Fortunate Young Gentleman

"The Duzhi Yamen is in trouble this time. Every time the accounts are checked, the time is tight and the tasks are heavy. Doctor Chen took away half of the accounting history. This time, they may have to live in the Yamen to complete the calculation."

"I heard that they haven't started liquidation yet. I wonder what Mr. Tang is thinking?"

"These people are really pitiful. Fortunately, we are not in Duzhiya..."

"No matter what he thinks, lunch time is here. I hope I won't eat carrots and cabbage today. I always fart if I eat too much of that stuff..."

…

The Hubu Yamen is not busy all day long. During the half-hour lunch time, everyone gathers in the dining hall and chats, which is a rare break.

The food in the household department is really hard to describe, so many officials bring meals from home in the morning.

In fact, the lunches served in all major government offices did not taste very good. The officials could not understand why the imperial court hired a few chefs with slightly better cooking skills without killing people. Every day, the soup was clear and watery, with no fish or fishy meat. They all reported this matter in memorials, but in the end it was ignored.

The above just said that as an official in the DPRK, you should set an example and be diligent and frugal. Instead of helping them improve their food, they gave orders that all government officials should not waste food. Once discovered, they would be given a reprimand or a fine...

An official sat at the table, looked around, stretched his chopsticks towards the food box of the official next to him, and said with a smile: "Old Zhang, give me a chicken leg, how about I give you half a fish tomorrow..."

"Gungun, you owe me eight fish, so go ahead and eat your cabbage!"

"Hey, is the relationship between the two of us no better than a chicken drumstick?"

"roll!"

…

The Minister and the Minister don't often eat in the dining hall, and the officials are more relaxed. Someone looked at the two tables in the corner and asked, "Why didn't the people from the Duzhi Yamen come today?"

Someone took a bite of the steamed bun and said, "They are probably very worried right now. Who can afford to eat if the accounts are not settled?"

One person shook his head and said: "If they don't come again, they won't even be able to eat the steamed buns..."

As soon as he finished speaking, there was a sound of footsteps at the door, and a dozen figures walked in from outside.

"Hey, they're here!"

When everyone saw the figure who walked in first, they immediately stood up and said, "I have seen Mr. Tang."

Those who are above the boss usually don't come here. Usually the dining hall is filled with low-level officials like them. I was slightly surprised when I saw this. The Tang boss of Duzhi Yamen was actually willing to squeeze into the dining hall with these ordinary officials...

It's just that they came too late, there was only a little bit of soup left in the pot, and even the cabbage and tofu were almost gone.

Tangning waved her hand and sat at a table in the back.

Almost everyone in Duzhi Yamen had a food box and laid out the food in it.

Everyone in Duzhi Yamen will be working very hard these days, and naturally they can't be allowed to eat cabbage and radishes all day long. Tang Ning specially sent people to Tianranju to order a table of food and wine to reward everyone first.

Looking at the dishes placed on the table by everyone in Duzhi Yamen, there was a sound of chopsticks falling to the ground in the dining hall.

"Gourd chicken..., isn't that the signature dish of Tianranju!"

"This sauce elbow... is also the signature of Tianranju!"

"There are also sweet-scented osmanthus duck, braised fish... one, two, three, four..., eight dishes and one soup..."

Seeing the officials in Duzhiya feasting happily, a Cangbe clerk looked envious, took a deep breath of the aroma, and then took a firm bite of the steamed bun.

The officials smelled the fragrance and glanced at the corner from time to time, with envy and jealousy on their faces. They just felt that the steamed buns in their hands seemed to taste more delicious...

…

"Master Shangshu, this, this is so outrageous!" Manager Zheng stood under the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, with a look of embarrassment: "Everyone has a simple life, but Duzhi Yamen has a lot of fish and meat, and he actually brought food from an outside restaurant. Hu Bu, what an honor this is, what an honor it is!”

Qian Shuo, the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, looked at him and asked, "Does the Ministry of Revenue or the imperial court have any regulations that do not allow outside meals?"

Director Zheng was stunned, shook his head and said, "No."

Qian Shuo asked again: "Did Mr. Tang embezzle public funds for food and drink?"

Director Zheng opened his lips and said, "No..."

Qian Shuo didn't even raise his head and asked, "Then what do you care about him?"

Director Zheng thought for a while and said, "Yes, but this will have a bad impact on other officials of the Ministry of Household Affairs!"

"What's the bad influence?" Qian Shuo took a sip of tea and said, "The food in the Yamen is indeed a bit too simple. If they are willing to bring food in, that's their business. As long as it doesn't delay things."

Director Zheng said: "But it's been a day, and they haven't even started to clear the accounts yet. The manpower of the Duzhi Yamen is not enough..."

Qian Shuo put down his teacup and said, "Director Zheng also knows that Duzhi Yamen is short of manpower. How about transferring some people from your warehouse?"

Manager Zheng immediately bowed his hands and said, "Sir, there are still some things to do at Cangbe, so I'll take my leave!"

Tang Ning stood at the door of the Duzhi Yamen, watching Chief Zheng walk out of the yamen of the Secretary of the Ministry of Revenue. She turned her head and asked a clerk, "Are you familiar with this Chief Zheng?"

The grievances between the two Tang chief ministers were well known to everyone in the household department. The scribe naturally knew what he wanted to ask, and immediately said: "My lord, Mr. Zheng used to be a popular person next to Wei Shilang, and Wei Shilang was the Tang Dynasty minister in the capital. Later, Minister Wei was transferred away, and now Director Zheng is followed by Director Tang Jingtang.”

"It turns out he's from the Tang family." Tang Ning looked at him and asked, "Is there anyone else from the Tang family in the household department?"

The clerk thought for a moment and said, "I only know Tang Jing, Tang Zhushi, and Zheng Zhushi."

Only those above the rank of Langzhong can be considered to have some power in the Ministry of Revenue. The Tang family used to have a minister in the Ministry of Revenue, but was later dismissed by the emperor. Now only Tang Jing and Zheng Zhushi are left. Below them, those Ji Shi Zhang Gu and others are all low-ranking officials who cannot be on the stage.

It's pitiful to think about it. A place like the Ministry of Revenue is full of money and can be said to be a place that must be fought for the succession. It's a pity that the Tang family didn't get a Shangshu, but now they don't even have a minister. What are they fighting for?

He shook his head, looked at the clerk, and said, "Go inside and keep an eye on them. Don't let them be lazy after they have eaten and drunk enough."

The clerk nodded and said, "Don't worry, sir. If things are not done well, they will lose their jobs. Even if you don't say anything, they will be very careful."

Tang family

At the dinner, Tang Zhao was halfway through his meal when he suddenly seemed to remember something. He looked up at Tang Jing and asked, "Brother, I heard that Tang Ning encountered a difficult problem in the Ministry of Revenue. How is he now?"

Tang Jing put down his chopsticks and said slowly, "It's not a difficult problem. He won't stay in the Ministry of Revenue for long. It's just embarrassing if he messes up his job."

"It's good to see him embarrassed." Tang Zhao pulled the corner of his mouth and said, "We can't let him be so proud all the time. If we don't dampen his spirit, he doesn't know how proud he will be in the future."

Tang Jing picked up his chopsticks again and said, "This time, he can't be proud no matter what."

Tang Huai, the head of the Tang family, never said a word. When the dinner ended, he did not go to bed, but walked back to the study.

In the room, a figure was already waiting.

Tang Qi closed the door, walked to the table, and asked, "Is there any problem with the Ministry of Revenue?"

The man smiled and said, "It has been foolproof for so many years, how could there be any problem this time."

"It's different..." Tang Huai sighed lightly and said, "That Fang Zhe is not an easy person to deal with."

"Fang Zhe is smart, but he is not a god. There is no problem with the accounts of the Ministry of Revenue from the accounts, and the Fang family can't reach the local state government. What are you worried about?"

Tang Huai sat on the chair and said, "Even so, we must be on guard."

The man nodded and said, "I will keep an eye on Fang Zhe."

After a pause, he said, "The troublemaker of your Tang family seems to have encountered A little trouble... Do you want me to help him add some fuel to the fire and make it burn more vigorously? "

Tang Huai asked: "Can this trouble be completely solved?"

"That can't be done." The man shook his head and said: "But it can add a big stain to his resume, which can never be erased in his lifetime."

"Then forget it." Tang Huai waved his hand and said: "It's not easy to get to this point in this game of chess. You should be careful at every step. If you lose the whole game for a small pawn, it's not worth it."

The man nodded and said: "Since you said so, I don't care."

Tang Huai picked up the teacup and said: "If there is anything, I will let someone notify you. You are in the dark, so it's better not to come to this Tang Mansion..."