Daming: Mixed in Dangzhi County, Beiping

Below, a group of officials looked desperate.

"Your Highness, have the homes of Wei Chen and others been confiscated?"

Suddenly, an official asked.

Hearing this, all the officials around him were shocked and looked around quickly.

"Isn't the Imperial Guard Wei Da here?"

"Aren't all the generals of Jin Yiwei here?"

"This……"

The more they looked, everyone's faces were full of surprise.

"May I ask, Your Highness, this...?"

All the officials suddenly looked surprised and suspicious.

Zhu Gaochi asked quietly: "Don't you think that your family can still survive after you have made so many big mistakes?"

"Wei Chen and others are terrified!"

All the officials were suddenly filled with despair, their bodies were weak, and they all collapsed on the ground.

It's all over!

"What are you still hesitating about?"

On the side, Guo An couldn't help but said: "You are risking the lives of the three clans to commit corruption and exploit the people. Don't you want to give your children and grandchildren a wealthy family? Or are you being coerced and have no choice but to do it... …

Now that the crime has been exposed, will you continue to resist to the end? "

"You have already taken your own life, do you still want the women, weak, old and children in your family to follow you, line up to the execution ground, and be beheaded one by one?

Or, let your wives and daughters be sent to the Jiaofang Department one by one, and let the subordinates you bully, or the officials you protect, enjoy the humiliation one by one? "

"Think carefully, can you withstand the torture of Jin Yiwei? Or can the people behind you escape this disaster... Even if they escape, they dare to risk being investigated one by one by Jin Yiwei. , go to protect your family and wait for them?"

"Think about it carefully, is it worth it, is it useful..."

Duke Dingguo is the most sinister!

Wang Zhen was thinking inexplicably.

As for those officials, they were all filled with anger and fear, but they had no excuse.

It doesn’t seem worth it!

only……

An official didn't know what he was thinking of. A glimmer of hope flashed in his eyes. He looked at Zhu Gaochi and asked cautiously.

"May I ask, Your Highness, if Wei Chen surrenders, writes down all the charges, and reports all the superior officials, can Wei Chen's family be pardoned?"

On the side, all the officials looked at Zhu Gaochi expectantly.

Zhu Gaochi smiled faintly and said, "Pardon? Do you really think that I need these reports from you? At most, I have to work hard for the Jin Yiwei, what can't be found out?"

The expectations that the officials had just raised were shattered again.

"However, we can plead with our father for mercy. Those family members in your family who have not made any big mistakes but have been implicated by you can live and be exiled to Guozhou!"

"Exile to Guozhou?"

All the officials glanced at it subconsciously, and Guo An on the side was immediately overjoyed.

They believed it!

If all of them could be pardoned, they might think that the prince and Duke Ding had joined forces to deceive them.

However, it must be okay to exile their family members who have no sins to Guozhou!

Your Majesty will definitely agree to this matter!

"Thank you, His Royal Highness, and thank you, Duke Dingguo!"

An official bowed his hands towards Zhu Gaochi and Guo An, "Wei Chen is willing to write down all the charges and report all the officials above!"

"Wei Chen is also willing!"

"Wei Chen is also willing..."

As one official began to stand up, all the officials rushed to speak.

"Very good!"

Zhu Gaochi nodded slowly, "Come here, prepare pens, ink, paper and inkstones for them, and prepare a house for each of them. Don't allow them any chance of collusion!"

"Yes, Your Highness!"

In an instant, a group of guards came in from outside the palace, two by two, and watched the officials closely.

All the officials couldn't help but complain, and the last thoughts in their hearts disappeared without a trace in an instant.

There is no way to go!

I can only beg His Highness the Crown Prince and Duke Ding to keep their word!

And inside the house.

As those people walked out, Zhu Gaochi, Guo An and others continued to eat.

After more than half an hour.

Those officials came back each with a thick stack of confessions.

Of course, Zhu Gaochi, Guo An, and Wang Zhen each picked up a few copies, looked at them for a while, and then nodded slowly.

"Your Highness, these criminals have no evil intentions!"

"You guys are not too stupid!"

Zhu Gaochi nodded slightly and pointed to the food on the table, "Although these meals are cold, you can just eat them. It's because you put aside your conscience and exploited and harmed countless people that I got this delicious food for you!"

"The guilty minister obeys the order!"

All the officials, with faces full of gratitude, slowly sat on their chairs, picked up their chopsticks, and looked at the food in front of them. For a moment, they were filled with emotion. When they put it in their mouths, it was even more tasteless.

While eating, a group of officials couldn't help but started crying and howling again.

At this time.

Wei Da, the Qianhu Jinyi Guard of Songjiang Prefecture, also walked in with several Jinyi Guards.

Looking at the officials who were crying loudly but still eating their meals slowly, a strange look flashed in their eyes.

Immediately, he hurriedly walked to Zhu Gaochi.

"The Wei minister, Songjiang Prefecture's Jinyi Guards Thousand Households of Wei, met with His Highness the Crown Prince, Duke Dingguo, and the envoy of Zhenfu!"

"Get up!"

Zhu Gaochi glanced at Wei Da lightly and asked, "How is the situation outside?"

Wei Da quickly reported: "Reporting to His Highness the Crown Prince, the ministers have confiscated all the homes of the criminal officials who were entrusted by His Highness.

His family members are all detained in their respective homes! "

Hearing this, the officials below couldn't help but trembled in their hearts again.

Eat faster!

at night.

Zhu Gaochi wrote an hour's memorial.

Early the next morning.

The two riders rode quickly, facing the rising sun, and headed towards the capital.

As for the people in Songjiang Mansion, they suddenly discovered that there were more notices on the streets. Next to the notices, there were a group of officials in official uniforms reading loudly.

Some curious people, after listening for a while, their eyes widened, and then they ran towards the distance with faces full of ecstasy.

"Hahahaha, Master Qingtian is here!"

"His Royal Highness the Crown Prince arrived at Songjiang Mansion, and all corrupt officials were caught by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince!"

“We don’t have to pay so much in taxes!”

“Except for the summer tax and some losses, the rest of the regular money, the money for shipping rice, the money for temporary transportation, the money for making books, the money for cars, the money for use, and the money for hemp... are all taxes with clever names. You don’t have to hand over any of mine!”

"You can also return what you have paid before!"

"His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is truly the great master of Qingtian. We, the people of Songjiang Prefecture, are saved!"

"We are saved..."

In less than half a day, the entire Songjiang Mansion knew about this.

The entire Songjiang Mansion fell into joy.

but.

The merchants all looked dumbfounded.

"His Royal Highness, is he so generous?"

"Yes, not only were all the corrupt officials in Songjiang Mansion investigated, but the matter was also directly announced?"

"The key point is, how can these corrupt officials stand so honestly under the notice and read out the notice of their guilt?"

"...Is it possible that these officials can use this to atone for their sins?"

"Impossible! They committed such a serious crime. I heard that all the officials' homes were confiscated. How can they be forgiven so easily?"

"That's good!"

"Yes, our caravan will be much more relaxed in the future!"

"Exactly!"

"The boldness of His Highness the Crown Prince's methods is also admirable!"

"It's extremely, it's extremely..."

……

Capital.

Several days had passed since Prince Zhu Gaochi left the capital, and all the officials in the capital finally noticed something was wrong.

Some important ministers also began to report frequently.

"Your Majesty, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is the Crown Prince of the Ming Dynasty. He has not been seen for so many days, and all the officials in the court are very worried!"

"Exactly, Your Majesty, the safety of His Highness the Crown Prince is related to our Ming Dynasty. Now, His Highness the Crown Prince has suddenly left the capital, and the court is still unaware of his whereabouts, causing all the officials in the court to panic!"

"His Majesty……"

Hearing this, Zhu Di smiled softly and said, "Are those officials really worried about the prince's safety?"

"Your Majesty, what do you mean?"

Yang Jing, the censor of Zuodu, was full of surprise and doubt.

"I think they are worried that the prince will discover the sneaky things they did down there, right?"

Zhu Di's face was full of sarcasm. Ever since he received the report from Zhu Gaochi in Jiading County a few days ago, he knew that there was no need to continue to conceal Zhu Gaochi's whereabouts.

"His Royal Highness went on an unannounced visit?"

Yang Jing asked in surprise.

"naturally!"

Zhu Di smiled lightly, "So many censors are impeaching Songjiang Mansion officials, we have to send someone to take a look!"

The prince went to Songjiang Mansion?

Hearing this, Bao Zhao, the Minister of Personnel, Zheng Yi, the Minister of Rites, and others could not help but be shocked.

Yang Jing looked serious and continued: "Your Majesty, the prince is the crown prince of the Ming Dynasty. He goes to inspect the provinces and states of the Ming Dynasty. He should be honest and aboveboard. How can he be like this..."

Before he finished speaking, Zhu Di's face darkened. "Are the Yang Qing family accusing me?"

"Your Majesty, please forgive me. I didn't mean this!"

Yang Jing's face changed slightly and he said hurriedly.

On the side, Bao Zhao, the Minister of Personnel, Zheng Yi, the Minister of Rites, and others laughed bitterly. Yang Jing, the censor of Zuodu, is good at everything, but he likes to be serious about everything. He was just about to plead with Zhu Di.

Outside the hall, a chamberlain came in. He was walking in a hurry, so there must be something urgent.

Zhu Di also looked at the waiter.

The chamberlain's scalp tightened and he hurriedly said: "Your Majesty, is there an urgent report from Songjiang Mansion?"

Zhu Di's heart moved, and he quickly asked: "Did the prince send it?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, it is His Royal Highness who has sent me an urgent report!"

The chamberlain replied quickly.

"Send it over quickly!"

Zhu Di looked happy.

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

The chamberlain did not hide any more, and quickly took out a thick memorial from his arms and bowed to present it to Zhu Di.

Below, Yang Jing, Bao Zhao and others couldn't help but look strange, and the corners of their eyes twitched slightly.

Isn't this kind of behavior deliberately hiding the truth from important ministers like them?

At this moment, Zhu Di had already opened the memorial and started reading it.

The more he looked, the angrier his expression became.

It's best to just get angry and say, "How dare these thieves be so cruel!"

Seeing this, Yang Jing, Bao Zhao and other officials could not help but change their expressions slightly.

"Humph!"

Zhu Di thought of something, snorted coldly at Bao Zhao below, and asked: "You and other officials from the Ministry of Civil Affairs, you don't know what they are doing for food?

I only know how to collect filial piety and salary, and I only know how to promote corrupt officials..."

Bao Zhao's expression froze and he looked at Zhu Di blankly.

Since he entered the Fengtian Palace, he only asked where the prince had been, but he didn't say much.

Why did you take it out on him when you were angry?

However, with all the slander in his heart, Bao Zhao still hurriedly asked: "May I ask, Your Majesty, what happened?"

"Humph, see for yourself!"

Zhu Di directly threw the memorial in his hand towards Bao Zhao.

Bao Zhao was startled, quickly picked it up and started looking at it.

"This……"

At one glance, Bao Zhao's eyes widened with shock and regret on his face.

"How can this be?"

"Humph!"

Above, Zhu Di snorted coldly and stared at Bao Zhao quietly.

"Your Majesty, please forgive me. This matter is indeed the result of an oversight by the officials!"

"Just an oversight?"

Zhu Di asked coldly.

Bao Zhao had a heavy face, "Reporting to Your Majesty, Wei Chen didn't expect that there would be traitors in Wei Chen's staff!"

"A mere summer tax can add more than 20 additional taxes. They are exploiting the people like this, but are they going to destroy their families?"

Zhu Di's face was dark and his tone was extremely cold.

"If we hadn't asked the prince to go to Songjiang Mansion to check it out, we would never have thought that the land directly under the control of the capital of the Ming Dynasty would be so rotten?"

"In fact, we never thought that with such a bunch of corrupt officials, your officials would dare to judge A and B every year?"

"Wei Chen is guilty!"

Bao Zhao said again.

At this time, Yang Jing, Zheng Yi and other important ministers also curiously took the memorial and read it.

Upon seeing this, Yang Jing, Zheng Yi and other important ministers couldn't help but take a cold breath.

Are all the dozens of officials in Songjiang Mansion so greedy for money?

There are actually so many corrupt officials in their court?

The most important thing is that the thieves in Songjiang Mansion actually dared to clearly write down all the crimes they committed.

Also report the criminal officials above them, and even their respected teachers and fellow countrymen?

Looking at the names of those officials, even though they wanted to kill all the corrupt officials, they still felt a little scared.

If it is investigated thoroughly, the impact will be as wide as those major cases in the Hongwu Year!

"Your Majesty, this..."

"check!"

Zhu Di's eyes were cold, "Officials all over the world are poor, let's increase their salaries and give them year-end bonuses!

In the end, this is how they came to repay me? "

"With a tax quota of 10,000 shi, they dare to receive more than 30,000 shi of food from the people. Tell me, why do they dare to be so greedy?"

“Any officials involved in this case, no matter who they are, I will have their homes confiscated and their families exterminated.

If not, in a few years, those officials will all follow the same example, and the people of Ming Dynasty will all be tortured? "

"..."

"Your Majesty, Holy Might!"

"The minister obeys the order!"

Yang Jing, Bao Zhao and the others sighed slightly in their hearts and hurriedly bowed their hands.

Those officials really deserve to be killed!

"In addition, you and other officials will select some good talents for us and go to Songjiang Mansion as soon as possible!

I don’t want you to wait for the officials to pick out these rogue officials again! "

"Your Majesty, please rest assured that the selection of talents this time will be personally checked by the minister!"

Bao Zhao said solemnly.

"Ok!"

Zhu Di added: "This time, Jin Yiwei, together with the Ministry of Punishment and Dali Temple, will investigate these corrupt officials!"

"The minister obeys the order!"

Hou Tai, the Minister of Punishment, and Hu Run, the young minister of Dali Temple, quickly saluted and responded.

Exited Fengtian Hall.

All the important ministers dispersed in a hurry, with solemn expressions on their faces.

It’s another bloody storm!

Officials!

After listening to Bao Zhao's words, Zuo Shilang Jian Yi looked solemn and worried at the same time.

"Bao Gong, this time..."

"Ugh!"

Bao Zhao sighed slowly, "If there is such a big mistake in the official department, no matter what, I can't escape the blame!

This time, Your Majesty asked the Ministry of Personnel to select talented officials to fill the vacancies in Songjiang Mansion. This is the biggest opportunity for our Ministry of Personnel to make up for our mistakes. There must be no mistakes.

Therefore, it is necessary to keep an eye on him as much as possible. Otherwise, if the officials lose His Majesty's trust, there will be big trouble! "

"Don't worry, Mr. Bao, I will definitely keep a close eye on you this time!"

"That way, I can feel relieved!"

Having said that, Bao Zhao couldn't help but sigh again, "In a while, someone should come to the Ministry of Personnel to arrest the officials. Don't stop them, just let them arrest them!"

Jian Yi looked surprised, "Bao Gong, are there still corrupt officials in our staff?"

"Ugh……"

Bao Zhao had a helpless smile on his face.

Jian Yi also looked helpless.

After a while.

A burst of chaotic sounds came from the front yard of the official department.

Subsequently.

A clerk hurried over, his face full of shock and anger.

"Bao Gong, what's wrong, there are guards in Jinyi who rushed into our official department and arrested two doctors..."

"All right!"

Bao Zhao waved his hand indifferently, "The Jinyi Guards were just ordered by the emperor to arrest corrupt officials, why make such a fuss?"

Hearing the movement, all the officials who came around couldn't help but shrink their eyes.

"Okay, let's all go down and do our own things!"

"..."

One day.

In the entire capital, more than a dozen officials were arrested and sent to Jinyiwei's prison.

Although there were no senior officials above the rank of minister among these officials, they were still in the capital, causing shock.

Followed by.

A news came from the Ministry of Officials.

The Ministry of Personnel also needs to select talents on a large scale to fill the vacant positions in Songjiang Prefecture.

All the officials were shocked again.

then.

News from Songjiang Mansion also reached the capital.

The entire capital suddenly became agitated again.

All the officials in Songjiang Prefecture, together with the grain chiefs, created clever names for taxes and exploited the people. For a tax of 10,000 dan, more than 30,000 dan were levied?

So crazy and so corrupt?

The most important thing is that after the crimes of the Songjiang Mansion were discovered by His Highness the Crown Prince, they not only took the initiative to confess the crimes, but also actively confessed to the officials and backers above them?

This……

Could it be that these Songjiang Prefecture officials were crazy? The Jin Yiwei didn't even torture them, but they actually told them everything?

Inexplicably, those officials who were not arrested couldn't help but feel nervous, and everyone was in danger, fearing that they would suddenly be reported by some officials!

The arrest and confiscation of the entire capital lasted for half a month.

Starting from the original dozen or so officials, in order to provide a way for their families to survive, they started biting and reporting each other, and it directly expanded to more than thirty people!

All the officials in the capital gritted their teeth in hatred towards the officials in Songjiang Prefecture who were the first to report the culprits!

...(End of chapter)