Chapter 87 Section 86

In order to clean up the financial regulations, Zhang Zhidong and Yuan Shikai were in a bad mood.According to the original plan drawn up by the Illuminati Branch, each province will set up a clean-up finance bureau, with the feudal secretary or the newly established Duzhi Division as the general office, and two supervisors from the ministry to supervise the clean-up, and divide the budget and final accounts into three cases. It used to be an old case, it became a new case from the third year of Xuantong, and it was the current case from the thirty-fourth year of Guangxu to the second year of Xuantong.

Both Zhang and Yuan agreed that new cases and current cases should be handled in accordance with the new chapter. What they objected to was such a regulation: "If the old cases of each province have not been reported to the Ministry over the years, a list will be made every year, and the case will be closed." This is to settle the old accounts of the provinces.Zhang Zhidong spent 20 years in Hubei, spending money like sand. At that time, the governor had the title of "Tu Qian", which was also called "Tu Guan" by Cen Chunxuan.Among them, withholding and embezzling public funds without authorization, I don't know how much, this old account can't be settled.

As for Yuan Shikai's old account, if it is to be settled, it will be even more serious!It turns out that Beiyang's income and expenditure accounts are like the accounts of the former household department's "Northern House" operating the national income and expenditure. There is no way to liquidate them, only deep taboos.As early as Li Hongzhang took over as the direct governor and Beiyang minister and set up the Huai army's money collection and disbursement office, it was a bad debt.It is said that when Li Hongzhang handed over the money, he accumulated millions of taels of income and expenditure. After Yuan Shikai took over, he used this stock to make friends with the imperial court, court dignitaries, and celebrities.It is also said that when they took over Tianjin, the foreigners also handed over millions of public funds, and also squandered it for Yuan Shikai. Yang Shixiang took over Yuan Shikai's hands. Few, how can it be cleaned up?

For this reason, both Zhang and Yuan were opposed to clearing up the old case. Yikuang also spent a lot of Beiyang's money, so of course he was on Yuan Shikai's side.Zai Feng has no prejudices, but Zai Ze uses it as a threat. If he does not do this, he will not be able to raise 12 million mausoleum funds at present, and in the future, he will not be able to guarantee that he will have enough money to train the imperial guards. the grain rate. In desperation, Zai Feng had no choice but to order Zai Ze to discuss with the Minister of Military Aircraft. Zai Ze came here with confidence, and went straight in. In addition to bowing to Yikuang, he sat on the throne as the Lord of the Town, and said, "It is imperative to clean up the finances! The income and expenditure of each province , if it is still the same as before, it is a mess, and the New Deal and constitution are all nonsense!"

Zhang Zhidong had met Prince Gongzhong and Prince Chunxian before, and he was an out-and-out prince, and he didn't have such an arrogant look, so he asked seriously: "Ze Gong, this dynasty ruled the world with martial arts, Qianlong's top ten martial arts , nothing existed in ancient times, the military affairs system at that time, Zegong naturally knew it well?" How did Zai Ze understand?I also don't know what is Zhang Zhidong's intention in asking this question?He couldn't help being a little more cautious: "Of course, you people who came from the Imperial Academy know the history of Chaozhang and the country better than anyone else," he said.

"Yes!" Zhang Zhidong said: "Before Daoguang, whenever there was a big conquest, the emperor told the temple and ordered the general to leave the army. The troops and horses did not move, and the grain and grass went first. During the Yongqian period, the Minister of the Ministry of Households was often appointed to handle the grain platform, and all military supplies were dispatched. After arriving in Xianfeng, the situation was different. In addition to raising his own salary, the general had to pay the Beijing salary. Therefore, when Mu Zong came to the throne, he named it "Tongzhi" to show that the whole world is united and achieves governance together. At that time, the palace was closed, and the virtuous king was in charge of the country. He issued a special edict, entrusting Zeng Wenzheng with the task of his heart, in charge of the military affairs of the five provinces.

This is the key to suppressing the chaos. " Zai Ze heard the reason, and replied calmly: "Although the imperial court is not controlled remotely, the governor must be restrained. Besides, the times are different. If there is a disturbance, the governor can of course act expediently. When the disturbance subsides, how to do things?" Can you not follow the rules?" "This is where the difficulty lies! There are turmoil, and you just want the turmoil to subside, and you can make do with everything. Once the turmoil is settled, you have to settle the old score according to the rules, so how can you do that?" Zhang Zhidong slightly raised his voice and said, " Since Hong Yang was leveled, and Wo Wenrui asked, all military expenditures since the rise of the army will be exempted from reimbursement. This is an old-fashioned scheme for the country! If this is not the case, there will be turmoil in the world, and there will be no quiet situation for many years to come."

"One moment, another moment!" Zai Ze looked at Yuan Shikai and said, "Wo Genfeng is a scholar who reads books and reasoned, and I do things practically." This remark is a satire on Yuan Shikai, and it is also a provocation, because Yuan Shikai said: "Zhang Zhongtang is a scholar, and I am a businessman." But Zhang Zhidong thinks that he is "managed by eight appearances", and he is a talent in the world, and he hates what others say the most. He is a "scholar".Yuan Shikai found it easy to bear sarcasm, but difficult to provoke. Zai Ze said this in front of Zhang Zhidong, with vicious intentions, so he couldn't help but get angry, and decided to retaliate with him.

"That's right! At this time, at that time!" He blurted out: "I think that in Gengzi's year, the princes of Gungun were walking with their retinues; King Qing and Li Jue were in a dangerous situation, dealing with foreigners painstakingly; Zhongtang and Liu Zhongcheng worked together to maintain the upper and lower reaches of the Yangtze River and protect the southeast; Bucai was in Shandong, on the one hand defending against boxers, and on the other hand supporting Gyeonggi. At this time, the barbarian situation was unpredictable, and the timing was changing rapidly. I just hope someone has money to use, where Why don't you think about reporting to the Ministry first, and you want to report to the Ministry, and you don't know where the Ministry is? Now, if you want to clear up the old case, why don't you first ask the Regent to make an edict, and take the governors at that time, and all of them will be dismissed for investigation!"

"This is also strange!" Zai Ze said with a downcast face, "Yuan Weiting, why are you so frustrated? Could it be that how much money you spent in Beiyang, the court can't even ask?" "Yes, it's best not to ask!" Yuan Shikai replied coldly: "Zegong also used Beiyang's money!" One sentence blocked Zai Ze's face to turn green and white for a while.When Zai Ze went abroad for inspection, he passed through Tianjin, and Yuan Shikai sent generous Cheng Yi, and the filial piety during the New Year and festivals was also in the tens of thousands. "Take others' hands softly, eat others' mouths softly", Zai Ze can't be tough anymore.

"Okay, okay, why bother?" Shixu hurried out to smooth things over: "It's all for business, why should it be so, please think about it in the long run!" "Hmph!" Zai Ze sneered, "This business can't be discussed anymore!" After finishing speaking, he got up and left, even ignoring Yi Kuang. "Ze Gong, Ze Gong!" Shi Xu chased him out to persuade him, Zai Ze strode forward, and stopped when he reached the inner right door. "You tell Yuan Weiting," he said through gritted teeth, "There is him without me!"