"Wang Huan, tell me." Seeing that Song Xian still didn't admit his crimes, Long Yunfeng looked at Wang Huan. Wang Huan was the head of the officials, and he had already discussed it with Wang Huan. If Song Xian didn't admit his crimes, it would be best for him to expose him.
" Your Majesty, according to Chen Heng, the deputy director of the construction and repair office, since Song Xian took office, he, together with Li Feng, Du Yuan, Cui Yong, Chen Ji, and other officials, has sold 3,434 craftsmen and obtained 104,320 taels of silver. He has deducted 32,870 taels of food money from the craftsmen, resold 28,000 bundles of reeds and firewood and obtained 41,564 taels of silver. He also resold 1,200,000 catties of charcoal and obtained 168,350 taels of silver. All the above funds have been embezzled and divided among them. Last night, he found out that the chaos in Hanyin was also related to Song Xian's calmness towards his subordinates.”Seeing Long Yunfeng point at him, Wang Huan immediately revealed the truth.
"Your Majesty, these numbers are all fabricated. Chen Heng has been in office for less than three months, and things are still unfamiliar. He actually made up a story, made a false patrol, and slandered people. Someone must have instigated him behind the scenes with ulterior motives.”Seeing Wang Huan slander him, Song Xian immediately stood up to defend himself.
"How do you think you've been doing since you took office a year ago?”Long Yunfeng asked when he saw Song Xian defending himself.
"Ever since I took office, I have not forgotten the emperor's kindness. I have done my duty, followed the law, and was honest and upright. I came early and returned late every day. I was conscientious and did not dare to slack off.”Song Xian saw how Long Yunfeng asked him and immediately said a lot of good things.
Long Yunfeng looked coldly at Song Xian. It seemed that he would not shed tears until he saw the coffin. He immediately said," Men, bring Li Feng, Du Yuan, Cui Yong, and Chen Ji here."
"Bring the prisoners." Guo Huai shouted outside the hall.
Soon, four people wearing prison uniforms, bracelets, and handcuffs walked in from outside the hall. Under the escort of eight guards, they knelt in front of the hall.
"You, you can't bite me! This official has brought you guys along well!" Seeing the four people being escorted up, Song Xian said anxiously. Then, he looked at Wang Huan and asked,"You don't have any ulterior motives for introducing Chen Heng to me, do you?”
"If you sit straight, what can they do to you?”Wang Huan smiled at Song Xian.
"Speak!" Long Yunfeng said expressionlessly.
"Your Majesty, it was Song Xian who instructed the guilty minister to sell the craftsmen and obtain money from them. He sold 3,434 craftsmen and obtained 104,320 taels of silver. The guilty minister received 34,320 taels of silver.”Li Feng said.
"Song Xian wants me to deduct 32,870 taels of silver from the craftsmen's food. The money deducted was divided by Song Xian, and I only embezzled 10,000 taels of silver. Return all this money and ask Your Majesty to spare my life.”Du Yuan said with a sobbing tone.
"I sold reeds and firewood for profit. I was instructed by Song Xian to earn 11,564 taels of silver. I was confused for a moment and died without regrets. I only hope that Your Majesty will pity my family and let them live!”Cui Yong kowtowed to Long Yunfeng, hoping that the emperor would spare his family.
"I'm muddle-headed! "I was bewitched. I was in charge of charcoal, but Song Xian told me that the imperial court did not have a fixed number of charcoal, so I got some to sell for some pocket money. He said I would do it, and I did it. I sold 1.2 million catties of charcoal in total, earning 168,350 taels of silver. Song Xian took 120,000 taels, and the rest of the money was divided among me. I have a family of 13, all of whom are counting on me. I hope Your Majesty will be merciful and give me a way out!"”Chen Ji said.
Long Yunfeng didn't get angry. After hearing their crimes, he took a deep breath and shouted at the door,""Someone come."
As soon as Long Yunfeng finished speaking, the eight guards walked in again and stood behind the four of them.
Long Yunfeng took a deep breath and said,"Drag Li Feng, Du Yuan, Cui Yong, and Chen Ji out and throw them into prison. Destroy their three clans and behead them tomorrow afternoon."
Long Yunfeng didn't show any mercy. He waved his hand and eight guards immediately carried the four of them and dragged them out of the hall.
"Your Majesty, please spare my life!"
"I know I was wrong!"
"Let's go."
"Your Majesty!"
"Spare me!"
When the four of them saw that Long Yunfeng wanted to kill them and wipe out their three clans, they immediately begged for mercy. However, Long Yunfeng didn't relent. After the four of them left, he looked at Song Xian and asked, Song Xian, what else do you have to say?"
"Your Majesty, you can't listen to their one-sided story!”Seeing Long Yunfeng point at him, Song Xian quickly defended himself, because he knew that if he admitted it, he would be finished.
"Song Xian, give up. Your house has already been searched and dirty. Even your relatives have confessed.”Wang Huan sneered when he saw that Song Xian had yet to admit it.
Hearing Wang Huan's words, Song Xian immediately knelt down. Long Yunfeng shook his head and said,""Song Xian, the late emperor treated you well!”
"Being an honest official is too hard. Your Majesty, have you and the previous emperor thought about us officials?”When Song Xian saw Long Yunfeng asking him this question, he thought about his monthly salary and shouted at Long Yunfeng.
"Zhen is thinking, do you have to be rich just because you are an official?”Long Yunfeng was a little angry when he heard this and asked the minister loudly.
"Your Majesty, since ancient times, Qianli has been an official in order to make a fortune. May I ask if half of these people here are clean?”Song Xian asked.
Long Yunfeng knew that Song Xian was right. There were very few honest officials in the world, but this wasn't a reason for Long Yunfeng to let Song Xian go.
"Don't worry, I will kill everyone I see. I will kill all the corrupt officials in the world. You are not the first, and you will not be the last.”Long Yunfeng closed his eyes and shouted outside the hall,""Someone come."
"Yes."
"Lock Song Xian in prison and behead him at noon tomorrow.”
"Yes."
Song Xian was dragged out by the two guards. He did not beg for mercy or struggle because he knew that begging for mercy was useless.
Long Yunfeng knew that Song Xian had been dragged out. He opened his eyes and looked at the officials below."Some of you are from the commoner class, so you should know more about farmers than I do. Among the four people, the scholars were the most expensive, and the people were the most hardworking. They had to pluck the crops with great difficulty, pull the weeds, and cultivate. Under the scorching sun, their bodies were haggard. In autumn, with such a small harvest, how much would be left for the officials? Once there is a flood, drought, and insect disaster, the whole family will be in a panic and do not know what to do."
Long Yunfeng felt a little sore from sitting, so he stood up and said,""And most of the officials who have been in office all this time do not care about the hardships of the peasants. They only care about exploiting and abusing them. They are heartless. What I hate most is corrupt officials. What kind of homeless? "You don't know what they'll do when they're hungry. The riot of a thousand migrant workers is completely due to the stupid reputation of corrupt officials. They ignore the law and cause the people to have no way to survive. If the people can't survive, the country will perish. What good is it for you if the country is destroyed?"
The officials immediately lowered their heads. Long Yunfeng walked down from the dragon throne and stood in front of the officials."Today, all the civil and military officials of the court are gathered here. Zhen asks you, do any of you feel that being an official is meaningless? He would rather stay at home and relax. If he can stand up now, Zhen will definitely not blame him. I will definitely pay him enough to let him go back."
All the officials lowered their heads and didn't answer. Long Yunfeng didn't make things difficult for them and asked,""Not a single one? Does that mean that you're all willing to stay and be honest officials?"
"This humble subject is willing." The officials heaved a sigh of relief and replied in unison.
Long Yunfeng nodded in satisfaction, then sat back on the dragon throne and continued,"The matter of corrupt officials has already shaken the foundation of the country. We can't let it go. If you hand over 90% of the money you embezzled to the national treasury, I will let bygones be bygones. However, if they commit the same crime again, their nine families and Tang Jiangmin will be executed."
"Your humble subject is here." A young man in his late twenties walked out and cupped his hands in response.
"I hereby appoint you as a supervisory censor, rank four. This is my token. You will punish all the corrupt officials in the country for me. As long as there is conclusive evidence, all corrupt officials with more than 10,000 taels of silver will be immediately arrested and brought to justice. All their property will be confiscated. Those who have embezzled less than 10,000 taels of silver will hand over 90% of their property. As long as they are willing to turn over a new leaf in the future, I will let bygones be bygones. These middle and lower officials are the foundation of Great Qin. Although there are some parasites on the foundation, we will just sweep them away. However, you cannot touch the foundation." Long Yunfeng took the golden token from his waist and handed it to Guo Huai.
Guo Huai took the token and walked over to Tang Jiangmin, handing it to him. After Tang Jiangmin took the token, he understood what Long Yunfeng had said. If they investigated everything, many people would be imprisoned, and Great Qin would be in chaos."I will obey."
He retreated.
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