The prince is more stable

Chapter 975 Thunder and Rain
After visiting Liu Zening, Zhao Xiaoqian ordered the palace to send many precious tonics. Seeing the dilapidated state of Liu Zening's residence, he also ordered that he be given two thousand strings of cash.

Zhao Xiaoqian was always generous to loyal ministers who were willing to risk their lives.

Just as only those who are not afraid of death deserve to live, only poor but honest officials deserve to enjoy life. Loyal ministers and honest officials like Liu Zening deserve to live a good life.

As he walked out of Liu Zening's residence, Zheng Chunhe approached him and whispered, "Your Majesty, Zhen Qing of the Imperial City Guard has found Zhao Xin in Ningling County, which is under the jurisdiction of Yingtian Prefecture."

Zhao Xiaoqian was taken aback, and asked in a deep voice, "What's wrong with Zhao Xin?"

"The day before the uprising in Xiayi County, Zhao Xin and more than ten of his subordinates from the Imperial City Guard secretly investigated and came to Ningling County. They chatted with the people in the county town, but the topics of their conversation were remembered by someone with ulterior motives, who secretly reported them to the authorities."

“Zhou Fusheng, the magistrate of Ningling County, mobilized the county government's bailiffs to surround the inn where Zhao Xin was staying late at night. Zhao Xin and his dozen or so subordinates were outnumbered and were taken to prison by the county government's bailiffs.”

Zhao Xiaoqian frowned: "After Zhao Xin was captured, did he not reveal his identity?"

Zheng Chunhe whispered, "It's been revealed. After Zhou Fusheng learned their identities, he dared not release them even more. He was probably afraid that they would find out something and even secretly order the execution of Zhao Xin and the others."

"Later, Han Zhongyan of the Censorate interrogated the magistrates of Yingtian Prefecture and the seven counties under its jurisdiction. Zhou Fusheng did not have time to deal with Zhao Xin before he was arrested by the Imperial Guards sent by Han Zhongyan."

"After the Imperial Guards arrested the people, they asked them a few questions. The county yamen runners, fearing punishment, truthfully reported that Zhao Xin and the others were imprisoned, and Zhao Xin and the others were thus rescued."

Zhao Xiaoqian twitched his cheek and said, "This guy is really lucky. He just like Liu Zening, he was on the verge of death. Both of them were on the verge of death, but look how tragic and moving Liu Zening was, and then look at Zhao Xin... tsk! So embarrassing!"

"Yingtian Prefecture is truly a den of dragons and tigers; the officialdom here is rotten to the core!"

Zhao Xiaoqian's face darkened, and he said coldly, "When will those officials who have been questioned be escorted back to the capital?"

Zheng Chunhe said in a low voice, "We set off three days ago. Judging by the distance, we should arrive around tomorrow."

"Have you gathered all the relevant evidence?"

"Han Zhongyan has sent people to deliver all the evidence of the crimes committed by the corrupt officials to the Imperial City Guard. Zhen Qing from the Imperial City Guard has also returned to the capital and is currently reviewing and verifying the evidence."

Zhao Xiaoqian nodded and said, "After the Imperial City Guard reviews the case, hand over the evidence to the Three Judicial Offices for public punishment. They will deserve to die!"

The next afternoon, a convoy of prison carts entered Bianjing City.

The prison vans were numerous, each carrying a single prisoner, numbering over a hundred in total.

Under the escort of the Imperial Guards, the prison cart passed through the city and entered the Dali Temple prison. The onlookers discussed among themselves, but their expressions were all relieved.

News of the Nanjing uprising had already reached Bianjing. After the imperial court dispatched troops to quell it, the true story behind the uprising was revealed: it was actually instigated by the Nanjing garrison commander in collusion with local magistrates and powerful figures. This crime, which was tantamount to treason, naturally aroused the people of Bianjing's contempt and curses.

As the prison cart entered the capital and was taken to the Dali Temple prison, Zhao Xiaoqian was discussing matters with his court officials with a stern face.

Inside the Wende Hall, several prime ministers from the State Affairs Hall, as well as the heads of the three judicial departments, including the Minister of Justice, the Chief Justice of the Court of Judicial Review, and the Grand Censor, were present.

Zhen Qing stood beside Zhao Xiaoqian, reciting the crimes committed by the officials of Yingtian Prefecture in a slow and clear tone.

There are many charges, but the most serious is secretly instigating and provoking a popular uprising, which is a heinous crime of treason and is unforgivable.

Other crimes were equally shocking. During his four years as the garrison commander of Nanjing, Li Huai embezzled more than one million taels of silver from the government treasury, and this figure was only a part of the treasury's losses.

Li Huai also used millions of taels of silver to bribe officials in the Bianjing court, and distributed it to officials in the Nanjing garrison, county magistrates, and so on.

The money that should have gone into the imperial treasury was thus divided up by corrupt officials like Li Huai.

Others included the annexation and encroachment on farmland. According to the investigation by the Imperial City Guard, Li Huai and his relatives alone owned more than 100,000 hectares of land, while the land owned by the various officials of the garrison and the magistrates of the seven counties under its jurisdiction was an alarming number.

Moreover, during his four years as the garrison commander of Nanjing, Li Huai colluded with local powerful landlords to fabricate numerous wrongful convictions, including dozens of murders, as well as the suppression and even silencing of innocent people who appealed for justice.

All the crimes combined are too numerous to list, and are unforgivable.

As Zhen Qing read on slowly, Zhao Xiaoqian's face grew increasingly gloomy, as if covered with a layer of frost.

Meanwhile, the officials in the Wende Hall frowned and looked indignant.

Only one person present was pale and trembling.

This man was none other than Zeng Chongxing, Li Huai's mentor and Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel.

As Li Huai's mentor, Zeng Chongxing had heard some things about Li Huai's behavior in Nanjing. However, Zeng Chongxing himself was also questionable in his conduct. After giving Li Huai a few perfunctory warnings, he remained silent.

After all, the money Li Huai gave him every year, the deeds to fertile land he secretly sent, the rare and expensive gifts he presented during festivals, and so on—these things were so tempting that they blinded him and blinded his conscience.

Now that Li Huai's crimes were exposed to the light of day, Zeng Chongxing had nowhere to hide. He felt utterly ashamed and filled with despair. He knew that his career was over, and the authorities would not let him off easily. In addition to severely punishing Li Huai and the other corrupt officials, their nepotism would also be investigated.

Especially Zeng Chongxing, Li Huai's current official position is all thanks to his mentor, and he himself has also received a lot of benefits. How could the emperor let him go?
Inside the Wende Hall, Zhen Qing spent almost an hour recounting the crimes of Li Huai and the others. Afterward, Zhen Qing silently stepped back a few paces and stood beside Zhao Xiaoqian.

The hall was silent as the ministers exchanged glances.

After a long silence, Zhao Xiaoqian slowly said, "The crimes of Li Huai, the Nanjing garrison commander, and other convicted officials have been fully explained, and their evidence has been submitted to the three judicial departments for review and examination. Do you gentlemen have any suggestions on how to deal with Li Huai and the others?"

Zhang Dun said in a deep voice: "Since the founding of the Great Song Dynasty, there has never been such a heinous case. In particular, inciting and provoking a popular uprising is a crime of treason. I believe that Li Huai and other officials involved in the case should all be executed."

After Zhang Dun finished speaking, the officials in the hall nodded in agreement.

No one objected; instigating a popular uprising was treason, and treason has always been unforgivable, punishable by the extermination of nine generations of one's family.

Anyone who dares to speak up for Li Huai and his group in the face of such a heinous crime is courting disaster.

None of the bigwigs present had any objection to the execution of Li Huai and others.

However, Zhao Xiaoqian's expression was cold and his brows were furrowed, as if he did not agree with Zhang Dun's words.

Cai Jing, observing the situation carefully, asked cautiously, "Does Your Majesty have any insightful suggestions?"

Zhao Xiaoqian said in a deep voice: "The crime of treason is already unforgivable. The crimes that Li Huai and others have committed against the local people during their years in office are too numerous to count. If they are only beheaded, I feel that it is too lenient for them and will not be enough to relieve the hatred in my heart and the hearts of the suffering people."

"What the Emperor means is..."

Zhao Xiaoqian coldly said, "Li Huai, Zhang Xiran, Chen Su and other officials directly involved in the case shall have their three clans exterminated. All other officials shall be beheaded, their families shall be sent to the Jiaofangsi (a government-run entertainment institution) as slaves, and their descendants shall be barred from taking the imperial examinations for generations."

The hall fell silent abruptly, and everyone stared at him in astonishment.

This outcome can be described as extremely severe. Since the founding of the Song Dynasty, due to the national policy of treating scholars and officials well, officials were rarely executed, and even if they were, their families and relatives were generally not harmed.

Today, Zhao Xiaoqian has proposed exterminating three generations of his family, setting a new record since the founding of the nation.

No one uttered a sound; no one would choose to provoke the officials at this time.

Only Zhang Dun frowned, about to say something, when Cai Jing quickly said, "Your Majesty agrees with what I said. Treason is an unforgivable crime, and according to the law of the Great Song Dynasty, it should be punished by exterminating three generations of the family, so as to set an example for the whole country."

With Cai Jing taking the lead, the assembled officials echoed his sentiments.

Zhang Dun may have wanted to advise the emperor to show leniency, but seeing that everyone nodded in agreement, he opened his mouth but had no choice but to remain silent.

Zhao Xiaoqian said calmly, "This case is not over yet. The Imperial City Guard and the Three Judicial Offices will continue to investigate. In the seven counties under Nanjing's jurisdiction, all powerful landlords and merchants who colluded with officials will be arrested and punished. Their land and property will be confiscated and redistributed by the government to the local people and refugees."

"The Ministry of Personnel shall immediately select suitable officials to take up their posts in Nanjing. The corrupt officials have been apprehended, and the administration of Nanjing must not be paralyzed. I will personally review the officials selected this time. Taking advantage of this opportunity, we can start by opening a breach in Nanjing and implement the Fangtian Equal Tax Law throughout the country."

Everyone readily accepted the decree.

After deliberation by the emperor and his ministers, the fate of Li Huai and other disgraced officials was decided.

After the officials took their leave, Zeng Chongxing followed them out of the Wende Hall, looking distracted.

Everyone was whispering among themselves, but they unconsciously distanced themselves from Zeng Chongxing.

They were all shrewd old foxes, and naturally they knew that Zeng Chongxing's career was over, and that he could not escape responsibility for Li Huai's case no matter what.

Sure enough, as soon as they stepped out of the palace gate, a palace servant hurriedly chased after them, bowed to Zhang Dun and the others, and then turned to Zeng Chongxing and said: "By imperial decree, Zeng Chongxing, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, is hereby dismissed, his property is confiscated and confiscated, and he is to be exiled to Qiongnan immediately, never to be released again."

After saying this, the palace servant turned and returned to the palace.

All eyes were on Zeng Chongxing, and these gazes contained schadenfreude, sympathy and pity, as well as contempt and resentment.

Zeng Chongxing's face turned pale, his legs went weak, and he collapsed to the ground, looking up at the cold, towering palace gate in front of him with a desperate expression. Finally, tears of regret streamed down his face.

In the silence, Zeng Chongxing struggled to sit up, knelt facing the palace gate, and choked out, "Your Majesty, I thank you for your grace. Please forgive me for no longer being able to serve Your Majesty. I deserve my punishment."

After finishing his speech, Zeng Chongxing respectfully kowtowed three times and, amidst the complex gazes of his colleagues, staggered back to his residence.

Everyone turned their heads again and stared at Yanfu Palace. Suddenly, they felt that the palace was incredibly majestic and awe-inspiring.

Thunder, rain, and dew are all gifts from God.

(End of this chapter)