Uncle from a poor family - Chapter 735: Going bankrupt

Qin Ji was speechless for a while. After thinking it over, he had no choice but to bite the bullet and go to the Zhang family's workshop in the city to find Zhang Yanling who was doing experiments there.

Fortunately, Zhang Yanling was very cooperative this time and took him directly to the villa to meet Zhang Luan.

Before entering the room, Qin Ji asked cautiously, "Will your father's illness be affected by this?"

Tan Ji is also afraid.

"fine."

Zhang Yanling waved his hand and said with a smile, "Let's go in and talk."

When Qin Ji arrived at Zhang Luan's bedroom, he found that Zhang Luan was not as listless as he was the last time he visited him. He seemed to be in much better spirits.

"It's only been a short while, and Mr. Zhang looks much better."

Zhang Luan was not happy to hear this, and frowned and asked, "Eunuch Qin, what you said... why is it so awkward... are you saying that I shouldn't get better so quickly?"

Zhang Yanling said quickly: "Dad, your condition has improved. Eunuch Qin is so happy for you that he can't wait to have other thoughts. Look at what you said..."

"Oh, I've been lying in bed for too long, and I've been suspicious all day long. Please forgive me, Eunuch Qin."

Zhang Luan quickly apologized.

When Zhang Luan heard such a request, his eyes unconsciously looked at his youngest son.

You come to ask me for countermeasures?

I might as well ask my son directly.

You, Qin Ji, have been dealing with our Zhang family for so long, don't you even have this little bit of tact?

"Ok."

Zhang Luan cleared his throat, like a small leader about to give a speech, looked at Qin Ji and asked, "Then... I will say a few words?"

Upon hearing this, Tan Ji couldn't help but shook his head and smiled bitterly.

I thought to myself, why are you being so arrogant when you talk like that?

After a brief preparation, Zhang Luan said, "Eunuch Tan, let me ask you a question. Does His Majesty intend to recall Li Zisheng to the capital?"

"This... doesn't it depend on your opinion?" Qin Ji asked back.

Zhang Luan pondered for a moment and said, "Since public opinion is overwhelming, let's recall him. Hasn't the job of delivering money, food and cloth to the northwest been handed over to others? His stay at Juyongguan is at most to actively prepare for war, which will not affect the overall situation. At present, the little Tatar prince has already received the reward after meeting His Majesty and left. It seems that he is not needed for the time being. Since people in the court have disputes about his past actions, why not let him come back and face it calmly?"

Qin Ji nodded and said, "It sounds reasonable."

Zhang Luan paused and said, "Then let him face the problem and explain to the people in the court what happened to the hundreds of thousands of taels of silver that was used to sell official positions and titles!"

Qin Ji was shocked and quickly reminded: "You must not say that before you find out the whole story."

Zhang Luan finally reacted: "Yes, yes, yes, there are some things that you can't say openly even if you know what's going on, right?"

As he spoke, he deliberately glanced at his son.

Tan Ji said: "Some things are better not to delve into."

It's almost like saying, "When you pull out a radish, you bring out the mud." You'd better not bring the trouble to the late emperor, or you may even bring about a reputation for being unfilial for your Majesty.

Zhang Luan frowned and said, "The more we debate, the clearer the truth becomes... Since you are not going to discuss it publicly in the court, should we just let Li Zisheng pay the money and let it go?"

"Compensate?"

Zhang Luan smiled coldly: "Of course he will do his best to compensate... The people in the court only asked him to pay silver, and did not say that he would be dismissed from office or beheaded, right? It would be better to produce detailed accounts... I just don't know if he has relevant records."

"This... doesn't seem right, does it?"

Tan Ji was still in a difficult situation.

Zhang Luan asked in surprise: "Is this not possible?"

Zhang Yanling said, "Father, isn't this obvious? When the late emperor was alive, most people in the court gave gifts to Li Zisheng. Even those imperial officials and censors who claim to be honest and upright have given gifts. If we really want to get to the bottom of this, won't it just make people laugh?"

"Is that right?"

Zhang Luan asked.

Qin Ji thought, you and your son are singing the same tune to make me happy?

It seems that our Ming Dynasty, from top to bottom, is full of corrupt officials and demons running rampant?Tan Ji said cautiously: "Maybe..."

"Okay, Eunuch Tan, you don't need to say more." Zhang Luan shook his head and said, "If you want to blame someone, you can only blame Li Zisheng. When the late emperor was alive, he was so powerful that he forced those upright ministers to flatter him, which led to the corruption of the court. If we don't deal with such a person, we will be sorry to the people of the world."

"..."

Qin Ji was speechless again for a moment.

Zhang Luan said coldly, "That's actually what you mean... You want to call Li Zisheng back and make him give an explanation to the people of the world and return all the money he has embezzled and accepted bribes. But you can't expand the impact and avoid tarnishing the reputation of the late emperor and the officials in the court. Is that what you mean?"

Qin Ji thought about it carefully and nodded helplessly.

Zhang Luan frowned and said, "If that's the case, then why did you come to me to ask? Aren't your demands obvious? Just do this."

Qin Ji smiled bitterly and said, "Mr. Zhang, it's easy for you to say it, but it's not that simple to actually do it."

Zhang Luan could only look to his son for help.

Zhang Yanling patiently explained, "I think what Eunuch Tan meant is that... someone needs to come out and make the final decision on the specific degree of control.

"It's like, no one knows how big this incident will expand, how many people will be implicated, how much silver Li Zisheng can come up with, and what amount can completely calm the criticism in the court, or satisfy those who attack him."

Tan Ji nodded and said, "That's what he meant." Zhang Luan asked in confusion, "Did Li Zisheng return to the capital to collect money from the court or to atone for his sins?"

"What if the money Li Zisheng brings out is not enough and the people in the court are not satisfied?"

Zhang Luan continued to ask.

When Qin Ji heard this, he instantly felt that he had been fooled.

But at this moment, Zhang Yanling had already said what he wanted to say: "Dad, is it Eunuch Tan who came to you for advice, or you who came to Eunuch Tan to ask questions? Isn't he waiting for your guidance? His Majesty is still waiting for your advice!"

Zhang Luan had an apologetic look on his face. He gently patted his forehead and said with a smile, "Look at me. I'm confused because of this illness. My brain is not working well. I didn't even think of this... Anyway, it's not wrong to call Li Zisheng back to the capital and let him confront him face to face, right?"

Tan Ji said helplessly: "Yes, absolutely right!"

Zhang Luan said, "Then let him return to the capital. If all else fails, let him go to court and have a face-to-face discussion with those who impeached him. Otherwise, even if he takes out 10 million taels of silver, others will say it's not enough and the criticism against him will not stop. Then what's the point of discussing this here?"

"No no no..."

"That's what I meant. I'm not talking about real numbers..."

Zhang Luan said, "However, we have to speak out and make it clear in person. Since the court officials have agreed to ask Li Zisheng for money, let him pay. It's okay! As for how much, let the court officials decide! Just don't ask for it this time and then come back next time! Is this a bottomless pit?"

Qin Ji smiled bitterly and said, "Shouldn't we still have to rely on facts?"

Zhang Luan said angrily, "The truth? The truth is that Li Zisheng doesn't have much money on hand now! Where did the money go? Eunuch Qin, do you not know, or do the people in the court not know? Is there any secret about their purpose of asking for money? This seems to be targeting Li Zisheng, but every slap is hitting my face."

But in fact, it is tantamount to tacit consent. Zhang Daguo, you are absolutely right.

Zhang Luan asked, "Anything else?"

Tan Ji said tremblingly: "That's all..."

"Humph!"

"This... shouldn't... be... that easy, right?"

Tan Ji stammered.

Zhang Luan pointed at his son and asked, "Yanling, what do you think Lao Tan meant?"

Zhang Yanling said: "I think what Eunuch Tan wants to say is that even if Li Zisheng comes back and tries his best to compensate for his entire fortune, it may not satisfy the people in the court.

"What? Why not just kill him?"

Zhang Luan asked, "Is death enough to atone for your sins?"

Tan Ji remained silent.

Zhang Yanling smiled and said, "Even if he dies, he still has to satisfy the people in the court, right? Those bastards in the court want money, can they let Li Zisheng die happily?"

Zhang Luan was so angry that he couldn't help coughing violently.

Qin Ji hurriedly persuaded: "Mr. Zhang...Mr. Zhang, please calm down and don't get yourself hurt by getting angry."

After a while, when the coughing stopped, Zhang Luan gasped and said, "I think someone is really trying to piss me off... cough cough... I'm not talking about you, Old Tan, nor about Your Majesty. I'm just talking about... those people in the court, they can't bear to see me die. My son, tell me, what's the best solution?"

Zhang Yanling said, "What the court wants to see most is that you and Li Zisheng are tied together and pay compensation to the court together. It would be best if our family were bankrupt and you were no longer qualified to be an official. It would be best if you were exiled and never returned to the capital. That would make them satisfied."

Qin Ji quickly explained, "No, no, that's absolutely not the case."

Zhang Luan said, "Old Tan, my son was talking about what those people think, not you! Why are you explaining for them? I just want to ask, is this okay?"

"Your Majesty will never agree to this."

Tan Ji said this with a firm tone.

Zhang Luan seemed to understand something and said with a smile, "As long as I pay the compensation for Li Zisheng, they will be satisfied, right? Then don't say anything! I am like this. I will not hide when there is something wrong! Isn't it just facing a group of unreasonable demands? Just let them come to me!"But I must make it clear in advance that I have never received a penny from selling official positions, let alone corruption and bribery!"

Tan Ji said: "Others won't think so."

"What they think is their business," Zhang Luan said. "As long as I have a clear conscience, that's all! Eunuch Tan, is there anything else?"

"No more, no more!"

You are going to have to pay compensation for Li Zisheng, what else can I say?As you said, people in the court just don't want to see you and Li Zisheng have a good life.

"Then... my son, please send him off for me. I'm sorry that I can't go out and see him off in person. Eunuch Tan, please forgive me!"

……

……

Hearing that Zhu Youtang was still in the Queen's bedroom, he was not in a hurry to see the emperor, because he knew that there were some things that were best not heard by the Queen.

If Zhang Yu knew that her father was being cheated and had to pay compensation...

You have to curse people in front of the emperor!

Fortunately, when Zhu Youtang learned that Tan Ji had returned, he hurried back to the Qianqing Palace to meet him.

Zhu Youtang couldn't help but frown and said, "My father-in-law is a responsible man, but what does this have to do with him? Must my father-in-law also take out the money? No, this is impossible!"

Qin Ji said: "Your Majesty, in fact, doing so may seem unreasonable, but it is the only solution that can satisfy the people in the court."

"What method is so outrageous?" Zhu Youtang said unhappily, "They will only be satisfied if my father-in-law pays for it? Is it their goal to make my father-in-law's family suffer as a result? No matter what, at most Li Zisheng will have to pay for all his property, but other than that... not a single ounce of silver from the Zhang family can be touched!"

Qin Ji thought to himself, you are a perfect son-in-law.

(End of this chapter)