The Great Han Dynasty: From Feng Lang Juxu to the Eternal Emperor

Chapter 367 Warning
Wei Ning already knew the news that Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty had returned from inspection. The Ministry of Rites reported that Wei Ning led hundreds of officials to welcome the emperor's return. Wei Ning let the Ministry of Rites make its own decision.

Zhongshu ordered Prime Minister Zhao Zhou to come to Weining early this morning with a memorial to discuss the matter.

The promotion of new coins has been slow and excessive, and new and old coins are replacing each other. Weining reminded Zhao Zhou to pay attention to this matter.

Regarding the scientific examinations in counties and counties next spring, Weining also ordered Zhao Zhou to notify local administrators to make preparations.

After the political discussion was completed, Zhao Zhoucai said to Wei Ning: "Your Highness, the Yushitai inspected the seven counties of Gyeonggi. When passing by Hongnong County, I heard different voices among the people."

Wei Ning asked in confusion: "What?"

Zhao Zhou's expression was not good, and it was obviously not a good thing. He collected his thoughts and then said to Wei Ning: "The people in Hongnong are spreading rumors about the local yamen, and some scholars have written a couplet to the yamen. The Qingtian yamen court." Nankai, if you have no money, don’t come in.”

Wei Ning frowned slightly, looked at Zhao Zhou and said, "Is there a problem with the Hongnong County Sheriff?"

Zhao Zhou shook his head gently. Now the Han Dynasty's economy is growing steadily, local administrators have great power, and there are countless corruption cases.

This problem is not limited to Hongnong officialdom, but also other places.

Even though Hongnong County is one of the seven counties in Gyeonggi Province, the corruption in remote areas can be imagined, and the voices of the people represent everything.

"Thorough investigation!"

Weining spoke loudly.

Zhao Zhou said: "There are not enough censors. It is unrealistic to investigate them all."

Of course, what if we find out? There are not that many officials prepared now. The imperial examination will only start next year. If all the local chief executives are dismissed, who will govern the local people?
Wei Ning said angrily: "It's hard to find a toad with three legs, but how can you find a person with two legs? There are countless people who want to be officials!"

Zhao Zhou remained silent. He knew that these were Wei Ning's angry words, and this was the reason, but you couldn't just find someone to be an official, right?
The country is still short of talented officials. Only when the imperial examinations are on the right track can corruption be dealt with in a drastic way.

Zhao Zhou cupped his fists and said, "I pray that Your Highness will write a letter to warn the local government office."

Hang the plaques on both sides of the government office to make the local government office fearful.

This is not a solution, otherwise local officials will become more arrogant and domineering and do not treat the people as human beings.

Wei Ning pondered for a moment, Zhao Zhou was an old man, and it was a wise move for Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty to leave Zhao Zhou, who had a calm personality, to assist Wei Ning in supervising the country.

"Bring me a pen."

The eunuch brought the pen and ink over, and Wei Ning wrote two sentences with ink, which could be regarded as a kind of feedback to local scholars.

Zhao Zhou took a look and said in astonishment: "Your Highness's words of warning are really as powerful as knocking on the mountain and shaking the tiger!"

"I will immediately go to all government offices and hang this sacred message on both sides of the government offices to warn local officials!"

……

Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty's motorcade has already passed through Hongnong County. Today, he plans to rest in Hongnong County for a day and continue his journey tomorrow. Based on the distance, he will reach Chang'an tomorrow evening.

Originally, the emperor's imperial chariot was going to the county governor's office to rest, but when Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty got off the car, he heard children singing children's songs on the road, "Qingtian Yamen opens to the south. If you have reason, don't come in if you don't have money." The master plays and sings every day, but the taxes are still strict...'

Not long after, a group of local officials wearing soap clothes were arresting people everywhere on the street.

Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty's face twitched slightly, his expression was unkind, and he said angrily: "Even children are arrested. How many evil things have these people done to be so afraid of public opinion?"

"Master Qingtian is here to arrest someone, run away."

"Ooooooo, let me go, let me go."

clap clap clap!
"Let you talk nonsense! Catch them all."

This group of soap officials were so majestic that their aura in grabbing children was even more terrifying than charging in the midst of thousands of troops. They immediately scared a group of children to tears.

Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty looked cold, gritted his teeth and said to Huo Qubing: "Go, drive them away!" "Here!"

Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty looked unhappy, and this harsh children's song all showed the failure of his rule.

This is in Gyeonggi Province. The officialdom may be able to deceive people, but the voice of the people cannot be deceived.

The local government offices are really powerful, and even if they are like this under the eyes of the emperor, the people far away from the capital area will live in such a life of misery.

When Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty was looking sulky, a familiar figure appeared in front of him. Dade saw Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty from a distance and hurriedly came over to salute.

"See Your Majesty."

Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty looked at Dai De in confusion and said, "Why are you in Hongnong County?"

Dade told Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty that his teaching mission in Gyeonggi Province had ended and he was now traveling around the country to promote college education.

Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty asked Dade what happened to the children's song. Dade reluctantly told Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty: "Your Majesty, this was written by a group of students from Hongnong."

"A few days ago, there were people who secretly posted signs on both sides of the government office. Hongnong County was so angry that they asked the officials to arrest people everywhere."

Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty said angrily: "Can you catch me? If you didn't do anything wrong, why would you do this?"

Dade silently glanced at Emperor Wu of Han Dynasty.

It meant that the court should take charge of local government offices, but Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty quickly calmed down, and he and Dade had the same idea.

Local governance should be governed with integrity, but now is not the time.

Thinking that Weining was also aware of local affairs in the court, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty was a little pleased that Weining did not take drastic measures to govern.

But local chaos cannot be left unchecked. The court should warn local government offices, not only the seven counties in Gyeonggi Province, but also government offices across the country.

At the very least, the local government officials can now be restrained.

Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty looked at Dai De and said, "Is there anything you can say to warn the local government?"

Since private scholars spontaneously wrote poems to ridicule local government offices, the court could not do nothing, turn a blind eye, and pretend that nothing had happened. In this way, local government offices would become even more unscrupulous.

Sending censors to local areas is certainly effective, but the problem is that the Han Dynasty has too many counties and the number of officials in the censorship station is limited. I don’t know how long it will take to complete the inspection of the whole country. The efficiency is really low.

If the imperial court could issue warnings and place them in local government offices, it would be the best way to deter local officials.

Dade is a great scholar, but for a moment he never thought of any good words that could serve as a warning.

He said: "I have little talent and little knowledge. I have thought a lot, but I am still not satisfied."

Otherwise, he would have gone to court long ago.

Dade cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, please personally issue a warning."

Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty hesitated for a long time and had no good idea. He angrily said to Wei Qing: "I won't go to the county office today. I'm going to the inn to rest."

Wei Qing cupped his fists and said, "Here!"

Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty planned to visit Hongnong Yamen personally tomorrow. He wanted to see how corrupt the officials in Hongnong Yamen were!

In the evening of the same day, the imperial censors and officials arrived at the county government offices in various places. A pair of plaques covered with jade seals were hung in front of each government office and erected on both sides of the government offices.

For a time, countless people gathered to watch.

(End of this chapter)