"You have a salary and a salary, and the people anoint the people. The people are easy to abuse, but the gods are hard to bully."
The sixteen-character precept stele had been erected outside Daxia Gate since Taizong moved the capital. However, the crime of corruption has never been reduced by the inscription on the stele. On the contrary, it has become more and more serious as the country has become stronger and stronger.
Even if the imperial court's supervision system becomes more and more perfect and the laws become stricter, it just cannot prevent the emergence of corrupt officials.
A case of embezzlement of money and pension money brought together four doctors from the Ministry of Household Affairs and the Ministry of War, two ministers from the Ministry of War, 11 state officials, eight county-level officials, and nearly fifty yamen officials, district chiefs, squire.
It can be said that the entire capital of Gyeonggi Province is involved, and all of them are scholars. At least they have the reputation of being a scholar, and there are also many senior officials with seemingly excellent reputations.
Zhou Jionghan, who was sitting high in the Grand Master's chair and presiding over the case, issued one order after another with a stern face. He did not go to the small court meeting, and the cabinet ignored it. He spent his time in the public trial outside the Daxia Gate, vowing to try this case clearly. Clear your name and bring justice to the families of the heroes who have been wronged.
It was such a slap in the face, he could understand the ridicule and anger of the surrounding generals without even looking. When the cabinet took away the power of army logistics and post-war pensions from the Fifth Army Governor's Office, it has only been fifty or sixty years since the civil servants have done this...
"Arrest people! No matter who dares to reach out for the soldiers' pension, I will take his head to pay justice to the heroes who died in the battle!"
It was almost two hours, and many people's stomachs began to growl, but no one dared to leave, nor did they want to leave.
Although Zhou Jiong's prestige was not as good as that of Mr. Wei, few of the angry prime ministers dared to disobey him.
If the Prime Minister doesn't get up, who dares to leave?
If the Prime Minister refuses to eat, how many people dare to eat?
Oh, Jia Cong dares!
There were food sellers not far away, with all kinds of snacks and pancakes, and there was no shortage of soups and water. He even saw small vendors selling bean curds and wontons on their shoulders among the people watching.
There is no one who doesn’t eat melon seeds when watching the excitement, and the chief minister of the cabinet cannot stop the people from eating melon seeds and watching the show.
The soldiers of the Rongguo Mansion only have eyes for their own master, but Mr. Jia is a good boy who knows etiquette and respects etiquette. He directly invited all the civil and military officials in front of the Daxia Gate to dinner, and even the families of the heroes and common people who came to surround Zhou Jiong. Please.
As for the food money, of course it comes from the cabinet.
There is nothing wrong with Uncle Yongfeng treating the guests and the cabinet spending money.
Jia Cong personally carried a bowl of wontons and placed a few warm pancakes on Zhou Jiong's desk.
He saw that Zhou Jiong's hands were shaking in anger, and he curled his lips and whispered a word of advice: "Mr. Ge, the case is not in a hurry. I'm so hungry that it's not worth it. Let's eat first..."
Zhou Jiong glanced at the food brought by Jia Cong, his eyes filled with anger and sadness. He said in a deep voice: "Uncle Yongfeng is here to see my joke?"
"I'm not that boring. I'm greedy for the pensions of heroes and martyrs. Does Mr. Ge think this uncle, a martial artist, will be happy? Will the general be happy?"
Jia Cong curled his lips and spat at the sinner kneeling not far away.
"Mr. Ge, you might as well take a look at the expressions of the military generals of the country. Who doesn't want to cut these corrupt officials into pieces? No one will laugh at Mr. Ge in this matter. You have investigated the case and brought it to the soldiers. Let us give an explanation to those great Xia Erlangs who sacrificed their lives, and the military generals will only be grateful to Mr. Ge."
Zhou Jiong looked in the direction of Jia Cong's finger. Sitting there were various military generals of the dynasty, including the British Duke Zhang Yue who was eating a simple meal in silence with a sullen face. All the generals had the same expression.
Angry, sad, and wanting to kill these corrupt officials who were lying on the soldiers' bodies to suck their blood.
The pension money of the imperial court is the bottom line for military generals.
A general will die in a hundred battles, and a strong man will return after ten years. No one who puts blood on the knife handle wants to die on the battlefield one day, and his wife, children, and children will not even be able to receive pension money.
On weekdays, it’s okay to be greedy for food, food, salary, and money. Who can tolerate even greed for pension money?
well!
Zhou Jiong, who had provoked civil and military conflicts due to the war in southern Xinjiang, felt regret for the first time, and suddenly felt tired in his heart.
He silently picked up a piece of cake and gnawed it.
Jia Cong had already arrived in front of the grandfather and grandson, squatted down and handed the food to the old woman and the child.
A seven-year-old child is just at the time when his appetite is growing, and he is so hungry that his chest touches his back. But the first time he saw the food, he turned his attention to his grandmother.
"But Master Yumao?"
The reputation of the royal cat Jia Cong can be said to be known to everyone in Gyeonggi Province. As a military relative, the old woman has naturally heard her son mention this special martial arts disciple.
Jia Cong smiled and nodded, passing the meal forward: "Old man, eat first. This case will not be completed so quickly."
As he said that, he raised his hand and rubbed the top of the child's head, and said with emotion: "It's not easy for us warriors, but we can't tolerate being bullied. Don't worry, old man, Uncle Ben is watching this matter, and all the damned people will run away. No, no one else can take away a penny of the pension money we deserve!"
The old woman handed the meal, which was all vegetarian, to her grandson's hand. She watched her grandson eat it with big mouthfuls, and replied sadly but firmly: "Mr. Yumao, a civilian woman!"
"As long as the old man believes in me!"
Jia Cong stood up, looked up at the bright sun, and said firmly: "Who said that the good man is the one who rolls the call outside Donghua Gate? Will the good man be greedy for the pension of the heroes of the Great Xia Dynasty?"
He did not deliberately lower his voice when he asked this question. He glanced at the crowd around him. None of the civil servants dared to look at him. Most of them avoided Jia Cong's scrutinizing eyes in shame.
The British Duke Zhang Yue waved to Jia Cong, and Jia Cong quietly put a banknote into the old woman's hand, not allowing her to refuse: "We are all brothers from Paoze. Don't refuse, old man. Raise the child, marry a wife and have children." , to continue the bloodline of heroes..."
…
The case is still going on, and Zhou Jiong is determined to get to the bottom of this case this time.
The Ministry of War has been penetrated, and several officials from the Ministry of Household have been arrested. Almost every county in the capital of Gyeonggi Province was implicated. The Dragon Guard's Tiqi came out from the four gates and rushed to the states and counties. At this time, if someone dared to pass the news to the outside world, the corrupt officials involved in the case would not have time to escape. .
Many people among the civil servants were very dissatisfied with Zhou Jiong's aggressive war. They believed that officials were interfering with each other. With such a big scandal, shouldn't Zhou Jiong, as the head of the civil service, cover up the face of the civil servants?
On the contrary, the general's dissatisfaction and ridicule towards Zhou Jiong's senses turned into admiration.
The old man this week is not bad, he is a person with a bottom line!
The simple thinking of a military commander can often reveal the essence of a person.
In the court, there was a civil and military struggle and I waited for no one to give in. But in matters of justice, since you are doing justice, what's the harm in us rough guys supporting you, the head of the civil service?
The reason why Zhang Yue called Jia Cong was because his people found out something.
"Send these things to Zhou Jiong and remember to avoid others."
The old Duke thrust a stack of paper into Jia Cong's hand and pursed his lips towards Zhou Jiong.
This made Jia Cong very confused: "Old man, what is this?"
"There is something that can ruin Zhou Jiong's reputation. Go and tell Zhou Jiong that I have erased all traces. It is not his responsibility. I don't want to see the prime minister of the country being plotted against."
Zhang Yue's words were calm and calm, and Jia Cong's heart was filled with turmoil.
Sure enough, the court had never been peaceful. It seemed that everyone was in full swing, but the secret fight was more intense than he imagined.
He didn't ask any more questions, stuffed the stack of paper into his sleeve, and walked to Zhou Jiong's place...
"No, it's too eye-catching to go by like this!"
Jia Cong whispered a few words in Jia Shiyi's ear, then turned around and went to the palace gate.
Zhou Jiong, who was continuing to examine the case, was suddenly interrupted by Jia Shiyi's voice. Jia Shiyi stepped forward and cupped his hands and said: "Master, Your Majesty orders you to enter the palace immediately!"
If you have your orders, I will go immediately!
Even though Zhou Jiong was wondering why Jia Shiyi came to deliver the order, he did not dare to delay. He handed the case to Cai Quan, the Minister of Punishment, for continued trial, and got up and followed Jia Shiyi into the palace.
Not even two steps into the Daxia Gate, Jia Cong stepped out and grabbed him: "Master Ge, wait a minute..."
"Uncle Yongfeng? Your Majesty has issued an edict. Please wait a moment. I will go to see you first..."
Jia Cong handed over the stack of paper given by Zhang Yue: "Your Majesty is not delivering the edict, but I have something urgent to do to see the elder. Take a look first, this is what the British father-in-law asked me to pass on to you just now. His old man Said, this thing will ruin your reputation..."
…
Jia Cong was familiar with the matter of falsely conveying imperial edicts, and he had no psychological burden at all.
He finished what Zhang Yue had entrusted him to do, and returned to the outside of the imperial city leisurely to continue eating melon seeds and watching the show.
The drama got louder and louder. Pulling out the carrots and bringing out the mud, the corrupt officials who had been kidnapped by the dragon guard Tiqi were already kneeling outside the gate of Daxia.
It really complies with what Jia Cong said to Duan Jun before. There are no generals who are greedy for ink and money, and they are all so-called scholars.
Jia Cong, a half-reader, slowly blushed and stopped cracking melon seeds. He was so angry that he picked up the Yanling knife and rushed towards the group of corrupt officials who were kneeling and trembling.
Jia Shiyi hugged him by the waist and dragged him to Lin Ruhai...
"What's the fuss about? The Prime Minister has the final say on this case. Sit back and watch with peace of mind!"
Lin Ruhai's face was as dark as water at this moment, and his household department was also penetrated. Among the two doctors, a Yuanwailang, and several officials, they all colluded with people from the Ministry of War to make false accounts and secretly embezzled the pensions given by the imperial court to the families of heroes and martyrs. silver.
The huge number is astonishing!
A small official, a foreign minister, could actually be greedy for three thousand taels of silver. This was just the compensation for the battle in Southern Xinjiang. Looking back, these rats secretly moved away a lot of money.
He, the Minister of the Ministry of Finance, was not aware of it, which made Mr. Lin, who always considered himself extremely talented, almost so angry that the two Buddhas ascended to heaven.
Jia Cong was scolded by his angry father-in-law and sat aside obediently staring at the group of rats. His right hand was always resting on the handle of the Yanling knife, ready to unsheath the knife and kill corrupt officials at any time.
Zhou Jiong came back quickly. When he came back, he looked at the civil servant and the frost in his eyes could freeze someone to death.
The civil servants who didn't know the reason thought that the chief minister was angry because of the corruption of civil servants. Only Zhang Yue on the side knew what was going on.
Jia Congdu only had a partial understanding. He didn't read what was written on the paper. However, one could guess from what the old man said that Zhou Jiong was stabbed in the back, and someone wanted to ruin his reputation, and even more importantly, his life.
As for which ones they are, it is unknown...
Zhou Jiong, who came back from the palace, was even more indifferent, not to mention covering up for the civil servants to maintain face. As the case was tried, the melons that were dug out became bigger and bigger.
More than 20 former high-ranking officials from the imperial court, such as Guan Zengyu, the former minister of the Ministry of War, Botang, the former minister of the Ministry of War, and Fan Hengyi, the former minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs, have been involved in the case, covering Northern Zhili, Shanxi, Shandong, Henan and many other regions.
Almost all of these people were Su Lao, a public minister with a very good reputation in the official circles. Under Zhou Jiong's iron-blooded trial, the criminals confessed one by one.
At this time, most of the reputation of civil servants was ruined. If it weren't for the fact that the chief minister of the cabinet and the officials of the third department who were sitting there to hear the case were also civil servants, it is estimated that the civil servants of Daxia would not have to go out in the future.
They are worried that they will be drowned by the people's saliva!
This case was tried until the evening, for more than three hours, and more than two hundred suspects were dug out, including officials from the DPRK and the Central Government, and the number of Su Lao who had already served in the government was as high as 100, which was considered the first of its kind in the DPRK.
That is, among the cases in the past dynasties, none of the persons involved in this case had high official positions.
Former cabinet minister, great scholar of the imperial dynasty, six ministers, minister, chief envoy, prefect, county magistrate...
The trial is suspended, and the public trial will continue in front of Daxia Gate on a later date.
The exhausted Zhou Jiong led the officials of the Third Division into the palace together with the stacks of confession documents. The emperor was still waiting in the Qinzheng Hall.
Jia Cong originally wanted to continue going to the theater, but Zhang Yue called him over.
After boarding the Zhang family's carriage, the old man leaned on the soft pillow and said with a tired look: "Let the civil servants handle these matters by themselves. We martial artists should not interfere..."
Jia Cong raised his finger and pointed at himself: "Old man, I am also a civil servant!"
"You damn civil servant, look how many of them treat you like a civil servant!"
The old man glanced at Jia Cong and said angrily: "When people are so ruthless, they even trick their own people. You go and deal with them. With your little brains, you won't be able to figure out who did it if you were tricked to death."
Jia Cong himself only realized this today. Compared with the battles between generals, the hearts of civil servants are really dark and cruel!
A few days ago, Zhou Jiong fought against the entire Wuxun Group for the benefit of civil servants. Although it would not lead to death, it would offend the entire Wuxun Group, and even the virtuous concubines in the palace.
But those who coveted Zhou Jiong's position as chief minister of the cabinet never thought about the word gratitude, and left no room for calculations behind their backs.
The old man told Jia Cong what was on the paper, and Jia Cong was so frightened that he broke into a cold sweat after returning to Rongguo Mansion.
It’s so damn cruel, the hole is dug so damn well, it’s so damn deep!
Zhou Jiong’s sons and grandsons were all involved in the case of embezzlement of Mexican pension funds, and it wasn’t just this case of post-war pensions in southern Xinjiang...
Zhou Wentao, the co-president of Yongping Prefecture, was given five thousand taels of silver, a house, and two Yangzhou thin horses soon after he joined the job...
Zhou Jinlong, who followed his father into office, also became a guest of the gentry in Yongping Prefecture. All the money he spent on living and drinking every day was paid by the local gentry.
Even if Zhou Wentao and his son were not really greedy for the imperial court's pension money, the old customs of welcoming and sending off were in the eyes of the two of them.
But how did they know that everything they enjoyed was bloody!
Zhou Jiong did not expect these things. If Zhang Yue hadn't smoothed it all out in advance, his son and grandson would have been confessed today.
Monthly ticket recommendation ticket
Thanks to Blood Feather Fang for the reward.
I’ll stop here tonight and continue tomorrow. Good night!
(End of chapter)
