Early next year.
After several months of serious official ration case, it was finally solved, and Liu Changqing began to rush back to the capital to resume his life.
On this day, the twelfth lunar month has just begun, winter has not retreated, and there is a rare heavy snowfall.
In the majestic Qin Palace, every palace is covered with a layer of snow-white, giving it a different artistic conception.
In the court meeting hall, all the officials of the Qin State gathered together. Emperor Shangrui was not present, but was still asleep in the palace.
Not long after, Xiao Yuan, wearing royal robes and a royal crown, walked in, and then walked straight to the throne directly above.
All the ministers knelt down and began to shout loudly: "I will see you, your Majesty. I will be your king for ten thousand years——"
"Everyone is at peace." Xiao Yuan waved his sleeves and robe and sat down on the throne.
"Thank you, Your Majesty——"
Everyone stood up. Seeing this scene, Shangguan Wenruo moved his lips, wanting to say something, but he didn't dare to speak.
"Xuan, Liu Changqing comes to see you!"
"Xuan, Liu Changqing comes to see you~~~~"
Not long after, the attendant's voice was heard one after another.
Outside the main hall, at the bottom of the hundred steps, Liu Changqing was wearing official uniform, covered in wind and snow.
After entering the main hall, he quickly stepped forward, knelt on the ground, and said seriously: "Your Majesty, Liu Changqing has lived up to your Majesty's trust. After several months, he finally solved the major case of official grain embezzlement. I have come here to report back to your Majesty and return it to your Majesty." sword."
As he spoke, he also knelt on the ground, raised his hands high, and presented the Qin King Sword.
This court meeting was obviously just for this matter.
After the King of Qin's sword was handed over, Liu Changqing respectfully handed over several volumes of official documents.
Unfolding one of the bamboo slips, Xiao Yuan glanced at him first, then his eyes fell on the bamboo slips, and at the same time he said neither lightly nor seriously: "Tell me about it."
"Yes." Liu Changqing responded first, and then said: "This case has as many as sixty-seven officials directly involved, and one hundred and thirty profiteers are implicated. The evidence is conclusive."
"After verification by Wei Chen, they used their power for personal gain, colluded with officials and businessmen, and used various means to steal official grain and make huge profits from it. Based on comprehensive statistics, the loss to the country in this case, in terms of gold and silver, was approximately 13 million taels of silver. ."
"What did you say!?" Upon hearing this, Xiao Yuan's hand holding the bamboo slips couldn't help but tremble slightly.
"Thirteen million taels of silver." Liu Changqing repeated.
Xiao Yuan was a little shocked by the number of officials involved and the huge amount of gold and silver.
The ministers on the left and right sides of the palace also looked at each other.
But this is not over yet, Liu Changqing continued: "These corrupt officials use their power to steal old and moldy grains in exchange for new grains, make false reports and conceal reports, collude with the top and bottom, or falsify official documents. There are all kinds of tricks. The ministers submitted detailed reports to the king in their official documents."
"What's even more frightening is that the officials, both high and low, have no official seal."
"What an empty official seal!" Xiao Yuan was already suppressing his anger.
Liu Changqing explained: "For example, in the county government, there are several official documents without any words on them. They are empty. However, the county magistrate has stamped the official seal in advance, and then gives the blank official documents with the official seal to those who need them, and they will stamp them on it." Write what you want, and this way, this official document will be just like the real thing. On the surface, you won’t notice anything at all.”
"Moreover, there are unwritten rules within this gang of corrupt officials, and the price is even clearly marked. The official seal of the county magistrate is 30,000 taels of silver. And then, the sixth-grade official in charge of official food is 50,000 taels of silver. , the county magistrate, one hundred thousand taels of silver, the county governor, two hundred thousand taels of silver..."
"What!?" Xiao Yuan's eyes widened after hearing this. He couldn't help but stand up and said in disbelief: "You mean, these officials are selling their official seals for money!?"
"Yes!" Liu Changqing returned seriously.
Xiao Yuan was stunned for a moment, feeling a buzzing in his head, as if he was unsteady, his body swayed slightly, and he staggered and fell down on the king's chair.
"Your Majesty..." Upon seeing this, the ministers shouted hurriedly.
"How can this be unreasonable? How can this be unreasonable!!!" Xiao Yuan's anger could no longer be contained, "These corrupt officials! Do they still have the Qin Kingdom in their eyes? Do they still have Wang Fa!"
With a bang, he stood up and slapped the case, the jade beads on his forehead trembled, and then pointed at Liu Changqing below: "Everything has been found out! Is the evidence conclusive?"
"The case files are all described in detail, and all the witnesses and material evidence are available, not a single thing is missing." Liu Changqing said.
"Kill! Behead them all!" This may be the biggest anger Xiao Yuan has ever had since he ascended the throne.
As the saying goes, the law does not punish everyone, let alone involving so many officials. Seeing this, Shangguan Wenruo bravely stood up, cupped his hands and said: "Your Majesty, calm down..."
"Shut up!" Xiao Yuan naturally knew what he was going to say, and in anger, he shouted sternly:
"The embankment of a thousand miles collapsed in an ant nest! These sixty-seven officials are the worms of our Qin State!"
“Have I never heard of officials exchanging their official seals for gold and silver!!”
"What a shame!"
"Insult our Qin country! Humiliate me to the extreme!"
After he finished shouting, he stood above him, pointed his fingers and said: "Immediately pass this king's order! Assemble the army and kill these sixty-seven officials, together with their family members and servants, without leaving any one behind!"
"Everyone involved in the case, regardless of officials or businessmen, will be beheaded!"
This may be the greatest anger of a king. Xiao Yuan's thunderous anger is not about anything else, but mostly about the official seal.
The official seal represents rights, and it is granted by him as the king. One can imagine how he could endure it!
And such words also startled all the ministers present, and then they all knelt on the ground and remained silent.
After taking a deep breath, Xiao Yuan asked coldly: "Who is the main culprit in this case?"
"Fan Yi, Minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs, is engaged in Wei Zhong in Liangzhou, and Yang Taihe is the governor of Jinling County." Liu Changqing's expression did not change.
"What? This matter is also related to the Ministry of Household Affairs?" Xiao Yuan was shocked again.
Liu Changqing said: "Yes, without the support of the Ministry of Household Affairs, it is impossible for the officials below to pass the handover."
After Xiao Yuan listened, he closed his eyes deeply.
Zheng Shiwei, the Minister of Household Affairs, hurriedly knelt down and said in a trembling voice: "Your Majesty, this matter... this matter is all in charge of Fan Yi, Wei Chen, Wei Chen doesn't know about it at all..."
"Stop talking!" Xiao Yuan interrupted him angrily: "These three people have merged with the Yi clan! Zheng Shiwei, the minister, has the Yushifu involved, dismissed from his post and investigated!"
What! ? Hearing this, Zheng Shiwei immediately tensed up and his face turned pale. After panicking, his nose and tears flowed out:
"Although the humble minister is responsible for this matter, his loyalty can be seen by the sun and the moon. Your Majesty, please calm down. Your Majesty, please calm down..."
What is the rank of the Minister of the Ministry of Finance? He is the second rank of the current dynasty and is a truly high-ranking official. He didn't expect to be implicated.
Seeing this, the other ministers couldn't help but swallowed secretly as their Adam's apple slid.
Xiao Yuan angrily walked off the throne and walked away.
