The implementation of the New Deal on Jiangnan East Road and the Economic Boundary Law caused an uproar. The entire Song Dynasty was paying attention to this matter.
On Jiangnan East Road, at the Yamen of the Punishment Department, Song Ci, the official of the Punishment Department, was receiving the visiting Dali Temple Minister Xu Xuan and the head of the Anti-Corruption Department Zhou Ping.
Jiangnan East Road clarified the official administration, and the Ministry of Punishment was excluded. The three departments of the Anti-Corruption Department, Dali Temple, and the Punishment Department held a joint trial. The three chief officials had to talk to each other first to discuss how to handle the case so that the emperor could make a decision.
"Mr. Zhou, how should we deal with these officials? What do you have in mind?"
Xu Xuan, the minister of Dali Temple, spoke, hoping to find out the emperor's intentions from this uncle.
He also did not expect that there would be such a big resistance to the emperor's implementation of the New Deal on Jiangnan East Road. He didn't even expect that the emperor would use such thunderous methods to make such a big move.
"How can a lower-level official have any high opinions? Nowadays, these officials are not only guilty of corruption, but also corrupt and perverting the law. They have committed many crimes. This is the case you brought against the Criminal Division and Dali Temple."
Unjust, false, and wrongful convictions, raping young girls, accepting bribes, preying on the common people, and being punished for several crimes are not just small things of corruption, but major cases of violation of the law.
The Anti-Corruption Department investigates evidence of corruption among officials, while Dali Temple is in charge of prison sentences and convicts officials according to law.
He didn't understand before why the emperor wanted the punishment department to get involved. Now it suddenly became clear that the emperor was afraid that Dali Temple would not be able to handle it, so he hired the black-faced Song Ci to be the troublemaker.
"Killing must be punished with life, and those who break the law must be punished. Huang Zhendong, Liu Hao and other local eunuchs should be executed according to the law. Gu Song, Huang Rucheng, Du Shi and others, as high officials of the imperial court, knew the law and violated the law. They took human life seriously and instigated the local eunuchs to fight against the imperial court. They are not punishable!"
Sure enough, the black-faced Song Ci expressed his opinion without hesitation.
People like Huang Zhendong, Liu Hao, and other rural eunuchs who killed officials and burned down official offices could escape legal prosecution, so why do they need the law? What do you want this punishment department to do?
As for officials such as Gu Song, Huang Rucheng, and Du Shi, not to mention accepting huge bribes, making unjust, false and wrongful convictions, abusing the people and disregarding human lives, any law would be enough to kill them.
I hope that Dali Temple will not be peaceful and light.
"When it comes to punishment in the Song Dynasty, be patient and don't be impatient. Huang Zhendong is an official of the former dynasty who became an official, and Gu Song and others are high-ranking officials of the current dynasty. They have great influence on both the government and the public. When handling such a major case, you must be even more cautious."
Xu Xuan frowned and looked at Zhou Ping.
"Mr. Zhou, what do you mean by your majesty?"
In fact, what he wanted to ask was the emperor's attitude towards dealing with eunuchs and officials. As for how to deal with those subordinate officials who committed crimes, he didn't care.
Imperial power did not go to the countryside, and rural officials controlled the countryside at the grassroots level. If the investigation is too broad, it may cause local unrest.
The emperor's attitude is crucial.
"Your Majesty naturally wants to cut the knot quickly and deal with this case quickly so that the new policy can be implemented and the border law can be implemented as soon as possible."
Song Ci couldn't help but interrupt again.
This Dali Temple Minister has grown old and has lost his original vigor. He only knows how to flatter his superiors, which makes people sigh.
"Song Tixing is right. His Majesty has trouble sleeping and eating over these cases. There are many obstacles to the implementation of the New Deal. You can imagine the anxiety in His Majesty's heart. It is better to close the case early so that the New Deal and the Economic Law can be implemented as quickly and smoothly as possible. This is fundamental."
Zhou Ping often followed Zhao Hong, so Zhou Ping had a good guess at what Zhao Hong was thinking.
Jiangnan East Road implemented the New Deal and built a model for a country, and then the New Deal was implemented throughout the Song Dynasty.
This is what the emperor wants to do now.
"Your Majesty is concerned about the country and the people, and he has devoted himself to it, and I deeply admire him."
Xu Xuan nodded, ignoring Song Ci's dark face, but said meaningfully:
"Have you ever thought about it? The foundation of our country is that the king and the scholar-bureaucrats rule the world together. The so-called punishment is not as good as the scholar-bureaucrats, let alone the death penalty. If your Majesty really treats it like this, the officials will be panicked, the people of the world will be uneasy, and the consequences will be difficult to predict .”
"Does Mr. Xu mean that these cases will be dropped?"
Zhou Ping felt unhappy and asked directly.
According to what this Dali Temple Minister means, big things should be reduced to small things, and small things should be eliminated.
"Master Zhou, please don't misunderstand Song Tixing. I said this not to excuse those officials and local eunuchs, but to consider His Majesty."
Xu Xuan looked at the two men with gloomy faces, stroked his white beard, and continued with a sad face.
"You two don't know that the incident on Jiangnan East Road has spread to Lin'an City and caused a stir. The government and the public were shocked. Before I came to Jinling, I am afraid that there were no less than a hundred people who came to intercede for the officials involved in the case, including many of the leaders of the court. member."
Xu Xuan's eyes were dark and his tone was gentle.
"I'm afraid that if the investigation is too strict, there will be too many people who oppose it, and His Majesty will be unable to dismount, which will make it difficult for him to do his job."
Xu Xuan's words made Zhou Ping startled.
It seems that the arrest of officials on Jiangnan East Road has really stirred up the ant's nest, and all the ghosts, ghosts, and snakes have jumped out.
The emperor has only been in power for half a year, and his foundation in the court is not yet solid. If it causes turmoil in the court, can the throne still be secure?
It's because the uncle of the dynasty has changed his mind. Much of the original concern for the country and the people has been transferred to the future fate of the Zhou family.
The emperor must not be in trouble. This is also the prerequisite for the prosperity of the Zhou family. This is also the reason why he hesitates about the case.
"Your Majesty is determined to revive the Song Dynasty, and he will definitely not give in so easily!"
Song Ci said loudly with a straight face, saliva flying everywhere.
"On Jiangnan East Road, the officials are so corrupt and pervert the law, and the country officials are so crazy. Once your Majesty retreats, he will lose his trust in the world. How can he face the people of the Song Dynasty? How can Jiangnan East Road implement the New Deal?"
Wouldn't the Emperor of the Song Dynasty, who was more powerful than the Qin Emperor and the Han Dynasty, just give up in spite of the difficulties?
"Song Tixing, you must also understand in your heart that in our dynasty, the king and the scholar-bureaucrats rule the world together, not the king and the people. I also want to govern the Qingming Dynasty and make the country rich and the people strong. But in the face of reality, when it is time to bow, we must Lower your head."
Xu Xuan gave a helpless smile.
Song Cici is upright and upright, similar to himself in previous years. But the official affairs on Jiangnan East Road were too big, and he, the minister of Dali Temple, had to be careful to avoid self-defeating and making the emperor unable to step down.
"If your Majesty is really like this and compromises in front of everyone, I will resign from my position as a criminal officer, retire to the countryside, and never set foot in officialdom again!"
Song Ciyi was filled with anger, flushed, and refused to compromise at all.
It is not his character to follow the crowd and go with the flow, nor is it his way of doing things.
"Song Tixing, you are a court official. You must do things for the sake of the king, not just based on your passion. If you take a step back, the world will be brighter, and you will have a chance to come back in the future."
Xu Xuan persuaded his descendants with earnest words.
"Ms. Xu, if you take a step back, everything will be over! Maybe you will miss the great opportunity for the resurgence of the Song Dynasty! I can't bear to compromise!"
Song Ci was extremely stubborn and still insisted on his own point of view.
"Song Ti Xing, if the government and the public are in turmoil and the world is uneasy, how can we talk about the resurgence of the Song Dynasty?"
"Ms. Xu, I disagree with this. The implementation of the New Deal has come to an abrupt end, and the Song Dynasty will return to its old ways. There are more and more abuses, and the government is declining day by day. What hope does the Song Dynasty have to make a comeback?"
"You two gentlemen, stop arguing. I have something to say."
Zhou Ping thought for a moment and stopped the quarrel between the two.
These two people have different views. Even if they argue for three days and three nights, there may be no conclusion.
"My two gentlemen, I would like to summarize the case together. Let's go to destroy the saint together and see how His Majesty decides. We will just do it."
Zhou Ping said, but he hesitated in his heart.
He knew Zhao Hong very well. With Zhao Hong's fierce and decisive temperament, he would never give in easily. I'm afraid it would be in vain if he went.
"What Chief Zhou said is true. However, when we meet His Majesty, we still need to analyze the pros and cons and not act arbitrarily and make it difficult for His Majesty."
Xu Xuan agreed, and there was something in his words.
"No matter what your Majesty's holy will is, I still insist on one thing. Those who kill must pay for their lives, and everything must abide by the law! If your Majesty needs to torture officials, I will do my duty!"
Song Ci's face was as dark as water, unmoved by Xu Xuan's words.
He always believed in his heart that the emperor thought exactly the same as him and would not give in to the surrounding forces.
Cool official!
Zhou Ping and Xu Xuan looked at each other, Zhou Ping smiled in relief, and Xu Xuan shook his head with a bitter smile.
As expected, it was Song Ci, who couldn't get enough oil and salt. If he interferes like this, who knows what kind of thunder and dew the emperor will have?
