After Shao Song

Chapter 141 Humanity Test
According to the law, Liu Hongdao is certainly not guilty of death. According to various evidences, he is not guilty of any crime other than blocking the flood discharge in Qingzhou.

But it was his selfishness this time that caused nearly a thousand people to drown in the flood last year. It was Xiao En who was familiar with geography and threw the compiled data in his face, completely defeating this good official. Psychological defense, he made this very clear before committing suicide.

But Zhao Jiu was still very angry.Lu Gongxiang also analyzed this anger for him, it was a kind of anger of being betrayed.

That was Liu Hongdao, an honest official who had worked hard for more than ten years and had no complaints.Second only to several famous ministers and handsome ministers.

Therefore, after Liu Hongdao arrived in the capital and was imprisoned, Zhao Jiu took the time to visit him.I saw that this old man was extremely decadent. Even though he had been cleaned up in advance, his clothes and hair were still neat, but his eyes were completely dull.

"I won't kill you, you don't have to do this." Zhao Guanjia finally sighed.

Liu Hongdao didn't dare to look at Zhao Guan's family, so he said after a long while, "I have committed a great crime. If the official family remembers the past and refuses to declare the canonical punishment, I can order my minister to commit suicide. The guilty minister is very grateful."

"Why? Why exactly? Liu Hongdao, the first time I met you was at the most difficult time in Bagong Mountain. You were the only one among the fugitives from the north who dared to fight the Jinren. Even if you lost, you were still a bloody man. Since then, I have remembered you in my heart. On Jiangxi South Road, you worried about the lack of food and clothing for those people all day and all night, and donated all your salary several times to encourage land reclamation. I went straight to your house and found out that in addition to the mansion I gave you, you have actually been renting a house in Tokyo for decades. The total amount of banknotes, national debts, and cash at home is only more than 1000 yuan. The annual salary is [-] guan! I asked you, you donated it to the people and heroes who died in Qingzhou. Even when people died, they set up monuments for them, but why is a good official like you allowed to die? Are you in such a difficult situation today?" Zhao Guanjia rarely lost his composure and almost shouted these words.

Yes, he did feel betrayed.Many people in this world will betray you, but the more you believe, the more damage you will cause.

Yang Yizhong was worried and came over to take a look, but he drove him back, "Go to the door and watch to prevent anyone from coming in."

How can Liu Hongdao be better off if he is like this? He shed tears and kowtowed: "The guilty minister is sorry for the officials and the people who died in vain. The officials already know the cause and effect. If the officials do not grant death, midnight dreams Looking back, I think of the people who died in vain because of my selfishness, how could I live on!"

"What's wrong with living? You and I, among the civil and military officials standing in the court today, who hasn't seen a dead person? Who hasn't seen a river of blood?" Zhao Guanjia didn't know if he was laughing at himself.

Liu Hongdao shook his head, "In the war between the Song and Jin Dynasties and the suppression of bandits in Jiangxi, even if there were accidental injuries, there was nothing we could do about it. But I, Liu Hongdao, forced Zhao Tongxuan to change the flood discharge route because the people in my hometown came to us and begged for help, without conscience. The result was exactly as he expected. When Xiao Yushi questioned the minister with the roster, the guilty minister already knew that he would never be redeemed. The officials should not offset my guilt just because I still have a little merit. If this happens Waiting for the first time. I'm afraid half of the 36 ministers of Jianyan will end up in a miserable state." The sunlight in the place of house arrest was thin, and Liu Hongdao's old age was particularly obvious under the mottled light and shadow. "The guilty ministers only know today that when united to the outside world, unity is enough. It’s easy, but it’s so difficult to keep your heart in peace and prosperity.”

After hearing this, not to mention Zhao Guanjia and Yang Yizhong, and even Yu Yunwen, who was in charge of custody, felt a little thoughtful.

"People's hearts have weaknesses." Liu Hongdao had obviously typed out the manuscript countless times, and he spoke it very smoothly. "Some people are profit-seeking, like King Zhang Qi. Some people are good at fame, like Xianggong Zhang and Xianggong Li. Some people are extreme, like Xianggong Hu. Even King Yue, who is recognized as the first in personal ethics, is too harsh on his own family, and he relies entirely on his consort. I didn't grow crooked myself. Another example is the guilty minister, who just couldn't let go of his hometown and the tens of thousands of sons and daughters who died because of my incompetence, which led to a big mistake. The guilty minister should have died long ago. After he was rescued for the first time, it was just for I only managed to survive until now by saying these words to the officials face to face."

In the empty cell, his words echoed for a long time.Zhao Jiu seemed to have lost the anger he had when he first arrived. He sat there for a while and then said: "The country has its own laws. You will be convicted, but before that, just think about it here. Come up with something to write." Tell me, Xin Wenyu will forward it to you." Zhao Guan's family returned to the harem that afternoon and announced that unless the enemy army reached the capital, a certain important minister died, or the Yellow River flooded the Jinshan Mountains, nothing should be disturbed he.

Feng Yi looked at his face and resolutely carried out this instruction.

In just one afternoon, he blocked the three princes who came to pay their respects, the Prime Minister Zhao Ding who finally couldn't help but speak, the Minister of Punishment and the Minister of Dali Temple who were about to start a fight because of the case, and even the Empress Dowager Wei and the two ministers. The soup that the lady brought in was also cheaper for a bunch of imperial banzhi.

But there was one person who he really couldn't stop, not for anything else, but because this person really had the value of force, so he threw him away with a strong back.

The lamp was as bright as a bean, and Zhao Jiu laughed at himself in the dim light: "Boying, every time I come to you suddenly, but I didn't expect that this time it was the other way around. It's so clear and retributive."

Qi Wang Zhang Jun immediately knelt down and said: "Officials, I really shouldn't bother you, but I really can't watch... Liu Bao followed me when he was a teenager, because he was not as good as Xiaotian, and finally transferred to a civilian job. Corruption in the Jinan Mansion is because I didn't teach it well... And he was born as a military general. The princes will protect Pei Zude, Fan Zongyin, and even Zhang Shuye's son, but they will kill him... The minister knows that he has been arrested. The house was ransacked, and the censors found out how many accounts he had embezzled, and the minister paid the full amount again, and only asked the officials to let him live."

"Okay, you just want to say that in such a big case, a few people will always die. Although I have already broken the rule of not killing scholar-bureaucrats in this dynasty. But if you can, you will still protect the civil servants. This is I cannot get rid of all the centuries-old customs." Zhao Jiu, perhaps having had enough rest, said loudly: "Come here, cook me a bowl of porridge."

A few servants on the side were rubbing the waists of Feng Yifeng, but they failed to stop King Qi's imperial guard from flying straight to the small kitchen to report the news.

"Bo Ying, to be honest. You came today. I am more happy than angry." After drinking the porridge, Zhao Guanjia did not forget to give Zhang Jun a bowl, "If a good minister is like this for his subordinates, I will not do it at all. It may be strange, but you are a bit surprising. It can be seen that although you have various shortcomings, you can unite the morale of the army, follow me in Hebei, and defeat the enemy in Xiacai. There is always something unique about you."

Zhang Jun smiled bitterly and said: "The official family should not comfort the ministers. How many handsome ministers? The official family takes care of me the most, Lao Zhang. Who wouldn't say that I got through Conglong from the earliest days to today. Now I am still taking that meager credit and being generous. Your shame is making things difficult for you.”

"Thirty-seven civil and military officials were involved in the case. Now I really understand what it means to not have to worry about too many debts, and not to be itchy even if there are too many lice. Fortunately, someone's words woke me up today. Human nature cannot stand the test." Zhao Jiu drank the porridge and tasted of wine, and sneered: "Dang Boying, I can't sell this favor to you. Not only Liu Bao, but also everyone involved, I have already thought about it and will handle it according to national laws." Looking at it. Zhang Jun looked pale and did not dare to say anything. Zhao Jiu said: "You don't have to be like this. I don't want to kill everyone with blood, nor do I want to confiscate their homes and exterminate everyone. But I always have to give an explanation to the world."

"Regardless of civil and military service, regardless of meritorious deeds, all must go through trial. Even if there is meritorious service that can reduce the sentence, it must be convicted first." Zhao Jiu stood up, "Anyone can be dissatisfied. But I must do this. The Song Dynasty cannot ignore corruption. It’s a rot problem.”

　Corruption was too common in the Song Dynasty, and many readers objected to my being too strict. However, I still think it is better to set a tone. I welcome your opinions.
　　
　
(End of this chapter)