Chapter 327

First Volume, Chapter 327: Zhengyi Guan Feng

Seeing Qin Feng refuse to take the bait and act like a coward alongside the Manchu Civil and Military, the Liang Emperor felt profound disappointment.

Could it be that even this cunning little brat has no solution to Changping County's crisis?

The Liang Emperor, desperate as one treats a dead horse as if it were still alive, appealed to emotion and reason: "Seeing the people's suffering breaks my heart—I wish I could sprout wings and fly straight to Changping County to share their hardships. Alas, Liang now faces internal turmoil and external threats; I must handle military pressure from the North Di and manage domestic livelihood and finances. As for Changping County, I wish I could help, but I lack the strength."

Qin Feng wore a look of deep distress, as if he truly understood the Liang Emperor's helplessness.

Inside, he despised him utterly.

The Liang Emperor's words implied that Changping County's current state had nothing to do with him.

The Liang Emperor's "heart" was with the people of Changping County.

In plain terms: talk about feelings, but don't talk about money!

If Changping County's disasters and misfortunes are not his fault, nor the people's fault, then who must bear responsibility?

This thankless, grueling task could easily land someone with a blackened reputation.

Who can't cry poverty?

Qin Feng sighed deeply, his eyes dimming: "Ultimately, to cure Changping County's illness, there is only one remedy: money. Distribute silver to buy grain and aid the victims—then nothing is a problem. Without funding, even the smallest policy fails to take root, and every trivial matter becomes as catastrophic as heaven falling."

"I'd gladly lend a hand, but… Beixi County's war is dire, and rebuilding the city is a massive undertaking. How long has it been? The Tianji Camp's accounts are already severely depleted. To save silver, everyone from top to bottom has cut their expenses. I haven't tasted meat in days—this million-tael sum for grain is astronomical for the Tianji Camp."

Hearing this, the Liang Emperor sighed deeply, feeling immense sympathy for the Tianji Camp's plight.

Yet…

His gaze was off—filled with sharp contempt.

He seemed to silently curse Qin Feng: "You brat, don't pretend you're poor—I bought Liuli Workshop and gave you two million taels of silver alone; even the two porcelain pieces from the auction could've fed the victims. Everyone in Liang can cry poverty, but you? You're clearly asking for a beating!"

The Liang Emperor's face showed a touch of sorrow as he sighed: "Seeing the people of Changping County suffer, I cannot bear it. Since I cannot raise relief funds, I must reluctantly order a purge of Jingzhong's noble families—any assets exceeding their official stipends shall be seized to aid Changping County."

"The people of Liang are one family; as family, we must share both hardship and prosperity."

At these words, officials who had previously feigned indifference nearly fainted on the spot.

They glared furiously at Qin Feng with looks that screamed: "It's only you who had to speak up!"

Every official in Jingzhong, without exception, was just as dirty as the next.

Even Qin Tianhu, who never accepted bribes and lived solely on his stipend,

had a strict family ethos—but his high rank and power meant even his servants and retainers exploited his status to take bribes.

In the past, such matters were always turned a blind eye to.

After all, human nature is what it is—impossible to eradicate entirely. A few hundred taels of silver here and there? No big deal.

The Liang Emperor's words were like a stone thrown into a dead lake—rippling into a thousand waves.

This large-scale financial audit and official integrity campaign was a calamity for Jingzhong's officials, and a devastating blow to their future reputations.

The officials wanted to tear Qin Feng's mouth apart.

They thought: "You bastard, why are you lecturing the Emperor on this? If you don't want to go, just say so—why cry poverty? Now you've ruined the act, and now the whole city burns because of your fire—none of us are safe!"

What they didn't know…

Qin Feng wanted exactly this effect!

From the moment the Emperor summoned him, he had already prepared mentally.

Changping County's troubles couldn't be avoided.

But why, every time disaster struck, was he the only one forced to carry the burden?

As the Liang Emperor himself said:

The people of Liang are one family; as family, we must share both hardship and prosperity.

Qin Feng wholeheartedly approved of the Emperor's decision—his gloomy eyes suddenly brightened with fervor: "Your Majesty is wise! This troublesome matter is solved with a single word from you. My admiration for you flows like an endless river!"

The officials had assumed Qin Feng was just being provocative, dragging them all down with him.

But hearing this, they nearly died of rage.

It turned out Qin Feng and the Emperor had been performing a duet from the start!

These two had grown so in sync they needed no rehearsal—none of the ministers had noticed the trap!

Of course Qin Feng fully supported it.

Gao Ming, already stripped of his Grand Commandant title, had paid a heavy price just to give Qin Feng an official position.

Now, thanks to his achievements in Beixi County, Qin Feng had forced the Emperor to strip his own official title and grant him some damn "Ten Households" nonsense.

Now, in this entire Grand Hall, Qin Feng was the only one without an official rank.

Introducing Zhengyi Guan Feng? Conducting a financial audit?

Hah!

Dig down three feet—you won't find a single flaw on Qin Feng.

He's not even an official—how can you investigate him?

Qin Feng lavished praise on the Liang Emperor: "From what I know, all court ministers are incorruptible, with strict family morals. Even if we audit, we'll find nothing. Any occasional offenders are merely lowlife scum."

The officials stared, dumbfounded.

Qin Feng had always been ruthless toward Jingzhong's noble offspring.

Had the sun risen in Xibian? Was he actually defending them?!

As the officials puzzled over this, Qin Feng added: "But if we're to investigate all officials' families in Jingzhong, who should lead the probe? The Ministry of Personnel? The Ministry of Rites? Dali Temple? Any department chosen will be suspected of favoritism—or worse, using this to crush political rivals."

"So I suggest we appoint someone outside the system to lead this full investigation."

Even the slowest ministers now sensed something was wrong.

Wu Mian hurried forward to advise: "Your Majesty, this cannot be! Such a heavy task must be entrusted to a senior minister. Choosing some random outsider will never earn public trust."

Li Xu reacted even more fiercely—if a political enemy led this, he would settle old scores and new ones alike.

"Please, Holy One, think carefully!"

Even the Officials of the Ministry of War remained silent at this moment.

After all, this matter was too sensitive; one misstep and they would truly be Implicated.