In March of the sixth year of Hongwu.
Yingtianfu,
The punishment and inspection envoys are in charge of the Yamen, above the court hall.
"My lord, please spare my life. I know I was wrong."
"Please sir, please give me a gentle sentence and spare my life!"
"Master Zheng, Master Han, I have an eighty-year-old mother and a three-year-old child!"
"..."
Outside the court gate,
In the eyes of hundreds of people watching, the government servants holding killing sticks on both sides were staring at the five corrupt officials who were being tried with a pair of tiger eyes.
Four of the corrupt officials have already started begging in various ways!
There is no other reason,
You must know that the two adults sitting in the chief judge's seat and the deputy judge's seat are the famous Mr. Dabai Bread.
Yes, they are Zheng Shiyuan and Han Yike, who are both in charge of punishment.
The official position is not big, that is, he is a fifth-rank official. The official robe is still blue, and he can't even wear a red robe.
But their rights are so great!
As long as they sit in the upper position, even the first-rank officials will have their feet trembling!
In the eyes of all people in the world, they are the embodiment of justice and integrity!
But in the eyes of corrupt officials, they are walking beheading knives!
They did not have the right to directly order beheading, after all, the subjects of their trials were all officials.
But after they tried and determined the sentence, the emperor Zhu Yuanzhang approved it with his eyes closed.
This is the reason why the officials are afraid of the two of them, and also the reason why they hate the two of them!
While the two of them were trying the first four corrupt officials one by one, the people watching turned their attention to the fifth corrupt official awaiting trial!
You must know that the corrupt officials from all over the country who were caught here basically have conclusive evidence of their crimes.
The reason for conducting such a trial process is to show fairness.
Logically speaking, pleading guilty and begging for mercy is the most correct response, but this young and handsome corrupt official stood there with an indifferent expression.
There was even a clear look of anticipation in his bright eyes, as if he was looking forward to finishing his work early and going home early for dinner!
"Where did you catch this corrupt official? Why do you look so impatient and wish it would be his turn sooner?"
"Should I say that he is open-minded, or should I say that he is not afraid of boiling water?"
"It's a pity that he is so young and handsome, but his good skin is wasted!"
"..."
While the common people were pointing at the corrupt official who stood out from the crowd, the first one from the right,
Among the crowd, a middle-aged man with a strong build looked at the back of the man who stood proudly even before death, and his eyes were filled with red bloodshot eyes with hatred.
This middle-aged man is none other than Zhu Yuanzhang, the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty who lived in private!
Zhu Yuanzhang, who lived in the sixth year of Hongwu, was not yet forty-five years old. He was not only in good health, but also energetic.
He had just finished reviewing the memorial, and he immediately came here incognito to watch the trial process.
There is no other reason,
In fact, he did not absolutely trust Zheng Shiyuan and Han Yike.
The people who are most prone to corruption are the two people who control the life and death of these corrupt officials.
He had to come and see if these two people were really so selfless and indifferent to the huge amount of money to buy their lives.
Judging from the trial of the first four corrupt officials by the two of them, he was still very satisfied.
No,
They have already taken off their black gauze hats, pulled off their official robes, put on prison uniforms and knelt on the ground.
This is a confirmed conviction!
As long as he, Zhu Yuanzhang, waved his cinnabar pen, their heads would fall to the ground.
Finally, following the gazes of Zheng Shiyuan and Han Yike, everyone focused on the last corrupt official awaiting trial.
Seeing him standing proudly, everyone got angry.
Especially Zhu Yuanzhang, he wanted to jump up and kill this young corrupt official with a knife.
Zhu Yuanzhang hated corrupt officials, but even more he hated corrupt officials who were young and did not learn well!
At this very moment,
The chief judge, Zheng Shiyuan, took out the case file and read: "Di Yun, twenty-three years old, was the candidate for the first imperial examination of the Ming Dynasty in the third year of Hongwu, and was the seventh-rank magistrate of Datong County."
"After serving as an official for three years, he embezzled millions of dollars, privately built an oversized mansion comparable to a royal palace, and engaged in business as an official, involving gambling houses..."
After reading this, even Zheng Shiyuan and Han Yike, who had been dealing with corrupt officials for several years, were so shocked that they gasped several times.
The four corrupt officials, who had been handcuffed and shackled and kneeling on the ground, looked at the young junior next to them, even more shocked but also casting admiring glances.
Of course, more is unbelievable!
They are also considered to be the leaders in the world of corrupt officials, but they never expected that they would not even be considered a small witch in front of this young junior.
The eyes of the people watching almost bulged out!
It’s really unbelievable!
Can a seventh-grade county magistrate steal millions of snowflakes in three years?
Even if we drag out all the men, women, and children in the county and sell them, we still won't be able to get such money!
Because the amount was so huge, people began to become suspicious.
They suspected that the officials responsible for the inspection were irresponsible and just wrote randomly with a pen in hand!
Of course, I also wonder if Di Yun offended the inspectors, so that they deliberately avenged their private revenge!
But if the inspector is offended, how big of a grudge will it be?
Judging from these crimes, beheading would be regarded as an act of kindness by the Emperor!
Just when everyone was shocked and speechless,
Among the crowd, Zhu Yuanzhang, who was always impulsive and irritable, had no intention of getting angry because he didn't believe these criminal records at all!
If a mere seventh-grade county magistrate really accomplished so many things in three years, he would be considered a huge talent.
Zhu Yuanzhang now just looked at the chief judge Zheng Shiyuan and the deputy judge Han Yike who were sitting on the throne.
Zhu Yuanzhang was a little dissatisfied with the performance of the two of them.
"what are you waiting for?"
"Just call the inspectors out and confront them in court!"
"..."
Zhu Yuanzhang thought so.
In fact, as early as when Zheng Shiyuan read out the case record, Zhu Yuanzhang had guessed why Di Yun could still stand proudly.
Because he has a clear conscience!
Thinking of this, Zhu Yuanzhang looked at the back of this young official who was most likely to be wronged, with a hint of relief on his lips.
Originally!
How could such a masculine and handsome young man be like those corrupt officialdom veterans!
Just when Zhu Yuanzhang thought so, Zheng Shiyuan also reacted:
"Someone is coming,"
"The officials responsible for inspecting Datong County are summoned to the court!"
Everyone still agreed with Zheng Shiyuan's decision.
In the early years of Hongwu, the Ming Dynasty's annual tax revenue was only a few million taels.
It is impossible for a seventh-grade county magistrate to earn millions of dollars in three years.
There must be something wrong with this!
Either Di Yun was wrongly accused, or the amount of corruption was deliberately exaggerated!
But at this moment, Di Yun, the person involved, said with a look of disgust: "Don't bother!"
"I testify that every statement above is true and there is no lie."
"Okay, let's close the case and let His Majesty decide!"
As soon as Di Yun finished speaking, everyone present was stunned.
This time, even Zhu Yuanzhang among the crowd could not help but show a look of horror! ...
