I

  Chapter 537 534 [A group of good officials who were cheated]

  Nanjing, Forbidden City, Yingmin Hall.

  Plum and Zhuyou were uneasy, and looked at the emperor from time to time, but did not see the emperor getting angry.

  After reading their investigation report, the emperor didn't say a word, but looked outside the palace in a daze. It was so calm, without a single sound, like the night before a storm.

  Finally, Zhao Han withdrew his gaze and stopped staring at the open space in front of the hall.

  Zhao Han asked: "How many reliable policemen in Quzhou Fucheng, including court officials?"

  Mei Zhuyou said: "Report to Your Majesty, I'm afraid I can't figure this out."

Zhao Han sighed and said, "Oh, you don't need to go to Hangzhou to recruit officials, you recruit peasants and soldiers on the spot in Quzhou Prefecture. Don't make secret investigations, arrest people directly and interrogate them separately. After the clues have been interrogated, I will let Xiao Huan personally decide the case. "

   "Follow the order!"

  Plum and Zhuyou don’t know whether to be excited or afraid.

  Integrity officials inspect places, usually with the cooperation of local officials. This is the first time that peasants and soldiers have been directly recruited locally to handle affairs. It is obvious that the emperor no longer trusts Quzhou officials.

  Plum and Zhuyou left the Forbidden City and rushed back to Quzhou by fast boat.

  Zhao Han asked Ding Shijing, who was writing notes on daily life, "Are any of your clan members serving as officials?"

  Ding Shijing didn't know the details of the case, only guessed that there must be a big case. He put down his writing brush and said, "Your Majesty, although I was born in a poor family and was treated with cold eyes when I was young, after becoming an official, some members of the clan also appeared. One clan uncle is serving as county magistrate, and another clan brother is serving as county magistrate."

  Zhao Han asked again: "If you become a minister someday, will your clan uncles and brothers use your cover to do evil in the local area?"

"This..." Ding Shijing thought carefully, and finally said, "Uncle Chenna's family is upright and rigorous, and he will definitely not act like this. But brother Chenna's clan is quite face-saving, and his personality is out of character. Corruption and perverting the law will also publicize the relationship with ministers everywhere."

  Zhao Han asked: "If your clan brother did evil, and did it in your name, how should you be punished?"

"This... this..." Ding Shijing had already guessed that the family members of a certain important official had broken the law. How could he dare to speak nonsense, he could only ambiguously say, "The official lives in Nanjing and has no contact with his clan for a long time. The clan uses the name of the minister as evil, I really don’t know about it, and if I get severely punished because of this, I must feel very wronged. But the state has state laws, and if it is really implicated by the clansmen, I have nothing to say."

  Zhao Han turned to Li Xiangjun and said, "Call Xiao Huan here."

  Li Xiangjun left Yingmin Hall and sent a female official to deliver the message.

   About an hour later, Xiao Huan rushed over, cupped his hands and said, "Kowtow to Your Majesty."

  Zhao Han pointed to the investigation report of the anti-corruption officer: "You can read it yourself."

  Xiao Huan took the report back and sat down to read it carefully. The more he read it, the more frightened he became.

  In terms of the facts of the case alone, the case in Henan last year was even worse. The entire province’s grain transfer system was almost broken, and the amount of money and food involved was astronomical.

  However, the thunderstorm in Quzhou prefecture firstly implicated several central government officials, and secondly involved occupation of land for mining.

  In the new dynasty of Datong, the land has always been a red line, and anyone who dares to step over half a foot will die.

  Zhao Han said: "I can trust Li Aiqing (Li Banghua). He must have been ignorant and used by his tribe. What is your impression of Zheng Tongfu?"

Xiao Huan replied: "Zheng Tongfu is a capable official and extremely diligent. He has not returned to his hometown for several years and has been an official in the capital. In the Ministry of Industry, he came the earliest every day until He will only leave when it is dark. There is no mistake or omission in the projects he has handled. He is usually on vacation, either resting at home or going to the Wenhua Palace to borrow books. He has never been to the Qinhuai River, and he has never participated in any literary meetings. He can be called a role model for officials. I forgive you bluntly, Zheng Tongfu...It's really a pity to meet such bad parents."

"That's why I'm so sad," Zhao Han said with a sad and angry expression on his face, "Zheng Tongfu is hardworking, capable, honest, and an insurgent scholar. Such a perfect official will surely become an official within ten years." Shang Shu, I will personally promote him to be Shang Shu. What kind of father is this? Is there anyone who deceives his son? His father even said that the surname of Tianxia is Zhao, and the surname of Quzhou is Zheng. Does the Zheng family want to rebel! "

  Xiao Huan was silent.

  Zhao Han asked again: "Where is Liu Anfeng?"

  Xiao Huan said: "Liu Anfeng is a close friend of Chen Shangshu (Chen Maosheng)."

  Chen Maosheng's best friend, this is not an answer, but it is better than an answer.

  Chen Maosheng is a staunch revolutionary, has never changed, has always been so pure, and has offended many colleagues in recent years.

  Manchu civil and military, only Liu Anfeng can become close friends with Chen Maosheng, one can imagine what kind of person Liu Anfeng is.

   Zhao Han suddenly said: "Go to the Ministry of Officials and look for the file of that Liu Anyong!"

  The next day, Xiao Huan came back to his life.

Xiao Huan said: "Your Majesty, I have not only checked the files of the Ministry of Officials, but also inquired about it. Liu Anfeng was born in a poor family, but Liu Anyong was born in a wealthy family. Although the two are brothers, they are separated by three villages. It was after Liu Anfeng became famous. , then Liu Anyong came to seek relatives."

  After hearing this, Zhao Han felt a little better, at least the central officials are fine.

  But just because the senior members of the Central Committee are fine, it doesn’t mean that their relatives are fine. Just like this Liu Anyong, who can come out to marry three villages away. Which important minister is not a lot of relatives?

  Zhao Han said: "The case of Quzhou is handled by the Metropolitan Procuratorate according to the rules. As for the ministers of the central government, I will personally decide and leave it to the court meeting in three days. You, make arrangements!"

  Three days later, morning court.

   All the ministers sat in the hall with relaxed and happy expressions, waiting to chat with the emperor.

   They are used to the court meeting three times a month, and each time there is a special topic. In the first few times, they were talking about Europe and America, which really broadened the horizons of the ministers.

   Later, I talked about the benefits of opening the sea and summarized the disadvantages of the Ming Dynasty's sea ban.

  Then talk about the tax policies of the past dynasties, and inform the issues in advance, so that officials can go home and read the history books.

  The good morning court was actually turned into a banquet by Zhao Han.

  What are you going to talk about today?

  Everyone is looking forward to it, because every court meeting, there are always officials who are praised by the emperor.

  Zhao Han said: "Today we will talk about corruption. Corruption among officials is not uncommon. This is the beginning of corruption in official governance. If corruption is not properly punished, this new dynasty of Datong will sooner or later become like the previous one."

   "What Your Majesty said is true!" All the officials agreed.

  Zhao Han directly called the name: "Mr. Li Ge, what do you think about corruption?"

  Li Banghua said: "Severe punishment will never forgive!"

  Zhao Han said: "If... I mean if, Li Ge's relatives committed evil and perverted the law, how should we deal with it?"

  Li Banghua said: "You should be beheaded, you should be imprisoned, and you will never show favoritism!"

  Zhao Han asked again: "What if the relatives of Li Gelao's family, using Li Gelao's name, are so frightened that the local officials don't care about it, or even join forces?"

Li Banghua frowned and said: "This... If the minister knows, but ignores it, it is a crime of connivance. If the minister does not know, then he should punish his salary and self-examination, and only punish the relatives of the minister according to the law. The minister is not speaking for himself, It is the officials of the court, it is inevitable that some family members commit crimes in the local area. As long as the person does not know, he should not be punished severely, otherwise the officials of the court will put everyone in danger."

   "How to judge, whether Li Ge always knew about it or not?" Zhao Han asked.

  Li Banghua was speechless.

  Zhao Han pointed at Xiao Huan: "You tell me!"

Under the puzzled eyes of all the ministers, Xiao Huan stood up slowly, cupped his hands and said: "Liu Anyong, the governor of Quzhou, and Zheng Hongyi, a wealthy businessman in Quzhou, colluded with each other. The six murders committed by members of the Zheng clan were all covered up. The murderer is at large. The Zheng family colluded with the government, cut corners when building embankments, and deducted workers' wages for a long time. The Zheng family bullied the market, colluded with village and town officials, corrupted the local peasant association, and exploited and oppressed the people. It also raised thugs. It is suspected that a murder case is underway. During the investigation, there were dozens of cases of wounding people. The Zheng family’s mines were operating across the border, occupying people’s fields to start mining..."

   Zheng Tongfu, a doctor from the Ministry of Industry, was already dumbfounded.

  He has been an official in Nanjing for several years and has never returned to his hometown. Why did his family do such a thing?

  Xiao Huan was still saying: "Zheng Hongyi has a son, Zheng Tongfu, who is the doctor of the Ministry of Industry and Repairs. He has another son, who is the nephew and grandson-in-law of the cabinet minister Li Banghua..."

  As soon as this remark came out, the whole court was in an uproar, and Li Banghua was actually involved.

Xiao Huan said: "Zheng Hongyi said that the surname of the world is Zhao, and the surname of Quzhou is Zheng. He also said that he led the horse for the emperor. As long as he does not rebel, officials at all levels can't control him. He also said that he and Li Ge are always in-laws. Fu also has to give three points."

   Li Banghua trembled slightly all over. He was outraged that someone actually pulled his tiger skin.

  Xiao Huan said: "Liu Anyong, the governor of Quzhou Prefecture, is the brother of Liu Anfeng, the Minister of the Household Department. He also secretly accepts Zheng Hongyi's niece from the concubine clan as a concubine, and it is suspected that he has a dividend in Zheng's mine..."

Finally Liu Anfeng couldn't sit still anymore, stood up abruptly and said: "Your Majesty, Liu Anyong is indeed the brother of the minister and a fellow from the same town. But our two families are almost out of business. The minister was poor when he was young. , did not get help from the clansmen, but received all the cold eyes of the clansmen. After the minister became an official, the clansman came to cling to him. The minister restrained the family, not to be involved with the same clan, and not to favor the same clan. Then Liu Anyong should really be killed, but with The minister has nothing to do with it. The minister is innocent, and there is no room for this stain..."

   As he spoke, Liu Anfeng took off his official hat, knelt down and kowtowed: "I request you to resign and return home!"

   There was dead silence in the hall, and the Hubu Shangshu unexpectedly resigned.

  Chen Maosheng stood up and bowed: "Your Majesty, I guarantee with my life that Liu Shangshu will never condone the tribe."

   Li Banghua sighed, took off his official hat and knelt down: "I invite you to be an official!"

   Yes, things have exploded, and the cabinet secretary will also resign.

  Zhao Han half-closed his eyes and said angrily, "Are you threatening me?"

   "Dare not!"

  Li Banghua and Liu Anfeng answered in unison.

  Zhao Han asked Xiao Huan: "Has the Quzhou case been verified?"

  Xiao Huan replied: "Basically, it has been verified, and the arrest has been ordered. The charges mentioned by the minister just now are definitely not wrong. After the arrest and interrogation, new cases may be involved."

"Then, without waiting for the case in Quzhou to be concluded, I will personally determine the officials involved in the central government," Zhao Han glanced at the ministers, "Li Banghua, the second minister of the cabinet, is not strict in his family management, and has taken away his titles and appointments." .Retain the secondary assistant position, and pay a three-month fine. If there is any corruption among members of his clan, he will be dismissed immediately and return to his hometown!"

  Xiao Huan was taken aback, and suddenly raised his head to look at the emperor.

   Official Cao, who was recording the content of the court meeting, was also shaking with fright, and a ball of ink was faint on the paper.

   Winning titles, there are not many titles in the Datong New Dynasty, and there are some who are not officials like Zheng Zhilong. Directly winning the title, the punishment is already extremely severe.

   As for the promotion, Li Banghua's promotion is the prince and junior teacher, which is also an extremely honorable title.

   The promotion was also taken away!

  What did Li Banghua do?

  He is a grand-niece of a clan who married Zheng Hongyi's son.

  Li Banghua has lived in Nanjing for several years, and has many nephews in his family. He probably doesn't know about this marriage.

  Xiao Huan really wanted to persuade him, but he didn't dare to persuade him, so he could only sit there in a daze.

  Other officials did not dare to intercede.

  Zhao Han also said: "Liu Anfeng, who is not strict in family management, demoted to one level, and dismissed from the post of Minister of the Household Department. Change it to... what, let the Ministry of Officials arrange it!"

  Liu Anfeng roared angrily: "Your Majesty, please resign! If you are not lax in managing your family, don't be so stigmatized!"

  Zhao Han thought about it carefully: "Okay, you should retire."

   "Thank you, Your Majesty!"

  Liu Anfeng picked up his official hat, returned to his seat and sat down.

  Zhao Han continued: "Zheng Tongfu, demoted to five ranks, transferred to Luzon, and not allowed to return within ten years!"

   This man is totally ruined.

  Ministry of Industry and Construction Division Doctor, although he is only the fifth rank, he is a real position with real power, and his status crushes the magistrate of the fourth rank.

   Moreover, Zheng Tongfu, as the leader of the Youshui Yamen, was honest, capable and diligent, and had long been remembered by the emperor. This kind of person, as long as he lives another twenty years, he will be a minister at worst, and maybe he can be the chief assistant!

   Now he has been demoted to five ranks and thrown to Luzon, plus he is not allowed to return to the court for ten years.

   This is more cruel than killing him directly!

   Zheng Tongfu's soul has been shelled out, like a dead body, and he can't hear what Zhao Han said at all.

  The next day, Zhao Han received the news that Zheng Tongfu committed suicide after returning home.

  (end of this chapter)