Chapter 26: Into a Political Intrigue Novel, Day 4

Chapter 26: The Fourth Day of Transmigrating into a Political Intrigue Novel

An Yi walked around the desk and sat down, but did not rush to deal with the paperwork.

He looked at Cui Wenyuan, his gaze calm: "Wenyuan, what is it?"

Cui Wenyuan stepped forward, speaking quickly, a worried look on his face: "My lord, just before you returned to the office, the Ministry of War sent word that... after the Young Marquis Ge returned to the capital, he immediately demanded copies of all ledgers from the Ministry of Revenue's Fiscal Planning Department for the past three years!"

"Especially the parts about the Jiangnan water transport and last year's northern border military supplies!"

Just as he expected!

As expected, Ge Lian was following the original novel to the letter.

The Ministry of War directly demanding core account books from the Ministry of Revenue was in itself a blatant overreach of its authority, and under normal circumstances, it would be impossible.

But given Ge Lian's status and his current responsibility for reorganizing the border army's logistics, it was barely justifiable.

Most importantly, there must be an inside collaborator within the Ministry of Revenue, allowing him to force a crack open!

He was blatantly trying to find a breakthrough in Wang Xian's accounts!

The Jiangnan water transport, the lifeline of the nation, was a source of immense profit; the northern border military supplies, enormous and hard to track... these were exactly the key areas where Wang Xian, that greedy rat, had been skimming and gobbling up without mercy!

"Where is Wang Xian?" An Yi picked up the warm tea already prepared on the desk, blew on the tea to cool it, his tone unreadable.

"Director Wang..." Cui Wenyuan looked embarrassed: "I sent someone to look for him, but they said... last night he was wining and dining some grain merchants from Jiangnan at the 'Drunken Immortal Pavilion,' drank a bit too much, and right now… probably still in bed."

"I see." An Yi's reaction remained calm, not even raising an eyebrow. He took a light sip of tea, letting the slightly bitter with a sweet aftertaste spread on his tongue.

This Wang Xian, about to die and doesn't even know it, continues to indulge in booze, women, and money, living a drunken, dreamlike existence!

Cui Wenyuan carefully observed An Yi's expression and continued: "My lord, the Young Marquis Ge is coming in hot, directly targeting Wang Xian. It seems he wants to make you look bad."

"How should we... respond?"

"No rush." An Yi set down the teacup, making a crisp clink against the tray that was especially clear in the quiet room.

He looked up at Cui Wenyuan, a faint, almost imperceptible smile on his lips: "First, send some capable men to 'invite' our lord Wang, who is still drunk in his pleasure den, to come here."

"Use cold water to wake him if necessary, or carry him over! Let him take a good, hard look at what a disaster this mess of accounts he left behind has caused!"

"Wenyuan," An Yi's voice suddenly turned serious and heavy: "Ge Lian wants to move against Wang Xian—that's as plain as the nose on your face."

"If we rush to cover it up, it will make us look guilty and give people ammunition to criticize us. Ge Lian is waiting for us to panic. Right?"

Cui Wenyuan was momentarily at a loss, sweat beading on his forehead: "I'm... stupid."

An Yi said nothing, just raised his hand and waved dismissively.

Cui Wenyuan hurriedly took his leave, and the office was left with only An Yi.

He ignored the mountain of documents on the desk, but instead looked down at his own long fingers lightly tapping on the smooth rosewood desktop, producing a soft, rhythmic tapping.

The cool, curling scent of mint seemed unable to dispel the heavy atmosphere. He was waiting, waiting for an opportunity that would spark his "anger."

About half an hour later, a racket came from outside the door. Heavy, stumbling footsteps mixed with labored breathing and intermittent, slurred muttering and cursing.

"My lord, Director Wang has been brought." Cui Wenyuan's voice sounded from outside the door.

"Enter." An Yi's voice was calm and unruffled.

The door pushed open, and an intense smell of alcohol mixed with perfume instantly overwhelmed the mint, making the air nauseating.

Two strong clerks were half-carrying, half-dragging a man inside. The one dragged was none other than Wang Xian, Director of the Fiscal Planning Department.

His rumpled dark-blue official robe was stained with questionable stains, his belt askew, and his official hat crooked, revealing disheveled hair and a swollen, sallow face showing clear signs of a hangover.

He seemed not fully awake, his gaze unfocused, his steps unsteady, and only the support of the men on either side kept him from collapsing to the ground.

Clearly, Cui Wenyuan had strictly carried out An Yi's order, waking him in the most "effective" way.

The office was not only occupied by An Yi and Cui Wenyuan. The few trusted aides who had been waiting outside were now also inside, standing at attention.

Seeing Wang Xian in such a disgraceful state, their faces showed a mix of shock, contempt, and worry.

An Yi's gaze pierced Wang Xian like an icicle. The gentle and composed facade was replaced in that moment by a dark, stormy severity.

Jolted by the icy glare, Wang Xian's muddled mind seemed to clear slightly. He struggled to stand upright, muttering hoarsely:

"Your... your subordinate... greets... Lord Minister... Minister..." His voice was raspy, like a broken gong.

An Yi did not respond.

He slowly stood up, the hem of his red official robe brushing the corner of the desk, causing the fabric to ripple slightly.

He walked around the huge desk, step by step, toward Wang Xian.

The soles of his boots landed on the polished brick floor, making dull, clear "thud, thud" sounds, each step seeming to tread on the taut nerves of everyone present.

A cup of hot tea was unexpectedly splashed onto Wang Xian's swollen face!

Just as he was about to flare up, his muddled mind finally grasped the current situation, the drunkenness fading somewhat. His face turned from sallow to deathly pale, and his body trembled like a leaf.

An Yi stood before him, looking down, his gaze like a knife.

"Wang Xian." His voice was low: "You have quite the nerve!"

"Bang!" A loud crash!

An Yi suddenly slammed his palm onto a nearby small table holding documents!

The teacup and brush holder on the table jumped up, splashing tea all over the ground.

Quickly, An Yi moved his hand behind his back, and under the cover of his wide sleeve, his fingertips curled and trembled uncontrollably.

Damn... that hurt!

This table was too hard! Showing off comes with risks, and slamming the table requires caution!!

He gripped his burning palm tightly, a flash of anger appearing on his face: "The Jiangnan water transport! The northern border military supplies!"

An Yi's voice suddenly rose, each word carrying overwhelming fury that seemed to shake the beams: "Those accounts! Those deficits! Do you really think I am blind! Deaf! To be toyed with by you?!"