“Don’t you think it would be good if someone else took Tang Ke’s place?”
After pouring himself a cup of wine and draining it in one gulp, Han Mo spoke again.
“But he is, after all, the Grand Transport Commissioner sent by the imperial court to Hebei Circuit. At this time, we don’t have any evidence of his crimes. To change generals on the eve of battle…”
Hearing Han Mo’s words, Zhong Yanchong’s brows immediately furrowed.
“Let’s calculate the dates. Isn’t it almost Tianning Festival?”
Han Mo did not answer his question, changing the subject and asking directly.
“What about Tianning Festival?”
Zhong Yanchong looked at Han Mo with some confusion, unable to understand what connection Tianning Festival had with Tang Ke.
“This year’s Tianning Festival is different from previous years!”
Han Mo smiled and said casually.
“What’s different?”
The so-called Tianning Festival was the birthday of Emperor Huizong, Zhao Ji.
Although the origin of this festival was indeed absurd, it did not prevent the Song people from liking it.
Especially the officials of the imperial court!
“Of course there’s a difference. In previous years, although the imperial court’s finances were tight, the rewards given to officials and the Imperial Guards were not a problem. But this year is different…”
“What exactly are you planning? Just tell me directly. Is it interesting for you to be so cryptic?”
Seeing Han Mo beating around the bush, Zhong Yanchong finally became a little impatient.
“Why are you in such a hurry? Aren’t I about to tell you? According to my calculations, as long as everything goes smoothly in Bianliang, Bai Shizhong will likely not escape this time, and the position of Minister of Personnel will be vacant…”
Han Mo smiled mysteriously and continued.
“There is no Vice Minister in the Ministry of Personnel. Prince Yun will not let go of the position of Minister of Personnel, and Cai You will not let go either!”
Although when the Yuanfeng reforms were implemented, the position of Minister of Personnel was temporarily demoted to an honorary title.
However, after the Yuanfeng reforms, this position once again changed from an honorary title to an actual administrative post.
A Minister of Personnel is in charge of the promotion, transfer, and assessment of all officials in the empire.
It can be said that this position is truly one that one would not exchange even for a chancellorship.
Cai Jing was able to have such great influence precisely because he always firmly held this position.
The Ministers of Personnel and Vice Ministers of Personnel in previous dynasties before his downfall were all his confidantes!
This was also one of the most valuable positions inherited by Cai You from Cai Jing.
It was precisely because of this position that he was able to win over and divide a large number of low- and middle-level officials.
Once this position was lost, Cai You’s power would likely disintegrate quickly.
“You are right. Then, in your opinion, who can he have to take over this position at this time?”
Inspired by Han Mo, Zhong Yanchong suddenly understood his intentions.
“Then it must be Cai Juhou!”
After pondering for a moment, Zhong Yanchong said.
“That’s right, unless he personally takes over this position, he can only let Cai Juhou take it!”
Han Mo smiled and said, using this as an excuse.
“If that’s the case, then the position of Vice Minister of Revenue currently held by Cai Juhou will be vacant…”
Zhong Yanchong instantly understood Han Mo’s entire plan.
Regardless of whether the upcoming war would be fought or not, the imperial court’s budget this year was truly extremely tight.
If it weren’t for Han Mo’s mischievous idea, which directly implicated all the corrupt officials in the entire Hebei Circuit, the imperial court would probably not even be able to raise the military expenses for the northern expedition this time.
Even if the Ministry of Revenue had some reserves, it would likely all be swallowed by the bottomless pit of Genyue.
In this case, where would the rewards for this year’s Tianning Festival and the emperor’s holiday expenses come from…
This kind of thing always required someone to take the blame. Based on past experience, the responsibility would likely fall on a Vice Minister of Revenue.
But at this very moment, Cai Juhou, the Vice Minister of Revenue, was suddenly promoted…
If at this time someone gave Tang Ke a push, directly putting him in his current position, then things would become interesting.
The Ministry of Revenue had always been the territory of Prince Yun and Wang Fu. Neither Wang Fu nor Prince Yun would let go of this opportunity to offer a scapegoat…
After figuring all this out, Zhong Yanchong almost burst into laughter.
It was estimated that Master Tang never dreamed that the first thing he would do as Vice Minister of Revenue would be to take the blame.
According to past experience, the best way to solve this problem was to issue IOUs.
To borrow money from the wealthy merchants and magnates in Bianliang.
If such a thing happened during the reign of Emperor Zhezong, or even earlier, it would definitely not be a problem.
As long as he, the Vice Minister of Revenue, asked, there would be plenty of merchants eager to use this opportunity to get acquainted with him.
After all, with the guarantee of the imperial court’s credibility, borrowing money was not a big deal.
But the problem was that the imperial court’s credit had already been thoroughly ruined by Cai Jing.
When Cai Jing reformed the salt certificates, all the merchants involved with salt ultimately suffered losses.
Not only was the money they lent to the imperial court gone, but their own assets also turned into waste paper.
Subsequently, when repaying the imperial court’s arrears, Cai Jing played another trick.
He took several hundred carts of old sesame and rotten grains from the imperial granaries, which were tribute from various vassal states over the years, and used them to offset a debt of five million guan.
To deceive those merchants, Cai Jing even specifically allowed them to take a portion back for trial sales.
As a result, as soon as those merchants left, he directly found a group of confidantes and bought those junk in large quantities in the market.
After those merchants happily took over all the junk.
Cai Jing, being very cunning, made them all sign documents guaranteeing that there would be no further entanglement between the two parties.
As a prime minister, those merchants would naturally not have any doubts. However, after they signed the documents, those proxies sent by Cai Jing suddenly disappeared.
By the time those merchants realized what had happened, let alone the Kaifeng Prefecture, even the officials in the Censorate could only help them with regret…
With such examples, who would dare to lend money to the Ministry of Revenue again if they weren’t crazy?
Therefore, Han Mo’s move was truly poisonous!
It should be known that this money was to be used for Tianning Festival!
If this money could not be raised, Tang Ke’s official career would be completely over for the rest of his life…