Zhao Hong saw the reactions of several ruling ministers and knew it well.
Rather than saying that several ministers were protecting Gu Song and Hu Yuanfeng, it was better to say that they were protecting themselves and the interests of the entire scholar-bureaucrat class.
"My lords, the laws of the country are strict and ruthless, and no one can overstep them."
Zhao Hong looked at the ministers with a calm expression, but he had already made a decision in his heart.
"If the New Deal is implemented on Jiangnan East Road, if the thunder is loud and the rain is small, it will be difficult to implement the Economic Boundary Law, and there will be no talk of a New Deal. Since the implementation of the Economic Boundary Law, our government has tried every time, but all have failed. The root cause is the powerful officials. Collusion, collusion. I don’t care what history says, what I want is that the people no longer suffer, what I want is the people’s support, and what I want is an iron-clad Song Dynasty!”
Zhao Hong's words were so resounding that the officials in the room were solemn and frightened.
Listening to this meaning, the emperor is going to thunder and kill with great pain.
"Your Majesty, after all, there are many high-ranking officials among them. Once a thorough investigation is carried out, the officialdom of Jiangnan East Road will be in turmoil and people will be panicked. Your Majesty, think twice!"
Zhen Dexiu mustered up the courage and wanted to make one last effort.
If we really punish scholars, once it starts, all the officials in the court will be upset, and who will have the heart to do anything?
"I'm still saying the same thing, you have a salary and a salary, and the people care for you. The people are easy to abuse, but God is hard to bully. Scholars cultivate themselves, manage their families, govern the country, and bring peace to the world. How come there are so many shameless scum? As a court official, I don't share the worries of the court. , instead of benefiting the people, they are officials who only care about lust, glory and wealth, and can only harm the country and the people. Do they have the nerve to continue? Do you dare to let them continue?"
After Zhao Hong rebuked him, Zhen Dexiu and others all looked solemn and bowed their heads in silence.
They didn't think Zhao Hong was very eloquent, but Zhao Hong's righteousness made it difficult for them to say many carefully thought-out words.
"Your Majesty, can you change the death penalty to exile? This will show your Majesty's benevolence and also reflect the goodness of God's love for life."
Prime Minister Xue Ji also wanted to do his part.
"Xue Qing, the law is ruthless, so don't make things difficult for me. Otherwise, how will the New Deal be implemented? How can I enrich the country and strengthen the army?"
The goal has been achieved, and Zhao Hong's tone has become gentle.
He did not want to antagonize these ruling ministers. In any case, he still needed them to help him handle political affairs so that he could focus on implementing the New Deal.
"Song Ci, just try the case boldly and pursue the case according to law."
Zhao Hong was really satisfied with this fair and honest "cruel official".
The ministers' buttocks are not very clean. This also allowed him to handle Gu Song's case with confidence. If there were thousands of Tai students kneeling outside to plead with Gu Song, he would probably have to be careful.
After all, under Liu Xiu's rule, the army was strong and there was little pressure from foreign invasion. But he didn't have the confidence.
"Your Majesty, I am afraid that when I handle this case, I will encounter all kinds of resistance, including intercessors, deliberate obstruction, and various reasons. I am worried that this may make the case take a long time."
Song Ci was in a relaxed mood, and the sadness on her dark face was wiped away.
Sure enough, as soon as the emperor took action, the demons and ghosts disappeared one after another.
"Song Ci, you are holding my royal sword. No matter who it is, whether it is a prince, a nobleman or a feudal official, whoever dares to have a wrong idea will be killed without mercy! I also want to try to see if this royal sword is sharp enough. ?”
Zhao Hong took off the "King of Song Sword" from his waist. Dong Songchen quickly took it and handed it to Song Ci.
"I accept the order and thank you for your kindness! I will live up to your majesty's trust!"
Song Ci knelt down to accept the order, took the sword, and felt reassured.
With the Emperor's Sword of Shangfang, the case will be much easier to handle.
"You will live up to my trust, and even more importantly, you will live up to the trust of the people of the world!"
Zhao Hong looked at the pale and sad ministers, and sighed quietly.
There are people constantly trying the law, and resistance and pressure coexist. This is probably an inevitable stage that innovation and reform must go through.
But no matter who he is, he can't stop his determination to get rid of the shortcomings.
"Your Majesty, according to the punishment system of the Song Dynasty, the death penalty can be replaced by the spine of the rod, stabbing on the face, exile, and hard labor. All other minor offenses are sentenced to less than three years in prison. Your Majesty can consider whether the death penalty can be replaced by exile with imprisonment. one time."
Once the Anti-Corruption Law is really used to punish people, I'm afraid there will be a lot of heads rolling in. Song Ci also proposed the punishment of stabbing his wife.
"Xue Qing, you told the truth. It would be a pity to kill them! Even a piece of toilet paper should have its value!"
Zhao Hong's face was ashen, he thought for a moment, and then said:
"The culprits, those with bad influence such as Gu Song, Huang Rucheng, and Hu Yuanfeng, will be killed after their homes are ransacked, and they are shown to be good examples! The rest of the death sentences will be commuted to life, their homes will be confiscated, and they will serve for life. All prisoners, abolish the spine and thorns of the staff, and let them use their hard work hands, come and atone for their sins!”
Just because of the implementation of the New Deal on Jiangnan East Road, there were so many prisoners. In the entire Song Dynasty, I wonder how many more there are?
God has the virtue of good life. If we kill them all, it will really be a waste of natural resources. It is better to use them to benefit the country and the people.
"Your Majesty, Holy Ming!"
Several ruling ministers bowed and saluted together.
Gu Song and Huang Rucheng are not just corrupt. So far, this is the best ending.
"My dear friends, I have something to say first. If you are short of money, please tell me that you must not be corrupt. Don't be like Gu Song and Huang Rucheng, who corrupt the law and disregard human lives. If that happens, I will never give you mercy."
The reason for abolishing the spine and thorns is that criminals also have their dignity. Now that they have served their sentence and have chosen to accept the suffering, they do not need to suffer these unnecessary tortures again.
A dynasty should have its own self-confidence.
Zhao Hong looked at the obedient ministers and suddenly said:
"Xue Qing and other members of your family, please go down and think about it. Send officials to open a government office and build a government in Liuqiu. Send all these prisoners to Liuqiu to cultivate and guard the border. This can be regarded as waste utilization!"
Liuqiu, in later generations of Taiwan, first moved some prisoners to establish a foothold, and then followed up and opened up the road later.
The ministers had no choice but to accept the order, and everyone was frightened.
As a result, the custom of "the law does not punish everyone" can no longer continue.
Jiangnan East Road brought the case to the Criminal Division, and finally sentenced more than 100 people to death for causing death or injury to officials of the economic community. They were sentenced to more than ten years and more than five years in prison, and a thousand people each were sentenced to less than five years and more than three years.
Thousands of prisoners were exiled to Liuqiu to colonize and guard the border.
Under the covert investigation of the Anti-Corruption Department, hundreds of officials who committed crimes and committed crimes were sentenced to death. Dozens of them are waiting to be executed in the autumn, including Gu Song, the general judge of Jiankang Prefecture, Huang Rucheng, the magistrate of Xuanzhou, and Huang Rucheng, the commander of the Zhenjiang Navy. A high-ranking official like Ren. The rest were exiled and deposed according to the law, and each had his destiny.
There were even more minor officials who committed crimes and committed crimes, and the people were extremely angry. They were suppressed. More than a thousand people's death sentences were changed to exile and life-long hard labor. The subordinate officials cried like ghosts and howled like wolves, and mourned everywhere.
The government was thundering and the law was in order, and no one dared to hinder it. The public trial of the Jiangnan East Road Criminal Division made the officials and citizens of Jiangnan East Road aware of the strict laws and no longer dared to act recklessly and violate the laws.
The anti-corruption campaign is deeply rooted in the hearts of the people, and the atmosphere of officialdom on Jiangnan East Road has taken on a new look. Amid the storm of efforts to clarify official governance, combating corruption and punishing gangsters has become a topic of discussion among the people after dinner.
