Guiyi Fei Tang

Chapter 543 Cutting Off Flesh to Cure Illness
"Sorry..."

In August, the Guanzhong Plain was scorching hot under the sun, but it couldn't suppress the bone-chilling coldness in the officialdom of the capital region.

Half a month ago, news that Crown Prince Liu Lie had led officials from various departments to inspect the capital region on the emperor's orders began to spread from east to west.

Now, half a month later, on the wide official road east of Chang'an, a huge procession consisting of more than two thousand capable officials and tens of thousands of Divine Martial Cavalry, like a black dragon, slowly approached the Chunming Gate of Chang'an.

The sounds of clashing armor and horses' hooves striking the stone slabs combined to create a suffocating pressure that instilled fear in everyone.

The people on both sides of the street watched with bated breath, their hearts filled with fear, yet they couldn't help but gather around to see what was happening.

Outside Chunming Gate, more than 800 officials and over 3,000 clerks, led by Cuo Ben, the garrison commander of Chang'an and Duke of Xiguo, were already dressed in their official robes and stood respectfully with their hands at their sides.

"Long live Your Highness, long live Your Highness, long live Your Highness..."

As soon as the prince's carriage came to a stop, everyone bowed and greeted him in unison, their voices rising like a tidal wave.

However, the carriage curtains remained closed, and only a cool and calm voice came from inside:
"Gentlemen, you have all worked hard, and I am weary from my journey. I will not meet with you today. We will discuss official business at the Zichen Hall tomorrow..."

Liu Lie's voice rang out, and Zhang Chengye, the eunuch who accompanied the Crown Prince, smiled and bowed to Cuo Ben and the others, then announced, "Let's proceed into the Crown Prince's Palace."

The carriage did not stop for a moment, passing directly through the officials and driving into the once silent Chang'an city, leaving behind a group of officials who looked at each other, their faces pale.

The crown prince didn't even show his face; his cold and hard attitude far exceeded their worst expectations.

Cuo Ben's face turned ugly, and he could only lower his voice and say to his men, "Send someone to the mansion to discuss matters."

"Yes……"

The officials on either side couldn't help but swallow hard, while Cuo Ben also returned to his Western Duke's mansion by carriage after the Crown Prince and officials entered Chang'an.

More than two hours later, more than twenty officials of the fifth rank or above gathered in the main hall of the Duke of Xiguo's mansion. Sunlight streamed into the hall, illuminating their anxious faces, creating a very oppressive atmosphere.

Cuo Ben sipped his tea slowly, glancing at everyone from time to time. Finally, someone couldn't help but ask, given his silence:

"Duke, what does the Crown Prince mean today? Does he really intend to cause unrest in Guanzhong?"

Faced with the official's question, Cuo Ben paused, hesitated for a moment, then put down his teacup and slowly spoke:
"The capital inspection is His Majesty's intention. As for how far the Crown Prince intends to go, we will know the answer by seeing how he expresses his opinion at tomorrow's court meeting. You should not panic."

"If things really can't be done, we can simply fill in the gaps in the records and documents..."

As soon as Cuo Ben finished speaking, Liu Kuai, son of Duke Qi, Liu Yingyan, could not hold back and sneered, "Our fathers and you, Duke of Xi, were all meritorious officials who followed His Majesty to conquer the world. Now we have only hidden some land. Do you think the Crown Prince would want to kill your uncles?"

"Even if the Crown Prince doesn't care, he still has to consider His Majesty's attitude. He should at least show respect to His Majesty!"

Wang Huai'en, son of the Duke of Ying, chimed in, "The Crown Prince grew up alongside us and is of a gentle nature. This is probably just a formality to give His Majesty an explanation."

"So good..."

"That would be for the best..."

Upon hearing this, everyone seemed to have found their pillar of support and echoed his sentiments. As for the Duke of the Western Kingdom, Cuo Ben, he looked at this group of noble sons who were still immersed in the old dream of their merits in supporting the emperor. Although he felt uneasy, he also had a sliver of hope.

"Yes, after all, they watched the Crown Prince grow up, so they should show him some consideration."

Thinking of this, he couldn't help but say, "We'll know the specifics at tomorrow's court assembly. For now, let's observe the situation and not panic or scare ourselves."

"It's getting late, everyone should go back to the yamen and do their jobs, lest word get out."

"It is not good for us to gather together as soon as the Crown Prince arrives."

Seeing that Cuo Ben said this, the ministers could only get up and take their leave, while Cuo Ben nodded and instructed the steward to see everyone out.

Meanwhile, Crown Prince Liu Lie, who had already moved into the Eastern Palace, was sitting in the main seat, his gaze sweeping over Yan Keqiu, Guo Chongtao, Zhao Guangfeng, and Lu Zhi.

"The four gentlemen have all witnessed today's events. I wonder how I should respond at tomorrow's court assembly?"

Liu Lie naturally had his own plans, but he still wanted to hear the four people's suggestions. Moreover, only by asking them frequently could he demonstrate their importance and make them feel that he was highly valued.

Therefore, under his gaze, Yan Keqiu and the other two all pondered, only Guo Chongtao spoke first:

"Your Highness, at tomorrow's court assembly, you need not express any opinion or show any anger. Just state that you are here on official business and that everything should be done in accordance with the Law of the Great Han Dynasty and the Performance Evaluation Law."

"Silence is the strongest statement. Let the Censorate, the Ministry of Justice, the Court of Judicial Review, and the Six Ministries conduct land surveys and verify maps and documents according to regulations."

"Your Highness holds the moral high ground and has the Divine Martial Cavalry at your command. Why bother arguing with them?"

"As long as the regulations are correct and the evidence is conclusive, even His Majesty cannot accuse us. This is a calculated move to force him into disarray."

Seeing that what Guo Chongtao said was not much different from what he had thought, Liu Lie nodded slightly, and Yan Keqiu also said after pondering for a while:

"What Guo Gong said is absolutely right, but these are extraordinary times, and we must use swift and decisive measures!"

"I believe that the ringleaders must be punished, and to catch the thief, one must first catch the king. Therefore, Your Highness should start the investigation with these fifteen noble families, led by the Duke of Xi, the Duke of Qi, and the Duke of Ying!"

“They own the most land and have the most intricate network of relationships. It’s impossible for everyone to be completely clean.”

"Investigating them first will serve as a warning to others, enough to terrify all the evil spirits and monsters in Guanzhong!"

Liu Lie nodded, and at the same time expressed his thoughts: "What both gentlemen said is correct, but the law is the standard, and the measure must not be disordered."

"If we're going to investigate a case, we must find irrefutable evidence that leaves no room for criticism."

“Every acre of hidden land and every deficit must be corroborated by documents, witnesses, and account books.”

"The case files must be as solid as an iron barrel, able to withstand scrutiny from the world."

"Therefore, His Highness Fang Xian was not acting on impulse, but upholding justice and eliminating corruption for the country."

"After this case, the authority of the Great Han Law will be deeply rooted in the hearts of the people."

Liu Lie had served as a registrar in Puning County, so he naturally knew how complicated the registrar's records and documents were, and how many shady dealings there were.

Only by uncovering all these shady dealings and obtaining irrefutable evidence can we prevent anyone in Luoyang from finding fault with us.

While Liu Lie was thinking this, Lu Zhi spoke up after the atmosphere quieted down: "Your Highness has profound strategies, but you also need to be mindful of the methods when handling cases."

"I believe that we should now order the Six Ministries to take action and leak the news of the investigation to the common people."

"The people of Guanzhong have suffered from corrupt officials for too long. If we can change this trend, Guanzhong will surely be filled with discussion and public opinion."

"At that time, even if these corrupt officials in Guanzhong wanted to secretly collude and transfer evidence, they would not be able to escape the notice of thousands of people."

"Your Highness, you hold the reins of righteousness, command a powerful army, and have won the hearts of the people. What is there to worry about in achieving great things?"

Liu Lie nodded repeatedly after hearing this, all his hesitation gone, and he took a deep breath and said:
"If that's the case, then we'll proceed according to this procedure tomorrow. However, most of the officials in the capital inspection are still inexperienced, so we'll have to rely on the four gentlemen to manage it."

"Your Highness is too kind..."

The four men quickly bowed and humbly greeted each other. Liu Lie then ordered someone to serve dinner, and after sharing dinner with the four men, they each returned to their courtyards to rest.

As the evening drums sounded, the high-ranking officials and nobles in Chang'an seemed to have become much more restrained, and even the common people could feel that things had been quite peaceful lately.

Many people, recalling the grand procession today, began discussing it on their own, without the need for the officials of the Six Ministries to stir up any controversy.

Perhaps because they heard the discussions among the people, many officials with guilty consciences tossed and turned, unable to sleep.

In this torment, the long night was finally broken by the morning bell...

"Clang... clang... clang..."

As the morning bells lingered, the officials who remained in Chang'an rose early again for the first time in a long time, standing in rows on the left and right.

The distinction between the old and new officials was stark, and the atmosphere was so heavy it was almost palpable. Meanwhile, more than ten nobles, including Duke Cuoben of the Western Kingdom, were at the front of the procession, occasionally glancing at Liu Lie on the golden platform out of the corner of their eyes.

Liu Lie, dressed in black robes and crimson skirts, saw that all the officials had finished entering the palace and immediately spoke up: "The capital region is the foundation of the country, therefore His Majesty is often concerned about the governance of officials in the capital region, and has specially ordered me to come to the capital to investigate."

His voice wasn't loud, but it reached every official's ears clearly, each word like a hammer blow.

"All matters related to this imperial examination in the capital will be handled by the Censorate, the Ministry of Justice, the Court of Judicial Review, and the Six Ministries in accordance with the Great Han Code and the Examination and Assessment Law."

"The authorities are bold enough to investigate. No matter who is involved or what their official position is, investigate to the end!"

"Anyone who dares to obstruct the investigation or threaten officials will be considered a traitor! The Divine Martial Cavalry will protect your safety throughout the entire process!"

As soon as the words were spoken, the hall fell silent. The officials who remained behind were pale-faced, while the officials conducting the capital inspection were eager to try their luck.

Sensing the commotion around him, Duke Cuoben of the Western Kingdom had no choice but to step forward, attempting to salvage the situation: "Your Highness, the capital region has enjoyed peace and stability for many years. I believe..."

"Duke of the Western Kingdom!" Liu Lie interrupted him abruptly, his gaze sweeping over him calmly yet coldly: "This is His Majesty's decree..."

Cuo Ben trembled, all his words stuck in his throat, and he could only bow and retreat, no longer daring to stand up.

"Since there is nothing to report, the capital inspection shall begin today, and the relevant officials shall not obstruct it."

Seeing that no one stepped forward, Liu Lie immediately stepped down from the golden platform, and the officials of the Court of State Ceremonial also hurriedly retreated.

The officials chanted "Long live the Emperor!" three times, and then left the court in order of rank. The old officials looked grim, while the new officials were overjoyed.

The long-awaited court assembly in Chang'an ended in discord. After the assembly, the officials from the Censorate, the Ministry of Justice, the Court of Judicial Review, and the Six Ministries, like tigers released from their cages, and under the protection of the imperial cavalry, armed with documents, rushed straight to the fifteen noble mansions, villas, and estates on the list.

The gate of the Duke of Ying's mansion in Xuanyangfang was tightly closed, with two rows of long halberds and banners in front of it highlighting its status.

In the past, the common people would not have dared to stay here for long, but now Guo Chongtao personally led a team of over a hundred officials, escorted by fifty Divine Martial Heavenly Riders, to this place.

The Divine Martial Cavalry dismounted to guard Guo Chongtao on either side, while Guo Chongtao walked coldly to the Wutou Gate and said, "Knock on the door!"

A celestial cavalryman stepped forward and slammed the end of his scythe heavily against the door, the sound deafening.

The gate opened a crack, revealing the face of a servant inside. The servant asked warily, "Which troop of soldiers is on duty? Don't you know this is the Duke of Ying's residence? We've disturbed your distinguished guests..."

"boom!!"

“Ouch—”

"By imperial decree, the capital inspectors are to investigate this case!"

Guo Chongtao ignored his nonsense, reached out and pushed the black door, slamming it into the servant's face, causing the servant to wail in pain and revealing his identity.

The Divine Martial Heavenly Cavalry on the left and right pushed open the Wutou Gate, revealing dozens of servants inside the mansion wielding large clubs and machetes.

They stared in horror at Guo Chongtao, who was surrounded by the Divine Martial Cavalry. Guo Chongtao merely glanced at the crowd and then shouted, "Kneel down on the spot! Anyone who moves will be punished for disobeying the imperial decree!"

Before his servants could take any action, Guo Chongtao turned to the hundreds of officials behind him and ordered, "Seal the account books, take a headcount, and control all the gates!"

"Yes!" Many officials broke out in a cold sweat. Even though they were part of the capital inspection team, they ultimately had no solid evidence of serious crimes against the Duke of Ying's mansion, only some minor offenses of concealing land.

This official from the Crown Prince's palace is so arrogant and unruly; he has probably offended the Duke of Ying's mansion to the core...

With this in mind, the officials in charge of the capital inspection had no choice but to bite the bullet and begin searching the Duke of Ying's mansion according to Guo Chongtao's orders. Compared to Guo Chongtao's unbridled behavior, the other inspection teams were much more civilized.

Even so, if they encountered servants who obstructed the imperial inspection team from searching their estates and residences, the Divine Martial Heavenly Cavalry would still take bold action, without fear of retaliation afterward.

While the imperial inspectors were on duty investigating cases, Lu Zhi continuously arranged for people to spread the news in the "National Gazette" and "Capital Gazette" as well as on the streets and alleys. As a result, the people of Guanzhong also learned that the imperial court had sent an imperial inspectorate to patrol the capital region.

In a short time, many bold people began to anonymously report officials who had committed crimes in their respective prefectures and counties to the newspapers. The officials in charge of the imperial inspections at the newspaper offices collected and summarized these reports and dispatched inspection teams from Chang'an to search the entire Guanzhong region.

Two thousand officials is a large number, but when they are evenly distributed to the prefectures and counties, there are not that many. However, Gyeonggi Province developed several years earlier than Gwandong, so there are more bad things in Gyeonggi Province than in Gwandong.

With the investigation team in Beijing working tirelessly, the fast horses from Guanzhong delivered case files and evidence from various places to the Eastern Palace day and night.

"Preliminary investigations have confirmed that the British Duke's mansion concealed more than 431 hectares of land and condoned three cases of servants beating people to death!"

"The Duke of Qi's mansion has forcibly seized 352 hectares of farmland from the people, and Liu Mang, the head of Weinan Village, has already confessed!"

“Zhou Zheng, the magistrate of Chang’an County, was dismissed from his post. His office was searched and bribery ledgers from previous years were found. His property of 27,852 strings of cash, a mansion, three villas, 12 hectares and 50 mu of high-quality farmland, and 24 hectares and 76 mu of low-quality farmland were confiscated.”

"Wannian County..."

Inside the Eastern Palace, Liu Lie stood in front of the Guanzhong sand table, his gaze sweeping back and forth across it, while Lu Zhi behind him reported on the findings of the inspection team.

The files on the head of the table were piled up like a mountain, and the number of documents recorded in each file was staggering.

The number of acres of land hidden by these officials and nobles in Gyeonggi Province was measured in "hōng" (a unit of area), and the amount of tax evasion was immeasurable. Their acts of oppressing the good people and selling official positions were too numerous to count.

The inspection in the capital had only been going on for half a month, but its contents had already angered Liu Lie. He couldn't imagine how angry his father would be when he saw it.

Thinking of this, he took a deep breath and said, "Make a copy of all these documents and records, send the original to Luoyang for His Majesty, and keep the copies for the purpose of judgment."

“Yes…” Lu Zhi replied respectfully, though he couldn’t help but be surprised.

Although he was a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations) and could probably guess the extent of official corruption based on his past experiences, he really didn't expect that the officials in Gyeonggi Province could be so corrupt.

Thinking of this, he couldn't help but feel a little scared, but he wasn't afraid of the revenge from the corrupt officials in Gyeonggi Province, but rather of the person in Luoyang.

If that person knew nothing, Lu Zhi would not believe it for a second, since the scale of the previous capital inspections was not large, which clearly indicated that the person was deliberately indulging them.

It was precisely because of that ruler's indulgence that these meritorious officials increasingly challenged the bottom line, until the court recovered most of Yunnan, at which point that ruler truly revealed his methods.

Lu Zhi felt a chill in his heart. Although that person had trained many students and officials, he had never regarded them as his own disciples.

This group of people is like the oxen in a farmer's house. Without oxen to plow the land, it's impossible. But if the oxen can no longer plow the land, that person will decisively get rid of them.

Lu Zhi could only remind himself in his heart that he should not follow in the footsteps of these people in the future.

With that in mind, he followed Liu Lie's instructions and ordered people to copy these documents and send the originals to Luoyang.

Meanwhile, as Liu Lie was conducting a major inspection of the capital region and making such a commotion, countless officials in Luoyang attempted to submit memorials, claiming that the inspection had far-reaching implications and affected a wide range of innocent people.

Liu Jilong completely ignored this, and even when Liu Yingyan and Wang Sifeng submitted memorials pleading for leniency, he did not respond to their memorials, but waited quietly.

As time went on, the officials' commotion intensified, but it subsided almost immediately once Liu Lie delivered all the documents and files to Luoyang.

"By July 20th, the capital inspection had implicated six officials of the third rank or above, fifteen of the fourth rank, thirty-two of the fifth rank, and six of the sixth rank..."

"The current investigation in the capital is not yet over, but it has been found that there are 5,620 hectares and 67 mu of hidden farmland in the capital region, and the amount of tax evasion is immeasurable. 657 people have been oppressed, and there have been cases of selling official positions and selling prisons. No fewer than 20,000 people have been implicated. Gold, silver, copper coins, antiques, calligraphy and paintings have been confiscated, and the value of mansions and villas is no less than two million strings of cash."

Inside the Zhenguan Hall, Ximen Junsui read aloud the summary of the documents, feeling drenched in sweat and parched.

In the hall, hundreds of officials from the Three Departments, Six Ministries, and Five Military Commissions, including the Cabinet, were extremely anxious. In just a few breaths, they looked at the Golden Terrace no less than five times.

On the main seat of the Jintai, Liu Jilong listened to Ximen Junsui's recitation with a calm expression until the recitation was completed, and then slowly said, "Today is the fifth day of the eighth month, isn't it?"

"Your Majesty, today is the fifth day of the eighth month."

Ximen Jun then spoke up, feeling embarrassed, having understood his emperor's meaning.

It's the fifth day of the eighth lunar month now, but the inspection of Gyeonggi Province is still ongoing, and these files were issued more than half a month ago.

So many things were found in just half a month. Now that so much time has passed, how many things must have been found?

For a moment, many officials in the hall were uneasy. After all, they had done their fair share of hiding land and evading taxes. Although they had not inquired about the bullying of men and women by their nephews and nieces, if the "Great Han Law" were strictly enforced, they would certainly not escape punishment.

According to the "Great Han Law", serious crimes such as forcibly abducting women and extortion were generally punishable by beheading, while those with less serious offenses were exiled.

Anyone who incites a disturbance, engages in fighting, or harasses the public shall be punished with caning if they are twelve years of age or older; if they are under twelve years of age, their parents shall be punished with caning.

Concealing land or evading taxes will result in punishments ranging from double to ten times the amount, depending on the severity of the offense, and may even lead to dismissal from office.

Those who engage in bribery, selling official positions, or other illegal activities will be punished ranging from exile to their own relatives to the extermination of their entire clan.

Thinking of the contents of the "Great Han Law", many officials who had been implicated felt weak at this moment, and the emperor's silence made everyone's mouths dry.

The people who had originally submitted their memorials with great fanfare, claiming that the imperial investigation had implicated innocent people, were now all silent.

Why are you all silent?

Liu Jilong's tone was very calm, but the pressure was real and weighed heavily on everyone's shoulders. They all had grievances in their hearts, but none of them dared to speak out, simply because there was a three-way division of power internally, and tens of thousands of students graduating every year externally.

Faced with this situation, they had no leverage to challenge the emperor. After all, the Han Dynasty had only about 33,000 civil and military officials, and with the army mostly not involved in local affairs, the power they could wield was truly too small.

"If none of you speak, then you may all step down."

Liu Jilong coldly surveyed the crowd. He cared about many people in the court, but if they crossed his bottom line, he would show no mercy.

The days when he needed to pretend and be tolerant are long gone. Now, he has only one goal: to lead the world forward.

For this goal, he was willing to sacrifice most people, including his old comrades in Longyou...

"We take our leave..."

Cui Shu and the others sang in turn, and then left Zhenguan Hall according to their assigned order.

After they left, the Zhenguan Hall, which had been slightly crowded, suddenly became empty, leaving only Jing Xiang, Zhang Ying and others from the Inner Cabinet.

However, none of the seven of them were entirely innocent, and they couldn't help but feel pressured when facing Liu Jilong.

Facing them, Liu Jilong picked up his brush without looking up and continued:

"The Duke of Qi, the Duke of Ying, and several other dukes are all getting old. Let's recall them to the Five Armies Commandery to serve."

“Tell them that you will no longer plead for their offspring, and that they must pay double the amount of taxes they have concealed and are required to move their entire family to Luoyang.”

Liu Jilong's words effectively ended the future of Liu Yingyan, Wang Sifeng, and others. They were only in their fifties and could still be considered among the prime of life of the Han army generals.

However, Liu Jilong was already fed up with their actions, and he was no longer willing to protect them.

"Your subject will obey your decree..."

Jingxiang and the others felt a chill run down their spines. They thought that once they got home, they could see if they could report the concealed acreage. At worst, they could just say that it was reclaimed this year.

Although taxes will need to be paid in the future, it's better than being caught, prosecuted, and forced to repay several times the amount of the owed taxes.

In addition, I'll probably have to find a way to return the gifts I received in the past.

His Majesty probably won't end the capital inspection so easily; I must get through this period first.

Thinking of this, the seven men bowed and retreated to the East Pavilion, while Liu Jilong continued to process the memorials without even raising his head.

As Da Han's business expanded, the number of things he had to deal with also increased.

After the Han Dynasty recovered Liaodong, many tribes within the Bohai Kingdom began to rebel, and Da Xuanxi could only send troops to suppress them continuously.

Furthermore, after the Khitan fled to the north, in order to recover their strength, they had no choice but to continuously fight against the Shiwei, obtaining population and mountain valleys from the Shiwei.

Li Sigong and Li Keyong fled north to the Gobi Desert. Although they would occasionally travel south to graze their livestock, they no longer dared to invade the Han Dynasty as they had before.

The Kyrgyz in the northern desert are in turmoil, the Karluks and Uyghurs in the west are unaware of the situation, and the Meru Danzeng in the plateau is fighting against the various Tibetan kings who are divided.

With the continuous supply of food from the Han people, it was only a matter of time before Mulu Danzeng pacified the various Tibetan kings. If Liu Jilong was willing to exert his efforts, he could even help Mulu Danzeng unify Tibet within three to five years.

However, he didn't need to do that, because the Han Dynasty had not yet completely pacified the four directions. At the very least, the Nanzhao Kingdom in the south had not been dealt with, and the plans for dealing with Japan in the east had only just begun.

In addition, the navy made considerable progress in exploring the South China Sea and the Western Ocean, but still could not expand its influence to the south.

"The fourth fleet that's going to explore the Far East, judging by the time it's been, they should have already set off, right?"

Liu Jilong suddenly stopped writing with his brush, and Ximen Jun nodded in response:
"The fourth fleet was divided into two groups, one for the East and one for the West, each consisting of ten warships with a capacity of three thousand tons and six hundred sailors. They set sail on April 10th."

"Judging by the time, they should have finished resupplying in Japan more than two months ago and continued their eastward exploration. The Western Fleet should also have set sail from the Lion Country (Sri Lanka)."

Starting with the third voyage, Liu Jilong ordered the fleet to explore the globe separately from the Eastern and Western Oceans.

However, exploring the Americas and obtaining new crops from them is not easy. Liu Jilong, who originally thought it would be quick, is now gradually becoming a little impatient.

Three years have passed since the first voyage of exploration. He has dispatched four fleets, more than seventy ships, and more than five thousand marines.

However, these warships and marines have not yet brought back what he wants, and without these things, the mountain agriculture of the Great Han cannot proceed normally, which makes him anxious.

Fortunately, he is in good health and should be able to last at least another ten years.

Over the course of ten years, he consistently brought back crops from the Americas, and eventually, the surrounding barbarian tribes of the Han Dynasty would submit to its rule...

While Liu Jilong was lost in thought, the officials who had left the Zhenguan Hall did not disperse easily. After returning to the Southern Office, all officials of the third rank and above went to the Hall of State Affairs.

Inside the Hall of State Affairs, the air was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood, yet it could not dispel the stagnant, invisible atmosphere.

Cui Shu, the most senior of the prime ministers, was sitting in the main seat, with Xiao Gou and Zheng Tian sitting on his left and right respectively.

The two remained silent, unlike Cui Shu, who could still pick up his teacup and savor the tea.

Below the hall, the Grand Commanders of the Five Armies and the Ministers of the Six Ministries stood on the left and right, seemingly a large gathering, but in reality, they were completely silent.

On the right, Ma Cheng remained calm and composed, while Cao Mao, Husi Guang, and Zhang Chang frowned and seemed somewhat impatient, while An Pohu and Chen Jingchong occasionally took a sip of tea.

On the left, Li Gunshi, Feng Bangyan, Chen Ying, Yang Zhiwen, Dou Bin, Yang Xin, and others all lowered their eyes, unwilling to stand out.

The atmosphere in the council chamber felt thick and suffocating, as if filled with a viscous substance.

Seeing that no one spoke, Cui Shu had no choice but to put down his teacup, scan the room with his cloudy eyes, and cough lightly to break the silence.

"I'm sure you all already have a plan in mind for why I invited you all here."

"His Majesty's attitude is firm, and the Guanzhong capital inspection is naturally unstoppable. However, if the capital inspection continues to expand its scope, the commotion will likely be significant, and will probably affect the entire country..."

He paused, his fingertips tapping unconsciously on the table, and the tone of his words began to drift, his voice gradually becoming unsteady:

"I still remember that the Doulu case also started in one place, but eventually implicated many people, resulting in the conviction and exile of hundreds of thousands of people."

"His Majesty has been lying low for many years without launching any major cases, and the capital investigation has been all talk and no action all these years. But now, with such a sudden and thunderous approach, I'm afraid..."

"Prime Minister Cui is mistaken!"

Before Cui Shu could finish speaking, Zhang Chang, who was already somewhat impatient, spoke first: "The capital inspection is a national policy to rectify officialdom and survey land, how can it be confused with a treason case?"

"Your Majesty acts in accordance with the law. As long as officials in the country act uprightly and sit honestly, why should they fear the capital inspection?"

"Does Prime Minister Cui perhaps believe that none of you here, or even any official in the country, can withstand scrutiny?"

“Indeed.” Cao Mao, standing beside Zhang Chang, nodded slightly, his voice calm yet powerful: “Governor Zhang’s words are straightforward, but they are reasonable.”

"The Beijing-Chahar border crossing is like scraping the bone to remove poison; it may be painful, but it will be of great long-term benefit to the country and its people."

"If we give up eating for fear of getting involved, wouldn't that be losing the big picture for the small thing?"

After the two finished speaking, the atmosphere in the hall froze as they stared at each other.

Cui Shu looked at them, ignoring Zhang Chang and Cao Mao's rebuttals, and focused his gaze on An Po Hu and Hu Si Guang.

Although the two did not speak, their gazes toward him were clearly hostile and wary.

Cui Shu's heart skipped a beat, and he couldn't help but look at Ma Cheng, but Ma Cheng remained silent as a mountain, as if the argument in front of him had nothing to do with him.

"Old dog..."

Seeing that Ma Cheng was still acting like a coward, Cui Shu couldn't help but curse inwardly.

If it weren't for Ma Cheng's cowardly and incompetent character, Li Ji wouldn't have been imprisoned for so many years.

Although he has been released, he is still only a vice commander of the Grand General's Office and has no military power whatsoever.

Without military power, one is nothing more than a lamb to the slaughter.

While he was lost in thought, Li Gunshi, who was now serving as the Minister of Personnel, noticed the awkward atmosphere and spoke first: "What the two princes say is absolutely right."

"The world has been at peace for a long time, but accumulated problems have gradually emerged. We need a strong medicine like the capital inspection to cleanse the world!"

Upon hearing Li Gunshi's statement, Chen Ying, who had been transferred back to Luoyang two months prior and was now serving as the Minister of War, chimed in, "That's right!"

Chen Ying and Yang Xin had an excellent relationship, so Yang Xin, as the Minister of Justice, quickly nodded in agreement.

"Although the national treasury has improved in recent years, increasing revenue and reducing expenditure remain the top priorities. The gains from the Beijing inspection will surely replenish the national treasury."

Faced with the statements of the three, the remaining three—Feng Bangyan, Minister of Revenue; Dou Bin, Minister of Works; and Yang Zhiwen, Minister of Rites—put aside their original dissatisfaction.

The three of them either had close ties with the meritorious officials in Guanzhong, or their own people were also hiding land, but seeing that most people still supported His Majesty's inspection of the capital, they dared not easily offend anyone.

As for Xiao Gou and Zheng Tian, ​​who were both prime ministers, they looked at each other and saw a hint of helplessness and complexity in each other's eyes.

As former officials of the Tang Dynasty, their positions in the new dynasty's court were already precarious, making it impossible for them to act as recklessly as Cui Shu and others.

Faced with the "Capital Region Inspection," a vortex involving the very foundations of the court, the interests of nobles, and the clash with imperial power, they knew that speaking too much would lead to mistakes, and the only response was silence.

"You all..."

Seeing that no one supported him, Cui Shu was unhappy, but he still dared not completely break off relations.

In fact, ever since Shandan, he knew that Liu Jilong had always been somewhat wary of him. In the end, Liu Jilong trusted his old brothers who came from commoner backgrounds more than him, who came from a powerful family.

I thought that with Gao Jinda and Li Shangyin retiring from public life, it would be my turn to take charge of the government.

I never expected that before I could even start making any moves, His Majesty would begin such a major event as the capital region inspection.

He now suspects that his emperor deliberately waited until he took the throne before launching the major investigation in the capital, hoping to bring him down.

"I... am merely reminding my colleagues to think things through early, and I have no other intention."

Worried that his words were too strong, Cui Shu, seeing that no one supported him, eventually returned to a calm tone.

"In that case, I will return to the Five Armies Commandery first."

"So it is for me too..."

Upon seeing this, Zhang Chang and Cao Mao got up and left one after the other, followed closely by An Pohu and Husi Guang.

Seeing them leave, the others followed suit, leaving Cui Shu alone in the Hall of State Affairs.

This meeting of the Political Affairs Hall, which was supposed to discuss how to cooperate with the Beijing Inspection, ended hastily in a somber atmosphere and on bad terms.

Immediately after the meeting ended, Zhao Ying arrived at Zhenguan Hall with the news and told Liu Jilong the general content of the meeting.

Liu Jilong was reviewing memorials when he learned that everyone had gathered in the Hall of State Affairs. His vermilion brush paused for a moment, then he put it down with relief after hearing the outcome. He simply replied, "I understand..."

After he finished speaking, he said nothing more, and Zhao Ying respectfully withdrew from the Zhenguan Hall.

When Zhao Ying left Zhenguan Hall, the Jingji Province's censure process had reached its peak, with petitions pleading for mercy almost filling the desks of the Eastern Palace.

These petitions came from various provinces and municipalities, some from Luoyang, others from the three provincial-level administrative divisions...

Behind each of these letters lies a deeply entrenched power and a profound sense of human connection.

If Liu Lie wanted the support of the officials, he could easily gain their favor and influence, making his position unshakeable.

Even with a heart of stone, he couldn't help but waver at this moment.

Faced with his wavering, Lu Zhi spoke softly, "Does Your Highness believe that His Majesty is aware of these matters?"

“Throughout history, every great ruler has wanted his crown prince to follow the established rules. If Your Highness continues in this manner, His Majesty may have some complaints when he finds out…”

"..." Liu Lie fell silent. Although he had never been dealt with by his father, he knew that his father was no ordinary emperor.

If my father were ordinary, he would not have risen from humble beginnings in Hexi to become the supreme ruler he is today.

"From this day forward, the Crown Prince's Palace will no longer accept letters from outside the palace, and all letters from inside the palace will be moved to the palace gate and burned."

Liu Lie made up his mind, while Lu Zhi breathed a sigh of relief and respectfully bowed, saying, "Your subject will learn from you..."

After Liu Lie spoke up, the letters delivered to the Eastern Palace every day were burned outside the palace gates, which made many people behind the scenes give up.

Some people chose to voluntarily report the concealed land and pay back double or even more of the overdue taxes.

Others chose to put up a stubborn resistance, believing that the matter could not escalate further.

However, those who took a chance ultimately made the wrong choice, because as Yan Keqiu, Guo Chongtao and others led the investigation into the capital, they uncovered almost everything that had happened in the capital region.

As September arrived, the final results of the Gyeonggi Province's investigation and confiscation shocked even Liu Lie, who had been prepared.

The confiscated gold, silver and copper coins were piled up like mountains, equivalent to more than five million strings of cash. The remaining antiques, jade artifacts, calligraphy and paintings by famous artists, and rare treasures filled the old treasury of Chang'an, and their value was immeasurable.

The amount of various types of farmland that were hidden or seized by nobles and powerful families reached more than 17,000 hectares, equivalent to one-fifteenth of the farmland in Gyeonggi Province.

In addition, more than 2,400 mansions, villas, estates, and detachments were confiscated, along with more than 700,000 shi of grain stored up...

A well-organized local inspection in the capital was able to uncover such a large amount of wealth, effectively exposing the festering wound beneath the prosperous facade of the Gyeonggi Province.

At the same time, Liu Lie's methods also made those noble families who were unfamiliar with him clearly feel the ruthlessness of this crown prince.

Regardless of whether he was sent by the emperor, his ruthless treatment of lawless nobles and officials in the capital region foreshadowed his future methods.

Under his methods, the Gyeonggi Province inspection was brought to an end, uncovering 426 officials with official rank who had committed crimes, 1,449 clerks who had committed crimes, and arresting 216 nobles and sons of officials who had broken the law.

In addition, there were more than two thousand servants and relatives of officials who bullied and monopolized the market, relying on their powerful connections to act arrogantly and abuse their authority.

"In total, 4,298 people were arrested during this inspection in the capital. Please review this, Father..."

In late September, as Liu Lie returned to Luoyang and presented the register of officials and civilians arrested, Ximen Jun handed it over to Liu Jilong.

Liu Jilong sat in the main seat, calmly flipping through the document before putting it down and looking at the nervous Liu Lie.

"Now that you're back, go back to the East Palace and rest. There will be many more things for you to take charge of next spring."

"These corrupt officials and wicked servants will be handed over to the Three Judicial Offices for joint trial according to the law; those who will be exiled will be exiled, and those who will be beheaded will be beheaded..."

Liu Jilong seemed to be talking about something trivial, which made Liu Lie feel pressured.

He knew, of course, that he had passed his father's test, but if things continued this way, he felt he might not live to see the day he ascended the throne.

"Your subject takes his leave..."

Liu Lie temporarily put aside those unrealistic ideas and now only wanted to go back to the Eastern Palace to see his beloved concubine and get some rest.

He bowed and left Zhenguan Hall, while Liu Jilong watched his departing figure and casually glanced at the book.

Ximen Jun, with great tact, stepped forward and bowed, awaiting orders, while Liu Jilong, without turning his head, gave the instructions:

"The people on the register should be told to the officials of the Three Departments to be punished to the fullest extent of the law, and those who should be exiled should be exiled to Beiting, Daning, or Liaodong."

"This servant obeys." Ximen Jun swallowed hard, but still pretended to calmly accept the task.

Seeing that he agreed, Liu Jilong withdrew his gaze and continued processing the memorials, but inwardly he couldn't help but think:
"If so many corrupt officials can be found in Gyeonggi Province alone, how many more would be found if we looked at the whole country?"

"In just eleven years since the founding of the Han Dynasty, have the officials already become so corrupt...?"

Thinking about this, he couldn't help but feel that everything he had done seemed to be in vain, and that history was nothing more than a cycle.

However, he quickly suppressed this thought after it surfaced.

Whether it's useful or not, we'll only know after we do it.

Doing it doesn't guarantee it will be useful, but not doing it definitely won't be useful!
(End of this chapter)