…
The next day, Li Shen compiled a large amount of evidence of officials' illegal crimes and decided to take action.
In the court, Li Shenyi stated righteously that officials at all levels were suspected of being lazy, and then he and Honglin sang a double act, and successfully promulgated the self-redemption policy between the government and the opposition.
After the dynasty dispersed, Li Shen's mansion was surrounded by crowds of people, all of whom came to inquire about the matter.
After screening, Li Shen decided to take action on the person named Wang Guozhen first. After all, he had great power in the court. If any of the corruption charges collected were taken and rigorously investigated, the Yi people would end up confiscating their homes.
"Master Wang, please sit down."
"Master Li, please give me an accurate answer. How much money does it cost to purchase a self-redemption coupon?"
Wang Guozhen had been an official for more than 20 years, so she naturally knew what Li Shen's intention was, and she just wanted to pay the money quickly to buy peace.
Li Shen said with a smile: "Mr. Wang, you heard what the Long Live Master said in the court just now. This self-redemption certificate does not have a price clearly stated.
The amount of payment must be determined after discussing the crime. Of course, if Mr. Wang believes that he is law-abiding, he does not need to buy the self-redemption coupon. "
As he spoke, he picked up the tea cup, gently slid the lid of the bowl, and assumed a casual posture, which made Guo Guo, who was sitting opposite, frown.
After a long time, Wang Guozhen interrupted him and said: "Master Li, please give us a count, so that we can have a better understanding."
Li Shen said unhurriedly: "Mr. Wang, do you really not understand? If we discuss the crime system, we can naturally discuss it. How can we understand the mistakes we have made? How much do we need for this self-atonement scroll? You’d better discuss it yourself.”
After that, he continued drinking tea and stopped looking at Wang Guozhen.
Finally, Wang Guozhen couldn't hold back her anger: "Master Li, I think I am honest and fair even when I am a low-ranking official, but I have some flaws after serving as an official for more than 20 years.
Now that you've agreed, what do you think of the official's willingness to pay five hundred taels of silver as a form of atonement? "
When Li Shen heard this, he cursed secretly: Five hundred taels? Are you kidding me? Just for the things you committed, do you want to use this money to pay for your crimes? It’s just a ridiculous dream!
Then, he put down the tea cup and said with a smile: "The emperor in the main hall also said that the self-redemption scroll was set up to promote integrity.
How much you have to pay depends entirely on your personal performance as an official. If Mr. Wang thinks that what he has committed is only worth five hundred taels, then he will pay the five hundred taels.
After that, people from the clan government will investigate. If the guilt is true, then everything will be easy to explain, but if other illegalities are found,
With the temper of Long Live Lord, Mr. Wang had better think carefully. "
Wang Guozhen was shocked. Seeing Li Shen's calm and calm look, she didn't know how to respond for a moment.
He thought about it carefully and then said: "Okay, I am willing to donate all my savings, a total of five thousand taels!"
"hehe……"
Hearing this, Li Shen still smiled and shook his head.
Seeing this, Wang Guozhen immediately raised her voice: "Master Li! This is all my wealth, why isn't it enough?"
Li Shen said: "Sir Wang, among the officials you recommended in the 26th year of Shengyuan, one is the salt envoy and the other is the chief envoy.
These two official vacancies are both fat jobs. I heard that the two people were originally from poor families, but now they are buying up properties all over the south of the Yangtze River.
There are dozens of houses, and it’s very nice to wear gold and silver when going out.
Do you think that if Long Live Master knew about this situation, would he investigate the two of them thoroughly? "
Wang Guozhen was startled, and then she realized that Li Shen had come prepared.
The two people he recommended secretly sent tens of thousands of taels of silver to the mansion every year, which made him a lot of money over the years.
In fact, this matter can be known without careful investigation, and it is not a secret. After all, which civil and military officials in the entire dynasty were not greedy and who did not accept filial piety?
I thought that everyone knew this open secret, but I never thought that Li Shen would bring it up directly.
This is tantamount to warning yourself that if you don't give a satisfactory answer today, once the court takes action against the two of them, you will be implicated.
"Master Li, I..."
"Don't be nervous, Mr. Wang. I trust your character, so why would you collude with those two people?"
Li Shen smiled brightly, but in Wang Guozhen's eyes, this smile was as scary as a devil, making him breathless.
For a long time, Wang Guozhen said with a depressed expression: "Master Li, I am willing to donate 30,000 taels of silver. This is my entire net worth. I really can't afford any more."
Li Shen said: "Master Wang, you are in the second rank of the current dynasty, and you have disciples all over the government and the public. Do you dare to guarantee that everyone will be honest and law-abiding? Guarantee that everyone is honest and upright?"
According to Daijin's law, recommending an official will be punished, and the recommender will also be punished according to the severity of the case. Mr. Wang, don't lose the big for the small. "
Wang Guozhen closed her eyes in pain and said after a long time: "Fifty thousand taels, this is all my wealth."
"One hundred thousand taels!"
Li Shen stopped hiding and directly reported a number.
"What? One hundred thousand taels!?"
Wang Guozhen opened her eyes wide.
Li Shen: "Master Wang, you have received more than one hundred thousand taels of money from the Yanzheng and Buzheng in recent years. Do you really think that Long Live Lord and I don't know this?
One hundred thousand taels buys you peace of mind. It is a gift from the emperor to you. You are not satisfied even if you get an advantage! Do you really have to investigate thoroughly before you are willing to accept it? "
Wang Guozhen was extremely distressed. He had one hundred thousand taels of silver, but he was unwilling to give it away like this.
But there is no way, who will let himself be caught? If you don't do what Li Shen said, it won't be long before you lose your official position and give up your title.
It’s better to lose money and avoid disaster.
So Wang Guozhen agreed.
After getting the self-redemption certificate, Wang Guozhen was dumbfounded again. It only said "80,000 taels of silver to be paid for the crime", which was a full 20,000 taels less.
After thinking for a moment, he understood that the 20,000 taels of silver must have been embezzled by Li Shen.
But there was nothing he could do, after all, officialdom was like this...
With Wang Guozhen as the starting point, the rest of the criminal proceedings went smoothly. Most of the officials in the Li Mansion bought self-redemption certificates, with prices ranging from three thousand taels to one hundred thousand taels. In just one day, Li Shen collected money for Honglin. It amounted to more than 1.2 million taels of silver, not including the "profit" he made from it.
That night, Zhang Quan checked the account books and said to Li Shen with a smile: "Sir, this is really amazing. A full 240,000 taels of silver came into the account today. The money comes in really fast."
Li Shen said: "I work for Long Live Lord, so naturally I have to do my best, but we can't just do it for nothing. The bulk of it belongs to Long Live Lord, so we just charge a small amount.
If I resign one day, I can live a more peaceful life. "
Zhang Quandao: "Sir, do you think there will be so many people coming to buy these self-redemption coupons tomorrow?"
"Just a lot more!" Li Shen said with a smile, "No official is clean. Now that we have given them a way to save their lives, how can they not cherish it? Just wait..."
After saying that, he put away the account books, ordered Zhang Quan to lock it in the cabinet, and then went to prepare the memorial for the next day.
