I, Emperor Chongzhen, have extended the life of the Ming Dynasty by five hundred years.

After finishing his social engagements, it was already late at night.

Upon returning to the county government office, he hurriedly went to report to Zhu Youjian.

"I have roughly figured out their intentions!"

He was drunk, reeking of alcohol, and could barely stand.

"Don't rush, tell me slowly!"

Zhu Youjian helped He Fu to a chair and then said, "Hey you, pour Prefect He a cup of hot tea!"

There were only four people in the house: Zhu Youjian, He Fu, Li Ruolian, and Hong Niangzi.

Li Ruolian stood beside Zhu Youjian, showing no intention of making a move.

Hong Niangzi muttered something and got up to pour tea.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

He Fu sat down to catch his breath and then said, "That salt merchant Fan Liuyang wants to buy an official position, but he doesn't want to go anywhere else. He only wants to stay in Dingxing County. I guess it's because his business is here, and buying an official position is also for the purpose of doing business in the future."

Are there any vacant positions in Dingxing County?

Not yet!

He Fu waved his hand and said, "However, at the banquet tonight, Magistrate Xie Jinrong implied his dissatisfaction with County Assistant Huang Mao. I could tell that he was planning to oust Huang Mao and then make Fan Liuyang the County Assistant."

"Huang Mao..."

Zhu Youjian seemed thoughtful and said, "This person was a third-class Jinshi recommended by me personally. Although he is not particularly outstanding, he is quite reliable. Could it be that he has had a conflict with Xie Jinrong?"

Just then, someone knocked on the door.

"Your Majesty, Huang Mao, the Assistant Magistrate of Dingxing County, requests an audience!"

Zhu Youjian chuckled, "Speak of the devil, and he appears! Perfect, you should test his tongue!"

A moment later, Huang Mao entered the room and bowed.

"Your Majesty, Huang Mao, has met Mr. Futai!"

"What brings Magistrate Huang here so late at night?"

He Fu sat in the chair, feeling extremely uncomfortable, because Emperor Chongzhen was standing right behind him.

Huang Mao said, "This humble official dares to impeach Magistrate Xie Jinrong!"

"Oh?"

He Fu immediately felt a bit more sober and subconsciously turned around to look.

Behind them, Zhu Youjian, Li Ruolian, and the woman disguised as a man, Hong Niangzi, all had expressionless faces.

"Cough cough..."

To cover his embarrassment, He Fu coughed twice and then said, "Xie Jinrong is your superior. If the impeachment is untrue and you are criticizing your superior, do you know what crime you will commit?"

Huang Mao didn't notice these details; he only noticed that Huang Mao's expression was very serious, as if he had made a great decision.

"I know, but Magistrate Xie Jinrong colluded with salt merchant Fan Liuyang to seize the people's land, causing dozens of families to be ruined and people to die. If I turn a blind eye and do nothing, wouldn't that be a disservice to His Majesty's grace!"

"Alright, tell me in detail!"

"this……"

Huang Mao glanced at the attendants behind He Fu, his expression somewhat hesitant.

In that instant, I seemed to see something incredible, and I was immediately startled!

He looked up again, his face showing some fear.

He Fu hurriedly asked, "These gentlemen are all my trusted confidants. If you have something to say, just say it!"

Huang Mao rubbed his eyes and then said, "It's so similar!"

"What are you looking at? Tell me your business!"

"Yes, yes!"

The lighting was dim, and Huang Mao thought he was seeing things.

After all, there are quite a few people in the world who look alike.

He composed himself and said, "The salt merchant Fan Liuyang is taking advantage of famine years to force people to sell their land at rock-bottom prices. In the past, an acre of land would fetch five taels of silver, and fertile land might fetch even more. But he's only offering two hundred coins. If people don't sell, they'll starve. Every famine year is a bountiful harvest for these merchants!"

"This is absolutely outrageous!"

Upon hearing this, He Fu flew into a rage and said, "What is Xie Jinrong good for? This unscrupulous merchant is seizing the people's land, and he doesn't do anything about it?"

Huang Mao shook his head and said, "Not only do they ignore it, but there's also a lot of collusion between officials and businessmen involved!"

"Tell me exactly what happened!"

"In years of famine, the imperial court would distribute relief grain. However, Xie Jinrong, as the county magistrate, hoarded the relief grain and forced the people to sell their land at rock-bottom prices just to get something to eat!"

He Fu then asked, "When the imperial court distributes relief grain, it also issues decrees ordering merchants to sell grain at affordable prices. Doesn't Dingxing County receive any of that?"

"The grain shops on the street are displaying signs saying 'affordable grain,' and they're all sold out every day; ordinary people simply can't buy it!"

He Fu grew increasingly angry as he listened, and abruptly stood up, saying, "How much land has Fan Liuyang seized over the years?"

Huang Mao took out a memorial and a booklet from his pocket and handed them over with both hands.

"I request Your Excellency to review all the cases of salt merchant Fan Liuyang's encroachment on the people's land since I took office, as well as the details of the assistance and cover-up by Magistrate Xie Jinrong."

He Fu took it but didn't open it. Instead, he asked, "If this is true, why haven't you reported it to the court?"

Huang Mao gave a wry smile and said, "Your Excellency, you are unaware that Xie Jinrong has bribed all the officials in Baoding Prefecture. I dare not act rashly, not because I am cowardly, but because I fear that if the campaign fails, the people of Dingxing will ultimately suffer!"

He Fu didn't say anything more and turned the pages of the booklet one by one.

"Someone even died? Such a huge incident, and it's been covered up?"

"In the short three years since I took office, I have personally witnessed no fewer than twenty people whose families were destroyed and whose lives were ruined!"

After reading the booklet, He Fu put it down and asked, "You came here so suddenly tonight. Aren't you afraid that I, too, have taken Xie Jinrong's money and will put you to death?"

Huang Mao shook his head and said, "When I first heard that Baoding Prefecture had introduced new policies, I didn't believe it. But after going there myself, I realized it was all true. I believe that the Prefect is different from his predecessor; he is a truly benevolent and compassionate official who loves the people like his own children!"

Upon hearing this, He Fu felt his face burning with embarrassment.

He strongly opposed the Chongzhen Emperor's plan to implement new policies in Baoding and distribute land to the people.

At the time, the only thought was that if the new policies were implemented, they would inevitably offend the gentry class and might even cause unrest.

As the prefect, he only thought about the gentry, but he never considered that the millions of people in Baoding Prefecture benefited from the real benefits, which was the foundation of the Ming Dynasty!

Huang Mao's courage in risking his future and even his life to impeach his superior is truly commendable.

"Huang Mao, your impeachment memorial has been formally accepted by this government, but..."

At this point, He Fu paused, and his tone became serious.

"If this government finds out that your memorial is a baseless accusation, do you know the consequences?"

Huang Mao knelt on the ground and said, "This humble official is willing to bear all the blame!"

"very good!"

He Fu nodded and said, "Tomorrow at the county government office, I will personally preside over the trial. Do you dare to confront Xie Jinrong in court?"

"dare!"

"Then go back and prepare. I hope you won't disappoint me!"

"This humble official takes his leave!"

After Huang Mao left, He Fu quickly stood up, bowed, and said, "Please make your decision, Your Majesty!"

Zhu Youjian, who had been standing stiffly, stretched and said, "You handled it appropriately, so let's proceed as is!"

"Then... a confrontation in court tomorrow?"

"Of course we need a confrontation, but we need to do some preparation beforehand!"

"Please enlighten us, Your Majesty!"

Zhu Youjian asked, "Minister He, who was the prefect of Baoding before you took office?"

He Fu said, "Prefect Liang Hongyu has retired and returned to his hometown. He lives in the southern part of Baoding. I visited him when I took office."

"Li Ruolian, send someone to investigate this person!"

"yes!"

Li Ruolian agreed and turned to give the instructions.

He Fu's heart tightened, and he asked, "Your Majesty, should retired court officials also be investigated?"

"Of course we should investigate, why shouldn't we?"

"But, but..."

He hesitated for a moment. Logically speaking, the person had retired to his hometown, so why should he be investigated?

Zhu Youjian asked, "Is there something wrong?"

He Fu sighed and replied, "I am worried that if this precedent is set, the officialdom will descend into chaos..."

There was an unwritten rule in the Ming Dynasty's officialdom: no matter what a person had done in the past, as long as they successfully resigned from their post, they would usually not be investigated unless it was a serious crime like treason.

This is the same principle as debts being settled upon death. Otherwise, if newly appointed officials were to investigate old debts, wouldn't things get chaotic?

Zhu Youjian countered, "If you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear. Why not investigate those who have done wrong?"

He Fu's face was grim. He said, "When an official steps down, it means a transfer of power. What if the new official does something wrong and then uses their authority to pin the blame on the former official?"

"You're overthinking things!"

Zhu Youjian waved his hand and said, "Whether it is a new or former ruler, anyone who violates the laws of the Ming Dynasty must pay the price. We cannot hold back our actions because of concerns; otherwise, it will be the people who suffer in the end!"

Hong Niangzi's expression changed, as if she was somewhat moved, but she didn't say anything.

He Fu felt somewhat ashamed and bowed deeply.

"Your Majesty's teachings are etched in my mind!"