Hou Junji is arrogant. He is proud of his merits, so he dares to be so arrogant and rogue in front of the four interrogators.
With such an attitude and no cooperation, the case will not progress at all!
Therefore, Dai Zhou simply refused to interrogate him, and first sprayed him sharply, pricking his weak spots, knocking down his arrogance first, and making him understand——
You have no right to be arrogant!
In fact, you are not even as good as a hair on Taishi's legs. Now you are just a sewer rat that everyone calls for beating! What's there to be crazy about?
I have to say that Dai Zhou's idea was correct and his words were extremely aggressive. He immediately broke Hou Junji's defense!
"Fuck you! Dai Zhou! How dare you insult me!"
"I'm not as good as the one named Xu? How can he be better than the one named Xu? When I was fighting on the battlefield with the King of Qin, he didn't know where to drink milk!"
"He is just a villain, a villain who is plotting behind the scenes!! If he can get ahead, I will kill him!!"
Hou Junji, whose face was red and veins were bulging, stared and roared, completely losing his rogue attitude just now.
"Lies never hurt, truth is the sharp edge."
Wen Yanbo sneered and said,
"If what Dai Zhou said was false, how could you behave like this?"
"The more anxious and angry you are, the more true Dai Zhou's words are. Even you admit it in your heart! It's just that you are not forgiving!"
"Right?"
It was precisely because Hou Junji subconsciously admitted that what Dai Zhou said was the "truth" that he became so hysterical.
At this moment, the mood of the four interrogating people was somewhat joyful.
Just now Hou Junji manipulated their mentality, but now...the offense and defense have changed!
It was their turn to let Hou Junji's mentality collapse. Anyway, the old guy was tied up heavily and couldn't beat them.
"You still want to have a chance to succeed? Haha... Your crime is enough to be beheaded a thousand times! What a wishful thinking!"
"You still say that the Grand Master is a villain? I think you are the real and out-and-out villain! It's so satisfying that the Grand Master can catch such a moth like you out, it's really a revelation!"
"Exactly! Hou Junji, you ask where the Grand Master is better than you? Then I tell you, justice lies in the human heart! In our eyes, in the eyes of the people in the world, the Grand Master is a thousand times, ten thousand times better than you ! No matter how unconvinced you are, this is also a fact!"
"..."
Every word of heart-wrenching words pierced Hou Junji like a sharp knife, making him look like he was going crazy.
"You! You... all deserve to die, all deserve to die!"
Hou Junji stared at the four people, roared angrily, and struggled against the shackles!
Wow! Wow!
The chain swayed, wrestling with him easily,
After struggling for a moment, Hou Junji was exhausted. When he sat back on the stool, he was as tired as a dead dog.
"Hou Junji, let me tell you clearly now!"
Dai Zhou knew that the time was almost up, he slammed the table and ordered,
"It's best to cooperate with us and confess all the crimes you committed. Maybe your majesty will be able to reminisce about his old feelings and be given a lighter sentence. If you continue to be stubborn, you will only die!"
"If you don't think about yourself, you should also think about your wife, children, and children."
"Throughout the dynasties, many people have been executed due to serious corruption! You'd better think clearly whether to continue to fight or to cooperate."
After the words fell, he closed his eyes and said no more.
When a person is naked and barefoot, he is the most generous. He is not afraid of anything, not even death!
But when he has a family, a career, an old man and a young man, and finally enjoys the glory and wealth, he must be fragile!
Human nature is what it is.
Sure enough, when Hou Junji heard these words, a look of annoyance and irritation flashed in his eyes.
"The emperor... won't be so heartless!"
He said categorically,
"I have made great military exploits for the Tang Dynasty. Even if he kills me, he will not touch my wife and daughter!"
Li Daozong couldn't help but sneered when he heard this.
"Whether the emperor is ruthless or not depends on your current attitude."
He stroked his chin gently and said,
"Our Majesty says he is merciful, but if he really wants to be ruthless, he will be the most ruthless person in the world!"
"You have been with him for so many years, don't you know his style?"
Li Daozong didn't explain clearly, but several people in the room understood——
The emperor will not be ruthless?
If someone is ruthless, his own brothers will be killed directly!
You are just a minister, do you count?
Hou Junji's expression changed, and his mind began to waver a little.
At this moment, there was a sound of footsteps, and the door of the interrogation room was pushed open. A clerk walked in quickly and handed the file in his hand to Dai Zhou.
"Three Prime Ministers, this is the file about Hou Junji. Mr. Changsun sent me to deliver it."
The clerk said respectfully,
"Maybe it will be helpful for your interrogation."
When Dai Zhou heard this, he raised his eyebrows.
He took the file and flipped through it a few times, his eyes suddenly brightened!
"Good, very good! Brother Changsun sent this file at the right time!"
Wen Yanbo and Li Daozong both leaned their heads over to check the contents of the file.
Di Zhisun also stretched his neck.
The four of them ignored Hou Junji and concentrated on reading. At this moment, Hou Junji's heart was struggling every second!
finally!
"Hou Junji, you have one last chance to cooperate."
Dai Zhou raised the file in his hand and said with a smile,
"If you don't tell me, I will go find Zhang Cong, Wang Jian, Liu Qiwu, and Deng Hui to interrogate you now."
"I'm counting... there are more than a dozen people in total, including Zhang Chuan, Li San, Wu Gui..."
"Haha, I think they will definitely be willing to cooperate. When the time comes, I can also get the answer I want."
Hou Junji's pupils shrank: "!!!"
Of course he is familiar with these names, because they are all his henchmen who are trying to make money for him!
Several names have been exposed by Xu Fenglei... But he was still taking chances before.
As long as he doesn't move, the whole boat won't capsize!
But now this single thought, that bit of luck is gone.
"I……"
Hou Junji swallowed hard and finally spit out the word,
"trick."
The four interrogators looked at each other and smiled.
At the same time, a chill rose in their hearts.
The emperor indeed has a secret force monitoring all the officials. Every move of everyone...if he wants to know, he can know it!
As for officials who have gone astray, whether they should be punished or not depends entirely on the emperor's mood.
…
One day later.
Political Hall.
Li Shimin sat on the main seat, looking at the ministers on the left and right, frowning slightly.
"Why doesn't Xu Fenglei come?"
He pointed to the first seat below and said displeasedly,
"Don't he know that I will discuss matters in the political hall today?"
"Still no one notified him?"
Li Er's eyes turned to the attendant on the side.
"Back to Your Majesty, I sent someone to invite you early in the morning."
The nearby eunuch said hurriedly,
"But... Keren came back and said that the Grand Master is ill and is bedridden at home, so he cannot attend the meeting."
Li Shimin frowned.
"Sick? I saw him fine two days ago, but is he sick now?"
He said with a suspicious look on his face,
"Is your illness so severe that you can't even get out of bed?"
"Why don't I believe it?"
The waiter looked a little embarrassed when he was asked such a rhetorical question.
"This... this slave doesn't know either."
He responded,
"The concierge at Duke Xu's Mansion said that the Grand Master was infected with typhoid fever or something... Anyway, it was an acute illness."
"The Grand Master also asked him to bring a message to apologize to His Majesty."
When Li Shimin heard this, he snorted coldly.
"Typhoid fever? It's almost summer. What kind of typhoid fever do you have?"
He pointed at Fang Xuanling and ordered,
"Whether it's a purported illness or a real illness, since he doesn't want to come, then he shouldn't come! I have so many wise and resourceful people to assist me, so it doesn't hurt to miss him!"
"Fang Aiqing, come here, sit in his seat and fill the vacancy!"
"Everyone else, please advance!"
Not coming?
Even the chairs will be carried away for you!
"Ah, this..."
Fang Xuanling raised her hands in embarrassment and said,
"Your Majesty, there seems to be something wrong with this. The Grand Master may be really ill..."
"Huh?" Li Shimin glanced at him and said calmly, "Do you want to resist the order?"
Uh-huh.
Fang Xuanling stood up quickly and took Xu Fenglei's place.
The subsequent ministers also stepped forward one by one, and the last minister standing at the edge was surprised to get a seat!
"I have called you here today to discuss Hou Junji's case."
Li Shimin glanced to the left and said in a deep voice,
"Dai Zhou, Wen Yanbo, Li Daozong."
"Tell everyone the results of your review."
Swish, swish, swish.
"According to the order." All three people stood up.
Dai Zhou took out a book from his sleeve, held it in his hands and read:
"Since the ninth year of Wude, Hou Junji has embezzled and misappropriated court funds, sold off, and misappropriated state assets, a total of 23 times."
"There are fourteen officials involved in the case, including Youwei Zhonglang General Zhang Cong, Colonel Wang Jian, Liu Qiwu, etc., and Directors of the Third Department of the Ministry of War Deng Hui, Zhang Chuan, Li San, etc. Zhao Yi, Director of the Ministry of Works, and his subordinates Wu Gui and others."
"Among them, Zhao Yi, the director of the Ministry of Industry, was involved in the most cases and embezzled the largest amount, totaling more than 23,000 taels, of which he embezzled more than 5,700 taels himself, and the rest were dedicated to Hou Junji."
"In the past four years, Hou Junji's total amount of corruption was... fifty-nine thousand, eight hundred and fifty-seven taels!"
An astonishing number, like a heavy hammer, hit the hearts of the ministers!
In an instant, shock filled everyone's faces!
"It's nearly 60,000 taels! Oh my god...how much money does the national treasury receive in a year?"
"My dear, this is almost as much as the entire year's tax of a wealthy state! How dare Hou Junji do that?"
"What a damn moron! Such corrupt officials must be sentenced to death to set the record straight!"
"Yes, yes, you are right! The death penalty must be imposed! This should sound the alarm to those who are ready to take action!"
"..."
The ministers discussed one after another, and in the end they were all filled with righteous indignation and unanimously agreed that——
Hou Junji, a corrupt man like this, must die!
If he doesn't die, the court will be doomed and the Tang Dynasty will be hopeless!
"quiet!"
The eunuch shouted, and the political hall quickly became quiet.
Li Shimin glanced at the ministers, with no emotion or anger on his face.
In the end, his eyes fell on Dai Zhou.
"Dai Qing, what is the final result of the Dali Temple trial?"
Li Er asked in a deep voice.
"Back to Your Majesty, on behalf of Dali Temple, I will give you the result of the trial."
Dai Zhou said sonorously and forcefully,
"Officials involved in the case, such as Zhao Yi, Zhang Cong and others, in addition to helping Hou Jun collect corruption, have also engaged in embezzlement! According to the "Zhenguan Law", they should all be sentenced to death!"
"The crimes of these fourteen people are serious. I think they should be executed immediately, without waiting until autumn!"
Li Shimin nodded slightly.
"Ministry of Punishment, does Yushitai have any objections?"
He looked at Li Daozong. Wen Yanbo.
"I have no objection."
Both of them bowed their hands in response.
"Okay, sure."
Li Shimin said calmly,
"These fourteen corrupt officials will be executed in three days. All ministers will go to the execution ground to watch."
All the ministers were shocked.
The emperor wants to kill the chicken to scare the monkeys! They are all monkeys...
"Where is the main culprit? How to judge."
Li Shimin asked again.
"Your Majesty, the corruption case involving Hou Junji is the largest and most serious corruption case since the founding of the Tang Dynasty!"
Dai Zhou responded,
"Even if I read through history books, it is extremely rare!"
"After my discussion with the Minister of Punishment and Yushi Zhongcheng, they all agreed that Hou Junji should be executed in his entire family!"
Kill the whole family!
This was the heaviest punishment, but in the ears of all the ministers, no one thought there was anything wrong with it.
For committing this heinous crime, he deserves to be executed! What's there to say?
Li Shimin raised his eyelids.
"but."
Dai Zhou said again,
"During the interrogation process, apart from Hou Junji being a little uncooperative at the beginning, he was honest in all subsequent investigations."
"I also said that if he can cooperate, your majesty may give him a slightly lighter sentence. Therefore... I ask your majesty to decide the punishment for this person's crime."
Here he was, choosing to kick the ball to the emperor.
After all...who knows what the emperor was thinking?
"Let me decide?"
Li Shimin murmured and said,
"Hou Junji has meritorious service. This is true. I remember his contribution."
"Since you promised him a little leniency, and I agree, then what do you think - how to give him a little leniency?"
The question was thrown back to Dai Zhou.
"Since Your Majesty has agreed to give me a lighter sentence, I will boldly express my thoughts."
Dai Zhou said loudly,
"The crime committed by Mr. Hou is so heinous that he cannot appease everyone unless he is subjected to capital punishment. Therefore, he must be executed!"
"But his family may be saved from death because of His Majesty's mercy."
"I think that the prince and his family should be exiled and sent to Lingnan! In this way, your majesty can be considered to have done his best to be benevolent and righteous."
Among the ministers, many nodded, and many changed their expressions.
"After all, Hou Junji has meritorious service. Dai Zhou's sentence is understandable."
"Yes, although he is guilty, his family is innocent after all... Your Majesty is a benevolent king, and he will not want to commit more crimes."
"Nonsense! When he was corrupt, didn't his family enjoy it? It's ridiculous to say that they are innocent! I think we can't just forgive him, we must kill them all, so that those who come after us can be alert and not dare to be corrupt again!"
"That's right! Gong is merit, fault is fault, merit and fault cannot offset each other!"
"..."
For a time, there were voices of support and opposition in the political hall, and no one could convince anyone.
Li Shimin held his forehead.
The two groups were quarreling fiercely, but they agreed on one thing, and that was——
Hou Junji must die!
(End of chapter)
