Chapter 685 - 687: Wrong Either Way
Chapter 685: Chapter 687: Wrong Either Way
Gu Wenheng expressed his gratitude and then led his men back to the manor.
As soon as he entered the rear courtyard, Jin Qianqian was already waiting for him.
"I’m preparing to lease three storefronts, and the owner seems to be trying to curry favor by offering an extremely low rent."
The moment she saw him, Jin Qianqian immediately said, "I know they’re just trying to get on our good side, but I don’t dare take advantage of a deal like this."
Gu Wenheng said, "Rent them at market price, or not at all.
Lord Liang just called me over. The plan I wrote has been rushed to Shangjing. I need to start my preparations here, so if you have your own plans, you’d be better off buying a plot of land and building from scratch."
Jin Qianqian said, "That’s a good idea, but I’m worried it might have a negative impact on you?"
After all, developing the nearby land would be a form of unofficial expansion.
And for them, the Governor’s official family, to be the first to snap up land for construction—the optics wouldn’t be very good.
"How much land could you possibly use?" Gu Wenheng said, unconcerned. "If the plan is approved, this entire area will be expanded anyway. We’ll be encouraging everyone to buy land and build then, so you won’t even be noticeable."
Jin Qianqian said, "Well, if you say so, I won’t hold back! But if there’s going to be an expansion, we need to plan for the future. We have to draw up some proper guidelines first."
Gu Wenheng understood what she meant. There was a world of difference between planned development and haphazard, chaotic construction.
He gave Jin Qianqian a coaxing smile and said, "That’s actually another thing I was hoping you’d help me with.
You know my drafting skills are no match for yours. If my dear Madam could help me draw up a plan, I would be incredibly grateful."
Jin Qianqian shot him a sidelong glance. "You’re surrounded by capable men, yet here you are, bossing me around."
Gu Wenheng smiled placatingly. "Minghai can map out the topography, but he’s not skilled in urban planning.
I, on the other hand, am full of ideas, but I lack the skill to put them on paper. I can only trouble you, my dear."
He could do it himself, but his drafting skills were certainly no match for Jin Qianqian’s.
’He had a little ulterior motive in this, too. While Jin Qianqian couldn’t build a career for herself in the court like he could, he didn’t want people to see her as a mere merchant’s wife.’
The finished blueprints would have to be submitted to his superiors, which would, in turn, show them that Jin Qianqian possessed genuine talent.
Jin Qianqian didn’t think it was a big deal and readily agreed. "Have Minghai finish the topographical map, then tell me your ideas. I’ll get to work after that."
"Thank you, my dear Madam," Gu Wenheng said, pressing his palms together in a bow. "You’ve helped me out immensely."
Jin Qianqian replied, "Since that’s the case, you’ll have to reward me for my service, my lord. About the Silver needed to buy the land..."
"I’ll cover it," Gu Wenheng said magnanimously. His official salary had increased several times over by now.
Besides, with a capable wife supporting the family, all that salary was still in his hands, completely untouched.
He had intended to hand it over to her, but his wife had been too thoughtful, refusing to accept it. As a result, he’d actually managed to save up a considerable sum.
Jin Qianqian grinned. "Thank you, my good sir! In that case, I’d better pick out a few extra plots."
...
The speed of a mounted courier was a far cry from their own family’s slow, encumbered journey. The message, sent by express post, reached Shangjing in just over ten days.
After reading the memorial and the plan, Hua Shunming was greatly pleased. "We were not mistaken about this Gu Wenheng. He has only just arrived, yet he has already solved several difficult problems for Us."
Le San stood off to the side, acting as part of the scenery. ’This was not a matter a mere eunuch like him could meddle in.’
Hua Shunming immediately summoned several ministers. "How is the matter of Liu Xuan being handled? Has the Silver he absconded with been recovered?"
Huang Jin reported, "To the Holy Emperor, we have already dispatched men to investigate Liu Xuan’s clan.
His family was intercepted on their way back to their hometown, but we found no trace of the Silver. All suspects have been imprisoned and are awaiting the results of their interrogation."
Hua Shunming’s expression turned cold instantly. "Is this how your Ministry of Justice operates? All this time has passed, and you come to tell Us we must still ’wait’?
Such a large sum of Silver couldn’t just disappear without a trace."
Huang Jin quickly knelt on the ground. "Holy Emperor, please allow me to explain. It has been merely ten days since we received Lord Liang’s memorial. This humble minister acted as fast as possible to make the arrests. The individuals in question were only imprisoned the day before yesterday. The case is currently under investigation."
’This was truly unjust! They had really done their best. The Holy Emperor had never pressed for results so urgently in past cases.’
Hua Shunming considered the distance between the two locations and realized he had been unfair to Huang Jin. ’However, as the Emperor, even when I’m wrong, I have to be right.’
"We command you to speed up the investigation and recover that Silver as soon as possible. We have great use for it."
At his side, the Minister of Revenue, Zhou Shicong, quickly stepped forward and said, "Holy Emperor, any recovered illicit funds must be entered into the National Treasury."
’The Emperor is becoming more and more arbitrary,’ Zhou Shicong fumed inwardly. ’That huge income from the sea trade all went straight into his private coffers.
Now he’s even eyeing the National Treasury’s funds. If this goes on, what is the point of our Ministry of Revenue even existing?’
Hua Shunming didn’t need to guess to know they were all grumbling about him in their hearts again.
He would have been willing to put the money into the National Treasury, but Gu Wenheng’s plan was simply too compelling.
’So, it would be best if that batch of Silver is recovered. That way, I won’t have to allocate separate funds from the National Treasury.’
Looking at the tense old men before him, Hua Shunming felt a wave of weariness.
’I am the ruler of the nation, yet these men grumble and whine every time I want to spend a little Silver.’
’As for the contents of my private treasury, I certainly won’t take them out for these people to squander unless it’s an absolute last resort.’
"Rest assured, We will not use it for pleasure, but for the benefit of the people.
Here is a memorial sent from Yi Province. You all should take a look."
Le San, at the side, held the memorial with both hands and presented it to the Imperial Tutor, Niu Hai’an.
Niu Hai’an finished reading and passed it on. After everyone had done so, Hua Shunming finally looked at them. "Well? The conditions Gu Aiqing has proposed are not excessive, are they?
He is waiting for the court to allocate funds. We were thinking of using the embezzled Silver to fund his project, but if that money isn’t recovered, the funds can only be drawn from the National Treasury.
Tell Us, where should this sum come from?"
A bitter taste filled Huang Jin’s mouth. ’The Emperor is setting a trap for me. No matter how this case turns out, I’m bound to lose.
If I recover the two hundred thousand-plus Silver Taels, it will just be sent away again, making my achievement seem minor.
But if I fail to recover the silver, the National Treasury will have to make a new allocation, and I’ll be forced to take the blame for being incompetent.’
He glanced at the other ministers. At that moment, they seemed to have a perfect, unspoken agreement, as they all stared down at their own shoes. Not a single one of them raised an objection.
Hua Shunming, however, spoke at this moment. "We have summoned you today precisely to discuss this matter. We trust that you, our beloved ministers, will devise a plan shortly."