armyinform Chapter 718 I Want to Investigate You
Chapter 718 I Want to Investigate You
"Oh, Master Lin, are you sure?"
"Of course we are sure. Let's set off now and arrive in Kuncheng before sunset."
Wu Ruolin smiled and said, "That's great. With Lord Lin accompanying me, I feel more confident. I must get back all the debts."
"Stop talking nonsense and let's go."
The two men each brought dozens of men with them, rode their horses, and headed straight for Kuncheng.
It was a journey of more than 500 miles. They rested in the fields for quarter of an hour at noon, and then continued on their journey, arriving at the gate of Kuncheng at the end of the afternoon.
A soldier had already reported that dozens of war horses had arrived at the gate. Without asking any questions, he simply lowered the bridge, opened the gate, and let them into the city.
The two men asked their men to wait outside and walked into the gate of Kuncheng Command Center together.
The Minister of the Ministry of Revenue was a fourth-rank official, equivalent in rank to Lin Feng, a second-rank military officer. Therefore, after Lin Cangshi entered the room, he simply bowed to Lin Feng.
"Commander, I'm sorry to bother you."
Wu Ruolin, however, bowed solemnly.
"Jingxi Prefect Wu Ruolin greets the Commander-in-Chief."
Lin Feng sat there without moving and just nodded.
"sit."
The two sat down.
Lin Cangshi sat down on the chair with a big butt.
Wu Ruolin, on the other hand, was left half exposed.
Lin Cangshi didn't say anything polite. He took out a note from his pocket and handed it forward.
"Commander-in-chief, this is an IOU from the Imperial Guards. I'm here to collect the payment."
Lin Feng glanced at Bai Tiao.
"How much do I owe?"
Since Lin Feng didn't move, no one came forward to take the note. Lin Cangshi's outstretched arm stopped awkwardly in mid-air.
He coughed and pulled his arm back.
"Ahem, it's the money the Imperial Guards owe Jingxi Prefecture for food and fodder. It's time to pay it back."
Lin Feng asked doubtfully, "Huh? The prefect of Jingxi has been replaced?"
"No, Lin is here to collect the debt on behalf of Jingxi Prefecture."
Lin Feng laughed: "Wu Ruolin, did you come without a mouth?"
Wu Ruolin quickly stood up and bowed in reply.
"Commander, this is Mr. Lin, the Minister of Revenue, here to collect taxes from Jingxi Prefecture. I only have debts owed, and no cash in the treasury, so..."
"How much silver does the Royal Guard owe you?"
Wu Ruolin glanced at Lin Cangshi.
"this..."
Lin Cangshi then handed the IOU to Wu Ruolin and asked him to take it.
"Commander, the total is two hundred and thirty-one thousand taels of silver."
Lin Feng nodded: "How much tax should Jingxi Prefecture pay?"
Lin Cangshi replied, "Jingxi Prefecture should pay 97,400 taels of silver in taxes."
"Why so many?"
"It's a recovery, not counting this year's taxes."
Lin Feng glanced at the IOU in Wu Ruolin's hand.
"This is perfect. The Imperial Guards' rations and fodder should be paid by the Ministry of Revenue. Your Jingxi Prefecture's main debt is owed to the Ministry of Revenue. After deducting the taxes you should pay, Lord Lin, please give me some time to pay the rest."
Lin Cangshi sneered in his heart, he knew that you, Lin Feng, had no good intentions. If you want the Ministry of Revenue to pay money, I have to give it to you too.
"Due to years of war, the national treasury is depleted, and the Ministry of Revenue currently has no money to pay."
"Haha, a triangular debt, that's difficult to deal with. Master Lin, what do you think we should do about this?"
Lin Feng smiled.
Lin Cangshi said seriously, "The Emperor said that the national treasury is currently in deficit and the prefectures need to pay taxes and silver. When the national treasury is full next year, the debt will be settled together."
Lin Feng nodded: "That is to say, I have no money, but you still have to give me money, Master Lin, is that right?"
Lin Cangshi nodded expressionlessly. This is what the emperor meant. What can you do to me?
Lin Feng turned and asked Wu Ruolin.
"Do you have money?"
"Your Excellency, the Jingxi Prefecture has no money."
Lin Cangshi immediately sneered, "Hmph, I've already done some research. The people of Jingxi Prefecture are prosperous, and the economy is developing rapidly. You can't fool me."
Wu Ruolin smiled bitterly: "The common people are quite rich, but there is no money in the treasury."
"Where's your money?"
"It's all distributed to the people to develop the economy."
“You can collect taxes.”
"But we've already promised three years of tax exemption."
Lin Cangshi angrily said, "What good is your promise? The court has made no promise. Do you want to deceive the emperor?"
Wu Ruolin didn't dare to respond and kept his mouth shut.
Lin Feng said calmly, "I promised the people to exempt them from taxes for three years. Do you think I am deceiving the emperor?"
Lin Cangshi remained unmoved.
"I don't care who made the promise, as long as it's not the emperor, it's deceiving the emperor."
Lin Feng frowned and said, "In that case, let's talk about the issue of military pay. The Imperial Guard has 80,000 men and women, and it's been almost six months since they received their pay. If we don't pay them, I'm afraid it will cause a stir. How will you, the Minister of Revenue, deal with that then?"
Lin Cangshi waved his hand and said, "That's your problem as the commander of the Imperial Guards. It has nothing to do with me. The lack of money in the national treasury has nothing to do with me either."
Lin Feng's face turned cold: "Lin Cangshi, am I giving you face by letting you be so arrogant here?"
Lin Cangshi suddenly became furious and glared.
"What? Do you think you can use your position to oppress me? I am an official appointed by the court and answer only to the emperor. Stop trying to scare me. It's useless."
Lin Feng leaned back in his chair.
"I really didn't mean to scare you. Zhao Wenqi and Jiao Sanqiang mentioned your name, the Minister of Revenue, quite a bit in their confessions. As far as I know, you've embezzled a lot of money from the national treasury over the years. It seems like it's time to settle accounts with you, so that the emperor can know what kind of person you are, Lin Cangshi."
Lin Cangshi was stunned for a moment. How could he have forgotten this? Zhao Wenqi and Jiao Sanqiang had indeed had transactions with him and knew a lot of inside information.
Was it Lin Feng who was deceiving him, or did these two damn guys really confess their affairs?
Unconsciously, in just a moment, beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.
Lin Feng was not in a hurry either. He tapped the armrest of the chair with his fingers and looked at Lin Cangshi quietly.
Lin Cangshi just thought about it for a moment and felt that Lin Feng was cheating him.
If he really had irrefutable evidence, why would he be so polite to himself?
Shouldn't you arrest people as soon as they enter the door?
"Hehe, I have a clean record and am worthy of the Emperor and the people. I have served as an official for many years and have always been honest and upright, selfless and dedicated to my work. I have no regrets."
Lin Cangshi was awe-inspiring and righteous.
Lin Feng shook his head and sighed.
"Alas, you gave up this only chance so easily. Come, capture this man."
Immediately, two guards rushed over from both sides, grabbed Lin Cangshi's arms, pressed down hard, and easily pinned him to the ground.
Lin Cangshi shouted loudly.
"Lin Feng, you dare to tamper with the imperial officials without permission. I will see how you will explain to the emperor..."
In just a moment, Lin Cangshi was tied up by two guards.
Lin Feng waved his hand: "Let Cheng Liang interrogate him until he explains his problems clearly."
Lin Cangshi's followers who were waiting outside the door were surprised to see that their master was tied up like a twist and carried out of the house.
Just as he was about to step forward, he was forced to move by a group of knives and guns and dared not move.
Lin Cangshi kept shouting: "Lin Feng, I want to report you..."