The Hanlin scholar came to observe governance; the revenue officials felt a chill in their teeth.
Two officials made their moves; Wei Zi answered with a smile.
As the three stood at an impasse, someone entered the office.
Kou Yuan, the Minister of Revenue, stood at the entrance, two office clerks behind him.
He wore a purple robe beneath a plain cloak, his expression as still as water.
He had naturally come after receiving Wang Cheng's private message, expressly to lend Wei Nisheng his support.
Yet the moment Kou Yuan set one foot inside, his brows furrowed.
Then he instinctively stepped half a pace back and looked up at the plaque above the entrance.
It was indeed the Revenue and Expenditure Bureau.
But why were the Revenue and Expenditure Bureau's vice director and the Ministry of Revenue's director
both bowing before a mere department secretary, looking for all the world like his subordinates?
"I heard the commotion from the duty room next door."
Having considered this, Kou Yuan strode inside.
"What is going on?"
Sun Yuan turned at his voice and hurriedly bowed.
"Grand Secretary Kou, Director Wei is checking the detailed Underlying Accounts from previous years."
"Checking them?"
Kou Yuan walked to the desk, picked up the topmost Underlying Accounts ledger, and leafed through it before setting the correction notes back on the desk.
"Sun Yuan, Yan Ci, you two.
One is vice director of the Revenue and Expenditure Bureau, the other a director of the Ministry of Revenue." Kou Yuan spoke in an even tone.
"What do you make of these discrepancies Director Wei has uncovered?"
"Grand Secretary," Yan Ci hurriedly cupped his hands. "The issues Director Wei has identified are mostly clerical errors and omissions accumulated in the accounts over the years.
We will immediately