Capital.

When you enter Zhengyang Gate, there is an ancient and solemn building on your right. Although it is all low small green tiled houses, the lights that never go out all night and the figures passing by give people a strong sense of oppression.

The cold wind of the spring night blew by, the figures swayed, the lights flashed, but there was no noise.

The wind is vaguely mixed with the smell of sand and dust from the Mongolian Plateau. The ecological environment of Beijing four hundred years ago was not much better than that of modern times. Every year early spring, there are several troublesome sandstorms as usual.

That's right, this is the political center of the Ming Dynasty.

As soon as you enter Zhengyang Gate, you will see the majestic palace of the Forbidden City. The right hand is the Ministry of Justice, Dali Temple, Inspectorate and Taichang Temple, and the left hand is the Six Ministry of the Office.

Compared with the magnificent palace, this building looks dilapidated and simple. The government does not build a yamen, and a huge building complex has not been renovated since the capital of Chengzu moved to Beijing. Many places have grass growing. There are naturally many unusual places in the century-old ancient house. Needless to say, you can hear the sound of night owls flapping their wings everywhere. Even during the day, weasels are often seen running by the roof from time to time.

The building at the west end of Zhengyangmen is the Ministry of Revenue and the center of the Money and Grain Resources of the Ming Dynasty. Even though there were a lot of lamps, the yard still seemed a little gloomy, especially the sound of night owls coming from the lush persimmon trees, which made people feel even more chill.

Tonight is the second grandfather of the Sun family, Sun Henian, on duty. He is in his early forties this year, and it is the heyday of a person's experience, ability and energy. But after being on duty for several consecutive nights, he still exhausted him. He only felt a mess in his mind and could not make any sense.

The rebellion of the Ning King on the front line of Jiangnan has been quelled, and the Huanhao Rebellion that had been tortured by the Ming Dynasty for more than half a year has finally come to an end. But the emperor stayed in Yangzhou and spent tens of millions of dollars. Every day, a large amount of silver was poured out like water.

The treasury of the Ming Dynasty was already full of holes, and the accounts of the Ministry of Revenue were already rotten. In the past, Sun Henian and others could still maintain the basic shape of this leaking ship. But now, the emperor personally fought against the rebellion. The ship set sail without evading people's will, and was sailing in the storm of storms. If they were not careful, they would scatter into pieces.

If such days continue, not only the Minister of Revenue, but also the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, the heads will have to hit the wall.

As the head of the Ministry of Revenue, Sun Henian's main task is to collect taxes from Huguang. Huguang is familiar with the world. If the summer tax this year can be collected smoothly, the cost of the Jiangnan front line can be basically balanced.

Therefore, not only the Minister of Revenue, but also Yang Tinghe, the chief minister of the cabinet, also expressed high hopes for Sun Henian's work.

However, only my family knows the hardships of my family. It is true that Huguang is rich. As long as you use some means, there will be no problem with the summer tax this year compared to the year-round. However, the situation in that place is complicated, with many gentry, wealthy clans, and vassal kings as many as cows. Official fields, king fields, civil fields, tax reductions, and tax exemptions. Whoever collects, whoever charges, how much to charge, how much to charge, how much to charge, is something worth considering carefully.

Hearing the night owl's cry, Sun Henian raised his eyes, which had become red because of staying up all night, rubbed his hands, and felt more and more uneasy in his heart.

The room he worked in was very large, but because of the pile of large amounts of documents and books, it looked narrow and narrow. The room was very quiet, and the lights were swaying, and two little officials were busy checking the tax data.

Sun Henian was a deep and peaceful person, and he was kind to his subordinates on weekdays. But the recent things were so complicated, and he was in a bad mood after staying up late. He didn't know what was wrong with him just now, so he scolded the two minor officials under him. At this moment, both minor officials were trembling and did not dare to look at the chief official again.

Seeing his subordinates' fear and fear, Sun Henian suddenly felt an unspeakable pleasure in his heart. Power is really a tempting delicacy. As long as he has a little bit of power in his hand, he can determine a person's life, death, honor and disgrace. Is there anything in the world that is more desirable than this?

Of course, after a moment, he calmed down and was secretly alert. People who can enter the Ministry of Revenue work, even if their position is low, have a certain background. As for the two small people in front of him, if they can enter this vital department, there must be the care of big people behind them.

Working in the Ministry of Revenue, you also have a certain amount of real power. The money and food you pass every day is an astronomical figure. A little leaking in your fingers is enough to make ordinary people have no worries about food and clothing for a lifetime. But because of this, sitting in this position is like being in a bush of thorns, and you don’t know when you will be stabbed.

From the Hongwu Dynasty to the present, are there few officials who have been beheaded and exiled in the Fifth Division of the Ministry of Revenue?

Well, I have to find an opportunity to comfort them. I am not afraid of ten thousand, but I am afraid of what to do. Who can explain the future?

It is difficult to be a Beijing official, but it is full of fuel and water. Especially the head of the Ministry of Revenue, millions of people are coveting. Behind the chair he is sitting, there are still many people waiting to fill the gap.

It was warmer this day, and when the weather was hot, the emperor should take off and return to Beijing. By then, without this huge expense, and then he would move on the numbers, the level would pass. As for this bad account, it would be sealed in the archives room. After ten or twenty years, you will have a headache when the next department head is in trouble.

The wind gradually weakened, and the dust in the air rustled down, falling on the leaves in the yard, which could be clearly heard in the quiet night.

Just as I was thinking about it, a rush of footsteps came.

After being disturbed by someone, Sun Henian was a little dissatisfied and was about to have an attack. When he looked up, his elder brother Sun Songnian had arrived.

Sun Henian was stunned and stood up to salute: "Aren't your brother on duty at Taichang Temple?"

"It's not a few steps away, I'll arrive just by raising my feet. The emperor is far away in Jiangnan, and the affairs of various departments are busy with three points." Like Sun Hao, Sun Songnian is also a fat man. His official uniform is a bit unfit, and he is tightly tied to his body, which makes people feel uncomfortable: "I was on duty before, but suddenly someone comes to see me. Who do you think it is?"

"Oh, who?" Sun Henian relaxed his body and asked casually.

"Mao Cheng and Mao Secretary." Sun Songnian said proudly.

"Wait." Sun Henian glared at his brother, signaling him not to speak, and then said to the two officials in the room: "Please ask you two to check the tax receipts in Huguang last year and check a data."

"Yes." The two minor officials knew that the two brothers had something to say, so they stood up and bowed out of the house.

After the two of them had gone far, Sun Henian asked Sun Songnian: "But Mao Cheng, Minister of Rites? What did he ask you for?"

"Yes, it's Lord Mao." Sun Songnian sat proudly in front of his younger brother and smiled: "Mr. Mao came over and told me just now that the Ministry of Rites is missing a minister and wants to recommend me to go there. Haha, it's my luck. I've been staying in the Taichang Temple's water yamen for many years, and my body is moldy. Now I can finally find a good time to go out and have hair."

Sun Henian's expression was not at all joy: "Brother, in my opinion, you are honest and simple by nature and are suitable for staying in Taichang Temple. Although the Six Tribes look superficial, the water here is muddy. If you are not careful, you will be in danger of accident."

When Sun Songnian heard his second brother's words, he was unhappy. On the surface, he was the head of the Sun family, but Sun Henian had the final say in all the affairs in the family. He was a lazy and peaceful person, and he was so happy to worry about these idle worries. But this time it was related to his future, so he could not resist.

Sun Songnian shouted unhappily: "He Nian, you are wrong. You are so glorious in the Ministry of Revenue. You can't let me, the elder brother, enter the Ministry of Rites for a few days. How can this be the reason?"
Chapter completed!