Lao Zhu sat firmly on the Diaoyutai, watching the two of His Highnesses tear each other apart without rushing to talk to each other.
Zheng Shiyuan received a positive reply from the Minister of War and asked Lao Zhu for instructions.
"Your Majesty, I would like to ask you for permission to bring the witnesses and your Majesty's permission."
"allow."
When the witness was brought in and the moment their eyes met, the Minister of War's expression was obviously a little more panicked.
Although they try their best to cover it up, they can still be discovered as long as someone pays attention.
After the witness said long live the three times, Zheng Shiyuan took a document, handed it to the visitor, and said to him.
"Look at this, it's the document you reported on."
The witness just took the document, looked at it twice, and then confirmed it.
"Yes, this is it. If your Majesty and your lords don't believe it, you can find the letters from the official's home and compare them."
This is a bit rigorous. As I said, the verification can be left behind to save time.
Lao Zhu said directly.
"We can discuss the verification later. Whether it is a false accusation or not is not your concern now. Now you just need to explain the matter clearly to us."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"In the first month of the fifth year, the army invaded Mobei. The Ministry of War mobilized war horses from various places to replenish the border and replenish armaments."
"The lower official is responsible for the review of one of the batch of war horses. That batch of war horses were originally good horses, but for some reason, they turned out to be very ordinary. Most of them did not meet the standards of good horses."
"The subordinate reported it to the superior, but the reply he got was that the matter is urgent, everything should be taken into account, and arrangements should be made first."
"Although I have doubts in my heart, I have no choice but to let him go."
"Afterwards, although I felt that something was fishy and the war situation was urgent, I had no choice but to send the ordinary horses as good horses. However, if I delay the opportunity to fight, I will be guilty of an unforgivable crime."
"I will sort out the matter, write it down in a letter, and send it to Master Shangshu for a final decision."
"Afterwards, Lord Shangshu met with the lower official and inquired about the matter in detail. He seemed to want to investigate thoroughly."
"Then there was no more, and the matter was settled. Since there was no evidence for this matter, Master Shangshu jumped over the hierarchy and reported it to his subordinates for demerit."
"There are two other people who had the same experience as the official, but they reported it, but they did not continue to report it to Lord Shangshu."
"Xiaguan has been doing clerical work in the Ministry of War since then, and the other two have had much better experiences than Xiaguan, and they have been promoted now."
"On this matter, what I said is true. If there is any untruth, I am willing to be punished."
The matter has been explained in detail, and there are also written documents, witnesses and physical evidence. No matter how you defend yourself, it is useless.
If you still don’t believe it, then continue calling! See who has consumed whom.
The direction of this matter has completely gone out of control.
It was useless for the Minister of War to say that he knew or didn't know. Instead, he fell into passivity because of such a wrong sentence.
There is no good way. If you are tough-talking, just keep talking tough!
"I have committed a crime of negligence. I plead guilty and the gifts received must be returned in full. However, I really don't know what I reported, and I don't know when this document arrived at my place of governance. I really don't know. Unjustly accused.”
A mixture of runny nose and tears, the expression of Minister of War was like this. Those who didn't know it could really be confused by this performance.
But when things got to this point, the evidence of corruption by the right minister Liu Qian was conclusive and there was no way to save him.
As the Minister of War, as Liu Qian's superior, he would definitely not be able to escape the crime of negligence. It would not be justified if he had no knowledge at all.
A tough talk is a tough talk, and there is evidence. Faced with the evidence, everyone naturally chose Mingzhe to protect themselves. Before the matter became clear, they did not plead to the Minister of War.
In the field, only the Minister of War was performing his one-man show.
Only then did Lao Zhu speak.
"That's enough. If you say you don't know, then you don't know! Without conclusive evidence, we won't touch you."
"Now, let me aggrieve you first.
Are you satisfied with staying in jail for a few days and then making a decision after the truth comes out? "
The Minister of War was confused for a moment, and so were the courtiers, so he was thrown into jail so lightly.
For such an obvious matter, it all depends on how you decide it. Why are you waiting? Isn’t it unnecessary?
"I am guilty and should be sent to prison. It all depends on His Majesty's orders."
Lao Zhu grinned and said.
"Bring the Minister of War to us."
This process was easy and familiar, and the Minister of War was quickly taken away.
When Lao Zhu saw people leaving, he looked at Mao Xiang and Zheng Shiyuan and continued.
"Is the evidence of what Liu Qian and the head of the Driving Department committed is conclusive? Is there any omissions or hidden secrets?"
"Confirmed, the gifts alone exceeded the salary he received, and the money found in his mansion amounted to tens of thousands."
"In addition to his participation in the operation of the gambling house and the profits he made from it, the rest of the money was obtained through embezzlement from the Ministry of War."
"Because I went so suddenly, all the ledgers and everything were there."
"The head of the Driving Department also has clear records."
Lao Zhu nodded. Regarding the death penalty, Lao Zhu was still very strict.
One of the things Dali Temple does is to review the charges of death row inmates to see if there are any wrongdoings.
Lao Zhu hates corrupt people deeply, but he will not wrongly accuse a good person.
After getting a clear answer, he said.
"Drag Liu Qian off his official robe, and take the head of the Driving Department outside the palace for us."
"Follow me and go to the temple to watch the execution."
The efficiency this time was quite high. They were sentenced directly without asking any questions. Although the evidence was conclusive, it was very efficient!
Such a thing also has a great reference significance, and everyone is guessing what punishment will be imposed.
It was noon. Although the winter weather was cold, the sun was too bright and it would be uncomfortable to stay there for a long time.
Seeing the high-level officials filing out of the hall, the officials lined up stood up straight, as if waiting for review.
Lao Zhu walked outside the hall, but instead of getting off the platform, he had someone move a chair under the eaves.
The ministers who came out lined up one by one under the eaves, forming two rows on the left and right.
The bound Liu Qian and the head of the driving department were tied up in a place in the square under the eyes of everyone.
Lao Zhu looked at the civil and military personnel and sighed inexplicably in his heart. He found out that a military department was in ruins from top to bottom.
If you think about it carefully, you will find that there are many places where corruption of all kinds occurs without your knowledge.
I didn't feel anything like this until I discovered it. Once I discovered it, Lao Zhu had an urge to do something grand and frighten these people.
Only then can this trend of corruption be stopped.
Throughout the past dynasties, there were not many things we could learn from that could effectively curb this trend.
In addition to supervision, it is reporting, otherwise it is caused by party strife.
Lao Zhu started from a bowl and reached his current position. He is eager to learn, but he also has his own way of doing things.
