The elite did not migrate south

Chapter 401 What is there to be afraid of?

"Your Majesty, I am the Litigation Officer of Linyi, Qi. Since the officials are away, I have specially sent the lawsuit list of various counties to Luoyang."

Cao Mao nodded and looked at the ugly boy beside him.

"Is this your son? Do you have to bring your son with you when you come to submit a petition?"

The clerk hurriedly explained, "Your Majesty, I am here to take him to find a teacher. There are many great sages in Luoyang, and I want him to find someone to become their disciple."

"No need to explain."

Cao Mao motioned him to follow him, and the two of them started walking on the road.

"How did you recognize me?"

"Your Majesty may not know that it is unheard of for the sons of noble families to test for poison before eating. I have heard that the only person who has such a habit is our King Qi. Seeing you eat like that reminded me of these things."

"Besides, these soldiers are all strong and sturdy, obviously from the military, and they are particularly afraid of you. You don't look like a cruel person, and you are not old enough to hold an important position, so I made a guess."

Cao Mao suddenly realized, "It seems I have to change it next time."

"Then why did you risk your life to come to me?"

The man hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, this is it."

"I went to the Censorate this time without any money, but to my surprise, I was blocked at the door and refused entry. I've been here for several days, but no one has paid any attention. I can't finish my work, nor can I return to report."

The clerk's voice was full of bitterness.

"Why, do we have to pay money to enter the Censorate now?"

Cao Mao's expression suddenly became serious.

The man hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, I dare not lie."

Cao Mao was about to say something when he asked, "What's your name?"

"Your Majesty Zuo Xi."

"Well, Zuo Xi, right? Okay."

Cao Mao looked at Cheng Ji who was standing beside him and said, "Go buy me some tattered clothes. If you dare to steal them, I will not let you go!"

"only!!"

Cheng Ji went to prepare immediately, while Cao Mao looked around and then walked to an alley, picked up some mud from the ground, and patted it on his hands and face.

Cheng Ji quickly brought some tattered clothes and everyone found a place to change into them. But when Cao Mao came out, he still didn't look like someone from a low-income family.

Cao Mao's appearance was quite good, and he was handsome and even praised and loved by Zhong Hui. There were really not many people who could be praised like that by Zhong Hui. This was almost the same as Pei Kai, who was personally recommended by Zhong Hui.

If Cao Mao was really an ordinary prince, Zhong Hui might have recommended him after meeting him.

Just like Pei Kai, whose handsome appearance could not be hidden even with disheveled hair and dirty face, Cao Mao still looked very handsome even if he got himself dirty and wore tattered clothes, and it seemed that it did not affect him at all.

"How do I look?"

"Um, Your Majesty. It seems..."

Zuo Xi did not dare to lie or offend.

His son looked at the emperor seriously and said, "You look disheveled and unkempt, not like a monarch."

Zuo Xi was terrified and tugged at his son, "Si! How dare you be so rude?!"

"Hahaha, it's okay, it's just a child. Si? Zuo Si?"

Cao Mao suddenly reacted and looked at the little guy again.

This guy looks a little dull, not very smart, and stupid. He has nothing to do with the great writer Zuo Si and Zuo Taichong who made his works so popular in Luoyang.

However, Qi Guo was born in a poor family and his father was a minor official. It seems that he is the little guy in front of him?
Cao Mao glanced at him again, but didn't take it too seriously.

This little guy could be trained. I already have Zhang Hua and Huangfu Mi by my side. If Zuo Si can be trained as well, then the three of them can unite to impact the literary world and use them to replace decadent literature. Let them write more frontier poems and something heroic.

He could even take the lead and lead them to form a new boy group. If Ji Kang and Zhong Hui could change, they could also be brought in.

Cao Mao had a lot of ideas at this moment.

Cao Mao told Cheng Ji and others not to go forward, and he followed Zuo Xi all the way to the Censorate.

When they arrived at the Censorate, there was no fear on Zuo Xi's face.

There was indeed a clerk standing at the door.

This is the person responsible for recording entry and exit matters. After the reform of Guanqiu Dian, the Censorate no longer allows others to enter or exit for personal matters. To enter, one must have a legitimate reason. Even family members of the Censorate staff are not allowed to enter.

This is to maintain confidentiality during the strict investigation and also to avoid bribery or something.

But this clerk obviously didn't think so.

He stood in front of Zuo Xi with an arrogant attitude.

"here we go again?"

"Did you bring all the money this time?"

Zuo Xi said calmly, "I'm here for state affairs, and I don't have any money to give you."

"Then you still dare to come?!"

"Aren't you afraid of delaying state affairs?!"

Zuo Xi questioned.

The man's eyes were filled with disbelief. "How dare you, a small local official, question me? Do you know where this place is? Not to mention you, even if your governor came here, he would have to pay money before entering!!" "Get out of here!"

The man started cursing without even caring about the child beside Zuo Xi.

At this moment, Cao Mao slowly walked out from the side, raised his head and looked at the clerk in front of him.

The clerk looked at Cao Mao in front of him. Although he didn't know him, he looked like him. The clerk bowed slowly and said, "My lord, please don't misunderstand me. I'm not asking for a bribe. This is the rule of the Censorate. These people broke into the Censorate for some unworthy things and delayed important matters. That's why we asked them to pay. If there was really a big thing, they would not be stingy with this little money. This money is used to govern the local area."

Zuo Xi was stunned when he saw this clerk who started to speak human language as soon as he saw people.

Cao Mao sneered and nodded, "Well said."

"Cheng Jun! Send someone to get Zhong Shiji!"

Hearing this name, the clerk's legs went weak and he quickly said, "My surname is Xun."

"And this guy from the Xun family, drag him out and behead him. Hang his head at the city gate so everyone in Luoyang can see what the consequences of accepting bribes and extortion are!!"

Hearing this, Zuo Xi hurriedly covered his son's eyes.

Cheng Ji laughed out loud. This was the day he had been waiting for.

Then Cheng Ji rushed forward quickly and slashed with his knife.

Without giving the other person a chance to react, he held the man's head in his hand.

The man's blood dyed the entrance of the Censorate red, and Cao Mao walked into the Censorate following the bloodstains.

When Cao Mao walked into this place, he immediately caused exclamations. The officials here certainly knew him and came to pay their respects to him. Even Guanqiu Dian ran out to greet the emperor.

But the emperor, who was always gentle, looked particularly angry at this moment.

Cao Mao's eyes were full of anger.

"Great, great! The place I use to monitor all the traitors in the world is actually the den of traitors!!"

"If you want to enter this gate, you need to pay money. How can we talk about supervising officials and governing the country?!"

Cao Mao roared.

This was probably the first time Cao Mao got angry at his ministers. Guanqiu Dian was horrified. He looked towards the door and then quickly knelt down to apologize.

"Your Majesty, I failed to discipline you properly! I plead guilty!!"

"Immediately dismiss Guanqiu Dian from his position as Chief Censor!"

"Take him to the Ministry of Justice."

Hearing this order, everyone was shocked. Even the bold Cheng Ji hesitated for a moment. This was the son of the General of Chariots and Cavalry. Did they really have to arrest him?

Cao Mao looked at him, and Cheng Ji did not hesitate and directly sent people to capture Guanqiu Dian.

Guanqiu Dian's face was full of guilt, and he didn't dare to raise his head to look at the emperor.

Although he didn't know what had happened, after hearing what the emperor had just said and looking at his attire, he could already guess what had happened.

When Guanqiu Dian was taken away, the other officials were extremely frightened.

Even the General of Chariots and Cavalry’s son and the emperor’s confidant was taken away, so what about us?

Cao Mao just sat there, neither looking at them nor speaking.

At this moment, Cao Mao realized his mistake.

After Sima Shi, he always thought about doing things prudently and considering the overall situation, and was too tolerant of the treacherous villains in various places.

Facts have proved that without brutal means, these people cannot be scared at all.

The Censorate, the Censorate carefully selected by Guanqiu Dian, is all in such a mess.

What about the other mansions? Where are the other places?
Cao Mao was so angry that his hands were shaking. Just a few days ago, he felt that he had completed the reshuffle and officials from all over the country could see through it, but what happened today was like a heavy punch in the face.

This clearly tells Cao Mao that you haven't done enough.

When Zhong Hui hurriedly walked in here, he was surprised to see the disheveled emperor and was about to speak.

"I'm sure."

"what?"

"Shiji is right."

"I do regret it."

Cao Mao looked at Zhong Hui calmly and said, "If we don't kill these traitors, it will be impossible to govern the world well."

"Shi Ji, you take charge. Conduct a thorough investigation, starting in Luoyang. I'll have General Xiahou and Minister Chen assist you. Conduct a thorough investigation everywhere! Anyone who refuses to cooperate will be killed! Anyone who dares to resist will have their entire clan exterminated, leaving no one alive!!!"

Zhong Hui had wanted to do this for a long time.

He never understood why the general at that time could kill the ministers without restraint, so why did His Majesty, as the emperor, hesitate so much?
If they do something wrong, they should be killed. If they dare to rebel, that's even better. Now that the army is in my hands, why should I be afraid of these people rebelling?
When the situation is serious, cruel punishments must be used.

This is what Zhuge Liang of Shu did, which gave Shu the capital to continue its Northern Expedition. Without using severe criminal laws, but only using moral influence, can we expect these people to realize their mistakes and correct them?

"only!!!"

Zhong Hui paid a grand visit.

Zuo Xi, who was not far away, was trembling.

Did I cause a big trouble?

(End of this chapter)