After stabilizing the situation in the White Jade Mulberry Forest, it was time to deal with another matter of utmost importance.
Not long after Song Ankang arrived at the accounting office, he received a piece of news that left him utterly stunned.
"How much?"
Song Ankang stared at the accountant Tang Yelan had sent over and asked in disbelief. Chunhua and Qiushi beside him also widened their beautiful eyes, scarcely daring to believe their ears.
"According to preliminary estimates, over the past eight-plus years, Tang Quanli has embezzled more than one million four hundred thousand taels of silver from the White Jade Mulberry Forest through withholding wages, falsifying account books, misappropriating public funds..." The mustached accountant spoke with certainty. "And I can guarantee that the true figure is definitely above one million four hundred thousand taels of silver. It cannot be any lower."
One tael of silver in the Xia Kingdom was equivalent to roughly fifteen hundred on Earth. One million four hundred thousand taels of silver was therefore worth over two billion.
Song Ankang could not help asking, "According to the account books, what is the White Jade Mulberry Forest's annual net profit?"
"About one million two hundred thousand taels of silver." The mustached accountant answered firmly.
Song Ankang sucked in a cold breath. "In other words, Tang Quanli embezzled more than a year's worth of the White Jade Mulberry Forest's net profits in barely eight years."
"Exactly!" The mustached accountant nodded. "The eldest miss's prediction was indeed correct. Before sending us here, based on the information gathered over the past few days, she had already calculated that Tang Quanli had embezzled around one million five hundred thousand taels of silver over the past eight-plus years. We had been somewhat doubtful at the time, but it seems the eldest