Your Majesty, please resign again

Chapter 118 The blame is here! (I’m here too! Please vote!)

It was almost dusk when a sudden rainstorm hit. Suddenly the palace was dark. A small yellow door hurriedly came in to hold a lamp. The lights were turned on to disperse the darkness.

Zhang Heng listened to the violent wind and rain outside, and suddenly felt something. He said with emotion: "Your Majesty, the Xixia rebelled, the Khitan invaded the border, the soldiers died in the country, and the treasury is already empty, right?"

Zhao Zhen was stunned: "Huh?"

There was light in Zhang Heng's eyes: "Your Majesty, I am a humble minister who dares not to worry about the country because of his humble position. In the court, you have your Majesty and other ministers strategizing, and there are soldiers fighting to the death on the front line.

Other Weichen can't do it either, but Weichen can find some money for the frontline soldiers.

There is a lot of potential in the warehouse and treasury department that can be tapped, I will let you settle the accounts for your majesty."

Zhao Zhen's eyes lit up: "Ju Zheng, you do the math, do you need a pen and paper? Well, you come here and sit down and do the math."

Zhang Heng shook his head repeatedly when he saw it.

The place where Zhao Zhen guided him to sit down was the chair that Zhao Zhen was sitting on. This was the Chongzheng Hall. This seat was not a dragon chair, but it was not something that anyone could sit on.

Just like there is a public house near Zhang Heng's Judge's Hall called Qianlong Palace, which was the residence of Emperor Taizong when he was the prefect of Kaifeng. Later, when he ascended the throne, the residence there became empty because no prefect dared to go there.

Work there.

Zhao Zhen did not force it.

Zhang Heng didn't take a pen and paper, he just stood there and counted: "Let's not talk about other warehouses and treasury, let's talk about the minister's treasury. After Weichen's research during this period, he came up with a series of data. Your Majesty, let's listen...

…”

Zhao Zhen nodded.

"...The imperial court needs to allocate about 1.12 million guan every year to various treasuries under the Minister's Treasury, including money treasury, material treasury, vinegar treasury, wine treasury, etc...."

Zhao Zhen straightened up immediately: "So many!"

Zhang Heng nodded and continued: "...the money came from various channels. The imperial court allocated only 200,000 guan to the minister's treasury, but the supplies, wine, vinegar, grain, etc. were transported through the Third Division and various departments of Sinong Temple.

When you add them up, you will have this number. This is calculated by the statistics of the minister, and the people used are the personnel of the Treasury Department and the Ministry of Biology. Your Majesty can ask them to come and confirm."

Zhao Zhen's face became a little serious and he said in a deep voice: "Continue!"

Zhang Heng continued: "This only counts those sent by the imperial court. If the local officials are sent here, the number will be even larger. However, those data are not something Weichen can calculate, but according to Weichen's estimation, this number

It is at least three or four times larger than the data sent by the imperial court!"

Zhao Zhen couldn't sit still anymore, stood up from behind the table and walked around: "You continue."

Zhang Heng nodded.

"I want to rectify the embassy treasury and adopt a contracting system to allow capable people to contract for embassies in various places. After contracting, neither the imperial court nor local officials will have to send various materials and money to the embassy. The embassy will be borne by the contractor.

Profit and loss.

But please rest assured, Your Majesty, the embassy will still assume the responsibility of entertaining officials. We will set up a complaint channel for officials. If the embassy dares to deprive officials of their due treatment, then the embassy will be fined or even deprived of its contracting qualifications.

This ensures that the original functions of the Ministerial Library will not be changed."

Zhao Zhen nodded and said: "I'm not worried about this. Even if they are contracted out, they don't dare to deduct money from officials. Officials are not ordinary people, so they can't be easily bullied. But what I'm worried about is, is anyone really willing to contract?

Is this really profitable?"

Zhang Heng said with a smile: "Not only can we make a profit, but it is estimated to be quite a lot, so I have been calculating how to determine the profit ratio these days. I have roughly calculated a rough ratio, which is 40% for the court and 60% for the contractor. In this way, the contractor's profit ratio

Positivity is the highest.

This is also another number I want to give to Your Majesty. It is about how much the court can earn every year if it is contracted out. I originally estimated this number to be one million yuan, but after this preliminary calculation, this number is still a bit conservative.

, I re-estimated this number, this number is at least 1.28 million yuan!"

Zhao Zhen's voice was a little different: "In other words, according to your method, the court can not only reduce expenditures by 1.12 million guan per year, but also earn 1.28 million guan?"

Zhang Heng nodded and said: "That's about it."

Zhao Zhen's heart was in turmoil. This move in and out was equivalent to an extra 2.4 million guan for the imperial court to freely use. This was not a small amount. In fact, the court's total annual income was only 30 to 40 million guan. Excluding the necessary 3.4 million guan.

With a fixed expenditure of more than tens of millions of guan, there is only less than 10 million guan left to spend. But if there is a disaster year, less than 10 million guan is like sprinkling pepper, and it is impossible to make ends meet!

If it can have more than two million yuan of free money at its disposal, then the imperial court will have had a prosperous year!

Zhao Zhen's heart started to move: "What about other warehouse and warehouse services?"

This is to reach Long and look towards Shu.

Zhang Heng said with a smile: "They all have potential to be tapped. After all, they are all the industries of the imperial court. One of the biggest advantages of the imperial industry is that there are few restrictions. This is a big killer. As long as the people running the business are flexible enough, they can make money."

A very relaxing thing.”

Zhao Zhen pondered, hesitating in his heart. He was indeed greedy for more than two million yuan, but the young man Zhang Heng was indeed a talent. He didn't want to give this young man away just because of these two million yuan. Then

What a loss!

Suddenly, Zhao Zhen had an idea in his mind: "Ju Zheng, I don't want you to take risks, but your method is indeed good. I really have a compromise idea. What do you think?"

Zhang Heng quickly raised his hands and said, "Please give me your Majesty's instructions."

Zhao Zhen considered it and said: "In this way, I will find someone to carry out this matter for you. You can instruct him to do it, but don't interfere too much. If something happens, he will help you carry it, so you can rest assured.

, I will not treat him badly. Of course, I will also remember your contribution for you. You are the first to make up for it, and I will definitely be compensated by you elsewhere. What do you think?"

Zhang Heng was surprised and grateful at the same time.

What was surprising was that Zhao Zhen could come up with such a method. What was also grateful was that Zhao Zhen was a majestic king who did not regard himself as a dog or horse, but instead thought about himself... To be honest, Zhang Heng was very touched.

However, Zhang Heng is still a little helpless after all, but even Zhao Zhen has thought of this for him. If he still doesn't know how to advance or retreat, then he doesn't know what to do.

Zhang Heng suddenly thought of a person and said quickly: "Your Majesty, I have a person, and it should be effective if he presides over it."

Zhao Zhen nodded: "Let's talk about it."

Zhang Heng said: "This person is the supervisor of the Minister's Treasury. I have had a deep conversation with him. He hates the shortcomings of the Minister's Treasury very much, but he can't do anything about it. When I investigated, he told me everything he knew and was quite familiar with the shortcomings."

, it should be of great use.”

Zhao Zhen smiled and nodded: "Well, I will give him a prepayment. However, he is just a supervisor and he cannot bear the responsibility. Don't worry about this first. You can sort out the entire document first. I

Someone will be sent there as soon as possible."

After hearing Zhao Zhen's arrangement, Zhang Heng had no choice but to give up and then left.

In the next few days, Zhang Heng did not stop the work at hand. The people who came here were just to carry the blame. Of course, they were also here to receive credit, but the actual work still had to be done by Zhang Heng.

Wu Yu probably got instructions from Zhao Zhen, so he finally relented and sent him dozens of officials to help sort out the data. In this way, the entire classification work sped up. By the day before the Mid-Autumn Festival, everything was finally completed

Completed.

Zhang Heng was not stingy with these colleagues who came to help. He invited them to have a good meal at Fanlou and gave each of them a box of Feiyan soap, which made everyone smile.

Zhang Heng was a little anxious. He repeatedly went to Wu Yu to inquire about the information and asked who the person Zhao Zhen assigned him was. Wu Yu didn't know, but he still comforted him and said: "Don't worry, it's not the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Take a rest for a few days. You have been busy for a long time. It is time for you to take a rest. National affairs cannot be completed in one day. Go back and take a good rest. When you finish taking a rest, you will probably have results."

Zhang Heng thought about it, so he said goodbye to Wu Yu and went home.

——

The Mid-Autumn Festival is the reunion festival. Most people will try their best to go home to reunite with their families, but some people are still running on the road.

Bao Zheng drove from Duanzhou for more than a month and finally entered the city gate of Bianjing on the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Duanzhou was in Guangdong, and this journey was quite tiring, but it actually made his face look dark and dark. The sun in Guangdong was originally strong, but during this summer's rush, the sun was even more intense, so getting a tan was just a routine operation.

As soon as he stepped into Bianjing City, his ears were filled with the tune of "When will the bright moon come out"? Bao Zheng smiled, which actually drove away the seriousness on his face.

The servant smiled when he saw this and said, "Are you happy that you are back in Bianjing?"

Bao Zheng shook his head and said, "There's nothing to be happy about. I just heard the water tune and remembered the author of the lyrics."

The servant asked curiously: "Master, you probably don't know him. He has only become famous in the past two years. Master, you haven't returned to Bianjing for many years."

Bao Zheng nodded and said: "It's true that I don't know him, but he will soon know him."

——

Zhang Heng's Mid-Autumn Festival was also busy. Although he didn't have to go to the government office to work, human exchanges were inevitable.

The Mid-Autumn Festival in previous years was busy, but this year's Mid-Autumn Festival is unusually busy.

There were people who came to visit his home, including officials in charge of the warehouse and treasury affairs, and officials in the government offices. In addition to Zeng Gongliang, the people he had to visit were Wu Yu, Nie Guanqing (seat master), and

It is always good for colleagues in the government office, such as general judges and general judges, to move around more.

These are official matters.

There is also the matter of property. Although Zhang Heng has become an official and it is not convenient for him to attend, he still needs to go through various account books, festival expenses, etc., and he cannot completely let go.

Some of the more core people still need to meet, such as Lu Yining, Zeng Youwei, and Hou Junping. They need to get together to have a meeting and have a meal to connect with each other and resolve conflicts.

All in all quite busy.

Oh, yes, I still have to participate in the poetry meeting.

Yan Shu finally became the prime minister. In March of this year, Yan Shu officially became the prime minister with the title of Shangshu of the Ministry of Punishment, Grand Scholar of Jixian Palace, Privy Envoy and Tong Zhongshu Menxia Ping Zhangshi.

This year's Qingxingyuan Poetry Festival at the banquet was particularly lively, with almost half of the court's civil servants attending. Yan Shu asked Zhang Heng to go through Duke Zeng's name. Zhang Heng didn't really want to go, but when the prime minister gave him face, if you

If you don't give face, then you are shameless.

Fortunately, when I went to the poetry meeting, no one asked Zhang Heng to write poems. It was probably because Zhang Heng had Mid-Autumn Festival poems on it. Of course, it was also possible that if Zhang Heng was asked to write poems, the other people would have to eat and drink.

Already.

Zhang Heng was happy to be at ease, but Yan Shu's son Yan Jidao came up to talk to him.

Yan Jidao was still a young man. He seemed to be a little jealous of Zhang Heng, but also admired him a little. After Zhang Heng made some jokes, he made Yan Jidao his confidant, bragging around Zhang Heng, saying that he was

Restaurants and brothels are so popular that the girls recommend themselves to them as pillows and mats.

I can't believe all of this, but it's probably credible.

Zhang Heng appropriately expressed his admiration for him, and Yan Jidao patted his chest and said that if Zhang Heng went with him, it would be okay... Well, he suddenly remembered that Zhang Heng didn't need him to take him with him at all. If Zhang Heng was willing,

, I think the girl who slept all over Bianjing City did not need to spend a penny, but she might have become rich.

It was a little embarrassing for a while.

Zhang Heng was not an embarrassing person. He pretended to be very interested and asked about some things in the brothel. As expected, Yan Jidao started boasting again.

Actually, it's quite interesting.

Seeing this high-spirited man and thinking of his future downfall, Zhang Heng lamented the impermanence of life.

When Bao Zheng's black face appeared in front of him, Zhang Heng lamented the impermanence of life.

He almost said: Mr. Bao, are you here to take the blame?

When Zhang Heng looked at Bao Zheng's dark face, he thought to himself, who said that Bao Zheng is a white-faced scholar? Except that there is no crescent mark on his forehead, isn't he just a living black-faced scholar?

Zhang Heng said cautiously: "Bao Tongpan, is your face naturally so dark?"

Bao Zheng shook his head and said: "When I came back from Duanzhou, Guangnan East Road was too hot. I stayed there for more than half a year and it ended up like this."

Zhang Heng said with a smile: "That should be fine, it will be nothing after raising it for half a year."

Bao Zheng waved his hand: "As a man, there is nothing wrong with the black spots. Let's get down to business. Your Majesty has ordered me to come over and preside over the reform of the warehouse's treasury affairs. I happen to have a black face, which can intimidate people."

Zhang Heng said cautiously: "Master Bao, this job can offend people."

Bao Zheng smiled slightly when he heard this: "You are not afraid, what am I afraid of? I have heard about you. You are a good official, much better than many people. I have never been afraid of offending people. If you offend, you will offend them."

Can you still bite me?

But you, if this thing is done, the credit will be considerable, but the credit will not fall on you when the time comes, but it will make me lick my face and accept it, don't you feel suffocated?"

Zhang Heng bowed his hands to Bao Zheng with great sincerity and said, "Mr. Bao, what you said is wrong. You come to help me bear the blame. I am very grateful. With so many merits, how can they be compared with the hurt of being envied?"

The boy's contribution is indispensable in His Majesty's heart, but you, although it seems that you get the credit, it will have an impact on your future future."

Bao Zheng really laughed: "You are wrong. I am not afraid of offending people. Your Majesty also knows that I am not afraid of offending people. Otherwise, why would you call me back from Duanzhou, thousands of miles away? Isn't it just fancy?

Is that so?

The thing that offends people is my traditional craftsmanship, but it is this contribution that your Majesty will not miss me. This time, I will make a lot of money."

Zhang Heng said respectfully: "Master Bao is well-deserved!"

Bao Zheng laughed again, feeling very happy.

Bao Zheng's loud voice was heard in other halls, and Wu Yu said in surprise: "Bao Heizi has always been very solemn. Waiting for him to smile is like waiting for the Yellow River to clear. Why are you laughing so much today?"

After some teasing... no, after some pleasantries, Zhang Heng handed a book he compiled to Bao Zheng: "Mr. Bao, take a look first. Although the kid is doing more work this time, you are at the forefront.

, you also need to be familiar with these things.”

Bao Zheng took the brochure and wrote "Concerning Matters Concerning the Contracting of the Minister's Treasury". Bao Zheng smiled and said: "Okay, let me study it first, you can do it yourself."

Zhang Heng returned to the Procuratorate. He also had a lot of things to do. He was currently working on this reform matter, but there were a lot of documents that needed to be signed. Every day, subordinate officials would come to inquire. It would be painful if they came one more time.

Up three points.

Of course, they didn't dare to look down on Zhang Heng. As old officials, they knew who was easy to offend and who was not easy to offend.

With Zhang Heng's background, being a top scholar, and having a bright future, who would dare to offend him so easily?

The bitter look on their faces was not because of resentment, but because they were scolded by their respective chief officers. The document needed to be signed before it could take effect, but Zhang Heng refused to sign. The chief officer was angry and could not do anything to Zhang Heng.

Just take it out on your subordinates.

They didn't dare to offend Zhang Heng, but Zhang Heng felt uncomfortable when he saw it. He wanted to sign these as soon as he had time, so as not to see their miserable faces every day. They were just workers, so there was no need to embarrass each other.

He had only signed half of it when he saw Bao Zheng striding in.

Zhang Heng said in surprise: "Mr. Bao, if you have something to do, just call me. How can a superior come to visit the public servant in person?"

Bao Zheng stared at Zhang Heng: "Did you write these?"

Zhang Heng nodded and said: "Not entirely, there are about dozens of people checking the information and data, but the part involving reform was formulated by the boy based on the data and various surveys. Did Mr. Bao find any errors or omissions?

"

As Zhang Heng said this, he asked Bao Zheng to take a seat.

Bao Zheng sat down and looked at Zhang Heng with a look of appreciation in his eyes: "I came back to see Your Majesty. His Majesty said that you are a very talented young man. I still have some doubts in my heart, but after seeing your "

"Minister's Treasury Reform Policy", I know that Your Majesty has a keen eye for talents, and you, a young man, are really talented!"

Zhang Heng was a little embarrassed by Bao Zheng's praise: "Master Bao is so complimentary."

Bao Zheng said: "I never praise others, but if I do, then I really praise you. These are not important. What is important is that your contract system is feasible!"

"feasible?"

"feasible!"

Bao Zheng was decisive.

(End of chapter)