Chapter 68 Military Glory
But no one in the court told Zhu Yuanzhang that any policy may be good at first, but over time, greedy people will definitely find loopholes in the policy.

Then... like a glutton, he tried to gain benefits from this 'perfect' government order.

Zhu Yuanzhang believed that policies could not be changed in order to prevent someone from taking advantage of the changes to make a profit.

But now that I think about it carefully, it seems...

Zhu Yuanzhang was silent. He looked at Deng Qianqiu meaningfully. His eyes subconsciously showed a hint of admiration, and he said, "You are very bold."

"No." Deng Qianqiu had just said it very smoothly, but now he was frightened: "I have been a coward since I was young."

Zhu Yuanzhang sighed and said, "Look up."

Deng Qianqiu said in a panic: "I dare not."

Zhu Yuanzhang's face turned slightly cold: "Why don't you dare?"

Deng Qianqiu said, "Your Majesty is a founding emperor, both civil and military, unrivaled in the world. I am just a humble official. Even though I am thirty steps away from Your Majesty, I can already feel Your Majesty's might coming at me, like a tidal wave. I dare not be bold and confront Your Majesty directly. Your Majesty's light is as fierce as the sun. How dare I confront it?"

Zhu Yuanzhang couldn't help but want to be furious. Power, right? The light of the sun, right? When I was incognito, why didn't you feel it?

He couldn't help but say: "This suggestion is a military merit. When the Ministry of War awards merit, the merit of the suggestion should also be added. I am clear about rewards and punishments, and I will never wrong a meritorious official. Deng Qianqiu, please take your leave."

When Deng Qianqiu heard about the commendation for merit, especially military merit, he became excited.

When he was asked to leave at this time, he breathed a sigh of relief and quickly left.

"Oh..." Zhu Yuanzhang watched Deng Qianqiu leave, thoughtfully.

Hu Weiyong looked at Zhu Yuanzhang's expression and said, "Your Majesty, this boy has great talent. From his accent, I think he is from Fengyang."

Zhu Yuanzhang glanced at Hu Weiyong and said calmly, "You still need to listen to his accent. Could it be that... haven't you already found out about his background?"

After hearing this, Hu Weiyong still looked terrified, but he was actually terrified in his heart.

He still responded calmly: "Your Majesty, Fengyang is the place where the dragon rises. I am indeed willing to die, and I always care about the people of the place where the dragon rises."

Zhu Yuanzhang seemed to feel his throat was hoarse. The tea had cooled down, so he took a sip. He sat upright and said, "If the prince could be as far-sighted as him, and Zhu Gang as cautious as him, I would be relieved. This kid... is like a rough jade. With a little polish, he can become a great man. But he is too timid. Is this his father's fault?"

He seemed to be muttering in his heart, his father was not a rat, could it be that he was from the next generation...

Hu Weiyong listened to Zhu Yuanzhang's mutterings, but he was glad in his heart that this boy was quite favored by the emperor. Fortunately, this boy had received the favor from me, and in the future... he might be of great use.

Zhu Yuanzhang looked up again and said to Le Shaofeng, "The matter of commending meritorious officials must be handled urgently. We must not let down the hearts of meritorious officials. Deng Qianqiu is such a timid kid. In addition to commending his meritorious officials, I will make an exception and give him a generous reward so that he will know my generosity and love."

Le Shaofeng hurriedly said, "I obey your order."

"Oh, right." Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly remembered something and said with a cold expression, "Call Zhu Gang, the rebellious son, to me."

…………

Deng Qianqiu was walking in the Forbidden City and really felt as if he had walked through the gates of hell. When he was almost at the Xianliang Temple, a pair of cavalrymen suddenly passed by Deng Qianqiu.

Soon, a carriage and the flying horse came out.

The carriage suddenly stopped, revealing Zhu Gang's face.

Zhu Gang said in surprise: "Qianqiu, Qianqiu, hahahaha..."

Deng Qianqiu stepped forward: "Your Highness"

Zhu Gang said with great joy: "I just heard that you met the Emperor. How was it? Did the Emperor give you anything as a reward?"

Deng Qianqiu said honestly: "My legs are shaking and I am panicking now."

Zhu Gang laughed again and couldn't help but said proudly: "You are too timid. When it comes to how to deal with the emperor, I have a lot of experience. Next time I will teach you, and you won't be so scared."

Deng Qianqiu changed the subject and asked, "Where are you going, Your Highness?"

"My father suddenly summoned me to see him," Zhu Gang said.

Deng Qianqiu felt a little guilty: "What's the matter?"

Zhu Gang leaned against the window of the carriage, tilted his head and thought for a while: "I don't know."

He then added, "I'll come to see you later. Haha, you'll know then. Okay, okay, let's go, my father misses me and must be waiting anxiously. Qianqiu, see you later."

Deng Qianqiu couldn't help but be moved by their deep father-son love.

This made him think of his father, so he went to the Jiangning County Government Office.

Deng Qianqiu arrived at the county government office, only to learn that his father was in a public housing unit. When he arrived at the public housing unit, he discovered that there was another outsider there, who was none other than Liu Ji, the magistrate of Jiangning County.

Deng Jian personally poured tea for Liu Ji, saying, "Secretary Liu, you have worked so hard to check the treasury these days. There is so much money missing from the treasury account. If it weren't for you, I'm afraid it would be difficult to sort it out. Thank you for your hard work." Liu Ji smiled, but crossed his legs and said slowly, "Your Excellency, you don't have to be polite. This is my duty."

Deng Jian smiled and said, "I have another lawsuit today, so I'd like to ask County Magistrate Liu for advice."

Liu Ji still crossed his legs and said calmly, "Your Excellency, this is just a lawsuit, so naturally you will make the final decision."

Deng Jian shook his head and said seriously, "That's wrong. I'm just a juren. I've only been in office for a short time and I don't know how to deal with many things. Without the help of County Magistrate Liu, how can I keep Jiangning County in order?"

Liu Ji smiled. Seeing Deng Jian's amiable look, he probably knew that the county magistrate had given in. He coughed and said, "Your Excellency, you must not do this. It is my duty to assist you. We both serve the court, so how can we distinguish between us? How about this? I will go to the criminal room and take a look at the files. If I have any ideas, I will come back and report."

Deng Jian said with a pleasant face: "Thank you for your hard work."

Liu Ji stood up, Deng Jian bowed to him, Liu Ji returned the greeting, and then left.

Deng Qianqiu was so angry after seeing this that he walked in and said angrily, "Dad, why are you so cowardly? Our Deng family has always been strong and steadfast. This man almost killed us, so why should we be so polite to him?"

Deng Jian was still sitting upright, but he answered the question irrelevantly: "Father is busy with official business, why are you here? Father is on duty now, there is no father and son here."

Deng Qianqiu: “…”

Deng Qianqiu was filled with grief and indignation. He had worked so hard to raise his father into a talented person. Now his father had passed the imperial examination, topped the list, and became the magistrate of Jiangning County, a top position in the world. Yet, he turned around and refused to acknowledge his father!

What sin did I commit in my previous life!

But at this moment, someone outside said, "Your subordinate, I greet you, Your Excellency."

Deng Jian immediately sat up straight and said, "Come in."

Then, a man came in and closed the door. When he saw Deng Qianqiu was there, he looked hesitant.

Deng Jian looked at him and said with a smile, "It's Zhang Zhubu. Does Zhang Zhubu have anything to say?"

The person who came was the chief clerk Zhang Hai. Zhang Hai glanced at Deng Qianqiu.

Deng Jian said, "This is my son. Zhang Zhubu has seen him before."

Zhang Hai breathed a sigh of relief and said with a smile: "Your son is really a handsome man."

Deng Jian said, "Zhang Zhubu, I am very busy with my official duties. Please feel free to speak up if you have anything to say."

Zhang Hai's face suddenly turned pale and blue. He hesitated for a long time, then suddenly fell to his knees and whispered, "Sir, save me."

Deng Qianqiu was stunned.

Deng Jian was calm and composed at this time, saying: "If God doesn't save us, we have to save ourselves. How can I save you?"

Zhang Hai looked grim, and said, "Your subordinate... Your subordinate has something to report."

Deng Jian said, "Let me guess your purpose. Do you want to report County Magistrate Liu?"

Zhang Hai looked at Deng Jian with strange eyes.

Deng Jian smiled and said, "You are late. Someone came earlier than you. Inspector Wang and Li Sili arrived first."

Zhang Hai kowtowed hurriedly and said, "I...I..."

Deng Jian said, "Then let me make a guess. Maybe County Magistrate Liu checked the treasury and found many inaccuracies in the accounts. You are afraid that he will pin these inaccuracies on you?"

Zhang Hai's face was ashen, and he cried, "I am from Jiangxi, and I am honored to be the chief accountant. In fact, I have always been suppressed by County Magistrate Liu. County Magistrate Liu has many followers, and he has someone above him to help him. He has always been domineering. He embezzled a lot of money from the government treasury. Originally, the governor wanted to check the accounts, but he hated the governor. But who knew that the governor would later hand over the entire treasury audit to him."

Zhang Hai paused, and then continued, "There is so much money and grain missing from the treasury. No matter how we check, the account cannot be cleared. If the envoy were to check it, it would be fine, but now let County Magistrate Liu check it. County Magistrate Liu will naturally cry thief and do everything he can to put all the blame on me, in order to... escape. I have always been at odds with him. Although he is the chief clerk, I have no one to rely on in Jiangning County. Corruption is a serious crime in this dynasty. Not to mention the thousands of taels of silver and 17,000 shi of grain missing from the account, even if only a few dozen taels of silver are missing, I will lose my head..."

As he spoke, his eyes turned red and he sobbed, "Your Excellency... the biggest pest in this county is County Magistrate Liu. Now you have handed over all the affairs of the county to him to handle. I am going to put my life on the line. Please distinguish right from wrong."

Deng Qianqiu was standing nearby, and didn't say a word, but he was watching in astonishment.

Deng Jian stood up and paced a few steps. He looked very steady and indifferent to Zhang Hai's words: "You mean, I let County Magistrate Liu take full charge of the investigation, but it hurt you?"

Zhang Hai said: "Yes."

Deng Jian said, "But you keep saying that all the money and grain were embezzled by County Magistrate Liu. Do you have any real evidence?"

"I usually keep some small accounts here for self-defense. Besides that... there is some news..."

…………

The second update has been delivered, two more to go.

At the same time, I would like to thank the leader Jing Wuhen for the reward, thank you very much!

(End of this chapter)