Chapter 32

Nancheng Battalion Command.

With the Marquis of Wuyang personally coming forward, the eunuchs from the Eastern Depot who came to take over showed twelve points of enthusiasm and didn't make any mistakes throughout the process.

After sending off the people from the Eastern Depot, this business was considered complete; the rest was internal distribution of money.

"Commander, here are 5,000 taels of gold and 250,000 taels of ready silver; the rest is all offset by physical assets.

It's mainly because the Eastern Depot was pressing for time, and everyone didn't have time to liquidate.

The water in jewelry, antiques, and paintings is too deep, and this subordinate has limited knowledge, so I didn't dare to accept them, only accepting some properties in the capital and surrounding farmland.

Now that the capital is in a state of panic, it's hard to sell these real estate assets for a good price.

The yamen needs to operate and cannot lack ready silver.

Why don't you take a small loss and accept these physical assets!"

While speaking, Li Mu handed over a thick stack of property deeds and land deeds.

After flipping through them roughly, a smile appeared on the Marquis of Wuyang's serious face.

In the officialdom, there is a technique to giving gifts; everyone likes silver, but land and properties in the capital are even harder currency.

Unless a major change occurs, under normal circumstances, people won't sell their assets.

That bunch of civil officials being willing to take these assets out, besides truly lacking funds, was also to reduce risk.

Taking out too much ready silver at once is simply too eye-catching.

Although there was a middleman to separate them by a layer, no one could guarantee that the middleman was definitely reliable.

To prove that their family fortune had been emptied, mixing in some core assets was undoubtedly a good choice.

Since it's offsetting assets, it's naturally inevitable to have a discount.

A huge sum of 500,000 taels is not something the Marquis of Wuyang can swallow alone.

Besides deducting a portion for operating expenses and sharing among officials within the yamen, the bulk still has to be sent to the Emperor or the Empress Dowager.

With everyone above and below taking money, no one will use this money to make trouble in the future.

In this regard, the Marquis of Wuyang and Li Mu could only earn a "passing fee."

The opportunity to handle assets belongs to the extra benefits.

"You said it well; the yamen's operation cannot lack funds.

It's not easy for everyone, and we can't treat those below us poorly.

Forget it, I'll take a small loss and accept these assets.

However, I can't solve these troubles alone.

You don't have a mansion in the capital, so just buy a residence at the original price.

Buy a few shops and farms as well; it can be considered settling down in the capital!"

While speaking, the Marquis of Wuyang took out a few land deeds from the pile and placed them in Li Mu's hand.

"Thank you for your care, my lord!"

Li Mu said with feigned joy.

Everything was within expectations; facts proved he had bet correctly.

Everyone wants high-quality assets, but these things are too eye-catching.

Placing them openly under one's own name is telling the outside world that a corrupt official is here.

Experienced officials would rather collect a large amount of ready silver and store it in a warehouse than touch these overt things.

If one really wants to purchase them, it's done through legal channels so that no one can pick out any faults.

The cautious Li Mu naturally absorbed everyone's excellent experience.

Handing the things to the Marquis of Wuyang both transferred the trouble and pleased his superior.

The return was immediate; buying assets at a low price is nothing, the key is that phrase "settling down in the capital."

It was equivalent to explicitly accepting him as a subordinate.

Although there are descendants of nobility in the Wucheng Military Commission who don't buy the Marquis of Wuyang's account, those who dare to do so are direct descendants of dukes and marquises and don't need to look at their superiors' faces.

Distant branches like Li Mu, who carry the name of a noble descendant, aren't that tough.

Perhaps the Marquis of Wuyang can't get them promoted, but he can definitely keep them from rising.

The triennial capital inspection is starting in a few months.

Although it is the responsibility of the Ministry of Personnel and the Censorate, the Marquis of Wuyang, as the Commander, also has a great say in it.

The results of the capital inspection will directly affect the future promotion of officials.

"Alright, remember to send the money to the Wucheng Military Commission within three days according to the discounted price.

This official has things to do in the yamen, so I won't stay here any longer!"

It could be seen that the Marquis of Wuyang was truly busy. Besides the Nancheng Battalion Command, there were four other Battalion Commands waiting for him to collect money.

……

The bulk has gone out, and the rest is internal interest distribution.

Having done this step well, Li Mu truly stood firm in the yamen.

No one can refuse a superior who leads everyone to make money and is willing to share it.

Glancing at the expectant crowd, Li Mu smiled slightly and said: "This harvest is so rich, and it's inseparable from everyone's efforts.

Today, everyone here is family, so I won't say any polite words.

The share for the Eastern Depot has already been given, and everything that needed to be greased above has been paid out.

How much one can get from the introduction fee is everyone's own ability; no one should be jealous.

For safety's sake, I haven't recorded this part of the expenses in the books.

The money has already been settled with you all; how to launder it is your own business.

From now on, no matter who asks, I won't admit it. I hope you all forget about this matter, as if this money never existed.

Here is the public account of the Battalion Command, with gold and silver totaling about 300,000 taels, of which 100,000 taels need to be kept for the yamen's daily expenses, in case of emergency.

How to distribute the remaining 200,000 taels, everyone, please share your opinions!"

As soon as he finished speaking, everyone's eyes suddenly became fiery.

Even though everyone present was a descendant of nobility and had seen the world, 200,000 taels was still an astronomical figure for them.

If it weren't for this windfall, such a huge sum of money would never have appeared in the Nancheng Battalion Command's account.

"Commander, so much money is too eye-catching. If it's distributed directly as usual, it will definitely be targeted by others.

Although it has gone through the proper channels above, if some greenhorn official in the bureaucracy pokes the matter to the imperial court, it will be a big trouble.

I think it's better to give everyone an extra month's salary first, and then inflate some night-duty subsidies and daily expenses to slowly digest the money."

As soon as Vice Battalion Commander Yuan Yangming's proposal came out, Battalion Commander Sun beside him became anxious.

"Lord Yuan, according to your meaning, the entire yamen will participate in the distribution, so we who did the work get nothing?"

As a yamen in charge of security for a large area, the Nancheng Battalion Command is naturally severely overstaffed. Besides the registered officers and soldiers, there are a large number of temporary workers doing corvée labor.

A huge sum of 200,000 taels is indeed not small, but with thousands of people to share it, the money falling into each person's hands wouldn't be much.

Battalion Commander Sun had just separated from his family and bought a lot of equipment; he was at the time when he needed money the most.

Because he wasn't familiar with the civil officials, he didn't have any gains from the previous middleman business.

If he had no gains now, then the days ahead would be difficult.

"Lord Sun, calm your anger; Yuan didn't mean that. It's just that at this time, my Wucheng Military Commission is indeed very eye-catching.

That bunch of civil officials whose interests were damaged will definitely not be willing to cut their flesh.

Although the Eastern Depot is standing in front, our blatant distribution of money will still make these people hostile.

Everything for the sake of one's official career!"

After Yuan Yangming finished speaking, the crowd split into two major camps and started arguing on the spot.

"Quiet!

Lord Yuan is right; at this time, being careful is never wrong.

We can determine how much each person should get first. Subsequently, we can find suitable reasons based on the actual situation to slowly distribute it to everyone.

If anyone needs money urgently, they can borrow from the Battalion Command yamen first.

The amount must be lower than their share, and a symbolic interest must be paid. This is to avoid trouble when auditing accounts in the future.

Don't forget, this year is the year of the capital inspection!"

Li Mu warned immediately.

Throwing the distribution problem to everyone seemed to be seeking opinions, but in reality, it was a screening.

Officials who can restrain their greed may not necessarily be reusable; but officials who cannot restrain their greed definitely cannot be reused.

(End of Chapter)