I'm really not doing business

Chapter 960 Suppress the Rebellion If You Don't Allow Anti-Corruption

The fact that the Grand General came to fight corruption was a strange event for the entire Ming Dynasty. The words "anti-corruption" and "Grand General's Mansion" seemed to be completely unrelated, and suddenly they were connected. This caused a lot of discussion and speculation among the scholars and officials in the capital.

When Xu Chengchu led his elite cavalry out of the capital to Huguang to investigate the corruption case on the Jingguang Highway, everyone knew that the Anti-Corruption Bureau's first case had to be a resounding success. To prevent failure and to prevent possible resistance to the investigation, even the Grand General was brought in.

His Majesty's determination is to quell the rebellion rather than allow the anti-corruption campaign.

"These scholar-officials are really meddling in other people's business. The Anti-Corruption Bureau's blade won't even touch them," Li Yashi said with a smile to Shahammaimaiti beside him.

After the Spanish envoy left Beijing, Li Yashi finally cleared himself of suspicion of smuggling saltpeter to Japan. He now only had one identity: an interpreter of the Ministry of Rites of the Ming Dynasty. He no longer had the identity of a Spanish envoy to the Ming Dynasty. As time went by, he became a true Ming citizen.

In his spare time, he liked to go to the Qianmen Tower with Shahammamat to listen to storytelling. He didn't like going to brothels. The courtesans looked down on him. Even though he was an official of the court, he couldn't compose poems and was stingy with his money, so naturally no one paid him any attention.

"Don't talk about state affairs." Shahmamat didn't want to discuss important matters of the dynasty with Li Yashi; it was a bit dangerous.

Li Yashi enjoys criticizing current affairs, contributing articles to various newspapers, and even acting as a corrective force for 'friendly nations' astonishment'.

As a nobleman, Shahmamat was not short of money. Akbar still gave him 50,000 taels of silver every year to maintain the relationship between the Mongol Empire and the Ming Dynasty. He spent all of this 50,000 taels of silver on himself.

Li Yashi nearly choked on his tea at this remark, waving his hands repeatedly and saying, "You're being too cautious."

"You have rendered meritorious service in translating Western mathematical works, and His Majesty is currently enjoying great favor, so naturally you have nothing to fear. I don't have your merits to protect me, so I dare not speak recklessly. Be careful what you say." Shah Maimaiti shrugged. Was he really that timid?
If he had the ability of Li Yashi, he could gain the emperor's favor and open a private room in the Northern Garrison Command, and he would also serve as a role that would amaze friendly nations! Isn't that a lack of ability?

The favor of the emperor is something that no amount of money can buy.

Li Yashi sighed. Shah Maimaiti clearly didn't want to discuss the nation's grand strategy with Li Yashi, leaving Li Yashi with a lot to say but nowhere to vent.

When the Anti-Corruption Bureau was first established, the Ming Dynasty scholars and officials all smiled dismissively, saying it was just a power struggle or internal strife. But when the Anti-Corruption Bureau got close to the General's Mansion and its first case was in Huguang, the scholars and officials could no longer smile.

The Anti-Corruption Department is truly committed to fighting corruption! It must ruthlessly eliminate deeply entrenched interest groups, and even the Zhang Party will not be spared.

If the anti-corruption campaign is truly launched, the scholar-officials will be unhappy.

Li Yashi leaned back in his chair, looking at the dozens of scholars whispering among themselves, and said in a low voice, "These scholars, with their little bit of power, how much silver can they exchange for? Anti-corruption also has its costs. The little bit of silver they're scrambling for, even the Censor in Plain Clothes wouldn't bother to look at. To put it bluntly, they're not even qualified to meet the quotas."

Li Yashi is a man who can't hold back. If he could, he wouldn't have made up jokes about the Ming Dynasty.

Shah Maimaiti remained silent, pretending not to hear. However, Li Yashi was right. The Anti-Corruption Division was targeting high-ranking officials, at least those of the fifth rank or above. Some of these scholar-officials didn't even hold official positions and weren't even qualified to be accomplices of corrupt officials. They certainly weren't qualified to be targets.

Li Yashi continued, "The strangest thing here is actually the General's Mansion. It's surprising that Commander Qi would get involved in this mess."

“Well, indeed, the General’s involvement only brings disadvantages, not advantages.” Shahmamat finally chimed in, tilting his head as he said, “Liya Shi, do you think there’s a rift between His Majesty and the General, and that’s why the General is smearing himself to protect himself?”

Shah Mamat mentioned a rumor that makes perfect sense.

Qi Jiguang's achievements were so great that they threatened the emperor's safety. In order to avoid arousing the emperor's suspicion, Qi Jiguang took charge of the anti-corruption campaign, offending all the officials in the country and becoming a completely independent minister. In this way, the emperor would not have to worry about the general plotting a rebellion.

"Why do you think that?" Riyas asked Shah Maimaiti in surprise.

It may be reasonable, but it's completely unreasonable. Others may not know, but Li Yashi knows very well that His Majesty is the young master Huang from the General's Mansion.

Shahmamat said with great certainty, "That's what they say in storytelling! And that's what the scholars of the Ming Dynasty all guessed."

"The Han dynasty has produced loyal and virtuous officials throughout its history." Li Yashi's lips twitched slightly. The principles of a true man's conduct are meaningless to explain to others.

Zhang Xinhe, a high-ranking officer, still risked his life to save someone who had fallen into the water. Even though he was exhausted, he still kowtowed to his mother before jumping in to rescue the person. This is what makes a true man. If you ask him why he did it, Zhang Xinhe, who had not received much education, could not explain the grand principles of sacrificing oneself for righteousness or dying for justice, but he still did it.

Qi Jiguang was victorious in every battle, but he was ostracized by the court. Even when he fought a battle to eliminate Japanese pirates, he had to redeem himself through meritorious service. When he arrived in the north, he was regarded as superfluous and useless. Despite his many setbacks, Qi Jiguang had no regrets. "Being ennobled is not my wish, but I wish for peace on the seas" is Qi Jiguang's lifelong pursuit and true reflection.

"You mean, there's no rift between the General and His Majesty?" Shahmamat understood what he meant and said with a smile, "That's good, that's good. I'm just a thief, relying on the fact that the Ming Dynasty wants to do business with the Mongols to steal peace for the rest of my life."

Shah Mamat trusted Li Yashi's judgment because Li Yashi had a wider range of information and the information he received was more accurate than that obtained by the scholars at Qianmenlouzi.

The Han dynasty's empire has been protected by loyal and virtuous officials throughout the ages, which has brought peace and prosperity to the country. Shah Maimaiti, a barbarian, was able to live there and enjoy peace, so naturally he did not want the emperor and the general to have a rift, as he had guessed.

Now that Shahmamat had started talking, he stopped talking about state affairs and said with great interest, "These scholar-officials don't know how lucky they are."

"The newly established Anti-Corruption Bureau is just another anti-corruption performance by these scholars. By putting on an anti-corruption show for the people, they can quell the people's opposition to tyranny and make corrupt officials bear all kinds of sins."

"The emperor, through anti-corruption efforts, eliminates those who threaten imperial power."

"In their eyes, the common people are all ignorant and do not understand the political situation. Whenever a high-ranking official dies, the people will definitely applaud!"

“I think so. Although the common people are a bit short-sighted, they are not ignorant of reason. They know who treats them well and who treats them badly, just like drinking water, they know whether it is hot or cold. Everyone knows that Wang Chonggu is a big corrupt official, but he is also one of the gods of water and fire in the hearts of craftsmen.”

"Actually, the common people of the Ming Dynasty had a certain limit to their tolerance for corruption. They were not afraid of being a little corrupt, as long as you could get things done and accomplish them."

"Anyway, all officials are corrupt, so what difference does it make who is corrupt? The common people would love to have more corrupt but capable officials like Wang Chonggu."

Shahmamat, speaking from the perspective of the people, described what he had seen and heard during this period. He said that Li Yashi might be writing an editorial, which was why he came to Qianmenlou to gather material. Shahmamat did not hide anything and told Li Yashi everything he knew.

The scholar-officials of the Ming Dynasty were considered too aristocratic and their perception was vastly different from that of the common people. This difference was most evident in the matter of the Anti-Corruption Bureau.

Shah Mamat believes that it is truly foolish to think that the people are stupid and cannot distinguish between good and bad.

Li Yashi was indeed going to write an editorial, and because he was a foreigner, the outline of this editorial would definitely be presented to the emperor. He was going to write something substantial, so he naturally had to understand the attitudes of all classes in the Ming Dynasty towards anti-corruption.

Recently, he dared not write jokes anymore. Even if His Majesty didn't care, he no longer had the guts. His Majesty's authority was growing stronger every day. If he continued to talk nonsense, His Majesty might forgive him, but the Ming Dynasty's officials would not let him off the hook.

Aside from translation, he now mostly plays the role of someone who is surprised by friendly nations, viewing the policies of the Ming Dynasty from the perspective of foreign barbarians.

Li Yashi actually made up a joke about the Ming Dynasty, but he didn't dare to release it. The joke's content is as follows:
The Ming Dynasty dispatched a large number of officials to Spain, where they were received by Pedro, the Spanish court secretary.

Pedro asked: What is the purpose of the envoy sent by the Ming Dynasty to Spain?
Ming Dynasty official: We should learn from the strengths of all countries and study your country's anti-corruption experience.

Pedro immediately shouted: There is no corruption in our country!

Upon hearing this, the Ming official's eyes lit up, and he immediately chimed in, "Yes, yes, yes, that's exactly what we want to learn!"
Before the Wanli Reforms, there were already signs of corruption becoming legitimate in the Ming Dynasty. The most typical example was the annual tribute of charcoal and ice paid by the tutors. With Hai Rui's return to the court to fight corruption, Lu Guangzu's continued efforts, and the establishment of the Anti-Corruption Bureau, this process of legitimizing corruption was curbed.

Only when high-pressure anti-corruption becomes the norm, and a consensus on anti-corruption is gradually built up that people dare not, cannot, and do not want to be corrupt, can the Ming Dynasty achieve long-term stability and security.

“There’s a saying that’s been circulating among the scholar-officials lately, which is called ‘anti-corruption allowance.’ They believe that if the court wants to fight corruption, it should give officials an allowance to maintain their integrity. In this way, the officials will naturally become honest because there will be no need for them to be corrupt,” Shah Maimaiti said, referring to the recent trend of public opinion.

To ensure officials' support in the fight against corruption, the Ming Dynasty began issuing salaries in the sixth year of the Wanli Emperor's reign, with a fixed salary every three years. However, even a first-rank official received only 1000 taels of silver a year, a ninth-rank official received only 45 taels, and clerks received even less.

The salary and the power they wield are completely disproportionate. According to public opinion, the lack of money and the low salary are the core reasons for corruption.

Li Yashi frowned and asked doubtfully, "Do you think this statement is correct?"

Shah Mamat pondered for a moment and shook his head, saying, "I don't know about others, but for me, I am a nobleman of the Mughal Empire and the son-in-law of Emperor Akbar. Emperor Akbar gives me 50,000 taels of silver a year to maintain the relationship between the Mughal Empire and the Ming Dynasty."

“I’ll spend all this silver myself, and whatever Akbar gives me, I’ll embezzle it all! The relationship between the Ming Dynasty and the Mongol Empire will neither improve nor worsen because of this 50,000 taels of silver.”

"What kind of integrity can be cultivated with a stingy allowance! If it could, I'd swim all the way back to the Mongol Empire from the Tonghui River!"

Shah Mamat did not believe the scholar-officials' argument. If issuing subsidies to maintain integrity could cultivate honesty, why were nobles not honest?
The Wuqing Earl Li Wei's family had no worries about food or clothing. They owned a large mansion in Tsinghua Garden and thousands of acres of land. They were so extravagant. Both of Li Wei's sons were involved in the sedition of the limited redemption of gold and paper money.

As long as the nobility exists and as long as they continue to commit evil, this argument will not hold water.

“I completely agree with what you’re saying. I kept the silver that Felipe gave me for myself; I’m a nobleman too,” Li Yashi said sincerely.

In Li Yashi's view, the Ming Dynasty had no real nobles at all. Those with military merits, dukes, marquises, and earls were not nobles at all, and they couldn't even kill people in the street.

In the Ming Dynasty, where killing someone in the street would be severely punished by the emperor, judicial privileges were so limited that this could be considered aristocratic.

In the West, nobles could kill people in the street and no one would care. Nobles held the power of life and death over their vassals; that was what made them nobles.

Li Yashi even felt that the Ming emperor was not a nobleman. Killing someone required a warrant from the Ministry of Justice. Without a warrant, it was just a case with yellow paper or white paper. It was simply inexplicable!

Felipe killed his court secretary—did he need any reason? Even Antonio killed his court secretary like killing a chicken.

Li Yashi and Shah Maimaiti talked for a long time before he wrote down what he had seen and heard in an editorial. After careful revision, he presented it to the emperor. If the emperor approved it, it could be published in "Xiaoyao Yiwen".

The young Ming emperor sat upright in his study, writing furiously. As the pillar of the empire, the emperor occasionally caught a cold, but he remained diligent.

Instead of dealing with the memorial, he wrote a letter to Li Chengliang. On the one hand, the people of Luntai were suffering, and the emperor wanted to send a letter of condolence. On the other hand, Li Chengliang couldn't stay idle; in May, he personally went to inspect the terrain of Wenquan Pass (Alashankou). "Three hundred brave warriors guarding Wenquan Pass can prevent the barbarians of the Western Regions from invading the territory of the Ming Dynasty." Zhu Yijun finished writing the letter and blew on the ink to dry it.

Wenquan Pass must be built. As for how to build it, Li Chengliang has his own plan. He decides to give the various tribes of the Western Regions some benefits in exchange for their recognition, so that the tribes of the Western Regions can contribute manpower and resources to build Wenquan Pass.

The main benefits are in coal mining and iron smelting technologies.

During his years in the Western Regions, Li Chengliang had always wondered how the Protectorate of the Western Regions under the Han and Tang dynasties governed the region. Was it solely through military garrisons? Given the vastness of the Western Regions, how many troops would the Han and Tang dynasties have needed to govern it?
After several years of searching, Li Chengliang finally found the answer at the foot of the Tianshan Mountains. In the ancient Kucha Kingdom, he found the remains of an ironworks covering more than 2800 acres built by the Han and Tang Protectorates, and used the ironworks to control the entire Western Regions.

The reason it's only 2800 mu is because only 2800 mu were excavated; the remaining area was too large, and he was too lazy to excavate any more.

What frustrated Li Chengliang even more was that this vast and prosperous ironworks was completely abandoned after the Tang Dynasty left the Western Regions.

During the Wanli era, the quantity of ironware in the Western Regions was even less than during the Han and Tang dynasties. The iron produced in the Western Regions was insufficient even for armor and military equipment, and the supply of iron plowshares and moldboards for civilian use was pitifully small.

Zhu Yijun approved of Li Chengliang's approach of exploring for minerals and establishing factories in the Western Regions. Whether or not Wenquan Pass was established would determine whether the Ming Dynasty could effectively control the Western Regions.

The establishment of Wenquan Pass and the smooth resupply of the Han army signified the Ming Dynasty's absolute control over the Western Regions.

Similarly, if Wenquan Pass were to fall, and even if supplies for the Han army could not be delivered smoothly, it would mean that the Ming Dynasty had lost control of the Western Regions.

The establishment of Wenquan Pass can be regarded as the establishment of the Western Regions Protectorate of the Ming Dynasty.

Zhu Yijun frowned and said, "Is anyone willing to go to the Western Regions to explore for minerals? Geomancers are a rare talent, and there aren't enough in our own territory. If we force them to go, I'm afraid they'll just be slacking off."

Those who are willing to go will demonstrate their initiative, and the Ming emperor could force them to go, but a forced departure will inevitably result in a perfunctory performance.

Zhu Yijun's involvement in the expansion into the Western Regions was primarily voluntary.

“Your Majesty, there are many geomancers willing to go to the Western Regions to explore for minerals,” Feng Bao said in a low voice. “This is a meritorious service, and they may even be promoted to Doctor of Geography after returning to the capital. For a geomancer, this is a life-or-death treatment, a great honor that will benefit their descendants.”

After Gansu was established as a province, more scholar-officials were willing to go to Gansu to serve as officials than were willing to go to Guizhou.

Gansu is tough, but people rise quickly there! Go to Gansu to get a gilded experience, spend five years stuck in the heartland, and then spend ten years wandering around.

Geomancers are also human. If they make contributions in the Western Regions, they can return to the Ming Dynasty as Doctors of Natural Sciences, transcending the Five Elements. Their children and grandchildren will benefit from this, and can study at the Elementary School of the Institute of Natural Sciences from the age of four. The three-level school of the Institute of Natural Sciences can be entered by anyone who is not stupid or dull.

"That's excellent, excellent." Zhu Yijun breathed a sigh of relief. With geomancers and master coal and iron craftsmen willing to go to the Western Regions, the expansion into the Western Regions would proceed much more smoothly.

"These memorials are utter nonsense. The Beijing-Guangzhou Highway was built in five years, with an annual investment of up to 650 million taels of silver. In just one year, from the seventeenth to the eighteenth year of the Wanli reign, the corruption scandal involving the Beijing-Guangzhou Highway amounted to a staggering 120 million taels of silver! How could these censors have uttered such words?"

"120 million taels of silver is a minor mistake? Then what is a major mistake?" Zhu Yijun looked at the memorials and tapped them forcefully a few times.

There were seven memorials in total, all saying the same thing: the total amount of 120 million taels of silver involved in the corruption was a small case, and there was absolutely no need for General Qi Jiguang to endorse it. The Anti-Corruption Bureau should just carry out its normal anti-corruption work and arrest corrupt officials. It was making a mountain out of a molehill.

Feng Bao thought for a moment and said, "It would be a big mistake to let people find out."

The main content of these memorials was not to oppose anti-corruption efforts, but to oppose Qi Jiguang's leadership in anti-corruption work—that was terrifying.

If the anti-corruption campaign is not allowed, the rebellion will be quelled. His Majesty's determination to fight corruption is commendable, but the commotion is too great and not good for General Qi himself. A general's excessive involvement in court affairs can easily lead to speculation.

Zhu Yijun wrote his vermilion comments on all seven memorials, adding over a hundred words of criticism.

"Sir, you wish to combat corruption in the capital." Zhu Yijun approved Zhang Juzheng's request. This anti-corruption campaign was the main focus of the capital inspection. It was not a pretext for a purge, nor a political performance, nor an internal power struggle, but a long-term national strategy.

The simultaneous involvement of the Grand Secretary and the Grand General in the anti-corruption campaign has created a climate of fear and unease among officials in the capital, as a closer examination reveals that these high-ranking officials are not exactly clean in their own right.

However, Zhang Juzheng's anti-corruption campaign, which started with his close associates such as Shen Shixing, Li Le, and Wang Xiyuan, left people with little room for objection.

Zhu Yijun finally saw Li Yashi's editorial. Li Yashi's viewpoint was very interesting. He believed that it was not terrible to have corrupt officials, but it was terrible not to have them.

The existence of corrupt officials means that the court is still fighting corruption and has the resources to manage these matters. Once there are no corrupt officials, it means that corruption is completely justified.

“His point of view is somewhat novel.” Zhu Yijun looked at Li Yashi’s editorial, in which Li Yashi mentioned two people.

The most notable characteristics of Hai Rui and Xu Chengchu, the anti-corruption pioneers, were that they came from poor, even impoverished, backgrounds, and were both upright and honest officials who lived solely on their integrity.

In Li Yashi's view, the reason why the Ming Dynasty was able to fight corruption, arrest corrupt officials, and even portray anti-corruption as a politically correct practice was precisely because these commoner disciples from extremely poor families were able to climb step by step to high positions and control power.

Throughout the long process of selecting talent through the imperial examinations and the official career, those virtuous and resolute scholars who remained loyal and true to their moral principles were a rare and invaluable resource for the court.

They are rare talents, and there aren't many like them in the Ming Dynasty. They are renewable, and as long as the talent selection mechanism is still in place, these scarce talents can continue to emerge.

Even if Xu Chengchu accomplished nothing after that, and even failed to handle the Jingguang Highway corruption case, as long as he remained in the court, he would be a role model, guiding future generations to follow in his footsteps.

Furthermore, Li Yashi made a strange deduction: the court should try its best to avoid identity politics in order to fight corruption and crack down on greed.

The new order of the Wanli Reforms, though it may not be immutable for ten thousand generations, was fortunate enough to remain orderly for two hundred years.

Zhu Yijun extracted two sentences from it and said with great approval: "The sharp blade of the Anti-Corruption Bureau is not set up for any party or faction, but is hung for all the corrupt officials in the world."

"Xu Chengchu was a talented man who rose from humble beginnings. He relied entirely on his loyalty, integrity, and uprightness to uphold the law and question the officials."

"He has neither a distinguished family background to rely on nor a large family fortune to depend on. He relies solely on his reputation for integrity and achievements, which is why he can act fearlessly and impartially. If the court is bound by family background, academic achievements, and hometown status when selecting people, then this stream of integrity will surely dry up, and the great cause of fighting corruption will ultimately become a tree without roots."

Identity politics is the most malignant of all cancers. It is not just about anti-corruption efforts; in fact, almost all political systems in the Ming Dynasty should be strictly guarded against and protected against identity politics.

The most interesting part of the entire memorial is the attitude of the two nobles, Li Yashi and Shah Maimaiti, towards the prevailing public opinion regarding the "anti-corruption allowance." Li Yashi said: "I once discussed this with Shah Maimaiti, the envoy of the Mughal Empire, and we both burst into laughter. Greed is like a bottomless pit; how can gold and silver fill it?"
Li Yashi bluntly stated: "If corruption becomes acceptable, then the laws and regulations of the country will be destroyed, and the dignity of the court will be lost. This is truly a serious threat to the nation!"

"Send it to the Imperial Gazette for publication throughout the land." Li Yashi's memorial, "Severing the Conflicts of Families to Secure the Foundation of the State," received the emperor's imperial approval and was selected for inclusion in the Imperial Gazette.

(Screenshot of the memorial "Severing Sectarian Bias to Secure the Foundation of the Nation," an outline of a memorial submitted to the Emperor for review, not the original editorial text.)
Zhu Yijun strongly disapproved of the "anti-corruption allowance."

The statement that Ming Dynasty officials lived in poverty because their salaries were too low is a huge joke!
In addition to their salaries, Ming Dynasty officials received summer and winter ice and charcoal allowances. Besides these, there were also numerous other ways to make money, such as gifts for the family, gifts of silk, and gifts for meals. Even without engaging in rent-seeking, this amount of money was more than enough for a very comfortable life.

Besides these social interactions, there are also gray areas, such as soliciting favors, deducting from regulations, abusing the power of litigation, and issuing official seals, all of which are sources of money.

Issuing a subordinate seal means that a subordinate needs to ask a superior to affix their seal when doing something.

Asking for favors and transferring positions involves pulling strings, using back channels, and using connections. Some people offer bribes to get things done, while others maintain relationships without actually doing anything. If you want a promotion but haven't paid the money properly, or if someone in the process gets in your way, you might miss your chance.

Abuse of power in lawsuits is even simpler. In this world, no one will be wronged. If a magistrate wants to maintain his judicial privileges, that is, the privilege of not being wronged and wronging others, he has to make a gesture.

Moreover, in many cases, it's not about giving money directly, as that would be too vulgar. If it were, officials would only think that the person is ignorant and wouldn't do favors in the future. Most of the time, it's about giving property, such as fields, shops, workshops, etc. However, the upright officials always keep things clean.

Even setting aside personal relationships, the gray areas of favoritism and the black areas of bribery and corruption are positive numbers, namely the treatment of officials. Passing the imperial examination is considered defying fate, and countless people will secretly register their land under your name to evade taxes from the imperial court; countless people will become your lackeys to avoid corvée labor.

Therefore, the Anti-Corruption Department can only be a political department, not a legal department.

When investigating and handling cases, the Anti-Corruption Division tries to cover a whole host of crimes, such as "unexplained wealth," "accepting bribes by abusing improper influence," and "neglecting duties while holding a position without performing its duties." They don't even have a clear distinction between what constitutes corruption and what doesn't.

If they don't use a whole host of crimes, the officials and clerks of the Anti-Corruption Bureau will be playing word games with the scholar-officials forever, and they will never be able to fight corruption.

For example, I lost a greyhound, a family member as important as my son, who saved my life when I fell into the water! I promised 100,000 taels of silver to find the dog, and my superior happened to see the lost greyhound and helped me find it. I kept my promise and gave him 100,000 taels of silver as a reward. Would that be considered corruption?

Anti-Corruption Bureau: I believe you, I believe you completely! Go on, keep talking! I'll believe you as long as you're willing to speak, so speak up! If you don't, we'll send you to the execution grounds!

This is also one of the reasons why Zhang Juzheng wanted to use the Anti-Corruption Division to purge disloyal people, because anti-corruption itself is a catch-all crime, making it the most suitable tool for purging.

The purpose of anti-corruption is to curb the scale of corruption, not to completely eliminate corrupt officials and corrupt behavior. As long as people are greedy, and as long as there is governance, it is known that corruption cannot be eradicated. The fundamental purpose of anti-corruption is to curb the scale of corruption and corrupt officials, so that things can continue to get done.

"Report! Xu Chengchu's cavalry has reached Qingma Bridge in Rongcheng County, Baoding Prefecture, when the bridge suddenly collapsed!" A cavalryman rushed in and presented an urgent report to the emperor.

Zhu Yijun suddenly stood up, took the intact sealing wax letter tube, confirmed Chen Mo's seal, then opened the letter tube to check the seal and other items again, and began to read the memorial in detail.

"What a dilapidated Qingma Bridge is!" Zhu Yijun exclaimed after reading Chen Mo's report.

The investigation results show that the Qingma Bridge did indeed collapse due to years of disrepair, but the timing of the collapse was too coincidental. Why did it collapse just when Xu Chengchu's carriage was crossing the bridge?!
Xu Chengchu was unharmed. He ordered an immediate southward march, closing the case of the Qingma Bridge collapse as an accident, and had no intention of wasting any time. He sped south to Huguang overnight to investigate the corruption case along the Beijing-Guangzhou highway.

Distinguishing between primary and secondary issues is a fundamental quality of a plain-clad imperial censor.

The most crucial case is the corruption scandal involving the Beijing-Guangzhou Expressway.

(End of this chapter)