Emperor Zhengde of Ming Dynasty

Chapter 49

Inside the Forbidden City.

The news that Cao Zhengchun voluntarily handed over the silver spread like wildfire.

Nowadays, the cabinet is arresting corrupt officials on a large scale, and the interrogation is handed over to the Ministry of Punishment. This is the first time for many officials to try the feeling of being tortured.

Anyone who embezzles 1 yuan will inevitably die.

Every time they think of thousands of people being beheaded, they all shudder.

Thinking of the smell of blood in the execution ground, everyone was trembling with fear, thinking that such unscrupulous things would be found out sooner or later.

Rather than being found out by the cabinet members, it is better to take the initiative to explain himself. Cao Zhengchun can get a good death, let alone a little bit of himself?
At least if he voluntarily handed over his greedy money, he would keep his official position, and at least he would not lose his life.

For a while, some corrupt officials were cleaning up their property, lest they slow down and be found by the cabinet.

After all, it is much more cost-effective to confess on your own initiative than to check it out.

So, after staying for several nights, strange scenes appeared in many mansions in the capital.

Since the smashing of the White Lotus Sect, many families have begun to open their doors.Especially now, the whole courtyard is brightly lit like daytime.

Inside the Forbidden City.

The sky is slightly bright.

Oh oh oh!
Snapped!Snapped!Snapped!
After three blows of the clean whip, all officials of the court, Chinese and military officers walked across the Jinshui Bridge, passed through the Baishi Square, and arrived at the Xuanzheng Hall.

Zhu Houzhao stepped slowly to the dragon platform, looking around at the civil and military officials under the jade steps.

"Your Majesty sees you"

"Long live my emperor! Long live!"

"Everyone loves to be flat!"

The eunuch took a thousand steps, and said loudly: "Your Majesty has a decree. If you have a book, come, and if you don't have a book, you will retreat!"

The chief assistant of the cabinet, Liu Jian, quickly walked out of the court, cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, I have something to play!"

Almost as soon as Liu Jian's words fell, other ministers in the court also walked out of the court one after another, and said together: "Your Majesty, the ministers all have their own books to play."

"I have a book to play!"

The noise was endless, and soon the morning was like a market.

Seeing the scene in front of him, Zhu Houzhao couldn't help showing a smile on his cheeks, but he still knew in his heart when the ministers were going to play.

"It's so strange today!"

"My dear friends, don't worry, come one by one."

"Mr. Liu Ge might as well not be in a hurry, and listen to what they all have to report!"

Liu Jian silently retreated to the court class.

All the officials were greatly relieved when they saw it.

As long as Liu Jian doesn't show up at this time, they have hope of surviving.

For this reason, one after another the officials said: "Your Majesty, I feel that the imperial court is in urgent need of funds, especially in the construction of firearms and warships, which has exhausted the national strength."

"The ministers are born as courtiers of the Ming Dynasty, so they should contribute a little bit to the country to ensure the prosperity of our Ming Dynasty."

When Zhu Houzhao heard this, a faint smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, he nodded and said with a smile: "Dear ladies, do you really think so?"

"All ministers speak from the bottom of their hearts"

Hearing this, Zhu Houzhao nodded slightly and said, "Okay, come on, and show me the wishes of all your lovers."

"According to the order!"

The eunuch at the door responded and quickly stepped forward to present the accounts compiled by the officials one by one.

When Zhu Houzhao saw the balance of the account submitted on the account, his eyes lit up.

Although the amount of money that these officials were greedy for ink was not as much as that of Cao Zhengchun alone, the sum of these silver taels was far more than the amount of money that ten Cao Zhengchuns were greedy for ink.

With this money, Zhu Houzhao felt that he could do many things again.

"It seems that your love for Daming is indeed a lesson to be learned from the sun and the moon!"

When Zhu Houzhao was joking, how could Liu Jian not know how these officials exchanged money for their lives?

"Your Majesty, I still have a book to play!"

Zhu Houzhao looked at Liu Jian who was standing below, nodded in satisfaction and said, "If you have something to say, please speak up!"

Liu Jian arched his hands and said: "Your Majesty, I have been thoroughly investigating the matter of corrupt officials in the imperial court for the past few days, and the number of people involved has reached as many as several thousand."

"The huge amount of silver seized is outrageous."

Speaking of this, Liu Jian couldn't help looking at the officials who presented the accounts just now. When they met Liu Jian's gaze, they immediately lowered their heads.

"Subordinates, I request an order to order the ministers to thoroughly investigate the property of these officials!"

As soon as this remark came out, the officials of the court immediately started to scold their mothers in their hearts. This Liu Jian really wanted to make a fuss.

Haven't you been greedy for money?Doesn't it cost money for such a nice mansion of yours?Are you really innocent?

"Your Majesty, the ministers are all loyal!"

"I am absolutely not suspected of taking bribes or bending the law!"

"Humph!"

Liu Jian snorted coldly and said, "Since none of you are suspected of corrupting the law, you can allow me to investigate."

After Liu Jian said this, the ministers in the court were so frightened that they quickly complained to the emperor.

"The ministers have used all the savings in the family, of course they are not afraid of being inspected by His Majesty"

"It's just that it will damage His Majesty's reputation!"

"Please, Your Majesty, think twice!"

"Your Majesty, sir."

Just as Liu Jiang was about to speak, Zhu Houzhao waved his hands and said, "Mr. Liu Ge, you don't need to say any more, I already know what to do in my heart."

"My dear friends, you are willing to use all your family savings to fill the emptiness of the national treasury. It is reasonable for this move to make Mr. Ge suspicious."

"I have written down everything that happened today."

"In the future, if you make an outrageous move again, it won't be too late for Mr. Ge to come out and say it."

The words of the Son of Heaven are extremely appropriate.

It's not that the emperor didn't know that his courtiers were greedy, and it wasn't that he didn't know that the money was for them to save their lives. They had already killed a group of officials before. If this investigation continued, there would probably be no more courtiers in the court.

The huge Ming Empire cannot do without a few corrupt officials, and it is impossible for all of them to be clean and honest like Liu Jian.

For a moment, the ministers kneeling on the ground were all grateful, and thanked: "Your Majesty is a man of great virtue, with the world in mind, and I will thank Your Majesty Long En."

Seeing this, Liu Jian couldn't go on talking, he cupped his hands and said, "I obey the order!"

"Okay, all my lovers, get up too! Daming will rely on you all for your efforts in the future!"

"I will serve my country wholeheartedly!"

Zhu Houzhao nodded slightly and did not mention the matter again.

At the foot of the jade steps, the ministers stood up one by one, and retreated to the court class with tears in their eyes.

When the morning court retreated, Zhu Houzhao returned to the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

The eunuch in attendance stepped forward quickly, and reported respectfully: "Your Majesty, the chief minister of the cabinet is here to pay my respects."

"Let him in!" Zhu Houzhao nodded.

"According to the order!"

When Liu Jian came, Zhu Houzhao actually knew why he came.

After all, in the court today, Zhu Houzhao pardoned a group of corrupt officials.

Of course, Zhu Houzhao also had some things to explain to him.

Not long after, Liu Jian walked up quickly, cupped his hands and said, "Mr. Liu Jian, see Your Majesty!"

"Free gift!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

"Your Majesty, the minister is here this time."

Zhu Houzhao smiled slightly, waved his hands and said, "Is it because of the corrupt officials in the court today?"

Liu Jian's face was startled, then he nodded and said: "Your Majesty, I don't understand why your Majesty knows these people are moths in the court, so why do you want to forgive them?"

He knew Liu Jian's intentions a long time ago. After all, the cabinet took the blame for this matter.

(End of this chapter)