"No, no, no ......"

Guo Yigang listened to Yue Su's slightly playful voice, which was simply creepy, and he almost didn't fall down.

"Not really." Yue Su asked with a smile.

"There really isn't, there's really no ......," Guo Yigang said repeatedly.

"Master Guo doesn't need to be so nervous, see your face turn green. Sit down and talk. Yue Su said with a smile.

"Xie, Lord Xie......" Guo Yigang sat down tremblingly.

"I said, Lord Guo, the Ministry has always liked honest people, if Lord Meng had admitted earlier, the Ministry might have been able to save his life for the sake of his initiative to confess, but now he has no chance. It's just that he's still useful, and the head of the ministry is going to put his head around his neck. As for you, the Ministry is just asking. Yue Su still had a smile on his face.

Now Yue Su, the killing machine has appeared. It can be said that this is the last chance for Guo Yigang. Since you want to kill Meng Huade, you Guo Yigang will not be killed. At present, there is an urgent need for silver relief and rebuilding the river embankment, and it is not enough to just point to the hand. If you want to get rich, is it the way to raid your home? Not only that, but also to clean up the atmosphere of Henan officialdom and deter officials from other prefectures and counties.

After all, people have a fluke mentality. Guo Yigang smiled and said: "Where the adults say, how can the last general be like Meng Huade." The last general has always been honest and loyal to the emperor. ”

"Since Master Guo said so, the headquarters is relieved." Yue Su smiled and said lightly: "By the way, you also heard Zhu Xiaobao's confession just now, he said that he wanted to go out of the city, but the soldiers defending the city did not allow it, and he could only pay the money to buy the road." However, this is his one-sided statement, and the Ministry of Finance can't believe it, so I want to ask Master Guo, is there such a thing? ”

"This ......" Guo Yi just wanted to say, 'This is impossible', but as soon as the word "this" came out, he took back the following words. Don't look at him as a military general, but he is not a reckless man, and he also has some eyes. Yue Su can say this, there must be some evidence more or less, and it is not a slap in the face to say that there is no flatly. So, he changed his words and said: "My lord, the general has not heard of this matter, please go to the general to investigate, if there is really such a thing, he will be severely punished, and he will ask for the crime of laxity." ”

Guo Yigang really doesn't know about this, how much money can be collected for so many tolls in the past few days, and Guo still can't look down on it. At the beginning, he also obeyed Yue Su's orders, did not allow the flood of disaster victims, and strictly guarded the city gate. Who would have thought that it was the lower ones who would take the opportunity to do such things.

"Lord Guo can say this, obviously he has a clear conscience, and the headquarters will send someone to investigate this matter." After speaking, Yue Su no longer paid attention to Guo Yigang, and looked at the kneeling crowd.

"Jiao Kuo, you are the general of the garrison yamen, responsible for cooperating with the prefect's yamen and the Qing Military Department to take care of the disaster relief grain and rice. Now Meng Huilong has confessed that she colluded with you inside and outside to smuggle disaster relief food and bribe you with fifty taels of silver. Feng Zhi also confessed to this, can you plead guilty? ”

At this time, can you still deny it? The governor has already mastered everything, and denial is to find a fight, it is better to confess truthfully, and maybe he can be treated leniently. Jiao Kuo kowtowed and said, "Humble confession." ”

"The headquarters is ordered to be sent to inspect Henan, you can go on the horse to manage the army, get off the horse to manage the people, even if you are a military attaché, the headquarters can also be killed. Now that you have confessed your sins, do you know how to proceed? Yue Su asked coldly.

The crime of smuggling disaster relief food is very serious, and the main offender has to raid his house and destroy the door, and the accomplice is the lightest to kill the head. How could Jiao Kuo not know, and said carefully: "I beg the lord to be lenient and spare his life." ”

"This ministry has always enforced the law impartially, and if you commit a capital crime, you will be punished. Unless you, like Feng Zhi, can make meritorious contributions. Yue Su once again used the trick of inducing a confession. He doesn't know what tricks Guo Yigang has now, and the time he missed Meng Ji Rice Shop can be blamed as negligence, and the city gate collects tolls, even if the rule is not strict. When it comes to home, it's a demotion or something. But Yue Su was very angry at him for deliberately returning to protect Meng Ji Mixing, this crime can't handle you, we can find other crimes. You can show favoritism here, which shows that it is not a good thing in normal times.

Jiao Kuo is not a fool, he saw Feng Zhi's matter just now, clearly and clearly. At present, Lord Yue asked him to make meritorious service again, making it clear that he was asking himself to expose his own shortcomings. Especially what the governor said to his own adults just now, who doesn't understand the mystery in it. Isn't that just for you to pick out?

The guillotine is placed in the hall, Jiao Kuo doesn't want to lose his head, he is not a big official anyway, and his friendship with the garrison is not deep, it is better for you to die than me. At that moment, he kowtowed and said, "Go back to your lordship, and ...... your humble duties."

As soon as Jiao Kuo spoke, he couldn't finish his words, when he heard someone on the side shouting: "Lord Governor, there will be something to say in the end." ”

The person who spoke was none other than the garrison Guo Yigang. Yue Su turned his head to look at him and said with a light smile: "Oh? Master Guo, what do you have to say? ”

Guo Yigang hurriedly walked to the front of the stairs and knelt on the ground, "Your Excellency, ......"

"Master Guo, what do you mean by this? I'm going to confuse the ministry, so let's talk about it. Yue Su said deliberately.

"The last general will not dare. The last general is guilty......" Guo Yigang now understands that the governor is clearly inducing confessions and planning to kill himself. How can the officers and soldiers under his command not know about eating empty quotas. As long as Jiao Kuo pokes out, he will definitely be a dead end. Fortunately, Yue Su said it first and took the initiative to admit that he could save his life. For example, like Meng Huade, his house was raided by the governor, and after the evidence of the crime was confirmed, there was no chance at all.

Yue Su saw that he knew each other, and said with a smile: "Lord Guo, what are your sins, tell them and tell them to the main department." ”

"Back to my lordship, the last general...... The last general reported that the number of men and horses in the military department was 3,000, but in fact there were only 2,000, and the quota of 1,000 people was eaten. However, the last general never deducted the soldiers' salaries, as the soldiers and horses of the whole city can testify. I also hope that the adults will be lightly dismissed and leave the official's life. Guo Yigang said with a bitter face.

It is already a common phenomenon for imperial court generals to eat empty quotas, and there are also many people who deduct military salaries and drink soldiers' blood, and the low combat effectiveness of officers and soldiers in the late Ming Dynasty has a lot to do with this. Guo Yigang just ate empty quotas and did not deduct military salaries, and he was already a relatively honest general in the Ming Dynasty.

Yue Su nodded and said, "Jiao Kuo, is what your Lord Garrison said true?" ”

"It's true." Jiao Kuo replied.

Yue Su picked up the teacup, took a sip of tea, pondered in his heart how to deal with Jiao Kuo, thought for a moment, and then said, "Lord Guo, how much silver have you made over the years?" ”

"Back to my lord, I can have 20,000 taels." Guo Yigang said truthfully.

After a few years of garrisoning, he only made 20,000 taels of silver, which is very small compared to other generals. Yue Su started from the magistrate, although he was a civilian official, he was also a person who had been on the battlefield. Knowing the market in some troops, a garrison, after a few years, making such a little money, and being known by peers, are all going to be laughed at.

"According to the laws of the imperial court, you are enough to commit a capital crime, but the Ministry of Justice, if you take the initiative to admit it, and make meritorious contributions to the case of encircling and suppressing the Dragon Slaying Gang, you will be spared death. But if you eat the money you have taken out of the money, you must hand it over in full and give it to the victims. Don't do this garrison, go back to your hometown and farm. Yue Su said indifferently.

"Thank you for not killing." Guo Yigang snorted heavily. He already felt fortunate to be able to keep his head in front of this Yama king.

Indeed, Guo Yigang should rejoice, especially when he heard Yue Su's next order.

"Tong Zhou, you immediately take Meng Huade's confession and go to get someone according to the name of the person on the confession. Anyone who is in the Huaiqing Mansion will be escorted to the hall today, and an order will be sent to the general manager of the garrison yamen to see me in Xingyuan immediately. Yang Yishan, immediately Xingwen Huaiqing's counties, three days to the line. By the way, I will write a letter to Henan Buzheng and Henan General Army, and ask them to come here to see me quickly, I have something important to discuss with them. ”

On top of Meng Huade's confession, there are Huaiqing's officials, gentry, and bullies, although Tong Zhou does not know him, but there are local people who are willing to take the initiative to act as guides and take people door to door. Anyone who was taken away was all trembling, no matter how to say it, there was a lot of trouble in Meng Ji Mixing today, and some people have heard that Meng Huade and Meng Huilong are going to be unlucky.

When officials of all sizes, such as Tongzhi, Tuiguan, Tongju, and President Qian, and a group of local tyrants and bullies came to Xingyuan one after another, when they saw Meng Huade and Guo Yigang kneeling on the ground, they were even more dumbfounded, and they were all shocked in their hearts, and they were all uneasy.

All those who have official positions enter the hall and stand, and those who do not have official positions wait outside the door. It was about the time of Shen that Tong Xuan went to the court to report, and all the people on the list had been brought.

Yue Su was calm, with a smile on his face, and said, "Since everyone is here, let's start." Yang Yishan, you read Meng Huade's confession to everyone. ”

"The students obeyed." At that moment, Yang Yishan read Meng Huade's confession aloud, all it said was about bribes offered by officials and bullies, and after hearing this, there was the cowardly one, who immediately knelt down and trembled.

Yue Su said with a smile: "This is Meng Huade's confession, the content on it has more or less something to do with you, and the Ministry of Medicine didn't have time to verify them one by one, so I called you all over." If there is indeed something wrong, take the initiative to admit it, and the ministry can be punished lightly. If there is no such thing, just talk to the ministry, and the ministry will send someone to investigate thoroughly. If it is found to be wronged, the ministry will severely punish Meng Huade, and it will not be wronged, then I'm sorry, the ministry holds the sword of Shang Fang, and asks questions on behalf of the Son of Heaven, and deceiving the ministry is like deceiving the emperor, and it will be punished as the crime of defrauding the king! Do you understand? ”

"I understand......" The voices of the people below replied obviously weakly. Therein lies panic.

"It's good to hear it. Those who think they are wronged will all stand at the forefront of the ministry and the court, and those who admit it will stay put. Yue Su said coldly.

Meng Huade already knew that he was going to die, and there was nothing obscure about his confession, all of which were the truth. There are a number of people below, and now they deny it, which is equivalent to looking for death, who dares to stand up. Anyway, there are so many people standing around me, and it is inevitable to have the mentality that the law does not blame the public.

Yue Su waited for a while, and when he saw that no one came forward, he laughed loudly and said, "You guys are also honest." Why he bribed Meng Huade, and where did the money that bribed him come from, let's do it one by one. After Yue Su finished speaking, he pointed to Huaiqing Tongzhi, "You say it first." ”

Where did the bribe money come from, it goes without saying that in addition to the people's fat and people's ointment, it was the local tyrants and bullies who bribed them. Huaiqing knows the same thing, and there is no other explanation, so he can't say that it fell from the sky, so he has to confess truthfully. Of course, it is necessary to say that the proceeds of corruption are a little smaller, originally 10,000, at least halved.

Yue Su didn't care much about them, he just asked them to tell them one by one, and after they had all explained, they would sign and draw the charge. After the formalities were completed, Yue Su issued an order, "Take off their black veils on their tops, take off their official uniforms, and take them all into custody." ”

"Adult ......"

As soon as they heard this, these officials were all stupid, thinking that the law would not be held accountable to the public, and there could not be too much punishment, but they didn't expect Yue Su to care about this at all. The servants in the hall were all brought by Yue Su, and when they gave an order, they stepped forward one after another, pulled hard, and took off all the black yarns and official uniforms of these guys.

This is not the end, Yue Su shouted loudly again: "Where is the Qian Zong who guards the yamen? ”

There are a total of three thousand commanders in the garrison yamen, and when they saw Yue Su summoning, they hurriedly stepped forward and bowed down, "See your lordship." "At the level of President Qian, he is not qualified to be called the "last general" in front of the governor, and can only call himself humble.

"What's the name of all three of you?" Yue Su asked.

"Humble Cheng Biao." "Humble Sun Wutong." "Humble Yin Leopard."

"The headquarters has heard that there are private cards set up by your officers and soldiers guarding the yamen at the city gate, making it difficult for the people to enter and leave in every way, and those who do not pay the regular money are not allowed to pass. Cheng Biao, the Ministry of Medicine will hand over this matter to you, and you will immediately take someone to investigate this matter thoroughly, and all those involved will be arrested and sent to Xingyuan. If you dare to cover up, don't blame the headquarters for being unkind to you. Guo Yigang and Meng Huade are your role models. Yue Su said loudly.

"Obedience. Please rest assured, you will never slack off in your humble duties. Cheng Biao hurriedly shouted his order.

Seeing that Yue Su was so resolute and resolute, he took almost three-quarters of the officials in Huaiqing Mansion, how dare he be dishonest.

"Hurry up." As soon as Yue Su waved his hand, Cheng Biao immediately retreated and went on an errand.

Afterwards, Yue Su said: "Sun Wutong and Yin Bao, the two of you immediately ordered 800 soldiers, and 200 people from the headquarters and courtyard, and copied all these people's homes for me." All the property copied is recorded, and if anyone dares to steal it privately, he will not be spared. ”

"If you obey your orders, you will not be able to live up to your send."

"Jin Cicada, you go and gather two hundred people and go with them."

"Subordinates obey."

Yue Su is short of silver now, so he is naturally not ordinary fast. When the officials and local tyrants and gentry present heard this, they panicked even more, and many people shouted: "My lord...... You can't do this......" "My lord, the crime of the small people is not enough to raid the house. ”…… It is understandable to corrupt and accept bribes in an official position, but it is not enough to be charged with robbing a house. However, Yue Su is not a vegetarian, he sank his face and said coldly: "If it is enough to raid the family, the Ministry will give you a judgment and make you convinced." But now, they all shut up the headquarters. Come on, put them all in the back for me, so that they can be taken care of! ”

After escorting all the officials and local tyrants and gentry to the backyard, Yue Su said again: "In the whole city, anyone who has grievances can go to the governor to complain, and the headquarters will definitely make decisions for them!" ”

Outside the second gate, it was already crowded with people watching the excitement, and many people saw Yue Su bring these officials and bullies to justice, which was a big claim. Now when he heard that Yue Su had allowed the people to come here to redress their grievances, he was even more overjoyed. With the people, they couldn't wait for the next day, so they shouted loudly, "My lord, the grass people are wronged!" "My lord, the grass people are wronged!" ……

(To be continued)