serious man in the red chamber

Chapter 406 Not Responsible

The Metropolitan Procuratorate was developed from the Yushitai and was responsible for supervision, impeachment and recommendations.

The power of the censor in the Great Zhou Dynasty was very great. Not only could he supervise all officials, review death penalty cases, and participate in autumn and hot trials, he could also supervise the judicial organs, and had the power to "report on major matters and make decisions on minor matters."

Unfortunately, since the imperial censor Pei Yan was executed, the Metropolitan Procuratorate has gone from prosperity to decline. The supervisory function has gradually weakened and the supervision efficiency has decreased. This is also because the Mei Party participated in party struggles and competed for power. Many censors became corrupt and took advantage of their power. Supervise power to amass wealth and use power for personal gain.

For example, the imperial court stipulates that the Metropolitan Procuratorate has the right to inspect and evaluate Beijing officials who leave Beijing on official business. However, this system is now almost unimplemented. As long as they pay money, they are exempted from taking the exam. As a result, Beijing officials are not subject to effective restrictions when they arrive in the local area. Expanded power inevitably breeds corruption, and local officials compete for bribes, which accelerates the corruption of Beijing officials.

In the duty room of the Metropolitan Procuratorate, Li Hao sat in front of the major case, looking at the seal of the Metropolitan Procuratorate placed on the major case, the light in his eyes flashed.

Although there was Li Shouzhong, the censor of Zuodu, above him, Li Shouzhong did not have the energy or time to interfere with the affairs of the Metropolitan Procuratorate. Coupled with the relationship between the Jia family and the Li family, he was actually the head of the Metropolitan Procuratorate.

"Your Majesty, my subordinate has brought you an official document!" The voice of the clerk on duty sounded outside the door of the duty room.

Li Hao raised his head and stared outside the door for a long time before saying, "Come in."

"Yes."

Two clerks on duty walked in with two stacks of official documents bowed down.

"Put it on the case." Li Hao's tone was very gentle.

"Yes."

The two clerks on duty, one on each side, placed two piles of official documents, one on the left corner and one on the right corner, and then retreated towards the door.

"Hold on."

Li Hao stopped the two of them and said, "Go ahead and tell me that from today on, all Beijing officials who are ordered to leave Beijing on official business must submit their notebooks according to the regulations after returning to Beijing, so that the Metropolitan Procuratorate can verify whether there are any disciplinary violations."

The two clerks on duty were startled for a moment, and the one on the left timidly replied: "Your Excellency, it is no longer the same as it was four years ago. Now it is no longer under the jurisdiction of the Metropolitan Procuratorate. It is all inspected and evaluated by the superior officials of the capital officials."

Li Hao looked at him: "When did the laws of the Zhou Dynasty change? Why didn't I know this?!"

After hearing this, the clerk became uneasy. He looked up secretly and saw Li Mao sitting there looking at him. He swallowed and said, "My lord, my subordinate Jianwu was transferred to the Metropolitan Procuratorate in the fourth year of his career."

"Stop."

Li Hao's face darkened, "Are you saying 'this is your rule' and want me to work according to your rules?"

When the clerk heard this, he knelt down and said, "The kid, the kid bumped into someone on the street. He's in a daze and talking nonsense." He immediately raised his hand and slapped himself loudly in the face, and then slapped him again. .

"That's all." Li Hao stopped him.

The clerk lay down.

Li Hao looked at the other clerk on the right who was still standing with a bow.

The clerk immediately understood that the situation in the Metropolitan Procuratorate had changed and the rules were about to change. He immediately knelt down and said, "I, I will convey your wishes to the Metropolitan Procuratorate. From now on, the Metropolitan Procuratorate will follow your rules."

Li Hao: "Huh?"

The clerk was also smart and quickly changed his words: "We should handle the errands in accordance with the laws of the imperial court."

Li Hao nodded with satisfaction: "Get up." Then he looked at the clerk on the left: "You should get up too."

"Yes." The two kowtowed and then got up.

Li Hao glanced at the two of them: "How come you have been working as an official for three years? Go to your Shangguan, I told you to ask him to exchange a piece of ninth-grade gold for you. From now on, you will He is a ninth-grade official."

The two of them were startled at first, and then they were overjoyed. From the clerk to the court official, one by one, their bodies suddenly softened, and they knelt down again: "Thank you, thank you for your reward and my wish to serve you!"

Li Hao: "Okay! You can tell me something again. From tomorrow on, the Metropolitan Procuratorate will not participate in party disputes or attack political opponents on behalf of interest groups. It will focus all its energy on supervising officials and impeaching lawless officials. In particular, it will supervise whether officials are upright. Be honest, impeach corrupt officials, and restore clarity in the court."

The two of them shouted in unison: "Yes!" Then they stood up together, bowed and walked out.

Watching them go out, Li Hao had a smile in his eyes again. He picked up a piece of letterhead and started writing on it.

After finishing writing, Li Hao picked up the letter and blew it, folded it and stuffed it into the envelope, sealed it, and then shouted: "Here comes someone!"

A confidant walked in in response.

Li Hao handed over the letter: "Send this letter to the cabinet and hand it to Mr. Jia Ge personally. In addition, you should go to the palace again and tell the prince. Please rest assured!"

The confidant: "Yes." He answered, took the letter and walked out.It was already dusk.

Mei Changwen fell ill. He was lying on the bed in his bedroom, with a steaming towel on his head. His eyes were wide open, and he was staring at the top of the bed in trance.

"Murderer! Shameless villain." There was a faint noise coming from the front yard.

Mei Changwen trembled and sighed softly. He did not fall ill because he was promoted to an official position. He had been waiting for this moment after the emperor died.

It's just that he didn't expect that the Jia family would do such a good job. They actually put a shit basin on him and said that Liang Jianzhang and Zhu Qizhen had his tacit approval for the arson. In addition, he was promoted to an official position by the imperial court, so the people believed it.

As soon as his sedan entered Gulou Street, the people along the street scolded him as a murderer. Many even excitedly threw rotten eggs and rotten vegetable leaves on the sedan. Outside Mei's house, coffins wrapped in white cloth were blocked. Living.

In the end, Mei Changwen was escorted back home through the back door. Without the outsiders, the breath that Mei Changwen was holding on gave out and he passed out.

Suddenly, there was a sound of footsteps outside.

Mei Changwen turned around and looked.

Mei Zonglu, who had already become a mature man, walked in quickly and approached the bed. He knelt down, held Mei Changwen's hand, and asked with concern: "Father, are you feeling better?"

Mei Changwen took off the face towel from his head, propped himself up against the head of the bed, smiled and replied: "It's a common disease for an older person, it's not a problem. Come, sit here."

Mei Zonglu stood up and sat down by the bed.

Mei Changwen: "Why did the old lady summon you to the palace?"

Mei Zonglu: "Returning to father, the old concubine hopes that her son will persuade her father to put the overall situation first. She also said that the Jia family is still needed to control the court."

Having said this, he hesitated for a moment, "Father, did the late emperor really leave an edict to deal with the Jia family?"

Mei Changwen shook his head: "In his last moments, the late emperor also thought about punishing the Jia family, luring Jia Hu into the palace to kill him, and even dispatched troops to attack the palace of Beining County. In the end, the late emperor still could not make up his mind, and the success rate was very slim. But it will drag Dazhou into the abyss."

Mei Zonglu nodded in agreement.

Mei Changwen glanced out the window, and then whispered: "The late emperor did give me an edict before his death, but it was not for punishing the Jia family. I don't know the details. I only know that once this edict is made public, it will The day when the world is in chaos.”

After a pause, "I suspect that this edict has something to do with the person from Longshou Palace!"

Mei Zonglu blinked his eyes: "Is it possible to return the throne to the Supreme Emperor?!"

Mei Changwen was startled, and then coughed violently.

Mei Zonglu hurriedly gave him a pat on the back and said softly: "I think it is unlikely. After all, the hatred between the Supreme Emperor and the noble military is too deep."

Mei Changwen took a breath and said, "I suspect that the Zhen family, the Niu family, and Li Chengyang who are far away in southern Xinjiang all have the emperor's edict."

Mei Zonglu's heart moved and he was about to speak.

Mei Changwen continued: "When you go to the Ministry of Household Affairs and work well, you can actually achieve some political achievements. Don't think about revenge. The old concubine is here. The Jia family will not take action against you. The only way out for our family now is to wait!"

Mei Zonglu: "Yes, my son understands."

"Master, it's time to take medicine." The butler's voice came from outside the door.

Mei Zonglu stood up and said, "Son, go get the medicine." After saying that, he walked out.
When the lights went up at sunset and the sisters were sent away, Jia Hu returned to the bedroom and saw Lin Daiyu still sitting by the kang, so he brought her a bowl of tea.

Lin Daiyu looked at him with a smile: "What are your plans?"

Jia Hu was stunned: "What are you planning?"

Lin Daiyu rolled her eyes at him: "Baby girl! She is so miserable now, I can't stand it anymore."

Jia Hu spread his hands: "It's none of my business!"

Lin Daiyu was delighted: "In that case, why didn't you express your attitude earlier?"

Jia Hu: "Why should I express my attitude?"

"Oh~"

Lin Daiyu said in a long tone: "I understand, this is what you mean by not taking the initiative, not refusing, and not being responsible."

(End of this chapter)