C744 banknote entering the capital (1/2)
Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, it was September. The autumn tigers in the north were still very powerful, especially in Beijing, where they were able to feel a little cold, and the other times were when the dogs would stick out their tongues.
In this kind of weather, the six branches of yamen were too lazy to handle their errands, especially the Ministry of Rites, the same building, the Social Security Council, the school, the Hanlin House … They waited at the entrance of the luxurious yamen. Even if the officials had called for them in the morning and then left, everyone would open and close their eyes. No one was willing to make things difficult for the big guys.
Not to mention that the officials of the Six Paths of the Great Qing did not know the rules, the work of the imperial government was not that good either. The salary arrears of the officials was already as high as sixty percent. Not everyone in this huge imperial court was greedy for officials. Many of the Qing Shui yamen had no one to burn incense for them. Other than their salary, many of the civil officials had fallen to the level of selling words.
The imperial court didn't even have a salary, and they didn't have much work to do even when they were on errands. If you still called the roll every day, that would be a bit unkind.
However, it was very strange today. The Beijing was so hot that it was like a steamer, but the officials of the six yamen's seats were all filled to the brim with ninety percent. Even if they did not dare to do anything, they just sat there drinking tasteless tea leaves and idly reading some essays.
The clock on the table indicated that it was already past eleven. Many people were so hungry that their stomachs were growling, but none of them were willing to leave the yamen.
”Brother Liu, Brother Liu …” You are the head of the Ministry of Revenue for the same year, the one in charge of the warehouse! ”Tell us the truth. Can you give us the salary that we owe you?”
”That's right, Brother Liu. As long as you tell me the truth today …” ”Nothing else. Let's get together and invite you to the cheap shop at noon …”
The official who was surrounded clasped his hands together and said apologetically, ”My fellow colleagues, don't make things difficult for me. If I really knew the truth, would I still need to stay here and suffer together with everyone? I have already gone home to rest, let me tell you the truth, there is really silver, a whole four million Ryukyu s forged a set of Dragon-striated Silver Coin s, that could sound after just one blow. Three days ago, they were secretly escorted from the Tanggu into the capital at midnight, and now they are all in the treasury … ”
”AHH!” 4 million! That's great now, you have to give us big guys a batch to make up for it! ” Everyone started talking at once.
The officer named Liu shook his head and sighed, ”Ah …” Difficult, difficult! 4 million might seem like a lot, but don't forget that the hole in the court is just too big. Let alone the arrears of our officials' salaries, the military expenses, river workers, and even the eight flags' wages, which one of them isn't in arrears? ”Too many monks and too few porridge …”
”Dammit, those Eight Flag Ancestors are too outrageous. Without any salary, they can receive rice every month. Without money to spend, they can eat to their heart's content …” Can they be like us? ”If we don't have money, we won't even be able to eat. If we say it out loud, we won't be afraid of your small talk. I've already owed you my rent for more than half a year …”
”Sigh!” It's all the same to me. Who asked our Ministry of Rites to be the Qing Shui yamen since the ancient times? ”If it's just the military, the Ministry of Justice, or those oily water yamen of the Ministry of Revenue, then even if it's a mediocre bookkeeper or Zhang Jing, wouldn't that mean they're going to die …”
If you want to talk about the richest person in the world, you have to talk about the Head Office. Some of the good guys are from the special region, and some are from the telegraph line. In the future, I heard that I have to train with the new army to buy big ships.
The people talked all at once. The money that they were talking about was exactly the 4 million worth of accepted bond money that they had received in the name of the Tongzhi Emperor three days ago.
The first telegraph room to know of this news was of course the Head Office, because the first telegraph room of the capital was built inside the Head Office. When the Fuqing saw this message, she laughed excitedly and shouted ”Long live His Majesty” three times.
As for Prince Kung Yi, he was completely dumbfounded. At that time, he had called for Brother Yi Xuan and Old Lin, who were with him, as well as a few other direct descendants to discuss matters behind closed doors.