Chapter 176 is sour, Zhu Yuanzhang is completely sour (please subscribe!!)
Uh-huh! ? ?
Tang He was taken aback for a moment, then became anxious, "Your Majesty, what is the crime you are talking about?"
Zhu Yuanzhang said angrily: "You are still pretending to me. It seems that you and Ouyang Lun have learned a lot! They have become so cunning and cunning!"
From the moment he confirmed that this luxurious residence belonged to Tang He, to the moment he came in and saw the luxurious decoration inside, everything showed that "Tang He was greedy" and "not less greedy", Zhu Yuanzhang was very sad.
At this time, Tang He thought that Zhu Yuanzhang was a little unhappy because he and Ouyang Lun were too close, and did not realize the seriousness of the matter.
"Your Majesty, I am indeed close to Nephew Ouyang Xian, but he is your son-in-law, and he is smart and capable. First he worked on the coastal defense line, and then he went to the Eastern Expedition. Without his help behind the scenes, how could I have done such a good job? Beautiful!" After saying that, Tang He gave Zhu Yuanzhang a thumbs-up with an envious look on his face, "I am really envious that your Majesty has found a good son-in-law!"
Zhu Yuanzhang: You actually praised Ouyang Lun! "Have I asked you about this? Just tell me how much you took from Ouyang Lun!"
Tang He was stunned for a moment, and then replied: "Your Majesty, how much money was taken? It is mentioned in the brochure I wrote for you. The Haiphong Bonds have raised 800 million taels so far, and all the money is in the Kaiping Bank. It’s kept for special purposes and can be checked at any time!”
"I didn't ask about the coastal defense. What happened to the escort fee? I have never seen it in your memorial!" Zhu Yuanzhang continued to ask: "On the contrary, it was clearly written in the Jin Yiwei's secret report. You and Ouyang Lun teamed up to collect fees from merchants who went overseas to do business, and all the money collected was divided between the two of you!"
"I really can't hide anything from Your Majesty!" Tang He sighed.
"Don't bother talking, just tell me directly how much you got!" Zhu Yuanzhang asked in a deep voice.
"Your Majesty, this escort Feichen is only assigned a small number. The main reason for doing this is to protect Ming Dynasty's merchant ships from reaching their destination safely. I think this method is good, so we did it together. In fact, we don't have money or anything. Don’t care too much, from the end of last year to this month, I have received less than 800 million in total.” Tang He explained.
Swah——
Zhu Yuanzhang, who had already sat down, stood up directly, his eyes widened, and he looked at Tang He in shock.
800 million. Just!
From what I heard, it seemed like the soup was not enough!
800 million. He and Ouyang Lun were fighting each other and saving money. Until now, there is less than 800 million in the internal funds.
Tang He went to Yong'an Mansion to stay for such a short time, and then he got 800 million! ?
Sour, Zhu Yuanzhang was completely sour.
At the same time, there was anger and heartache. This Tang He was his sworn brother. He rebelled earlier than him and accompanied him to conquer the Ming Dynasty from nothing. In Zhu Yuanzhang's heart, Tang He was not greedy for money, but now he came How long did it take for Yong'an Mansion to be corrupted by that guy Ouyang Lun and degenerate into a huge corrupt man who embezzled 800 million! !
Queen Ma sat aside and didn't interrupt, but she was extremely shocked after hearing Tang He's story!
No matter where it is placed, this 800 million is a huge sum of money. It is enough to cover the military expenses of the Ming army for one or even two years, enough to build a coastal defense line, and enough to build a palace! But now when it was said in Tang He's mouth, it was extremely frivolous, as if the other party didn't take the 800 million in his eyes at all.
There is only one possibility for this situation, and that is that Tang He has seen more money than "800 million"!
Empress Ma couldn't help but speak, "Tang He, you and His Majesty are sworn brothers. He trusted you and that's why he gave you the important task of building the Ming Dynasty's coastal defense line. Are you doing this worthy of His Majesty?"
After saying this, Empress Ma also tried her best to wink at Tang He, signaling the latter to quickly apologize and confess to Zhu Yuanzhang.
"Sister, please stop speaking for him. If he still has me in his heart, he won't do such a thing!" Zhu Yuanzhang said in a deep voice: "Tang He, Tang He, I regard you as a brother. I neglected you a little when I was conferring a title, but I explained it to you afterwards, and I also conferred the title of duke on you as soon as possible!"
"It can be said that I have not treated you badly, and I still rely on you very much!"
"Of course you have never let me down in the past. You conquered cities and conquered territories, took the lead, and worked hard without complaint. But this time, you have let me down so much!"
"Don't you think 800 million is enough?!"
Zhu Yuanzhang's crazy questioning didn't sound like an angry king at all at this moment, but more like he was heartbroken to see his friends and brothers go astray.
It was only at this time that Tang He fully reacted and explained with some fear: "Your Majesty, please calm down and let me explain this matter."
Zhu Yuanzhang waved his hand, "Things are so obvious, what else is there to explain? I can see everything clearly!"
"What did I tell you when I asked you to come to Yong'an Mansion to find Ouyang Lun? I told you to be careful about Ouyang Lun and be vigilant at all times. Otherwise, if you were sold by Ouyang Lun, you would have to count the money for him! You really didn't listen at all. Get in!"
"I thought that as Tang He was the founding general of the country and Ouyang Lun's elder, you could restrain Ouyang Lun here for me. Fortunately, instead of restraining him, you yourself were dragged onto Ouyang Lun's pirate ship. !”
"You don't feel ashamed, I feel ashamed too."
The more Zhu Yuanzhang talked, the more uncomfortable he became, and he couldn't understand it.
If you don’t love money, it’s all an illusion. It’s just because there isn’t enough money!
The most disgusting thing is Ouyang Lun, he is so bold and reckless, he can do whatever he wants if he has money!Do you still take me as the emperor seriously?
Seeing that Zhu Yuanzhang was on the verge of breaking out, Queen Ma quickly approached and held Zhu Yuanzhang.
"Chongba, since the matter has happened, let's calm down first and see how to deal with it next. But before we deal with it, we should listen to Tang He's explanation first. What if there is any misunderstanding here?"
After hearing what Empress Ma said, Zhu Yuanzhang became calmer and glanced at Tang He. If it were someone else who embezzled 800 million, Zhu Yuanzhang could just kill him, but Tang He couldn't. Old brothers who have been through life and death cannot act impulsively. .
"Tang He, tell me carefully, otherwise."
Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes were sharp and his aura was powerful and oppressive.
Tang He was also a little panicked. He never thought that this would make Zhu Yuanzhang so angry, so he quickly explained, "Your Majesty, I am wronged!"
"Not a single cent of these 800 million went into my pocket, but was used by me to improve the Ming Dynasty Navy!"
Promote the Ming Navy?
Zhu Yuanzhang was stunned for a moment, and then said in a deep voice: "That's nonsense. I haven't heard of any improvement in the Ming Dynasty Navy. If 800 million were really thrown away, how could there not even be a splash?"
"Tang He, are you fooling me?"
The most important members of the Ming Dynasty Navy are the Penglai Navy and the Fujian Navy. In the recent memorials, no one reported anything about expanding the army or increasing equipment. Where did the improvement come from? Tang He looked embarrassed, and then said: "Your Majesty, the 800 million ministers were used to buy the 055 Dalu."
Hearing Tang He's words, Zhu Yuanzhang was immediately stunned.
Buy 055 large drive amount. If this is the case, then there is really nothing wrong with it!
Zhu Yuanzhang knew the price of the 055 large drive. When he was preparing for the Eastern Expedition, he planned to buy the 055 large drive. As a result, the military expenditure of 700 million was not enough to buy two 055 large drives, so he had no choice but to give up. Even after the victory of the Eastern Expedition, Zhu Yuanzhang He didn't dare to take action either. "Did you really buy the 055 drive?"
"Hmm, I plan to give two Type 055 Large Drive Type I ships as flagships to the Penglai Navy and the Fujian Navy. By then, these two navies can participate in escort missions in the Yellow Sea and East China Sea. Of course, this Everything needs His Majesty’s approval!”
Tang He nodded repeatedly.
"Why don't you report such an important thing to me?" Zhu Yuanzhang asked in a deep voice.
Tang He looked helpless and said, "Your Majesty, I have discussed this matter with Nephew Ouyang, but Nephew Ouyang said that this is a confidential matter, and it will be easily leaked once it is reported. Moreover, the court was busy with the Hu Weiyong case at that time. It’s better not to add extraneous branches, so.”
"This matter was made by me without permission, please forgive me!"
"My Ming Navy has been weak for a long time. In the Eastern Expedition, I almost relied on the ocean fleet to turn the tide of the war on my own. But the ocean fleet is a private fleet after all. From now on, I will have to rely on my Ming Navy to defend the territory of the Ming Dynasty!"
"If these two 055 large-scale cruisers are equipped to the Ming Dynasty Navy, their combat power will make a qualitative leap!"
The more Tang He talked, the more excited he became.
Zhu Yuanzhang frowned slightly. He had already said this and it was hard for him to say anything else.
All 800 million was used to purchase the 055 Grand Drive, which suddenly greatly increased the combat power of the Ming Navy. As an emperor, what else could he say? The only problem with Tang He was that he did not report it to Zhu Yuanzhang in time, but this problem is completely different from the embezzlement of 800 million. Besides, Tang He was the one who was personally appointed by Zhu Yuanzhang to be the minister responsible for the coastal defense of the Ming Dynasty to add equipment to the navy. That was also within the scope of his responsibilities. If he was punished because of this matter, it would be because Zhu Yuanzhang was stingy.
"Since you have spent your money where it should be used, I have nothing to say."
"What about this house? It's not cheap, isn't it? Where do you have so much money to buy it?"
Zhu Yuanzhang continued to ask.
Tang He smiled and said, "Your Majesty, this house is worth several million. I can't afford it. The reason why I can live here is because Yong'an Mansion has a policy. All officials sent by the imperial court to Yong'an Mansion for official business can live there." To rent a house in the new city, this housekeeper will need to spend 1000 taels of silver per month!"
"Relevant contracts have been filed in the temporary office hall, and His Majesty can investigate them at any time."
Zhu Yuanzhang was completely silent.
Got slapped in the face again.
"It's best to be fine."
After saying that, Zhu Yuanzhang left Tang Mansion with his hands behind his back.
"Tang He, it's getting late, Your Majesty and I will go back first."
Queen Ma finished speaking to Tang He, and then chased after him.
"I respectfully send you to Your Majesty and Concubine!"
Zhu Yuanzhang and Empress Ma had just come out of Tang Mansion. Jiang Yu was guarding the door with people and immediately came to greet them.
"I have seen Your Majesty, Your Majesty."
Zhu Yuanzhang did not speak, but directly got into the carriage.
"Empress, Your Majesty, what's going on?"
"It's okay. Duke Xin Guo bought him two 055s." Queen Ma said with a smile.
"The 055 Grand Drive is an artifact that protects the country!" Jiang Wei, as the commander of the Jinyi Guards, naturally knows the power of the 055 Grand Drive, and he also knows the price. "My Lady, this 055 Grand Drive is not cheap. There are two of them at once. , Duke Xinguo is such a generous person, but why doesn’t His Majesty look very happy?”
Swah——
Zhu Yuanzhang, who had already sat in the carriage, opened the door curtain and stuck his head out, roaring at Jiang Yu, "You still have the nerve to inquire! Tang He spent 800 million to buy Ouyang Lun's 055 drive. Such a big thing for you Jinyiwei? There is no news at all, and in the end it was the Queen who told you, what do you and your imperial guards do for food?!"
Everyone in Jiang Gu was stunned by Zhu Yuanzhang's sudden scolding!
"Your Majesty, it is my minister who has done something wrong, please punish me!" After Jiang Wei came to his senses, he did not dare to shirk the slightest, and quickly handed over his hand to plead guilty.
"You are indeed doing things poorly! Of course I will punish you too!" Zhu Yuanzhang said angrily.
"Chongba, this is still in front of Duke Xinguo's house. If you don't feel embarrassed, you can continue to scold me here!" Queen Ma said.
As soon as Empress Ma spoke, Zhu Yuanzhang put his head back and said, "Girl, hurry up and get in the car. Let's go back to the hotel."
Jiang Wei looked grateful to Queen Ma, and after Queen Ma got into the carriage, he immediately escorted her away. However, Zhu Yuanzhang would not let Jiang Wei go just like this. On the way back, he kept scolding Jiang Wei without stopping.
"What a waste!"
"Jiang Wei, didn't you say that Jin Yiwei is all over the world, and there are spies everywhere? Why did it fail when it came to Yong'an Mansion?"
"I can't get into the heavy industrial park. I don't know if Tang He buys 055 Daqi. What do I want you to do?"
"."
Jiang Yu seems to have become Zhu Yuanzhang's emotional outlet.
Facing Zhu Yuanzhang's scolding, Jiang Yu had no choice but to bow his head and accept it, his face full of helplessness.
Although Ouyang Lun has an eclectic style of acting, when it comes to keeping intelligence confidential, he has many methods that make him, the commander of the Imperial Guard, feel that he has "learned" it.
Jin Yiwei can easily spy on normal government affairs, but once it involves arsenals, shipyards, heavy industry industrial parks, and some business secrets, the style changes completely, with code names, single lines of contact, and passwords to transmit information. The spies he arranged to go in or It won't take long for the bribed eyeliner to be cleaned out.
Therefore, the intelligence work for Yong'an Mansion was extremely difficult to carry out. It was easy to obtain general information, but once it came to details, it became dark.
He didn't dare to tell Zhu Yuanzhang these things. If he really wanted to, it wouldn't be a matter of scolding, but a matter of whether his position as commander of the Imperial Guards could be kept.
"Jiang Wei, I will give you a few more days. You must investigate the details of Tang He's purchase of the 055 drive, and also investigate whether the house Tang He lives in now is rented or bought!"
"Yes!"
(End of this chapter)