bullyxtreme Chapter 75 Severely Punish Corruption, Kill All Members of the Ministry of Works
Chapter 75 Severely Punish Corruption, Kill All Members of the Ministry of Works
Zhu Houzhao looked at the officials below, his eyes filled with a fierce light.
"My investigation of the Ministry of Works is just the beginning."
"From this day forward, I will thoroughly curb the trend of corruption!"
"Anyone who embezzles more than 100,000 taels of silver shall be skinned alive, stuffed with straw, and their entire family exterminated!"
"Anyone who embezzles more than ten thousand taels of silver shall be executed by slow slicing, and their entire family shall be exterminated!"
"Anyone who embezzles more than five thousand taels will have their property confiscated, beheaded, and their family members enslaved in the brothel!"
"Anyone who embezzles more than one thousand taels will have their entire family exiled three thousand li and reduced to slavery!"
"Anyone who embezzles more than five hundred taels will have their entire family exiled to the army, with no chance of pardon!"
"Anyone who embezzles more than one hundred taels will be punished with one hundred strokes of the cane in court and demoted three ranks!"
Zhu Houzhao's words were firm and resounding, his cold voice echoing across Fengtianmen Square.
Zhu Houzhao's resolute attitude silenced all the civil and military officials present.
They all clearly felt Zhu Houzhao's determination to fight corruption.
After Zeng Jian was dragged out of Fengtianmen Square by the Embroidered Uniform Guard, several other officials from the Ministry of Works were taken away by agents of the Western Depot for investigation.
The entire Ministry of Works was in a state of panic, with everyone on edge.
The Western Depot agents took over the Ministry of Works and practically emptied it out.
Under severe torture by the agents of the Western Depot, most officials of the Ministry of Works honestly confessed to the amount of silver they had embezzled.
Several days later, Yu Huatian, the supervisor of the Western Depot, personally brought the results of his investigation to report to Zhu Houzhao.
"Your Majesty, the Ministry of Works has embezzled a total of 121 people this time. This is their list of embezzlers. Please take a look."
Inside the Cining Palace, Yu Huatian was finally able to submit to Zhu Houzhao a detailed list of embezzled officials from the Ministry of Works.
Zhu Houzhao took the list and glanced at it briefly from top to bottom, a hint of ruthlessness flashing in his eyes.
This Minister of Works certainly had a big appetite; he embezzled nearly 50,000 taels of silver from just this one project.
And the amount of embezzlement by various officials under him was also considerable.
Even the lowest-ranking officials embezzled several hundred taels of silver, while most officials embezzled several thousand taels of silver.
This is just the Ministry of Works in the capital, which embezzled hundreds of thousands of taels of silver. How many other officials along this line have embezzled how much silver?
Zhu Houzhao was determined to investigate thoroughly, and he would make everyone who dared to take his money pay the price!
However, Zhu Houzhao was also pleased that he did not see the name of Li Sui, the Vice Minister of Works, on the list.
Li Sui was an official trusted by the late emperor, and during the Hongzhi era, he was repeatedly entrusted with important responsibilities by the late emperor.
After the late emperor's death, Li Sui was sidelined by the cabinet and faded from the center of power, even though he was the Vice Minister of Works.
Zhu Houzhao intended to appoint Li Sui, and this incident served as a preliminary test for him.
At present, Zhu Houzhao is quite satisfied with Li Sui's performance.
At least he didn't collude with Zeng Jian and others.
Yu Huatian continued, "Your Majesty, so far, the Western Depot has recovered 370,000 taels of silver in embezzled funds."
"There are still 140,000 taels of silver left, which they have already exchanged for land and real estate. The Western Depot has seized their properties, but they can't recover the silver."
"It's alright."
Zhu Houzhao closed the list and said calmly, "Sell what can be sold, and keep what can't be sold for me."
"The officials here shall be dealt with in accordance with what I said at the court meeting: those who should be executed shall be executed, and those who should be exiled shall be exiled. All shall be handled in accordance with the regulations."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Yu Huatian bowed and accepted.
"You may leave now. Bring Li Sui and Liu Zhong to me."
"Yes, Your Majesty. This humble subject takes his leave."
Shortly after Yu Huatian left, Li Sui, the Vice Minister of Works, and Liu Zhong, the Grand Secretary of the Cabinet and Academician of the Hanlin Academy, came to the warm pavilion of Cining Palace.
"Your humble servant greets Your Majesty!"
"No need for formalities, please take a seat."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
The two men stood up, carefully placing half their bottoms on the bench, and looked at Zhu Houzhao with trepidation, wondering why he had summoned them this time.
Li Sui, in particular, was so nervous that his mouth went dry and he kept swallowing his saliva, while his legs felt weak in waves.
The Ministry of Works is currently under strict investigation by the Western Depot. Zeng Jian, the Minister of Works, has already had his entire family executed, and he was also the Vice Minister of Works...
He hasn't had a single good night's sleep in the past few days, fearing he might implicate himself.
Zhu Houzhao looked at Li Sui with a relaxed smile: "Li Sui, how many years have you served as the Vice Minister of Works?"
When Li Sui was called by name, he subconsciously stood up: "Your Majesty, I have served as the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works since the thirteenth year of the Hongzhi reign, which is six years ago now."
Zhu Houzhao smiled and gestured for him to sit down and talk.
"Then you should be very familiar with the Ministry of Works' procedures."
"Yes, I have served in the Ministry of Works for six years. I may not have made any outstanding achievements, but I still remember the procedures of the Ministry of Works very well."
Li Sui's heart pounded, and she suddenly became excited.
Sure enough, Zhu Houzhao smiled at him and said, "I intend to have you take charge of the Ministry of Works. Can you manage the Ministry of Works well for me?"
"I don't want to see such systemic corruption in the Ministry of Works happen again."
Li Sui immediately knelt down in front of Zhu Houzhao, his face flushed with excitement and his heart pounding with joy.
"Your humble servant thanks Your Majesty for your trust!"
"The corruption within the Ministry of Works is a top-down corruption. Your humble servant will certainly maintain integrity and will show absolutely no leniency towards corruption within the Ministry!"
"Very well, then I will entrust the Ministry of Works to you. Do not disappoint me."
Zhu Houzhao smiled and nodded, then said solemnly, "Li Sui, listen to my decree."
"Effective immediately, Li Sui is hereby appointed Minister of Works, in charge of the repair work of the Imperial Palace."
"Your humble servant obeys the decree!"
Li Sui trembled slightly with excitement as he kowtowed repeatedly to Zhu Houzhao.
"Your humble servant kowtows in gratitude for Your Majesty's grace!"
"Rise."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
After Li Sui stood up, Zhu Houzhao said, "Most of the officials in the Ministry of Works have been dealt with, leaving the Ministry empty-handed and in dire need of capable personnel."
"Liu Zhong".
"Your subject is here."
"You are a scholar of the Hanlin Academy. If the Hanlin Academy has any promising talents, you should talk to Li Sui about them."
"You two discuss it yourselves. I will grant you whatever officials you want. Just get the Ministry of Works up and running as soon as possible and don't delay my schedule."
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
"Your Majesty, we will certainly do our utmost to live up to your expectations."
"Step down."
"This humble subject takes his leave!"
After Li Sui and Liu Zhong left the palace, Li Sui went to the Hanlin Academy at Liu Zhong's invitation.
Li Sui was in charge of selecting officials, including probationary scholars, jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations), and even many juren (successful candidates in the provincial imperial examinations), and he was assigned an official position.
In the past, it would have been unthinkable to be able to take a position in the Ministry of Works, one of the Six Ministries, after only a few months in the Hanlin Academy.
The entire Hanlin Academy was filled with a joyous atmosphere.
Among the officials selected by Li Sui for the Ministry of Works, there was a junior official who had passed the imperial examination in the second year of the imperial examination. He seemed inconspicuous, but he had a very famous name.
He was a poor scholar from Fenyi, Ganzhou, and his name was Yan Song.