Those original approval copies, receipt documents, and detailed lists that should have been attached at the back to prove the reasonableness and authenticity of the funds were either blank.
Or they only contained a cold line of red ink stating that the attachment was missing or the receipt was unseen.
This made the entire account book look like a skin from which the skeleton had been extracted; it appeared massive, but it could not withstand any substantial scrutiny or verification.
Cui Shifan's frown deepened, the deep crease between his eyebrows almost carving into his bone.
In account verification, the most important thing is the completeness of the original voucher chain.
Without vouchers, even the most beautiful summary figures are just a pile of meaningless symbols, or even carefully fabricated lies.
As the financial hub, it was unjustifiable for the Ministry of Revenue to have such a large-scale deficiency.
He slowly closed the account book, raised his eyes to look at Shangguan Yuan, and questioned in a deep, slow voice:
Minister Shangguan.
Cui Shifan used the formal title to show the seriousness of the situation: This account book is indeed exactly as Gu Chengyin said, with a severe lack of key vouchers. How do you explain this matter?
The pressure instantly shifted to Shangguan Yuan.
Facing Cui Shifan's questioning, Shangguan Yuan seemed to have been prepared. He did not panic, but instead showed an expression of mingled indignation.
Elder Cui!
Shangguan Yuan pointed to his bruised right eye, his voice full of grief and indignation: Look at this, look at this! Just because of such a minor storage negligence of an old account.
Gu Chengyin hit me without any explanation, destroyed my curios, and damaged my dignity! Now, even you, Elder Cui, are going to question me about this?
Shangguan Yuan first played the victim to gain sympathy, and then steered the topic to an explanation.
Elder Cui, surely you know!
The Ministry of Revenue's annual accounts go from the initial reports of various counties and prefectures, to the review of various departments, then to the summary and re-verification, and are finally filed and settled.
How many procedures and how many eyes are watching in the middle? Which year's accounts are not repeatedly and strictly checked at all levels, and only finally sealed into the warehouse after confirming they are correct?
Then, Shangguan Yuan pointed to the account book in Cui Shifan's hand, and fearing that the other party couldn't see clearly, he simply stood up.
He snatched the account book from Cui Shifan's hand, turned to the cover, pointed to the blurred year mark on it, and raised his voice:
Elder Cui, look! This is the account book of the Luoli year five hundred and fifty-six! It has been exactly ten years! Ten years!
According to the rules, such old accounts that have been settled and sealed for many years are uniformly stored in those old brick and wood warehouses in the backyard of the Ministry of Revenue.
Shangguan Yuan showed a helpless expression on his face: But that warehouse... Alas! Elder Cui must have heard of it, it is an old building left over from the previous dynasty.
It has been in disrepair for years. It is hot and humid in summer, breeding mosquitoes and insects, and cold and damp in winter, with water seeping from the walls. The officials of the Storage Department submit reports every year, applying for special repair funds to improve the storage conditions.
Shangguan Yuan spread his hands, helpless: However, when the reports are submitted, they are either rejected for reconsideration or sink like a stone in the ocean, with no follow-up for a long time!
As the Minister of Revenue, I must also act according to the regulations. If the Cabinet does not approve, I dare not touch a single cent of this fund.
The warehouse conditions are just like that. These paper account books may not even be preserved intact for two or three years, let alone ten years.
Bug-eaten, rat-bitten, damp, mildewed... Isn't it very normal for some attachments to be missing and paper to be damaged?!
Finally, Shangguan Yuan suddenly turned to Gu Chengyin, pointed at him and said with a trembling voice:
But what about him?! He holds on to this little wear and tear caused by objective conditions! He insists that my Ministry of Revenue is derelict in its duty! That it is intentional destruction! That it is obstructing the investigation!
Shangguan Yuan looked up and poured out his grievances: Elder Cui! Listen to these words! What would the hardworking officials of the Ministry of Revenue think! Isn't this chilling their hearts!!
Working day and night, checking money and grain, not daring to slack off in the slightest, but just because of some wear and tear of these old accounts, we are charged with such a big crime! Is there any justice in this?!
Although Shangguan Yuan's performance was of an award-winning caliber, and his tearful speech was deeply moving.
But after listening to the long speech, Gu Chengyin's face did not show the slightest emotion, and the sarcasm in his eyes was not concealed at all.
I won't listen to your excuses about bugs, rats, and leaky warehouses!
I don't care if your Ministry of Revenue's warehouse is a golden palace or a thatched hut!
I only know one fact: the accounts are incomplete! The key vouchers are missing! This directly causes His Highness to be unable to smoothly check the accounts, nor to clarify the reasons for the empty national treasury.
Gu Chengyin's voice suddenly rose, carrying the sharp edge of accountability: His Highness bears the heavy burden of the state and worries about national affairs. Every moment of his time is extremely precious!
And your Ministry of Revenue uses a pile of crippled account books to deal with it! Isn't this dereliction of duty? Isn't it dragging your feet? Isn't it a disguised obstruction?!
Since the accounts came from your Ministry of Revenue, if there is a problem, then your Ministry of Revenue must take responsibility! You must immediately! Right now! Give me, and give His Highness an explanation!
This attitude was extremely tough, not yielding an inch, making it clear that he wanted to pin the blame firmly on the Ministry of Revenue.
Seeing that the two were about to argue like fighting cocks again, and the scene of flying spit was about to be staged once more, Cui Shifan only felt his temples throbbing even harder.
He struck the red sandalwood desk in front of him heavily, making a dull thumping sound.
Enough! Both of you, say less!
Argue, argue, argue! Can arguing solve the problem?!
Cui Shifan's gaze swept over the faces of the two, quickly making a handling decision in line with convention:
I already know about this matter.
The storage of accounts involves long-standing abuses and objective conditions. It cannot be clarified in a few words, and coming to blows is indeed unseemly.
He looked at the two of them and ordered: Both of you, go back first and handle your own official duties.
As for this matter, after I discuss it with the other Grand Secretaries, a decision will be made.
Saying this, Cui Shifan reached out his hand, wanting to put away the account book on the table, preparing to temporarily seal it and leave it for the Cabinet's decision.
However, just as he was about to touch the cover of the account book.
A slender and powerful hand preempted him and pressed down on the account book.
Cui Shifan's hand stopped in mid-air.
He slowly raised his head, his gaze following the arm upwards, and finally met a pair of eyes.
It was Gu Chengyin.
At this moment, he leaned forward slightly, with one hand pressing on the account book, his gaze meeting Cui Shifan's without any evasion, without the slightest sense of awe or retreat.
Elder Cui.
As a junior who has just arrived, I am not very familiar with many of the court's rules.
So I would like to ask Elder Cui, for a matter like this that requires Cabinet discussion, how long does it usually take to give a definite result?
nd fell into a coma while saving his younger sister from an out-of-control car. He became a vegetable. No one knew that his consciousness had crossed into a world of cultivation. Over the course of sixty years, he began as the lowest kind of mine slave, struggling to survive amid mountains of corpses and seas of blood. By sheer chance, he eventually obtained the complete memories of a fallen Immortal King. Alchemy, medicine, formations, feng shui, physiognomy, artifact forging… Every great inheritance of the cultivation world was now his. But when he opened his eyes again, he discovered that ten full years had passed in the modern world. To pay for his treatment, his father had sold the family’s shop and house, leaving himself covered in lasting injuries and illness. His mother had cared for him day and night, and more than half of her hair had already turned white. His younger sister, who had been only fifteen back then, was now twenty-five. To help repay the family’s debts, she had been forced to lower her head and put on a smiling face in places of glittering lights and endless revelry. Only then did Chen Xuan understand that what he had lost was not merely ten years. He had lost the life his entire family was meant to have. The good news was that he had brought back the memories of an Immortal King’s entire lifetime. The bad news was that his soul had returned alone—his cultivation had not come with him. Spiritual energy was scarce, resources were depleted, and the modern world still had firearms, surveillance, capital, and laws. If he wanted to protect his family, break free from everyone’s control, and become truly invincible beneath the heavens, he would have to start all over again.
for mindless slaughter, this isn't for you.] My name is Ye Shu, and I'm a transmigrator. It seems I'm supposed to be the protagonist, but that feels pretty unlikely. This world has been invaded by a system. The antagonists on the other side have suddenly become pure, flawless saints. The female leads have been force-fed the so-called "original plot," making them think they've been reborn. Now, everyone thinks I'm scum. Including the old lady in my ring. And here I am, in the Monster Beast Mountain Range, braising pork. To put my situation in perspective— It's as if, the moment Xiao Yan stepped into the Monster Beast Mountain Range, the Soul Emperor already knew he would become the Flame Emperor, and Yao Lao had been turned to the enemy's side. I have nothing right now. Oh wait, that's not true. I do have a white-haired loli child-bride who's the Heavenly Dao, and her only skill is acting cute. So, tell me guys... what are my chances of making it to the end?
shall grant"] ["Inscribing the glory of our race upon tombstones"] ["All that is threatened, I shall protect"] How his younger sister sees her brother: A brother who only makes eye contact once a day, mostly fading into the background as he tinkers with who-knows-what in his room all day. Their life paths should have remained largely separate. Until one day. Su Qi created an equipment card for his never-met "online girlfriend." His sister fell into silent contemplation upon receiving the "white stockings." [Card can be upgraded] [Upgrade by fulfilling any of the following conditions] [Condition ①: Consume one hundred higher-tier cards] [Condition ②: Complete one 'Heart-Pounding Adventure'] What constitutes a Heart-Pounding Adventure? [Heart-Pounding Adventure (Beginner Level): Equip the card and invite 'Su Qi' to admire it.] [Heart-Pounding Adventure (Easy Level): Equip the card, invite 'Su Qi' to touch it, and analyze the equipment's texture.] [Heart-Pounding Adventure (Entry Level): Equip the card and invite 'Su Qi' to...] [Heart-Pounding Adventure (Challenge Level): Freely combine the words 'Brother' 'Out' 'Brother' 'Me' 'Please' into a complete sentence...] "Please help me analyze both teams' mistakes in this match, brother..." His sister exhaled in relief—surely... surely there couldn't be anything more difficult? [Heart-Pounding Adventure (Suicide Mission Level): Sneak a peek at the names of the galgames in 'Su Qi's' hidden E-drive folder]
s + Rent Collection Wealth】 At the start, he inherited a rundown house in the urban village from his grandfather. The house had no tenants, but the moment he was diagnosed with a terminal illness, a self-proclaimed empress from the Tianxuan Continent arrived as his first tenant. Ye Chuan soon discovered that with every new tenant moving in, not only did he receive massive daily payments, but he also obtained unique items related to their backgrounds. 【Acquired Bai Qianshuang’s related item: Tiger Strength Pill—dramatically enhances physical power!】 【Acquired Bai Qianshuang’s related item: Deer Blood Pill—significantly boosts vitality!】 …… From that day on, all sorts of bizarre tenants began appearing in the house: the empress from Tianxuan Continent, an apocalyptic sorceress from the Magic Realm, a mysterious scientific girl who fell through a spacetime rift… Every single day, he received strange, powerful items and endless money. Then one day, he suddenly realized—he had become invincible. Enough, enough! Stop giving me more!
