The Holy Emperor of Ming

Chapter 83 Killing and Punishing the Heart

Zhu Houzhao rolled his eyes and shouted, "Investigate for me immediately to see if Liu Daxia and his family have committed corruption or bribery or violated the law? Have they made any outstanding achievements?"

If he was corrupt, accepted bribes, broke the law, and had no outstanding achievements, he would be skinned alive immediately.

Spread his filthiness to the world."

"If it is one of the two, I will spare your life, but only dismiss you from office, and then spread your deeds throughout the world.

If you have both, have not committed corruption or bribery and have made outstanding achievements, then you are a good official of the Ming Dynasty and my good son. I can forgive you.

And let your achievements be admired by all people.

Well, let’s do it.”

"Push him aside first. The Eastern Depot and the Imperial Guards will investigate immediately. I want to know before the ceremony is over."

"Yes." Zhang Fengfu and Cao Zhengchun responded immediately and quickly passed on the message.

The rest of the people had different expressions.

Liu Daxia, who had a righteous look on his face, suddenly had a flickering gaze and his hands trembled slightly.

Among the many officials, some wanted to speak out in support of Liu Daxia, but they immediately shut up after hearing His Majesty's words.

I spoke up. What if His Majesty investigates me in the same way?
There are a few that are even more exciting.

Isn't this a good opportunity to gain fame and gain the favor of His Majesty!

But how do we assess outstanding achievements?

Does corruption and bribery count as normal filial piety?
Haven’t your family members violated any law?
They couldn't help but feel a little hesitant.

However, people with far-sighted vision, such as Liu Jian, felt a sinking feeling in their hearts. What a good trick.

In this way, even if Your Majesty kills Liu Daxia, the officials will not be able to say anything and Your Majesty will also win a good reputation.

The key point is that in terms of corruption, bribery and breaking the law, how many Ming Dynasty officials can withstand investigation?

Does this count as normal filial piety?
Does personal favor count?

Does it count if the land is registered under your name?
Does it count if a family member steps a little out of line?
Outstanding achievements are also vague.

Either of these statements is fine, and every official in the Ming Dynasty can rely on your Majesty's words to make the decision.

Your Majesty wants to kill people with justification and destroy their hearts openly.

So precise and ruthless!

However, if there are officials who are truly honest and have clean families and have made great achievements that are recognized by the public, such officials will appear.

Perhaps it can really restrain Your Majesty.

However, a few people like Wang Shouren and Li Xunhuan had shining eyes at this time.

Yes, that's right.

With your Majesty's military achievements, prestige and strength, he can kill any official in the court.

But this is the best way to deal with it.

No one, including officials, common people and scholars, could say a word.

It can also rectify the atmosphere.

The situation at this time was broken.
How wonderful.

"Is there anyone else who wants to disobey the imperial order like Liu Daxia?" Zhu Houzhao was also a little proud.

He felt that he could deal with bad officials in this way in the future.

As expected, I am the most powerful and the most merciful father.

Below, there was silence.

Of course, many people are dissatisfied with this imperial edict, but are they willing to gamble their own future, official position, reputation, and even the lives of their families to stop this imperial edict which may not be so bad?

Among all officials, there are certainly people who are not afraid of death and are dedicated to serving the public.

But it depends on whether it is worth it.

Is this imperial edict really that bad?
not necessarily.

Liu Jian and others were also hesitant. Can they gamble?

If it were Emperor Hongzhi, they would have opposed it without hesitation.

But the new emperor in front of him was different.

He really has the strength and courage to overturn the table.

There are many unspoken rules, and the other party obviously doesn't care at all.

If his own uncle could beat someone to death with his own hands, there would probably be no one he would not dare to kill.

The most important thing is that it’s not worth it.

The officials, some concerned about this and some concerned about that, remained silent, acquiesced, and compromised.

Seeing that no one objected, Zhu Houzhao continued, "From now on, all officials who resign or retire will be investigated in this way."

All officials felt heavy and depressed.

This is to break the previous unspoken rule that people leave and things are done.

Your Majesty, why are you so harsh on your officials?

Zhu Houzhao ignored the officials' thoughts and continued, "The third new policy is that I will thoroughly investigate corrupt officials and incompetent people."

Thousands of officials' hearts skipped a beat again.

The real knife that kills officials has arrived.

“You should know how many corrupt and incompetent officials there are in the Ming Dynasty even if I don’t tell you.

From today on, the Jinyiwei will have a large number of people to monitor officials all over the country, including the military, and once they find corrupt officials, they will notify the East Factory.

The factory guards jointly dispatched personnel to make arrests and supervised each other.

Those who are of the third rank and above should report to me first, and those who are below the third rank can be arrested directly first.

But remember, what I want is real evidence.

All stolen goods seized must be handed over in full, and not a single cent can be embezzled. Afterwards, I will reward the corresponding meritorious officials of the factory and guards with one twentieth of the total.

In addition to money, there is also the Ming Dynasty Sutra Library, which is fully open. As long as you have the corresponding merits, you can exchange them for various martial arts. "

“The West Factory has the fewest people and is responsible for supervising the Imperial Guards and the East Factory. If they discover any corruption, illegality, or slander in the Imperial Guards and the East Factory, their achievements will be transferred to the West Factory.

Remember, there are two factories and one guard. I want real evidence. Whoever dares to slander me, no matter who it is, I will never forgive him. "These words made most of the officials at the scene pale.

This is not the knife used to kill officials.

These are two vicious dogs that are going to be released to massacre officials.

"Your Majesty, this is not possible. If we do this, the eunuchs and guards will run rampant. For the sake of money and martial arts, they will surely stir up many unjust cases and make people's lives miserable." Liu Jian immediately said loudly.

"Your Majesty, the Imperial Guards are indeed vicious dogs. If this is the case, everyone in the court will be terrified and unstable. I ask Your Majesty to withdraw your order?" Li Dongyang followed.

"Your Majesty, the factory guards are always framing others, so you must not give them such great power."

"I ask Your Majesty to withdraw your order."

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The civil officials, no, even the nobles can't stand firm.

This includes the military, so aren't they also under surveillance?

Zhang Fengfu and Cao Zhengchun, who had already returned with the order, remained silent and did not dare to speak.

One only feels enormous pressure and is afraid of failing to live up to the Holy Grace.

One's whole body was shaking with excitement.

Liu Jin and Cao Youxiang both looked at Cao Zhengchun with envy and jealousy.

To directly arrest anyone below the third rank, what a great power!

There is also a twentieth reward, which is a legitimate income.

Aren’t the Jinyiwei and Dongchang going crazy to catch corrupt officials?
What qualifications does this idiot have?

Of course, the East Depot had to rely on the Embroidered Uniform Guard for notifications, and the Embroidered Uniform Guard still had the greatest power. The East Depot and the Embroidered Uniform Guard worked together, and the East Depot was more about supervising and helping the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Relatively speaking, the Western Factory, which supervised them, was a little worse.

“What’s there to be afraid of, what’s there to be feared about, if there’s no corruption or officials?
As for framing and arresting corrupt officials, the Ministry of Justice, the Dali Temple, and the Censorate will jointly try them.

Those who slander others will be punished with the same crime.

If the factory guards dare to slander me, I will never let them go. What are you afraid of?" Zhu Houzhao's puzzled voice sounded.

"Your Majesty, I am not afraid of anything, but——"

"Enough, I don't want to listen to those hypocritical excuses anymore." Before Liu Jian finished speaking, Zhu Houzhao interrupted him impatiently, making Liu Jian's face turn pale.

He knew that he had already left a very bad impression in His Majesty's mind.

As for the face issue of interrupting him, he was used to it.

It seems that Your Majesty has never given face to anyone.

He doesn't even care about his own face.

"I tell you, you are all my sons, and I will never allow anyone to slander my sons.

So there is no need to be afraid at all. Those who should be afraid are corrupt officials.

Do Cao Zhengchun, Zhang Fengfu, the East Factory and the Imperial Guard dare to slander my son?" Zhu Houzhao said seriously.

"I guarantee with my life that the Jinyiwei will never slander any official." Zhang Fengfu said firmly without hesitation.

"I would never dare to slander any official." Cao Zhengchun followed.

"I've heard everything. This matter is settled." Zhu Houzhao said without any doubt.

He looked at the Censorate, the Six Departments and others, "In addition to corrupt officials, there are also incompetent officials.

Every year, the Censorate and the Six Ministries review the performance of civil servants throughout the country for me.

The Censorate was responsible for the two capitals and thirteen provinces, while the six departments were only responsible for the six ministries in the capital, and now there are five ministries.

All the messy duties in the past have been abolished, and reporting things based on hearsay is just nonsense without any evidence.

How can I have so much time to watch it?"

Most of the people in the Censorate and the Six Ministries were surprised and delighted, as this meant a huge increase in power.

But why are they only civil servants?
The people in the Ministry of Personnel were confused.

Isn’t this the Jingcha?
It’s just much more severe than the Beijing inspection, as achievements are reviewed every year.

But this actually took away the power of the Ministry of Personnel.

"Your Majesty, so, what about the Ministry of Personnel's inspection in Beijing?" The Minister of Personnel Ma Wensheng asked.

"What's the use of the imperial inspection every six years? Abolish it." Zhu Houzhao said without hesitation.

Ma Wensheng was silent.

“By the way, the performance review of the Metropolitan Censorate and the six departments is accurate to each person. Anyone who makes an inaccurate review will be evaluated equally.

I will personally review the cabinet." Zhu Houzhao added.

"Yes, Your Majesty." The people from the Censorate and the Six Ministries received the order.

“Fourth, I have recently learned that the salaries of officials, generals, and soldiers in my Ming Dynasty are relatively low.

I naturally love my son, so I decided to increase the salaries of all officials.

More than double.

The Ministry of Revenue should discuss with the Cabinet how to increase it specifically." Zhu Houzhao finally came up with a new policy that made most officials happy.

The extremely depressing atmosphere relaxed a lot.

More than doubling the salary is a lot.

Only corrupt officials are more afraid, because they will be killed more severely.

"Your Majesty, the court does not have that much silver." Only the Minister of Revenue Ye Qi had to bite the bullet and stand up to speak.

"Your Majesty, the court does not have that much silver." Liu Jian also spoke.

No one wants to be a bad guy, but the facts are there and they have to speak up.

"Don't worry, with so many corrupt officials, how could they not have money?" Zhu Houzhao said without any worry.

Many officials felt numb all over.

How could one say so openly that the money from corrupt officials would be used for the court?
Your Majesty really doesn't care about your face at all.

Some officials were already sweating profusely.

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(End of this chapter)