Fu Shanhe

Chapter 27: Efficient East Factory

Imprisonment.

Seeing Yue Shufeng being escorted in, the Qingliu Party members who had been holding on stubbornly showed expressions of despair.

The leader of this round of party struggle was imprisoned, which marked the complete defeat of the Qingliu Party in the court struggle.

Even though the Qingliu Party still had two cabinet ministers in the court and the support of countless local gentry and officials, it could not change the outcome of failure.

Especially the group of scholars who were deceived, they jumped in at the last moment.

He thought he could defeat the eunuch party, restore order, and win a career for the next 20 years, but he didn't expect to be wiped out at the very beginning.

Losing your own life is a minor matter, but what is terrible is that your whole family will suffer as a result.

Inner torture is more terrible than physical pain.

If his body had not been tied up, it would have been another night of suicide in the imperial prison.

As a second-rank official, Yue Shufeng's treatment was obviously much higher.

I live in a spacious single room with clean quilts and a square table.

No torture instruments or shackles will be put on you.

This is a thousand-year-old tradition left by our ancestors—generals and ministers should not be humiliated.

Although enjoying the privileges, Yue Shufeng felt unhappy.

Just think about how he passed the imperial examination and became a Jinshi at the age of twenty. How ambitious he must have been.

After entering the officialdom, he was also concerned about the country and the people, and took it as his responsibility to save the people of the world.

He did not hesitate to make enemies with the powerful and wealthy, and tore apart the shadow that shrouded the banks of the canal - the Cao Gang, and created a new situation in the canal transportation.

He was relied upon by two generations of monarchs and was promoted to the position of Left Censor-in-Chief in his prime.

It seemed as if fate was playing a joke on him.

After tasting the power, the young man who was once high-spirited and dared to bring peace to the world died.

Only Yue Shufeng has become a slave to power.

They are busy fighting for power and profit all day long, their moral bottom line is repeatedly broken, and their path is going further and further astray.

One careless move and he fell on the road to power.

"Master Yue, are you living comfortably?"

Hearing this familiar voice, Yue Shufeng forced himself to calm down and try his best to maintain his last bit of dignity.

"Thanks to Eunuch Zuo, I am not dead yet!"

As he spoke, Yue Shufeng dragged his tired body to stand up and looked at Zuo Guangen.

“It’s good that you’re not dead!
We are all decent people, so there is no need to waste time talking about our true selves.

These are the evidences collected by the East Factory. Please see which parts need to be revised or supplemented."

After hearing Zuo Guangen's words, Yue Shufeng smiled disdainfully, as if everything was expected.

According to the law, to convict a second-rank official, a trial by three judges was required.

The city is in turmoil due to the party disputes. The eunuch party now needs to close the case as soon as possible. It is impossible to follow the procedures step by step.

The important task of interrogation can only be carried out by Zuo Guangen himself, no one else is qualified.

"Your Majesty, did you come?"

Yue Shufeng asked bitterly.

Even though he knew the answer would be disappointing, he still held on to a glimmer of hope.

“This time, I came here not only to represent His Majesty, but also to represent the Cabinet.

The imperial edict is here, with the cabinet seal attached. Lord Yue can choose to view it.

Your Majesty, please remember our old friendship.

According to your majesty, if Lord Yue is willing to confess honestly, then there is no need to take out this imperial edict. "

Yue Shufeng ignored Zuo Guangen's words.

After tidying up his clothes, he respectfully took the imperial edict and opened it carefully.

After a long while, he closed the imperial edict with bitterness, as if all the energy had been drained out of him.

"I understand what your Majesty means.

Please, Eunuch Zuo, apologize to His Majesty on my behalf. It is I, Yue Shufeng, who have let him down!

As for other matters, I'll let you take care of it!" It's not that Yue Shufeng is timid, it's just that people have to bow their heads under the eaves.

The cabinet and the emperor reached a consensus on how to deal with him, and there was no possibility of a reversal.

If he actively cooperates, he will be convicted according to the crimes found.

If he continues to cause trouble, he will become a traitor.

The former will be unlucky himself and his family may be implicated.

The latter is a direct Nine Clans Elimination Game, and this multiple-choice question is very easy to answer.

"Lord Yue, this is a great deed. Many people in this prison will be saved because of your decision. Everyone will be grateful to you!

Don't worry, if you apologize, I will report it to His Majesty without missing a word."

Zuo Guangen said with a smile.

It is true that countless people have lived, but there is no need to think about being grateful.

By the time the final results came out, I guess everyone wanted to eat him alive.

It didn't turn into a rebellion because Emperor Tianyuan was worried that the political impact would be too bad and hoped to handle it in a low-key manner.

Zuo Guangen, who is good at guessing the emperor's intentions, would definitely not go against the emperor.

This incident is a good opportunity to let all the officials in the court know that he, Zuo, also abides by the rules.

The table was overturned in front of me, that means someone broke the rules first.

……

The next morning, as soon as he arrived at the Qianhu Suo Yamen, Li Mu received a list of offers for his life.

This efficiency alone proves that the Eastern Depot is by no means comparable to ordinary government offices.

The list gives different quotes based on the official's position, background and length of tenure.

However, this money is only enough to buy life, the crime still needs to be punished. After receiving the money, the East Factory guarantees that the person can reach the exile place alive.

Except for some officials who were designated for exile places by their superiors, other officials could choose their own exile places as long as they were willing to spend money.

"Eunuch Mai, you are really efficient. You must have prepared it in advance!"

Li Mu joked with a smile.

The East Factory's enthusiasm and low offer price were completely beyond his expectations.

Theoretically, as long as the money is paid, any official who is arrested and imprisoned can be sentenced to exile.

This is not scientific at all and is completely different from the party struggles he is familiar with.

"Master Li, don't be so curious.

The opportunity to make a fortune is given to you. How much you can earn depends on your ability.

The Left Prime Minister was kind-hearted and could not bear to kill people in large numbers, so he gave this opportunity.

By the way, the verdict will come out in three days.

If you want to make it happen, hurry up. Don’t wait until the results are announced before trying to find connections. It will be too late then!”

Mai Qinghu said impatiently.

The higher-ups suddenly decided not to kill anyone and instead exiled them all, which shocked everyone in the East Depot.

Originally everyone wanted to persuade the left prime minister, but when they learned that it was the emperor's intention, everyone instantly gave up the idea of ​​killing to establish their authority.

If no one is killed, then the money for buying lives is like picking up money for free, and it would be a waste not to make money.

In order to avoid any further complications, the East Factory rushed to prepare a quotation list overnight.

"Father-in-law, since we can choose the place of exile, then it shouldn't be difficult to choose a few family members who died of accidental illness, right?"

Li Mu asked tentatively.

His intuition told him that there must be something wrong with the strange behavior of the East Factory.

"That's another price. If you want a new identity, you have to pay more.

If it is a distant branch that is implicated, it is not impossible to negotiate to remove it from the list directly!"

As if realizing that he had said something wrong, Mai Qinghu glared at Li Mu fiercely, as if warning him not to cause trouble.

"Thank you for your advice, I don't know anything!"

(End of this chapter)