Nanjing, Forbidden City, Yingmin Palace.

Mei Zhuyou was nervous, and looked at the emperor from time to time, but he didn't see the emperor angry.

After reading their investigation report, the emperor did not say a word, but looked out of the hall in a daze. It was so calm, without a sound, like the eve of a storm.

Finally, Zhao Han withdrew his gaze and no longer looked at the open space in front of the hall.

Zhao Han asked, "How many of the police officers in Quzhou's capital city, including the court's lawyers, are there any reliable ones?" ”

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

Zhao Han sighed and said: "Alas, there is no need to go to Hangzhou to mobilize officials, you will recruit peasant soldiers on the spot in Quzhou Mansion." Don't secretly investigate, just arrest people and interrogate them separately. After the trial was cleared, I asked Xiao Huan to decide the case in person. ”

"Yes!"

Umetakeyou doesn't know whether to be excited or afraid.

When an ICAC officer inspects a locality, he usually asks the local officials to cooperate. This is the first time that the peasants and soldiers were directly recruited and dispatched in the local area, and it is obvious that the emperor has distrusted the officials of Quzhou.

Mei Zhuyou left the Forbidden City and took a fast boat back to Quzhou.

Zhao Han asked Ding Shijing, who was recording his daily notes: "Do you have any clansmen who are officials?" ”

Ding Shijing didn't know the facts of the case, but only guessed that there must be a big case. He put down the brush and said: "Your Majesty, although the minister was born poor and suffered from cold eyes when he was young, after becoming an official, some clansmen also appeared. An uncle is a county magistrate, and a clan brother is a county official. ”

Zhao Han asked again: "If you become a scholar one day, will your uncle and brother do evil in the local area under your guise?" ”

"This ......," Ding Shijing pondered carefully, and finally said, "Uncle Chenna is an honest and rigorous person, and he will definitely not act like this." But the brother of the Chenna clan has a good face and a detached personality. If the minister is a scholar, even if he is not corrupt and perverts the law, he will go around to promote the relationship with the minister. ”

Zhao Han asked, "If your clan brother does evil, and he does evil in your name, how should he cure your sin?" ”

"This ...... This ......" Ding Shijing had already guessed that it was the family of a certain important minister who broke the law, where did he dare to talk nonsense, he could only be ambiguous, "The minister lives in Nanjing, and he has not been in contact with the clansmen for a long time. The clansmen used the name of the minister to be evil, and the minister really didn't know it, and if he was severely punished for this, he would definitely be very aggrieved in his heart. But the state has national laws, and if it is really implicated by the clansmen, the ministers have nothing to say. ”

Zhao Han turned his head to Li Xiangjun and said, "Call Xiao Huan." ”

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

About an hour later, Xiao Huan came briskly and said, "Knock on Your Majesty." ”

Zhao Han pointed to the investigation report of the integrity officer: "You can read it for yourself." ”

Xiao Huan returned the report with his hand, sat down and looked through it carefully, and the more he looked at it, the more frightened he became.

As far as the facts of the case are concerned, the case in Henan last year was even worse, and the grain transportation system in the province was almost completely rotten, and the amount of money and grain involved was astronomical.

However, the thunderstorm in Quzhou Prefecture involved several central officials and the occupation of land for mining.

In the new dynasty of Datong, the land has always been a red line, and whoever dares to cross half a foot will die.

Zhao Han said: "Li Aiqing (Li Banghua) I can trust, he must have been unaware and was used by the clansmen. This Zheng Tongfu, what is your impression? ”

Xiao Huan replied: "Zheng Tongfu is a capable official, and he is extremely diligent. He has not returned to his hometown for several years and has been working as an official in the capital. In the camp department of the Ministry of Industry, he came the earliest every day and did not leave until dark. The projects he has handled have not been wrong or missing. On holidays, I either rest at home, or go to the Wenhua Hall to borrow books to read. He had never been to the Qinhuai River, and he had never participated in any literary meetings. Such a person can be called a model official. With all due respect, Zheng Tongfu ...... It's a pity to meet such bad parents. ”

"That's why I'm sad," Zhao Han had a sad expression on his face, and at the same time he was extremely angry, "Zheng Tongfu is a diligent, capable, and honest person, and he is still an uprising soldier. Such a perfect official will definitely be a scholar within ten years, and I will personally promote him to be a scholar. What kind of father is this, is there such a pit son? His father actually said that the surname of the world is Zhao, and the surname of Quzhou is Zheng. Does his Zheng family want to rebel! ”

Xiao Huan was silent.

Zhao Han asked again: "What about 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, he has never changed, he has always been so pure, and he has offended many colleagues in recent years.

The Manchu Dynasty was civil and military, only Liu Anfeng could become close friends with Chen Maosheng, so you can imagine what kind of person Liu Anfeng is.

Zhao Han suddenly said: "You go to the Ministry of Officials and find that Liu Anyong's file!" ”

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

Xiao Huan said: "Your Majesty, the minister not only checked the files of the ministry, but also inquired about it. Liu Anfeng was born poor, but Liu Anyong was born rich. Although the two are brothers, they are separated by three villages. It was after Liu Anfeng got ahead that Liu Anyong came to climb relatives. ”

Hearing this, Zhao Han felt a little better, at least the Central Committee was fine.

But the fact that the members of the Central Committee are okay does not mean that their relatives are fine. Just like this Liu Anyong, across three villages, he can come out to climb relatives. And which important minister is not a lot of relatives?

Zhao Han said: "The case in Quzhou was handled by the Metropolitan Procuratorate in accordance with the rules. As for the central minister, I personally decided and left it until the court meeting in three days' time. You, arrange it! ”

Three days later, the morning pilgrimage.

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

They are used to the three pilgrimage meetings a month, and each time there is a special topic. The first few times, they were talking about Europe and the Americas, which really broadened the eyes of the ministers.

Later, he talked about the benefits of opening the sea and summarized the disadvantages of the sea ban in the Ming Dynasty.

Then talk about the tax policies of the past dynasties, and tell the subject in advance, and the officials can go home and read the history books.

The good early dynasty was actually opened by Zhao Han into a feast.

What are you going to talk about today?

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

Zhao Han said: "Let's talk about corruption today. Corruption among officials is not uncommon, and this is the beginning of the corruption of officials. If corruption is not properly punished, this new dynasty will sooner or later become like the previous one. ”

"Your Majesty is very true!" The officials agreed.

Zhao Han directly named: "Elder Li Ge, what do you think about corruption?" ”

Li Banghua said: "Severe punishment is not spared! ”

Zhao Han said: "What if...... I'm saying that if Li Ge Lao's clan does evil and perverts the law, how should this be handled? ”

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

Zhao Han asked again: "What if Li Ge Lao's relatives use Li Ge Lao's signboard to scare the magistrates into not daring to take care of it, or even collude with it?" ”

Li Banghua frowned and said, "This ...... If the minister knows about it, but ignores it, he is guilty of connivance. If the minister does not know, then he should punish himself, and only punish the minister's relatives according to the law. The ministers do not speak for themselves, but the officials of the court, and it is inevitable that there will be family members who commit crimes in the local area. As long as I don't know, I shouldn't be severely punished, otherwise everyone in the court will be in danger. ”

"How can you tell if Li Ge always knows or doesn't know?" Zhao Han asked.

Li Banghua was speechless.

Zhao Han pointed at Xiao Huan: "You come!" ”

In the puzzled eyes of the ministers, Xiao Huan slowly stood up and arched his hand: "Liu Anyong, the same acquaintance of Quzhou Mansion, and Zheng Hongyi, a wealthy businessman in Quzhou, colluded with each other and acted in embarrassment. The Zheng clan committed six murders, all of which were covered up, and the murderer went unpunished. The Zheng family colluded with the government to cut corners when building the river embankment, and deducted the wages of workers for a long time. The Zheng family bullied and dominated the market, colluded with village and town officials, corrupted local peasant associations, and exploited and oppressed the people. He also raised thugs, a suspected homicide, which is under investigation, and dozens of cases of wounding. The Zheng family's mine crossed the border and occupied the land to open a mine......"

Gongbu Langzhong Zheng Tongfu was already stupid at this time.

He came to Nanjing to be an official for several years, but he never returned to his hometown, why did his family do such a thing?

Xiao Huan is still saying: "Zheng Hongyi has a son, Zheng Tongfu, who is the battalion of the Ministry of Industry. There is also a son, who is the nephew and grandson-in-law of the cabinet minister Li Banghua......"

As soon as these words came out, the whole dynasty was in an uproar, and Li Banghua was actually involved.

Xiao Huan said: "Zheng Hongyi has a saying, the surname of the world is Zhao, and the surname of Quzhou is Zheng. He also said that he had led a horse for the Son of Heaven, and as long as he did not rebel, officials at all levels would not be able to control him. He also said that he and Li Ge have always been in-laws, and Shoufu also has to give three points of thin noodles. ”

Li Banghua's whole body trembled slightly, he was angry, and someone really pulled his tiger skin.

Xiao Huan said: "Liu Anyong, the Tongzhi of Quzhou Mansion, is the younger brother of Liu Anfeng, the secretary of the household department. He also secretly accepted Zheng Hongyi's niece as an outer room, and it is suspected that there is a dividend in the Zheng mine......"

Liu Anfeng finally couldn't sit still, stood up abruptly and said, "Your Majesty, that Liu Anyong is indeed the younger brother of the minister, and he is also a villager from the same town. But both of us are about to come out of the fifth suit. When he was young, he was poor and did not receive help from his clansmen, but suffered from the cold eyes of his clansmen. After the minister became an official, the clan came to cling. Ministers restrain their families, and they must not be involved with their own clan, nor are they allowed to show favoritism to their fellow clansmen. That Liu Anyong really deserves to be killed, but he has nothing to do with the minister. The minister is innocent, and he cannot tolerate such a stain......"

As he spoke, Liu Anfeng took off his official hat, knelt on the ground and kowtowed: "The minister requests to resign and return to his hometown!" ”

There was silence in the hall, and the head of the household actually resigned.

Chen Maosheng stood up and said: "Your Majesty, the minister guarantees his life, and Liu Shangshu will never condone the clansmen." ”

Li Banghua sighed, and also took off his official hat and knelt on the ground: "Minister, please give you!" ”

Yes, the matter has gone haywire, and the deputy cabinet assistant is also going to resign.

Zhao Han half-squinted, and said angrily: "Are you threatening me?" ”

"Don't dare!"

Li Banghua and Liu Anfeng replied in unison.

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

Xiao Huan replied: "It has been basically verified that the arrest has been ordered." There will certainly be no mistake in the charges just mentioned. After the arrest and interrogation, new cases may be involved. ”

"Then don't wait for the case in Quzhou to be concluded, I will personally decide the several central officials involved," Zhao Han glanced at the ministers, "Li Banghua, the second assistant of the cabinet, is not strict in governing the family, and he will take away his title and take away the additional officials." Retain the post of secondary assistant and pay a fine of three months. If there is any more corruption among his clansmen, he will immediately dismiss his official and return to his hometown! ”

Xiao Huan was taken aback and looked up at the emperor suddenly.

Cao Guan, who was recording the content of the court meeting, was also so frightened that his hands trembled, and a cloud of ink appeared on the paper.

Seize the title, there are not many knights in the new Datong Dynasty, and some are Zheng Zhilong's kind of people who don't be officials. directly seized the title, and the punishment was already extremely severe.

And the additional official, Li Banghua's additional official is the crown prince and young master, which is also an extremely noble title.

The addition of officials was also taken away!

What did Li Banghua do?

He is a grandniece and granddaughter of a clan, and he is only married to Zheng Hongyi's son.

Li Banghua has lived in Nanjing for several years, and there are many nephews, most of whom he does not know about this marriage.

Xiao Huan wanted to admonish, but he didn't dare to admonish, so he could only sit there stunned.

Other officials did not dare to intercede.

Zhao Han also said: "Liu Anfeng, who is not strict in governing the family, was demoted to a higher level of official, and was dismissed from the post of secretary of the household department. Changed to ...... What to change, let the officials arrange! ”

Liu Anfeng roared angrily: "Your Majesty, please resign!" The minister is not strict in governing the family, don't have this kind of stigma! ”

Zhao Han thought about it carefully: "Okay, you can do it." ”

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

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

Zhao Han continued: "Zheng Tongfu, demoted to the fifth level, transferred to Luzon, and will not be allowed to come back within ten years!" ”

This man is utterly ruined.

In the Ministry of Industry, although it is only the fifth grade, it belongs to the real power position, and the status crushes the prefect of the fourth grade.

Moreover, Zheng Tongfu, as the leader of the Yamen of Youshui, is honest, capable and diligent, and has long been remembered by the emperor. This kind of person, as long as he lives for another twenty years, is a scholar at worst, and maybe he can be the first assistant!

Now he was demoted to the fifth rank of official, and he was thrown to Luzon, plus he was not allowed to return to the dynasty for ten years.

This is crueler than killing him directly!

Zheng Tongfu had already shed his soul, like a dead corpse, and he couldn't hear what Zhao Han said at all.

The next day, Zhao Han received the news that Zheng Tongfu had committed suicide by going home.