dognovel Chapter 1073 The Downfall of the Powerful Families of Shu
Chapter 1073 The Downfall of the Powerful Families of Shu
As dawn breaks, the breakfast stalls in the East Market of Chengdu have just set up their stoves, and steam is rising from the steamers.
The East Market was as bustling as ever, but now there were more whispers:
"Have you heard? The officials are going to be interrogated today!"
A porter, squatting on a bench and drinking thin porridge, spoke in a low voice to his companion at the table.
"How come I haven't heard? It's all over town. They say His Majesty is going to personally preside over the court to try those..." The old man selling steamed buns couldn't help but interject as he deftly collected his coins.
"If you ask me, it should have been done a long time ago. In previous years, if anyone in our village wanted to get a better machete, they had to beg and plead, and the price was ridiculously high!"
"I heard from Wang Wu, who runs the mountain roads, that all the good iron is being taken out by these people, which is benefiting the barbarians in the mountains!"
A middle-aged man next to him glanced around cautiously before lowering his voice and saying, "It's not just salt and iron. Do you know Xinghua Lane in the South City... and the gambling dens at the East Gate? How many people have lost everything? It's said that behind them are... sigh!"
He shook his head, not daring to say anything more, but the disgust in his eyes spoke volumes.
Actually, the situation in Chengdu is already considered good.
Previously, Wei Xun was in power. The officials dared not commit crimes openly, but their private corruption was not uncommon.
Wei Xun also comes from a prominent family and has the support of other families. If he wants to control Rongcheng, he has to be tolerant.
One diner sighed, "If only we could really get to the bottom of this... My cousin from my mother's side, she said she was going to work for a wealthy family in the city two years ago, and then we lost all contact with her."
"Some people say that she was probably sold to a shady place by that family, but the government is theirs, so where can we find justice?"
“This time it’s different!” The porter wiped his mouth, his tone certain. “This time it’s His Majesty personally conducting the trial, and His Majesty has brought the Heavenly Army with him!”
"Haven't you noticed how different those military officers have become these days?"
“My second uncle’s third son works as a cook in the camp. He said that the rules in the camp are frighteningly strict now, but the food, drink and salary are real.”
"His Majesty gave the officials a hard time as soon as he arrived in Chengdu. Now the Shu army is completely convinced of His Majesty's power. He is truly the Son of Heaven!" The old man selling steamed buns raised his voice, attracting the attention of people at several nearby tables.
One diner hesitated and said, "If the emperor really beheads them all, then who will be the officials?"
"Since His Majesty dares to set up such a grand scene and conduct the trial in front of the entire city, how could he not have irrefutable evidence?" The porter snorted. "We don't need to worry about His Majesty. Anyway, it's not our turn to be an official."
"Let's go to the western suburbs and see for ourselves, even if we have to squeeze in!"
This remark was met with widespread agreement.
People who had hurriedly finished their breakfast, disregarding their daily chores, began to move in twos and threes toward the western suburbs.
On the street, messengers walked by, banging gongs and loudly announcing that the emperor was coming to the drill ground today to publicly try criminals, and that soldiers and civilians alike were welcome to watch.
This was like water being poured into a raging oil pan; the entire city of Chengdu seemed to be pushed by an invisible tide, surging towards the western suburban training ground.
. . . . . .
The drill ground in the western suburbs.
The site was prepared overnight yesterday. A high platform was erected at the north end of the drill ground, with a ceremonial desk set up on it and a large banner with the character "庆" (qing, meaning celebration) on a black background and a golden dragon as its backing.
To the left and right of the platform, rows of imperial guards, gleaming in armor and carrying halberds, stood silently and solemnly.
Around the drill ground, Chengdu residents and nearby villagers who had heard the news had gathered in large numbers, numbering no less than ten thousand, and the buzzing of their discussions was like a tidal wave.
Further away, the newly reorganized Shu soldiers also stood in formation, watching with serious and complex expressions.
At the exact hour of Chen (7-9 AM), drums and horns sounded in unison.
Surrounded by civil and military officials, Li Che ascended the high platform, donned armor, and wore a long sword at his waist, exuding natural majesty.
Yue Yun, Luo Yueniang, Yu Daliang, Qiu Bai, and others will stand on the left and right respectively.
Officials from the prefectural government, officials from the Ministry of Justice accompanying the emperor, and the chief of the Embroidered Uniform Guard were already seated in the lower jury seats.
"Bring the criminals—"
As the master of ceremonies proclaimed his greeting, the entire hall fell silent.
One after another, squads of Imperial Guards escorted officials in shackles and chains into the training ground through a side gate.
Leading them were Zhou Huan, Sima Jun, and others, followed by more than twenty other people.
These officials, who were once impeccably dressed, were now disheveled and staggering.
Under the watchful eyes of countless people, he knelt down trembling on the open ground in front of the stage.
Li Che did not speak immediately, but calmly swept his gaze across the bewildered faces below the stage.
Public trials are an old tradition of the Fengtian Army.
Now that he has military power, Li Che doesn't think the powerful families are the most troublesome thing; the hearts of the people are the most important.
Therefore, these first batch of convicted officials could not be tried privately; their crimes had to be made public.
After a moment, he slowly spoke:
"When I ruled the world and pacified the four directions, all I sought was the word 'justice'."
"For the people, taxes and levies should be light, so that farmers have land and residents have houses; for officials, rewards and punishments should be clearly defined, so that the honest will be honored and the corrupt will be punished!"
He paused, his gaze falling on the kneeling Zhou Huan:
“Zhou Huan, as the person in charge of salt and iron, you should be working for the benefit of the people and protecting the country’s wealth.”
"Yet you have been embezzling from your post, selling salt and iron privately to uncivilized people in the mountains, and even funding the enemy!"
"Do you know that the iron you smuggle out might be forged into swords and arrows, which could then be used to kill my border troops and harm my people?!"
The prepared clerk read aloud a stack of account books, copies of several secret letters exchanged with the barbarian chieftain, and records of confessions from several smugglers.
This immediately caused an angry uproar from the audience.
The people of Chengdu would use a kitchen knife until it's worn out and then be reluctant to replace it. But you, on the other hand, sell large quantities of iron to the barbarians to make weapons?
Zhou Huan trembled violently, attempting to explain: "Your Majesty! I...I was momentarily confused and misled by treacherous people..."
Li Che interrupted with a cold laugh: "The account books were written in your own hand, the secret letters were sealed with your seal, and the profit-sharing silver was collected by your family."
"With witnesses and physical evidence, the case is ironclad. How can there be any cover-up?!" He slammed his hand on the case. "Bring the relevant witnesses!"
Several servants were brought onto the stage, confirming the time and place of Zhou Huan's private dealings with the enemy.
Two more low-ranking military officers stepped forward to testify that they had discovered traces of smuggling and reported it, but Zhou Huan suppressed their reports.
Public anger was instantly ignited.
"Kill this corrupt official!"
"A parasite that drinks the blood of soldiers!"
"He deserves to be torn to pieces!"
Roars came from all directions.
Li Che raised his hand to suppress the shouts and turned his gaze to Sima Jun, who was limp as a rag doll.
"Sima Jun!"
This shout made Sima Jun tremble.
"You are in charge of criminal law; you should be the clear sky above the people's heads!"
"You have used the law as a tool of your own accord, running gambling dens and prostitution shops, forcing women into prostitution, and trafficking in people!"
"Is this the kind of wicked and demonic heart reflected in the 'Mirror Hanging High' plaque above your yamen gate?!"
The reading of the charges against Sima Jun was even more horrifying.
The thirteen illegal businesses have amassed an astronomical sum of money over the years.
Even more appalling, several rescued women were deceived, abducted, beaten, forced into prostitution, or even sold to other places.
Many of these incidents involved respectable women who committed suicide due to unbearable humiliation, and tragic cases of parents jumping into rivers in search of their daughters.
Several of Sima Jun's corrupt officials who had aided and abetted him were also brought in and identified in court, confessing to the details.
"Your Majesty! Please avenge my daughter!" An elderly woman with white hair broke free from her support, collapsed on the platform, and kowtowed until her head bled.
This scene brought tears to the eyes of countless onlookers, who gritted their teeth in anger.
Next, the crimes of other officials were also revealed one by one:
Some embezzled funds allocated by the imperial court for disaster relief; some took advantage of land surveys to massively annex land; and some accepted huge bribes and distorted the truth during legal proceedings...
Every case is supported by detailed physical evidence, documentary evidence, or witness testimony.
Li Che had been preparing for the past few days, utilizing the night watchmen and secret agents of the Embroidered Uniform Guard who accompanied him, and also relying on clues provided by Yu Daliang and others, which made the investigation both fast and accurate.
During the trial, Li Che only needed to let the evidence speak for itself and let the victims voice their accusations.
He would occasionally press for crucial details, each question hitting the nail on the head, which was enough to leave the corrupt official with no room for excuses.
When all the major crimes had been stated, the anger in the training ground had reached its peak.
Public opinion was overwhelming, almost breaking through the soldiers' obstruction.
Li Che raised his hand again, and the entire room gradually quieted down.
He slowly walked to the front of the stage, his voice deep and solemn, resounding throughout the area:
"Your crimes are too numerous to count! You have failed the Emperor's grace, neglected your duties, and harmed the common people!"
"He corrupts the moral order and shakes the foundation of the nation; he is truly a great traitor who harms the country and a heinous villain who harms the people!"
He paused, then continued, "I have heard that the people of Shu are simple and honest, and the soldiers are brave and fierce. Why is it that in recent years the people have suffered so much and the border troubles have been frequent?"
"The root of the problem lies with you parasites! You are sucking the people's blood and sweat, gnawing at the foundation of the nation, and destroying the hopes of the court and the people!"
"The laws of the court are valued for their fairness and strictness!" Li Che's voice turned stern. "Today, I will use your blood to cleanse the filth of Sichuan and show the world the truth!"
After returning the case, he picked up a red brush and wrote on the judgment document before handing it to Qiu Bai, who was standing beside him.
Qiu Bai took it and loudly pronounced the verdict:
"The imperial trial is over, the evidence is irrefutable! Sentence—"
"Official Zhou Huan, a criminal, colluded with the enemy and provided funds to bandits, embezzled state funds, and committed heinous crimes. He is sentenced to immediate execution, his family property is confiscated, and his relatives are exiled three thousand miles away. He will not be pardoned even if pardoned!"
"Official Ma Jun has wreaked havoc on the local area, forced women into prostitution, and trafficked people. His crimes are unforgivable. He is sentenced to immediate execution, his property is confiscated, and his accomplices shall be severely punished according to the law!"
"The corrupt official..."
The remaining criminals were sentenced to death by beheading or hanging, depending on the severity of their crimes, with the lightest punishment being exile.
"All the confiscated money and goods, after deducting the deficit in the government treasury and compensation for some of the victims, will be used entirely for building bridges and roads, establishing schools, and providing relief to the victims in Sichuan!"
The verdict caused an uproar among the crowd.
The cheers were deafening, and the families of the victims knelt down and kowtowed, shouting "Long live the Emperor!"
Li Che seemed oblivious to the cheers. He looked at the official who was recording the proceedings and said in a deep voice, "All case files must be recorded in detail and distributed to all prefectures and counties in Shu as a warning."
"From this day forward, all prefectures and counties in Sichuan will open petition drums to allow the people to directly voice their grievances. Any official found to have committed illegal acts will be severely punished without exception! The imperial court will dispatch censors to conduct regular inspections and rectify official corruption!"
"I will obey your orders!"