According to the law, Liu Hongdao is certainly not guilty of death. According to various evidences, he is not guilty of any crime other than blocking the flood discharge in Qingzhou.
But it was his selfishness this time that caused nearly a thousand people to drown in the flood last year. It was Xiao En who was familiar with geography and threw the compiled data in his face, completely defeating this good official.
Psychological defense, he made this very clear before committing suicide.
But Zhao Jiu was still very angry. This anger was also analyzed by Lu Gongxiang. It was a kind of anger at being betrayed.
That was Liu Hongdao, an upright official who had worked hard for more than ten years and had no complaints. He was a famous minister second only to several ministers and commanders.
Therefore, after Liu Hongdao arrived in the capital and was imprisoned, Zhao Jiu took the time to visit him. He saw that this old man was extremely decadent. Even though he had been cleaned up in advance, his clothes and hair were neat, but his eyes were already...
Completely godless.
"I won't kill you, you don't have to do this." Zhao Guanjia finally sighed.
Liu Hongdao didn't dare to look at Zhao Guan's family, and after a while he said, "I've committed a heinous crime. If the officials remember their past friendship and don't want to punish me formally, I can commit suicide. The guilty minister will be grateful."
"Why? Why exactly? Liu Hongdao, when I first met you, it was during the most difficult time in Bagong Mountain. You were the only one among the escapees from the north who dared to fight the Jin people. Even if you lost, you were still a bloody man.
Since then, I have remembered you in my heart. On Jiangnan Road, you worried about the people's lack of food and clothing all day and night. You donated all your salary several times to encourage land reclamation. Until now, the imperial class
I went straight to your house and found out that in addition to the mansion I gave you, you have actually been renting a house in Tokyo for decades. The total amount of banknotes, national debts, and cash at home is only more than a thousand dollars. You
A year's salary is six hundred guan! I asked you, you donated it to the people and volunteers who died in Qingzhou back then. Even when people died, they set up monuments for them, but why is such a good official like you,
Are you putting me in such a difficult position today?" Zhao Guanjia rarely lost his composure and almost shouted these words.
Yes, he did feel betrayed. Many people in this world will betray you, but the more you trust someone, the greater the harm will be caused.
Yang Yizhong was worried and came over to take a look, but he also drove him back, "Go to the door and watch to prevent anyone from coming in."
How can Liu Hongdao be better off if he is like this? He shed tears and kowtowed: "The guilty minister is sorry for the officials and the people who died in vain. The officials already know the cause and effect. If the officials do not grant death, midnight dreams
Looking back, I think of the people who died in vain because of my selfishness, how could I live?"
"What is there to live for? Among the civil and military officials standing in the court today, who has never seen a dead person? Who has never seen a river of blood?" Zhao Guanjia didn't know if he was laughing at himself.
Liu Hongdao shook his head, "In the war between the Song and Jin Dynasties and the suppression of bandits in Jiangxi, even if there were accidental injuries, there was nothing we could do about it. But I, Liu Hongdao, forced Zhao Tongxuan to change the flood discharge route because the people in his hometown came to him and begged for help, without conscience.
The result was exactly as he expected. When Xiao Yushi questioned the minister with the roster, the guilty minister already knew that he would never be redeemed. The officials should not offset my guilt just because I still have a little merit. If this happens,
Wait for the precedent. I'm afraid half of Jianyan's thirty-six ministers will end up in a miserable state." The sunlight in the place of house arrest was thin, and Liu Hongdao's old age was particularly obvious under the mottled light and shadow. "The guilty ministers only know today that when united to the outside world, unity
It is easy to be single-minded, but how difficult it is to keep one's original intention in times of peace and prosperity."
After hearing this, not to mention Zhao Guanjia and Yang Yizhong, and even Yu Yunwen, who was in charge of custody, felt a little thoughtful.
"People have weaknesses." Liu Hongdao has obviously typed up the manuscript countless times, and he speaks very smoothly. "Some people like profit, such as King Zhang Qi. Some people have a good reputation, such as Xianggong Zhang and Xianggong Li. Some people act extreme, such as Xianggong Hu.
Even King Yue, who is recognized as having the highest personal ethics, is too harsh on his own family, and it is only thanks to the prince-in-law that he does not grow crooked. Another example is the sinner, who cannot let go of his hometown and the tens of thousands of sons who died because of my incompetence.
It was a big mistake. The guilty minister should have died a long time ago. After he was rescued for the first time, it was just to say these words to the officials in person that he survived until now."
His words echoed for a long time in the empty cell. Zhao Jiu seemed to have lost the anger he had when he first arrived. He sat there for a while and then said: "The country has its own laws, and you will be convicted, but before that, you are here
Think carefully here. Write something down and tell me what you think of, and Xin Wenyu will forward it to you."
Zhao Guan's family returned to the harem that afternoon and announced that nothing should disturb him unless the enemy troops reached the capital, a certain important minister died, or the Yellow River flooded the Jinshan Mountains.
Feng Yi looked at his face and resolutely carried out this instruction.
In just one afternoon, he blocked the three princes who came to pay their respects, the Prime Minister Zhao Ding who finally couldn't help but speak, the Minister of Punishment and the Minister of Dali Temple who were about to start a fight because of the case, and even the Empress Dowager Wei and the two ministers.
The soup that the lady brought in was also cheaper for a group of royal banzhi.
But there was one person who he really couldn't stop, not for any other reason but because this person was really worthy of force, so he threw him away with a strong back.
The lamp was as bright as a bean, and Zhao Jiu laughed at himself in the dim light: "Boying, every time I come to you suddenly, but I didn't expect that this time it's the other way around. It's so clear and retributive."
King Zhang Jun of Qi immediately knelt down and said: "Officials, I really shouldn't bother you, but I, I really can't watch... Liu Bao followed me when he was a teenager. Because he was not as good as Xiaotian, he finally switched to a civil service. He was
The corruption in Jinan government is all because I didn’t teach him well... Moreover, he was a military commander. The ministers would protect Pei Zude, Fan Zongyin, and even Mr. Zhang Shuye’s son, but they would kill him... I know that he has been
After the house was searched, the censors found out how many accounts he had embezzled, so I paid him the full amount and just asked the officials to let him live."
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading! "Okay, you just want to say that a few people will die in such a big case. Although the rule of not killing scholar-officials in this dynasty has been broken by me a long time ago.
But if you can, your gentlemen will still protect civil servants. This is a centuries-old custom, and I cannot get rid of it all by myself." Zhao Jiu, perhaps having had enough rest, said loudly: "Come here, cook me a bowl of porridge."
A few servants on the side were rubbing the waists of the high official Feng Yifeng, but they failed to stop the royal guards of King Qi from flying straight to the small kitchen to report the news.
"Bo Ying, to be honest, I am more happy than angry because you came today." After drinking the porridge, Zhao Guanjia did not forget to give Zhang Jun a bowl, "If a good minister is like this for his subordinates, I will not do it at all.
It may be strange, but you are a bit surprising. It can be seen that although you have various shortcomings, you can unite the morale of the army, follow me in Hebei, and defeat the enemy in Xiacai. There is always something unique about you."
Zhang Jun smiled bitterly and said: "The official family should not comfort the ministers. How many commanders, the official family takes care of me the most, Lao Zhang. Who wouldn't say that I got through Conglong from the earliest days to today. Now I still use that meager credit to be thick and generous."
Your shame makes it difficult for you."
"Thirty-seven civil and military officials were involved in the case. Now I really understand what it means to not have to worry about too much debt, and not to be itchy even if there are too many lice. Fortunately, someone's words woke me up today. Human nature cannot stand the test.
"Zhao Jiu drank the porridge and actually tasted of wine, and sneered: "Dang Boying, I can't sell this favor to you. Not only Liu Bao, but also everyone involved, I have already thought about it and will handle it in accordance with national laws."
Seeing Zhang Jun's pale face and not daring to say anything, Zhao Jiu said: "You don't have to do this. I don't want to kill everyone with blood, nor do I want to confiscate their homes and exterminate their clans. But I always have to give an explanation to the world.
"
"No matter civil or military affairs, no matter meritorious deeds, they must go through trial. Even if there is meritorious service, you can be exempted from guilt, then you must first be convicted." Zhao Jiu stood up, "Anyone can be dissatisfied. But I must do this. The Song Dynasty cannot ignore corruption.
It’s a rotten problem.”
－－－－－－Digression－－－－－
Corruption was too common in the Song Dynasty, and many readers objected to my being too strict, but I still think it is better to set a tone. I welcome your opinions.