On June 24, at the Fifth Town Headquarters, Long Qian was listening to Fang Shengyuan and Cao Minzhong's report on corruption in the logistics department of the Tenth Association. Also present was Song Jinguo, the director of logistics, who was called by Long Qian to observe after the report began.

The weather is already hot, and the summer in Jinan always gives people a stuffy feeling. Long Qian wanted to untie the discipline button of his military uniform several times, but in the end he held back. Cao Minzhong, who was reporting to the Lord, wiped his sweat with the wet towel given by Ouyang Zhong every once in a while.

The clue was reported by a member of Cao Minzhong's Military Judge Advocate General's Office stationed in the 10th Association, which is tasked with internal supervision, and this is the first time they have discovered a serious problem of corruption.

In the first half of the month, Fang Shengyuan, who was in charge of the Military Judge Advocate Supervision Office, reported to Long Qian after receiving Cao Minzhong's post-report clues, which aroused Long Qian's attention, and he first quietly inspected the headquarters of the 10th Association and the headquarters in Caozhou and Yanzhou, and then through Song Jinguo, Xia Jiarong, chief of the logistics section of the 10th Association, was transferred to the logistics department. After completing these preparations, the Judge Advocate General's Office and the Logistics Department jointly formed an inspection team, led by Cao Minzhong, to be stationed in Yanzhou and conduct an economic investigation of the Logistics Section of the 10th Association.

Now Cao Minzhong is reporting on the results of the investigation team's work.

"After the inspection team arrived in Yanzhou. First of all, the commander's warrant was shown to Zhou Yi and Lan Xinzhi, and they cooperated, but expressed surprise and did not obstruct the action," Cao Minzhong reported, "In order to avoid leaking the news, the relevant personnel of the logistics section of the 10th Association and the heads of relevant units related to the case were immediately arrested in the name of convening a logistics meeting, and the relevant personnel of the Tenth Association were arrested for interrogation, and the other part of the people immediately searched the homes of the arrested people, with the cooperation of the Yanzhou branch of Jinyuan Bank." The family property of Xia Jiarong and the other three was all found out within three days, of which gold, silver and silver dollars were found in Xia Jiarong's home totaling 4,500 yuan in silver, and 9,000 yuan in silver was found in the Yanzhou branch of Jinyuan Bank. In addition, Xia Jiarong also bought a house and a shop in the name of his brother-in-law in Yanzhou, costing 780 taels of silver, which is equivalent to Xia Jiarong's legitimate military salary for 15 years. He has confessed to corruption. In addition......"

"What is the total number of confirmations?" Long Qian interrupted Cao Minzhong.

"35,000 yuan. This is a preliminary number, in addition, there are clues to indicate it. There were also more senior military officers involved in the case. Fang Shengyuan said categorically.

Xia Jiarong is just the head of the logistics section of the 10th Association. According to the regulations of the Mengshan Army, which is equivalent to the regular battalion level, he actually embezzled 35,000 silver dollars with others in less than a year.

Since the completion of the reorganization of the Fifth Town in the early summer of last year, the two infantry associations have set up corresponding staff and logistics organizations in imitation of the headquarters. Make it a unit that can fight independently. Due to the expansion of the troops. The training task is heavy. In the past year, the headquarters directly administered the detachment, stationed in Jinan, Qingzhou, Laizhou Ninth Association. The departments of the 10th Association stationed in Dongchang, Caozhou, Yanzhou, and Yizhou have built a large number of permanent barracks and training grounds in accordance with the requirements of the logistics office of the headquarters, and have invested huge sums of money in this regard. Objectively, it provides an opportunity for corruption in the logistics departments at the two levels. Xia Jiarong, as the chief of the logistics section of the 10th Association, was directly led by Zhou Yi, the commander of the 10th Association, and Lan Xinzhi, the chief of staff.

"You don't have to swallow and spit out, is it Zhou Yi or Lan Xinzhi?" Long Qian asked expressionlessly.

"It's not them, it's Feng Lun." Cao Minzhong wiped his sweat again, "The case is exposed in Caozhou, and it is Feng Lun's 19th Standard Institute that is stationed in Caozhou. After we arrested Xia Jiarong, Feng Lun asked me to intercede for Xia. ”

"This is speculation. Do Xia Jiarong and other suspects have a clear confession? Long Qian asked.

"Nope. I think Xia Jiarong is fighting for others......"

"Speculation is not a basis for conviction. Let me ask you, did you use torture when interrogating Xia Jiarong and others? ”

"Commander, do you think they will confess if they don't need to be tortured?" For this reason, Cao Minzhong specially sought out Jiang Yun's interrogation experts and consulted on the method of torture without leaving obvious traces.

"Didn't I specifically tell you not to be tortured?" Long Qian's words became stern.

Fang Shengyuan coughed, "Dashuai, I asked Min Zhong to get a confession by any means." ”

In fact, the results of the raid were enough to convict him, and the interrogation was obviously for the purpose of digging deeper. It seems right to find out the "mastermind" behind Xia Jiarong and others, but Fang Sheng is far from real and may not be true to clean the inside, and Long Qian knows this clearly. At least now Feng Lun, who was designated as a "suspected mastermind" by them, openly opposed Long Qian's reuse of Fang Shengyuan.

Long Qian's face became more and more gloomy. Corruption is inevitable, and he has long been mentally prepared for this. Since the reorganization of the Mengshan Army into the right wing of the Weisheng Army, the troops have become comfortable, and no matter how tightly they train, it is better to be on the battlefield where life and death hang on the line. In the past two years, most of the high-ranking officers have married and started families, and there are many reports of concubines (Mengshan Army does not prohibit concubines), and there are many reports of prostitution (Mengshan Army strictly prohibits prostitution), and there are more family businesses. Not to mention an army that does not have a clear goal of struggle, even an army that has a clear theoretical guidance and goal of struggle in later generations will find it difficult to prohibit the emergence of corruption......

"Xia Jiarong is your old subordinate, right?" Long Qian stared at Cao Minzhong.

"Yes. When Mengshan was reorganizing the army, he was transferred to Wu Lie's ordnance group. Cao Minzhong remembered the past. Xia Jiarong and he are both members of the old fifth team, and the situation of following Zhou Yi to highlight the encirclement and return to Mengshan is vivid.

"Xia Jiarong is very capable, and he has made meritorious contributions in the logistics department......" Song Jinguo said the first sentence.

"Competent? Of course it does! Can't do it, the commander would put him in such an important position? Fang Shengyuan immediately retorted, "But he has lived up to the commander's respect for him!" He's ruining the Commander's business! Fang Shengyuan said sharply.

Song Jinguo lowered his head and stopped talking. Cao Minzhong felt uncomfortable with Fang Shengyuan's reprimand for Song Jinguo. Fang Shengyuan is one of the two major senators of Mengshan Army (the other is Chen Chao), and Long Qian has not been clear about what the position of the senator is. However, Song Jinguo knew that Fang Shengyuan's salary was the same as that of Chief of Staff Ning Shijun, 280 silver dollars per month, second only to Long Qian, the lord of the army (Long Qian was 300 silver yang), and higher than the directors of the headquarters. But Song Jinguo is the oldest group of people in the Mengshan Army, who was born in Long Qian's old eighth team, and has always been Long Qian's most trusted person, Cao Minzhong thinks that he can't compare with Song Jinguo. But Fang Shengyuan, a newcomer who only "joined" the newcomer in front of the commander during the flood fight in Wuding last year, reprimanded Lao Song in front of the commander, which made Cao Minzhong feel uncomfortable.

"How should this be handled? Tell us what you want. Long Qian finally spoke.

"The military regulations have clear regulations." Cao Minzhong replied.

"Good. Then it will be handled according to military law. Long Qian set the tone.

"Commander," Song Jinguo was in a hurry, the military law of Mengshan stipulated that embezzlement of 100 silver dollars would be punished by death! According to this, Xia Jiarong can be shot hundreds of times!

"Jin Kingdom! Min Chung was right. Military law is military law, and you can't open the net! Who will abide by it in the future? Long Qian waved his hand to stop Song Jinguo's plea for his old subordinates.

"And that's not all!" Fang Shengyuan said coldly, "It's about the future of our army, the commander's great cause!" Not to mention a small logistics section chief, it is the standard and co-unification, and it is not wrong! ”

"Alright, Minzhong, you draft the order." Long Qian seemed to be about to end the meeting.

"Commander. The case does not appear to have been fully clarified. Isn't it ......"

"Minggao, Cao Minzhong has set a bad precedent, do you know the way? The prohibition of corporal punishment is also listed in military regulations, so what kind of military justice department takes the lead in violating it? Pardonable? You're right. Xia Jiarong is destroying our entire army. But. The Judge Advocate General's Office also made a mistake this time! It's ruining our inheritance! Ming Gao, you are in charge of the Judge Advocate General's Office, and you have drawn up an opinion on how to deal with the violation of discipline by the Judge Advocate General's Office. As for the case where there is no clear evidence, it may be investigated by proper means. But torture cannot be used to extract confessions! Under Miki, what kind of confession can't be obtained? Long Qian said sharply, "This case involves the serious dereliction of duty of the Tenth Association, the Logistics Department and the Military Judge Advocate General's Office. After convening a higher-level meeting to study and pass, it will be announced to the whole army! Thought it was a punishment! ”

"Yes!" Fang Shengyuan stood up and replied.

After the small-scale meeting, Long Qian asked Ouyang Zhong to call the acting chief of staff, Situ Jun, and another senator, his de facto father-in-law, Chen Chao.

"Situ, don't you think the composition of the headquarters should be adjusted?" Long Qian pointed to the chair and motioned for Situ to sit down and talk. Chen Chao is his elder, and he has already sat down without him speaking.

"Shi Jun is in charge of the patrol battalion, and he has no energy to take care of this side. The word 'generation' of you, the acting chief of staff, can be removed. The establishment of the troops is a big issue, and you, the chief of staff, must make adjustments according to the changing situation, and you must not just focus on the training of the troops. ”

"Yes." Situ Jun stood up and replied.

"Situ has enough part-time jobs." Chen Chao took a sip of tea, "In my opinion, it is not easy for Situ to manage the training of the team and the military academy well, and no one is an immortal." Thinking back, there have been some rumors recently, so if you have something to say, just say it. ”

Long Qian knew that there was no impermeable wall, and it was inevitable that the news would reach Chen Chao's ears, and if he wanted to impress his decision, Chen Chao was afraid that he would be the best choice. "I've called you here to report on the matter. Based on the report, the Judge Advocate General's Office verified that there was something wrong with the logistics section of the 10th Association. I discussed this matter with Fang Minggao, Lao Song and Cao Minzhong just now......"

"What should I do?" Chen Chao asked.

"Do what you want to do! Military law is ruthless, and no one can say clearly. ”

But don't be exhaustive. When the water is clear, there are no fish, and when people are observed, there are no fugitives. Now that the imperial court has sent Yang Shixiang to govern Shandong, I am afraid that I will not be able to get your handle. Chen Chao ignored Long Qian's increasingly dark face, "Whose business should be whose business is whose business!" I don't object to your strict military discipline, but who can ban corruption in all dynasties? Think about how shrewd Cao Apu is, and he has to launch a 'talent seeking order' to fight the world! What is a Talent Seeking Order? As long as you have the ability, you can use it for all the chickens and dogs! I heard that the people on Zhou Yi's side are panicking now, and Fang Shengyuan's move is very wrong! It is good to say that it is turbid and clear, and to say it too much, it is a personal vendetta of the communiqué! Retreat, Mengshan Army was created by you, and naturally everyone is in awe of you. But, as you said, as long as there is a crowd, there is a left-center-right. You can't expect everybody to be like Situ, pure-hearted and impartial. ”

Situ Jun sighed in his heart, this Mr. Chen, why did you mention me? Although he has joined the Mengshan Army for more than two years, he has been promoted rapidly, surpassing many of Long Qian's old Mengshan departments, and now Long Qian has allowed him to take over as Ning Shijun's concurrently chief of staff. But he has no foundation in the army, and he cannot be compared with Wang Mingyuan, Lu Shan, Zhou Yi, Feng Lun, Feng Guozhu and other generals who command the army. Because of this, Situ Jun only does what he does and never oversteps his authority. Willing to be a good military adviser to Long Qian.

"Ha Luha, Mr. Yue Zhi instructed me." Long Qian suddenly laughed, "Situ, you can also be regarded as entering the inner circle of the Mengshan Army. This army, which was born out of the ringing horse, is divided into several factions, and I know it in my heart, and you know it in your heart. Why don't you dare to point it out like Mr. Yuezhi? ”

Situ didn't say anything. Mr. Chen did not care about the army, and he only received a salary of 280 yuan a month in the name of a senior senator. It's your father-in-law again, so naturally he has no scruples. How can I compare to Mr. Chen?

"After Lu Shan left, Mingyuan and Guozhu were considered a faction, let's call it the old eighth team faction. The Song Jin Kingdom can barely be counted as this faction. Although Ning Shijun was born in the old eighth team, he has always been the chief of staff, and he is not as deep as Wang Mingyuan below. Now that Shi Jun has left the Fifth Town, it's a different story. The third faction is Zhou Yi and Feng Lun, isn't it? Does Mr. Chen think that Mr. Ming Gao was instigated by others to take the opportunity to attack Zhou Yi? ”

"Fang Minggao's heart is too high, and he is learning dragon slaying techniques. It is not so much to be instigated by others. But ......"

Long Qian interrupted Chen Chao and turned to Situ Jun and said, "Situ, I don't ask you how to deal with it. I have my own idea of this. I'm asking you that this incident has happened, and it has exposed that we have a big problem with logistics management. As I have said many times, a good system can turn bad people into good people, and a bad system can turn good people into bad people. A logistics section chief, a year's work, maybe less than a year, can embezzle more than 20,000 silver. What does this mean? I'm afraid that the negligence can't explain everything. ”

Situ Jun breathed a long sigh of relief in his heart, "The director of the Jin Kingdom has been busy to death in the past two years, and I have seen it in my eyes, and I have also gone to the country during this period." It's really hard to let him take care of the following things thoroughly. My opinion is that it would be better to subdivide the logistics office and set up an ordnance department to be in charge of the procurement and equipment of weapons, while the logistics department should be responsible for barracks, military salaries, clothing, food and grass, and so on. In addition," Situ Jun glanced at Long Qian, "Financial matters, try to concentrate on the headquarters, and it is not appropriate to delegate too much power to the subordinates now." ”

Long Qian nodded, "What Situ said makes sense, it is very necessary to set up an ordnance department. The Jin Kingdom is diligent and self-controlled, and I know the Tao. He basically did a good job of managing logistics. Armament, who do you think will do this? ”

"The commander has already made up his mind, right?" Situ Jun asked.

"Situ, you are already the chief of staff!" Long Qian was displeased.

"Lian Shupeng can. He has always been in charge of ordnance in the Logistics Department. ”

"Good! Just use Lian Shupeng. Long Qian slapped the board.

"What about this case?" Chen Chao asked.

"Some of the facts have not yet been fully ascertained. Let's try it after all the investigations are made. Long Qian didn't talk anymore. (To be continued......)