Chapter 239: Drastically cut expenses! (Here it comes! More than 6,000 words)

The emotion was just a fleeting thing. Wei Zhengde reacted immediately and greeted Zhang Heng: "I have seen the plan!"

Zhang Heng smiled and said: "Old Wei, long time no see. How are you?"

Wei Zhengde hurriedly said: "Everything is fine. I'm thinking of you all."

After a brief exchange of greetings, Zhang Heng asked about the internal affairs of the Salt and Iron Division, and the questions were quite detailed and very professional.

Wei Zhengde was very surprised, because generally Shangguan didn't understand much about these things.

Even the deputy envoys and judges of the Salt and Iron Department don't understand much, and those who come here only have a superficial understanding.

However, the questions Zhang Heng asked always hit the mark, making Wei Zhengde more frightened the more he listened, and the less he dared to fool him.

Zhang Heng did not set any questions, he just understood the situation. Then he asked Wei Zhengde to report the overall situation and then asked Wei Zhengde to go back.

Afterwards, Sang Yuanji, the official of the Department of Household Affairs, came over. Zhang Heng followed the usual approach and asked him some very professional questions, then asked him to report the situation, and then let him go back.

On the whole, there seems to be no problem, but the feelings between Wei Zhengde and Sang Yuanji are completely different.

The position of Third Secretary is a temporary official, and those appointed to this position are rarely very professional. Even if they look professional, they are not enough in front of professional subordinates like them.

Previously, Zhang Fangping served as the third envoy. In the eyes of Wei Zhengde and other subordinate officials, he was already very powerful, but he only had a good vision and knew how to plan the overall situation, but he was not clear about the details of the economy. Such officials, in fact, they are

Not afraid.

But this was their first time encountering a Third Secretary like Zhang Heng. Zhang Heng's familiarity with details was simply outrageous.

It even makes people wonder if this person was born as a subordinate.

But everyone knows Zhang Sanyuan's resume. Although he came from a poor family, he had a famous teacher. His career in politics was from a very high starting point, and he would never have the experience of being a subordinate.

So, how did he become so familiar with the doorways inside?

Of course, this is actually not important.

The important thing is that after this meeting, Wei Zhengde and Sang Yuanji understood in their hearts that they would never do it again, because they would really die!

After Zhang Heng summoned the three Kongmu officials, the focus of his daily work was to sort out the expenditures for each department this year. Together with Ding Shougong, he used the four-quadrant rule to measure the amount of expenditures and the time of payment.

However, as Ding Shougong said, this matter is really offending!

The next day, a heavyweight came to the door.

The person who came was Zhao Shimin, the Prime Minister of Zongzheng Temple.

When Ding Shougong heard the report from his subordinates, he was so shocked that he ran to Zhang Heng to inform him.

Zhang Heng saw Ding Shougong in a panic and said with a smile: "Why are you so anxious? The sky won't fall! What's going on?"

Ding Shougong said anxiously: "Prime Minister, something big has happened! Master Zhao is here!"

Zhang Heng nodded when he heard this and said: "Oh, it seems that I received yesterday's expense reduction letter, that's good."

Ding Shougong said anxiously: "Prime Minister, even if we reduce the expenses of the Zhengshi Hall, we can't attract the attention of Zongzheng Temple. They are the royal family over there! This will offend those dragon sons and grandsons...

"

Zhang Heng waved his hand and said: "Don't worry, I will handle this matter. You can just go and invite...forget it, I'll go and greet you."

Ding Shougong looked at Zhang Heng's back, stamped his feet and whispered: "My Prime Minister Zhang, we are in big trouble this time! How can we interfere in royal matters?"

Yantie Sizhongjian heard the commotion outside and came out to ask. He heard that it was Zhao Shimin who was here, and it was because Zhang Heng had reduced the expenses of Zongzheng Temple. He immediately felt gloating.

"Haha, I really don't know how high the sky is. If you even dare to reduce the expenditure of Zongzheng Temple, you three ministers probably won't last long!"

Wu Ding, the deputy envoy of Duzhisi, rushed over, but was stopped by Zhong Jian.

Wu Ding said anxiously: "What are you doing? I heard that Zhao Zongzheng is here. I heard that it is about the expenses of Zongzheng Temple. This is going to be a big deal. If the officials are blamed, no one in our three divisions can get away with it."

!”

Zhong Jian smiled and said: "It's none of my Salt and Iron Company's business, oh, it's none of your business either. You shouldn't be involved, right?"

Wu Ding stamped his feet and said: "After all, this is a matter of the Du Branch. Even if I didn't participate, I still have to be responsible."

Zhong Jian smiled and said: "Who said that? You neither knew about this nor signed it. It was completely the Third Secretary's envoy who overrode you and made his own decision."

Hearing Zhong Jian's words, Wu Ding immediately stopped and said: "Hey, Lao Zhong, you have got a few taels of good tea recently. I wonder if I can have this good taste?"

Zhong Jian smiled and said: "It's better to have fun alone than to have fun together, please?"

Wu Ding smiled and said: "Okay, give it a try."

When the two of them arrived inside, they tasted tea, but their ears remained perked.

Zhong Jian said: "I'm afraid it's not that simple for Prime Minister Ji to solve the expense problem. For this matter, two third secretaries have already been involved. Zhang Heng doesn't think he can solve it, does he?"

Wu Ding chuckled: "Look at it, no one has ever dared to comment on Zongzheng Temple's affairs. If he can send Zhao Shimin away, then this matter will be possible. There are probably many Cao Cao outside now looking at it.

If Zhang Heng can't even stop Zhao Shimin, it will be absolutely impossible for him to resolve this matter."

Zhong Jian shook his head and said: "It is a matter of the royal family, and it is also a matter of the royal mausoleum. It is not easy for anyone to do it. Even the officials cannot be scolded by this unworthy descendant. This matter is a dead end. Zhang Heng... Hugh

That’s it!”

The two looked at each other and smiled.

Zhang Heng had just left the Third Secretary's Hall when he saw Zhao Shimin striding towards him.

As soon as Zhao Shimin arrived, he said with a serious face: "Xueshi Zhang, what do you mean? This fee is used for the recommendation and repair of temples and tombs. You dare to deduct it. Aren't you afraid that I will report it to Your Majesty?"

What?"

Zongzheng Temple is an institution that specializes in the affairs of the royal family, including managing the genealogy of the royal family, clans, and relatives, guarding royal mausoleums, and other matters. Therefore, the Prime Minister of Zongzheng Temple must also have the surname Zhao to serve.

Zhang Heng knew the purpose of Zhao Shimin's visit. It was because he restored Zongzheng Temple's expenditure to the standard two years ago in Qingli. This was probably the reason why Zhao Shimin came here today.

Zhang Heng smiled and said: "Zongzheng, you're here just in time. I originally wanted to ask you to explain it to me, but now that the expense problem is imminent, we have to solve it urgently, so..."

Zhao Shimin snorted and said: "I know you are busy. It doesn't matter. You take back this letter. You can't reduce the expenses of Zongzheng Temple. This is a matter related to the royal ancestors. If it is delayed, no one will

I can’t afford it!”

Zhang Heng nodded and said: "What you are saying is that this matter cannot be delayed. I have already given the expense bill to your Zongzheng Temple. As long as you sign, Duzhisi will pay all the expenses immediately. It will never be done."

It delayed the affairs of Zongzheng Temple."

Zhao Shimin said angrily: "Don't be careless with me. If you cut the expenditure by half, how will Zongzheng Temple arrange it?"

Zhang Heng shook his head and said: "I have given you all the details of the expense list. You should have read them all. Is there any problem with it?"

Zhao Shimin sneered: "The expenditure is half less than in previous years. I say, Bachelor Zhang, you are too bold. Do you really think that I dare not take the lawsuit to the official court?"

Zhang Heng still said calmly: "Zhao Zongzheng, we have a problem to solve. Let me show you the detailed list..."

Zhang Heng took out a small book of bills from his sleeve.

When Zhao Shimin saw it, he immediately knew that Zhang Heng had come prepared. He snorted again: "I want to see how you can quibble!"

Zhang Heng smiled and said: "No need to quibble. You see, the expenses for repairing the mausoleums, ancestral temples, etc. are no different from those in ordinary years. There is no problem with the salary for all Zongzheng Temple personnel. In addition, during the holidays, there is no need to quibble."

The cost of offering sacrifices here is no different from previous years, so there is no problem with this.

Here's the problem. Look, there was an extra expenditure in the second year of Qingli. This expenditure was the same as all the expenditures in previous years. This expenditure written here is also the maintenance cost of the mausoleum. However, I checked this expenditure.

Well, the tomb of Emperor Taizong collapsed in the second year of Qingli, so the additional cost accounted for half of the cost because it was almost renovated.

This amount of money was more than enough to renovate Emperor Taizong's mausoleum. Emperor Taizong's mausoleum also had a new look, and it was praised by officials at the time.

However, Emperor Taizong's mausoleum was repaired, but your Zongzheng Temple still applied for expenses according to this practice every year. I would like to know what Zongzheng Temple did with this money. Could it be that Emperor Taizong's mausoleum was built every year?

Are they being renovated every year?”

Zhao Shimin's expression suddenly turned bad and he stared at Zhang Heng.

Zhang Heng smiled and said: "Zhao Zongzheng, I don't want to dwell on such old things, but it is necessary to bring order to the chaos anyway, don't you think so?"

Zhao Shimin walked away with a puff of his sleeves.

Zhong Jian came out of the room and happened to meet the angry Zhao Shimin. He quickly raised his hands and saluted: "Zhao Zongzheng..."

Zhao Shimin ignored him and left directly.

Zhong Jian: "..."

Zhong Jian winked at Wu Ding who poked his head out.

Wu Ding nodded knowingly, and then walked to the Third Secretary's Hall. When he was approaching the Third Secretary's Hall, he started running, looking very anxious. When he saw Zhang Heng, he said anxiously: "Zhang Jixiang, where is Zhao Zongzheng?"

?”

Zhang Heng looked at Wu Ding and said with a smile: "Zhao Zongzheng has some questions about the expenses of Zongzheng Temple. I have explained it to him and he has approved it. The expense letter should be signed and sent back soon. You

Hurry up and settle the payment."

Wu Ding was surprised and said: "Can he accept it?"

Zhang Heng nodded and said: "Zhao Zongzheng is a reasonable person. Now that the court is encountering some small difficulties, it is a good thing to understand each other."

Wu Ding went out in confusion and returned to his mansion. Then Zhong Jian sneaked in and said, "What's going on?"

Wu Ding shook his head and said: "It is said that Master Zhao has accepted our expense bill and will sign it and send it back soon."
To be continued...