Chapter Thirty-Five: Chaos in the Ministry of Revenue

  Xu Pengju's words were not exaggerated, and the Nanjing Hubu Datang really fought, the reason for the fight was Qin Kan's borrowing account method.

  The Ming Dynasty is the most unique landscape in China's thousands of years of history, compared to other dynasties where those refined and elegant scholars and officials were polite and courteous. The officials of the Ming Dynasty were more straightforward, they didn't like to do things that were too hypocritical, if they disagreed on politics, they would argue, if the argument was fruitless, they would start scolding each other, if scolding wasn't satisfying, they would resort to physical fights, biting with their teeth and bumping heads.

  In the 14th year of Zhengtong, after the Tumu Crisis, Yingzong was captured and Jingtai Emperor took over as regent. Although the eunuch Wang Zhen had already died, officials still demanded that Jingtai Emperor execute Wang Zhen's entire family to uphold national law and avenge the deaths of over 100,000 innocent soldiers. Jingtai Emperor panicked, having never seen such an array on the court before, and put off the decision until next time. The officials refused to back down, at which point one of Wang Zhen's henchmen, also one of the most incompetent commanders in the history of the Ming dynasty's Embroidered Uniform Guard, stood up and spoke out against the officials. As soon as he uttered a single sentence rebuking the officials, they rushed forward, their eyes red with rage, and beat him to death right in front of Jingtai Emperor on the golden throne in the imperial court. This unfortunate commander's name was Ma Shun. This was the most severe case of violence ever to occur in the Ming dynasty's imperial court. In the end, Ma Shun died for nothing, and after his death he was still labeled a remnant of Wang Zhen's clique. Meanwhile, none of the officials who beat him to death were held accountable due to the principle that "the law does not punish crowds".

  A majestic Jin Yiwei commander, in the face of the emperor, said that if he was to be beaten to death, then so be it. From this, we can see how arrogant and overbearing the civil officials were in the Ming dynasty court.

  Later generations of island province delegates would fight with left and right hooks at the slightest disagreement, people who provoke me are in danger, probably also inheriting the good tradition of Ming dynasty officials.

  In comparison, the brawl in Nanjing's Ministry of Revenue was quite ordinary. Compared to that epic battle at the pinnacle of Beijing's Forbidden City, it was like comparing fireflies to the moon.

  The Ministry of Revenue's main hall was in disarray, as if a group of wild bulls had trampled through it. The calligraphy and paintings on the walls, the vases on the tables, and the potted plants on the floor were all smashed to pieces. Several officials from the Ministry of Revenue, including the vice ministers and department heads, had their faces swollen and bruised, with wounds all over their bodies. They were supported by trembling and frightened attendants as they sat down in the master's chair. One of the deputy ministers was too old and had not been able to withstand the fight, so he was carried home by his servants to recover from his injuries.

  At this time, the officials sitting in the Ministry of Revenue were all lightly wounded and did not retreat from the battlefield.

  Everyone sat panting, still glaring at each other with lingering anger, occasionally glancing towards the screen behind the hall. They were waiting for the Minister of Revenue, Qin Hui.

  Qin Huan was a clever man, but he didn't get along with the Hongzhi Emperor. Several years ago, he had done something very rash and caught Liu Jing, the husband of Empress Dowager Cixi's niece, who was also the Marquis of Anyuan. The matter caused a big stir, and the Hongzhi Emperor had to punish them both with 50 strokes of the rod. Liu Jing was stripped of his title, while Qin Huan was demoted to Nanjing as the Minister of Revenue and concurrently the Right Vice Censor-in-Chief.

  It is said that Qin Hui was clever because he saw the opportunity quickly, as soon as the hands of the Ministry of Revenue moved, he ran away with an unusually agile posture. - Not running is not possible, Qin Hui is already 78 years old this year, and next year he will retire and return to his hometown, this old bone can no longer participate in the war.

  The officials in the Ministry of Revenue were quite understanding of Qin's escape behavior, as everyone was a reasonable person.

  A minister wearing official robes sat on a chair, rubbing his swollen and bleeding mouth corner, and asked vaguely: "I say, gentlemen, why did you fight this battle? There must be a reason for the troops to come out."

  This minister was the most unfortunate, he was a worker in the Ministry of Works, came to the Ministry of Revenue to do business, as a result, as soon as he entered the main hall, he found that his former fellow student, now the head of the Ministry of Revenue, was fighting with someone else, the battle was fierce, in the Ming dynasty officialdom, fellow students were like brothers, with this relationship they had to help each other, so this worker from the Ministry of Works didn't say a word, rolled up his sleeves and joined the fight, after finishing, still hadn't figured out why they were fighting.

  This question undoubtedly reignited the crowd's recently extinguished anger.

  The official outside the Ministry of Revenue, Zhang Fu, slammed his hand on the armrest and stood up: "This accounting method is a good thing, it must be implemented. From small things like needles and threads to state and prefectural taxes, everything is clear on the account, not a single one is unclear. Compared to the previous 'flowing water' accounting method, it's unknown how many times better. What reason do you have to oppose it?"

  The left servant of the Ministry of Revenue, Liu Guan, sneered: "Zhang Shilang has a big official power. Without saying whether this borrowing and lending account method is good or bad, let's just say that the person who made this thing is a scholar with a flawed moral character, who was deprived of his Xiucai title. Do you think such a person's work is qualified to be promoted throughout the country? If it spreads out, it would be a joke that in our great Ming dynasty, no one can match the small skills of a scholar with flawed moral character, which can manipulate the country's finances and taxes. Where should the court put its face?"

  Zhang Fu sneered, "Director Liu has always used this book to make things difficult for others. We all know what you're thinking in your heart. It's said that Director Liu's students are scattered throughout the 20 or more provinces of the Ming Dynasty, and every year, Director Liu receives tens of thousands of taels of silver from his students as a form of respect. If this borrowing and lending accounting method is implemented throughout the country, then all local government accounts will be clear and transparent, with no room for falsification. Where will Director Liu's students find the money to pay their respects in the future? Won't Director Liu have cut off his own source of wealth? In that case, it seems this borrowing and lending accounting method really can't be implemented..."

  Bang!

  Liu Guanqing slammed the cup and angrily shouted: "You surnamed Zhang, you are too presumptuous, how dare you insult my good name!"

  Boom!

  The hall was in great chaos, and the second round of hand-to-hand combat began.

  In the inner courtyard behind the hall, miscellaneous servants came and went in a hurry, constantly reporting to the Minister of Revenue Qin Hui, who was sitting safely at the back, on the current situation of the battle.

  "Bao: Liao was knocked down by Director Zhang with a vase."

  "Report—Wang, a government official, was punched by Lord Liu and lost two teeth."

  "Report—Mr. Zhang kicked Mr. Liu out of the hall and down the steps with one foot..."

  "Bao - Jin Yi Wei sat to explore Ding total flag was beaten unconscious by Zhang adults."

  Qin Hu nodded hastily, then suddenly froze: "Wait a minute! The Imperial Guards are just sitting there, why is Commander Ding joining in on the commotion?"

  "Director Ding didn't intend to join in the fun, he was just passing by the main hall, unfortunately he was hit on the head by a vase thrown out by Director Zhang..."

  Seventy-eight-year-old Qin Huan pulled out a white handkerchief from his sleeve and wiped the old sweat on his head.

  The heroic and tragic spirit of the Ministry of Revenue's subordinates is admirable, but if they continue to fight, I'm afraid the Nanjing Ministry of Revenue will become an empty house.

  Qin Huan sighed heavily: "Send the borrowing account method made by that Qin surname scholar to the Imperial Cabinet in Beijing, and let Your Majesty and the cabinet members decide. This matter is beyond Nanjing's control!"

  P.S. There is another update tonight.....