pdf-ebookys Chapter 690 Beasts eat their salaries, rotten wood becomes an official.
Chapter 690 Beasts eat their salaries, rotten wood becomes an official.
As it turns out, Zhu Biao is definitely an excellent black sesame glutinous rice ball.
After receiving the letter sent to the capital by Yang Shaofeng, Zhu Biao immediately sent someone to summon Li Shanchang and Liu Bowen.
“My brother-in-law plans to turn the child case and the iron weapon case into major cases.”
After betraying Yang Shaofeng without hesitation, Zhu Biao said with a forced smile, "The Huai'an Prefecture government and the Shanyang County government alone involve more than twenty officials. If the entire Huai'an Prefecture were investigated, it would probably involve another hundred or so officials."
"If we look at the whole of Jiangnan, who knows how many officials would be involved."
"but……"
Zhu Biao changed the subject, saying, "If it only involves a few officials, that would be fine. What I'm afraid of is that it might involve someone like Yang Yuanqing or Gu Chengzhi."
Yang Yuanqing and Gu Chengzhi?
What's so special about them that you're afraid of them being dragged into something like what happened to them?
As Li Shanchang was pondering this, he saw Zhu Biao cast a meaningful glance his way.
Especially when Zhu Biao's gaze fell on Liu Bowen, Li Shanchang felt a chill run down his spine.
"Your Highness, this case must continue to be investigated, but we must find a way to deal with these officials."
"Even if we can't completely eradicate it, we must at least instill a sense of awe in them and never let them act recklessly."
The more Li Shanchang thought about it, the more frightened he became.
Old Liu's entire family lingered in the underworld for a while.
It seems my entire family has been involved twice?
Especially this time, it seems that someone revealed the six characters "Left Chancellor of the Secretariat".
If it weren't for the two characters "Hu Yuan" in front of it, even if I had a mouth full of mouths, I still wouldn't be able to explain it clearly!
As Li Shanchang finished speaking, Liu Bowen finally realized what he meant.
Yes.
I originally intended to connect with my fellow townsmen in eastern Zhejiang, but the problem is that they don't treat me like a human being.
If some fellow villager were to say something inappropriate, wouldn't my entire extended family be in trouble again?
Although I am not particularly worried about this matter, the key is that the Censorate, which I am in charge of, has impeached Yang the Madman quite a few times. If he takes the opportunity to retaliate, wouldn't I be in for a lot of trouble?
As the saying goes, anger arises from the heart, and evil is born from the gall.
Upon thinking of the glorious achievements of his fellow villagers from eastern Zhejiang, Liu Bowen's face immediately darkened.
"Your Highness, I believe that the Duke of Han's words are reasonable."
"During the Yuan Dynasty, the court only cared about collecting taxes and never paid attention to the moral character and conduct of officials, gentry, and merchants, which led to beasts eating the salary and rotten wood becoming officials."
"As the saying goes, a chronic disease is hard to cure and its poison is endless."
"Many officials, gentry, and merchants were used to the days when they could act recklessly during the Yuan Dynasty."
"If we don't take drastic measures, I'm afraid we won't be able to stop their bad habits."
Zhu Biao chuckled inwardly.
Look, look, it's biting the hook!
Zhu Biao nodded solemnly and said, "What the Duke of Han and the Earl of Chengyi said is true."
"These officials are used to acting recklessly. If they are not properly disciplined, they will inevitably cause even bigger trouble in the future."
"but……"
Zhu Biao changed the subject again, saying, "Exterminating nine generations of their families, wiping out three generations, slow slicing, skinning alive, confiscating their property, exiling them—we've used every means imaginable, yet we still can't scare them. What can we do?"
Liu Bowen stroked his beard and chuckled, saying, "Your Highness, I believe these methods may not have failed to frighten those officials."
"After all, the number of people involved in this major case is much smaller than that in the blank seal case."
"Perhaps it is precisely because of these methods that some officials can be frightened, so that the entire officialdom is not implicated."
"As for those who weren't scared, they might only have one page on their household registration book and not worry about being implicated, or they might be cold-hearted and not care about the life or death of their entire family."
Zhu Biao nodded, then put on a thoughtful expression and said, "In either case, these officials have a reason to be confident: the court will not expose the dirty deeds they have done, so as not to damage the court's reputation."
"According to the opinion of the Duke of Han and the Earl of Chengyi, if the court were to make their crimes public and let all the people of the world know what they have done, and even record it in the county annals and prefectural annals, I wonder what the result would be?"
Liu Bowen's eyes lit up, but then he frowned slightly and said, "In my humble opinion, I'm afraid the effect will not be good."
Zhu Biao said "Oh," and Liu Bowen slowly explained, "As early as the fourth year of Hongwu, the Shenming Pavilion was already being built all over the country. The crimes of those officials would be announced to the people in the Shenming Pavilion, and the county annals of their place of origin would also be recorded."
"The fact that these people dare to commit such serious crimes shows that they don't particularly care about their reputation."
“Simply making their crimes public will probably not be enough to scare them.”
As Liu Bowen finished speaking, Li Shanchang's eyes lit up, and he said, "Your Highness, since it is a serious illness, then we should administer a potent and potent medicine."
"Didn't His Highness just say that these officials are confident that the court will value its reputation?"
"In my opinion, it would be better to interrogate the officials who were arrested in the same place, and then gather the people to watch the interrogation."
"It's obvious that the imperial court won't cover up their dirty deeds."
"With the help of the official gazette and newspapers, it should be enough to frighten some officials who are greedy but have little courage."
Eh?
Liu Bowen's heart stirred.
Li Shanchang, that old scoundrel, is right.
Scare one person at a time.
It doesn't matter if we don't scare any of them.
At the very least, those officials who were implicated this time will be in a very difficult position.
Their suffering makes me feel very comfortable.
Of course, targeting only those officials is not enough.
After all, I still have many fellow villagers who haven't become officials.
It wouldn't be good to leave them behind.
Liu Bowen then bowed and said, "Your Highness, I remember that Your Majesty once issued an edict allowing the people to bind up corrupt and cruel officials and bring them to the capital to file a complaint."
"But now, for more than a year, not a single commoner has dared to bind an official and bring him to the capital."
"Ultimately, it's because the common people are afraid of officials and dare not provoke them."
"If those officials are publicly interrogated, the people will no longer fear them like tigers."
"With the help of the common people keeping an eye on things, those officials will be more restrained."
Zhu Biao nodded, but Liu Bowen changed the subject and said, "In addition, I believe that not only those officials, but also the gentry who committed evil deeds during the Yuan Dynasty should be dealt with as well."
"It would be best to send an imperial censor to inquire about the reputation of local gentry and see if they have any bad deeds. If so, the local government can be arranged to arrest them and then publicly interrogate them in front of the people."
Li Shanchang unconsciously glanced at Liu Bowen.
It has to be you, Lao Liu.
When it comes to killing your fellow townsmen from eastern Zhejiang, Liu Ji, if you claim to be second, no one dares to claim to be first.
Zhu Biao laughed heartily and said, "The Earl of Chengyi has the same idea as my brother-in-law!"