During this court meeting, the ministers discussed it fiercely and expressed their opinions one after another.
But the capital is of great importance, and it cannot be decided today.
Seeing that it was getting late, Xiao Yuan picked up the bamboo slips at the right time and threw them slightly heavily on Wang's case: "Okay."
The discussion stopped and the scene quickly became quiet.
Xiao Yuandao: "This matter cannot be decided in one day. Let's just send an order to the county guards in various places and all the officials of the third rank and above to decide the matter and submit a memorial."
This is equivalent to voting.
"I will obey the king's order——" The ministers had no objection.
It was almost noon, and Xiao Yuan was preparing to go to court: "Do you have anything else to report?"
"My lord, I have a starting point."
Liu Changqing stood up.
"Speak." Xiao Yuan spoke concisely and to the point.
Liu Changqing got straight to the point: "The previous canal transport case has been thoroughly investigated by the ministers, and both witnesses and material evidence are present. This is the file of this case, please have your Majesty's eye."
As he spoke, he also took out a large stack of official documents from the sleeves of his official uniform and raised his hands high.
The attendant took it and respectfully placed it on the king's desk.
This official document is very long, and the content is brief, but it describes the matter in detail, and some key points are written clearly.
Xiao Yuan checked it carefully.
The corruption of ink in the waterway was discovered by Prime Minister Liu Yuzhi, but when it comes to investigating corruption, no one is more suitable than Liu Changqing. This man is a guy who is not afraid of power, is upright, and only accepts death.
Not to mention the network behind the Water Transport Department, even if the monarch makes a mistake, he will block doors everywhere and give advice.
At that time, it was also left to him to handle, and the queen's warrant was used.
Xiao Yuan knew this.
The Qin State originated from the bitter cold land in the north of the Great Wall, and most of them were northern infantry. When the south of the Yangtze River was not recovered, it did not make much effort in the water and land transportation department, and water transportation was not long established.
But there is no doubt about its importance. It is not only the key to transporting troops and food, but also an important link in economic development.
Xiao Yuan almost didn't finish a word, and sometimes he would read it back when he saw it later.
The entire court meeting hall was quiet, and the only sound left was the sound of him checking the files.
All the ministers knew how important the water transport was, not to mention that the matter was related to the front line. Therefore, after the incident, even though Liu Changqing held on to it and conducted extensive investigations, no one dared to protect it.
Therefore, many people were involved.
Especially the government offices along the river.
I don't know how long it took, but Xiao Yuan finally finished reading. He frowned, put down the document in his hand, looked at Liu Changqing and said, "Liu Qing, please tell me."
"Yes." Liu Changqing said without any nonsense: "Previously, I was ordered to supervise the transportation of grain, grass and weapons. When I returned to the capital, I visited the Water Transport Department along the waterway. After several months of investigation, I discovered a major corruption case."
"Jiangzhou's water transport envoy enriched his own pockets and embezzled money from the imperial court totaling 2.7 million taels for water protection, causing waterways to be silted up, making water protection unfavorable, and transportation slow. He also deducted wages from fiber households, wasted human lives, and killed 26 people who complained."
"The magistrate of Yunshui County, under the jurisdiction of Jiangzhou, colluded with the water transport envoy to refuse to accept the complaints of the fiber households. Instead, he was labeled as a bad citizen, embezzling and accepting bribes of one hundred thousand taels of silver."
"The Prime Minister of Yunshui County and Bo, the head of the county government, each accepted bribes of 50,000 taels of silver."
"The Hanchuan transport envoy and the Jiangzhou water transport envoy colluded and stole 80,000 shi of military rations on the pretext of a shipwreck."
What! ?
Hearing this, many ministers were startled. This man was so courageous that he dared to touch the military rations!
Don't you know that on the front line at that time, soldiers were spilling blood on the battlefield, and Qin Ling was in a fierce battle?
Food and grass are related to military affairs.
Some ministers had the courage to secretly look at Xiao Yuan's face.
The latter's face was gloomy, and his eyes were filled with murderous intent.
Before this was over, Liu Changqing continued: "Hanchuan water transport warehouse officials colluded with water bandits, sneaked into the waters of the Yangtze River, sank the transport ship under the water, and stole a total of 470,000 taels of salary."
"The water transport warehouse official has told the truth. The information about the salary was given by the water transport envoy from Jiangzhou."
"Hanchuan County, the county magistrate, and the boss all embezzled and accepted bribes, totaling 110,000 taels of silver."
The more everyone listened, the more frightened they became, while Xiao Yuan became more angry and on the verge of rage.
It's just that after so many years of fighting and being the leader for so many years, he is no longer what he was when he was young.
Liu Changqing was still reporting: "The Jiangzhou Water Supervisor was like an ant attached to mutton. When investigating the corruption case, he made false promises, took advantage of his power, and repeatedly obstructed him. Later, after verification, it was found that he had accepted a bribe of 150,000 taels of silver and had nothing to do with the water transport envoy. Working together in disgrace."
Hearing this, Xiao Yuan glanced at Dou Jianzhang.
As the name suggests, the Water Supervisor is an official who supervises water conservancy and is affiliated with the Supervisory Yuan.
The latter hurriedly came out of the queue, knelt on the ground, and said in a trembling voice: "I am guilty. Please tell me clearly. Although the Jiangzhou Water Supervisor is appointed by the Supervisory Yuan, he is actually the Water Transport Bureau."
Xiao Yuan waved his hand and signaled him to get up.
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Dou Jianzhang stood up tremblingly and returned to the train. He couldn't help but lift up the sleeves of his official uniform and wipe his forehead.
His fear is that he is lucky that he did not rush to recruit others, otherwise, he would not be able to protect himself.
This Liu Changqing is really ruthless! Dou Jianzhang cursed in his heart.
"The Jiangling Water Transport Official Office was instructed by the water transport envoy to use power for personal gain and ignored water transportation to protect the canal."
"Jianling Lord Bo."
"."
Liu Changqing talked for a long time, one by one, no matter how big or small the official position was, just one word, do it!
"The officials who conducted the above inspection all have solid evidence and no one was left out."
Xiao Yuan was silent for a moment, closing his eyes and suppressing the overwhelming anger in his heart. After a moment, he slowly said: "Where are these corrupt officials now?"
"After the previous investigation, all the officials who committed the crime have been taken back to Qinzhou and put into prison." Liu Changqing said: "Because the water transport envoys are of the same rank, although I have the authority to investigate under the orders of the queen, I dare not Kill him privately."
The Jiangzhou water transport envoy's crime was not just as simple as corruption and bribery. He also deducted wages from fiber households and beat to death civilian husbands who complained. In Liu Changqing's words, he was scorning human lives and acting without mercy.
In addition, as the chief officer of water transportation, he also instigated his subordinates to collude with local officials and collude with others.
More importantly, he ignored the waterway transportation of grain, grass, ordnance, and through a series of operations, he put the frontline troops in danger and seriously delayed the fighter plane.
At a more serious level, he can be convicted of treason.
"Jiangzhou's water transportation envoys and Yi tribes will be sentenced to death, and other officials who committed crimes will be punished according to law."
Xiao Yuan's voice was cold: "Gu, there has been a royal order for a long time. During the war, all local officials must cooperate with military operations. What's more, the dog thieves hindered the water transportation of food, grass and ordnance, delaying our army's fighter planes and ignoring the soldiers who fought bloody battles on the front line. It’s really a crime that cannot be punished!”
All the ministers lowered their bodies.
Xiao Yuan continued to ask: "Have all the water bandits who colluded with the government been dealt with?"
Hearing this, Liu Yuzhi came out and said: "Your Majesty, after the case has been verified, the Prime Minister's Office has ordered all the government offices along the river to quickly clear out the water bandits. The previous battle reports from the Wuwei Mansion in various places have been sent back, and the clearing out of the water bandits has been completed."
(End of chapter)
