Qing Yao

Chapter 68 Who is the idiot?
The news that a ninth-rank idiot academic official in the prefectural school had paid one thousand taels of silver to discuss his crime spread throughout the government office in an instant, causing a sensation unprecedented since the establishment of the prefecture.

It can't help but cause a sensation. I have never seen such a stupid person with so much money.

What is the concept of one thousand taels?
I have to work in the provincial school for more than 20 years for nothing just for this idiot's salary!
If you say that it is a sixth or seventh rank official paying one thousand taels of silver to discuss his crime, it is understandable. After all, an official with an official seal does not need such a small amount of money. He does not need to pay out of his own pocket and can pay it with the silver for maintaining integrity given by the court.

There is a need to pay it, after all, everyone knows what is going on behind the scenes.

Which official can guarantee that he will not be investigated?
If the system of paying money to avoid going to jail is really implemented, wouldn’t it be beneficial to officials?

But this official has real power. How can you, a small official with no power or influence, and even no benefits, compare to him?

How many thousand taels did Sha La Ba pay?

Is there something wrong with your academic qualifications or your identity that makes you insist on paying this money?

My brain is broken!
People who knew about this matter said all kinds of things. Most of them were there to watch the fun and laugh at the joke, and they all thought that what Zhao An did was absolutely stupid and cute, but there were also some active-minded people who saw that there was something wrong with this matter.

It’s not that the primary school official paid one thousand taels of silver to discuss his crime, but where did these two idiots get the one thousand taels?

The matter was quickly reported to the current prefect Fang Weidian.

In his early years, Lord Fang was also a student of the Imperial Academy. He was not a regular student who paid money to become one, but a student who received imperial favor through the grace of his father.

His father was Fang Guancheng, a wise minister who served as the governor-general of Shaanxi and Gansu and the governor-general of Zhili, and was given a poem by Emperor Qianlong.

Relying on the influence left by his father, Lord Fang was appointed as a Cabinet Secretary and a Military Secretary at the age of seventeen as a tribute student.

An official position of the sixth rank.

This is the best way for the children of Han officials to get promoted so far, but it still cannot be compared with the children of Manchus. Some Manchus can become second-rank ministers or governors at the age of thirteen or fourteen. Who among the children of Han officials would dare to think about it?

The distinction between Manchus and Han people was particularly obvious during the Qianlong period. In order to prevent the Han people from further encroaching on Manchu interests, Emperor Qianlong even expelled the Eight Banners of Han troops who had made contributions to the founding of the Qing Dynasty from the Eight Banners. As a result, many Han people who were expelled from the Eight Banners privately cursed Emperor Qianlong as an ungrateful and ungrateful person.

Some people who were really angry were deceived into joining underground secret anti-Qing organizations, such as the Tianli Sect, which mainly operated in the north.

On Lord Fang's side, the Grand Councilor is just a "secretary" of the Grand Council, with a low rank and little power. However, since the establishment of the Grand Council, 60% of the Grand Council ministers have had experience as Grand Councilors.

This is equivalent to having six Grand Councilors for every ten Zhang Jing!
What is the concept?
It's the reserve minister of military affairs.

Therefore, the Military Affairs Secretary is also called the "Little Military Affairs Secretary".

Lord Fang was already a "little military minister" of the sixth rank at the age of seventeen, so one can imagine his bright future.

Of course, Lord Fang himself was also very hardworking. He passed the imperial examination at the age of 22 and at the age of 27 he followed General Fu Kang'an to suppress the Tiandihui rebellion led by Lin Shuangwen in Taiwan. He was awarded a flower feather and promoted to the fifth rank of imperial censor.

On his way back to Beijing from the Mountain Resort, Emperor Qianlong saw a stone tablet erected by Lord Fang's father. Remembering that his father Fang Guancheng had governed Zhili quite well, he awarded the newly vacant Yangzhou prefecture to Lord Fang out of love for him.

As of this year, Mr. Fang is only 30 years old and his future is bright. When the imperial edict came down, people in the capital said that the Fang family would also produce a father and son who would serve as governors.

Some also say that the new generation pushes the old generation forward, and I am the governor of the military.

Lord Fang was filled with pride and elation. However, despite his youth, he was well versed in the ways of officialdom, having been trained during his time working under General Fu Kang'an.

Therefore, after taking office, he knew all the tricks inside the yamen without any guidance from anyone. After several operations, not only did all the powerful departments employ his confidants, but he also sold many positions and made a lot of money.

It’s not that Lord Fang is a corrupt official, but the government’s expenditure has always been in deficit, and it will be impossible to make ends meet without finding ways to get some money.

After listening to Master Sun's report, Master Fang, who was busy at work, was also surprised. He looked up and asked with a puzzled look, "Where does a ninth-rank academic official get so much money?"

Before Master Sun could speak, his face darkened and he snorted, "A ninth-rank official can come up with a thousand taels. You can imagine how greedy he is. Is such a person worthy of being an official in the prefectural school?"

The implication was that they wanted to investigate this junior official who was able to pay 1,000 taels of silver as punishment for his crime.

Seeing this, Master Sun hurriedly said, "The government officials said that this person was a student sponsored by the previous Lord, and was exceptionally recommended as an academic official."

"Eqina?"

Lord Fang frowned and gave up the idea of ​​investigating the junior official. Although people are forgotten after they leave, Eqina was promoted to the position of Censor this time. It was unacceptable for him, the successor, to deal with the person recommended by others as soon as he took office.

After thinking for a moment, he waved his hand and said, "Since he is the one recommended by my Lord, you should just follow the rules."

That's why we won't check.

Master Sun nodded. Although the prefect was young, he was not a fool. The former Eqina was now promoted to the position of Neitai. The people he recommended could not be touched at this time. After all, one had to consider the owner's face before beating the dog.

If we really do it, it will not be against the rules of officialdom.

If you can touch your ex’s people today, can your ex also touch your people?

When will the cycle of revenge end?

When being an official, the most important thing is to maintain harmony.

After hesitating for a moment, he asked in a low voice, "Sir, what should we do with the silver this person paid for the crime?"

"Humph, discuss the crime silver,"

Dissatisfaction was evident in Lord Fang's eyes as he grumbled, "A few years ago, that traitor Heshen instigated the Emperor to come up with the idea of ​​paying out fines for crimes. At the time, there was considerable opposition from both the government and the public, but Heshen didn't dare to make a big fuss about it. We thought the matter was over, but this traitor is taking advantage of the Emperor's 800,000th birthday to make this a custom. It's simply absurd! How could anyone in any dynasty have paid out fines for crimes? Heshen has no shame, but our Qing Dynasty still has some respect!"

Master Sun heard these words, but was reluctant to agree with them.

There are some things that the benefactor can say, but his staff cannot.

Moreover, Heshen was now at the peak of his power, and even though his benefactor was the descendant of a virtuous minister, he was only a prefect of the fourth rank. Even if he was dissatisfied with the system of discussing criminal silver, he could only complain. What else could he do?
That's just the nature of young people, and as a staff advisor, just listen to it.

Perhaps knowing that he could only grumble, the young Master Fang raised his hand somewhat disinterestedly. He was about to ask Master Sun to follow the court's request, but suddenly something moved in his mind, and a sneer appeared on his lips. He actually ordered Master Sun:
"Send this thousand taels to the capital immediately. If the Emperor knew that a lowly official of the ninth rank could come up with a thousand taels, he would know the depth of corruption in the Qing government. In this way, perhaps the fine for discussing crimes can be abolished. It can be considered that I have done something for the court and the Qing Dynasty."

(End of this chapter)