East Factory Governor

Chapter 315 Lost all the face of corrupt officials

Qin Shuhuai sneered, "Master Li, are you convicted?"

Li Fu knew that it was useless to argue at this time, so he closed his eyes in pain, and said with tears, "The guilty minister...convicted."

Qin Shuhuai asked again, "You don't have anything to say?"

Li Fu sighed sadly, "The guilty minister has nothing to say. I just ask Qin Shaobao to report to the emperor for the guilty minister. The guilty minister has been in power for more than seven years. During these seven years, he has built seawalls and water conservancy projects. There will be no disasters or disasters in the territory. The common people live and work in peace and contentment, and all of them praise my emperor Zhongxing's rule, which can be regarded as doing some practical things. I beg the emperor to see that the guilty minister has no credit but has hard work, and forgive the guilty minister's family. The guilty minister is willing to die to thank the emperor. kindness."

When Qin Shuhuai saw that Li Fu didn't say that he was good at opening other places to make up for the Liao and Liao's salary, Qin Shuhuai couldn't help being a little curious, and asked, "Do you have anything else to say? Let me ask you, you are good at visiting foreign places and conniving at foreigners. Trade, where did the stolen money go?"

Li Fu was silent for a while with staring eyes, and said, "It has been squandered by the criminal minister."

Qin Shuhuai pointed to Li Fu's shabby study and said, "Have you squandered it all? Master Li, take a look at your study, it's worse than the room where my servants live, and take a look at what you're wearing, this long gown You have the nerve to call yourself a corrupt official even after two patches have not been thrown away? Just like you, it is an embarrassment to corrupt officials.”

The weather was hot, Li Fu was only wearing a thin gown, and there were indeed two patches on the gown. Qin Shuhuai couldn't believe his shabby appearance.

Li Fu lowered his head, the sweat on his back had soaked his clothes.

But he still insisted and said, "The guilty minister...the guilty minister likes to gamble, and lost all his money."

Qin Shuhuai thought, logically, if Li Fu said that the purpose of accumulating money was to make up for the two salaries and reduce the burden on the people, even if he could not be sentenced lightly, he would at least gain a good reputation, which would be beneficial to him, but why did he beat him to death? Why don't you say it?Could it be that there is something hidden in it?
This Li Fu is really interesting.

Thinking of this, Qin Shuhuai knocked on the table, and said angrily and amusedly, "Master Li, do you think that I, Qin Shuhuai, am a three-year-old child? You are a majestic magistrate, who would dare to bet with you, and even let you lose even a long shirt?" Can't even afford it?"

"In short, I have committed a capital crime, so I just beg Lord Qin to report the truth to the emperor..."

"Okay, Mr. Li, you know about the hijacking case in Yangzhou Mansion, right? I traced it all the way from Yangzhou to Ningbo Mansion, do you think I really don't know anything?"

Li Fu's eyes opened suddenly, "Shao, Shaobao, the person Yangzhou government wants to take..."

"That's right, it was me! By the way, I also saved Zhao Xinian."

Li Fu was startled, "Zhao Xinian?"

Qin Shuhuai said in a deep voice, "You underestimate the governor of Zhejiang too. Do you think that Wang Huazhen didn't know about you sneaking Zhao Xinian out of the city? Let me tell you, if I hadn't arrived in time, then Zhao Xinian would have died a long time ago."

Li Fu was dumbfounded, thousands of anxieties rushed into his heart at once.

Qin Shuhuai picked up Li Fu's teapot and took a sip of tea, then said, "Master Li, can you tell me the truth now?"

Li Fu lowered his head dejectedly, he knew that since Qin Shuhuai had found Zhao Xinian, he couldn't hide everything.

He said in despair, "Whatever Qin Shaobao wants to ask, just ask."

"Okay, then tell me where did the stolen money go when you left the city privately?"

"Most of the stolen money was used by the lower officials to offset Liao's and Lian's salaries, and some lower officials used it to repair the seawall. In recent years, Liao and Lian's second salaries have become more and more burdensome, so that the people are struggling to live. The lower officials fear that if things go on like this, there will be civilians If there is no change, we have to secretly support those merchants in overseas business, collect high bribes from them, and then offset them against the second salary, and conceal it to the higher authorities, saying that it was collected from the fields.”

Qin Shuhuai said, "I actually knew about this a long time ago, why didn't you just say it?"

Li Fu murmured, "Qin Shaobao, it's not something that a subordinate can do alone. The county magistrates, chief bookkeepers, tax bureaus, and tax supervisors in various places in the county are not able to use the stolen money collected by the subordinate officials as second salaries. Everyone must participate, and I will make false accounts together as an official. Without their help, no matter how great the ability is, the official will not be able to do it."

At this point, Li Fu kowtowed to Qin Shuhuai, and said sadly, "My lord Qin, I know that I have committed a serious crime and death is inevitable, but all this was done by the lower officials to deceive the court. It's just a subordinate official, and it has nothing to do with them. I beg Lord Qin to let them go. These officials are all good officials who care about the people. At least none of them is a fish for the common people. If they all fall, the subordinate officials will be afraid of the cold The hearts of all the scholars in Ningbo Mansion!"

"So, in order to protect them, you would rather say that you squandered it yourself?"

Li Fu's eyes were scarlet, and he let out a long sigh.

Qin Shuhuai said again in a concentrated voice, "Apart from protecting them, you also have some illusions about the governor of Zhejiang and even the big boss of Donglin in the court, right? A large part of your stolen money has been filial to them, why don't you Say? Do you think that if you recruit them, not only will they not be punished, but they will intensify their efforts to kill you? Are you afraid?"

Li Fu was dripping with cold sweat, dripping down continuously.

"Li Fu, don't even think about it. If you let Zhao Xinian out of the city privately, then Wang Huazhen already hated you to the bone. How can he help you? You know so many secrets, and now he wants you to die! You still count on the Donglin Party to help you ?”

"Listen well. If I report this matter to the court, firstly, the emperor will be furious. Because you privately resist Liao and practice the second rate, wouldn't this mean that the second rate set by the emperor is unreasonable, and the emperor is seeking the people's fat and anointing? Second The Donglin Party must also be furious. Because they also proposed the Liao and Lian Er's salaries. Wouldn't it be slapping them in the face if you did this? In addition, you will be punished for the crime of leaving the city without permission. The crime of copying and beheading is a certainty. Not only you, but none of the officials at all levels can escape the responsibility!"

Qin Shuhuai scolded Li Fu sternly like a storm, making Li Fu feel cold all over, and the two were fighting.

After that, Qin Shuhuai paused, took a sip of herbal tea, and looked out the window.

After a while of silence, he changed the subject and said earnestly, "Master Li, do you know why I came to you quietly at night?"

Li Fu was startled for a moment, then raised his head, with a different kind of desire burning in his eyes.

He thought: If Qin Shaobao just came to Xingshi to inquire about his crimes, he could sit in the lobby of the government office with an imperial decree, take off his black gauze hat, and put himself in prison.

so he…….
"Lord Li, this Shaobao... wants to protect you! Ben Shaobao, I have to protect you. Daming has no shortage of corrupt officials, nor Donglin people, but there is too much shortage of officials with good conscience. I don't feel sorry for the loss of Wang Huazhen , but the loss of one Li Fu makes my heart ache."

After Li Fu listened, he had mixed feelings for a moment, and two lines of hot tears rolled out of his eyes instantly, and he fell on the ground and began to cry uncontrollably.

(End of this chapter)