The shackles dragged on the ground, making an ear-piercing sound. Under the escort of two Wude soldiers, Liu Fang, the magistrate of Yanzhou, was brought into the hall. Wang Xuanzhen, who had been sitting for a long time, put down the investigation materials in his hands and raised his eyes to look at Liu Fang. He had no intention of meeting this person, but after all, this was the first shot he fired when he came to Yulin, so he should pay more attention to it.
Liu Fang was about forty years old and was on the rise of his official career. With Wang You as his backing, he would have had a bright future had he not experienced this change.
Therefore, when Wudesi's men entered the state city, broke into the state government office, and captured him without saying a word, he was shocked and angry. Destroying someone's money is like killing one's parents, let alone one's career. In fact, he was targeted by Wude and even took action directly. It is conceivable that the future is slim, and even whether his life can be saved is a question mark. .
This is a typical civil servant. He had a good reputation in the past, his demeanor was decent, he had the style of a scholar-bureaucrat, and he was often praised by others. Even at this time, he still maintained his pride as a scholar and loyal minister. Although his steps were heavy, he was very determined. Although he was wearing prison uniform, he still seemed to be wearing fine clothes, showing an unyielding attitude.
Unfortunately, Wang Xuanzhen didn't feel the slightest bit about his behavior. He just looked at Liu Fang like he was staring at prey and said calmly: "I heard that you want to see me?"
This was a gesture of looking down and even contempt, as if it stung Liu Fang. He stared at Wang Xuanzhen: "Eagle dogs, you persecute Zhongliang like this, are you not afraid of divine punishment?"
Seeing that he was in jail and still shouting so arrogantly, Wang Xuanzhen frowned immediately. However, he had seen too many of these civil servants, and he couldn't help but ridicule him in his heart. He said lightly: "If Liu Zhizhou sees me, it is just to vent these meaningless things." Resentment, then I’m busy with official duties, so I won’t let you accompany me!”
After saying this, Liu Fang couldn't help but his face froze, his eyes slightly condensed, and he looked at Wang Xuanzhen for a while, noticing the coldness in his eyes, Liu Fang also stopped pretending, and said in a deep voice: "What crime did Benzhou commit? "
"Although Yanzhou is a remote place, with Liu Zhizhou's status, I don't think the news should be kept secret. I should hear about the things in Guannei, Longyou, and Hexi. The officials who were captured by our Wude Division before are all Whatever crime you commit, Zhizhou will commit whatever crime you commit!" Wang Xuanzhen responded calmly.
Upon hearing this, Liu Fang couldn't hold back after all, and angrily said: "Is Wu Desi so unscrupulous? Liu has served in Yanzhou for six years. Although he has made great achievements, he is naturally diligent and does not dare to slack off. He lives up to the imperial court and lives up to his subordinates. To the common people.”
Hearing Liu Fan singing in such a high tune, Wang Xuanzhen suddenly interrupted him with a smile: "This envoy is going to the northwest this time, and he has a heavy responsibility. Although Wude Secretary acts occasionally, he always has the right intention and will never be innocent. Execute! Don’t you know why Zhizhou is bound?”
When Wang Xuanzhen said these words, Liu Fang suddenly looked troubled and fell into deep thought, as if he was really thinking about where he went wrong.
After a long time, Liu Fang raised his eyes and said resolutely: "In this state, we uphold our integrity and serve the imperial court wholeheartedly. We have never exceeded the law or violated the rules. You are acting wantonly and want to incriminate loyal ministers and help you gain a bad reputation. This good head is available for you." !”
Seeing his performance, Wang Xuanzhen was also a little surprised. Many of the officials he had taken down before were either frightened, questioned the authority of Wude Division, or simply surrendered and confessed. But this was the first time Liu Fang flaunted his integrity like this.
Wang Xuanzhen thought for a while and said leisurely: "A large amount of gold, silver, money and silk were found from Yanzhou and Liu's Mansion. The female family members in the mansion are all wearing gold and silver, and even the servants are all dressed in brocade. As far as I know, Zhizhou was born in humble beginnings, with no inheritance and no management, so how could he acquire such a huge property?"
Hearing this, Liu Fang was stunned for a moment, then he came to his senses and said coldly: "If this is the case, who among the officials in the world will be innocent?"
These words were somewhat related to Wang Xuanzhen. In fact, if the charges were really based on the "unknown source of property", then if all the officials in the world were arrested, I am afraid that few people would be innocent.
However, Wang Xuanzhen's actions in the northwest were obviously targeted, and corruption was just a prerequisite. The real reason lies in the degree of collusion between these officials and local forces.
There is no doubt that Liu Fang violated taboos in this regard in Yanzhou. He was no longer compromising with the powerful and the Hu people, but was even indulgent. The problem in the northwest and even Yulin, and why the imperial court's Sinicization policy could not be implemented, was because officials like Liu Fang did nothing and only wanted to secure themselves.
In Emperor Liu's view, such officials, who were serving the imperial court in disguise but in name only being independent, were digging into the roots of the imperial court's rule and could not be tolerated.
After investigation by the Wude Division, the situation in Yanzhou has become even more difficult to recover from. Liu visited himself, but he didn't know it and thought he was a loyal minister.
"Okay!" Wang Xuanzhen knew that there was no need to communicate with a bureaucrat like Liu Fang. He waved his hand and said coldly: "I have no intention of arguing with you, nor do I have the intention to listen to your statement. If you want to argue, wait until Tokyo, go to the criminal department lobby and confess!"
After saying that, Wang Xuanzhen impatiently ordered to his subordinates in the hall: "Take him down, along with his family, property, and evidence, and take him to Tokyo for trial!"
"yes!"
Although Wang Xuanzhen had great power in his northwest mission, he still had some reservations. He had the power to arrest, but he could not dispose of these captured bureaucrats at will. This was probably the last trace of sanity that Emperor Liu retained. Otherwise, it would have been impossible to know what kind of chaos the Northwest Jing would have become, and the reason why Liu Fang dared to argue or even question Wang Xuanzhen was because he knew that these hawks and dogs of the Wude Division had no right to deal with it.
Faced with Wang Xuanzhen's actions like swatting away flies, celebrity Liu Wang could not help but feel ashamed and angry again, but he did not express too much. However, he was probably immersed in the role of a loyal minister of the imperial court and could not extricate himself. When he turned around, he did not forget to solemnly say to Wang Xuanzhen: "I would like to remind Wang Shijun that Yanzhou is not stable today. If Wude Si does not know how to restrain himself, he will definitely If there is a big chaos, we may see you again in Tokyo by then!"
After hearing what he said, Wang Xuanzhen immediately sneered and said: "Zhizhou thinks who is responsible for the serious situation in Yanzhou now?"
"And!" Wang Xuanzhen paused and said in a solemn tone: "In addition to punishing traitors and eradicating evil, my most important task when I came to the north was to assist the army in clearing up the rebellion in the northwest. Here in Yanzhou, the number of traitors is almost 10%. What's going on in Minghu Township, a place outside the law? Is Zhizhou not aware of it?"
As soon as these words came out, Liu Fang was stunned, his face gradually turned pale, and he said uneasily: "If you want to impose a crime, why bother?"
Wang Xuanzhen said coldly: "The Wude camp has been assigned to Minghu Township. When Zhizhou's uncle is arrested and brought to justice, everything will be explained. I hope that Zhizhou will still have the confidence at this time!"
A look of panic finally appeared on Liu Fang's face. Obviously, as the chief official of a state, he had been in office for many years, how could he not be aware of the situation within the territory.
Liu Fang had doubts about the situation in Minghu Township and some of Yuan Ke's performances, but he had just subconsciously ignored them in the past. But at this time, when Wang Xuanzhen pointed it out, an inexplicable panic began to fill Liu Wang's heart.
He was led down with some depression, but he probably hated the hawks like Wang Xuanzhen deeply. Before leaving the hall, Liu Fang turned around again, held up his strength and sneered: "Wang Shijun is using his power to act cruelly in the northwest, and has offended the whole country." Officials in the northwest, I hope they will not follow in the footsteps of your uncle.”
It's a pity that Wang Xuanzhen didn't even blink at these heart-wrenching words, and there was not much emotion on his face: "Don't worry, Liu Zhizhou is worried!"
In fact, Wang Xuanzhen didn't understand that after passing through the northwest, he might have become the official in Wude who offended the most bureaucrats in the world. Regardless of other places, at least in the northwest, those who wanted to eat his flesh and sleep on his skin would I'm afraid hundreds or thousands.
However, now, he has no way out. What's more, it is not these bureaucrats who determine his fate. In this regard, Wang Xuanzhen has a much clearer understanding than his uncle whose grave has green grass growing on it.
