The Crybaby Prince is Reborn, Where is the Prince Going?

Chapter 128 Returning the Stolen Goods to the People

More merits than faults...

They knew that the prince was giving them the opportunity to clear away the positions and people they had obtained for others.

They were just connecting people, not directly arranging an official position for him.

As long as it's cut cleanly there won't be any problems!

They had only one thought: rather than let their fellow Taoist die, they would rather let themselves die.

No matter whether they are distant relatives or in-laws, they are all inferior to me!

Otherwise, people who can climb up by their own ability are said to be cruel?

As soon as Jinyou finished speaking, someone crawled to Jinyou's legs, pulled his coarse green robe, and spoke of his surrender in a passionate voice.

"Your Highness, I am willing to do so. I am willing to add to your achievements!"

"This humble official has just done this kind of thing and only received ten gold coins..."

"Ten gold coins???" With a bang, Cui Guangdao's teacup slammed heavily on the table.

What does "ten gold" mean? One gold ounce is worth ten taels of gold. One tael of gold can be exchanged for ten taels of silver, and one tael of silver can be exchanged for 1,200 copper coins. One tael of gold is enough to buy over a thousand kilograms of rice and flour, enough to feed a family of four for more than a year.

And in just one year, he was able to earn a hundred years of food for others just by selling official positions to others!

How could Cui Guangdao not be angry?

"Serve the people! Is this how you serve as officials? I see you've been in the capital for so long that you've all started to forget your roots!"

"I dare not!" The official who was pulling Jinyou's robe lowered his head and shrank his body.

It's a pity that he has a round body, and when he shrinks like this, he looks like an oversized meatball.

Jinyou turned his eyes away silently.

When Cui Guangdao saw him shrinking in fear, he immediately glared at him, slammed the table, stood up, pointed at him and cursed.

"You know the harvest wasn't good this year, and the Emperor has increased taxes by 10%. Many people might not even have enough to eat for the New Year. And what about you? You're selling an official position for ten gold coins a year! How many people's food is that? Look at your fat head and big ears, your body trembles when you stand up! I suspect you're exploiting the people!"

"Ah! I didn't do that!" The fat official was so anxious that he stabbed his head to the ground. "Master Cui, please don't wrongly accuse me! We are all following the prince. Who would dare to do such a thing if the prince ordered it? If you don't believe me, I..."

He gritted his teeth and said, "I will voluntarily use this stolen silver for the people's livelihood! I will also voluntarily add one gold coin to show my sincerity!"

"Oh? Lord Xu truly cares about the people. Then I, on behalf of the people, would like to thank Lord Xu first!"

As he said this, he bowed to Xu Jinlun.

How could Xu Jinlun dare to accept his greeting? He said, "I don't deserve it, but I have to do it." He moved his body to avoid him.

"Since Lord Xu cares so deeply about the people, I, the prince, should fulfill your wish. Lord Xu has been a minister for too long. If this matter is accomplished, it will be a great achievement."

Xu Jinlun's eyes widened. This, this, this... there's even a reward! What a pleasant surprise!

"I thank the prince for his cultivation!"

This bow was sincere and heartfelt.

"As for buying and selling official positions...?"

Before Jinyou could finish, Xu Jinlun interrupted him, "I will write this down to Your Highness right now, and I will definitely cut off all ties with them!"

And never let anyone catch you!

"Well, you're fine." Jinyou tapped the table, his eyes scanning the faces of the kneeling officials. "How about you?"

"I wish to be like Minister Xu!"

"Alright!" Jinyou stood up, a look of pride on his face. "You are all trusted ministers of the court. Before leaving the capital, my father also told me to learn from you. Since you all want to donate money to help the people, I will also do my bit. I will donate thirty gold coins from my own name to the poor people in the name of the Prince Regent's Palace."

As soon as these words were spoken, there was a burst of applause, "The prince is righteous."

Jinyou curled his lips slightly, and Cui Guangdao looked at him and nodded secretly.

I have to say that Jinyou is very good, He Qianzhao did not choose the wrong person.

If we only ask these people to "donate" dirty silver, I'm afraid that half of their people will lose their enthusiasm.

After all, in just one or two years, most of the money they collected had already been spent, and returning the stolen money would have to come from their own family funds.

Ten gold coins are not a lot and will not affect their foundation, but it will still cause some resentment.

But Jinyou was innocent and took the lead in donating money out of his own pocket, which was able to dispel the resentment in their hearts.

It also invisibly brings people closer.

Cui Guangdao smiled, "Your Highness offered thirty gold. Your Highness is magnanimous, and I cannot show weakness. So, I will offer eight gold."

With Master Cui speaking first, those officials who had been thinking about it earlier but had not made any mistakes also followed suit and donated some money.

More than a dozen people each contributed at least five gold coins.

Even Ji Shuxiao paid for hardware for his adoptive father, a poor and stubborn old man.

Until Xiao Mingcheng, who had been acting as a spectator, spoke up, "I will pay twenty gold coins."

This caused another round of compliments from everyone.

Xiao Mingcheng just smiled. It was only two thousand taels of silver, which was just a drop in the bucket for him.

There were a pile of imperial gifts in his house, which could not be sold or given away, and were an eyesore if kept in the warehouse.

It would be better to exchange all the gold and silver and donate them. It would be considered as a good deed done by the son for his father.

"Alright, I will accept your kindness on behalf of the people. I will not let you suffer any loss. I will record it truthfully and have Your Highness submit a memorial."

Someone with a keen eye had already noticed something was amiss and asked tentatively, "Does the prince mean to ask everyone to contribute a little?"

Jin You nodded. "The autumn harvest this year was already bad, and now it's snowing early. I'm afraid many people won't survive the winter. This prince also wants to prevent a frost disaster. If a frost disaster occurs, I'm afraid many people will die."

This prince will arrange for people to convert your donations into the corresponding items for cold-weather survival. Your Highness will then nominate the Ministry of Revenue to make the arrangements."

Xu Jinlun was thrilled. He was the Minister of Revenue. The prince was clearly telling him that this mission would definitely fall on him!

He immediately bowed his head again, "This humble official understands! This humble official will never let down the prince's kindness in cultivating you!"

What's more, this is a good job. You don't have to put in much effort and you can just sit back and wait for promotion and salary increase.

He was still thinking happily, but Jinyou clapped his hands, "Alright, everyone, please take a seat. As long as you follow this prince's arrangements, not only will you be able to keep your official positions, you may even have the hope of..."

Jinyou pointed his finger towards the sky, and everyone understood that they could go higher, and even going all the way up was not a dream!

Everyone breathed rapidly, and before they could stand firmly, they knelt down again, "We thank His Highness the Crown Prince!!!"

"We are all family, why are you all so polite?"

These people are happy to accept two slaps and half a sweet date.

Jinyou knew that they could only follow He Qianzhao's current situation. If anyone of them betrayed him, they would face the confiscation of their clan and property.

After all, Emperor Xuan had long regarded them as fat sheep to be slaughtered, and falling into the tiger's mouth would only speed up their death.

Jinyou knew this very well, so he could easily win people over. They were obedient and wouldn't resist.

"Now, I would like to trouble all those involved in the sale of official positions to follow Master Xiao Ji and register their names for a clear record."

"Yes..."

In an instant, Ji Shuxiao took away at least ten people, and the back room was empty, leaving only Xiao Mingcheng, Cui Guangdao and two people whose names Jin You couldn't remember.

"Alright, now that there are no strangers around, what else do you want to tell me, Prince?"

Jinyou just smiled without saying anything and bowed to the four people first.

Two people whose names could not be added were the first to move away and did not accept the gift.

Xiao Mingcheng said: "Jinyou, just speak frankly."

Jinyou was a little hesitant as he looked at the two strangers.

It seemed that He Qianzhao had never told him about this.

As if noticing Jinyou's hesitation, Xiao Mingcheng spoke up, "They are both from this palace. The one on the left is Wei Sinan, the Junior Secretary of the Honglu Temple, and the one on the right is Situ Long, the Chief Academician of the Imperial College."

The two of them bowed to Jinyou as a greeting.

"Okay, since you trust me, I'll tell you straight." In front of familiar people, Jinyou rarely puts on airs like a prince, not to mention that the two people in front of him are his elders.

Jinyou paused and said, "It's not a big deal. It's my personal matter."