The Ming Dynasty took an unconventional approach

The city of Guangzhou was bustling all night.

When Cao Rong woke up from his drunken stupor, it was already 1:45 AM the next day. By then, the early birds had already finished half a day's work, and the early risers were not far behind.

Song Hao barely slept all night. An Chen and the others returned at Chen Shi (7-9 AM), while he had already washed up and was waiting in the lobby by Mao Shi (5-7 AM).

The people have all been arrested, but their assets have not yet been seized, partly because there isn't enough manpower and partly because there isn't enough time.

However, the main perpetrators have all been apprehended. The confiscation of their property is just a follow-up. The most important thing is to consolidate the evidence. Those who have been arrested must be kept in check to prevent them from retaliating.

When Cao Rong woke up, he was already basically nailed to death.

With account books, letters, and confessions from his subordinates, unless Cao Rong defies the heavens, his crime is sealed.

Song Hao breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly reported to Jiao Tong: "Sir, Cao Rong and his accomplices Jiang Cheng and Xu Jing, along with eight others, have all been arrested and brought to justice. Their families have also been placed under guard. What do you think..."

Jiao Tong: "Are you sure the evidence you've found is enough to convict Cao Rong?"

Song Hao said, "I have carefully examined the evidence that An Chen brought back. It was all found in Cao Rong's bedroom. The source is legitimate and there are no signs of forgery. It is indeed sufficient to convict him."

Jiao Tong looked puzzled: "Cao Rong has always been cautious. The Cao family mansion, if not as impregnable as a fortress, is like a dense net. How could Xue Shao have so easily found a handle against them?"

Song Hao remained silent.

Jiao Tong thought for a moment, but still couldn't figure it out, so he could only wave his hand and say, "Now that you've found out, report it."

Song Hao said somewhat awkwardly, "What Imperial Censor Xue means is that this matter is being handled jointly by the Censorate and the Northern Garrison Command, and the case does not go beyond the local level."

Jiao Tong frowned: "Arresting people, seizing property, even escorting them—doesn't that require local cooperation? What do you mean by 'not involving local authorities'?"

Song Hao said, "This morning, Censor Xue left these words as soon as he woke up, only allowing us to send the clerk from the Household Department to accompany him and record the confiscated items in a register. The register should be in triplicate, one copy for the local authorities, one copy for the Censorate, and one copy for the Northern Garrison Command."

Jiao Tong was displeased: "The things Cao Rong embezzled all came from the local areas. According to the law, confiscated items should be registered by the local authorities before being sent to the national treasury. Does he not trust me?"

Song Hao also sighed, shook his head, and remained silent.

Xue Shao was also talking to An Chen about this: "If it were just an ordinary embezzlement case, I would certainly believe Governor Jiao. But Cao Rong embezzled too much. Not to mention the gold and silver treasures in that treasury, who wouldn't be tempted by the treasury that Pan Yun emptied later? The most important point is that I already have a plan in mind on how to use this money. I'm just waiting for His Majesty's approval, so it cannot be included in the Provincial Administration Commission."

An Chen asked, "How do I use it?"

Xue Shao said, "It is taken from the people and used for the people. Since the vast majority of it is taken from military households, it should naturally be used for military households."

Just then, the imperial court was conducting a purge of military affairs.

An Chen's gaze narrowed slightly as he said, "Since it involves the military, is the Five Military Commands willing to let the Censorate and our Northern Garrison Command handle it?"

“I have already asked Pan Jun to write to His Majesty, requesting the Five Military Commands to send people to assist. The arrest of the Guangdong Commander and a group of Assistant Commanders and Thousand-Household Commanders involves a wide range of people and requires new military officers to take over.”

"Is the case limited to Cao Rong's involvement?" An Chen asked. "The large sums of money that disappeared from the accounts seem to have flowed to the Five Military Commands and the Cabinet in the capital. Are you no longer investigating them?"

Xue Shao sighed and said, "Once the arrow is released, there's no turning back."

He handed An Chen a piece of paper and said, "This is the compensation I have drafted for the military households. I have calculated the approximate cost. Excluding the treasury, the contents of the three warehouses of the Cao family will barely be enough to exchange for cash. So you not only need to keep an eye on the Cao family's money, but also keep a close watch on the other mansions that are to be confiscated."

An Chen took the paper, glanced at it, and discovered that Xue Shao had compiled statistics on military households throughout Guangdong.

His gaze swept over the stacks of account books and rosters on the table, a slight smile playing on his lips. He clasped his hands in a fist and said, "This humble official will obey the orders of his superior."

Xue Shao waved his hand, and An Chen turned to find people. He went to find the military households: "Imperial Censor Xue said that after confiscating the Cao family's property, all the military households who have suffered injustice over the years will be compensated. He will also personally ask His Majesty to plead for you to reduce your military rations. You must keep a close watch on the Cao residence. All the dirty money inside will eventually be used to compensate the military households!"

Upon hearing this, the ragged soldiers immediately straightened their backs, pulled in their stomachs, and roared from their diaphragms, "Yes!"

The sound resounded through the sky.

This sound made the ordinary officers of the thousand-household garrison who had originally followed Cao Rong hesitate, but in the end they stood still silently and acquiesced.

These junior officers did not benefit from Cao Rong and his associates; they simply suffered less loss than ordinary soldiers.

If Xue Shao could purify the army, they wouldn't expect any compensation. They just wanted the new commander to be as oppressive as Cao Rong, who forced them to oppress the soldiers and military households below him.

He did something immoral, but never got any benefit from it. He was scolded for nothing, and his conscience wouldn't let him get over it. He not only failed the country and His Majesty, but also his own conscience.

If they weren't required to serve in the military, they would have changed places and jobs long ago.

This damn job is so tedious, I feel annoyed even if I do a little more of it.

After giving the military households a pep talk, An Chen also asked them to send some of their men back to the military settlement to bring back more military households. The requirement was that they should be people who had suffered the same oppression as them, and preferably those with some skills.

Those skilled in arithmetic, martial arts, or military strategy are best.

Such people are not hard to find among military households.

They happily went back to find their companions.

So when Jiao Tong found Xue Shao, he said, "You don't have enough manpower, why don't you let Prefect Song lead people to assist you in confiscating the property of corrupt officials?"

Xue Shao then said, "Commander An has already found enough men."

Jiao Tong frowned.

Xue Shao said, "Uncle Jiao, Cao Rong is the descendant of a military meritorious official. The emperor is benevolent and may not take his life."

"If you don't cut the weeds at the root, they will grow back in the spring breeze," Jiao Tong said meaningfully. "Precisely because he is the descendant of a military hero, you must completely eliminate him to prevent him from making a comeback. If you can't do it, why not find an ally?"

“Forming cliques inevitably leads to self-interest, which is not what I desire,” Xue Shao shook his head and refused.

Jiao Tong sighed and said, "You are just like your uncle. So when he got into trouble, it was said that he was killed by Wang Zhen, but in reality, he was abandoned by everyone, including the upright officials. With this as a warning, do you want to repeat your uncle's mistakes?"

Xue Shao smiled but remained silent.

Jiao Tong gave him a deep look, then turned and left.

After everyone left, Pan Yun emerged from behind the screen and said, "Times have changed, don't be afraid."

Xue Shao turned around and smiled, "I know, at least you're on my side."

Pan Yun said, "The struggle between civil and military officials has never ceased since the Song Dynasty. In addition to the civil and military struggles, there are also factional struggles. If we only act based on the interests of factional struggles, what will happen to the vast majority of ordinary people in the country? They don't have anyone standing in the court."

Xue Shao: "The key to this matter lies with Your Majesty. As long as Your Majesty does not yield..."

Pan Yun's lips curled slightly as she said, "I can't be sure about other emperors, but I can guarantee that this one will definitely stand on the side of the people now, and won't forget his original intentions in order to maintain a balance." (End of Chapter)