When Hunjun begins to make elixirs

Chapter 95 The first major case of the Holy Tong Dynasty

Afterwards, Wu Qiandi reported to Li Shun the formation of the "Warlock Association", but the effect was very poor. Many warlocks didn't understand what this was?The deception came and went, and only some casual cultivators and warlocks joined in.The quality of that group of people would not be an exaggeration to say that they were deceivers and deceivers.

Li Shun directly asked Fang Ji and others to join. With their appeal, they should be able to find some useful people.Now that he has decided to embark on the road of development as a warlock, he has no intention of hiding it, making his position known in a big way, publicizing policies, and fighting for talents.

According to Wu Qiandi's statistics on the distribution of warlocks, there are approximately 57 warlocks who can be called sorcerers.Most of them are in economically developed areas in the south.This number may seem like a lot, but in the face of Dayin’s huge population base, it is pitifully small.Among them, there are 57 sorcerers.There are only a pitiful 43 Grand Warlocks.Among these 14 people, [-] were seventh-level sorcerers, [-] were eighth-level sorcerers, and none were ninth-level sorcerers.

Of course, these are only court statistics, and they are only those warlocks who are active and exposed to the world. Warlocks like Zhang Tingnian who live in deep mountains and old forests are difficult to find, let alone count.

But as long as the above-mentioned warlocks are brought under his command, even if only half of them are, it will be a big force. The chicken lays the egg, and the egg lays the chicken. If they keep hatching, Dayin will be completely new in less than 100 years.What's more, there is the blessing of luck and the power of imperial edicts.

After the banquet, Li Shun went to the study room and called several close ministers on duty in the cabinet.

"Liu Aiqing, how is the food purchase going?"

Li Shun sent Yan Dahu to lead [-] elite troops to the south to escort the grain and grass. Along the way, he asked him to map the terrain, find out the strength of the nobles in various places, and transport this year's tax revenue back.For this reason, he also sent Bai Linxian as an imperial envoy to accompany him. He was from the south and knew those corrupt officials, local tyrants and evil gentry. Considering the time, he should go to the south.

"Your Majesty, they have already received food. They can return to the capital only after the taxes and taxes are collected."

During this month, Li Shun had already used part of the food in the capital for disaster relief, starting with several prefectures and counties in Kinki to attract victims.He wants to expand the army!Li Shun had recruited nearly [-] qualified soldiers from several nearby states and counties alone.This was the result of Li Shun feeling that there was not enough food to support him.

At the same time, "relief for work" was implemented on a small scale, renovating official roads and dredging canals near the capital.Why not do it on a large scale?Because Li Shun was afraid that too many people would gather together, there would be a situation where "the stone man with one eye could stir up rebellion in the river and the world".

After several twists and turns, Li Shun felt that the money was not enough.He decided to sell his official position!Li Shun can directly sell businessmen who are willing to buy officials through the eight major imperial merchants.No middlemen make the difference!It suddenly caused an uproar.

Li Shun's reputation was completely ruined among the scholar class. In addition to the previous "lustful and fatuous", his recent actions were also labeled as "superstitious alchemy and not upright; appointing cruel officials and insulting officials; pretending to provide disaster relief" , abusing people's power; selling their official positions and amassing wealth wantonly."

Some people also gave nicknames to several of his cronies. The chief minister and two secondary ministers of the cabinet were called the "Three Traitors". Zhou Qing said that he was wronged because he clearly had no involvement in the emperor's messy affairs.But amid the fierce debate, no matter how he explains it, who will believe it?

The matter has nothing to do with you, why don’t you resign?
Zhou Qing almost vomited blood.He wanted to resign, but the emperor didn't allow it!He also threatened to liquidate him if he dared to resign!During this time, his originally black hair turned all white.

Bai Linxian and Liu Feixiong were called the "two little traitors", and the so-called cruel official in the crime was Bai Linxian.On his way south, relying on his status as an imperial envoy, he did not know how many officials participated.When he arrived in the south, he directly retaliated against the people who had harmed him back then, and his methods were extremely clever. He never talked about personal vendettas, but did it in the name of tax inspection.

Li Shun also acquiesced to this, and even gave him the power to kill first and then report.The two petty officials who participated in the frame-up and had his title removed were immediately beheaded.Keertai, the governor of Huzhou, was even more worried all day long.

Li Shun heard these "charges" almost at the same time from the Jinwu Guard, Shenji Guard and the Internal Affairs Department.He was so happy that he personally added "cruel and murderous, and likes to ransack homes."

He is worried about having no money to spend!Starting from the capital, some officials who had escaped the two major cases of Zhao Zhongxiao and Hu Minde were sent to Caishikou with their families because they could not control their mouths.

Li Shun didn't move them for stability before, but now that he has taken control of the situation, he doesn't need to endure it anymore.After Enke ended, a lot of fresh blood naturally came in.It's time for them to make room.The settlement of the Zhao Zhongxiao case!The settlement of the Hu Minde case!Add to this the grave crime of "making false claims to deceive the emperor".This was the start of the first major case of the Holy Tong Dynasty.There were more than 600 officials involved in the incident in the capital, more than 300 were beheaded, more than 100 people were exterminated, and the rest had their homes confiscated and exiled.Most of them couldn't stand the torture and bit each other and were caught.

Those officials finally understood that the emperor did not let them go because of magnanimity or stupidity. After a month of testing, their hearts that had just been put down were lifted again.

Li Shun also asked Zhou Qing to set up a platform to raise funds for disaster relief in front of Chong'an Gate, making it clear that he was preparing to blackmail.On one side was a bloody butcher's knife, and on the other was a bottomless pit-like donation box.Most officials chose the latter.

Our former Right Prime Minister, now the Second Assistant to the Cabinet, Zhou Qing, Mr. Zhou stood expressionlessly in front of the box, enduring the disdainful looks of the officials, and became completely black: "Master Qian! Why did you only donate 3 taels! I I remember the last time Hu Minde celebrated his birthday, he gave me more than 3 taels of gold and horses!"

Mr. Qian trembled, looked at Zhou Qing bitterly, took out 10 taels of silver notes from his pocket and put it into the cash box.

"And you!"

"And you!"

"Don't think I don't know your family background, just be honest!"

"You thief!"

An official with a bad temper and a love for money couldn't bear it anymore. He was so angry that he rushed forward and punched Zhou Qing.The price paid was to be captured by Zhu Wu and the Jinwu Guards.He suddenly woke up and shouted: "Don't arrest me, I will donate. I am willing to donate all my family wealth!"

Zhu Wu looked at him indifferently: "If I kill you, your family property will also belong to the imperial court."

When the surrounding officials heard this, chills ran down their spines. Some who did not bring enough banknotes immediately went home to get them.

It took eighteen days for this major case involving more than 2 people to come to an end.

All this was seen by the people who came to take the Enke supplementary examination. Some were happy and some were afraid.

On September 25, the fifth year of Shengtong, Enke's examination began.This time, the emperor himself set the topic.The question was very long and very shocking, and the people present will never forget it.

"How to revitalize Dayin? Please start from [-] directions including suppressing chaos and bandits, increasing finances, appeasing people's livelihood..."

Some smart people immediately understood what the emperor meant and began to write vigorously. Their day of success had arrived.But some people fell into misery, which was different from what was said in the book.

(End of this chapter)