Chapter 250

Han Dynasty, Chang'an.

Liu Bang was completely stunned.

"Can he really embezzle so much?!"

Ying Zheng stared dead at the astronomical figure.

After a long while, he squeezed a few words from his teeth:

"800... million... taels?"

"Worthy of being the number one corrupt official in history!"

Great Tang, Zhenguan era.

Li Shimin could no longer make any evaluation.

He just stared blankly at the wealth list on the Heavenly Screen and the final figure of 800 million taels, as if reading a heavenly book.

His Great Tang's current annual revenue, converted to silver... a little over 10 million taels? 800 million taels... he would need 80 years to save it? Not counting expenses?

"......"

Li Shimin opened his mouth, and finally it only turned into a long, powerless sigh, falling back onto the dragon throne.

What great talent and bold vision, what Zhenguan rule, in front of these 800 million taels of silver, all seemed a bit... pale and ridiculous?

No, it was that Qianlong and Heshen were too absurd and ridiculous!

Fang Xuanling, Du Ruhui, and others looked at each other, speechless.

This had exceeded the scope of their understanding.

Great Song, Taizu era.

Zhao Kuangyin only felt dizzy, he supported the imperial desk and muttered:

"... 800 million... our Great Song's current annual revenue, converted to silver... is only tens of millions of taels... this villain... this villain..."

He suddenly felt that his "releasing military power with a cup of wine" to guard against military generals and civil officials was perhaps guarding against the wrong direction?

Should he have guarded against this kind of "insider" by the Emperor's side who could empty the national treasury for 15 years?

Zhao Pu also smiled bitterly: "Your Majesty, this is not a subject, but... but a giant thief of the country, a thief who steals the country."

"His ability to reach this point is not a one-day cold, but the collapse of the system and the cover of imperial power."

Great Ming, Hongwu era.

Nanjing Forbidden City, dead silent, terrifyingly silent.

Zhu Yuanzhang did not roar, did not throw things, and did not even move.

He sat there, only those eyes still staring dead at the Heavenly Screen, staring at the "800 million taels" and "15 years of annual revenue."

His complexion was a strange mix of iron blue, pale white, and a kind of gray defeat close to despair.

He built the Great Ming, rectified officialdom, killed until heads rolled, and thought he could leave a solid foundation for his descendants, a set of strict laws that could curb corruption.

But now, the Heavenly Screen told him that his Great Ming had a eunuch who embezzled 300 million taels (Liu Jin).

The later dynasty had another official who embezzled 800 million taels! Adding them up, 1.1 billion taels!

Equivalent to his Great Ming... how much is his Great Ming's annual revenue now? 2 million taels? Over 500 years?!

"Heh..."

A slight, leaking-like sound came from Zhu Yuanzhang's throat.

He slowly turned his head to look at Zhu Biao, look at Zhu Di, look at the civil and military officials.

His eyes were empty, numb, and carried a kind of bone-deep exhaustion and... disillusionment?

"Biao'er... Lao Si... did you... all see it?"

Zhu Yuanzhang's voice was very soft, very drifting, as if coming from very far away.

"800 million taels... 15 years... I... the people I killed... the laws I set... the blood I shed... what's the use? Ah? What's the use?!"

"Haha... Hahaha... I understand... I get it..."

Zhu Yuanzhang cried and laughed, "Corrupt officials can't be killed off... like leeks, cut one batch, another grows..."

"Qianlong... he needed Heshen to get money for him, to enjoy himself, to take the blame for him! That's why Heshen could embezzle 800 million taels!"

"What's the use of Me killing more corrupt officials? If My future descendants become like Qianlong... heh... hehehe..."

These words, half-sober and half-crazy, were like heavy hammers, fiercely smashing into the hearts of Zhu Biao, Zhu Di, and all the officials.

They looked at the Taizu Emperor who was like a mad demon, their hearts filled with endless coldness and sorrow.

Your Majesty... has been stimulated by the Heavenly Screen to the point of mental collapse?

"Father! Father, calm your anger! Take care of your dragon body!"

Zhu Biao cried and hugged Zhu Yuanzhang's leg.

Zhu Yuanzhang, however, seemed not to hear, just staring blankly at the Heavenly Screen, muttering in his mouth:

"800 million taels... 15 years... 800 million taels... 15 years..."

Great Qing, Kangxi era.

In the Qianqing Palace, one could hear a pin drop.

Emperor Kangxi, Xuan Ye, had a complexion that could no longer be described as ugly.

He looked at the giant corrupt official belonging to "Great Qing" on the Heavenly Screen, looked at the glaring "800 million taels" and "15 years of annual revenue."

He saw the folk song "Heshen falls, Jiaqing eats his fill" in the future, and only felt a rage and shame he had never felt before, making his eyes go black and his chest feel stifled.

This was the country of his Aisin Gioro family!

This was his descendant, who actually produced such an unprecedented giant corrupt official!

And the one who used corrupt officials and indulged corruption to such a degree was actually his grandson Hongli (Qianlong), who had always boasted of being a "Ten Complete Old Man" and loved to show off.

"Bastard! Evil obstacle!!"

Kangxi finally roared in rage, kicking over the imperial desk in front of him, and the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone fell all over the floor.

"Hongli! Look at the good things you've done!"

"You... you are simply the shame of the Aisin Gioro family! The sinner of Great Qing!!"

He turned around abruptly, pointing at the princes and ministers below who were also scared out of their wits, especially Crown Prince Yinreng and several older princes.

"Did you all see it?! This is the end of favoring sycophants and indulging corruption!"

"800 million taels! 15 years of court revenue! Moved home by a slave!"

"What about the court's face? What about the royal family's face? You've lost it all, Hongli, you unfilial descendant!!"

Yinreng and others quickly fell to their knees, trembling, not daring to speak.

Mingzhu and Suo'ertu were also sweating profusely; they were not clean themselves, and at this moment, they were even more fearful, feeling like the rabbit dying and the fox grieving.

"Issue My decree!"

Kangxi panted, saying sternly, "Record what the Heavenly Screen said today about Heshen embezzling 800 million taels, word for word, store it in the Veritable Records, and show it to future descendants!"

"Any descendant of My Aisin Gioro family, if you dare to indulge attendants or sycophants to embezzle like this, you are cutting yourself off from your ancestors and are not worthy of being an Aisin Gioro descendant!"

"Any official who dares to imitate Heshen, embezzling boundlessly and shaking the foundation of the country, will be attacked by the whole world!"

"Yes! This servant/subject obeys the decree!" Everyone agreed, their voices trembling.

Qing Dynasty, 45th year of Qianlong (when Heshen's power was at its peak).

Forbidden City, Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Emperor Qianlong, who was over seventy but still in good spirits, was sitting and chatting with Heshen.

Heshen was witty, describing the interesting things from Jiangnan vividly, making Qianlong laugh from time to time, and the atmosphere in the hall was harmonious.

Suddenly, the Heavenly Screen appeared, golden light covered everything, and this final and most shocking inventory began.

At first, Qianlong still smiled and stroked his beard, feeling that this Heavenly Screen inventory of corrupt officials was interesting and could warn future generations.

When he saw Heshen's name appear at the top of the list, the smile on his face froze slightly.

When he saw the words "800 million taels" and "15 years of annual revenue," Qianlong's hand stroking his beard stopped, and the blood on his face faded bit by bit.

When he saw the folk song "Heshen falls, Jiaqing eats his fill," and the scene of Jiaqing turning against him before the spirit and quickly arresting Heshen...

Emperor Qianlong's complexion had already turned ashen, his chest heaving violently, and his fingers gripping the back of the chair turned white from the force.

Heshen was also struck by lightning, his whole body cold, collapsing on the ground.

He opened his mouth wide, wanting to argue, wanting to cry injustice, but could not make any sound.

At this moment, only endless fear, like a cold poisonous snake, wrapped around his heart, tightening more and more.

800 million taels... suicide... property confiscated... these words were like the scythe of the god of death, hanging over his head.

Especially since the Heavenly Screen revealed the details of him privately intercepting tributes, manipulating "Yinzui Silver," and wealth rivaling a nation so clearly, this... how could he argue?

The eunuchs and palace maids standing in the hall all held their breath, keeping their heads down dead, wishing they could shrink into the cracks in the ground.

They heard this shocking secret; would they be silenced?