The first county magistrate in history

Chapter 150 1 Poor 2 White

Guo Pingxi was no longer calm. If the dirty silver was found in the countryside, the consequences would be disastrous!

At this moment, Qin Zheng suddenly stood up: "Master Guo, rest assured and recuperate. Your Highness, let's go!"

The goal has been achieved, and what remains is to see what Guo Pingxi will do.

Xia Mo Ning and Sun Tie Zhu both stood up.

"Your Highness, I have already ordered the preparation of a banquet!" Guo Pingxi quickly stood up and said.

Xia Mo Ning: "We still have to deliver the invitations, so I won't bother you anymore!"

The three of them left, and Guo Pingxi escorted them to the gate of the mansion.

In the carriage, Xia Mo Ning was filled with admiration: "Master, you are amazing. You tricked it out so easily. Should I notify my sister immediately and send people to recover the dirty silver?"

Qin Zheng smiled and said, "It's too late for you to notify me now."

Xia Mo Ning was shocked: "Why?"

Qin Zheng said, "Do you think their people can't get out of the Nine Gates? Do you think the people guarding the Nine Gates don't have their people?"

Xia Mochu's eyes widened: "Master, it can't be...my sister has already sent someone there, right?"

Qin Zheng nodded. "Once their men leave the city, our men will follow them. Otherwise, even if we know their dirty silver is hidden in the countryside, how can we know its exact location in such a vast country?"

Xia Mo Ning was unhappy: "Master, why did you and my sister hide this from me?"

Qin Zheng smiled and said, "That's great. What you understand yourself is far more profound than what others tell you."

Xia Mo Ning suddenly realized: "That's right!"

Suddenly, I thought, "Oh, Master, my sister also asked when you will install a toilet and a shower for her."

Qin Zheng scratched his head. "This time, the construction team brought the stuff over. Tomorrow, I'll send a few workers over to start the construction."

Xia Mo Ning was overjoyed and grabbed Qin Zheng's arm: "Master, the Junior Master's Mansion also needs to be installed. The toilet outside is too smelly..."

As night fell, Qin Zheng had already visited the Minister of Works Zhu Fengchi, the Minister of Punishments Zuo Zhongliang, the Minister of Revenue Chen Pingzhang, the Minister of Personnel Shen Zhongchen, the Chief Justice Zheng Huaizhi, and the new censor of the Inspectorate Wei Guozhong.

As for the loyal ministers, Qin Zheng simply sent out invitations and pretended to do so, which didn't take long...

"Master, whose house shall we go to first tomorrow?" Xia Mo Ning was very excited.

Qin Zheng smiled and said, "Just send someone to deliver the remaining invitations."

Xia Mo Ning was startled: "Why is this?"

Qin Zheng said, "The news of our visit will spread. There's no point in going door to door in person. It's enough for these officials to visit."

Xia Mo Ning was puzzled: "Master, but, without the IOU, will they give you the money?"

Qin Zheng said firmly: "Yes!"

Xia Mo Ning scratched her head: "Master, why is this?"

Qin Zheng said, "Once word of my visit to several high-ranking officials spreads, the rest of the people will undoubtedly find a way out of the city to report the news. Within a few days, their wealth in the countryside will be completely uprooted. With so much wealth confiscated, will they still care about the little gold and silver left in their mansions? Who would lose the greater good for a little bit of dirty silver and resign from their official position?"

Xia Mo frowned. "Really? If we don't remove them, won't they become even more daring and corrupt?"

Qin Zheng nodded: "So, anti-corruption is a long and arduous task."

Xia Mo Ning was filled with righteous indignation: "My sister is always hesitant. When I become the empress, I will definitely kill them all."

Qin Zheng shook his head. "Your sister's concerns are correct. They've been operating for many years and have deep roots. A single move could affect the entire system. Unless the country is at peace and the people are at peace, it's not appropriate to mobilize troops. As someone in power, you can't act arbitrarily and follow your own preferences. Sometimes, you have to compromise according to the current situation!"

Xia Mo Ning was discouraged: "Master, being an emperor is too difficult, and being a wise ruler is even more difficult!"

Qin Zheng encouraged her, "With your intelligence and talent, these are not difficult tasks!"

Xia Mo Ning looked at Qin Zheng with resentment: "Master, please stop praising me. I would rather lie down with you!"

Qin Zheng was shocked. Oh no, I’ve led the princess astray!

……

Prime Minister's House.

"What? You have sent people to the countryside to inform the public?" Xia Bitu looked at Qu Zhengzhuo in surprise.

Qu Zhengzhuo was stunned: "Sir, if you don't notify us to move, it will be too late!"

"Alas!" Xia Bitu sighed, "I know Qin Zheng asked me to write the invitation in order to intimidate you and make you contribute more money.

Originally, I thought you'd understand my handwritten invitation, that I'd be there to protect you, and there was no need to panic. Just give him a symbolic amount to give him and the Empress some face. I didn't expect him to understand human nature better than I do. You actually think this way! Sigh..."

Qu Zhengzhuo's expression suddenly changed: "Your Majesty, don't you know where we hid our silver?"

Xia Bitu angrily said, "Fool, if you knew, you would have confiscated it long ago. Why go through so much trouble? Do you really think the Empress is giving face to an old minister? She just doesn't dare to make a big fuss and mobilize the army!"

Qu Zhengzhuo was sweating profusely: "Sir, what should we do now? It's too late to get it back!"

Xia Bitu sighed again and said, "Take all the dirty silver in your house, not even a single ounce, and send it all to Qin Zheng as a gift."

"Give it all to him?" Qu Zhengzhuo was shocked.

Xia Bitu's eyes were penetrating. "The Empress will not publicize her confiscation of rural wealth. Everyone knows this, so let's end it now and let bygones be bygones."

But since the Empress had promised a thorough investigation, she would actually come and dig deep. There would be no perfunctory treatment in the Imperial Capital.

I've given you this opportunity. If you still commit crimes against your will or take chances, you deserve death, and she will show no mercy. Therefore, you can only pass this test and keep your official positions if you truly ensure that every penny in your family has a legitimate source.

The Empress's goal now is money. If she gets the money, she will show mercy and not kill everyone!"

"Won't we be penniless again?" Qu Zhengzhuo's face looked extremely ugly, he gritted his teeth, and was very unwilling to accept it.

All these years have been in vain, and it's equivalent to making money for the empress.

But, that's all we can do!

Qu Zhengzhuo now hates Qin Zheng to the core.

I cursed in my heart: "You plague god, just wait for me, don't give me a chance!