The thing that Feng Zhong gave Zhao Zheng was the evidence that Gu Dayou had found recently.
"Censor Qian, you have been an official in the court for a few years, right?”
Zhao Zheng opened his mouth and didn't call for his beloved minister.
He felt disgusted calling these people his beloved minister.
Censor Qian was the censor who had just asked Zhao Zheng to issue an edict to punish himself.
Although he didn't know the Emperor's intentions, Censor Qian still replied immediately,
"This lowly subject is a sixth-year scholar of Qide and has served the country for eight years.”
"Eight years!"
Zhao Zheng nodded." Then, Censor Qian, you must be familiar with the laws of the country. Let me ask you, how much is the annual salary of a second-grade official?"”
Such a simple question, as long as it was an official in the court, almost everyone knew.
Censor Qian replied without thinking,""According to the laws of the country, a second rank official will receive 800 stones of rice and 4500 taels of silver per year!”
In the Great Xia Dynasty, a stone weighed about 60 Jin.
The purchasing power of one tael of silver was equivalent to 200 yuan in modern society.
In other words, a Rank-2 official could receive nearly 50,000 catties of rice and 900,000 yuan in cash every year.
Such treatment was definitely not low.
In this era where resources were scarce, an annual salary of 900,000 was enough to live like a rich man, not to mention tens of thousands of kilograms of food.
"Your answer is very correct!"
Zhao Zheng nodded. Suddenly, his tone became stern."Then, Censor Qian, let me ask you. Yang Pu is a second-rank official and has only been an official for thirteen years. However, he has three million taels of silver in Desheng Bank and two hundred thousand taels of silver at home.”
"This…"
Imperial Censor Qian was dumbfounded. He thought for a long time before saying,"Why does the emperor say this? Old Master Yang was an honest official. Everyone knew that. How could he have so much money? Someone must have deliberately framed him!"
"Censor Qian, are you going to vouch for Yang Pu?" Zhao Zheng asked coldly.”
Hearing this, Imperial Censor Qian was instantly speechless.
To vouch for Yang Pu, even if his brain was kicked by a donkey, he would not do such a stupid thing.
Nowadays, it was a tacit understanding that officials were corrupt. Everyone's bottom was dirty, so how could Censor Qian not know?
Seeing that Censor Qian didn't dare to speak, Zhao Zheng sneered.
Do you think I'll let you off just because you pretended to be dead?
If I don't kill your entire family today, I'll give you the throne!!
"Why didn't Censor Qian say anything?" Zhao Zheng said coldly," Oh right, I have a secret report with me. It's a report about Censor Qian's wealth. I heard that Censor Qian also saved a million taels of silver in Desheng Bank. I wonder what Censor Qian taught me?"”
"Emperor, this, this…"
Censor Qian didn't know how to continue.
The Emperor was even so clear about the approximate number, so the factory guards must have checked it. The evidence was conclusive, and it was probably useless for him to deny it.
"Emperor Taizu once issued an edict that all officials who took bribes of more than 100 taels of silver would be executed and would not be lenient. If he took more than ten thousand bribes, he would be beheaded and his entire family would be executed! Censor Qian, do you still remember the teachings of Taizu?”
Hearing this, Imperial Censor Qian was instantly frightened.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, please calm down. I know my mistake, I know my mistake…"
"Men!"
Zhao Zheng couldn't be bothered to waste his breath on such trash. He directly announced,"Strip him of his black muslin and official clothes, throw him into the prison, and order the East Bureau to investigate!”
The factory prison was not the imperial prison.
This was a prison set up by the East Chamber. Anyone who entered it could never come out alive…
Imperial Censor Qian naturally knew how terrifying the prison was. He was so scared that he quickly shouted,
"Emperor, please spare me, please spare me…"
Before he could shout twice, Imperial Censor Qian was dragged away by the left and right guards.
Seeing Imperial Censor Qian's miserable fate, the entire court fell silent!
Zhao Zheng's gaze was fixed on another censor.
This bastard had just called Zhao Zheng a fatuous ruler and unworthy of being the emperor!!
Since that's the case, Daddy will let you see what a fatuous ruler is today!
"Censor Zhang!"
When Zhao Zheng called out Imperial Censor Zhang's name, Imperial Censor Zhang's entire body stiffened and then began to tremble slightly.
"Your humble subject is here…"
"You just said that I am a fatuous ruler and cannot worship the ancestral temple?”
Hearing this, Imperial Censor Zhang's face turned pale and he quickly said,""Emperor, please calm down. This lowly official was momentarily muddle-headed and spoke without thinking.”
Apologize?
He admitted defeat just like that?
Zhao Zheng sneered in his heart. Do you think that I won't kill you just because you apologize?
If I am so easy to talk to, how can I face the "incompetent ruler" you called me?
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The third chapter.
This book is provided by FunNovel Novel Book | Fan Fiction Novel [Beautiful Free Novel Book]