All criminal cases in the Tang Dynasty were usually examined by the Ministry of Punishment, Yushitai or Dali Temple. However, the official corruption case in the 10th year of the New Year (770) bypassed these three ministries and was handled by the Jinyiwei directly under the emperor.
Investigate and investigate, and finally announce the results to the entire world.
Among the results announced, 30 of the 33 first batch of firms allowed to trade overseas were guilty of joint fraud.
In the case, the Chang'an Prefecture forged the registration records of the trading company, and the Ministry of Household Affairs forged the household registration of the trading company's personnel. The Ministry of Punishment issued a record of innocence guarantee for the trading company involved in the case. Yushitai, who was supposed to be responsible for the review process and combat corruption, throughout the entire case
Knowing the law and breaking the law, he took the initiative to protect the criminal.
After an interrogation, it was found that among the imperial departments responsible for reviewing documents, except for the municipal department, which was not involved, almost all other departments were guilty.
Liu Qi, the Minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs, Zhai Zhuo, the Young Master of the Chang'an Prefecture, and Sun Yan, the Chief of General Affairs Bureau... More than 40 high-ranking officials, plus more than 200 emigrated officials, made the Wendu corruption case complete.
This is the case that has involved the most officials and has the most serious impact since the beginning of the New Year.
The truth was revealed, the truth came to light, the emperor was furious, and the government and the public were shocked.
Although Wu Qi, the Minister of the Ministry of Finance, did not commit any crime, he was demoted to Luoyang due to an unnoticed mistake; Chi Weifang, the Minister of the Ministry of Punishment, was originally on official business in Liangcheng, and the writing of the ultimatum had nothing to do with him, but because his family secretly
He became a boss in the trading company, so he was demoted and transferred away from Chang'an; as for the officials of Chang'an Mansion and Yushitai, there was a big change of blood. Many departments and even the chief and deputy chiefs were either arrested or imprisoned.
Demoted, all are no longer in their posts.
Before this, no one would have thought that the gold rush in North America would trigger such a serious political storm in the Tang Dynasty on the other side of the ocean.
The civil ultimatum corruption case came to an end, and the imperial court issued an official document to local governments, requiring local civil representatives to participate in the last royal court meeting in the 10th year of the New Year on time. The emperor's decree was announced to the world.
At the end of November, at the last royal court meeting in the 10th year of the New Year, representatives of industry, commerce, and peasants from all over the Tang Dynasty gathered in the Imperial City of Chang'an.
When Emperor Zhou Jun appeared on the stage, representatives from all over the country knelt down and shouted long live.
A chamberlain first read out the official documents from the imperial court, which included the punishment of the guilty officials, the instructions to cancel the previous first customs clearance document, and the second list drawn up by the imperial court.
This second list, which is more than 20 pages thick, completely refers to the ranking of private commercial banks, and has approved the requests of many talented people. It ensures that Datang's industrial and commercial farmers, every trade, will have equal access to North America.
Trade opportunities.
After hearing the second list, Cen Shen, who was kneeling tremblingly at the front, first kowtowed to the emperor on the high platform, and then shouted: "Your Majesty is wise!"
Thousands of civil representatives in the courtyard kowtowed with Cen Shen and shouted: "Your Majesty is wise!"
After the Royal Council officially began, while the representatives of the people were speaking, Fan Jinian came down from the stage, found Cen Shen, and said to him: "Doctor Cen, come with Zajia, His Majesty wants to see you."
Hearing this, Cen Shen did not dare to delay, and quickly followed Fan Jinian and climbed onto the stage.
On the second floor of the building, Emperor Zhou Jun was sitting on the throne, with many court officials standing on both sides.
When Cen Shen walked in, Zhou Jun stopped the former from saluting and asked the chamberlain to bring a folding chair.
Cen Shen first thanked him and then sat down.
He looked around and found that many familiar officials in the imperial court, such as Wu Qi, Chi Weifang, etc., were no longer among the ranks.
Zhou Jun said: "Thanks to Dr. Cen for warning me about the corruption case, otherwise I would have kept it in the dark."
Cen Shen: "Your Majesty is boasting. I have been away from the court for many years. I heard people talk about this case accidentally, but I didn't expect that so many officials were involved..."
Zhou Jun: "The Tang Dynasty has been experiencing continuous wars, and it is not easy for us to recover and recuperate. I have been on the throne for ten years, and I have been working hard every day in governing the country, for fear of another disaster in the world. However, after sitting in the court for a long time, listening to the officials singing their praises, I
I mistakenly thought that the world was stable and the world was at peace. But I didn’t expect that these sinners were corrupt right under my nose, and they didn’t take me seriously at all!”
The emperor shouted angrily, and all the officials in the hall lowered their heads, feeling uneasy in their hearts.
Before the corruption case, none of the ministers here had imagined that dozens of high-ranking officials in the court would be killed, exiled, and demoted. The emperor showed no mercy at all. This move frightened many officials.
.
Zhou Jun calmed down and asked Cen Shen: "Officials are corrupt and form cliques for personal gain. In Dr. Cen's opinion, is there any good way to diagnose and treat this?"
Cen Shen was stunned.
Official corruption has always been a problem throughout the dynasties. How easy is it to control it?
Cen Shen tried to say: "The laws of the Tang Dynasty are strict and can deter lawlessness."
Zhou Jun: "The guilty official confessed and talked about the law. If he gained a lot, he would take risks even if he died."
Cen Shen thought so too.
The gold trade in North America is almost hugely profitable, and no matter how stringent the laws are, they cannot prevent officials from becoming corrupt.
Cen Shen then suggested: "The imperial court can send more censors to inspect the people and discuss with the people."
Zhou Jun shook his head and said: "Chang'an Mansion, the Ministry of Punishment and the Yushitai are all departments of the Tang Law Patrol. In the case of corruption in documents, didn't they still know the law and break the law, and use their power for personal gain?"
When Cen Shen heard this, he was stunned on the spot.
Indeed, the Chang'an Prefecture, the Ministry of Punishment and the Yushitai were originally law enforcement and supervisory departments and should be responsible for maintaining Tang law, but in this case, they became the criminal party.
Cen Shen looked at Zhou Jun with a look of shame on his face, then he knocked his forehead on the ground and said helplessly: "I am stupid and cannot share your Majesty's worries. I am unworthy of His grace."
Zhou Jun looked around at the officials in the hall, and everyone present looked embarrassed.
Zhou Jun cast his gaze outside the hall and said, "Listen."
The officials in the hall heard the words and listened attentively. Outside the hall, there was no other sound except the debates and discussions among the representatives of the people.
Zhou Jun: "Some officials are greedy for personal gain and refuse to listen to the opinions of the people, causing harm to the Tang Dynasty. It is undoubtedly a fool's dream to let these people patrol among the people and then report the bad news they heard to the court...
From my point of view, since the voice of the people cannot be heard in the court, it is better to bring the voice of the people to the court."
Hearing this, all the ministers in the hall were confused. Only two of them had expressions of sudden realization on their faces.
One of these two people was Kong You, the Right Prime Minister, and the other was Kang Kejing, the Minister of Municipal Affairs.
Cen Shen asked in confusion: "Your Majesty, how can we bring the voices of the people to the court?"
Zhou Jun asked Kang Kejing, who was responsible for organizing the Royal Council: "How many private representatives are participating in the council?"
Kang Kejing came out of the queue and bowed and said: "Reporting to Your Majesty, the Tang Dynasty stipulates that households with more than 40,000 are called Shangzhou, households with 25,000 are called Zhongzhou, and households with less than 20,000 are called Xiazhou. There are 327 states in the country, including Shangzhou.
109; Zhongzhou, 29; Lower State, 189. Depending on the state, there are a total of 1,455 representatives in the Royal Council."
Zhou Jun: "From now on, once a year, the people will elect Su Lao, who is not allowed to have an official position. There will be two from the upper state and one from the middle and lower state. They will participate in the court meetings every day and discuss affairs just like the officials."
Hearing this, Cen Shen thought there was something wrong with his ears, and couldn't help but stammered: "Your Majesty, do you mean... to let the common people come to the court to discuss politics?!"
Zhou Jun nodded.
The emperor's decision shocked all the officials in the general hall.
Although Du Fu, the Minister of Rites, was close to the people, the people's participation in the government was completely beyond his imagination.
He went out to persuade Zhou Jun: "Your Majesty, people can enter the court to discuss politics without going through the imperial examination. This move frightens the hearts of scholars all over the world. Moreover, the situation in each state and county is different. If there is a difference between each other,
If there is a dispute, Huanghuang Court may become a place of disputes among the public."
Zhou Jun: "When civil representatives come to the court to discuss affairs, they only have the power to discuss affairs, but they have no rank or official status, and they are not awarded honors. As for the disputes you mentioned, I am happy to see different opinions in the court. It is better than staying the same every day.
The songs of praise are better."
After hearing this, Du Fu knew that the emperor had made up his mind, so he had no choice but to sigh and stop trying to dissuade him.
