AWB Chapter 258 It's better to beat your younger brother early
Chapter 258 It's better to beat your younger brother early
After following Yinzhuo's idea, things indeed became much easier. While Yinreng was checking the officials who had borrowed money one by one, the others were not idle either. As princes, Yinti, Yinzhi, Yintang, and Yinyi naturally had to set an example. The day after the plan was finalized, Yinzhuo got up early and personally escorted Yintang and Yinyi, carrying the silver all the way to the Ministry of Revenue in a very high-profile manner. Then, while everyone was on duty, he went to find Yinzhen and returned the silver.
"As the saying goes, 'To err is human, to forgive divine.' An empty treasury threatens the very foundation of our Great Qing. Ninth and Tenth Princes, as princes and officials of the Qing court, how could you not understand this? However, considering this is your first offense, and the Khan's mercy, he said that as long as you repay your debts, he will forgive and forget everything. Sixth Brother, I know you have long been repentant, but you are short of money. So, I went to the Khan's court early this morning to ask for your grace. Your debts can be repaid in three months, six months, one year, or two years, depending on your circumstances. You can choose the length of time..."
If there were a trending topics list for current events in the capital, the phrase "national treasury debt" would definitely dominate the list. Yinzhuo had been suppressing Yintang and Yin'e all the way to the Ministry of Revenue, and when he brought the silver over there, he was practically making a scene with gongs and drums. How could so many eyes watching the Ministry of Revenue not see it? On the surface, Yinzhuo's words were addressed to Yintang and Yin'e, but everyone knew exactly who he was talking to. Yinzhuo was sure that once he said these words, they would be all over the capital by noon.
As Yinzhen had predicted, the day after his words were circulated, people began to come to the Ministry of Revenue to repay their loans. Yinzhen led the people of the Ministry of Revenue to work day and night, their abacus beads practically sparking with fire, but they still couldn't keep up. In the end, they had no choice but to ask Emperor Kangxi for more people.
Kangxi has no capable people at hand right now. Yinreng needs a group of people to investigate officials, and Yinsi needs a group of people to try and imprison officials. Not to mention his own side, the vast country is like a huge robot with one link after another. If you take any part, it won't turn. So Yinzhen is destined to suffer a defeat this time.
No matter what, Yinzhen was still Kangxi's own son. Seeing him so exhausted, the old father felt a little sorry for him. Although the saying "both hands are flesh" sounded somewhat ironic to him, at least for now, when he saw Yinzhen slumped in a chair and asleep, Kangxi felt sorry for the flesh on the back of his hand.
"Liang Jiugong, go to Shufeng Pavilion and summon that brat Yinzuo to me. Also, send someone to summon the Ninth Prince, the Thirteenth Prince, and the Fourteenth Prince to Qingxi Study..."
As soon as Yinzhuo saw Liang Jiugong coming, he knew it was definitely not good news. But as he said before, do you dare to openly defy the imperial decree? If you don't dare, then you have to obediently go with him. Yinzhuo was the closest, but he was the most procrastinating. Before he even arrived, Yintang, the thirteenth, and the fourteenth were already sitting in the flower hall drinking tea and chatting with their father.
“Father, you called your son over in this cold weather, is there something you want to say? But we must make this clear beforehand, I won’t take that job at the Ministry of Revenue. Father, you don’t know, the situation there is very serious. If they catch someone, they’ll make them work like crazy. Yesterday I went there to deliver some clean clothes to Fourth Brother, and they caught me and made me a laborer. Good heavens, I was enslaved until midnight before I escaped. If you want your son to help at the Ministry of Revenue, I advise you to keep your mouth shut, because your son will not agree to any of your requests.”
Having spent so many years with Yinzhi, Kangxi knew his temperament well. Despite his sharp tongue, Yinzhi was incredibly kind at heart. He always treated his brothers and his father with utmost sincerity. Kangxi knew that to persuade Yinzhi to help him, a direct confrontation was the worst approach. As the saying goes, the best strategy is to subdue the enemy without fighting. To get Yinzhi to compromise, Kangxi had to employ some tactics.
"How could your father not know what Yinzhuo has said? But your mother is truly helpless now. There are only so many people she can rely on. Your second brother has taken some, the eighth prince has to go a few, and I still need to leave a few veteran ministers to keep things in order. Your fourth brother has the heaviest burden. He is not only responsible for counting the debts, but also for confiscating property and arresting people. Look how tired he is. He fell asleep sitting there before we could even say a few words. You brothers have always been very close. Can you bear to see him so exhausted..."
If Kangxi had immediately ordered Yinzhi to assist in the Ministry of Revenue, Yinzhi would have had a chance to argue and test his father's strength. But today, Yinzhi didn't play by the rules. He played two tricks, and his father immediately threw a bomb at him. Not only did it explode, but judging from Yinzhi's reaction so far, it was a royal flush.
Who is Yinzhen? He is Yinzuo's older brother. When he first arrived in the Qing Dynasty, he was determined to get close to him. Although his initial intentions in approaching Yinzhen were not pure, there is a saying that everyone has a heart. Yinzuo had always liked a line he read in a novel in his previous life. He thought his heart was as hard as stone, but after all, people are not plants or trees. Looking at Yinzhen, who was so tired that he fell asleep in the chair, Yinzuo really couldn't say any words of refusal.
"Alright, you really are my dear father, you know exactly where your son's Achilles' heel is. Fine, I can agree to temporarily go to the Ministry of Revenue to help Fourth Brother, but we have to make it clear, I'll only be on regular shifts, no unpaid overtime. I'll be on time for work and off-duty time, and no one will forget to urge me or stop me, otherwise don't blame your son for abandoning you..."
After Yinzhuo was dealt with, it was easier to handle Yintang, the thirteenth, and the fourteenth. They didn't have the audacity of Yinzhuo, who dared to confront his father and negotiate. Basically, as soon as Kangxi gave an order, they would obediently submit. Yinzhuo looked at Yintang and the fourteenth, the two former little tyrants of the palace, now behaving like quails in front of Kangxi, and couldn't help but smirk.
"Oh my, look who's here! Aren't these our former Palace Tyrant Ninth Prince and Iron Broom King Fourteenth Prince? Did you two have your tongues cut out? Aren't you usually so talkative? Why aren't you saying anything today? Come on, you two brothers, come play a game with me. You know rock-paper-scissors, right? Best two out of three. The loser has to come with me to the Ministry of Revenue to help out..."
That saying is absolutely true; you have to discipline your younger brother early. Yinzhen, Yinzhen, the thirteenth, and the fourteenth were all disciplined by Yinzuo from a young age. Even though they're all taller and stronger than their sixth brother now, they still don't dare to misbehave in front of Yinzuo. When Yinzuo wants to play games, Yinzhen and the fourteenth, even if they think it's childish, have to play along. After a few rounds, Yinzhen suffered a crushing defeat. Seeing the fourteenth brother already cheering, what could Yinzhen do? Not only was the bloodline advantage from his sixth brother still present, but with Kangxi there to keep things under control, he couldn't very well deny it on the spot…