Chapter 320: Working hard and dying
“The Tubo tribes and the Qiang people are quite generous.”
Gu Tingye looked at the money Sheng Changwu brought back and said.
After receiving the weapons and armor, the Tubo tribes and the Qiang people not only paid the money as agreed.
In addition, I also gave a lot more.
"Commander, the Tubo and Qiang people want more weapons and armor. They also said that it would be best to provide them with a batch of powerful crossbows, and the price is easy to negotiate." Sheng Changwu said.
“They think it’s beautiful.” Gu Tingye sneered when he heard this.
Weapons and armor are nothing, after all, they are not many in quantity, and they will not have much impact on the Song Dynasty's future troops dispatched to the Hehuang land.
But the crossbow is different. The Tubo and Qiang people can make their own arrows.
How could it be possible to provide it to them.
"Brother Zichun, the next step is up to you." Gu Tingye looked at Wang Shao and said with a smile.
"Haha, don't worry. Next, I will have people reveal the news to the Tubo and Qiang tribes. As long as Xixia launches troops on the plateau again, there is a high probability that the Hehuang land will be in chaos." Wang Shao smiled.
"Yes." Gu Tingye nodded, looked at Sheng Changwu, and said, "You can seal up this money and make sure it is not less."
Although he made his own decisions, he was sure You have to report it to Zhao Xing.
These funds must also be handed over in full, without any shortage.
.........
Bianjing
Zhao Xing was not aware of what was happening in the northwest and was dealing with official duties at this time.
"Your Majesty, Mr. Yan, the Minister of Punishment, would like to see you." A chamberlain reported.
"Let him come in." Zhao Xing nodded.
After a while, Yan Kuan came in. After saluting, he took out a tie and said: "The matter that your Majesty asked the minister to review has been clearly reviewed."
"I won't read it. You can tell me. ." Zhao Xing waved his hand.
"Yes!" Yan Kuan responded, and after careful consideration, he said: "Although Peng Shilang of the Ministry of Civil Affairs received many gifts from the Liao Kingdom, there is no actual evidence to prove that he has collusion with the Liao Kingdom. His family The acres of land and the shop are all obtained by using corruption and perverting the law over the years."
Zhao Xing was not surprised when he heard this. He had already known about Peng Qingzhong.
Peng Qingzhong once served in the local government, and later served in the Salt and Iron Department. He was promoted to Minister of Civil Affairs only two years ago.
Whether it is the local government or the Salt and Iron Company, it is a good place to make money.
Most of his family properties were purchased using the money gained from his position.
The remaining small part are gifts given by the officials below during the New Year and holidays.
Gift-giving is a common practice in official circles, not to mention that Peng Qingzhong's job is mostly for fat jobs.
Even if he is not greedy, just receiving gifts during the holidays can make the whole family live very rich.
"Those who have met the Liao envoys, have they ever found out the problem?" Zhao Xing asked.
“A few have found quite a big problem, but it’s not with the Liao Kingdom. The situation is similar to that of Peng Shilang, and the other problems are not big.”
Yan Kuan’s heart With a wry smile, Zhao Xing still doesn't know if there is a problem?
He originally thought that Zhao Xing’s target this time was only Peng Qingzhong.
As a result, during the review process, someone kept providing him with evidence.
These evidences are about several officials who met with Liao envoys.
The evidence is very clear, and a little inspection can prove the authenticity.
No matter how stupid Yan Kuan is, he still knows that this is Zhao Xing's handiwork.
Although he regretted a little, he should not have been greedy and took over the post of Minister of Punishment.
But now that we are on the pirate ship, there is no way out.
"Yan Aiqing is the Minister of Punishment. How do you think we should deal with what they have committed?" Zhao Xing asked.
"This..." Yan Kuan looked at Zhao Xing's face carefully when he heard this, and said: "I, the Minister of Dali Temple and Luo Zhongcheng do not have the same opinion. This time, I also want to ask for your advice. "I mean."
Zhao Xing frowned and said, "You are the Minister of Punishment. You just have to deal with everything according to the law. You have to ask me what I want you to do." ?”
Yan Kuan almost cried when he heard this. The person being dealt with was an official, how could there be any law to follow?
Shang Yang's reform campaign shouted: "Princes who break the law are guilty of the same crime as the common people."
This can be regarded as defining the law.
Before this, scholar-officials and dignitaries were not actually bound by the law.
Emperor Taizu once said: The Dharma is the Duke of the world.
So after the establishment of the Song Dynasty, people were ordered to formulate the "Song Jianlong Detailed Penalty System", referred to as the "Song Penalty System".
Emperor Taizu also hated corrupt officials very much, and later formulated various anti-corruption laws such as the "Edict on Warning against Corruption" and "The Law of Beggars in Zhucang".
This clearly clarifies the punishment for official corruption.
However, after the Supreme Emperor succeeded to the throne, he gradually formed a tradition of not killing scholar-bureaucrats, making these laws against officials exist in name only.
According to the law, those who deserved the death penalty were exiled, and some were even demoted.
Even minor crimes are fined.
The previous laws have lost their effect.
He also knew that Zhao Xing would not let those people off easily if he created such a big battle.
That’s why I came to ask Zhao Xing what he meant.
Unexpectedly, Zhao Xing actually asked this question to him.
If the punishment is light, Zhao Xing will definitely be dissatisfied.
But if it is really handled in accordance with laws such as the "Song Xingtong", the "Edict on Warning against Corruption" and "The Law of Beggars in Zhucang", then Peng Qingzhong and others must be guilty of death.
If Zhao Xing asks for it, that's all. He is just following orders. Even if the courtiers object, they will go to Zhao Xing, an official.
But if he opens this mouth, he will really cut himself off from the civil service.
If Zhao Xing cannot withstand the pressure in the end, won’t he become an outcast?
North Korean and Chinese officials could do nothing to Zhao Xing, and at most they could only force Zhao Xing to compromise.
But it's not difficult to deal with him.
"Why, Yan Shangshu is in trouble? Or is it that there are no laws in the Song Dynasty? Or that the laws are not strict enough and need to be re-enacted?" Zhao Xing said lightly.
"I...I..."
Yan Kuan broke out in a cold sweat and said: "I have not been in office for a long time and I am not familiar with the law. Please let me know clearly!"
"Not enough. If you are familiar with it, go check it out. Is it not in Yan Shangshu’s house?”
Zhao Xing said: "Sanshui, give Yan Shangshu the "Song Xingtong", "The Edict to Warn against Corruption", and "The Laws of Beggars in Zhucang". Take Yan Shangshu to the side hall to see, when you know how to sentence, let him Go back."
"Yes!" Sanshui responded.
Yan Kuan's face turned pale when he heard this. He understood that Zhao Xing had to let him speak this way.
“Why does Yan Shangshu look so ugly?” Zhao Xing said with a smile.
"Your Majesty, I am very old. Since I became the Minister of the Ministry of Justice, I feel that I have insufficient energy. I want to retire and return to my hometown. Please give me your permission!" Yan Kuan said.
"Does Master Yan know who I like best among the famous ministers in history?"
"I don't know."
"I like Zhuge Liang the most, especially the sentence in his "departure as a teacher": "Dedicate yourself to the best of your ability" , after death, I like it very much."
Zhao Xing sneered in his heart when he heard this, it is too late to retreat now.
Yan Kuan's face turned a little paler when he heard this. Zhao Xing almost said directly that he would die in office if he wanted to retire and return home.
(End of this chapter)