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?
e bizarre and supernatural had descended. The previous emperor was a thoroughgoing tyrant; no longer satisfied with human women, he had set his sights on a stunningly beautiful supernatural entity. He met his end in his bedchamber, drained of all his vital essence. As the legitimate eldest son and crown prince, Wang Hao was thus hastily enthroned, becoming the young emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty. No sooner had he awakened the "Imperial Sign-In Intelligence System" than he was assassinated by a Son of Destiny—a classic villain's opening. The Great Zhou, ravaged by the former emperor's excesses, was in national decline. The great families within its borders harbored their own treacherous schemes, martial sects began to defy the imperial court's decrees, and border armies, their pay and provisions in arrears, grumbled incessantly against the central government. Fortunately, the central capital was still held secure by the half-million Imperial Guards and fifty thousand Imperial Forest Army who obeyed the court's orders, along with the royal family's hidden reserves of power, barely managing to suppress the realm. As the Great Zhou's finances worsened and supernatural activities grew ever more frequent, the court sat atop a volcano. Ambitious plotters everywhere dreamed of overthrowing the dynasty, and even some reclusive ancient powers emerged, attempting to sway the tides of the world. At the first grand court assembly, the civil and military officials nearly came to blows, fighting tooth and nail over the allocation of fifty million taels of silver from the summer tax revenues. The spectacle opened Wang Hao's eyes—the Great Zhou's bureaucracy was not only corrupt but also martially proficient, a cabinet of all-rounders. Some officials even had the audacity to suggest the emperor release funds from the imperial privy purse to address the emergency. Wang Hao suddenly felt weary. Let it all burn.
grated, and just when he finally managed to get into an elite academy, he discovered that he actually had a system, and the way to earn rewards was extremely ridiculous. So for the sake of rewards, he had no choice but to start acting ridiculous as well. Su Cheng: "It's nothing but system quests after all." But later, what confused Su Cheng was that while he was already quite ridiculous, he never expected those serious characters to gradually become ridiculous too. And the way they looked at him became increasingly strange... (This synopsis doesn't do it justice, please read the full story)
young master of the Shen family—a figure of immense power and wealth beyond measure—and awakened the "Destined Ultimate Villain System"! His starting scenario? Running into his icy fiancée who shows up with a mountain-descending divine doctor to break off their engagement. The divine doctor arrogantly taunts: "What does your Shen family have besides a bit of stinking money? You're not even worthy of tying Qingxue's shoelaces!" Shen Fei just smiled. He completely defied the usual script: "Fine, I agree to break off the engagement. Also, notify the finance department to withdraw all investments from the Su family." Minutes later, with its capital chain severed, the Su Group teetered on the brink of bankruptcy! The once aloof and proud ice queen CEO was thrown into utter panic. That very night, she went to Shen Fei's villa, casting aside all dignity to beg and plead desperately... From then on, in this world teeming with Sons of Destiny, Shen Fei embarked on a path of extreme dimensional suppression! A mountain-descending divine doctor? Peerless medical skills? Shen Fei: "Reporting you for practicing medicine without a license! I'll gladly take your ancient medicinal cauldron and twin sister assassins." The Crooked-Smiling Dragon King? Commanding a hundred thousand soldiers with a single order? Shen Fei: "Illegal assembly and suspected treason! Let a fleet of attack helicopters sanitize the area and teach you what the state apparatus really means!" A reborn tycoon? Knows all the golden opportunities of the next decade? Shen Fei: "A trillion in capital to reverse and pump the stock market, making you blow your margin and jump on the very first day of your rebirth!" What Chosen Ones? What bearers of Heavenly Fortune? In Shen Fei's eyes, they're all just chives (i.e., suckers/marks) waiting to be harvested! Shen Fei: "Sorry, but as the Destined Ultimate Villain, I don't play by the rules of honor. I only play the game of dimensional suppression."
transmigrates into the world as the sect master of the Heavenly Yan Sect, which is on the verge of being wiped out. He binds a system that grants him cultivation power based on the number of disciples he has: for each disciple, he automatically gains a year's worth of cultivation every single day! Take one disciple: every day he gains 1 year of cultivation power. While others struggle through a year of bitter training, he gets the same just by sleeping through a single night. Take ten disciples: every day he gains 10 years of cultivation power. Foundation Establishment, Core Formation, Nascent Soul—he breezes through all bottlenecks without lifting a finger. Take one hundred disciples: every day he gains 100 years of cultivation power. Even a Soul Transformation Venerable before him can’t survive a single blow. Take ten thousand disciples: every day he gains 10,000 years of cultivation power! With a wave of his hand, he topples empires. With a single step, he crushes the sacred grounds of the universe. ... While others fight tooth and nail for secret techniques, Lin Yan casually hands out Nascent Soul-level cultivation manuals as beginner textbooks. While others strain to find talented recruits, Lin Yan opens his doors to anyone—so long as they’re human. In just three short years, the Heavenly Yan Sect went from a backwater sect made up of three crumbling huts to a sacred land that every cultivator under heaven would kill to enter. ... One day, otherworldly demon gods invade, with a million demon soldiers pressing down upon the realm. Lin Yan, yawning, rises from his lounge chair and glances at the system panel: [Current Disciples: 1.28 million] [Daily Cultivation Increase: 1.28 million years] He waves his hand casually, and the countless demon soldiers are reduced to ashes in an instant. “So noisy… interrupting my fishing.”
