Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!

Chapter 741: Chapter 741 Thinking_Part 1

Within the palace walls, Zhou Shuren’s sensation of entering the palace was different from before; the first time was a mix of excitement and nervousness, the second time he was much more composed, and the subsequent visits were met with indifference. Now, however, he felt the weight of his responsibilities—the Ministry of Revenue controlled the finances, and the duty was considerable!

Zhou Shuren looked at Xiao Qing, who walked ahead. At over sixty years old, Xiao Qing appeared older compared to other Chief of Staff officials, with the deepest wrinkles at the corners of his eyebrows.

They quickly reached the government hall, where Xiao Qing led Zhou Shuren into the grand hall and said, ”We greet the Emperor.”

Zhou Shuren followed suit, ”We greet the Emperor.”

The Emperor was in a good mood, ”You may rise, my officials.”

Xiao Qing stood up and took the account books, ”Emperor, these are the treasury’s account books for this month.”

The Emperor looked at the account books placed at the corner of the desk; he didn’t want to look at them. Indeed, without looking at the books, he knew well the state of the treasury’s silver—yes, because there wasn’t much silver in the treasury, ”Leave them there!”

Xiao Qing breathed a sigh of relief. There really wasn’t much silver left in the treasury—he had already brought out all of his hidden reserves. Just thinking of the Zhezi requesting silver gave him a headache, ”Emperor, the Ministry of Revenue truly has no silver left.”

Daily declarations of poverty!

The Crown Prince remained silently aware that there were less than two hundred thousand taels of silver left in the treasury; indeed, there was no silver left. This silver was being reserved for unforeseen emergencies.

The Emperor tapped on the desk, looking at the unmoving Zhou Shuren, ”Does Zhou, my official, have anything to say?”

Zhou Shuren was mentally prepared; the Emperor would summon him. He responded calmly, ”Your servant has just assumed office and does not fully understand the workings of the Ministry of Revenue. I dare not make any assertions and request a few days’ time from the Emperor to familiarize myself with the ministry.”

Although the question came from the Emperor, the Minister of Revenue was also present. Zhou did not want to overstep his boundaries—that was a grave taboo! Fortunately, he was unfamiliar with the Ministry of Revenue, so saying so was no mistake!

The Emperor was not disappointed, ”It is essential that you familiarize yourself with the Ministry of Revenue as swiftly as possible.”

”Your servant obeys the decree.”

The Emperor then said to Xiao Qing, ”The torrential rains in Jiangnan keep coming, and many Zhezi requesting silver have piled up. You must find a way to come up with one hundred thousand taels.”

Xiao Qing felt a bit dizzy, ”Ten thousand taels?”

”One hundred thousand taels.”

Xiao Qing’s vision darkened as he said, ”Emperor, it’s not that your servant cries poverty without cause—the officials of the Ministry of Revenue have not returned home for a long time. Everywhere needs silver, and your servant truly has no silver left!”

The Emperor patted Xiao Qing on the shoulder, ”I trust that you will find a way.”

Zhou Shuren watched as Xiao Qing’s expression turned utterly despondent, and he fell silent. This was a glimpse of his future days!

Xiao Qing’s heart bled—hundred thousand taels! The reserve silver in the treasury couldn’t be touched. With the returning army, the compensation was of utmost importance, and the river flood disaster concerned the people too. He couldn’t help but clutch at his hair, ”Your servant, your servant obeys the decree.”

The Emperor silently shifted his gaze away; Xiao Qing had not had it easy over the years, yet the time to leave had not yet come!

Upon exiting the Palace, Zhou Shuren looked at Xiao Qing, who was counting on his fingers, ”The day to distribute the salaries will soon be upon us.”

Zhou Shuren sighed inwardly; the Ministry of Revenue was truly in a tough spot. So to avoid hardship in the days to come, one would need a well-lined purse!

At the Ministry of Revenue, Xiao Qing dismounted the carriage, reined in his emotions, and introduced Zhou Shuren around. The Vice Minister of Revenue, Mr. Qiu, was fifty years old, slightly older than Zhou Shuren.

Afterward, they met with quite a few doctors, and Xiao Qing went off to attend to his tasks.

Mr. Qiu, taking Zhou Shuren with him, said, ”The Ministry of Revenue has many departments, and it’ll be impossible to recognize them all at once. You’ll come to know them in time during the reports. You and I will work in this room.”

Though the Ministry of Revenue was out of silver, the department’s decoration was not lacking; the room was bright and spacious.

Zhou Shuren said, ”I have just arrived at the Ministry of Revenue and don’t know much about it, I want to look at some materials.”

Mr. Qiu pointed to the bookshelf, ”All the materials of the Ministry of Revenue are here, sorted according to various departments. You can find what you want according to the classification. If you want more detail, you will need to visit each department. I also have accounts to settle, so I will be busy first.”

After thanking Mr. Qiu, Zhou Shuren said, ”You go ahead with your tasks.”

Mr. Qiu didn’t stand on ceremony, as he really was busy. The fact that he could spare such a long time to accompany Zhou Shuren was already not easy.

Zhou Shuren was looking for materials with a purpose. The Department of Punishment at the Ministry of Revenue, a department carried over from the previous dynasty, was in charge of storing the finances confiscated by the government. Although the department only had a major and a deputy, both of nine-rank, they managed significant finances.

Before Zhou Shuren took office, he was thinking of taking action once he was in position, but he was clearly aware that he would eventually have to face the realities of the Ministry of Revenue. Therefore, after getting to know a little about it, he set his sights on this department.

Zhou Shuren took out last year’s records. The specific financial documents were stored in the Department of Punishment; only the statistical summary of quantities was here. The confiscated silver had already been deposited into the state treasury and spent; only goods remained now.

The accounting books of the Department of Punishment were quite numerous, arranged by year. Zhou Shuren looked through them year by year, then recorded each year’s totals. After he had seen them all, he checked the data he had recorded.

This was the total amount; he still had to see how much had been handled and how much was left.

Zhou Shuren looked up at the deputy minister who was still checking numbers, deciding not to disturb him. He stood up and walked out; he wanted to make a round of the Ministry of Revenue. This was just a preliminary look, as today was his first day on the job, and he was not in a rush.

Upon receiving the report, Xiao Qing didn’t even lift his head as he gestured to acknowledge and said, ”You don’t need to follow in secret anymore.”

”Yes.”

Xiao Qing waited for the people to leave before lifting his head. He hoped that Zhou Shuren could indeed come up with the necessary silver. As his gaze fell upon the Zhezi on the desk, his chest ached again. All these required money!

Zhou Shuren recorded the locations of the various departments within the Ministry of Revenue, and also memorized some of the officials, before returning.

Mr. Qiu looked up, smiled at Zhou Shuren, and then bowed his head again. He wouldn’t admit his aversion to Zhou Shuren, but he did genuinely hope that Zhou Shuren would help share the burden. With the Emperor’s favor towards Zhou Shuren and Xiao Qing’s promotion, who would be the next Minister of Revenue?

However, with Zhou Shuren at the Ministry of Revenue, Mr. Qiu felt his own risks were a bit lessened. Currently, every place needed silver, and if a great flood were to happen in the south, and the Ministry of Revenue could not provide the necessary funds and was blamed, Xiao Qing might be safe, but his own position would be questionable.

Mr. Qiu felt very conflicted, to the point where he could hardly focus on the accounting ledgers before him. He was indeed envious of Mr. Zhong!

At Zhou’s residence, Zhulan greeted Yao Yao. The maids in the room withdrew, and Zhulan said with some surprise, ”We have been in the capital for many days, I thought you would avoid us, but I didn’t expect you to visit in person.”

Yao Yao said, ”My husband and I also have many constraints. The day he met with the official, he drank a few extra glasses that night. I’ve actually been wanting to come see you, it’s just that the timing wasn’t right.”

This visit was decided after a long discussion with her husband.

Zhulan smiled, ”I’m very happy that you’ve come. Now that you are married, how do you plan to handle the properties you entrusted Zhou’s residence to manage?”

Yao Yao stood up to pay her respects, ”I still have to trouble Zhou’s residence with that matter.”

She didn’t believe that getting married solved everything. This was a backup plan, and it was vital to secure it well.

Zhulan smiled and said, ”Alright.”

Yao Yao could not stay long and after a few more words, she took her leave.

Zhulan watched Yao Yao leave and after Auntie Song returned from seeing the guest out, she remarked, ”Looking at her complexion and the tone she used when mentioning Shi Qing, it seems the two of them get along well.”

Auntie Song replied, ”Miss Yao Yao is a transparent and astute person, and young master Shi Qing is also someone with plans.”

It would be odd if these two did not get along well!