Chapter 113: The Voice of Treacherous and Symptomed

What should the treacherous ministers of all dynasties look like?

They are sinister, vicious, cunning, and fierce. They frame loyal and kind, they flatter the emperor, and they harm the country and the people...

All bad adjectives in the world can be used on them, but one thing is certain that the life of the treacherous minister is definitely rich, extravagant, and debauchery. I have never heard of any treacherous minister who lives like a disaster or a miserable life.

Unfortunately, Xiao Fan and Xiao Tongzhi of the Hongwu Dynasty of the Ming Dynasty were the first to set a precedent for the treacherous ministers.

A treacherous minister was penniless and had a family of silence. It was really miserable. No dynasty or generation had ever produced such a useless treacherous minister.

The culprit of this embarrassment was the old Taixu who was more promising than the boy who was scattered.

Xiao Fan now has a strong urge to deceive his master and destroy his ancestors...

Finally, he took the bribe of 3,000 taels of silver from the King of Yan. Under the generosity of the old Taoist Taixu, he flew away and lost a single son. Most of them became the "Taixu Temple" outside the capital.

Xiao Fan has a problem hidden in his heart for a long time.

"How did you think of planting a cactus on the ground where the silver was buried?" Xiao Fan asked Xiao Huamei, and he had been puzzled by this question.

"I...I'm just making a mark..." Xiao Huamei replied with tears of sadness and sobbing.

Xiao Fan nodded. The answer was logical, and there were people in the fables who did this. It seems that among all the stories of ancient and modern times, both at home and abroad, those who buried silver in the soil are not very smart. What’s even less smart is that they have a sign on it, which says "There is no silver here," or plant a cactus in the peach woods.

Well, the thrush is still young, she is only twelve years old. Although she has experienced ups and downs, she is sure that she has no experience in hiding silver before.

Some things make perfect when practice makes perfect. If you don’t go through the wind and rain, how can you see the rainbow? The same is true for hiding silver.

"Next time we bury the silver, we will install another animal trap on the silver, which can be cut off by hand." Xiao Fan had no choice but to comfort Xiao Huamei, who was sad and wiping tears.

The thrush nodded strongly, and his little face shone with resolute glory: "To the Taoist Grandpa, you must guard against him like a thief!"

Xiao Fan praised, "Good!"

One big and one small reached a consensus on this point.

It would be useless to reach a consensus, because the two are now so poor that they are quackly poor.

After exploring the purse that was cleaner than the face, Xiao Fan looked at Huamei dejectedly: "Do you still have money?"

Xiao Huamei shook her head more depressedly than him.

The little girl didn't leave her house, and she had buried three thousand taels of silver in the backyard, and she never thought about bringing the silver on her body.

Xiao Fan lamented: "It's over now, our Xiao family is poor again, what should we do?"

Xiao Huamei smiled, and her innocent little face suddenly became as evil as a devil. With a "pop", two cold daggers appeared on the table, one large and one small in size.

Xiao Fan gasped: "Kill the master?"

Xiao Huamei shook her head: "Let's go and rob."

It turns out that they are born with a pair, even their hobbies are the same.

Xiao Fan Baohan, it seems that the education of children must be strengthened. He actually knows how to rob at a young age. There is a trend of developing towards terrorists. It is very dangerous to continue like this...

"It's not good to rob, it's rude to others..." Xiao Fan shook his head and rejected this irrational way to get money. Then he sighed and said with a frown: "I'll think of other ways. Heroes and heroes cannot force them to death with a penny."

The storms and waves in the court have survived. If he is poor to death, how should historians in later generations evaluate this extremely cowardly treacherous minister?

What way to make money? This is a question that corrupt officials think about day and night.

Xiao Fan now has to think about this problem.

Relying on the meager salary of the imperial court? Forget it, when the salary is paid, Xiao Fan will starve to death. Besides, the salary of the Hongwu Dynasty is not average low. A seventh-rank magistrate's annual salary is 90 shi of rice, and one tael of silver can buy two shi of rice. In other words, if a seventh-rank magistrate is not greedy for a year, he will only have an annual salary of forty-five shi of silver.

For officials with family, family, servants and social engagements, what role can this amount of money play?

Xiao Fan immediately rejected the idea of ​​being a clean official. The economic foundation determines the superstructure and cannot even fill his stomach. How can he have the energy to pretend to be a gentleman?

Another way is to take bribes and solicit bribes. Although the Hongwu Dynasty punished corrupt officials very severely, the salaries of officials were too low, and they could not support their families if they were not greedy. Therefore, corruption was repeatedly banned, and the more they were banned, it became more and more. This was also the failure of Zhu Yuanzhang's administration. If you set the salary of ministers so low, what should you do if you are not greedy? People must survive, and they will recognize skin and beheaded.

However, the rules of greed for money in the officialdom are greedy for money. The ministers are tacit about each other. It is okay to be greedy, but the eating behavior cannot be too ugly. While embezzling, you should pay more attention to the demeanor of officials. If you eat too ugly, you will be despised and even impeached.

What is most annoying is that Xiao Fan has not figured out what rules are there in the officialdom? This is really a very troublesome thing. Before playing games, you have to understand the rules of the game clearly, otherwise they will kick him out. Xiao Fan is not strong enough to break the original rules and then establish a new rule.

While Xiao Fan was still sitting at home and was worried about how to make money, news came out again.

The Ding Chou Case case was closed, and the new list of tribute scholars was announced at the gate of the Ministry of Rites. There were still people who were dissatisfied in the northern part of the country, believing that although the list had been changed, the court did not severely punish examiners who committed favoritism and fraud, and they felt that it was unfair.

Zhu Yuanzhang then ordered that all the test papers of the 52 southern students who had passed the Jinshi were posted and announced for the students all over the world.

Now all the students didn't say anything.

Although literati have been despised since ancient times, every literati actually has an objective comparison in his mind. After all, there are not many madmen who truly believe that "I am the best in the world in the world". The original Jinshi of the Southern List is indeed much better than the Northern List in articles. Only now do the Northern List know that the court's new list of scholars by the "South Six North Four" method is really giving northerners a very favorable face.

This can also prove that the examiner did not give favoritism to the candidates. He said with a conscience that the articles of the southern students were indeed much better than those of the northerners.

Xiao Fan secretly admired Zhu Yuanzhang's intelligence.

There is no need to explain anything. Once you post it, you will know everything. This is great wisdom. In contrast, the tricks that Xiao Fan played are just cleverness.

A big news also came from the court.

Liu Sanwu was obscene by Xiao Fan this time. He was locked up at home for several days and did not go out. A few days later, the disheartened Mr. Liu submitted a memorial to Zhu Yuanzhang for resignation.

According to official customs, Zhu Yuanzhang certainly refused, so he kept him warmly.

Liu Sanwu resigned again, and Zhu Yuanzhang stayed again.

After repeating this three times, after doing the same appearance as a lord, saint, ministers and wise men, Zhu Yuanzhang finally approved Liu Sanwu's request for retirement.

When Xiao Fan heard the news, he was stunned for a while, then sighed a long time, and his expression became stunned.

When Liu Sanwu retired, it can be said that he was the only one who started to do so. On the other hand, was he wrong to do so at that time?

Xiao Fan fell into a faint self-blame. Perhaps, he could do something more perfect, at least with a softer method, and try not to hurt the old man's heart. But, there are so many good things in the world, and everyone is happy? Someone will benefit, and someone will inevitably sacrifice. What can Xiao Fan do? To do this step now, he has done his best.

"Come here, take my famous post to the owner Liu Sanwu's mansion, and I said I would hold a drink at Huibin Tower in the west of the city tonight to give him farewell to him, so I would like to enjoy the scenery."

The Huibin Building is brightly lit, dotted with the night of the capital.

The lobby was crowded with people, and the guests were filled with the noise and lively sound, making a scene of peace. On the wooden platform beside the east wall, a group of young girls sang and danced, and their graceful figures made everyone amazed.

In the private room on the second floor.

Xiao Fan looked at Taixu who was reluctant to follow him, sighing one after another, but Taixu seemed to be deaf and insisted on following Xiao Fan to the meeting. Xiao Fan knew very well that the old man was greedy and he had lost all the money at home. Now he followed him out to make a tooth sacrifice.

The master and apprentice are born to be poor!

Xiao Fan raised his face and said, "Master, why do you have to follow the meeting between the leaders of the court?"

Taixu grinned and said, "You talk about you, I don't make any noise, I only eat vegetables."

What can Xiao Fan do if he has such a master?

"You go downstairs and find a table to eat slowly by yourself. Eat whatever you want, it's all mine..." Xiao Fan gritted his teeth and became a wealthy man.

"Do you have money?" Taixu sneered, looking up and down with his small eyes.

The word "金" is very sensitive now. Xiao Fan's face changed when he heard it, and he became ashen. His eyes looked at Taixu were very unkind.

Taixu knew that he had made up his words, so he smiled guiltily, coughed twice before starting to walk out.

"What you said, you can eat as much as you..." Taixu disappeared with great sensibility.

After losing all his disciple's money, Taixu felt ashamed. He has acted very well-behaved in recent days. His master is not like his master, but like his grandson.

Not long after, the curtain of the elegant room was lifted up, and Liu Sanwu walked in with a cold face.

Xiao Fan quickly stood up and bowed, "You have met Mr. Liu."

"Hmph! No! I can't afford it! Now you are an official and a civilian, so I should salute you." Liu Sanwu's tone was very unkind.

Xiao Fan did not think it was offended at all. The newly retired cadres all had this temper and had seen them a lot in their previous lives.

"Your Madam has been defeated by the emperor. You are a great scholar and a scholar-in-law. You are willing to condescend to the emperor's farewell banquet. You are extremely honored."

Liu Sanwu sneered, "Do you think I am willing to come? Xiao Fan, since ancient times, the court has no good ending. You are still young, and I really don't want to see you make mistakes. It doesn't matter if you take the wrong path. The superiors play with power tricks, but the entire Ming Dynasty country is affected. I will leave Beijing and return to my hometown tomorrow. I am worried before leaving, so I will give you a few words of advice."

Xiao Fan bowed and said, "I wish to hear the old master's teachings."

Liu Sanwu looked at Xiao Fan deeply. At this moment, he no longer had anger on his face, but in a very calm tone, and said in a deep voice: "Xiao Fan, I have heard about the court dispute a few days ago. You have gathered all the ministers and resisted Qingliu's impeachment on you. I also played a trick on my way to court. I have to admit that you did a pretty job! You resolved the two dangers of trapping you in a desperate situation. To be honest, this skill is not as good as you for those old officials in the court for decades..."

Xiao Fan smiled and said, "The elder is wrong. The senior official was in danger at that time and had to make such a bad decision. Please forgive me."

Liu Sanwu said coldly: "I am not praising you. What I mean is that you, Xiao Fan, is a smart person. If you are a person like you, if you are upright in your mind and use it as a government affairs, it will be a blessing for my Ming Dynasty and a blessing for the country. However, if you go astray and have evil thoughts, your Ming Dynasty will be in danger! You broke the deadlock with your intelligence, but Huang Zicheng is in a mess. And I am even more ruined by your intelligence and have to return home. Xiao Fan, you have succeeded, but your success is step by step with the reputation of me and Huang Zicheng. To this day, are you ashamed of what you do?"

Xiao Fan shook his head slowly, his expression firm: "Sir, forgive me for being rude. I never regret what I do, nor will I feel ashamed of. If God asked me to make another choice, I would still do that."

"You..." Liu Sanwu's eyes widened, stared at Xiao Fan in anger, and said, "I have lived nearly eighty years old. My reputation has been destroyed by your tricks every day. Should I be trampled on by you? Xiao Fan, your incorrect mind is really a treacherous charity in the Ming Dynasty and a disaster!"

Xiao Fan looked at Liu Sanwu, and looked at his excited expression, and gradually felt a little sympathy in his heart.

"Sir, who is more important than the lives of a hundred people?" Xiao Fan asked suddenly.

"Of course, it's more famous! Sacrifice for righteousness is the right way that a gentleman should follow!"

"What the boss means is that for your reputation alone, it doesn't matter if hundreds or thousands of people die. They deserve to die, because only their death can highlight your "righteousness", right?"

Liu Sanwu's old face suffocated, "This... should be, this is the reason... right?"

Xiao Fan sighed, looked at him with a deep look, and said, "There are as many as 100 people arrested by the Jinyiwei in the Ding Chou case. There are parents, wives and children behind them. These people are more than a thousand. If the elder insists on not changing the list, you can die passionately, but have you thought about those innocent prisoners? Have you thought about their parents, wives and children? The emperor is angry and blood flows thousands of miles away. The lives of these thousand people will be unlucky. Do you deserve to die? "
To be continued...