Chapter 320: Working hard and dying
"The Tibetan tribes and the Qiang people are quite generous."
Gu Tingye looked at the money that Sheng Changwu brought back and said with a sigh.
After receiving the weapons and armor, the Tibetan tribes and Qiang people not only paid the money as agreed.
Besides that, they gave a lot more.
"Commander, the Tubo and Qiang people want more weapons and armor. They also said it would be best if we could provide them with a batch of powerful crossbows. The price is negotiable," said Sheng Changwu.
"They wishful thinking." Gu Tingye sneered when he heard that.
Weapons and armor are nothing, after all, there are not many of them, and they will not have much impact on the future Song Dynasty's military expedition to the Hehuang area.
But it is different with bows and crossbows. The Tubo and Qiang peoples are able to make their own arrows.
How can it be possible to provide them with it?
"Brother Zichun, it's up to you now." Gu Tingye looked at Wang Shao and smiled.
"Haha, don't worry. Next I will have someone leak the news to the Tubo and Qiang tribes. As long as Western Xia launches troops against the plateau again, the Hehuang area will most likely be in chaos." Wang Shao said with a smile.
"Yes." Gu Tingye nodded, looked at Sheng Changwu, and said, "You must seal up all this money. Don't lose any of it."
Although he acted on his own initiative, he must report to Zhao Xing.
All this money must be handed over in full, without a single cent missing.
…………
Bianjing
Zhao Xing had no idea what was happening in the northwest as he was handling official business at the time.
"Your Majesty, Lord Yan, the Minister of Justice, requests to see you." A eunuch reported.
"Let him in." Zhao Xing nodded.
After a while, Yan Kuan came in, bowed, took out a document and said, "I have reviewed the matter that your majesty asked me to review."
"I won't read it anymore. You tell me." Zhao Xing waved his hand.
"Yes!" Yan Kuan responded, and after careful consideration, he said, "Although Minister Peng of the Ministry of Personnel received many gifts from the Liao Kingdom, there is no actual evidence to prove that he had any connection with the Liao Kingdom. The land and shops in his family were all obtained through corruption and abuse of power over the years."
Zhao Xing was not surprised to hear this, as he had already known about Peng Qingzhong's affairs.
Peng Qingzhong once worked in local government and later in the Salt and Iron Bureau. He was promoted to Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel two years ago.
Whether it is the local area or the Salt and Iron Bureau, it is a good place to make money.
Most of his properties were acquired with the money he earned from his position.
The remaining small portion are gifts given by lower-level officials during festivals and holidays.
Gift-giving is a common practice in official circles, not to mention that Peng Qingzhong held many lucrative positions.
Even if he was not greedy, the gifts he received during the holidays alone could make his entire family live a wealthy life.
"Have those who have met the Liao envoys found any problems?" Zhao Xing asked.
"Several families have been found to have major problems, but they are not related to the Liao Kingdom. Their situations are similar to Minister Peng's. Other problems are not major."
Yan Kuan smiled bitterly in his heart. Doesn’t Zhao Xing know whether there is a problem or not?
He originally thought that Zhao Xing's target this time was only Peng Qingzhong.
As a result, during the review process, people kept providing him with evidence.
These evidences are all about several officials who met with the Liao envoys.
The evidence is very clear and a quick check will reveal its authenticity.
No matter how stupid Yan Kuan was, he knew that this was Zhao Xing's work.
Although he felt a little regretful, he shouldn't have been so greedy to take on the position of Minister of Justice.
But now that we're on board, there's no way out.
"My dear Lord Yan, you are the Minister of Justice. How do you think we should deal with them based on what they have done?" Zhao Xing asked.
"This..." Hearing this, Yan Kuan carefully looked at Zhao Xing's face and said, "I, the Dali Temple Minister, and Luo Zhongcheng have different opinions. This time, I came here to ask for your Majesty's opinion."
Zhao Xing frowned and said, "You are the Minister of Justice. You should deal with it according to the law. If you have to consult me on everything, what's the point of you?"
Yan Kuan almost cried when he heard this. The person being punished was an official, so where was the law to follow?
Shang Yang's reforms called for: "If a prince breaks the law, he shall be punished the same as the common people."
This can be considered as giving legitimacy to the law.
Before this, the literati and the powerful were not actually bound by the law.
Emperor Taizu once said: Law is the public good of the world.
Therefore, after the establishment of the Song Dynasty, he ordered people to formulate the "Song Jianlongzhongxiangding Criminal Code", abbreviated as "Song Criminal Code".
Emperor Taizu also hated corrupt officials very much, and later formulated a number of anti-corruption laws, such as the "Edict on Warning Against Corruption" and the "Law on Beggars in Granaries".
This clearly stipulates the punishment for officials who commit corruption.
However, after the retired emperor ascended the throne, a tradition of not killing scholars and officials gradually formed, making these laws targeting officials exist in name only.
According to the law, those who should have been sentenced to death were instead exiled, and some were even just demoted.
Minor crimes are dealt with by fines.
The previous laws are no longer effective.
He also knew that since Zhao Xing had caused such a big fuss, he would not let those people go easily.
That's why I came to ask Zhao Xing's opinion.
However, he did not expect that Zhao Xing would throw the question back to him.
If the punishment was too light, Zhao Xing would definitely be dissatisfied.
But if they were really dealt with according to the laws such as "Song Dynasty Criminal Code", "Edict on Warehouses Against Corruption" and "Law on Beggars in Granaries", then Peng Qingzhong and others would surely be sentenced to death.
It would be fine if it was Zhao Xing's request, as he was just following orders. Even if the court officials objected, they would still go to Zhao Xing, the official.
But if he said this, he would really be cutting himself off from the civil service.
If Zhao Xing can't withstand the pressure in the end, won't he become a discarded pawn?
The officials in the court could not do anything to Zhao Xing, and at most they could force him to compromise.
But it's not difficult to deal with him.
"What's the matter, Minister Yan? Is it that the Song Dynasty has no laws anymore? Or is it that the laws are not strict enough and need to be revised?" Zhao Xing said calmly.
"Chen...chen..."
Yan Kuan was sweating profusely and said, "I have just taken office and am not familiar with the law. I would like to ask Your Majesty to clarify it!"
"If you are not familiar with it, go check it out. Is it possible that Minister Yan doesn't have it at home?"
Zhao Xing said, "Sanshui, get Minister Yan the Song Dynasty Criminal Code, the Imperial Edict Against Corruption, and the Law for Beggars in Warehouses. Take Minister Yan to the side hall to read it. When you know how to sentence him, let him go back."
"Yes!" Sanshui replied.
Yan Kuan's face turned pale when he heard this. He understood that Zhao Xing insisted that he should speak up.
"Why does Minister Yan look so unhappy?" Zhao Xing asked with a smile.
"Your Majesty, I am old. Since I took office as the Minister of Justice, I feel that I lack energy. I want to retire and return home. I hope Your Majesty will grant me permission!" Yan Kuan said.
"Minister Yan, do you know which famous minister in history I like the most?"
"I don't know."
"I like Zhuge Liang the most, especially the sentence in his "The Memorial to the Emperor on Leaving the Army": 'Serve the country with all my heart and soul, and never stop until my death'. I like it very much."
Zhao Xing sneered in his heart when he heard this, it was too late to retreat now.
Yan Kuan's face turned even paler when he heard that. What was that about devoting all his energy to the country until his death? Zhao Xing almost said directly that he wanted him to die in office. There was no way he could retire and return home.
(End of this chapter)