In the Dayan Dynasty, there was a regulation that officials were not allowed to serve in their place of origin. Therefore, Xia Zhou could not serve as a county magistrate in his family’s locality.
But Shen Shikang’s question was not about this; his intentions were still ahead.
"Exactly!" Xia Qing saw that the Emperor did not intervene, so despite his irritation at Shen Shikang’s ddling, he had to answer his question.
"Very well, I have a question. May the Pri Minister clarify my doubts?" Shen Shikang looked stern, but his eyes glowed with excitent as he looked at Xia Qing.
"How much silver did your clansman Xia Zhou embezzle in total, and how did he do it? Other things are not as important. You should clarify these first."
Upon hearing this, Xia Qing did not rush to answer. He wiped his tears with a handkerchief, thinking to himself what amount would satisfy the Emperor?
After pondering for a mont, he realized he couldn’t say too much, yet not too little either. Otherwise, the Emperor might not leave him any leeway.
"He took advantage of my na in Yishui County to accept bribes from so rchants and colluded with others to harm rchants who had conflicting interests with them. The clan leader only ntioned this in general terms in the letter."
As for Xia Zhou, he was quite aware. Previously, Xia Zhou’s parents had been close to his own, visiting each other frequently due to their good rapport.
Later, after his parents passed away, the contact gradually diminished.
However, Xia Zhou was indeed soone skilled in exploiting opportunities. He visited his mansion several tis, bringing New Year gifts from the clan.
This person was very astute and eloquent. Under the pretense of delivering New Year gifts, he privately offered him many benefits.
Because he ca every year and the gifts were quite lavish, Xia Qing specially had soone investigate him, which is how he learned about this person’s situation.
This person embezzled a lot of silver in Yishui County using his na, and naturally, he was gifted more each year.
For the sake of the silver, he turned a blind eye to these matters.
He chose him because he was familiar with the source of this person’s silver. If the Emperor were to send people to investigate in Yishui County, he would have nothing to fear.
Another reason was that he embezzled a significant amount of silver, and to satisfy the Emperor, it couldn’t be too little.
Xia Zhou had embezzled quite a lot over the years, and the amount gifted to him was certainly only a portion, not even half.
Previously, fearing that the Imperial Censor would keep an eye on him, he restrained himself, planning to deal with this person slowly in the future and extract even more benefits. Unexpectedly, now it was convenient for the Emperor.
"So how much is it? Did your clan leader ntion it?" Shen Shikang grew anxious as Xia Qing continued to withhold.
If there was a lot of silver, the Emperor might punish Xia Qing alongside. If Xia Qing hid it, it was bound to be exposed later.
The Emperor might send an imperial envoy to investigate this case. If Xia Zhou accepted bribes, what about his superior? Surely the county magistrate of Yishui County knew sothing?
"It’s about eight hundred thousand taels. I have already sent a letter back overnight to prepare to interrogate him properly," Xia Qing said after so deliberation.
"What? Eight hundred thousand taels? So much?"
Xia Qing’s words imdiately caused an uproar in the hall. No one expected a minor county magistrate to embezzle so much silver.
The Emperor’s face turned livid upon hearing this. He had not expected that the Xia Family could co up with so much silver. It seed the Xia Family, relying on Xia Qing’s position in the court over the years, was able to embezzle so much silver tael.
"Are you sure it’s eight hundred thousand taels? Humph! A re county magistrate dares to embezzle so much silver, isn’t he afraid it will burn his hands?"
The Emperor snorted coldly, not expecting Xia Qing to be so generous this ti. It was clear Xia Qing was out of options.
"Then why didn’t your clan leader report this to you sooner? How is this person being dealt with now? Did the county magistrate of Yishui County know about this?"
Shen Shikang could not help but feel invigorated upon hearing such a large amount of silver.
Eighty thousand taels! If replenished into the National Treasury, it could sustain the court’s expenditures for a while.
Then, a sudden flash of insight struck him. This old fox was planning to settle the military salary issue!
By resolving eighty thousand taels himself, the Ministry of Revenue would no longer have an excuse to continue withholding the remaining silver from him.
Shen Shikang couldn’t help but feel bitter. Xia Qing was indeed ruthless!
He even abandoned his clansn. The silver Xia Zhou honored him with each year was certainly not a small amount. Now, at the first sign of trouble, he tore the bridge down after crossing, using him as a scapegoat.
"Xia Zhou does not serve in his own county of origin, so how could my clansn know? He couldn’t possibly do it so blatantly. The clan leader learned about it from an inford source," Xia Qing replied, annoyed at Shen Shikang’s persistence, yet unable to act out.
"Humph! I ask you, did the county magistrate of Yishui County know about the bribes of silver tael? Did the magistrate of Yingnan Mansion know?"
The Emperor did not believe a county magistrate had such capability. If not for collusion among officials, how could this man act so easily?
Surely the county magistrate of Yishui County also accepted a lot, and the magistrate of Yingnan Mansion needed investigation.
"To answer the Emperor, the clan leader is but a commoner, how could he dare investigate these two officials? He stated in the letter that he found an excuse to bind Xia Zhou at ho, with outsiders unaware of the true reason," Xia Qing replied, already having plans in place as he set things in motion. The county magistrate of Yishui County had also embezzled a lot.
This ti, they would uproot them entirely. He would also push the county magistrate out, to block a round and hopefully make a contribution to atone for his cris.
Relying solely on Xia Zhou might not satisfy the Emperor.
"Xia Aiqing! Is there anyone else in your clan collaborating with him? Do not hide or shield your clansn!"
The Emperor’s words made Xia Qing’s heart race with fear. Could it be the Emperor was still unsatisfied? Many in his clan had dirty hands, and he couldn’t possibly expose them all.
Xia Qing hurriedly explained, "Emperor, Xia Zhou really has little contact with the clan. The letter states that his family was also unaware of this matter."
Xia Qing felt so guilt. He had already indicated in the letter sent back that Xia Zhou should leave a legitimate son to carry on his bloodline.
At the sa ti, to make Xia Zhou understand what should and shouldn’t be said.
All accounts related to him were destroyed, and this person couldn’t implicate him further. The clan leader would surely follow his instructions, and he did not worry about that.
"He must have been involved with so much silver. Why was it only exposed now? Xia Aiqing, it seems your reputation precedes you, and who would dare not give you face?"
The Emperor chuckled coldly, looking into Xia Qing’s eyes with unrest.
"Emperor! I am wronged! I have not returned ho for a long ti and was unaware of my clansn’s actions. This was only discovered after the clan leader’s letter reported it," Xia Qing exclaid in distress.
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