Even if they knew, would they still support it?
The entire court: ...
Isn't the wealth and status gained by pleasing Lord Zhang and his wife too illusory?
Is this considered using one's looks to please someone?
Beauty fades, and so does love.
Zhou Kaiwen: I can't help it!
My father was being chased and beaten by people from the gambling den. My mother was too ill to get out of bed, and my younger brother and sister were on the verge of starving to death.
Dignity, integrity, and face are worthless in the face of life and death.
They need to survive first.
Previously, all the officials in the court looked down on this scholar, but later, they all fell silent.
Guagua, behind the red gates, meat and wine go to waste, while on the streets, frozen corpses lie!
Host, this isn't even the worst part! When the natural disaster strikes, things ten or a hundred times worse will happen.
Crown Prince Yan Beichen clenched his fists; he would never let such a thing happen.
Prince An: Sigh...
He glanced at Emperor Jingyuan at the head of the table and silently lowered his head.
Su Huaiyuan: Yes, that's terrible.
Behind the red gates, meat and wine go to waste, while on the roads, frozen corpses lie!
That's a perfect description, I'll write it down!
Swish Swish swish~~~ "
Shen Changyuan: My dear daughter, your father is a good father who neither gambles nor frequents brothels.
The Marquis of Changping's household is quite wealthy; you can eat whatever you want...
Guagua, this is infuriating! Look at this hall: Are there still any corrupt officials? Let's kill some every day as a sacrifice to the heavens, hoping the snow disaster will be delayed!
Emperor Jingyuan: You're quite good at making wishes, but don't make any more next time!
The Great Yan Dynasty is prosperous and peaceful, with favourable weather and abundant harvests, and its people live in peace and contentment!
Prince An quickly scanned the civil and military officials to determine which one was corrupt.
Tell us quickly, then arrest them and confiscate their property.
Emperor Jingyuan: A corrupt official?
If there are still corrupt officials among the ministers, no matter who they are, their property will be confiscated immediately, and they, along with their families, will be exiled and sent straight to work in the mines.
The mines now need a large workforce.
As if he had thought of something, he planned to contact General Xie Yan of the North after court to see how the "exchange" with the Hu people was going.
We still need to exchange for more supplies.
Host, wait a minute, let Guagua take a look.
Okay, hurry up.
At this moment, the ministers in the main hall were all filled with apprehension.
Having served as officials for many years, they are not exactly clean in their own ways.
They were terrified of being singled out by Shen Mingzhu.
My God, why do they have to go through all this?
Lord Shen can't see me, she can't see me!
Shen Changyuan frowned as he looked at the ministers around him.
No way, they all have problems?
Crown Prince Yan Beichen scanned the entire hall, seeing all the civil and military officials with their heads bowed, seemingly lost in thought. He clenched his fists. "Corrupt officials, your good days are over!"
Host, host, I'm done scanning.
Guagua, hurry up, tell me about a corrupt official.
Hehe, host, you won't believe what you'll find until you see it!
Oh, what happened?
Prince An: You were startled?
What's going on?
Are there many corrupt officials?
He couldn't help but look at his elder brother, Emperor Jingyuan, sitting at the head of the table.
This despicable parasite dares to erode the foundation of the Great Yan Dynasty; this official must not be allowed to remain!
After hearing Shen Mingzhu's heartfelt words, Emperor Jingyuan silently looked at the civil and military officials below him. He sat in the highest seat so he could see everything clearly.
His brows furrowed more and more deeply.
Snort!
He wanted to see what other monsters and demons were down there.
Host, many ministers are dishonest!
Oh? Tell me about it?
This Lord Wang accepted two top-grade Yangzhou "slender horses" (a euphemism for prostitutes) and a half-meter-tall red coral from his subordinates; this Lord Li accepted a painting and calligraphy by the great scholar Xie, and two boxes of Longquan ink paste...
Oh dear, and this Master Qian has acquired two mountain strongholds, two shops, and countless furs and fabrics from a wealthy merchant in Jiangnan; this Master Sun has obtained a century-old ginseng root…
The four officials named, Wang, Li, Qian, and Sun broke out in a cold sweat.
They stood still without being called out by name.
But they knew they were finished.
Lord Sun: At that time, my elderly mother was seriously ill, and we really couldn't find any century-old ginseng to save her life. Filial piety is the most important virtue, so later, I gave the money for the century-old ginseng to that person.
He's innocent.
You can't just let him watch his elderly mother die.
Sun Daquan's eyes were red and swollen; it only happened once. *Sobbing*
He's so unlucky.
Ah! Host, there's a "big fish" here!
Guagua, who is who?
Prince An: Who is it?
Arrest them!
Crown Prince Yan Beichen couldn't help but look directly at her. Silently wondering who it is.
Host, you can guess now, you know too!
Guagua, could it be Lord Zhang?
She and Guagua talked mostly about him just now.
His other name is Zhang Qiren.
This name sounds bad just from it. Zhang Qiren, Zhang Qiren, sounds like someone who's infuriating!
At this moment, many ministers couldn't help but look at Zhang Qiren.
Zhang Qiren: Why are you looking at me!
Waaaaah...
My life is over!
He glared fiercely at Shen Mingzhu, but unfortunately, his gaze was blocked by Yan Beichen!
Hateful!
The Crown Prince is protecting her fiercely!
Otherwise, he would kill her with his gaze!
Shen Mingzhu: Hehehe~~~
You're finished!!!
At that moment, a clear, refreshing voice came from the system.
Bingo, host got it right!
It really is Zhang Qiren! Tell me, what has he been up to?
Crown Prince Yan Beichen frowned slightly. The main job of the Minister of the Court of Imperial Stud was to manage the national horse administration, including the feeding, training, and allocation of horses.
Could it be that he would target the warhorses of the Great Yan?
If that's the case, he really deserves to die!
Host, Zhang Qiren is incredibly shrewd! Most people couldn't find his flaws; only I, with my exceptional intelligence and all-seeing insight, managed to locate his weakness.
Oh, Guagua, what did Lord Zhang do?
Host, this Zhang Qiren is incredibly powerful! Don't let his quiet demeanour fool you; he's rolling in money. He's made a fortune just from horse feed alone—it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say he's making a killing.
Guagua, is it really that exaggerated? Isn't the Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices just like a stable boy? How can there be so much illicit gain?
Host, you're seriously underestimating the Keeper of the Heavenly Horses!
Shen Mingzhu: Uh...
Prince An: Making money?
Substituting inferior goods for superior ones?
Zhang Qiren probably wouldn't dare, after all, so many people are watching!
It should be roughly the same.
Crown Prince Yan Beichen: How is he making money.
Guagua, stop keeping me in suspense! What exactly happened?
Host, are you aware of any historical cases where new grain was exchanged for old grain to directly provide disaster relief and generate profit?
[I've seen it]
That's it! Zhang Qiren's move was masterful, and he even managed to team up with the medicine merchants to make another profit. It's just a pity those horses are going to suffer!
Upon hearing this, Crown Prince Yan Beichen's expression immediately changed!
Hateful!
Damn it!
How dare he!
The warhorses of the Great Yan were already mediocre, no match for the strength and ferocity of the barbarian nomads, and they were further tormented and exploited by officials like Zhang Qiren…
At this moment, Zhang Qiren could no longer hold on and knelt down again.
"Your Majesty, I am guilty!"
Emperor Jingyuan looked at the people who were about to attack and simply waved his hand.
"Since you're guilty, go to prison and explain yourself."
Thinking of those pharmaceutical and grain merchants who colluded with him, they were all taken down in one fell swoop!
This will replenish the national treasury.
Shen Changyuan: It's good to replenish the national treasury!
He desperately wants more corrupt officials to come so they can all be purged and a bright and just world restored for everyone.
With a full national treasury, their Ministry of Revenue wouldn't be constantly criticized for being stingy.
The national treasury has limited funds, and they can only use them where they are most needed; otherwise, they simply won't have enough. This is the reality.
Guagua, Master Zhang is gone. What will happen to Zhou Kaiwen?
Host, he also has Madam Zhang. Madam Zhang has a substantial dowry, and her family is very supportive; they can afford to support her.