, a second-class baron named Suksaha.”

Shunzhi felt slightly relieved; this lad was indeed selfless.

"Hmm, Suksaha has rendered meritorious service by turning against Dorgon and eliminating his remaining followers. He is also quite diligent. Let him be appointed as the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue. What about the Minister?"

"I have overstepped my bounds. I suggest that the selection of the Minister be decided by the Council of Princes and Ministers."

Emperor Shunzhi was greatly surprised, as he had expected Jiang Qingyun to volunteer himself.

"My dear minister, if this is the case, then all my efforts over the past few months have been wasted. I just wrested the Ministry of Revenue from the Council of Princes and Ministers, and now I'm giving it back to them? What exactly are you up to?"

"Your Majesty, please forgive me. This move kills two birds with one stone. First, it appeases the ministers of the Council of State, and second, it can sideline the newly appointed Minister. The Left Vice Minister Suksaha and the Right Vice Minister Zhou Shao were both promoted by Your Majesty beyond their ranks, and they will certainly be loyal to Your Majesty."

After thinking about it, Shunzhi realized that this made sense.

"And what about the people down there?"

"I guarantee with my life that those below will be even more loyal to Your Majesty."

Shunzhi listened, nodding frequently, his eyes shining.

……

The next day.

early morning.

The atmosphere was tense, and the tension was palpable.

Prince Jingjin, Nikan, was the first to stand up: "Your Majesty, the Ministry of Revenue's reforms are absurd and will be ridiculed by the whole world if word gets out."

Prince Luo Keduo of Keqin said: "This servant believes that although Bolo has committed a minor offense, the fault does not lie with him. He is only in charge of the Ministry of Revenue and may not be familiar with the daily affairs."

Prince Shuncheng, Lekedehun: "This servant requests that the You'anmen Prison be incorporated into the Ministry of Justice for joint jurisdiction. The establishment of this prison under the Five City Garrison Command is clearly overstepping its authority; it cannot extend its reach into the Ministry of Justice."

Prince Zhuang, Shuo Sai, said: "This servant has already stated that if the Ministry of Revenue delays the payment of military funds to the front lines and misses military opportunities, the court must behead Jiang Qingyun."

Prince Li, Mandahai: "Your Majesty, this servant suspects that Jiang Qingyun is involved in espionage."

The ministers of the State Council launched a full-scale attack, brimming with hostility.

The Han officials remained silent, trembling with fear.

On one side was the emperor, and on the other were the ministers of the Council of State. Most Han officials dared not openly take sides and only dared to say correct but meaningless things that would not offend anyone.

Shunzhi sneered inwardly, "You opportunists, your future is ruined."

……

"The corruption scandal in the Ministry of Revenue is appalling. These corrupt officials are lurking in the heart of our Great Qing Dynasty, gnawing away at the state and causing immense harm. No matter what, these people cannot be allowed to live. My mind is made up."

"Prince Bolo was fined 5000 taels of silver for failing to effectively supervise the Ministry of Revenue, demoted to a prince of the second rank, stripped of his military post in the cavalry battalion, and reassigned to the position of Chancellor of the Court of Colonial Affairs."

“A new person shall be selected by the Council of State Ministers to continue overseeing the daily affairs of the Ministry of Revenue.”

"Gentlemen, do you have any further comments?"

The assembled princes and ministers were taken aback for a moment, then shouted "Long live the Emperor!" A struggle that was still brewing vanished without a trace in an instant, leaving everyone in the Hall of Supreme Harmony somewhat bewildered.

Jiang Qingyun chuckled to himself. He suddenly realized that these Manchu nobles had extremely poor political abilities, but he wondered if their military abilities were slightly better.
……

After the court session ended~
Jiang Qingyun dared not slack off in the slightest and began a series of visits without stopping.

First, he went to Suksaha's residence to gain favor and win people's hearts, using both kindness and force. Before leaving, he also took away Suksaha's gift of 200 taels of gold.

Then they went to the Ning residence, the Suo residence, the Ao residence, and the Feng residence.

Finally, he visited the hostage, Wu Yingxiong.

All visits, in essence, boil down to three words—sharing the cake!

(End of this chapter)