Chapter 1237 This was premeditated!
You can't just say what you say. You have to listen to the reasons why Jingzhao Mansion made the decision to rescue Princess Changle regardless of the fire in Dongshi, right?
His Majesty Li Er looked at Cen Wenwen with admiration. In the past, this guy always encouraged King Wu Li Ke to fight for the throne, and came up with many plots and schemes. His Majesty Li Er didn't like him, but he really appreciated his talent, so he reluctantly tolerated it. Now King Wu was concentrating on studying business in the Ministry of Industry and turning the idea of fighting for the reserve into doing some practical things in a down-to-earth manner. Cen Wenwen couldn't encourage him, so he just focused on doing things.
Liu Ji and the ministers looked at Du Chuke together, wanting to hear what Jingzhao Mansion said...
Du Chuke is well-known for being an upright man, but I wonder if he will be abducted by Fang Jun now that he is taking up the post in Jingzhao Mansion?
With a calm expression on his face, Du Chuke stood up from his mattress while everyone was watching, walked to the hall, and bowed to salute. Then he took out a memorial and handed it to the chamberlain in the palace, who presented it to His Majesty Li Er.
All the ministers were a little confused, thinking that you, Du Chuke, still have memorials?
But I don’t know who you want to impeach?
Du Chuke handed over the memorial, stood up straight, and said loudly: "The fire in Dongshi burned down twenty-seven shops, 19 people were slightly injured, none were seriously injured, and there were no dead..."
Liu Ji frowned slightly.
How come there were so few casualties in such a huge fire? This is not common sense...
How is the impact of an event reflected?
In addition to political events, the impact of civil affairs such as fires depends on the number of casualties and the number of goods lost. Comparatively speaking, the loss of money is not the most important. Even the lives of civilians and even domestic servants are much more important. Even if it is just to appease the "ant people" in the dust, it must be so publicized...
The fire in the East Market burned all night, but no one died or was seriously injured. So no matter how many goods were burned down and how many shops were burned down, it would not be enough to raise it to a sufficient height.
No wonder Fang Jun turned a deaf ear to the fire. It turned out that the situation was much lighter than imagined...
However, Du Chuke hadn't finished speaking yet.
"...the loss of goods is incalculable. Why is the number of casualties so clear, but the loss of goods is uncountable?" Du Chuke paused slightly and continued: "This is not to say that the number of goods burned in the fire was too large to be liquidated, but that It means that the accounts of these goods in Jingzhao Mansion are unclear and inconsistent."
Many people's expressions changed slightly.
His Majesty Li Er looked at the account book Du Chuke had just submitted in his hand, with a somewhat profound look on his face, and asked: "Du Chuke, why is it that in the account book you submitted, there is only a record of one hundred and twenty pieces of silk in the Linghu family's residence?"< br>
It's just a joke. I witnessed the fire last night with my own eyes. Then when the fire burned all night, you told me that it only burned one hundred and twenty pieces of silk from one of them?
Du Chuke raised the corners of his mouth slightly, raised his hands and saluted: "This is exactly the inconsistency what the official said."
He straightened up, turned to Linghu Defen, who had been silent all this time, raised his hands and asked: "Excuse me, Lord Linghu, there was a fire in several warehouses in your house last night. How many warehouses were burned in the fire?" br>
Linghu Defen was silent for a while and said: "It's just like the number reported to the Urban Management Bureau. Fortunately... it's not much."
After saying this, the corner of Linghu Defen's mouth twitched, and he was so distressed that he almost bled...
Originally, all shops in the East Market were assessed for tax. They made a rough estimate based on their business scale and came up with an amount that was recognized by both the merchants and the government. Ever since Fang Jun introduced the reform of the tax system in Huating Town, Jiangnan, the tax rates in the east and west cities have been in chaos.
Taxes still need to be assessed, but the goods coming from Jiangnan are recorded in the file piece by piece, and they become part of the tax that must be paid according to the sales volume. The two-pronged approach leaves a lot of room for maneuver, leading to an increasingly confusing tax system.
In order to avoid paying high commercial taxes, almost all shops in the east and west cities conceal their trade volume, regardless of the quantity of goods purchased or shipped.
But now it’s tragic...
You said there are tens of thousands of pieces of fine silk in the warehouse?
Okay, let’s make up the tax first before talking about anything else.
You said it was stored by someone else?
Okay, whose goods are they? List them one by one, and we, the Jingzhao Mansion, will come to collect the tax in person.
Countless goods were destroyed by fire, and they will face huge compensation. Do they have to pay another tax?
Linghu Defen wants to cry but has no tears...
The other ministers all cast sympathetic glances at Linghu Defen, who empathized with him. After all, the Linghu family was not the only one who suffered losses in the fire. Although the other families may not suffer as much as Linghu Defen, they are definitely not feeling well.
His Majesty Li Er glanced at Linghu Defen, feeling disgusted in his heart.
This person is knowledgeable, but he is narrow-minded and short-sighted, and is really not of much use. Apart from the reputation of a scholar leader, he only has the qualifications he has earned through hard work. He is greedy for money as much as his life, and he is always willing to spend every penny. This is really unsightly!
How come this person was promoted to be the Minister of Rites with the important task of urging and teaching the world's ethics?
Liu Ji was a little embarrassed. He was not aware of these situations, but now he was riding a tiger. He just said: "Please explain to Mr. Du why Jingzhao Prefecture allowed the fire in Dongshi. Could it be because the shops concealed the goods and failed to report the truth?" Just ignore the fire and let it burn down? ”
Du Chuke glanced at Liu Ji indifferently and said calmly: "I haven't finished speaking yet. Liu Yushi wants to impeach me. Can you wait a moment?"
Don't look too ugly when you look anxious...
Liu Ji blushed and shut up.
Although Du Chuke's words were bland, it was this dismissive contempt that made Liu Ji's actions even more utilitarian.
No one sympathizes with him...
This person first turned his back on the aristocratic family's camp to support Fang Jun in order to gain prestige. Now that he has gained prestige, he turns around and goes to sap Fang Jun again? This person is capable of excellence, but his character is worrisome.
The family members can accept Liu Ji for their own use, but acceptance is one thing, recognition is another...
Du Chuke spoke eloquently: "After autumn last September, the weather was dry. The Jingzhao Prefecture sent notices to merchants and shops in the east and west cities, strictly ordering them to maintain and modify the heating facilities in their houses before the weather was cold, so as to avoid A fire broke out while warming up in winter; in October, Jingzhao Prefecture once again issued a document to review the matter. However, no household in the east and west cities paid attention to it, and the fire hazard still existed. ; For two consecutive months in the winter and twelfth lunar months, the Jingzhao Prefecture dispatched the Urban Management Bureau to conduct thorough inspections of merchants and stores in the east and west cities, and issued warnings and penalties to some merchants and stores that found serious fire hazards. Those merchants and stores are still under fire. The Jingzhao government has repeatedly ordered it to pay attention to the fire hazard, but until now, no one has responded."
Linghu Defen and others were stunned for a moment, then thought about it carefully and realized that this was indeed the case.
However, the Urban Management Bureau has been known for its strict management since the day it was established. If any merchants in the city are not careful, they will come to their door. First, they will order them to suspend business for rectification, and then impose fines...
Over time, everyone had deep complaints about the Urban Management Bureau, knowing that it was a tool created by Fang Jun to make money, and that it was just an opportunity to collect fines under various pretexts. It’s just that Fang Jun is in power, who can afford to offend him? I had to spend a small amount of money to avoid a big disaster.
Now it seems that there is something fishy in this!
In the end, the Urban Management Bureau had the foresight to repeatedly reiterate the hidden dangers but the merchants ignored them, which laid the fire hazard leading to today's losses; or the Jingzhao Mansion had a long-term plan from the beginning and was waiting for the fire to break out, using the facts Come and shut everyone's mouth?
I've told you to take fire precautions a long time ago, but if you don't listen, who will blame you?
If you think about it further, the fire came so suddenly and burned so vigorously. In addition, the performance of Jingzhao Mansion in the fire...
It’s scary to think about it!
Linghu Defen's old eyes widened!
Is it possible...
What else is there behind this fire?
Is Fang Jun really so bold that he risked burning down the entire East Market in an attempt to save himself, so that the family had to let him escape and return to Jing Zhaoyin's position to put out the fire?
If this is really the case, Linghu Defen can also understand. Such conspiracies and tricks have emerged in endlessly throughout the ages. It is no big deal that I and the family members have accidentally fallen into Fang Jun's trap.
But the problem is that Fang Jun himself set a fire to exert pressure, causing the family members to agree to his reinstatement, but then allowed the fire to burn down countless goods...
Isn’t this too damaging? (End of chapter)