Chapter 140: Father-in-law comes to borrow money

A spring rain brought the relationship between wine and poetry a lot closer. Qin Lei was naturally proud and was happy all day long, making the depressed Li Sihai very jealous.

But the ancients said: No good things happen to people, no good things to do, no good things to eat when dogs are happy. Qin Lei understood what the ancients really meant to be honest and did not deceive me. His ideal father-in-law came to visit.

Perhaps because of the idea of ​​beating someone's daughter, when Qin Lei heard that Li Guangyuan was coming, he felt guilty inexplicably. If the fat man hadn't been on the side, he might have left as a plan.

He sent the hippie little fat man to the back hall, and then respectfully welcomed Li Siqing into the house. This time Li Guangyuan wanted to kowtow, but Qin Lei refused to obey him. Li Guangyuan felt that Qin Lei was awkward and was a little confused, so he had to let him go.

After serving the tea, Qin Lei also got rid of the inexplicable uneasiness of meeting his father-in-law for the first time. Knowing that Li Guangyuan was not here to seek punishment, he recovered the calmness that he had finally developed. The two of them started talking nonsense such as "How is the weather?" and "Whether the body is safe" before they got to the point.

Li Guangyuan came to ask for money. He said a little embarrassedly: "The inspection temple has been established for almost two months, and the Ministry of Revenue has only allocated 2,000 taels of commission. Although the yamen is ready-made, it can add some tables, chairs, benches, pens, inkstones, paper, ink, and inkstones, and more than half of it." Then he sighed: "I am not in charge of the family and don't know that the firewood and rice are expensive. Although the officials receive salaries in the Ministry of Revenue, the money is still going out like a flow of water every day, and it is no longer sustainable now."

Qin Lei smiled gently and said, "I'll go to the Ministry of Revenue to ask for some money and come back."

Li Guangyuan smiled bitterly and said, "I have been there three times. I just listened to Tian Minfeng complaining, but I have never asked for a penny of money." He took a sip of tea and said, "Mr. Tian said, if it is not done for six or seven months, all the civil and military officials in the court will have to drag their wages until the summer tax is in the treasury."

Qin Lei said in surprise: "So serious?" He collected intelligence carefully, but in fact, he knew better than Li Guangyuan how difficult the finances were - Tian Minnong had already borrowed a large amount of debts from major families in the name of the Ministry of Revenue. This was unheard of in the 200-year history of the Qin Dynasty.

Qin Lei knew that as an idle decoration yamen, the Ministry of Revenue was enough to allocate 2,000 taels. However, Li Guangyuan has always been a noble official for generations, and he has never been worried about A Duwu. At this time, he became a chief of a minister for the first time, and he was inevitably cheated by his subordinates and became a surrender in vain.

If someone else comes to the mansion to catch Qiufeng, Qin Lei will definitely drive out, and even the fat man will pay five taels of silver a day, as the cost of food and accommodation. But who told Li Guangyuan to have a good daughter? Qin Lei happened to be the only one who beats him. After thinking for a long time, he gritted his teeth and said, "Mr. Li is here in person, and he will definitely not be perfunctory. Let's do this, pay two thousand taels from the account of the People's Context Department to the temple."

Li Guangyuan said gratefully: "Thank you for your help, wait for the Ministry of Revenue to come down and return the money immediately."

Qin Lei waved his hand and said generously: "No need, there is not much entry in the temple, so keep it generous." Then he smiled and said: "Just hold your pocket tightly, don't let those dirty officials cheat money easily. It's okay for two or three months."

Li Guangyuan nodded and said ashamed: "Yes, I am not strict in my family, so I ended up in such a situation. But I have to pay attention in the future."

The two of them said a few more polite words, and Li Guangyuan said carefully: "Your Majesty, there is something I want to know about you."

Qin Lei nodded and said, "Sir, please speak."

Li Guangyuan said: "I read the copy sent by the Nanjun Information Department these days and found that they are investigating something." Although the temple inspection is a decoration yamen, the subordinate departments still have to summarize their daily work and submit it to the temple for future disputes.

Qin Lei said seriously: "But it has something to do with orphan?"

Li Guangyuan said in a deep voice: "The Southern Military Information Department has seized several spy cases in succession, and the criminals are all monks from the Zen Buddhism of Dongqi."

Qin Lei said without saying a word: "Dongqi Zen Buddhism?"

Li Guangyuan said in a solemn voice: "That's true. This Zen Buddhism was able to preach in the south because of His Highness. Therefore, His Highness was also their guarantor in name."

Qin Lei slowly rubbed his fingers on the armrest of the seat for a few times and asked softly: "Has this information been reported?"

Li Guangyuan nodded and said, "The Grand Marshal must have known it a long time ago. Maybe he will attack the court meeting in the next few days. The prince should make plans early." But he was a little angry. He didn't say this first but borrowed money first, because he was afraid of giving people the feeling of being kind.

Qin Lei sent Li Guangyuan away thankfully, and did not return home. Instead, he got on the carriage and headed straight to Xiaoqing River. He got on the pleasure boat there at the pier and asked the guards who came up and said, "Where is Mr. Guantao?" Since Li Sihai moved into Shuxiang Pavilion, Guantao moved out of the Eastern Palace and moved down to this pleasure boat. Qin Lei had long wanted to move all his departments out of the Eastern Palace, not just to guard against Li Sihai.

The guard pointed upstairs and said respectfully: "Mr. Guantao has been busy all night and has just fallen asleep."

Qin Lei was not anxious when he heard this, and told the guards not to wake him up. He would sit down on the side of the river, ask Qin Sishui to find fishing gear and fish quietly.

Staring at the shimmering water surface, Qin Lei was a little stunned. Yuer didn't know that he had finished eating the food on the hook. He was a little confused. It was obvious that the Taiwei Mansion had been arranged, and the rest was to pull himself into the abyss step by step. Of course, it was definitely not just for himself, the insignificant little prince. But Qin Lei still remembered the words of Qin Li when he parted that day - "If someone transfers you out of the capital, don't agree no matter what." The general prince was a little politically a bit. If Li Hun forced Emperor Zhaowu to issue an order, would he not go out?

At this time, footsteps came from the upstairs. After a while, the sleepy Guantao appeared in front of Qin Lei. He got up halfway through sleep. He heard that Qin Lei was coming, so he dared not lie down again. He washed his face and hurried downstairs.

The two of them were not polite, Qin Lei asked Guan Tao to sit beside him and said the matter. Guan Tao whispered and said, "Your Highness, don't worry too much. I think you will not be in danger of your life."

Qin Lei's heart was immediately relieved, and after enjoying this kind of high-ranking life for a long time, he became less and less desperate. In other words, he was more and more afraid of death. Although he had never said it, the great reputation of blood killing had always been shrouding Qin Lei like a cloud.

A sharp blade, known as the world's number one killer, hangs over your head at all times and may fall off at any time. If anyone else is worried.

Guantao explained to him: "Since last year, the disputes in the court have been intentionally or unintentionally concentrated in the south. Various contradictions are gathered together, waiting for someone to break it and let things develop in the direction planned by those above."

Qin Lei said a little depressedly: "So I chose me? What do I have to look at for them in another way?"

Guantao smiled and said, "I guess that the prince is the one who is in love with His Majesty, Prime Minister, and Grand Marshal. Only your fearless temper and indomitable temperament are the most suitable to be this pioneer."

Qin Lei rolled his eyes and said, "To put it nicely, isn't it just that I like me to act recklessly?"

Guantao chuckled and said, "As long as the prince grasps what the big figures think, he can still be unscrupulous." As he said, he asked, "Does the prince know why my Great Qin finance is troubled?"

Qin Lei knew that he was asking questions and answering himself, and he didn't answer, so he listened quietly.

Guantao explained to him: "Look at the fact that I, the Great Qin Dynasty, actually supported the army. If there was no huge amount of military expenditure, the national treasury would not be deficit." Prince Qinleito transferred the revenue and expenditure records of the past ten years from the Ministry of Revenue. Guantao has been studying this in the past few days.

Qin Lei said a little surprised: "Didn't it mean it's because the officials are greedy?"

Guantao smiled and said, "It's right, it's not right. Civil officials are greedy for things outside the books, and the books are clean. The various taxes add up to nearly 20 million taels of silver every year. Can Your Highness understand the reason?"

Qin Lei suddenly said, "I, Qin, claiming to be a powerful army of two million, but according to my elder brother, the total number of imperial guards is only more than one million. Nearly half of the vacancy was eaten by officials at all levels." Qin Lei knew that the situation of the imperial guards and imperial guards was better, and they were basically full. But the situation of the guards and border guards in various places was extremely serious. Not to mention the distance, just the prince guards under the emperor's nose had a 10,000 staff, but even the husbands and prostitutes were counted together, it was not enough for 5,000 people.

The emperor and the generals naturally knew about this situation, but in the battle stage of seeking military support, no one dared to pursue it, and they had to find ways to cover it.

Guantao nodded and said, "It's true." Then he looked at the cargo ships coming and going in the distance and whispered: "And I, Daqin, have a strange characteristic. The stronger the troops, the less taxes and silver paid to the treasury will be paid to the treasury than when it is weak."

Qin Lei didn't find it difficult to understand and said softly: "The Qin army is strong, and the customs defenses between the two countries will be stricter. There are fewer commercial tax revenues, so the national treasury will naturally not be so full."

Guantao praised: "The prince is wise, so there will definitely be no increase in taxes in the past few years. If you can't open source, you will be intercepted."
Chapter completed!