Chapter 27
Ming Zhiyan
“Your Majesty, I have lived up to my mission. I have found the evidence of Song Yuancheng and the others embezzling the relief funds. I am here to report to you.”
The man in black raised his head and revealed a handsome face. It was Ming Zhiyan.
“Good, good, good!” The Emperor, who was sitting upright just a moment ago, immediately revealed a smile and said ‘good’ three times.
“Zhiyan, didn’t I say this many times? Just call me ‘Uncle’ in private. Get Up quickly, there’s no need to be so polite with me. You’ve really made a great contribution this time! Come and tell Uncle about what happened to you in Cairo City!”
“Uncle.” This time, Zhiyan did not insist on calling ‘Your Majesty’ and stood up obediently. “It’s very serious to form a party in Cairo. There are disaster victims everywhere. Most of the relief funds allocated by the Imperial Court were swallowed up by them. The disaster victims had nowhere to go and gathered outside Cairo City. They were killed outside the city gates on the charge of rebellion.”
“Officials protected each other, and the people had nowhere to seek justice. After the disaster, more than half of the farmers’ land was taken up. After the beginning of Spring, not only did the officials not organize the disaster victims to farm and tend to the fields, but some large families rented the land to the disaster victims at extremely high rent rates.”
“When I was living in Song Yuancheng’s residence, his residence was decorated with extreme luxury. His sons also did many evil things. They casually killed the refugees and forcibly stole the women of the people. There were many complaints in Cairo City. From prefects to county magistrates, all of them bullied and exploited the people.”
“Hmph!” The Emperor fiercely flicked his sleeves, his face full of anger. “My Great Wei has been corrupted by these black sheep! They took the Imperial Court’s salary but did not do their job as officials. They bullied the people and embezzled money. Do they really think they can get away with this? Liu Fu, send General Weiyuan to me!”
The Eunuch Director, who was quietly hiding in a corner to reduce his presence, replied, “Yes, your servant obeys the imperial decree.”
The Emperor managed to restrain his anger and said to Ming Zhiyan, “Zhiyan, it has been hard on you this time. Go back and rest well. You have been gone for so long. Your mother misses you too.”
Ming Zhiyan did not have any expression when he heard this. He said indifferently, “It is my duty to share the Emperor’s worries.”
The Emperor looked at his emotionless face and sighed. An idea suddenly appeared in his heart.
“Zhiyan, we must eliminate most of the corrupt officials in Cairo City. In the past few years, the other countries have been eyeing you like a tiger eyeing its prey. The Imperial Court is seriously lacking in talents. Are you willing to take up a post in Cairo?”
Ming Zhiyan cupped his fists and said, “It is entirely up to Your Majesty’s arrangements!”
After thinking for a moment, he said, “Uncle, do you really want to catch all of them in one go? This matter involves a lot of people. Song Yuancheng has been rooted there for many years. The Imperial Court doesn’t have anyone to take over at the moment. They are afraid of creating trouble.”
“Then what do you think we should do? Just let those pests run around in front of my eyes?”
“We might as well get rid of Song Yuancheng’s minions first and take it slowly.”
The Emperor thought for a moment and flipped open the booklet with the list of embezzled funds. He pondered for a moment.
“Zhiyan, I order you to be the county magistrate of Shifeng County. Help me get rid of Song Yuancheng and the others one by one and restore hope and prosperity to Cairo’s commoners!”
Ming Zhiyan knelt down. “I accept your order!”
Not long after, there were rumors in Shifeng County that the county magistrate had ordered someone to beat the scholar to death. The county magistrate even stole the scholar’s family property in order to snatch the girl from the scholar’s house.
The rumor grew more and more intense. The county magistrate even asked the Yamen to arrest a few people who spread the rumor. However, they were unable to stop it at all. Many scholars heard of it and also appealed.
Not long after, the Capital heard of this rumor. It was said that the Emperor was furious. The scholar was a talent of the country, so how could he be killed just like that?
Hence, the Emperor ordered people to arrest the county magistrate and bring him to the Capital for punishment. He even appointed Crown Prince Ming of the Eldest Princess’s Mansion as the county magistrate of Shifeng County.