novelraw Chapter 141 Predecessor
Chapter 141 Predecessor
Master Xu nodded, "Master Zhang, Qian Zhengqin is no longer an official, and we still have to work under Master Lin!"
Mr. Zhang was still very hesitant. Of course he understood what Mr. Xu meant, but if he gave the account book to Lin Ruhai, it would be equivalent to handing over his wealth and life to Lin Ruhai, and he would obey Lin Ruhai's words from now on.He is already over 50 years old, and it is already shameful to work under a young junior in his twenties, if he still bows to him... the more he thinks about it, the more unwilling he feels.
Seeing that Master Zhang was still hesitating, Master Xu was very anxious. If it wasn't for the account book still in Master Zhang's hands, he wouldn't be wasting words with him here at all.Therefore, Master Xu said impatiently: "Master Zhang, if you want to continue to insist, then don't blame me for being dishonest! Master Lin has the emperor's secret decree in his hands. Obviously, the emperor has already known it clearly. Master Lin He gave us a chance to make up for what we have done, and we have been waiting for us to take the initiative to hand in the money and account books, but it is impossible for others to wait like this. Mr. Zhang wants to save face, but I am afraid that if this continues, I will lose face, and I will join you Take your own life, I am no better than Master Zhang, and there is a family waiting for me to support!" After Master Xu finished speaking, he ignored Master Zhang, turned around and went straight to Lin Ruhai's office.
Mr. Zhang became anxious when he saw Mr. Xu left. He just wanted to find a better way to keep his old face. If Mr. Xu explained the truth to Lin Ruhai before him, his situation would be passive. Mr. Xu is trying to fight for the first place!Master Zhang didn't dare to delay any longer, he hurried back home, found the ledger in the dark compartment of the study, and hurried back to the yamen, looking for Lin Ruhai directly.
In Lin Ruhai's room, Master Xu had just explained the ins and outs of the matter to Lin Ruhai clearly, "Master Lin, those old silk merchants hardly followed suit. , but they also hold the most land in their hands! In fact, among the people, ordinary people seldom return to the yamen to apply for the red deed, because they don’t want to pay the money for the red deed, but the money and food that should be paid are sent by the government. There is no underpayment or non-payment in the following collections. But Mr. Qian came up with such a method, which helped those silk merchants avoid a lot of tax money. Of course, I also got some benefits, but the big bosses did not pay much. It was Mr. Qian who took it. The lower officials are willing to return all the money they have received, and they are also willing to accept the punishment!"
Lin Ruhai looked at Mr. Xu, he didn't expect that Mr. Xu was a daring person, he came alone, Mr. Zhang was unwilling to take the initiative to take responsibility for the crime, and he did not add insult to injury in front of him in an attempt to reduce his guilt, which made Lin Ruhai Overestimated him by three points.Lin Ruhai has already decided in his heart to keep Mr. Xu, if he is available, Lin Ruhai will use him again.
Just as Lin Ruhai was about to speak, there was a knock on the door. After thinking about it for a while, Lin Ruhai knew who it was.
"My lord! My lord Zhang, please see me!" Lin Xing shouted outside the door.
Lin Ruhai and Mr. Xu looked at each other, and Lin Ruhai said expressionlessly: "Master Zhang, please come in!"
After Mr. Zhang came in, he looked at Lin Ruhai's face, and glanced at Mr. Xu, feeling annoyed that he didn't wait for him to come with him, "Why did Mr. Xu come first by himself? Didn't you say that you want to come together to Mr. Lin to explain the situation?" ? Why did I just go home and get the account book, and you came to Mr. Lin?"
Master Xu glanced at Lin Ruhai who was still expressionless, opened his mouth, but still didn't say anything. Of course, Master Zhang didn't give him a chance to speak.
"Lord Lin! This is the account book for those lands that haven't applied for the red deed to pay the money to the government. These bank notes are distributed to the lower officials. The lower officials never thought of greedy for this money, but they couldn't do it under pressure. Don't accept it for the time being, the lower officials have decided to hand over the money long ago, but they have always had doubts about Master Lin, so they dare not hand over the account book and money rashly. Please don't blame Master Lin!"
Lin Ruhai lowered his eyelids and played with the official seal in his hand, as if he was not listening to Master Zhang.Mr. Zhang couldn't figure out what Lin Ruhai meant, so he stood there holding the account book and bank notes in his hand, not daring to move.Could it be that Master Xu said something in front of Lin Ruhai?Master Zhang glanced at Master Xu, seeing him sitting beside him drinking tea as if nothing had happened, he guessed in his heart that Master Xu must have told Lin Ruhai that he was unwilling to hand over the account book on his own initiative.
"My lord Lin! I used to be afraid of encountering a superior official like Qian Zhengqin again, so I hesitated all the time, but once I thought that my lord Lin was appointed by the emperor, I firmly believed in my lord Lin! My lord The official recorded this money very clearly, who took how much and when they took it is clearly recorded in it, and I ask Mr. Lin to look it over."
Lin Ruhai raised his eyelids, glanced at Mr. Zhang, and said with a smile, "Your Mr. Zhang has worked hard, just put down the ledger!"
Master Zhang put the ledger and bank notes on the desk in front of Lin Ruhai as he said, then retreated silently, and gave Master Xu a cold look before going out.
After Mr. Zhang left, Lin Ruhai said to Mr. Xu: "Mr. Xu will tell Mr. Zhang later, I will find a way to solve this matter, and you will not be implicated!"
Master Xu looked into Lin Ruhai's eyes and saw the sincerity in his eyes. Master Xu stood up solemnly, bowed to the ground to Lin Ruhai, and then left without saying a word.
That night, Hua Chong went to the residence of Qian Zhengqin, the former magistrate of Suzhou.Qian Zhengqin knew Hua Chong. Of course, Hua Chong was still the shopkeeper of the silk merchant at that time, but he came this time as Master Lin Ruhai.
"Please look over this ledger, Lord Qian, to see if there is anything missing!"
Qian Zhengqin didn't understand, so he looked at Hua Chong. He remembered that Ren's account had already been settled, so why did he show him the account book?When he opened it and saw the contents recorded inside, Qian Zhengqin stood up in shock and stared at Hua Chong in disbelief.
"Where... where did this come from? What do you mean?"
"Lord Qian is more panic-stricken! Lord Lin asked me to tell Lord Qian that as long as Lord Qian handed over all the money he had been greedy for, Lord Lin would give this ledger to Lord Qian. As for the rest, Lord Lin has his own arrangements."
Qian Zhengqin looked at the ledger in his hand, and sat back slowly!Without the slightest hesitation, he ordered the housekeeper to take the bank note and hand it over to Hua Chong, "Please tell Master Lin that I, Qian Zhengqin, owe him a favor!"