The first year of the rise of the Han Dynasty (AD 240), June 18th.

Chang'an, Weiyang Palace.

"Start your Majesty!"

In the morning, Xu Shu, the imperial censor, came out and said: "After investigation by Wei Chen, there are 963 households in the Qiao family in Yizhou, with a population of 2,395 people."

Xu Shu just finished speaking,

The whole hall suddenly became silent.

It lasted nearly a month.

Candidate Zeng Shu reported with his real name that Shangshu Lang Qiaozhou concealed the number of households. The final result was finally obtained today. After an investigation by the Yushi Doctor’s Office, Zeng Shu’s report was finally confirmed to be true.

Moreover, the number of households concealed by Qiao Zhou was slightly larger than the data reported by Zeng Shu.

This——

Many people in the main hall are worried at the moment, with chills running down their spines.

"Pass!" Liu Chan said in a deep voice: "Pass it to Zhou, Zeng Shu!"

Liu Chan was not interested in observing the reactions of the ministers.

Now he wants to see how Qiao Zhou will defend himself today.

After a while, the first person to enter the hall was candidate Zeng Shu.

Because Zeng Shu’s report was true, his crime of slander was naturally not established. At this time, he was calm and calm.

"Students pay homage to Your Majesty, long live my emperor, long live, long live."

Before Liu Chan signaled to stand up, he heard a commotion outside the hall.

"Your Majesty, I am guilty!"

"Your Majesty, I am guilty!"

Everyone immediately heard the sound and looked outside the hall, only to see Shang Shulang Qiao Zhou, shirtless and carrying a thorn stick on his back, walking towards the main hall.

While shouting that he is guilty.

Looking at his appearance, Liu Chan almost couldn't help but laugh.

So that’s what it’s like to bear a thorn and plead guilty?

However,

The civil and military ministers in the main hall were even more nervous at this moment.

Zeng Shu reported that the Qiao family in Yizhou had concealed the number of households. After investigation by Xu Shu, the imperial censor, it has now been confirmed. Now Qiao Zhou directly pleads guilty.

It’s over——

"Your Majesty, I am guilty!"

"Your Majesty, I am guilty!"

As soon as he entered the main hall, Qiao Zhou crawled up to him, then knelt on the ground, kowtowing to Liu Chan and confessing his guilt.

This is a great scholar in Shu.

However, Liu Chan glanced at him and said angrily: "Tell me, what crime have you committed?"

You know what you are asking, but you still have to do your best.

As soon as Liu Chan finished speaking, the hall was so quiet that you could hear the sound.

"Your Majesty!"

"My lord, it's a capital crime!"

"I'll be punished by death!"

Qiao Zhou said with a tearful tone: "The Qiao family in Yizhou has betrayed the emperor's favor and concealed the number of registered residents.

This is the crime of deceiving the emperor,

The guilty minister asks your Majesty to punish him."

Haha——

Liu Chan was still in some trouble,

Xu Shu found out that Qiao Zhou concealed the number of households. According to the law, this was the crime of deceiving the emperor, and he should be punished for his crime.

But, does Liu Chan really dare to kill Qiao Zhoumanmen?

No, he doesn't dare.

After Xu Shu's report was over, Liu Chan was thinking about how to deal with this matter, which could not only sound a warning to the clans, but also not cause too much shock.

I had thought that before he could ask Qiao Zhou for punishment, he took the initiative to ask for punishment.

Take the initiative to plead guilty——

How to deal with it?

Do you follow the law?

Qiao Zhou kept kowtowing to plead guilty, which made Prime Minister Zhuge Liang and imperial censor Xu Shu suddenly panic. They wanted Qiao Zhou to go to the palace to quibble.

In fact, a few days ago, Xu Shu and Zhuge Liang discussed with Liu Chan that when the case was concluded, they would allow Qiao Zhou to defend himself, and then they would lend a few words of help. Finally, Liu Chan punished Qiao Zhou lightly due to their pleading.

But now——

I don’t intend to defend myself at all. I tell you directly that I am guilty. I have committed the crime of deceiving the emperor. Please punish me according to the law. I have no regrets.

Zhuge Liang had a trace of cold sweat oozing out from his forehead.

Xu Shu also frowned.

As for the other ministers, except Zeng Shu, none of them were in a happy mood at this time.

Cough cough cough——

Liu Chan coughed twice, then looked at Qiao Zhou coldly, and said angrily: "Qiao Zhou, you are an official of the imperial court, but you know how to break the law. Could it be that I and the late emperor did not treat you well?"

"Your Majesty, I am guilty!"

"Your Majesty, I am guilty!"

Liu Chan was really speechless. At this time, he wanted to hear Qiao Zhou say something nice, such as asking for help.

However, they didn’t ask for mercy at all.

It seems that I came today with the determination to die.

"Hmph! Know your guilt!" Liu Chan said loudly: "Is it too late to know your guilt now?"

"Where are the warriors in front of the palace?" Liu Chan suddenly shouted loudly.

In an instant, four imperial guards entered the hall and responded in unison: "Here!"

"Push it out - chop!"

As soon as Liu Chan said these words, he waved his hands fiercely.

No one expected that the emperor would be so decisive and directly order Qiao Zhou to be killed on the spot. Naturally, Qiao Zhou also did not expect it.

He knew that Xu Shu would definitely be able to find out the number of households Qiao had concealed.

But he also knows that in the Han Dynasty, the Qiao family is not the only clan that conceals the number of households. As long as it is a clan, which family does not conceal the number of households?

I thought that although the emperor wanted to deal with the clan, he would never kill the Qiao family to offend the public at this time.

However, the emperor was very decisive.

"Your Majesty!"

"Your Majesty!"

Just when the warriors came forward and were about to escort Qiao Zhou, Xu Shu, the imperial censor, Zhuge Liang, the prime minister, Dong Yun, the imperial censor, Fei Yi, and others all came out to pay homage:

"Your Majesty, save someone under the sword."

Prime Minister Zhuge Liang said: "Your Majesty, the Three Kingdoms are in turmoil, and there are many aristocratic families who conceal the number of households. Since Shangshu Qiao has admitted his crime, I hope that your Majesty will treat him leniently and give him a chance to reform."

"Huh!" Liu Chan snorted when he heard this.

"Your Majesty!" Xu Shu also said: "What the Prime Minister said is absolutely true. Moreover, Minister Qiao has made many contributions to the court in recent years. I hope your Majesty will be given a lighter sentence."

"Your Majesty!"

"Your Majesty!"

As everyone begged for mercy, Liu Chan breathed a sigh of relief. Originally, he had no intention of killing Qiao Zhou. Although this man was a bit pedantic and stubborn, he was also a Confucian scholar after all.

"Your Majesty, I am guilty!"

"Your Majesty, I am guilty!"

At this time, Qiao Zhou was also very smart. He was no longer as smart as before. After all, the emperor had given an order to kill him.
To be continued...