Daming: Mixed in Dangzhi County, Beiping

Chapter 647: Civilians eat grass, military officers eat dirt

Behind.

Wang Zhen frowned and thought for a moment, then took another look at Li Yong and He Guan, who were working hurriedly on the embankment, and felt a little more relaxed.

However, he still sent out a few subordinates to find some old warriors and ask them again.

The officials who were on the embankment with hundreds of laborers filling and reinforcing the embankment had already discovered it when Zhu Gaochi, Guo An and others came over.

therefore.

Zhu Gaochi, Guo An and others have not yet gone up.

These officials all bowed their waists and came forward with apologetic smiles on their faces.

A greeting.

After knowing that the people in front of me were Zhu Gaochi, the crown prince of the Ming Dynasty, and Guo An, the prince of Shunde County of the Ming Dynasty.

These river officials were even more humble, wishing they could lie down on the ground and let Zhu Gaochi sit on their backs to rest.

"No need for this!"

In the end, Zhu Gaochi couldn't help but waved his hand.

"I just came to Kaifeng to provide disaster relief on the emperor's order. By the way, let's take a look. The Yellow River embankment has been reinforced and repaired every year. How come it has already burst before summer!"

Hearing this, the faces of all the officials could not help but change slightly.

"Your Highness is aware that this embankment..."

When the officials were about to reply, Guo An interrupted them and said directly: "Don't rush to reply. Think carefully. This time His Majesty sent His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, along with me, Jin Yiwei, and officials from the Ministry of Husbandry and the Ministry of Punishment. Come here just for this reason!

As long as it is found that there is corruption or inaction in the construction and dredging of this river embankment, which leads to the death of thousands of people, the culprit will definitely be executed and his people will be exiled overseas and will never be allowed to come back! "

The expressions of the officials around him changed slightly again.

Guo An added: "You have thought clearly, you should all be from Kaifeng Mansion.

Your family, tribesmen, relatives and friends all live under the embankment of the Yellow River.

In other matters, if you cover up or embezzle, it is none of your business.

However, this is the Yellow River embankment, and the Yellow River is turbulent and ruthless. How many times has Kaifeng Prefecture been flooded by the Yellow River in history, and how many people have died? "

"Only by concentrating on strengthening the embankment, building blockades and dredging the Yellow River, can you and your descendants have a way to survive..."

After saying that, Guo An bowed his hand to Zhu Gaochi again.

"Your Highness, it is inappropriate for them to tell the reason for the levee breach in public.

If someone snitches, the officials or servants who tell something will definitely be retaliated by some evil-minded thieves.

Otherwise, His Highness will question these officials and servants one by one?

Moreover, everyone needs to talk for half a moment before they can leave! "

"This is a great plan!"

Zhu Gaochi was shocked and nodded quickly.

"Your Highness is wise!"

Guo An was relieved. His Highness, the Prince of Ming Dynasty, was acting more steadily.

As for whether their behavior of asking questions directly on the embankment would displease officials in Kaifeng Prefecture and Henan Province, Guo Ancai didn't bother to care.

Zhu Gaochi didn't pay much attention.

then.

The prefect of Kaifeng Prefecture, as well as the water transportation officer, could only look at Wang Zhen with a grimace, and led a few guards in royal robes to take all the river officials and some laborers away one by one. In front of Zhu Gaochi, only Wang Zhen was left guarding.

Zhu Gaochi asked with a gentle expression on his face, while the Guanhe official who was brought for questioning and some of the servants kept saying something and nodding from time to time.

Less than half an hour.

The magistrate of Kaifeng Prefecture and the water transportation officer could no longer bear it and looked at Guo An cautiously.

"His Royal Highness, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has been asking for a long time. He must be thirsty. Would you like to give His Highness the Crown Prince some tea?"

"Yes, Your Majesty, the embankment is always not safe. Could you ask Your Majesty to bring these river officials and laborers back to the city and question them one by one?"

"Ha ha……"

Guo An smiled lightly.

The officials did not understand the meaning of these two words and thought that Guo An had agreed. They stretched their necks and prepared to watch Guo An go forward.

As a result, Guo An waved his hand, "His Royal Highness is asking Xing Xing, how can we disturb him?
Moreover, where His Highness the Prince is standing, there is no river water hitting him. Even if the embankment under our feet breaks, there will be nothing wrong with the embankment under His Highness the Prince's feet! "

All the officials couldn't help but laugh.

They didn't expect that Guo An even understood this.

then.

A group of people stood and watched from a distance. Zhu Gaochi asked all the officials and soldiers on the embankment one by one.

After asking.

Zhu Gaochi and Wang Zhen looked along the embankment for a long time before walking over.

Seeing this, the prefect of Kaifeng Prefecture, as well as a group of water transport officials and river officials, all looked at Zhu Gaochi nervously.

Zhu Gaochi nodded slightly, "The teacher's guess in the capital was correct. According to what the river officials and military officials said, the breach of the embankment was indeed caused by the impact of the big ice block!"

call!
Guo An could feel that all the officials around him breathed a sigh of relief subconsciously.

"That's it, that's good!"

Guo An also nodded slightly.

As the prince of the Ming Dynasty, he can't go anywhere and kill all the officials and gentry wherever he goes!
Immediately, after watching again for a while, Zhu Gaochi took Guo An and a group of officials to Kaifeng City.

As for Wang Zhen and other Jin Yiwei, they stayed on the embankment and investigated again.

By the time Zhu Gaochi, Guo An and others had just returned to Kaifeng Mansion, Zhou Wang Zhu Ji and a group of Kaifeng Mansion officials had already learned about the behavior of Zhu Gaochi and others on the embankment.

However, protected by Wang Zhen and other royal guards, Zhu Rui and other officials did not know much about the details of Zhu Gaochi's investigation results on the embankment.

Therefore, those officials were even more frightened.

Although, they knew in their hearts that there was no corruption on their part of the Yellow River Embankment.

But, it’s not impossible!

If that person was ruthless enough to investigate, they wouldn't be able to escape death at all!
Moreover, the reputation of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and the Prince of Shunde...

"Why are you all so flustered?"

Zhou Wang Zhu Ju, who was drinking tea with peace of mind, suddenly sneered, stared at the officials in front of him, and said sternly.

"His Royal Highness just walked around the embankment, and you are so confused.

My guess is indeed correct. The reason why the levee suddenly burst was because officials like you were greedy for ink on the levee! "

"His Royal Highness King Zhou has misunderstood, the official and others..."

When a group of officials were about to explain, Zhu Xi snorted coldly.

"How many people in Kaifeng Prefecture have died because of you? How many houses and fields have been destroyed by floods because of you?"

"Also, how much property has this king lost because of you rogue officials?"

Of course, Zhu Xi did not say the last sentence.

However, all the officials knew it in their hearts.

Their relationship with the Zhou Palace was not so harmonious, and there were even disputes of interest.

This time, if King Zhou also secretly joins forces with the prince, then they...

Thinking about it, all the officials couldn't help but shudder.

You Ying, the censor who patrolled the river, quickly saluted Zhu Xi and said respectfully: "His Royal Highness the King of Zhou clearly knows that river prevention is the responsibility of all our officials, and Kaifeng Prefecture is the city most vulnerable to floods.

My family members are also in Kaifeng City. Since I took office, I have worked hard and dare not neglect..."

"What have you done yourself? You know what you are doing!"

Zhu Tong smiled coldly, "Don't make such a hypocritical excuse in front of me!"

All the officials were stunned on the spot and did not continue to warm up their faces!

The entire hall suddenly fell silent. It wasn't until Zhu Gaochi, Guo An and others returned that everyone stood up to greet them.

Drink tea and rest!
After a while.

Zhu Ru couldn't bear it anymore and said directly: "Prince, there is something very fishy about the levee breach this time. I wonder if you can send someone to investigate?"

As soon as these words came out, the faces of all the officials changed drastically.

The King of Zhou, a prince who was not a son of man, wanted to have all these officials confiscated and exterminated by Zhu Gaochi one by one!
"What does Uncle Wang know?"

Zhu Gaochi asked with curiosity on his face.

Zhu Tong slowly shook his head, "The prince has misunderstood. I don't know the inside story. If I know, I will definitely impeach you. I will never let those corrupt officials cause my palace to be flooded!"

As he said this, Zhu Rui's face was still full of hatred.

That's right, this time Kaifeng Mansion was flooded, and Prince Zhou's Mansion was also flooded, and it was very serious.

"His Royal Highness, you must be aware that as officials of the Kaifeng Mansion, we have been working diligently and diligently since we took office, and have never dared to slack off in the slightest!"

"Exactly, Your Highness, the levee breached this time was caused by the melting of the snow last year, the sharp increase in the water volume of the Yellow River, and the impact of countless large ice blocks that were as big as houses.

In the dark night, no one knew, until dawn, the embankment was overwhelmed, and then it broke..."

"His Royal Highness, Wei Chen and others are really unjust!"

"His Royal Highness..."

A group of officials said quickly.

"You really didn't lie to me?"

Zhu Gaochi was unmoved and asked expressionlessly.

Guo An was startled and looked at Zhu Gaochi subconsciously, with a look of surprise flashing in his eyes.

"This……"

All the officials couldn't help but be startled. The prince was too calm. Could it be possible that he could really find out something in such a short period of time?
As soon as I thought about this idea, all the officials shook their heads with a look of injustice on their faces.

"His Royal Highness, I would like to ask you to be clear that there is absolutely no corruption in this matter!"

"Really?"

Zhu Gaochi snorted coldly, and his face immediately darkened.

"Civil officials eat grass, military officers eat dirt!"

"..."

As soon as these words came out, the faces of all the officials suddenly turned pale, and their legs were even trembling.

"May I ask, Your Highness, what does this mean?"

"Humph!"

Zhu Gaochi did not reply, but continued to say coldly: "I don't want to be idle, I just want to have work!"

After saying that, Zhu Gaochi stared closely at the river officials in Kaifeng Mansion.

"You should be able to understand what we are saying, right?"

“To build the embankment, we use clay, branches, straw, grass and stones to be bundled and rolled, with three pieces of grass and seven pieces of grass… But, you think I don’t understand these things, so I won’t ask?

Or do you think that by relying on your power, you can keep those libu and river officials silent?
I never expected that you officials would act sanctimonious all day long, saying that you are dedicated and diligent in river affairs...

If you don't come down and take a look, I won't believe that your hard work is used to embezzle the money for river management? "

"Look at the corpses of the people lying outside the city. What you are greedy for is money? What you are greedy for is the lives of thousands of people..."

All the officials were stunned!

His head was buzzing, and his face was full of disbelief.

Has His Highness the Crown Prince actually found out?
On the side, Zhu Rui's face was even more angry.

"Prince, we know that none of these officials are good people? Please give the prince an order to capture all these officials one by one and hand them over to the Jin Yiwei for interrogation!

They made such a big mistake, and they should all be executed... No, they should be punished, otherwise it will be difficult to atone for their sins! "

"His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has clearly learned that Wei Chen and others are really not corrupt!"

"Yes, His Royal Highness, ministers, etc..."

At this time, all the officials also reacted and quickly begged for mercy and excused themselves.

As for the crimes mentioned by Zhu Gaochi, they did not admit any of them!
"Very good!"

Zhu Gaochi sneered directly, "Do you think you are doing it secretly enough, or do you think we are too weak to kill you?"

"Somebody come!"

"See His Highness the Crown Prince!"

A group of guards walked in.

"Capture the Governor of Water Transport, the Censor of the River Patrol, the Magistrate of Kaifeng Prefecture, the Tongzhi, the Tongpan... the Gate Officer, and all the subordinate river officials!"

"As ordered!"

A group of guards took action directly.

After a while.

At least half of the officials in the hall were captured and tied up.

The faces of these officials changed drastically, and some were even a little angry.

"Your Highness, we are innocent!"

"Your Highness, I am wronged!"

"Your Highness, although you must die if you want me to die, I have to die, but river affairs are important. Your Highness cannot delay the lives and fortunes of hundreds of thousands of people in Kaifeng Mansion because of your personal preferences..."

"You really let me down!"

Zhu Gaochi angrily scolded, "You have made such a big mistake. I have not yet sent people to confiscate your property. To seize your family and clan members is to give you a chance to atone for your sins. Why are you still so stubborn?" in the end?"

"As for the evidence? Have you not been to the levee before? What kind of material is used in such a big gap in the levee? How many clays meet the specifications?

You can tell at a glance!
Haven't you ever gone to take a look? "

"..."

All the officials immediately fell silent.

They really haven't seen it!
At the same time, there was no strength left in his whole body.

The unfilled embankment is evidence of their corruption!
As for the rest, there is no need for it!

Because the thousands of people who died in this flood are the ones who need to pay with their lives!
"Okay, you guys go down and calm down for a while! Do you want to atone for your sins, or do you want to insist on your words and let me execute you Ling Chi and then kill the clan?"

"Kill the clan?"

Upon hearing this, the faces of all the officials suddenly changed.

"Your Highness, this matter has nothing to do with our clansmen..."

"How many innocent people died in this flood?"

Zhu Gaochi snorted coldly, "If you want to save the lives of your tribe, or save your lives, just think carefully, what achievements can you make?"

"I'll give you one day to think about it. Early tomorrow morning, I hope we can hear the good news!
If not, we will ask the entire Kaifeng Mansion to ask you to pay for the lives of their deceased relatives! "

All the officials trembled again.

Zhu Gaochi ignored it and ordered to the guards in front of him: "Take them down and keep them alone. No one is allowed to visit or talk to them!"

"In addition, send more people to capture their entire family!"

"The general will obey the order!"

A group of guards took those officials down directly.

In the hall.

Zhu Xi looked at Zhu Gaochi with joy on his face, "Prince, have you really found evidence of the crimes of these officials?"

……

(End of this chapter)