I, Liu Bian, Sanxing Han Dynasty

Chapter 107 Corruption Case

In early February, Tian Feng returned to Luoyang after handling the affairs in Jingzhou. Emperor Ling promoted Tian Feng to Taizhong doctor because of his merits.

Tian Feng returned to Luoyang and paid a visit to Cui Lie, his master, and then he went to visit the family of his former guard with the reward that originally belonged to him.

Tian Feng, who was a little further away, couldn't go there in person, but he didn't want to go without help from the counties around Luoyang.

The first one to look for was Xinzheng County, where the leader of the guards, Chen Zhuan, was located.

After all, Chen Zhuan was a village chief with a weight of more than 200 shi. Tian Feng already knew the village where Chen Zhuan was located, so it was not difficult to find out the location.

It's just that the family that Chen Zhuan belongs to is not even powerful. A person with a weight of two hundred shi is already the highest official rank in his family.

Regarding Tian Feng's arrival, the three elders and other officials in the village came together to welcome him.

Tian Feng had the idea of ​​​​using his identity to make Chen Zhuan's family live a better life during this trip, so he naturally would not hide his identity.

After all, he felt guilty for the death of the guards around him.

When Tian Feng was welcomed to Chen Zhuan's home, he saw that Chen Zhuan's wife and children had not yet removed their filial piety.

Although the courtyard of his home is a bit dilapidated, he has plenty of food and a lot of various furniture, especially farm tools, which look brand new at first glance.

Tian Feng's character is inherently serious, and his previous investigation in Jingzhou added a bit of majesty.

He became concerned about the cultivation of acres of land in Chen's family and other issues.

Even though he looks pleasant now, in the eyes of Chen Zhuan's widow, she still trembles and dare not speak.

Seeing this, Tian Feng's tone became softer. As he spoke, he saw Chen Zhuan's young daughter looking at him curiously with her bright eyes.

He touched around him and found that the book knife he carried with him was not suitable. Giving a sachet to a junior was not so particular, so he took off the sachet beside him and softly called her over, pretending to give the sachet to her.

The little girl thought the sachet Tian Feng gave her was very beautiful, so she broke away from her mother's arms and took the sachet.

Holding it in the palm of my hand, I liked it very much, and without forgetting the sound of milk, I asked Tian Feng: "Can you not take it away tonight?"

"Of course." Tian Feng didn't think too much at first, but when he saw Chen Zhuan's wife suddenly became nervous, he was keenly aware of something wrong due to his previous experience in investigating cases, and asked the girl, "What should be taken away at night?" Walk?"

The girl pointed without hesitation to the furniture in the house and the farm tools outside...

The expressions of the village officials on the side changed.

Tian Feng suppressed his anger at this time, handed the girl back to the extremely nervous mother's hands, and comforted: "Don't be afraid, Chen Jun's matter is my matter."

After that, he called the officials in the countryside to come out.

After leaving the house, the three elders did not care about their dignity, and knelt down on the ground, explaining: "Shangguan Rongzhen is not intentionally deceived by us. His family is poor and will not do anything for us. Then Chen Zhuan was able to do it when he was in the Northern Army. He was sent back his salary, but later he was transferred to the Xiyuan Army. Not only was he unable to get his salary back, but he also had to send money to Luoyang from his family..."

Tian Feng got along with Chen Zhuan and didn't think he looked like a speculator. He said, "Let me ask you, if I take away all the things you have sent me, what will be left?"

The three elders counted in a circle and finally said: "The family has only enough food to survive for more than a month."

Will be able to survive through March until the wheat harvest.

Tian Feng asked again: "Did the Chen family have foreign debts before?"

The third elder shook his head and said: "I have never heard that his family's fields are still there."

Tian Feng said angrily: "So, you still dare to say that you are innocent? Chen Zhuancong died in the line of duty with two hundred shi. According to the system, he is entitled to a pension, at least one year's salary. How come he disappeared?"

The third elder quickly complained: "We haven't seen the pension yet!"

"Have you seen it before? Just check it and you will know!" Tian Feng immediately checked with Chen Zhuan's wife, leaving an entourage to guard him, and together with other entourage, he took the three elders and other officials to find the Xinzheng County Magistrate.

No matter who the corrupt person is, he will get to the bottom of it!

……

Last year, envoys from the imperial court visited various states and reported some officials' actions that harmed the people. There were also cases where county officials were unwilling to harm "the people" and the taxes they paid did not increase but fell, and they were found guilty of avoidance.

Although there were people interceding for them, both Liu Bian and Ling Emperor completely ignored them.

Without natural or man-made disasters, it would be fine if the local population and acres of land did not increase. How could it actually decrease? Whether they are incompetent or complicit, these people cannot be called innocent when accused.

The court also rewarded some county officials who performed well.

Among them, Henan Yin Yuanshu is impressively listed.

Liu Bian was a little surprised when he saw Yuan Shu's name.

In his impression, Yuan Shu was always associated with adjectives such as Dry Bones in the Tomb and Skeleton King. After he occupied Jianghuai and proclaimed himself emperor, he lived in luxury and debauchery, imposed excessive taxes and extorted money, and many people fled.

How could such a person act to love the people?

Liu Bian was very suspicious.

Therefore, Liu Bian asked Guan Yu to send people to the counties around Luoyang to inquire.

Then Liu Bian learned from Guan Yu that Yuan Shu's reputation in Henan was actually quite good.

Now, Liu Bian looked at Tian Feng's memorial and wondered whether Yuan Shu was finally going to show his chicken feet?

When there is a corruption case, there is no reason not to investigate it.

Pensions for generals like Chen Zhuan were usually issued from the military and then implemented through counties.

This means that problems may arise on both sides.

Therefore, the Taiwei Mansion took the lead, and Henan Yin Yuan Shu's side was investigated by Sili Colonel Zhang Wen and Taizhong doctor Tian Feng. In the army, Jian Shuo, who was in charge of the Xiyuan Army, sent people to investigate the case.

But the result still surprised Liu Bian.

At the beginning, the escorts of the imperial envoys were elites drawn from Luoyang's armies, and Chen Zhuan belonged to Bao Hong's lower army.

Bao Hong not only embezzled pensions, but also deducted money and food from his soldiers.

It was easy to find out with just one check.

The magistrate of Xinzheng County did not dare to offend Bao Hong for a dead man, so what happened next.

Yuan Shu was among them, like a little white flower whose innocence was affected.

Faced with the fact that his money had been embezzled again, Emperor Ling did not hesitate to severely jail and execute Bao Hong and confiscate his family property.

At Liu Bian's suggestion, he inspected the fifth battalion of the Northern Army, the eighth captain of Xiyuan, and the eight captains of the Eight Pass Commands around Luoyang.

The Fifth Battalion of the Northern Army can be said to be the successor of father after death. Although corruption exists, it is not serious. The Eight Captains of Xiyuan were not as exaggerated as Bao Hong, but after all, outside of Luoyang, there were those who not only withheld money and food, but also emptied their pay.

After this incident, Liu Bian felt more and more that Tian Feng was so useful. If there could be someone more extreme who could be called a cruel official...

However, as one of the eight captains, Bao Hong dared to blatantly withhold money and food while still in the capital. If it weren't for Tian Feng, I don't know when this matter would have been investigated.

Even though the newly formed Xiyuan Army was well-trained, it still looked like a private army from the perspective of withholding money and food but no one reported it.

Perhaps it is time to install supervisory troops in the army. Measures to ensure that the grassroots soldiers recognize the Han Dynasty are imperative.

(End of this chapter)