Sign a Lu Fengxian at the beginning

Chapter 157: Order Dongchang to search the Shangshu Mansion of the Ministry of Justice

The Hall of Nourishing Heart.

Zhou Chen sat on the dragon throne and looked at Cao Shaoqin below.

Cao Shaoqin bowed down and reported: "Your Majesty, the Fan family sent people to sneak into Dongchang in order to rescue Fan Yongdou. Dongchang has killed all these people, and no one from the Fan family who secretly entered Luoyang has escaped...

"

Cao Shaoqin truthfully reported that the Fan family sent people to sneak into the East Factory and delivered a memorial to Zhou Chen.

What is written on the fold is the specific process of how the Fan family sent people to sneak into Dongchang, and Dongchang killed these people of the Fan family.

Zhou Chen picked up Zhou Zhe, opened it and glanced at it, with a sneer on his face.

This member of the Fan family is really brave.

They have all become people that the imperial court wants to kill. How dare you secretly enter Luoyang and sneak into Dongchang to save people?

Do you really think that after Cao Zhengchun left Luoyang, no one in Dongchang could control the situation, and anyone could sneak into Dongchang unscrupulously and act recklessly?

Zhou Chen threw Zhou Zhe aside, looked up at Cao Shaoqin and asked, "Is there anything else?"

Cao Shaoqin immediately said, "Your Majesty, some generals in the city defense camp and some generals in the Shenwu Guards outside the city have made some changes recently."

oh!

Zhou Chen raised his eyebrows when he heard this.

The city defense battalion is responsible for the defense of Luoyang city gates and the security of the city, with 30,000 soldiers and horses.

Not to mention the Shenwu Guards, they are the elites who defend the divine capital and intimidate the world.

Some of the generals in the city defense camp and the Shenwu Guard have changed, which is not a small matter.

If Zhou Chen's prediction is correct, the changes in these generals should be closely related to the plans of the three major families and the King of Shu.

Although the Shenwu Guards outside the city had been cleaned up before, there were still some generals who were inextricably related to the wealthy families.

Zhou Chen has no doubt about this.

Zhou Chen pondered for a moment and said to Cao Shaoqin: "Keep an eye on these generals and call me Du Ruhui and Liu Ye immediately."

Zhou Chen knew that the three major aristocratic families and the King of Shu should have begun to make plans.

Then, Zhou Chen will start the second step.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Cao Shaoqin bowed to accept the order and exited the Yangxin Hall.

…

Half an hour later.

Du Ruhui and Liu Ye walked into the Nourishing Heart Hall together.

"Chen Du Ruhui."

"Your Majesty Liu Ye."

"I have met His Majesty."

Du Ruhui and Liu Ye walked into the Yangxin Hall and bowed respectfully to Zhou Chen who was sitting on the dragon throne.

Zhou Chen raised his eyes and glanced at the two of them, his eyes resting on Liu Ye; "Liu Ye, how is the inventory of the Ministry of Household Affairs going?"

"Reporting to your Majesty, most of them have been checked."

"All the officials involved have been captured and sent to the prison of the Ministry of Justice."

"A large number of officials related to the three major families have also been captured."

"I have not touched some of the available people and officials who are willing to serve His Majesty."

Liu Ye bowed and said.

Liu Ye was ordered to clean up the household department, and his real purpose was to clean up those officials in the court who were inextricably related to the three wealthy families.

Of course, checking the household department is also a major purpose.

It's just not the main purpose.

Therefore, Liu Ye would try his best to involve officials who were related to the three major aristocratic families, and then take the opportunity to capture them.

After hearing this, Zhou Chen nodded and looked at Du Ruhui: "Du Ruhui, where are you?"

"Have all the vacant positions for officials been filled?"

Zhou Chen used the method of knowing the Ministry of Household Affairs to influence the officials of the three wealthy families in order not to cause too much turmoil.

If a few positions are found and vacant, other officials can immediately fill them.

This will not affect the normal operation of the court.

"Your Majesty, most of the vacant positions have been temporarily filled by other officials."

"There are still some vacant positions and no suitable officials have been transferred yet."

"However, the vacancies of these official positions will not affect the normal operation and government affairs processing of various yamen."

Du Ruhui also bowed and said.

After listening to Du Ruhui's words, Zhou Chen nodded again; "That's good."

"Since everything is going well, let's take the next step tomorrow morning!"

…

the next day.

Morning starts.

All civil and military officials walked into the Golden Palace in order of their official positions.

"Long live your Majesty. Long live your Majesty."

After the officials walked into the Jinluan Hall, they knelt down and shouted to Zhou Chen, who was already sitting on the dragon chair.

Zhou Chen was sitting on the dragon chair, looking down at the civil and military officials below, and said, "Everyone is on equal footing."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Baiguan stood up.

Zhou Chen looked down at the civil and military officials below and saw that the number of people was smaller and the officials had also changed.

"When there is something going on, we will start, and when there is nothing going on, we will retreat."

A sharp voice sounded.

The person who shouted this sentence was none other than Cao Shaoqin.

In the absence of Cao Zhengchun, Cao Shaoqin naturally replaced Cao Zhengchun and went to court with the emperor Zhou Chen.

When the civil and military officials below heard Cao Shaoqin's sharp voice, they all looked at Cao Shaoqin secretly.

They have seen Cao Zhengchun, the great governor of the East Factory.

But Cao Shaoqin, the second governor of Dongchang, they had always only heard of his name but never met him.

Today they finally saw the true face of Cao Shaoqin, the second governor of Dongchang in Lushan.

"Your Majesty, I have something to report."

As soon as Cao Shaoqin finished speaking, Liu Ye, Minister of the Ministry of Industry, stood up and said loudly.

The other civil and military officials were slightly surprised when they saw Liu Ye, the minister of the Ministry of Industry, being the first to stand up and make an announcement.

In the past, many officials would not have paid much attention to the Minister of Industry's report.

Although Gongbu Shang is also one of the six major ministers, compared with the other five ministers, the matters reported by Gongbu Shangshu generally do not attract the attention of officials.

But things are different now. Liu Ye, Minister of the Ministry of Industry, is in charge of investigating the affairs of the Ministry of Household Affairs.

In the past few days, how many officials have been captured by Liu Ye, the Minister of Industry, and thrown into prison.

Among them are some important veterans.

Therefore, no one will underestimate what Liu Ye, the Minister of Industry, has come forward to report.

"Liu Ye, what do you want to report?"

Zhou Chen looked at Liu Ye and asked calmly.

"Your Majesty, I and Mr. Zheng, the Minister of Criminal Affairs, are ordered to investigate the Ministry of Household Affairs."

"In the past few days, I have identified many officials."

"Some of the officials confessed to Mr. Zheng."

"I didn't expect that Mr. Zheng, the Minister of Punishment, was actually one of those corrupt officials. He also took bribes and perverted the law."

"This is some evidence that I found out that Mr. Zheng was corrupt and perverted the law."

"Your Majesty, please take a look."

Liu Ye took out a piece of evidence and said loudly.

All the civil and military officials in the hall changed their expressions when they heard Liu Ye's words.

No one expected that Liu Ye would also find out the Minister of Criminal Affairs who was also responsible for investigating the Ministry of Household Affairs.

This is really shocking.

Even Prime Minister Yuan Bo's expression changed.

Fan Yongdou, the Minister of Hubu, has already been involved in this matter. If the Minister of Punishment is also taken down because of corruption, he, the prime minister, will be the only one left to support the plans of the three major families and the King of Shu.

As for the person involved, the Minister of Criminal Affairs, his expression changed drastically after hearing Liu Ye's words.

"Liu Ye, don't be so rude as you are."

"I am responsible for checking the Household Department together with you. How come you don't know that an official has confessed that I am an accomplice?"

"You can't even think of framing me."

The Minister of Punishment glared at Liu Ye and said loudly.

Then.

The Minister of Punishment shouted directly at Zhou Chen who was sitting on the dragon chair, "Your Majesty, I am wronged!"

"Liu Ye wants to frame me."

"Your Majesty, please investigate clearly."

As the Minister of Punishment said, he knelt on the ground with a thud.

Zhou Chen, who was sitting on the throne, ignored the Minister of Punishment's cry of injustice and said expressionlessly, "Send it up."

Cao Shaoqin, who was standing next to him, immediately walked down, took the evidence from Liu Ye's hand, turned around and brought it to Zhou Chen.

Zhou Chen took the incriminating evidence sent by Liu Ye from Cao Shaoqin's hand, opened it and glanced at it.

Zhou Chen doesn't need to read the contents carefully.

Because this is what Zhou Chen asked Liu Ye to prepare for the Minister of Punishment.

After glancing at the contents of the evidence, Zhou Chen raised his head and sneered at the Minister of Punishment who was kneeling below.

"Master Zheng."

"My Minister of Justice."

"You said you were wronged, and you said Liu Ye framed you."

"Then take a look at these things for yourself. Did Liu Ye wrongly accuse you, or was Liu Ye really trying to frame you?"

Zhou Chen closed the incriminating evidence in his hand and threw it fiercely in front of the Minister of Punishment who was kneeling below.

When the Minister of Punishment heard Zhou Chen's sarcastic tone, his heart skipped a beat, and a bad premonition arose in his heart.

The Minister of Punishment immediately picked up the piece of evidence that Zhou Chen had thrown down, opened it and read it.

The contents of the criminal evidence made the Minister of Punishment's heart sink to the bottom of his heart.

It contains not only some evidence of corruption by the Minister of Punishment, but also some evidence of bribery, unjust and false cases, and other crimes committed by the Minister of Punishment.

In an instant, the Minister of Punishment understood.

Liu Ye's so-called investigation of the Ministry of Household Affairs and the fact that an official confessed to him, the Minister of Punishment, is all nonsense.

What really happened was that the emperor Zhou Chen wanted to touch him, the Minister of Punishment.

Liu Ye's investigation of the household department and the confessions made by the officials were just an excuse for the emperor Zhou Chen to move against him, the minister of punishment.

Otherwise, it would be impossible for these criminal evidences to be found out by just an investigation of the household department and the confessions of officials from the Ministry of Punishments.

This was obviously something that had been prepared to disturb him, the Minister of Punishment.

It was not a spur of the moment idea, but a premeditation.

After the Minister of Punishment read the evidence in his hand, he knelt on the ground and lost all strength.

He knew that he, the Minister of Punishment, was finished.

Like Fan Yongdou, the Minister of Hubu, he, the Minister of Punishment, will soon follow in the footsteps of Fan Yongdou, the Minister of Hubu.

Seeing that the Minister of Punishment had read the evidence of the crime, Zhou Chen, who was sitting on the dragon chair, looked down at the Shangshu of the Punishment Department who was kneeling on the ground with an expressionless expression and said, "Do you have anything else to say?"

"I have nothing more to say."

"I am guilty."

The Minister of Punishment's eyes flickered and he bowed his head to the ground.

The evidence of the crime is here, it can be said to be as solid as a mountain of evidence.

What else can he say?

Regarding the attitude of the Minister of Punishment, Zhou Chen, who was sitting on the dragon throne, had a flash of surprise in his eyes.

Initially, Zhou Chen thought that the Minister of Punishment would make some quibbles, or at least shout that he was wronged.

Unexpectedly, the Minister of Punishment didn't have any quibbles at all, he didn't even cry out that he was wronged, he just admitted it obediently.

This was somewhat beyond Zhou Chen's expectation.

However, no matter why the Minister of Punishment obeyed so obediently and did not cry out for injustice, Zhou Chen felt that it was not important.

The important thing is that the Minister of Punishment only needs to recognize it.

This also saves trouble.

"Here comes someone."

"Drag him out and put him in Dongchang Prison."

"Order Dongchang to immediately search the Shangshu Mansion of the Ministry of Justice."

Zhou Chen said nothing more and waved directly.

Two factory guards walked in, grabbed the Minister of Justice, lifted him up and dragged him outside.

From the beginning to the end, the Minister of Punishment showed no resistance or even a trace of struggle.

Just like that, the Minister of Punishment was dragged out by the factory guards.

The Minister of Punishment is different from the Minister of Hubu. He will not do anything excessive.

Now, their plan has begun to be laid out.

The Minister of Punishment knew that as long as he admitted the evidence and persisted until another day, he would be able to see the light of day again.

If he does something excessive now, he will be the one who suffers in the end.

Just like Fan Yongdou, the Minister of Hubu, even if he succeeds in changing the day, the whole person of the Minister of Hubu will be useless.

The Minister of Punishment did not want to be like Fan Yongdou and completely follow in his footsteps.

That's why the Minister of Punishment did not quibble and cry out for injustice, or even resist or struggle, allowing the factory guards to easily drag him out of the Yangxin Hall.

After the Minister of Punishment was dragged out.

The atmosphere in the hall was so quiet that you could hear the drop of a pin.

No one expected that first the Minister of the Ministry of Finance would have his family confiscated and his family exterminated, and all nine clans would be executed.

Now, the Minister of Punishment has also been arrested for investigating corruption in the Ministry of Revenue.

In just a few days, two important ministers fell.

This put a lot of pressure on the civil and military officials in the hall.

Prime Minister Yuan Bo also felt quite heavy in his heart. The Minister of Hubu and the Minister of Punishment were both his most important partners and allies.

Now, not only did Fan Yongdou, the Minister of Hubu, have his house confiscated and his family exterminated, but the Minister of Punishment was also taken down soon after.

Only he, Yuan Bo, was left.

This thing is full of weirdness.

Especially at the critical juncture of changing the day, did the person on the dragon throne really take down the two ministers of the Ministry of Hubu and the Minister of Punishment just because of corruption?

Prime Minister Yuan Bo pondered in his mind.

Zhou Chen, who was sitting on the dragon chair, glanced at the civil and military officials below with a cold expression, and said, "I didn't expect that the investigation of the household department has just begun, but so many officials have already been found out."

"Among them, two important ministers were involved."

"It just makes me a little bit unbelievable."

"Have the officials of our Great Zhou Dynasty become corrupt to this extent?"

Under Zhou Chen's sharp eyes like an eagle, all the civil and military officials lowered their heads, not daring to take a breath.

After Zhou Chen glanced around, he said sternly to Liu Ye, "Liu Ye."

"Let me continue to investigate."

"I want to see how many moths there are in the court of Zhou Dynasty?"

As soon as these words came out.

All the civil and military officials in the hall couldn't help but tremble in their hearts.

In the past few days, many officials have been found in the Household Affairs Bureau, and today even the Minister of the Ministry of Justice was taken down.

The investigation needs to continue.

Is it possible that His Majesty really wants to completely clean the court?

Even the Eight Sage King Zhou Xian and the Minister of War were frowning and worried.

Such a large-scale investigation will put everyone in the official body in danger.

"I obey the decree."

Liu Ye bowed and accepted the order.

…

(End of chapter)