Red Mansion: Bastards rule the roost

Chapter 322 New Cases in Old Cases

Xiang Ce was lost in thought for a long time. He was deeply grateful that he was just an insignificant person back then. He had just entered the official career and had nothing to do with the two major cases. Otherwise, it would be difficult to predict the good or bad luck.

Such a big case, you will die if you touch it, you will die if you touch it, it is really untouchable.

"What did they tell you?" Xiang Ce's eyes fell on the stack of paper, his brows furrowed.

Prisoner Jingcheng also knew the stakes and said in a low voice: "These people are the family members and descendants of the criminals and gentry who were involved in the case. They say that Jinyi Beitang killed people for money, used the case to make money, launched unjust imprisonments, and framed them. Demanding redress and retrieval of the confiscated legitimate property."

snort! Xiang Ce snorted coldly, talking nonsense. He had been a royal censor for so many years, but he had never heard of anyone whose house was confiscated and who could still get their property back.

Besides, this is still an old case.

Xiang Ce thought for a moment that the case was too sensitive and he didn't dare to specialize in it. He picked up the petition and went to find Tan Cheng, the censor of Zuodu.

"Lord General Xian, how do you think this case should be handled?" Xiang Ce explained the matter in a few words and asked respectfully.

"What's your opinion on this?" Tan Cheng stroked his sparse three-goat beard under his chin, and his thin face showed no signs of strangeness.

Xiang Ce had already made plans. As a senior member of the old party, he firstly did not want to be involved in this matter, secondly, he did not dare to make independent opinions, and thirdly, he did not want to go against the trend.

He tentatively said: "I think this matter is something that the Xian Yamen should not rush into because of greed for merit, so as not to get burned. Why not report it to the Military Aircraft Department first, and ask everyone to give your instructions? We will handle it according to the order, and there will be no danger."

Tan Cheng smiled slightly and said: "This is a mature and prudent way to plan. You have really made progress in these years."

Xiang Cecheng said with fear: "I am just a man who sees the talented people and thinks about them. It all depends on the cultivation and support of the elders."

"Well, let's do as you say." Tan Cheng nodded.

"Yes."

After Xiang Ce left, Tan Cheng's expression became serious, and a gleam of light flashed in his eyes.

According to what the plan said, there must be a reason why these people could gather together, accurately block his sedan chair, expose his identity, and cry out for grievances.

If you want to block the road and file a complaint, you must know Xiang Ce's identity in advance, know the route and time he takes to go to the Yamen, and recognize his sedan chair.

If there is no one behind the scenes, who can believe it?

Well, sue Jinyi Beitang... Jinyi Beitang, Tan Cheng has pushed this matter through his mind, almost as if he saw it with his own eyes, and then he frowned slightly. Although the young man was a little impatient in his work, there were still some Point out the merits.
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Nanzhen Fusi

Jia Cong went to the Yamen on his first day after the new year and was listening to reports from Zhou Wei, Wen Zhen and others.

"Has our counterattack against Bei Division begun yet?" Jia Cong asked.

"Your Excellency, we have launched the action this morning. I think the Metropolitan Procuratorate has received the complaint by this time." Wen Zhen said with cupped hands.

"Well, it's not appropriate for us to come forward in this matter personally. Let the important officials in the court mention it. We can take over the situation and take full credit."

"My lord, I have a great opinion. I am strategizing and winning in the court. I admire you for your humble position." Zhou Wei said with a smile.

Everyone laughed and said yes.

Jia Cong waved his hand and said: "It all depends on your planning. However, maybe our little trick has been discovered by those old and cunning officials, but it doesn't matter. This is a conspiracy. Although it is crude, it is better than being upright."

Wen Zhen said with a smile: "Although this plan is simpler, it has no flaws. As long as it works, it is a good method, no matter how good or bad it is."

Jia Cong smiled and nodded, saying: "How could the empty warehouse case be so serious back then? Over the past ten years, tens of millions of grains of grain had been embezzled, and no one noticed?"

Zhou Wei laughed and said: "Not to mention Chang Pingcang, even the main warehouse, transfer warehouse, Taicang, and military warehouse, which one is not in deficit? It's just that we didn't check it. If it weren't for the severe deficit in the warehouse, how could the Xifeng Dynasty be so poor? "

Wen Zhen smiled and said: "As the saying goes, the predecessors planted trees and the descendants enjoyed the shade. If the predecessors not only did not plant trees, but also ate the grain, then the descendants would naturally have a hard time."

This sentence has a profound meaning, pointing directly to the widespread corruption during the Changtai period, and everyone was well aware of it.

Jia Cong didn't want to go into details, so he just said: "This statement is reasonable. I won't mention the others, just talk about Chang Pingcang."

"Yes. Changping warehouses are originally under the jurisdiction of the Cangchang yamen of the Ministry of household affairs, but there are so many Changping warehouses in all provinces and regions in the world? Where can the Ministry of household affairs manage them? It usually orders the local and state government yamen to manage them.

Regardless of whether it is the Ministry of Revenue or local officials, who is not keeping an eye on this piece of fat?

If you want to line your own pockets, there are several methods you can use:

One is to collect grain at a low price and put it into storage at a high price. When the officials in charge of the warehouses harvest grain in a good year, the people will be given the medium price for the best grain, and the low price for the medium grain. When it is put into the warehouse, it will be at the original price, and the price difference will be eliminated.

The second is to falsely report losses and harm the public and private interests. The grain in the warehouse is like a mountain or a sea, and there are reports of rat infestation, insect erosion, mildew, and rice consumption.

As long as the knife and pen are moved, every extra point is worth tens of thousands of silver. Who wouldn't be tempted? What's more, they report floods and fires, and entire warehouses are embezzled.

The third is to commit corruption and take advantage of the situation in the name of disaster relief. Or if there is a minor disaster, the officials will open the granary to show that they love the people like their sons.

Relief of ten stones is greedy for hundreds of stones; relief of hundreds of stones is greedy for thousands of stones. Fame and fortune are extremely difficult to verify.

The fourth is to replace the old with the new and the old with the old. Officials and wealthy people colluded to trade new grain in the warehouse for old grain, and old grain for moldy grain, thus benefiting both sides.

Fifth, sell rice at a low price and buy rice at a high price. Warehouse management regulations are to keep the grain in the warehouse fresh and relieve the shortage of crops. Every spring, 30% of the old grain is sold at a low price, and new grain is replenished after the autumn harvest.

Officials often sell items at very low prices and make profits from them, and then buy them at very high prices and then make profits from them. It's like a piece of fat meat. When you go in and out, the meat will not be added or subtracted, but the hands of the person who handles it will be full of oil and water. "

Zhou Wei has been working on cases for many years, but he has never seen any tricks before, and he talks about them with all his heart.

Jia Cong sighed: "Unexpectedly, there is so much knowledge in a small granary. I think it is ultimately due to improper official conduct. When I was on guard in Liaodong, who would dare to mess with the granary or the bank?

I am not afraid of corrupt officials. The more corrupt officials there are, the richer my garrison office will be. "

Fang Ji said with a smile: "If you have no desires, you are strong. There is no official in the world who can be like you."

Everyone laughed and said yes. Qiao Yin said with a smile: "My lord is from a noble family and has a very rich family. How can I care about these scattered pieces of silver? Those officials with mud-legged backgrounds are all so poor that they want to scratch the ground. How can I not be greedy?"

Wen Zhendao: "What brother Zhou just said is common sense in the world. However, the short warehouse case in Shenjing is a little different."

"What's the difference?" Jia Cong looked at Zhou Wei.

Zhou Wei cupped his hands and said with a smile: "Brother Wen has read thousands of volumes and is very knowledgeable. We have all the files of the Southern Division in our stomach. Now that we have read the files of the Northern Division, I'd better ask your brother to explain it to you."

Wen Zhen smiled slightly and said: "Then I will make a fool of myself, and brothers will criticize and correct me wherever I can't.

Talking about the short position case, there are three major differences from ordinary corruption cases.

First, the corruption is outrageous. Dozens of granaries in Shenjing were turned into sand, with no grain left, which was unprecedented.

The second is the collusion between officials and businessmen, with relatives and nobles getting involved. Using Changpingcang in Shenjing as a mediator, countless officials, aristocratic families, nobles, and clansmen gathered into a party to fight against the three divisions, and the law could not rule.

The third is to establish a new center in the name of greed. Prince Yohitada's control of the warehouse attracted officials to flock to him. The officials used corruption as a sign of surrender and surrendered to his subordinates. They almost established a new imperial court, which no one could control. "

"That's right." Everyone nodded.

Jia Cong frowned and said, "Since it involves Prince Yi Zhong, we must be cautious."

"Don't worry, sir, we are not overturning the case for Yoshitaka, nor are we overturning the case for the corrupt officials in the Karakura case, and we will not offend His Majesty.

This case was just used to attack the Bei Division. When the Bei Division was handling the case, there was a lot of corruption and cruelty in the past, which was enough to knock it into the dust. "Zhou Wei said.

Jia Cong only knew a rough idea and signaled Zhou Wei to elaborate.

Zhou Wei was waiting to explain when he suddenly heard the captain at the gate coming to report that Zhao Huaian, the right servant of the Ministry of Personnel, asked to see him.

Everyone smiled slightly, can't the old party sit still? Most of the officials involved in the case were members of the old party.

"Please come quickly," Jia Cong said.

The school captain brought Zhao Huaian in.

"Master Zhao, we are rare visitors! Please forgive me for not being able to welcome you." Jia Cong stood up and said with a smile.

Zhao Huaian did not care about avoiding suspicion and said anxiously: "Zilong, where did this case start from?"

"What do you mean, sir?" Jia Cong looked "surprised".

Seeing the exaggerated expression on his face, Zhao Huaian said angrily: "Are you still pretending to be stupid with me? It's just about calling for injustice in the short warehouse case."

Jia Cong said "astonished": "Today is Cong's first day at the Yamen after the new year. I really don't know. Please tell me."

Zhao Huaian smiled bitterly, the shameless thief had better deal with Cunzhou, the Jia family's family tradition was ruined.

"It's a long story..." Zhao Huaian glanced at Zhou Wei and others.

Zhou Wei and others hurriedly raised their hands and said: "I will resign from my humble position."

"Your Excellency, you can say it." Jia Cong dismissed everyone and said with a smile.

"I heard this early this morning..." Zhao Huaian explained the reason again, and then said: "Last time in Jiang Yue Tower, you said there was a case that could suppress the arrogance of Bei Division and help us. Many demoted officials were resurrected, could it be this case?

This... this is too risky. You are young and frivolous, can you handle this case? Carefully play with fire and burn yourself! "

Jia Cong hurriedly denied: "This is absolutely not the case. What Cong was talking about was another recent case. Why should I turn over these old cases?"

Zhao Huaian saw his sworn look and doubted the letter: "Let's not talk about it for now. Now the Metropolitan Procuratorate has reported to the Military Aircraft Department, and the Military Aircraft Department has reported to Your Majesty.

This is your Jinyiwei case. Since you are suing the Northern Division, you must have the Southern Division verify it. I think your Majesty will call you to report it soon.

If the case falls into your hands, considering the meager contribution I and my colleagues have made to the Xue family case, you must not imitate Bei Si's wanton involvement and greed. "

Finally, it was your old party's turn to beg me. Jia Cong smiled secretly in his heart, but with a solemn expression, he cupped his hands and said: "Don't worry, sir, how can Cong follow the behavior of the beast in Beisi?

It's just that Cong is a man of low words, young and has little knowledge, and this case involves a lot of things. I hope all the elders can say a few words of justice in the court, so that Cong can distinguish between good and evil. "

"This is natural, and we have no obligation to refuse." This time, Zhao Huaian agreed without any conditions.

Senior members of the old party like them have all experienced what happened back then. Who is not afraid of being implicated? Who dares to ensure that his butt is clean? What's more, it's not up to them to decide whether they can do it cleanly or not.

If you get a little bit involved, you will lose your official position even if you don't die. Without the official hat, for these people, it would be better to die happily.

Suddenly I heard the captain at the door reporting, "Sir, the angel in the palace has descended. Please come into the palace immediately to see the saint."

coming! Zhao Huaian's head tightened, he grabbed Jia Cong's hand and said, "Brother, I'm counting on you."

Jia Cong smiled and patted his hand twice and said: "Sir, don't worry. The pure will become pure by itself, and the turbid will become turbid. There is no need to worry. Cong will go first."

Zhao Huaian smiled bitterly, it's not up to you to decide whether it's clear or turbid.

As the saying goes, if the water is clear, there will be no fish. Who in a high position dares to say that he is innocent? Can an innocent person hold a high position?

(End of this chapter)